Chapter One, part two

The sun was setting, and the playground was no longer occupied by energetic children. Kuniva parted ways with Jasmine and Marquis walking down the main street. He looks up at the orange sky watching a fleet of US navel destroyer streaking across the blazing sky. I can’t believe they made me wait with those kids until their parents came to pick them up. It was fun though… uh...

Staring off in the distance, Kuniva stops, his eyes peeled open. Well hello!

Standing in front of a convent store a girl with black hair in a double ponytail swatting the air talking to herself even though nothing was there.

People walking by thought the girl was going crazy as she flailed her arms in the air. Even Kuniva thought the same. “Hey Evelyn!” he shouted as he approached the girl dressed in street-tech fashion just as he did. Their taste in street fashion was the same.

She stopped for a second noticing Kuniva then resumed swatting the air. “Long time no see, Kuniva, it’s good to see you again, you haven't grown an inch since I seen you.” She greets him with a hug swatting the air again mumbling under her breath.

Kuniva grins his teeth at her remark about his height. "I did grow! By eight inches it's you who didn’t grow. Anyway, what are you swing at?” Kuniva asked, trying to see what she was attacking.

“Uh, yeah. Just these damn bugs are annoying! Never wanting to leave you alone constantly buzzing in your ear telling you what to do all the time,” her face looked surprised as her swatting ended.

“What brings you all the way to the city? Why didn’t you call me?”

“Oh I yeah… came to… see my grandmother before I leave for the college tour in Germany next week, hints why I didn't hit yo line. Hey, want to hang out for a while?”

“What about your grandma?”

“Ahh, don’t worry I have some time for small talk and catching up.”

Kuniva and Evelyn enter the store making a few purchases on snacks.

It’s been four years since she moved away, I haven’t seen her since my first year in middle school. He looked the girl up and down scanning every detail about her, from her braided hair, sun kissed brown skin, Evelyn leaned in, her tomboy-like brown eyes gazed into his. It was like she was looking directly into his soul. Something about her changed but I don't what. Anything can happen in four years.

“Is something wrong, you're looking a bit flushed, you’re not sick right?”

Knuiva snaps back to reality taking a deep breath. “I’m mentally exhausted, it’s been a long day.” Kuniva leans his head back with his eyes closed.

“Uh, everything is fine. Everything is peachy enough about me. Are you feeling excited to be going to college overseas next year?”

“Eh~ it has its merits and demerits. The hard part is balancing school, a social life, traveling away to distance lands away from my grandma will have an impact, and working a part time job. Its going to be stressful at times on many levels. It doesn't get any easier with every semester i heard, I can kiss my freedom goodbye the moment I step through those doors next year. Oh yeah, I invaded your house to surprise Sabrina earlier, but she wasn’t home. What’s up?”

“She was summoned to Neo Cairo by her boss about a change in workplace.”

“And she didn’t take you?”

Kuniva's shoulders drooped. “Nah, her folks aren’t too keen on opening arms to biotics their old fashion,” He said.

"I mean you can't blame them. They're not used to someone wielding the unimaginable. Seeing people with powers would freak them out or threaten them."

Evelyn takes small bites of her ice cream cone and looks up at Kuniva.

She scoots closer to him close enough that he can feel her body heat. “How long are you planning to stay up here?” Kuniva asks while fidgeting with his half empty container of alkaline water.

She hums swinging her crossed legs back and forth, rocking her head side to side. “I was supposed to head back to the south tonight, but another situation popped up the moment I got off the train, pushing that date back by a week or so."

“Hey, did you finally get caught by public safety while freerunning in that abandoned factory?”

“Ah~as if! I’m planning to keep it that way!”

Kuniva shivered causing his sitting posture to straighten.

Evelyn giggles. "Oh, how's the old Freerunning cerw? the last time I called Roxanne, she was getting ready for that massive battle royal coming up."

"Well, Roxanne is still looking for new recruits since she scared away the last batch of newbies. She's been really competitive since team Relentless smashed the Knight of Round in the UK. Since then they've been on a winning streak."

"The Knights of Round we're defeated? I understand how she feels, The Knights of Round are the elite in the Freerunning community. All the more for you to participate in the group meetings more often."

"Yeah, I would but school has been bleeding my time dry. Hey, if you're still around, come back to the team for Borough Clash."

"Oh, I cant. I have too much on my agenda. But I will be cheering the team on from the sidelines."

“Evelyn?”

“Hmm?”

“Your ice cream is melting.”

Evelyn jumps up from her seat. Her soft serve treat dipped over her pants and sneakers, she curses the ice cream under her breath as she wipes away the drops of melted ice cream.

Kuniva reaches over to his left and grabs a napkin. This feels too familiar. Kuniva recalls the event at the dinner this evening.

Kuniva beings to clean off the icream her pants. Evelyn eyes widened when she felt him touching her thigh. She stares blankly at Kuniva with her red face. He’s unaware of what he’s doing! I’m not going to complain. This kind of reminds of when I use to treat his cuts. Oh, how things change.

