Ablackwing

"So when are you going to let us meet Mr. Sweet voice?" Mira asked while poking on my right shoulder.

"I think it's enough for today." It has been a while since they both were pestering me. Me getting a friend who is a guy was like a thing for celebration. I didn't know why I was feeling all fl.u.s.tered.

"You know good enough that we won't let you go." Amber replied and started singing a song -'Won't let you go'. Even the sweet little Amber was being mischievous. I don't know what sort of things Mira told her. Mira started singing with her, their lyrics in perfect synchrony. I would have happily joined them only if I wasn't on the receiving side. But it wasn't going to be easy to get this topic off.

"La la la," I said trying to break their rhythm but they still kept going strong.

"Argh... Do whatever..." I smashed my feet on the floor in annoyance and walked ahead. They gave me a sneaky smile instead. I didn't like walking like such. I started walking at a fast pace ahead of them. I was sure another question is coming after they were done singing the song.

One of them pulled my clothes from behind, stopping me on my track.

"Let's go there," Mira said. When I looked at the right side, I saw we had stopped at a car accessory shop. She wanted to buy some present for her brother's seventeenth birthday. I don't know why she entered that shop. Mira's brother didn't own a car yet. I just followed them without a question.

The same thing happened that had been happening for the past hour. I and Amber showed Mira the potential gift material. But nothing looked good enough to be a gift to Mira. She wasn't even telling us what gift her brother might want. How were we supposed to help her? After some sightseeing​ in that shop we just walked out and began wandering in search for that special 'something'.

I was getting tired of the routine. Just then I got a call from aunt Emi. She used to call and visit me often to check on me after that accident. Her calls got frequent when she learnt I had depression. Even though she was my aunt, she felt like an older sister to me because there was only twelve years difference in our age. I couldn't wait to tell her personally that I am finally out of the blues. It was all thank to my Black.

She said she was glad I was doing good. Usually, she used to ask me to take care of myself. I was sure I was sounding normal on the phone. I didn't know how she was so sure of it. Perhaps she has some sort of superpower? She told me she was coming to visit me the next weekend.

After I hung up the phone, I looked around in search of my friends. To my dismay, I couldn't find them. Apparently, they left me behind. I was furious at them. What kind of friends were they?

Just then a mannequin caught my attention. That dummy was wearing a white sweater. I imagined Black wearing that sweater and in my imagination, that sweater looked good on him. He needed clothes though. My Black was mostly shirtless at home. At that moment a thought crossed my mind. Perhaps Black stayed like that because he didn't have other clothes? He might catch cold more frequently or perhaps burn himself while cooking.

I pushed the door, entering the shop. Those two guys kept doing their work but that lady walked to me.

"May I take a..."

"I'm sorry. We're off business." Up close, that lady looked much older. Her hair was all white and skin was pale and wrinkly. She was a little shorter than me. Her age should be mid-seventies.

They were going to close the shop for forever but I needed that sweater. I might find similar items online if I try hard but it was right there. I decided to try a little more in a bid to persuade her.

"I was just passing by when I saw this," I said pointing towards that dummy. "And I think my friend will really love that sweater. So..."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. He has a bad habit of staying shirtless at home. But that piece seems comfortable."

She just smiled and turned. I always knew I wasn't good at persuading anyone. My hopes crashed but right then that lady asked one of the guys to show me that dress and pack it for me. I knew she was a nice lady at first sight.

The sweater had a V-shaped neck. It looked soft and stretchable enough. I never got a chance to ask his size but I was 90% sure it would fit him perfectly.

"Do you have the same sweater in black?"

"Black?" That lady repeated.

"He is crazy for Black," I remembered how he told me once that black was his favourite colour.

"He's a lucky man." The lady smiled and she turned to one of the guys. It hit me that she was getting the wrong idea about us but I was too late to correct her.

