Sakee and Rayne :: Just A Kiss

Just A Kiss

      “Sakee?”
      “Mmm?”
      “You asleep?”
      “Mmm hmm.”
      “Liar.”
      Kay turns over, facing Rayne. With her eyes still shut, “You know it.”
      “Did you sleep well?”
      “I am sleeping very well, thank you.”
      “We should get up.”
      “I have no desire to get out of bed today.”
      “We should still get up.”
      “We should also not be in the same bed.”
      “That’s why we should get up.”
      Kay opens her eyes and sighs a little—softly. “Rayne…” Her voice trails away. She looks at her friend, and quietly slips out of bed. She strides into the kitchen and puts the kettle on to boil. Her palms anchor into the counter top and she shuts her eyes, leaning on her arms and staring into the empty sink.
      “We didn’t do anything,” says Rayne, stepping into the large kitchen and leaning against the fridge. “Just a kiss.”
      Kay sighs her reply, “I know.”
      Both women stand in silence, neither one looking at each other. Kay bows her head and stares at the countertop. Rayne shuts her eyes and listens to the clinking fridge. The kettle starts to whistle softly. Within a second or two, the sound it makes is a screaming cry to be removed from the hot element.
      Neither women move.
      The small dark blue, metal kettle begins to shake under the pressure of the boiling water. Rayne reaches over and pull it away from the element. She turns the dial on the stovetop and the fire-red metal of the hot burner slowly begins to fade a little—even though heat continues to ripple the air.
      Kay pulls two mugs from the cupboard. Rayne draws a couple of spoons from the dishwasher. Kay stares at the empty mug and leaves the kitchen for the security of the living room. Rayne follows. Both mugs remain empty on the counter, the spoons sitting idly by, and the boiling kettle finally calming itself.
      Kay sits on the couch. Rayne follows. They sit at opposite ends—almost skirting further away from one another. They remain in silence for a long while more.
      Outside the cars are speeding by. They splash and honk at each other. The window is open; the sound is so much louder now—suddenly. There’s a cool breeze filtering into the room. The air smells fresh—wet. It must have rained last night.
      “I don’t know why it hurts so much,” says Rayne suddenly, looking over at her ex.
      Kay stares at the floor. The empty bottles aren’t beside the couch anymore. She wishes they were. She wants to break each and every one of them now. Shatter them. Reduce them to minute fragments of gleaming rubble.
      She doesn’t say anything to Rayne’s words.
      “I wish I could make it go away for you, Sakee,” says Rayne softly, moving over to sit beside her friend.
      “Why do you call me that?” asks Kay softly, looking to her ex.
      Rayne shrugs and smiles a little. “Not really sure. I think it has to do with all that Sake liquor we drank. Remember that?”
      Kay smiles a little, “I remember the initial ordering. I remember the drinking. But after that, it’s all a blur!”
      Rayne smiles and laughs a little. Kay laughs, too, gently. They both fall to silence.
      “Are you okay?” asks Kay, looking over to Rayne.
      “Yeah,” she answers with a small smile. “I’m a lot more okay than you are,” she adds softly, her hand finding Kay’s and holding it gently.
      “I’m fine.”
      “You wish,” says Rayne in a soft whisper.
      A long silence follows. There never used to be this kind of silence between them. Now, it seems to hover between them. A soft, gentle, and comforting silence.
      “I’m sorry about kissing you last night,” says Rayne, looking out the window.
      “Don’t be,” answer Kay.
      “Shouldn’t have done it.”
      “Why not?” presses Kay, looking her friend in the eyes. “I wasn’t drunk. I wasn’t emotionally shattered. I was in control of my own thoughts. I could have said no.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Unless…”
      “No,” says Rayne, “I was in control, too. I saw this coming with Sara almost from the get-go of the relationship. We both knew it would never possibly work-out. But we tried anyway.” She’s silent for a while. Finally, she releases Kay’s hand. “We’re too strong together,” she says, standing and moving into the kitchen to boil the kettle again.