The Tenth Night
Eiko Watanabe
To say that Eiko’s strong point was talking to people was an understatement. She barely said anything in the meeting, opting to let her sister speak for her and sit quietly. She was more of an observer than a speaker, to say the least. Thus, she knew quite a lot about her colleagues; for example, Edwin and Veronica had an affair – given the furtive glances Edwin sent to the latter, it wasn’t difficult to decipher the relationship between them. Nathan was agitated – as usual; the way he bounced his leg up and down in a restless manner and how his fingers matched the rhythm of his leg gave her the impression that he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Not that she could blame him. If it was possible, she wanted nothing to do with these people. Thus, once everyone got their names, they dispersed like smoke in the air.
The crisp cold air sent shivers up Eiko’s arms as she and her sister walked towards the bus stop. They passed by Rae and Nathan, on their way to the former’s car yet Eriko didn’t even spare them a glance. She held her head high as if the cold didn’t bother her and walked briskly. Eiko slowed her pace and looked back at the pair, discreetly waving at them, and then caught up to her sister who was already nearing the stop.
After a few moments, the silence between the twins was beginning to be deafening; the rustle of cloth, the bird call in the far distance and the sound of their heartbeats all but filled the momentary void between them.
“Why did you even bother to say ‘bye’ to them?” Eriko asked, breaking the ice after a few minutes.
“Nazedeshou ka?” She mused, “Sorera wo suki.”
“Well, whatever.” Eiko muttered, shoving her hands inside her pockets and kicking a pebble. It was no use arguing with her sister anymore. “Who did you get?”
“Pete Lindon,” she replied softly with a tinge of rasp, struggling slightly to pronounce the name properly.
“I know him!” The corners of Eriko’s lips curved into a grin. Pete Lindon was one of those who tried to pick her up yet the name eluded her until now. But she knew the man was borderline pedophilia already – although she didn’t plan on telling her sister that until they got home. “We’re going to have so much fun planning tonight.”
Eiko let a giggle escape her lips as her sister rambled on. It was true though; they were going to have fun planning as much as executing the deed.
The crisp cold air sent shivers up Eiko’s arms as she and her sister walked towards the bus stop. They passed by Rae and Nathan, on their way to the former’s car yet Eriko didn’t even spare them a glance. She held her head high as if the cold didn’t bother her and walked briskly. Eiko slowed her pace and looked back at the pair, discreetly waving at them, and then caught up to her sister who was already nearing the stop.
After a few moments, the silence between the twins was beginning to be deafening; the rustle of cloth, the bird call in the far distance and the sound of their heartbeats all but filled the momentary void between them.
“Why did you even bother to say ‘bye’ to them?” Eriko asked, breaking the ice after a few minutes.
“Nazedeshou ka?” She mused, “Sorera wo suki.”
“Well, whatever.” Eiko muttered, shoving her hands inside her pockets and kicking a pebble. It was no use arguing with her sister anymore. “Who did you get?”
“Pete Lindon,” she replied softly with a tinge of rasp, struggling slightly to pronounce the name properly.
“I know him!” The corners of Eriko’s lips curved into a grin. Pete Lindon was one of those who tried to pick her up yet the name eluded her until now. But she knew the man was borderline pedophilia already – although she didn’t plan on telling her sister that until they got home. “We’re going to have so much fun planning tonight.”
Eiko let a giggle escape her lips as her sister rambled on. It was true though; they were going to have fun planning as much as executing the deed.
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They're rough translations because unfortunately, I do not know Japanese although I wish I do, I wish I do.Nazedeshou ka? = why not?
Sorera wo suki = I like them