“...”

  Lusia and I decided to meet today. Unlike other days, I arrived first at a park bench that was supposed to be our meeting point.

  There were a lot of ways to wait, but I decided to draw a nearby tree.

  “Hmm...”

  Thinking it would be a good way to complement the drawing, I added some details to the trunk. For example, people like to carve into some trees with knives, so I wrote things related to Lusia.

  “Having fun… Together… Happy…”

  Every time I imagined Lusia's smile, I felt my hands moving faster. Sometimes I tried to draw that big smile, but it never looked like the real thing.

  I know my proportions are good, the colors aren’t bad, and I almost never commit mistakes. Still, I never got something satisfying… But I think that also happens with any other face. Maybe I’m just bad with faces...

  “Here.”

  “Ihh!”

  I got exalted when something cold touched my nape. And when I looked back, I saw Lusia holding two popsicles.

  “Haha, I think that's the biggest reaction I’ve ever seen from you.”

  “You just touched my neck with ice…”

  “I needed to do it at least once. By the way, I didn’t know what your favorite flavor was, so I bought you a lemon one.”

  “I have no problems with flavors…”

  “Are you looking at something?”

  “Your clothes…”

  Today she was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and a black skirt with suspenders. The contrast was nice, and it even looked comfortable to wear.

  “It looks good…”

  “Thanks. You look like always.”

  “Is that something good or bad?”

  “A little of both. That’s why we're gonna start going to a clothing shop. After that we will go to a place I found recently.”

  “What is it?”

  “You don’t like surprises?”

  “It would be good to know what we're doing.”

  “Don’t worry, it will be fun.”

  “Okay.”

  There’s nothing else to discuss, so we tried to find the clothing shop. Lusia was the one guiding the way, so this might take a while.

  “What if we get a new overall?”

  “I thought you wanted me to get new clothes.”

  “Besides that you could get a new overall in case that ends up dirty… Also, I can only imagine you with overalls and suits…”

  “Sorry for not having variety.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  It's true that getting extra overalls would be nice. But Lusia probably wants to see me in something different, so I'll think about it another day.

  “So, what is the main objective?”

  “I’d like to get you something for the place where we’re gonna go after buying clothes.”

  “Is it tiring?”

  “For some people, but that doesn't require too much movement.”

  “Maybe something without sleeves…”

  “To show off your muscles? I didn't know you were so vain.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “It’s to avoid being sweat…”

  “I know I know. Still, I think something with long sleeves would be better.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Instinct.”

  “Well, you have a good instinct.”

  “Thanks.”

  The upgrade on Lusia’s knowledge about the city was obvious when we were in front of a clothing shop only after thirty minutes walking. It was big, so the variety might be a problem.

  “I didn’t know this one…”

  “It would be surprising if you actually know more than one clothing shop.”

  We entered the shop while I tried to think what I could wear… But, unfortunately, Lusia is the creative one…

  “Some idea…?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, but because you’re using overalls, my idea will make you sweat a lot.”

  “That sounds very inconvenient.”

  “So, it’s a no?”

  “I trust in your knowledge, let’s do it.”

  “All right then.”

  Lusia helped me with most of the clothes, and we ended up with two clothes that I immediately tried to use in the fitting room.

  “This really looks good…?”

  The top part of my overalls was covered by a black t-shirt, and over that I wore a large, dark coat, like the ones some movie characters wear. The visible part of my overalls looked like pants, so I didn't need to buy any.

  “Aisha, are you ready?”

  “Yeah.”

  I went outside the fitting room and let Lusia look at the final result. Her eyes moved up and down, analyzing every single part of the outfit she selected for me.

  “It’s great!”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, you already have a serious aura, but with that it becomes a cool aura. We should get you sunglasses.”

  “No thanks…”

  That sounded a bit too exaggerated, so I went to pay for the clothes. Meanwhile, Lusia waited for me on the exit, and started to walk again when I was done.

  “I hope you become taller some day. Everything will look even better.”

  “My body is still growing, so maybe I will reach Camila’s height…”

  “That is too much, I don’t even know how tall she is.”

  “Maybe 1.80…”

  “Probably more.”

