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In the hours where their hairs are messier and mine is loose, Sonetto always engages in a firm yet gentle battle against Schneider, who every morning longs for a few more minutes.
Dismay written on her face; a slow crawl out of the sheets; morning kisses; kind words spoken softly, as if they were left unsaid during the night; a lack of hurry while changing clothes.
Almost a millenia ago, a certain Japanese court lady from the Heian period made a similar list of gestures, describing them as “good lovers’ behavior”.
And every morning, my heart beats tenderly in agreement.
***
Tea, scones and jam have become our day-off breakfasts.
This week is my turn to choose the tea. Which also means… is my room the one we’ll hang out in. It was Sonetto’s idea. She said it will be a good way to encourage us to clean our rooms more often. At first, Schneider thought it was a cheeky remark against her… that is, until the first time she caught me picking up all my scattered clothes, stationary, books, and leftover paperwork in a hurry.
The suitcase has become too crowded to keep using the empty rooms in it for storage so, sadly, cleaning my bedroom has become a much less avoidable chore.
As for their rooms, it shocked me a little how similar they can be. Sonetto is a little more methodical in the way she puts her things in order, while Schneider just keeps a tight track of where everything is… But they both spray their pillows with light, relaxing scents; they don’t keep more than necessary, except for that one space they use to display precious mementos; on top of their bedside tables, the same framed picture: the first one we took together.
***
-I had a weird dream last night.
-A nightmare? -Sonetto looks at me, as she passes a scone with apricot jam to Schneider.
-Or perhaps, a more…adult one? We are all at that age, after all.
-A weird one. Well, an unsettling one to be more precise. -Sonetto and I take a sip from our cups of peach black tea, in a rather awkward attempt to ignore what Schneider said. -I was on the second floor of a small apartment complex, a bit similar to the one in Melrose Place actually, not that it really matters. From the room I was in, I had a view of the pool that the apartment surrounded and most of the tile roofs. Soon after, I began hearing an eerie sound.
I took a pause to look at Sonetto, who’s already looking a bit pale from hearing the word “eerie”.
-But the cause was far from scary.
-Good to know.
Schneider holds Sonetto’s hand, both to tease and comfort her. Despite her embarrassment, Sonetto doesn’t pull it back.
-It were turtles. Very similar to the Galapagos’ ones, only greener and with longer limbs. They were marching through the roof towards the edge, making the tiles creek under their weight.
-Maybe they were trying to reach the pool?
-They were marching towards it, but as soon as they reached the edge, I could see them scared of the fall. Their screams were more like long, hollow screeches. Sometimes they would land directly in the pool and get out of it without much effort. Others, they would first hit the floor with their backs before bouncing towards the pool, also to later come out of it, seemingly unscratched.
My reflection stares at me from my cup of tea, almost as if it were encouraging me to keep going.
…I assume.
Maybe it’s just feeling sorry for myself in advance.
-One of the turtles managed to grab itself to the edge of my window. When I went out to help, I found its eyes full of fear looking right at me. Its big maw was fully open, yet its screaming sounded the faintest. Before my hand could even reach any of its limbs, I watched it fall.
-And what happened to the turtle?
-I don’t know. I woke up right after that.
-I can believe such a silly dream could upset you. After all…
The sound of clothes falling.
Empty seats.
A chorus.
“How many times have you had it before?”
***
I woke up in a cold sweat.
-Vertin? I-is everything alright?
The warm feel of Sonetto’s palm helps me calm down a bit faster.
-Just a bad dream… I’m alright, really.
-Hm… what time is it…?
Snuggling me by the waist, Schneider refuses to open her eyes.
-4:13 in the morning.
-Goddammit.
Before we can react, she pushes me and Sonetto back to bed.
-Sorry for waking you up Schneider, but Vertin had a nightmare and-
-Then just keep sleeping… until you reach a good dream.
With one last big yawn, she falls asleep again.
Sonetto and I look at each other, unable to hold a silent laugh.
We gave each other good night wishes.
I gave her a good night kiss.
No dream lasts forever.
But dreaming does.