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“How long are you going to be gone?” Reki asks, pouting a little. Langa had promised they would skate together over break and now the liar springs it on him that he will be going to Vancouver.
“Two weeks,” Langa responds. “My mom says Dad’s family wants to see us and she managed to get time off work.”
“Oh.”
Well now Reki feels like a jerk. Of course it’s a family thing.
“When I get back, I can teach you that jump I did in my last beef.”
“Yeah yeah,” Reki sniffs. “You gonna snowboard in Canada?”
Langa shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t want to go alone but if my cousins agree we might make it a weekend trip.”
Reki leans back in his desk chain and spins around while staring at the ceiling. “It’s gonna be so boring without you.”
Langa nods but doesn’t say anything. There’s a long pause as they just sit together in Reki’s bedroom. The silence stretches for what seems to be forever, and then Langa speaks. It’s so quiet, Reki almost doesn’t catch it.
“I’m going to miss you.”
Reki’s heart skips a beat. Heat crawls up his neck under his hoodie and he swallows hard.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “I guess two weeks isn’t so bad.”
“I guess,” Langa nods again.
The silence returns.
“When do you leave?” Reki asks.
“Saturday.”
“Dude! That’s tomorrow!”
“Yes.”
“Have you even packed yet?”
“No.” Langa shakes his head. “Neither has Mom. She’s too worried about the apartment since this will be our first big trip since moving here.”
“I can help!” Reki grins and hops out of his chair.
“If you want,” Langa shrugs.
“Great! Let’s go!”
And then they’re skating across the city, wind in their hair. The frosty temperatures make their cheeks burn and turn pink, but neither of them care. Not when they’re together and skating like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
Reki feels his heart skip a beat again, chest clenching slightly as he looks over to Langa. He really is going to miss his best friend while he’s away for two weeks. On the other side of the world.
By the time they make it to Langa’s apartment, the streetlights have come on, casting the road and sidewalk in a soft yellow glow. A few snowflakes begin to fall and as he tucks his board under his arm, Reki sticks out his tongue trying to catch one.
“What are you doing?” Langa asks, head cocked to the side in confusion.
“Cahing sowlace!” Reki responds a bit garbled with his tongue still sticking out.
Langa shakes his head with a smile, but then a moment later, he stands beside Reki, board tucked under his arm and his own tongue sticking out. He gasps as a snowflake lands in his mouth.
“I got one!”
“Ugh, no fair!” Reki whines. “How are you so good at everything?”
“I’m not.”
“Whatever. Let’s just go inside and get you packed for your trip.”
“Yeah, okay,” Langa agrees and they head inside, leaving the chilly night air behind.
Fourteen hours and one layover later, Langa collapses on the bed at his grandparent’s house. He is exhausted from traveling and so is his mom based on her level of anxiety. She tries to hide it, but he can always tell.
“So glad to be off a plane,” she says, collapsing next to him and making the mattress shake. “Your grandfather wants to take us to dinner.”
Langa makes a noise, something strained in the back of his throat.
“I know,” his mother sighs. “But they’re excited we’re here.”
“I suppose food does sound good,” Langa sighs. He perks up as he remembers something important. “I forgot to text Reki when we landed.”
A hand pats his shoulder and his mother groans as she gets up to leave the room. “I’ll let you know what the plan is. You just rest for now, kiddo.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Langa pulls out his phone and sees that he has a few missed messages. All from Reki. He smiles and texts back.
You: Sorry, forgot to text you. We’re at my grandparents’ house now.
Reki: He lives!
You: The chances of a plane crashing are slimmer than getting struck by lightning.
Reki: Send me a picture. I want to see what Canada looks like.
Langa snorts and smiles softly. He gets up and walks to the window that overlooks the backyard. There is already snow on the ground and covering the trees, but the sun is shining. He snaps a picture and sends it off to his best friend.
Reki: That’s a lot of snow!
You: Makes me want to go snowboarding. I really have missed it.
Reki: Have you unpacked yet?
You: No, just got here and I think we’re supposed to be going to dinner.
Reiki: Look in your suitcase. I slipped something in there.
Langa stares at the text, brow furrowing in confusion. What on Earth could Reki be talking about? It wouldn’t be anything suspicious or else his bag would have been flagged at the airport. Curious, he kneels by his suitcase and unzips it. When he opens it, there’s a shock of yellow right on top. His heart skips a beat and his stomach flips.
It’s… Reki’s hoodie.
You: Why did you give me your sweatshirt?
Reki: You said you were gonna miss me. So, I don’t know, I guess it’s silly.
Langa takes it out and lets gravity help it unfold. He smiles and pulls it on over his head. Eyes closing, takes a deep breath in through his nose. It smells like Reki. Like his favorite body spray and the shampoo he uses, and something that is just… Reki. Langa breathes deeply again and feels his anxiety settle. He hasn’t realized how wound up he’s been all day since leaving for the airport. He can almost hear his best friend’s voice, his mind conjuring the other boy before him. Oh, it’s going to be a long two weeks. He picks up his phone and texts back two words.
You: Thank you.