Posted August 13, 2020

For The Wattys 2020

Isic Didn't let me work on deciphering the text threats again, and managed to take me away even through my efforts of staying to work.

I had acquired new knowledge about coding. I had watched educational videos about it yesterday and this morning. I had also bought a new helping software.

I was convinced that with some time, I would succeed. After all, one of the greatest mind -Albert Einstein- Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I wasn't going to use the techniques I had used previously. It was an opportunity to upgrade my game.

If you came to my house the afternoon of the next day, you'd see me at my desk in my room, all distractions including my phone on the other side of my room. I was just realizing that the light of the computer was making me tired when I heard a loud joyful voice in the staircase. I turned around as fast as the speed of light, and held my self-defense stick in front of me in combat fashion. These days it was like I was always sitting at the edge of my seat.

When I saw Isic's head pop up in my room, I lowered my weapon. I furrowed my eyebrows as my heart reduced its speed.What was he doing there?

"Hi!" he said. "came to visit." He jumped on my bed. He was overly cheerful and energetic for an afternoon.

"HI. I'm working."

This time when he jumped on the bed, he landed on his butt. "You're such a jerk." He said with a lopsided cocky grin. "do you tell that to all your visitors?"

I nodded, cocky eyebrow raised. He grabbed his heart in a dramatic manner, his eyes shining in humor. I was glad that I didn't hurt his feelings and he took the matter lightheartedly. I appreciated people who were like that greatly.

"I'm just busy. With something important."

It bothered me a bit that he was sitting on my bed. My bed was one of the things I didn't like sharing. It was my space. Besides who knew where he had been all day?

I turned to focus on my computer. He came beside me to sneak a peek. I slammed it shut.

"Sorry." I said, looking up at his face. "private business."

"not private to me." he said, tilting his head to get his hands on it. "let me see. Maybe I can help you."

Same need to help. Same mannerisms. Same but grown facial features. It was crazy how even after all these years, he didn't change. No that much. The resemblance he had with his younger self scared me. We behaved like siblings when we were younger. Daniel always made sure he left a mark on his face for him to know that.

After looking at him too much and reminiscing, my eyes started watering. I turned my head frowning to retain them inside. He wasn't my best friend. My best friend died when he betrayed me.

"very private. Go. I'm busy Isic. Respect me." I had to change the security protocol to not let him in anymore. I never thought of removing him from the database. It meant almost any door in the house would open for him because he was like a family member.

He had been in the past.

"ok. I get it. I'm leaving."

He didn't leave though. I heard him sit on my bed again.

Same old Isic. As stubborn as ever. I rubbed my temple to calm myself. No. He wasn't my old best friend.

I worked for a few minutes. Just as I was gaining back my train of thoughts, he interrupted me again. "let's do something."

"I'm busy."

"I know you are. But let's make time for me."

"I can't afford that."

"you can't afford time for the people that care about you?"

I turned around, and crossed my arms in challenge. "what game are you playing?"

He stared square into my eyes. "Nothing."

I put my hands on my lap. "you got to understand me Isic- you know what? When I'm done."

"How many minutes?"

It wasn't going to be minutes. It was going to be hours. "how about you go for a long hour walk, then when you're coming back, bring us drinks and we do something then?"

He thought for a few seconds. "ok. Sounds good." I was surprised he agreed so fast.

It's because he didn't. Not really.

"next time before you come, tell me the plan. Will save you time" I called while he was leaving.

"maybe...but where would the fun be in that? Also I don't have your phone number." He yelled in the stairs.

"oh. Right." I laughed at my own forgetfulness. That was something I would have to fix. Or not.

I didn't have to. We weren't close like that. Isic wasn't the kind of person that lets you kick him out of your life. He's like the past; it claws its way back to the top no matte what.

When everything quieted down, I smiled. finally some time alone.

I thought he listened to me, and went for an hour. It felt like Tenety seconds. But it was twenty minutes. He came though as promised with smoothies. And because I was so focused on my work, I didn't feel him until it was too late and he closed my laptop, took my phone and started pulling me away from my desk.

"but what-" I started

"you're always working. It can wait for once. People though can't always. Let's teach you how to cherish the people you have and have some fun."

We ended in my ball pit play room. Just like when were younger, we jumped on the trampoline and in the pools. Then we drank our coffee. I didn't tell him that was last time I found one of his forgotten hoodies.

I didn't know where it was.

That was a lie. I did know. But I wanted to keep it. As a reminder of who we had been. As a reminder of a gold old dead friendship.

The mango-strawberry smoothie he got me was delicious and I wondered if he remembered it was one of my favorite drink combinations when I was younger. That didn't change. Although a lot between us changed.

Somehow, we found ourselves in the hallway that led to our old bedrooms. It was on floor four of the main department of the house. At first, we got there laughing. But with each step, our joy dissipated until we were left with frowns, and a physical growing sadness between us.

Memories after memories of him and I when we were younger flooded my mind. Fighting against them was like trying to stop a big mass of water from destroying a wooden barrier.

They weren't all bad memories. In fact, the good ones are the ones that angered me the most. When my mouth wasn't sticky enough to stop me from speaking, right when I spoke. He spoke at the same time.

I shook my head. Isic. Even in hate, we were in sync. Ugh.

"I hate you" I said.

He said the same thing at the same time. Our eyes locked. There was so much hatred in them.

The only major difference in our speech was that I said "I hate you" while he said "I hated you". One in the present tense. One in the past tense.

What did that mean for us?