"Well you're wearing black so it won't even be noticeable," Kuniva said, tossing the used napkin in the trash.

Evelyn reaches her hand out and pats Kuniva on the head.

“Is something wrong?”

“Everything is fine and thanks.” She hastily finishes her ice cream.

“Hey, want to race to my grandma’s place like we use to?”

“A race?” Kuniva said, pondering the thought. He watches Evelyn tie her sneakers and limbers up like a professional sprinter.

Kunvia finishes his drink and limbers up as well. It’s not like I have a choice. Losing isn't an option. Knowing her she'll make it a Freestyle race.

Evelyn takes a few seconds to think then her eyes lit up.

“You haven't gotten rusty in freerunning have you? ”

I called it! Kuniva chuckled, puffing his chest out. It was almost like Evelyn knew the right buttons to press to get him to partake in their friendly competition.

“Hell, I’m still the reigning Freestyle King!”

“Is that so!~ Remember to pay homage to the one who taught you, youngling! Oh, wait shall we make it interesting?” she smiles with a snarky grin.

An competitive rush took over Kuniva when Evelyn asked him those words, he wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge especially from Evelyn.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Loser have to…”

In the middle of prep, without a heads-up Evelyn takes off in a full stride down the street vaulting over a car.

Kuniva takes off in a full sprint. Why do I keep falling for that?

Evelyn looks behind her seeing Kuniva catching up to her despite her head start. Running down the street under the bright streetlights, vaulting over fixed objects, springing off walls. This definitely feels like four years ago.

Kuniva was trailing directly behind Evelyn. It was as if he didn’t want to overtake her even though he can quickly put an end to their competition.

Going easy on me uh? Well, I learned something new while I was away. Evelyn picks up the pace taking a sharp left into an alleyway scaling the wall horizontally avoiding the large green dumpsters.

Kuniva isn’t surprised at her new skill, after all she was the one who taught him the art of freerunning. Kuniva shifts into a full sprint and leaps into the air clearing the garbage dumpsters.

Evelyn was suddenly knocked off balance when a sudden blur zipping by her.

“Show off!” Evelyn shouts as she quickly regains her balance, shaking her fist.

They raced through the crowds of people, leaping over cars, railings and banisters. In the eyes of a true freerunner the city itself is one massive playground constructed entirely out of concrete and steel.

After clearing a mile-long race Evelyn pants as she takes a seat on the steps of a brownstone house.

“Ha ha…ha~ I win!”

“You cheated!” Kuniva didn’t look exhausted as Evelyn did.

“Cheating~ I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. But anyway, I had fun. We should do that again but a lost is a lost now you have to get me a nice prize.”

“As long as it's within my buying power, Name it?”

Evelyn pretends to think about her gift as she looks at Kuniva out of the corner of her eye and smiles.

“Humm~ I don’t know what I want I’ll let you pick.”

“You’re not giving me any room aren’t you?”

Evelyn hums gently. “Nope~ I’ll be waiting for that gift.”

Kuniva scratches his head. “Like always.”

“Aww~ you know me so well. But I have to go, I’ll see around or should accurately say you’ll see me before I see you.”

She gives Kuniva a parting warm hug. Without a moment of hesitation Kuniva hugs her back but tighter.

“Evelyn is that you baby? And who is that person you hugging up on like that? Don—”

“Easy grandma, it’s only Kuniva.”

Kuniva looks up at the window and waves at the elderly woman wearing a bonnet looking out in the window.

“Hey grandma!”

“Hello sugar, how you been?”

“I’m doing going good.”

“I would greet you in but it’s late and my grandma needs to get up early for her appointment,” Evelyn said looking up at her grandmother.

“Well, See you later, Kuniva and brush up on your skills.” Evelyn race up the stairs and enters the house.

“I should be the one telling you that.”

Evelyn stood by the window watching Kuniva leave. He hasn’t changed a bit.

Kuniva remained rooted at the bus stop for several minutes ferociously thinking about his loss and what he has to get Evelyn as a consolation prize. People walking by him stared at him like he’s a living statue.

A few minutes later he’s pulled to reality when he felt someone tugging on his sweater, when he looked down it was the little boy from the park. “You smell like rain.” The mother pulled the boy away apologizing, but it didn't bother him since he was used to hearing those same words.

He sighed. “What a day, I’m homebound!”

*******

Kuniva makes it to his apartment after an hour and a half train ride from Manhattan to Coney Island. Barging through the front door, dropping his bag on the floor and going straight for the couch and sprawled out.

The bedroom was just down the hall but the first comfortable thing Kuniva saw had the words sleep drawn on it.

He clapped his hands, turning off all lights in the house. Kuniva inhaled and tilted his back looking at the city skyline blanketed by rolling dark clouds obscuring the shattered moon. The forecast did mention there's only two more weeks of cloudy skies. The red glow in his eyes fade as he slowly drifts off to sleep.

*******