t w e n t y - s i x ; mishap 

“Hey Skye, it’s me,” a singsong voice calls out amidst my frantic search for the right outfit to wear.

“I know it’s you Kai. You don’t have to tell me twice.”

I spin my feet around, facing the only person who lacks the decency to knock before entering my room. Now that I think about it, Kai always shamelessly barges in my room like he already lives here. The audacity. Sometimes he doesn’t let me know before coming, but not once have my parents ever question his presence. We’ve spent time together for so long that I can’t remember a time where he was a stranger to this place. Our parents and siblings have accepted that my friendship with him is not just between the two of us, but also a part of the other’s family too.

One time I visited him before he got home from swim practice, and accidentally took a nap on his bed after Kayla let me inside. His room was submerged in darkness after the sunset, and when he switched the lights on, Kai was so startled by an unexpected guest in his bedroom that his frightened scream jolted me awake. That incident didn’t refrain me from further accidental naps at his place on long days of swim practice, and he had given up complaining to me about it. Its frequency has become a normality to him now. So whenever it happens, he doesn’t dare to disrupt my rest, but simply crashes down besides me and snoozes away from spent energy after practice.

Stroding closer to my bed where Kai lays comfortably on top of my blanket, next to a pile of clothes I have discarded from their hangers, I rest my hands on my hips and sigh in defeat. “I’m very stressed out about what to wear. Any suggestions?”

He pulls his features tightly in thought. Kai sits up, then blurts, “Less is more. How about that tiny tank top and that mini skirt from middle school?”

I know not to take his advice seriously because one, it’s an outrageous suggestion meant to throw me off and two, no sane person would wear that kind of outfit in this weather. I scratch my cheek with a middle finger, deliberately making it conspicuous in his view. The offensive gesture only widens his mischievous grin, showing satisfied pleasure at my reaction. .

Appearing to be more helpful, Kai hops off from the bed and walks to my closet. He dismissively slides the hangers until spotting a jumpsuit that I’ve worn to his eldest sister’s wedding. He takes it off the hanger and throws it to me. “This one looked nice on you.”

He’s never one to praise my clothes, so it comes as a surprise that he remembers what I wore to Katie’s wedding. Nevertheless, I voice my concern, “Is that too formal? I mean, the restaurant is a reserved one, but is that too overdressed for a second date?”

“Nah you’re overthinking it,” Kai assures. “Throw on a coat too since it’d be chilly tonight.”

“Yes mom.” I almost roll my eyes from the irony that he never keeps himself warm regardless of my nagging, and now he’s the one telling me to bring a coat. Actually, it’s been a while since I have to worry about him staying warm because he hasn’t been swimming in the pool ever since his ankle.

“Wait a minute.” I cast my eyes down to his ankle, where it is free of the brace he’s been wearing. My eyes dart up to his face again, where his lips are pressed—a gesture he showcases when he’s trying really really hard not to smile. I practically knock the air out of his lungs with my hug. The impact from the tackle crashes us both to the ground. “YOU!” I aim an accusing finger at him, yelling with an odd mixture of excitement and annoyance. “YOU FREAKING BASTARD! You’ve been walking around WITHOUT your damn CRUTCHES and I’ve been too distracted to notice BUT YOU HAVE NOT MENTIONED A. SINGLE. THING. FROM THE BEGINNING??? I HATE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW—”

“Easy there, Tiger.” He cracks up as his whole body rumbles from the laughter. “Took you so freaking long to notice, slowpoke. I thought you would have seen it as soon as I walk into the room. Guess your brain functions slower than I thought.”

I’m too excited to even pretend to be provoked by his comment. “Has it been two weeks already? That felt like years. At the same time, that flew by really quickly. Can you swim now? Is that why you’re really here? Did you drive here? Can you drive now?”

It’s crazy how quick I transformed from a stressed out, anxious mess to speaking twenty words per minute due to elation.

“Yes I drove here. It’ll be another week until I can swim again but I just wanted you to be the first to know.” He pinches one side of my cheek, his touch warm and familiar. “Can you stop looking like a kid on Christmas day? It’s ad—” Kai pauses, briefly shakes his head, “You look like a major dork.”

For a minute there, I thought he was going to say something else.

“I’m just glad my chauffeur can drive me around again,” I tell him, though it’s not entirely true. It’s totally bluff. Truth is, my rides to school has been dull without our jokes in the morning, spontaneous trips to get donuts, or even him telling me about my outrageous appearance in those dreams of his from the nights before. After school without his company lacks the detours he purposely makes so that our favorite songs have a chance to finish playing before our ride home. Most importantly, I’m happy he gets to swim again, knowing how much it has been killing him not being able to.

“As usual, I’m just someone you use as a means to your ends,” he says in an unconvincing display of offense.

I nudge him on the shoulders casually and gets up, shrugging once to indicate ‘tough luck, my friend.’ “At least you’re useful for something, right?”

He scoffs at my comment. “Wow. Just so you know, I never enjoyed being friends with you either.”

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