It was bad that they couldn't find the same item in black colour. But I hoped that Black would like it. He wears a white scarf too. So he shouldn't refuse me, right? The price tag of that sweater was somehow misplaced. That nice lady told me to keep it for free. But I insisted on paying and gave what I felt was the right price. And that lady already accepted. It's rare we meet such kind-hearted people.

* * * * *

"I can't believe you went on ahead without me. You both hate me, don't you," I said as I sat beside Amber. It was a table of four and Mira was sitting on the opposite side.

That bright yellow dress was looking good on her. It wasn't a surprise though. She was inherently beautiful, her eyes had a unique shade of brown. She looked identical to her mother. I remember that I confused her mother to be her elder sister when I first met Mira's mother, even though I knew that Mira had only one sibling. Mira was a non-stop chatterbox but her heart was really big. She was kind, easy going and energetic like a small child.

Amber, on the other hand, had that serious expression on her face just to hide her shyness. She was short and cute. Amber was harder to reach than Mira but once she opens to anyone, she bares her pure soul out. She was the sweetest person I've ever met until I found Black. Somehow I find Black sweeter than Amber.

"We tried to look for you but you weren't there."

"Thought you went somewhere to get something for your boyfriend." Amber continued Mira's statement. Everyone seemed to be able to read minds and it felt so annoying! I regretted not telling Mira a lie before.

"Till when are you going to keep doing this to me?"

"Three... Two... One..." Mira said in a low voice and I knew what was coming. "To infinity and beyond." They said in unity loudly and for a moment everyone around looked at them. It was so embarrassing. It used to be so much fun when I shouted these words with them before. I sighed.

"Why are you keeping his details hideous if he's just a friend?" Amber asked.

I was bewildered. I didn't know what to tell. I was sure I would have to lie at some point and I didn't want to lie to my dear friends. It was better to not tell them anything at all. But it was going to get much worse for me if I kept it all hidden.

By that time, our number appeared. I had ordered three medium-sized pizzas. It was already half past nine and I was sure neither of them would eat anything after reaching home. They would have some random snacks for dinner instead. That's why I was going to make them eat until their stomach burst.

"Let's play rapid fire," Mira said when we started eating.

"Okay." Better sooner than later. And it started.

"When did you meet him?"

"Two weeks ago," I meekly replied.

"Whoa!"

"That was quick. Even we took like three months to get you open to us."

"Next one. What's his name?" Amber asked without giving me any time to keep my stronghold.

"Black."

"Such a weird name."

"That's how it is." I raised my shoulders helplessly. I wondered what their expression would be if I told them I gave him this name.

"Does he really have a sweet voice as Mira says?"

"Yep. His voice is too sweet to be true."

"How old is he?"

"23. I'm not sure though. It's just my guess."

"How does he looks?"

"He is... " I thought for a bit before blurting out the truth. "Very handsome. He has these captivating emerald green eyes and blood red lips that seem so fragile. His hair is silvery- white like mine but they're longer than mine with bangs on either side of his face." I explained the length of his hair with my hands.

"What does he do?"

"I'm afraid you have to ask him yourself when you'll meet him." I couldn't have told them that he is an angel. I dodged that question perfectly.

"When are you going to let us meet him?"

"Next weekend. Or the next after the next."

"How did you meet your boyfriend?" that was a tough one.

"On some dating site. Evy was lonely and desperate."

"No way... I was just walking by... In the park and I saw him with hair colour as me. And we instantly got well together..." And then finally I realized something. They had said my boyfriend and I still answered. This trap was set for me all along. They got me good, very good. "And he's not my boyfriend!"

"You don't need to lie if you don't want to tell."

"Why do you think I'm going out with him?" I curiously asked.

"Your eyes say it all," Amber said.

"That's not reliable. Show me proof." I was confident I silenced them with my wits.

"Look down." And I looked in the same direction. I realized I had stopped eating somewhere along with that rapid fire. And those two had finished almost half of the pizza.

"You were so enthusiastic while talking about him that you forgot to eat." That sneaky little twerp actually managed to render me speechless. I didn't know what to say.

I wasn't in love with him, was I?