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It is a chilly night, the kind that would make your teeth chatter if you went out without proper insulation. Maya feels fortunate she has decided to use one of her thicker jackets before going outside, and the fact that there is a familiar source of warmth emanating on her back.
"Saijou-san?" Maya calls.
The lack of response is all Maya needed to know Claudine is fast asleep.
Maya repositions Claudine to settle on a better grip and to make sure she is comfortable. Barring the little sigh that Claudine usually does in her sleep, there is no telltale sign of her being disturbed, so Maya considers it a success.
What time is it? Maya thinks to herself. She wishes she could figure it out from her watch, but that'd require some complex maneuvering if she doesn’t want to wake Claudine. She retraces back the events up until now. Meeting at Claudine’s apartment after work, catching up, cooking dinner with the supplies she bought, watching a movie after dinner, and then … neither of them wanted to sleep so they decided to go to a bar. There they spent more hours talking, trying out drinks… and reminiscing...
She has a rough estimation, but that doesn’t matter at this point. It’s way past midnight.
Maya sighs. Buses aren’t available at this hour, and she couldn’t find any unoccupied taxis. It's not a long way from Claudine’s apartment, but still a long walk all the same. Her muscles ache from carrying a sleeping occupant, in addition to being used for the entire day. Maya is tired, no doubt, sinking herself into a soft cushion would be the greatest form of relief.
Strangely enough, Maya doesn’t mind this. The winter breeze, the silent white pavement, the occasional snow grazing by, Claudine’s rhythmic inhales and exhales tickling her ear, her loosely-hanging arms around her collar, and the delicate scent of her perfume. It’s like she is alone in the world with Claudine again, though only Maya is awake to cherish every second of it.
Maya looks up, feeling a bit bored of the lonely street view. Only now does she notice beautiful stars adorning the night sky. It has been a while since the last time she saw this much.
“Let’s go, together,” Maya whispers, smiling to herself, “to grasp that star.”
The stars twinkle and Claudine hums.
Maya slows her pace, waiting for a follow-up. She feels a nuzzle into her scarf and then silence.
Maya chuckles and trudges on. Sometimes she wonders if Claudine can hear her in her slumber.
She wonders…
…
Perhaps it’s the alcohol in her system, or the inviting tranquility of the night, or the unawareness of the person on her back. There is an inexplicable urge, a certain giddiness. It rumbles heavily in her chest, waiting, wanting to be let out.
And what’s a better time, when the only witness is something that’s hundreds of light-years away?
“The stars,” Maya starts, “They are beautiful tonight, Claudine.”
“Do you remember the night at the hill?” Maya continues. When they had a training camp in their last year of high school. On the last night, just like tonight, the both of them decided to sneak out instead of sleeping. They went to an open clearing, a front view to the brilliant night show of the sky. Excited, Claudine ran ahead of her, and Maya thought,
“You were dazzling back then,” Maya whispers softly, “Even in the sea of stars, it was your radiance that I inadvertently sought for.”
Claudine is quiet. The night is. The only thing she can hear is her own laboured breath.
“After all these years, you shine brighter still. The stars, they remind me of you. Saijou Claudine, will you …”
Claudine stirs. Little movements here and there. And a yawn. Her arms now lightly wrap around Maya’s collar. Maya hopes Claudine doesn’t feel her pulse quicken. Claudine hums again and leans in.
“Eloquent, aren’t you?” Claudine whispers into her ear, sleep still evident in her voice, ”Are you going to start writing poetry now?”
“Hmm..” Maya cranes her neck to look at Claudine, “I might, now that I’ve found my muse.”
She hears a scoff as the arms wrap tighter around her, “Do you talk like that every time someone is sleeping?”
Maya chuckles, “Were you truly asleep, though?”
“I was until you started talking.”
“Oh, my apologies then.”
“You carried me all the way here, so I will consider it even.” She says with her usual playfulness, before lowering her voice, “Sorry, you must be tired. You can let me down now.”
“No,” Maya declares as she continues walking and secures her grip to stop Claudine from freeing herself.
“Quoi?”
“I will never let you down, Saijou-san. Just like the song, Never- ”
Maya suffers a slap on her shoulder and smiles in satisfaction.
“Don’t. Start.” Claudine breathes out, wide awake now. “You awful woman, pulling that after professing to me in my sleep.”
Maya stops on her track, her heart racing incessantly. Claudine tugs on her sleeve, “Maya.”
Maya slowly lets Claudine climb down and picks off the snow accumulated on her hair. Her body feels light but, more prominently, sore. How long has she been carrying Claudine?
Maya stretches to get rid of the tense spot and relaxes when Claudine’s hand trails a massage on her back, “You really should’ve awakened me earlier.”
“It’s alright,” Maya holds her hand out, “you can just carry me next time.”
Claudine rolls her eyes and takes Maya’s hand, “Do not use this as an excuse to fall asleep the next time we go out.”
They resume the walk, side by side. The silence now filled with occasional lines from Claudine, with her warmth in their interlaced hands. It's ending soon though, their midnight stage. Claudine’s apartment is just a few buildings away.
The co-star awakened from her slumber and joined in on the last act. Yet, it’s her presence that makes the stage more lively. And when it ends, Maya wonders what kind of stage there will be next?
Claudine walks closer and leans her head on Maya’s shoulder. She is warm.
“What you said earlier,” she says, “Do you mean it?”
Maya rests her head on top of Claudine’s, her thumb circling on the back of Claudine’s hand. Her other hand was occupied with a little box, her little secret still safe inside her pocket.
“I do, always.”
Whatever stage, whatever it is they will find themselves in, Maya chooses not to think further than she needs to.
Here, under the blanket of stars. In their own world. Awake. With Claudine, Maya always feels right where she wants to be.