“Hello? Are you awake?” Perhaps I should tap his arm again.
“Huh?! Wh-what?! Oh, shit. Hi there.” I must have frightened him. His breathing is heavy and he sat up very quickly. His laugh is as joyous as ever, however. “Sorry, you just scared me a bit there. Here, sit down in the same place so we can start! I’m really excited for tonight.”
There’s something about the way his smile and the way he pats the bed next to him, feverishly. “Alright, what did you want to show me?” I lean against his back, almost instinctively.
“Today, I’m gonna show you what a video is! So, imagine a photo but over a longer period of time, right? Also, it can record sound too. A video, I guess, lets you relive a part of time. I suppose the best way to explain it is just to show you. Here, I recorded this earlier today, just hit the the little triangle in the corner and it should start.” The device is showing him in a room full of wood topped with marble and a strange set of metal doors. A large metal shape is amongst the wood with strange circular patterns on the top. “You… You know where the button is? You’re taking a little while, haha.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry I was just inspecting it before hand. Is it this blue triangle in the corner?” As if the device was responding to me, the moment I tapped it, he bagan moving!
“Hi, Kichi!” That is his voice but I can’t feel him speaking. Is this the power of a video? “It’s currently, uh… shit. Haha, yeah, It’s like two thirty as I’m recording this. I’m in the kitchen making lunch right now. I know two is a bit late to be having lunch but I woke up kinda late cause someone had me up all night.” It’s strange to see his smile in the light. “Yeah, I guess this is what a video is. I’m behind you being quiet, unless I’m laughing or something, but I’m also here, several hours ago, eating lunch! Well, I’m not eating yet. It’s still in the microwave.” A smaller metal box hums with numbers decreasing… Is this a microwave? “Ugh, this is the longest three minutes of my life. I’m so hungry!”
“Why are you hungry?” I turn, slightly, so I can catch a glimpse of him.
“Wh-what?” There’s that feeling of his voice. “Oh, no! I’m not hungry right now. I was hungry when I made that video. That was me from twelve hours ago. Does that make sense?”
“Ah… I suppose? Oh, I’ve missed the rest of the video. It seems to have stopped.”
“Oh that’s fine! Heh, don’t worry about it. There wasn’t much else. Um, just give me the phone and I’ll show you some other videos!” He’s warmer than usual. He sounds… nervous? I suppose I should just hand him the phone anyways. “Alright, so people can also make videos and share them on this thing we call the internet. The internet is… A bit too complicated for me to try and explain to you but imagine this invisible, intangible web connecting all these devices.”
“Do they connect those devices in your, what did you call it, your kitchen? Does it connect to your, um, microwave?” His laugh shakes the bed as he’s leaning back against me even more.
“No no. Those can’t access the internet. It’s mainly just phones and computers. Well, that’s kind of a lie but those are the two important ones. Whatever, just take it and click the white triangle in the middle this time… And don’t stop to look at it first!”
The video is of a strange four legged creature being held above a body of water as it moves its legs. I’m unsure as to why but I’m smiling. My eyes are wide and my heart feels full. “What is this thing? I’m smiling but I can’t explain why.”
“It’s a dog, a corgi specifically, trying to swim in the water even though it’s not actually in it. It’s cute, isn’t it?”
“Cute…?”
“Yeah, cute. It just is nice and makes you feel good. That’s it.” I must admit, I do feel ‘good,” if that’s what you call this feeling. It’s certainly a pleasant feeling. If this is what seeing something ‘cute’ means, then… he must be cute…
I’ve been watching video after video for, most likely, an hour. He showed me ‘cute’ videos, ‘funny’ videos, ‘sad’ videos, and much more. I felt him laugh, I heard him tear up, I knew he smiled. In a strange way, I feel closer to him after tonight. “So… You said that this device allows you to talk to people far away. Do you believe that you could use it to talk to me while I’m away?”
“I… doubt you have wifi wherever you’re from. But… Wait! I’ve got an amazing idea! Come back tomorrow tonight, I’ll have something I think you’ll like. I need to go to sleep earlier tonight though cause I do have to work tomorrow. So I’m sorry but you may have to go…”
“Ah, I-I understand. I’ll go but… Can I… Can I have another hug?” I shouldn’t have done that! My heart feels like it’s going to blow out of my chest. I’m so warm-
“Yeah! Of course!” His strong arms make me feel safe. No harm can find me here. I’m wrapping my arms around him now and I know this is right. This is the correct thing for me to do. Being in his arms is the correct thing.
Comments (0)
See all