Returning to campus feels like dragging a hundred-pound weight on my chest. I can’t breathe, and all I want to do is go back home to ma, climb into my loft bed, and cry. But I started something that I have to finish. Pop-pop would have insisted. So here am I, back at student housing.
Annette sends a text, asking me out, as soon as I step off my bike. I’m not trying to ghost her or anything, but I’m not emotionally prepared to respond, so I ignore it. Instead, I go up to my room and grab my homework for my next class. I doubt that I’ll be able to concentrate on anything ever again, but I’ll give it a shot.
I get downstairs and find Melisa standing there. I can suddenly feel my chest open up as I remember how to breathe again.
Kai: Hi!
Melisa: Hi. Sorry to just stop by, but a friend of mine saw you leaving your class upset. Is everything okay?
I don’t care who the friend is or how Melisa knew where I stayed. I’m just happy to have her here.
Kai: Uh, yeah. I mean – no. I just found out that my Pop-pop, uh – grandfather passed away.
Just saying those words makes me want to cry. My heart is heavy from missing him so much.
Melisa: Oh. I’m so sorry to hear that.
People say those types of things all the time, but they usually don’t mean it. It’s different with Melisa. She’s sincere, and that’s everything to me right now.
Kai: I was just about to sit down and start my homework.
Why did I say that? Now she’s going to leave.
Melisa: Can I sit with you?
This is not the time to try and play it cool. I’m practically begging for her company.
Kai: Please
My roommate Arthur passes by the table as we sit. He politely greets Melisa, then steps away. Although I know Melisa is here to offer her company as I deal with my grief…I want to avoid talking about it. So instead, I bring up a much safer topic.
Kai: Is pink your favorite color?
Melisa: I don’t know.
How could she not know?
Kai: You’re always wearing it.
Melisa: My mom always dressed me in pink so people could tell my sister and me apart. Over time, I just grew used to wearing it. I mean, I like it and try to stay away from like grays – but I never really had the chance to decide if it’s my favorite.
Kai: Are you a twin? Is that why people couldn’t tell you apart?
Melisa: Triplet – we have a brother, too.
Kai: Wow – triplets! I’m an only child, so I have no idea what it’s like to have siblings.
Melisa: Honestly, it can be isolating at times. At least it was for me. I’m the middle triplet, but my brother and sister always related to each other better than with me.
Kai: Are they here, too?
Melisa: No. My sister, Jamelia, moved to Brindleton Bay to train as a chef. My brother, Jalin, is in San Myshuno working in Social Media.
Kai: So you don’t have to wear pink all the time. No one will mistake you for your sister anymore.
Melisa smiles as her mind opens up to a new possibility.
Melisa: *chuckles* Maybe I’ll try wearing blue for a while.
She’d look amazing in blue. She’d look amazing in orange, purple, green – any color or nothing at all. I‘d love for her to know that, but I keep it to myself as she stares at me with those amazing eyes. I try to think of something else to ask her.
Kai: Uh, so what type of music do you like?
Melisa: This is embarrassing. I’ll tell you under one condition.
Kai: Okay, what’s that?
Melisa: You promise not to laugh.
Kai: Why would I laugh?
Melisa: I still like to listen to the kid’s station on the radio. You know, like the kid’s version of famous pop songs.
Kai: You mean like that Sim Bop stuff?
Melisa: See, you’re laughing at me.
Kai: Never. What else?
Melisa: I also like Winter Holiday Music, but only because it reminds me of spending Winterfest with my family.
Kai: I get why you’d like it. Family is everything.
Melisa: It is. Thanks for not making fun of me. My sister and I shared a bedroom growing up, and as we got older, she’d always turn the station if she caught me listening to any of that.
Well, if Melisa likes it, I love it.
Kai: Do you enjoy working out?
Melisa: Yeah, fitness was pretty big with my family. My dad loved to be outside hiking, jogging, snowboarding – anything active.
Kai: Oh! I’m starting a rock climbing club on campus. Would you like to join?
Melisa: I’ve never tried climbing.
Kai: I can teach you.
Melisa: I’ll try it, and if I like it – I’ll join.
Melisa: Have you ever been to Mt. Komorebi? My family used to vacation there because of my dad’s business. It’s where the most significant climbs take place.
Kai: I haven’t, but that’s my goal for the climbing club – planning a trip and climbing the mountain.
Melisa: That would be incredible.
Having her there would be incredible.
Melisa: Now you have to answer my questions.
Kai: Okay, but I’m not that interesting. What do you want to know?
Melisa: Where are you from?
Kai: Here. Well – I was born in Sulani but raised here in Britechester.
Melisa: Really?
Kai: Yeah, I spent a lot of my childhood here in this house. It used to be a daycare that I attended while my mom went to school at Britechester University.
Melisa: And now you live here – how cool. What about your dad?
Kai: I only met him once.
Melisa: Oh
I can tell she’s struggling to figure out what to say to that, so I help her out.
Kai: He wasn’t around, but it’s all good. I guess I turned out okay without him.
An absentee father is not the best subject to bring up during a conversation. I’m sure Melisa has a million questions about my situation, but she graciously changes the subject.
Melisa: Did you grow up around your grandparents?
Kai: They lived far away in Oasis Springs, but I saw them from time to time. I even spent some time with them in Sulani one summer. My Pop-pop moved to Windenburg with us after my gran died. And now…he’s gone, too.
I wanted to avoid the heavy topics that make me feel like my despair has been scooped out and put on display for everyone to see. But I almost don’t mind being a little vulnerable in front of Melisa.
Melisa: We had a nanny named Brock, who was like a grandfather to us. He recently passed away, too.
Kai: Sorry to hear that.
If I ever doubted that losing a nanny could be as heartbreaking as losing a grandparent…the sorrow and sympathy that I see in Melisa’s eyes changes that right away.
We sit in the company of our shared gloom for a few moments before I suddenly hear Melisa’s stomach growl.
Melisa: *slightly embarrassed* I’m sorry. I sort of skipped lunch today to come here.
She’s been here with me for almost the whole day. So she has to be starving.
Kai: There’s usually something pretty decent to eat in the kitchen. Help yourself.
Melisa: You sure your housemates won’t mind.
Kai: I’m sure. They’re pretty chill.
Melisa: Thank you!
Melisa enters the kitchen in search of something to eat. I remain where I am for a while before I realize that I’m wasting time that I could be spending with her. I don’t know what I’m studying anyway. I quickly put my book away.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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