  “Will you grow up?”

  “Probably not. Nobody in my family is particularly tall.”

  “Your family…”

  Meeting Lusia’s family would be interesting. I would be able to know from where she got her face and from where she got her personality… It certainly would be fun...

  Suddenly, while I was thinking, Lusia stopped moving, so I guess we’re in the other place she wanted to visit. I looked up to see what it was, and it was a tiny karaoke place.

  “This place…”

  “You’ve been here before?”

  “Not in this one.”

  “Nice.”

  “Is it the type with an audience?”

  “Those places are too dangerous. This one has tiny rooms.”

  “Okay.”

  Lusia was the one who talked with the receptionist and got us a room. When we entered, the lights had a purple tone and a tiny controller was on the floor, so probably someone already used it.

  “So, these clothes are for singing…”

  “You finally got it! Your hair looks like a popular character's, so I wanted to see you sing with it.”

  “I’m not good at singing…”

  “Me neither, that will make everything even more fun.”

  That logic had some problems, but I didn't try to contradict it, instead, I went for the controller

  “Oh, you’re gonna go first?”

  “I was a few steps ahead, so it’s only fair that I start. You’d say something like this.”

  “I totally would.”

  Maybe I had the initiative, but most of the songs were unknown to me, so I picked the last selected song.

  “?…”

  “Haha, I can barely hear you.”

  Sometimes I ended up singing out of time, but I managed to adapt for the second half and finish the song well.

  Lusia picked a piece of paper from… I don’t know where, and qualified my singing with a seventy.

  “I think I got better…”

  “It was good, but too soft.”

  “I’m not good at projecting my voice. In my previous visits to karaokes I was the one who cheered with chestnuts...”

  “All right then, I will show you how to do it.”

  Lusia touched the buttons and selected the song so fast that I wasn’t able to see what she was about to sing.

  “I’m already regretting it.”

  “Hmm?”

  The song started, and when Lusia started singing, I was surprised at how loud it was.

  Her vocal range was impressive. I knew she practiced, but I didn't expect her to sing so loudly. The most striking parts were when her voice cracked.

  Once the song finished, she touched her own neck while sweating.

  “I think it was a bit too much…”

  “You need water?”

  “Please…”

  After rehydrating, she selected a third song.

  “Are you sure you can keep singing…?”

  “Yeah, my throat can manage a few more songs.”

  Although she probably wasn't lying, she only stopped being sick a week ago, so I moved the microphone a few centimeters away from her mouth.

  “Please rest…”

  “Are you worried?”

  “... Yes.”

  If Lusia feels pain in her throat again, I wouldn’t be happy, even more when I can prevent it by just talking enough.

  “... All right, just one more song for me.”

  “Thanks…”

  “But it will be a duet. If it doesn’t satisfy me, I will keep singing.”

  “... All right…”

  We both took a microphone and started with the last song. It had some unison parts, but I tried to manage most of the parts where only one of us sang.

  “???!”

  “???…!”

  Raising my voice more than I usually do was complicated, but Lusia’s smile confirmed that I was doing a good job. Maybe her idea from the start was singing too hard and then making me try to sing louder… Or maybe she’s very careless.

  By the end of the song, I was sweating and clutching my neck, wondering how loud I'd sung. Lusia did the same with her neck, but she didn't seem tired.

  “How was it…?”

  “You need a better teacher… But you adapt very well…”

  “Then…”

  “Yeah, I’m satisfied…”

  “Great…”

  It was just the two of us, so I dropped to the floor and rested.

  “The coat will end up dirty.”

  “I can clean it…”

  “Okay… Hehe.”

  “What?”

  “I think I saw you smiling for a second.”

  “Really?”

  “Or maybe it was just a reflex.”

  “The smile practice is finally doing something…”

  “Please sing more songs.”

  “... If you want that.”

  “Choose the best songs for you!”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t know!”

  Our visit to the karaoke felt more like a mini private concert for Lusia, so I did my best to choose songs and keep Lusia’s excitement high.

  A day with a simple plan and having fun with simple activities can be very fun. Even more when she’s here.

  trivia