The day was especially hot. In fact, it was too hot to even go outside. Haruto was lounging on the couch in a t-shirt and shorts, barely awake. He was slipping in and out of sleep, and thought to himself that it was weird that he hadn't seen Pix all day. The thought faded, though, as he fell as he dozed off in the summer heat.
Pix was sitting alone at the park, on the roof of the playground just like last time. He didn't mind the heat. He was more concerned with these strange newfound feelings. After all, it was something he had never experienced before– Why would your chest flutter like that near someone? He stared at his hands, the tips of his fingers slightly rosy in comparison to the pale blue of his skin.
It's almost like fear… But why? Haruto isn't someone to be afraid of… He bit his lip. I've been scared before. I know it isn't the same feeling… So what is it, then?! Pix stared up at the cloudless blue sky, his face solemn and frowning.
"Hey, Pix!" A familiar voice was carried up to him. He peered over the edge of the playground roof to see Lila standing there, wearing a red and black outfit with a lot of holes in it.
"Oh, hey, Lila." He sighed. She smiled at him.
"Mind if I sit?" She climbed the playground, sliding onto its roof with ease. "Y'know, there wasn't always a playground here. I remember when it was built."
"Oh… I see…" He was spaced out, staring into the distance. Lila rested her cheek on her knees, looking up at him.
"I'll tell you a secret," she said, a twinkle in her eyes. Pix perked up a little.
"A secret?"
"Yeah. The thing is, I won't be in prep school next week. I'll be here, because…" She ran her thumb across her knuckles. "Well, my mom is putting me in a pageant in a month."
"A pageant?" He asked, leaning over now to look at her.
"Yeah. A snobby beauty contest that rich people put their daughters in." She sighed. "I said I'd be in prep school because I don't want anyone to know. Man, I wish I didn't have to go. But I have to."
"Lila, that's terrible!" She was surprised, and looked over to see Pix staring at her with wide, sympathetic eyes. "You shouldn't be forced into something you don't wanna do!"
"Well, it's my mom." She shrugged, but there was a bit of a wince behind her smile. "I mean, I can't say no. She already doesn't like me that much. But I just…" She exhaled, staring into the distance. "The clothing isn't the issue. It's all those eyes on me that I hate the most. I don't like being the center of attention, but all the other ladies like to pick me apart. It makes me feel… really bad." She shook her head gently, and looked back at Pix. "I don't want to bum you out or anything. I get the feeling that you're feeling kinda singled out sometimes, yeah? Sometimes, it helps to know you're not alone feeling that way."
"Ah…" A gentle breeze fluttered by, brushing Pix's hair away from his eyes. I see now… I never had anyone to talk to, so… "Well, to be honest…" He stared at his knees, his face reddening. "There's a strange feeling I get whenever I'm around Haruto. It wasn't so bad at first, but… It just confuses me."
"Pix…" Her eyes were bright and full of kindness. "I think the word you're looking for is 'like.'"
"Huh?" He blinked at her confusedly. She stared at him for a few seconds, then began to laugh. "Hey! What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to laugh!" She chuckled, shaking her head. "What I mean is, you like him."
"Huh? Well, yeah, I like him. He's pretty nice!"
"No, not like that! I mean… like a crush."
"Ah…" He looked away. He had no idea what a crush was. What does that even mean? Crushing someone? I don't want to crush him, though…
"Let me try to explain," Lila said, sweating a little. "Okay, look. When you like someone the way you like Haruto, it's in a way that's… more than friends."
"Ehh?"
"Think romance." Now it clicked. Pix's entire face flushed, and he turned away, now feeling a hundred degrees warmer.
"O–Oh… I see…" There were about a million things he could expect, but this wasn't one of them. In fact, he figured it was more likely that the whole planet would blow up. He didn't hate romance– in fact, he secretly really enjoyed romantic books, or at least the ones he read on Earth in his visits– but he himself had zero experience. When he thought about what he had read, and the descriptions of the way characters felt for one another, he got a little dizzy. She's right! I do like him that way! Oh, no…! Pix covered his face with his hands in anguish.
"Whoa, it's okay!" Lila put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Hey, there's nothing to be worried about. You don't need to be scared."
"BUT THIS IS REALLY BAD…" He groaned, his face still covered.
"Huh? How come?" He looked up at her pitifully.
I can't tell her I'm from outer space! If a lot of people end up figuring it out, I'll be in big trouble… He bit his cheek, trying to think of a reason.
"Is it because you guys are friends and living together right now?" Lila's eyes softened. "I bet that would make it really awkward…"
"Ah! Yeah! That's it." He sat up straight, nodding. "Uh huh. I don't wanna ruin what we already have! That's all!" She looked at him sympathetically.
"I get that. Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here." Pix's eyes got all shiny.
"Thanks, Lila. The same goes for me, too." For the rest of the afternoon, he sat and listened to her stories from when she was way younger– how she fought bullies to protect her brother, put worms on her teacher's desk for scolding her friend too harshly, and so on. He got the feeling that Lila was someone reliable, and it made him feel guilty. She's told me a lot about her life, but I have to make stuff up about mine… He wished he could tell her. Even more than that, though, he wished he could tell Haruto more about his home. Even if he knows I'm an alien, there's a lot I haven't told him…
When Pix walked into the house, it was quiet, and the sunset was pouring in through the windows. He wandered into the living room and found Haruto fast asleep on the couch. Pix smiled, sat down on the carpet, and rested his head on the couch cushion. There were a lot of things he just couldn't say, and one of them was something he'd never said at all before. Something shiny and new, that he'd just discovered.
I like you, Haruto. I like you a lot.
When Haruto woke up, he rubbed his eyes groggily, mumbling.
"What time is it… Ah?" He blinked a few times, waking up more, and found Pix asleep on the floor, flopped over on the carpet like a starfish, snoring soundly.
Jeez… How can that even be comfortable…? Haruto sighed, smiling to himself. It wouldn't hurt to let him sleep a little while longer.