JUDE
I get tired of waiting for Andre and decide to start dying my undercut hair.
This is the first time I am dying my hair, feeling like this change is needed. A lot has changed in my life, many unpredicted, a lot that I can't have control over. But my hair, right now, I can dye it. I have control over this, and I can do it now, too.
The process takes a little over thirty minutes since I am doing it myself. I am sure I haven't done the back well, but I don't care at the moment. I just want to do it and not think too much about it.
My scalp is really starting to itch a little.
"Hey, Jude…"
I turn around, and Miko is at the door, eyes wide. "What's up?"
"You are dying your hair? On your own?" he walks in and removes my hands from my hair for him to see. "You didn't powder?"
"I was waiting for andre but he is taking too long so I thought I could start," I chuckle as I remove the gloves.
"You might burn if it goes on like this. Come," he tugs my hand and starts to lead me out of the room.
"Where are we going?"
"My room. I have something to prevent you from getting a burn and for the color to settle well. Why didn't you ask me?" Miko pushes his door open and tugs me along to the bathroom.
I don't even have time to look around his room before he closes the bathroom door and instructs me to sit on the closed-lid toilet seat.
"I didn't want to disturb you, and you were playing so," I shrug, trying my best not to scratch my scalp. It's getting itchy.
"You don't have to do anything by yourself when I am here. What if I didn't come in time?" he starts applying powder around the edges before squeezing a cool gel like liquid in my hair and then massaging it gently. It immediately makes the itchiness cool off.
I do not have anything to respond to his question. I hate burdening others, not when I can do things myself. But I love being there for others, not wanting them to take a load all by themselves if I can help it.
"Is it still itching? He asks me softly, lifting my chin. The touch and the movement are so unexpected that I blush, pulling my face away from his hand.
"Yeah, it's a little better now. How did you know it was itching?"
"Because I remember my first time too," he says, cleaning his hands on the sink. "So, what prompted this change?"
"Andre wanted a hair color change, I thought, why not?"
He doesn't say anything, but I can feel him looking at me through the mirror in front of us.
"It's all overwhelming, and you wanted to at least find control in this one thing."
My eyes meet his, surprisingly not shocked that he can read me so well. "Everything is changing. It's a new world, and I am this one small plant in a new dimension, trying to see if I can take root and not be blown away by the strong winds."
Miko towels his hands dry before he turns around with a soft smile, hands in his sweat pockets. "Do you want to play video games with me?"
"Aren't they playing still?"
"Here. I have a game console."
"Sweet, let's do it!"
He hands me a towel, and I drape it over my shoulder, and we make our way out to his bedroom. I am finally able to look around. The room has a dark green theme to it, from the few plants scattered around the room to the massive bed that has a dark green duvet, black and white sheets, and the burgundy carpet, a shade of green paint …
It's the cosiest bedroom I have ever been.
He has a couch fit for three people infront of a massive tv, and a game console under it.
"Your room is so good." I walk around, noticing the paintings put on one side of his room and one blank canvas put on an easel. "You paint?"
"Thanks, and yeah," he chuckles, taking the controllers before sitting down.
"Wow, and they are so good." I see a painting of a serene view of a place I am unfamiliar with.
"Thanks," Miko responds, and I finally walked over to the couch. His face is a little red.
"I have always admired people who can draw."
"Really?"
"Yeah." I sit back, taking the controller he hands me. "Can I tell you something weird? All my life, I have been surrounded by people who can draw; it's a little too coincidental."
"No way, really?" he starts the game, but we don't immediately play.
"Yeah. its either my best friends throughout from kindergarten to high school or it's the girls I went out with. I think I am starting to think it's a sign for me."
He is looking at me with an unreadable expression. "Sign for what?"
"That I should start drawing, learn at least, or my soul mate knows how to draw. I think it's the former," I shrug, chuckling a bit as we set up the game.
"I think it's the latter," he sneaks a glance at me before looking back at the screen. "the people you dated were good?"
"Yeah. But you are the first painter I have ever met. It's pretty cool. And you are insanely talented."
"You just saw one. How can you say it casually?" Miko shifts, tilting his body so that he is slightly facing me.
"You are the kind of person that someone knows that you are an artist even before you say anything. And with that kind of aura, being good at what you do is inevitable."
"No one has ever said that to me," miko admits and I turn my face to look at him. How could anyone not tell him that? He is the coolest person I have ever met. Everything about him is intriguing and interesting.
"They should."
Miko looks back at the screen. "I am glad you are the first person, though."
We played for an hour, laughing as we compete against each other. Miko is a good player, I will give him that. But I am not badly off myself, since I played at home when I was bored or feeling lonely and down. This way, I could forget all my problems and lose myself in this world, even if it's only temporarily.
The match ends when I floor Miko, even though we have been closely following each other's points.
"Okay, that was so good," I admit, laughing lightly as I put the controller down between us.
"I knew you were good, I didn't know you were a menace," he shoulder bumps me before standing up. "Time to wash up."
"Oh, right, I completely forgot," I stand up, feeling the dried hair with my fingertips. I am sure it's not healthy to leave it for such a long time, but what's done is done. "Let me go wash up."
"Where are you going?" he stops me as I make my way to the door.
"My room?"
"Come, I will help. I think you need another pair of eyes to see the damage done." his lips curl in an amused smile when he sees my horrified reaction to his statement.
I let him help wash my hair in the bathtub. It's a little uncomfortable since I have to sit on the floor, tilt my head back inside the tub so that I won't get soaked as miko washes it, pushing it back.
"So, is washing each other's hair a ritual or something?" I joke, my Adam's apple bobbing up and down as I look at the white ceiling.
"Something like that. We also paint our nails and braid each other's hair before cuddling and telling each other secrets."
That makes me burst out laughing. Obviously, he is joking. It's so easy talking to him, he is sarcastic and funny.
I hear him open what I can guess is a shampoo bottle before squeezing the gel on my now wet hair. When his fingers thread through my locks, applying just the right pressure, I close my eyes and hum in satisfaction.