BOO!

Jaki and I sit at the kitchen table across from each other and enjoy the fruits of our labour. I made sure to make another huge portion so she can also have it for breakfast.

"This is so good. You're like a professional chef Sandy."

"Thanks, it was a group effort."

I reply awkwardly, still not used to all the compliments given to me. Though once again I feel happy seeing Jaki enjoying the food I made.

We finish eating without having talked much. Though the silence wasn't the awkward kind. We are both winding down after a long day. It felt nice to relax without feeling the need to make conversation. The prescience of each other was enough.

Though now that I'm done with dinner, I don't know what I should do next.

I guess normally now would be the time to leave. After all we already ate dinner and it's getting late.

Jaki as if having read my mind and desire to stay longer says:

"Do you wanna chill a bit before you leave, we can watch something on the TV?"

"Yeah, sure!"

I answered a little bit too eagerly.

* * *

We switched on to some random TV channel about a nature documentary. Though I'm not really paying much attention to it. I think it's about pandas or something.

Instead I am paying much more attention to the fact that me and Jaki are both sitting together on the couch together. And this couch is tiny.

There are only two cushions on it and the arms of this couch takes up most of the space.

All this means that Jaki and I are practically touching shoulders as we sit down together.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask you why were you so nervous and tense the other day."

"You were apologizing for every little thing even though you were the one helping me out."

"Ah about that, I always thought you hated my guts."

"Hmm? Why would I?"

Jaki tilts her head a little in confusion.

"Maybe you forgot already, but do you remember that one time someone accidentally spilt strawberry milk on you?"

Jaki scrunches her eyebrow.

"Hmm I think I vaguely recall. Though to be honest I completely forgot about it until you mentioned it just now."

"I see. Well it was me that accidentally spilt it, and I remember you glaring at me."

I feel a little embarrassed as if I am confession to a huge crime.

"So ever since then I've always thought you didn't like me. And I guess your reputation as the Ice Queen at school didn't help."

"Ah that Ice Queen stuff. I always thought it was silly. I didn't mean to glare, its just my resting bitch face.

"I just wanted to see where the milk came from. After that I went off to wash the stain once I figured out it wasn't done maliciously."

"I should have said something when you were apologising though. That was my bad, my mind was too occupied with cleaning my clothes first."

"Yeah, its all good, don't worry about it. I figured from actually spending time with you that all the Ice Queen stuff is just exaggeration and rumours."

"I actually thought you were gonna be a super serious and scary person at the start because of all the rumours. Though that can't be further from the truth, haha. You can actually be quite childish at times especially when it comes to connect four, hehe.

"Oh, so you don't think I can be serious and scary?"

Suddenly the atmosphere changes.

Her hand now grabbing on to the sofa arm behind me as she leans in closer.

Her expression turns to a serious one with a piercing gaze. My heart beats uncontrollably as she stares into my eyes.

Her face now only inches away then suddenly:

"BOO!"

"AHH!"

I lean back and hit my head on the sofa arm from being startled by Jaki.

Jaki now rolls back to her side of the couch and is giggling uncontrollably over my reaction.

"Argh! Why would you do that! You scared me so much!"

I hit Jaki with some weak punches on her shoulders.

"Sorry, sorry. Haha. I couldn't help myself. I just wanted to tease you a little bit when you said you thought I was super serious and scary, haha."

"Though I can't believe it worked, haha"

"Hmph."

I pout as I try to look angry at Jaki. Though deep down I feel happy that we can mess around with each other like this.

It feels like the initial tense barrier that I have built around Jaki has well and truly been teared down.