You've got some interesting company No wonder you're still single, hanging out with weird old dudes. You two could go anywhere and — I bet — you'd hook up with some chicks in the first hour.
I exhaled loudly through my nose and chopped the air with my hand:
That's Stop acting like that. Don't forget — you're here on thin ice, and no one's keeping you. So if you ever again speak negatively about my life or the people I care about, then…
…then what? – She curled her lip into a wolfish – You gonna go cry to Grandma?
The wave of irritation left me immediately, because I quickly understood everything. My sister was a typical bully, as if taken straight from a social psychology textbook. So there was no point in taking her jabs seriously. I just had to try not to react.
Louise, as if she'd just heard my thoughts, rushed to prove them wrong:
Sorry, Big I didn't mean to hurt or insult you. I just haven't adjusted to your country yet and feel totally out of place. .. forget it. – I was the first to reach out my hand, glad it all ended quickly. I was always nervous around raised voices and honestly didn't know how to handle situations like that. And if my sister had pushed me any further, I have no idea how I would've reacted. Good thing she didn't seem like a completely messed-up person. Well, at least I wasn't thinking of her that way. Yet. How do you even carry this thing around? – She lifted the oxygen tank and knocked on it with her knuckles. – Damn, it's heavy! I'm used to – After my dry reply, we both went quiet again.
The conversation wasn't going anywhere, so without saying a word, we started walking toward the house. I was planning to warm up and take a long shower since I was already frozen to the bone.
After I'd done all that and felt steamed up and in a better mood, I sat in the kitchen and offered my sister some sake. I had a bottle tucked away that I once planned to drink with Mr. Satoshi. But today felt like a special occasion. And I'd seen enough adults in my life pulling out booze for moments like this.
I never really practiced any kind of social etiquette, so I wasn't even sure if she'd go for it, but Louise gladly accepted:
I did swear off trying new things today, but booze wasn't part of that, right? – She winked at me and stretched out in her chair, all pleased with herself.
Holding the bottle in my hands, I froze for a second, unsure how to react:
So… that's a yes? She sighed:
Go on, pour it
The drink flowed into wide glass cups, and I showed her the proper way to drink it: sit up straight, shoulders back, slow and smooth. I liked cold sake — maybe not the best choice for this chilly
weather, but that's just how I rolled. Louise quickly picked up on the vibe, and after her first sip, she smiled with genuine pleasure:
That's really nice!
I nodded, motioning to keep going. While we drank, she asked me about life in Japan, about the specific prefecture I lived in, said diving sounded amazing, and wanted to know why I wasn't trying to go bigger and become a more well-known photographer. That last question hit a raw nerve. She struck a very sensitive part of my soul, 'cause I'd thought about it a thousand times, but never had the guts or a plan to move forward. I'd just settled for what I had.
Hasn't happened yet. – I said flatly. My ever-expressive sister threw up her hands and gasped that this wouldn't do, that I needed to grab hold of my inner core and build some mental resilience, 'cause I was way too indecisive. And how do I do that? – I asked plainly, not bothering to argue. I already knew I didn't have a leg to stand on. Even though Louise didn't really know me, she read me like a book.
She grinned like she'd won the lottery and said she was heading into the city tomorrow and I could tag along and meet someone who could help me. I didn't need anyone, but figured going to Shizuoka with my sister might actually be a good idea.
My tripod was broken anyway, and I'd been putting off buying a new one. I really didn't wanna deal with crowds, but I knew it was better to just get it over with. Plus, she had a car. And during the ride, I could calmly think through all the crazy stuff that happened today.
When I agreed, I noticed Louise gave me a thumbs-up and even tried to pat me on the shoulder, but I immediately stepped back. It didn't faze her one bit. On the contrary, she lit up even more and shouted:
So tomorrow, we're goin' on a little adventure!