"It's raining, Ary." anda don't open your eyes as he approaches you.
"I know," anda said. anda can hear the patter of the rain on the rooftop. It's a soothing rythmless Muse to your ears.
"Wouldn't anda prefer to be inside?" he asks, standing over you.
"If I wanted to go inside, why would I be out here?" anda snap.
anda sigh and open your eyes. Alek stares blankly at you, letting the rain drops fall on him and soak his jacket.
"I'm sorry, Alek," anda apologize, shame forcing anda to look down at your hands. "I just..." anda trail off, the words dying on your lips as anda realized anda have no explanation. For once, anda have absolutely no answer.
Alek lowers himself onto the ledge beside you. He rests one hand on his knee, letting the other dangle over the edge. He silence helps anda collect your thoughts.
"I just get so frustrated sometimes," anda mutter, still staring at your palms. "This whole team thing is crazy. I Cinta it but..."
He looks over at you, waiting patiently for anda to find your words.
"Sometimes I just... I just want to scream," anda admitt finally.
"Then do it," Alek permits.
anda look over at him, your wet hair falling in your face.
"Really, go on," he prompts. "I don't mind. I won't even listen. See?" He places his hands over his ears. It's very comical.
anda shake your head. "I think that may scare the neighbors," anda say, meaning the occupants of the apartment building you're perched on.
anda listen to the patter of the rain as Alek falls silent once more, thinking over the matter.
"Alright," he says slowly. "Let me tunjuk anda something." He stands and reaches a hand down to help anda up.
anda look from your partner's outstretched hand to the ledge, searching for an excuse to stay where anda are. Why are anda looking for one? anda ask yourself. After all, this is Alek. Cool, calm, trusting Alek who would never do anything stupid and drag anda down with him.
Finally anda nod and take his hand, careful not to slip on the wet ledge as he leads anda off it. He releases your hand and leads anda to the firescape.
anda follow him down down down the ladder to the sidewalk below. Across the street. Over the avenue. And down the steps to the underground subway.
It is crowded down below, as usual. anda weave through the throng of people, keeping an eye on Alek's green coat. He leads anda to a door set in the dinding at the edge of the crowd.
Alek punches in a sequence and the door clicks open. After a cautious glance over his shoulder, he grasps your hand and quickly pulls anda through. Before the door is fully closed, you're jogging down the empty, dimly lit corridor after your partner.
The hall suddenly ends. Literally. It's like someone cleaved off the rest of the corridor. anda follow Alek to the edge and realize it opens up to the tunnel.
"It's safe, I promise," he reassures you. Then he turns and climbs down a short ladder leading to a small platform. Beyond the platform are the tracks.
"The engineers use these gaps for repairs," Alek explains as anda drop from the gap to the platform.
"I still don't understand why we're here," anda remind him as anda dust off your jeans.
"Wait for it," he says simply, watching the tracks.
After a moment anda feel the floor begin to vibrate beneath anda feet. The silence is gone and is replaced sejak a growing roar.
"Alek," anda say nervously.
"It's the seterusnya train," he says. "Count to ten, then let it all go!"
anda finally understand. The roar of the train will surely cover any scream. It is an ingenious idea.
Not seeing any reason not to, anda shut your eyes.
1... 2... 3... anda think of every time you've been outsmarted. 4... 5... 6... Of every time anda have gotten annoyed, angered, frustrated.The floor of the platform is shuddering so hard it's becoming difficult to stand in place. The roar in your ears is defining.
7...8...9... anda think of every time you've wanted to slam a door. punch a wall. Cry and yell and scream at the bahagian, atas of you're lungs, but didn't because it would be immature and childish. 10.
anda squeeze your eyes shut and scream as loud as anda possibly can.
It's like popping the lid of a fizzing bottle, only to have it explode. And that's what anda do. Explode.
anda scream and scream, adding to the thunder as the train rushes past. The sounds mix to a single voice.
anda scream and yell and scream scream scream.
Finally, anda feel the air escape your lungs. anda yell a final burst, then slowly open your eyes, panting. The end of the train comes and goes.
anda feel light as air. It's a new feeling. A great feeling. anda grin widely. Just because anda can.
anda look over at your partner. His face is red as a beet and he's breathing as hard as anda are. Alek had taken his own advice. He faces anda and grins as widely as anda are, his eyes glittering emeralds.
"Better?" he asks.
anda nod truthfully. "Much."