"I wonder why we like to read?" was what my friend, Maria or Mari, as I like to call her, said, one fine Sunday afternoon.

"Can you be more specific? 'Cause I don't think I'm ready to open a book called "Introduction to Calculus" anytime soon." I flipped the page of my "The Hunger Games" book while munching some cookies.

"You know what I mean, Vi." Mari rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, keep rolling them eyes. Maybe you could see your brain," I said without looking up from my book.

"Vi!" She threw a pillow at me.

"Okay! Okay! Stop hitting me, you ungrateful peasant!" I hitted her with the pillow she threw earlier.

"You're the one hitting me!" She grabbed a pillow and hit me back. Five minutes later, both of us had broke into a pillow war and made a match to determine whether the Erudite (me) or the Dauntless (her) will win.

In the end, with my smartness, I tripped her and proceeded to crush her by squeezing the pillow and me on top of her.

"Alright! I give!!" She gasped for air as soon as I got off her.

I just laughed before laying beside her.

"But seriously, Vi. I've been wondering about that thing earlier for awhile now." Mari looked at me with serious eyes.

I stared deep into her eyes until she squirmed, uncomfortable with my penetrating gaze. Then, I snickered before blowing into a loud laugh.

"Seriously, Mari? Do you have to ask?" I chuckled.

"It's because we can become anyone we want to be when we read. Reading is our escape from reality, you silly little girl!"

Mari just huffed, not happy of being called 'little girl'. "I'm not little, you know! I'm the same age as you!" She scowled when I'm still laughing.

"Whatever you say, Mari!" said I with a smile.