Note Passer: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

When I get home I drop my bag on the floor and open my phone. When I do, I get a message for May. I click it open and read,  Hey Jaki I heard that you were really stressed out today so I am just checking in. So are you okay??

I think about that for  moment and text back, No. 

When I do, Selango runs up to me smelling like honey soap.“Hi Salang.” I walk her out to my large backyard and throw a green ball for her, keeping my eyes on my phone the whole time.

May texts back, Want to talk about it?

I really do want to, but I am worried she will think that she won’t understand. So I choose to be honest and text back, Yes but I don’t think you will understand. 

She and all her kind-hearted self says, Meet me at the park in 5 minutes and I will try to understand! 🙂 

I sit at a bench waiting for May with Salang running in circles at my feet. When May sits next to me, Salang calms down and trots over and stares at May trying to look scary until May puts her hand out and scratches her behind the ear. With Salang at her feet, May looked at me and said, “So.” 

I repeated, looking at my hand, “So.”

“Jaki, whats up with you? When we meet, you were really awkward, and even when I said I had a crush on you, you still talked to me.” 

For a moment, I just stared into her beautiful green eyes, intending to say something. I kiss her. I expected her to back away, but instead, she leans closer to me, her lip gloss rumbling on my lips, her soft hand on my hand. When we break, she gasps, and I start to say, “I am so…” 

“Don’t be sorry,” May says to my surprise. She giggles, grabs my hands, and helps me to my feet. Then grabbing Salang’s leash, she starts to walk around the large field. I’m still in shock so I let her lead.

When I start to say something, she interrupts with, “So Jaki what’s wrong?”

In that moment, it all runs back at me: the worries of sexuality and who I am and what all this means. 

“Well, I guess I just go from knowing who I am to not. Like I think I am this non-binary person who has always liked guys. Like I thought that, but like I never actually had a crush on a guy. I haven’t had many crushes, but the few I have had have been on girls,” I had been looking at my and May’s locked hands when saying this. I look into her eyes and she smiles.

She says, “I get it.” 

“Really!?” I was shocked she understood.

“Yeah, you know that as someone who rode the roller coaster of sexuality and self discovery, you can always talk to me.” Her green eyes were like emeralds in the sun.

I respond, “Good to know.”

She throws her head back and laughs. She runs ahead letting go of Salango leash. What is she doing? I think as she pats her thighs. Taking the cue, Salang runs at her, pushing her down. 

 “May!” I half yell in fear.

 “I’m fine. Jaki, can you help me up?” Dusting the fur off of her shirt, she gets up. 

“Sorry about that.”

She laughs and scratches Salang behind the ear, saying, “Well Jaki I have to go, I have theater.”

She does theater. That’s cool. 

“Okay bye.”

As she turns to leave I wave then to my surprise I grab her hand and ask, “May, will you be my girlfriend?” In my mind I am thinking, why did I ask? Why am I still holding her hand?

“Ohh… yes.” We both start to blush. She kisses me and turns to leave this time for real. I wave goodbye smiling. Then, I lead Salang back home. 

When I get home, I kick my shoes off and say, “Mom! Dad!” My mom walks into the foyer wearing a long flowing green dress with her her short hair in a ponytail with a clip 

“Hey Jaki, I have a meeting. Your dad is making dinner. I will be back to- wait, Jaki, why do you have lipgloss on?”

I wipe off the sparkle of May on my lips and say, “No reason, what were you saying?” 

“Nothing,” she says with suspicion in her voice.

I run up to my room and start on my homework.