Chapter Twenty- Group Hugs
"See my lunchbox? Isn't it cute?" Emily gushed, never failing to mention her new lunchbox or show it off to us with a wide grin on her face, lifting it for us to see the smaller details present in its design.
It was a 'bento'---a Japanese term for lunchbox—which was a quite big rectangle that was enough to fit variety of side dishes and rice. The designs were Sakura petals and glitters there and then.
She proceeds to remove the lid open, presenting to us the dishes she had inside. I was impressed if I was being truthful. It was a Japanese themed lunch with some rice, two slices of tonkatsu (pork cutlet), octopus shaped hotdogs and some plum.
Why did I know? I've been babysitting the little brat enough to watch some of the animes he's watched and learn a bit of Japanese culture while I'm at it.
"Did you cook this?" Tom asked, staring intently at the lunchbox with interest and astonishment. He had a hamburger on his other hand whilst his left hand pointed at the dishes.
"I did," Emily proudly grinned. "—I've been trying to cook for a month now and I guess I'm average enough to not poison anyone with my food, hehe."
"That's impressive if you ask me," I chimed in, taking a bite of my fried tempura—which were leftovers from last night. Eh, it's still delicious anyway, whether I heated it or not.
"Eh, you're being too kind Avery," she waved her hand at me, acting all modest when she's basically good at it already. "---I could never win against your cooking. I've still got a long way to go."
"You guys make me feel left-out," Tom mockingly frowned. "—I can only cook eggs, and that's about it."
"At least you can cook something," I shrugged, eyeing him a glance. "—some people can't even cook rice or break open an egg."
"But still," he pouted, acting like a sullen dog with its ears drooping. "—I want to show off too."
"You're such a child," Emily snorted childishly. "—if you want to, you can ask me for advice anytime."
"I will."
"Anyway, do you want some?" Emily murmured, grabbing her lunchbox, and extending it to Tom. "—hamburger for lunch seems lacking."
"Then, I'll get one," Tom smiles, pondering for a while whilst he stared at the dishes, a serious gaze plastered on his eyes. Geez, why is he so riled up about it? After a long staring contest with the food, he grabs one tonkatsu. "—thanks, Emily."
"No worries," she grins, chirpy that someone asked for her food. Well I can kind of get that feeling. When I first started cooking, I wasn't sure if it was good enough since it felt bland to me. When my mother said it was delicious, it made me so happy that I started cooking often. The joy of having someone appreciate something you've worked hard for is rewarding.
"I'm so full," Emily groaned, bloated after finishing her own lunch.
She laid on top of the lawn, her arms over her head as pillow whilst she stared at the blue, sunny skies up above.
The weather was hot and the clouds were part from each other, letting the sun glisten on its own spotlight. There was also a bit of breeze by the trees surrounding us which made her skirt slightly swirl upwards, but she couldn't care less. No one was going to see it anyway.
"When I was young, I used to think of clouds as cotton candy," she murmured to us, then lifted her hands and made a clawing motion to the clouds. "—they looked delicious to me. It'd be white, pink, orange, whatever the skies felt like."
"I've always wanted to touch the clouds," Tom piped up, sitting near to Emily with his knees propped up to his chest. "---would I be able to grasp and clench it with my fingertips? Or would it feel like nothing but air?"
Emily let out a small chuckle, thinking about it too. "Yeah. Little me thought that it would be nice to just fly and watch the world from above like some bird. Everybody would look like ants..and then I'd stomp them."
"You're so childish," I interjected, adjusting my skirt so it doesn't swerve upwards. It doesn't matter since I was wearing some cycling underneath, but it felt like a nuisance.
She turned her head to peer at me. "Eh......well, don't you have some stupid thoughts as a child, Avery?"
"I don't remember my childhood much," I frowned to my distaste. "---I'd rather forget it if I you asked me."
"I see..." Emily trailed off, sounding quite down about it. I didn't mean to sour the mood, but it was what I truly thought.
People tend to forget things that cause them pain. It was what I always did. My childhood was nothing particular or special, but I could mostly remember the bad things more often than the good ones.
"But," I added. "—I would always cherish the memories where my father would carry me on top of his head. I'd feel like I ruled over the world."
Emily and Tom both heavily fixated their gazes at me. I knew there were things they wanted to ask, but was better left unsaid. Emily blinked off. "You..never talked about your father, Avery."
"That's because you never asked," I stated.
"Is he......?"
I blinked, then realized what they meant. I snorted. "Stupid. He's not dead. He's...out there working, somewhere."
"I see."
"Do you..miss your father, Avery?" Tom surprisingly asked. He said it in such a cautious way as if he'd hurt my feelings if he'd ask. I remember the time I was sick and did some embarrassing things to him. He must've remembered what I said.
"I don't know," I truthfully answered. "—when I was young, I'd use to cry when he'd leave to work. He wouldn't be back until after a year or months later. He'd miss Christmas, New Year, my birthday and everything else that was supposed to be important."
"As I grew older, I realized that I got used to it," I muttered, flicking a grass with my fingers. "—because I knew he was working out there to keep us afloat and be able to provide for us."
"That's understandable," Emily sat right-up, then patted my back gently. "---my father and mother are often out for business trips. Sometimes you just get used to it."
"Alright!" Emily clasped her hands. "---group hug!"
"What---I don---"
"No buts, Avery!" Emily eyed me defiantly, playfully scowling at me. "let's all hug and wash the sadness away!"
"Emi---"
They won't listen. Instead, we ended up hugging each other with me being crushed by both of them like a sandwich in the middle.