2.
THE WAY TO SAY I LOVE YOUĀ : accepting !Ā» @borntoswim
2.Ā With a hoarse voice, under the blankets
3am has her between the sheets, sliver of moonlight cast onto one cheek, faint warbling of the television in the background. Ā despite emphatic protests of iām sick! and so are you!, petite limbs tangle with his obnoxiously long ones. Ā heās grumbling half-heartedly, back facing herā says heās not sulking or whatever she wants to call it. Ā what a load of crap. she tells him this and grins, cheekiness watered down by consistent sniffles. numbed fingers slip under his shirt and press obstinately against bare skin; heās yelping as he attempts to twist away from her, covers catching onto his legs, torn away from hers. Ā they bicker like children and engage in an impromptu round of tug-of-war (she wins).
eventually all the pent-up energy gives way to compromise: she offers him a corner of the blanket and after a moment he accepts, begrudgingly letting her worm her way back into his arms. Ā caterpillar ji. Ā when are you ever going to turn into a butterfly? amidst muffled laughter clenched fists bat at his shoulders, defiant. Ā somehow in the thick of it all, boys have managed to equate friendship with relentless teasing. Ā annoying, snarls out but she sounds less intimidating and more petulant. sheās never been good at holding grudges. Ā the ensuing silence has heavy lids lowering as she listens to him inhale, exhale, pulled breath-by-breath into awaiting slumber.
so this is how she says iām thankful for you, withĀ cold hands and stifled giggles and head nestled close to his. Ā when he smiles down at her, all sleep-worn and predictably affectionate, thatās how he responds.
Ā i know.
