CHAPTER 70 — AFTERNOON ANTICS
The park was bathed in the mellow glow of early afternoon sunlight, the trees swaying gently in a warm breeze. Auri felt a rare sense of freedom as she stepped onto the familiar winding path, her backpack bouncing lightly against her shoulders. Today was all about one thing: spending the afternoon with Marcela.
She spotted Marcela immediately—a blur of neon sneakers and colorful scarf waving at her from across the park. The girl had a presence that could be spotted from a mile away.
"Hey, you!" Marcela called, jogging over dramatically as if she were entering an action movie scene.
Auri laughed and waved. "You're ridiculous."
Marcela stopped in front of her, hands on her hips. "Ridiculous? I prefer exceptionally fabulous. But fine, I'll accept ridiculous for today."
They walked together along the cobbled path, the park alive with families, joggers, and the occasional dog enthusiast who insisted on letting their pup chase every squirrel in sight.
"So, first things first," Marcela began, pulling out a small bag from her backpack. "Snacks. Because any adventure without snacks is illegal. At least in my world."
Auri peeked inside. Granola bars, trail mix, chocolate-covered almonds, and… was that gummy worms?
"You brought gummy worms," Auri said, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I did," Marcela said seriously. "Essential survival gear. You never know when you'll encounter a marshmallow shortage or an impromptu gummy worm duel."
Auri giggled. "I think I can survive one afternoon without a duel."
Marcela feigned offense. "You think? I see how it is. Okay, fine. But don't be surprised if my gummy army attacks first."
They found a grassy spot under a large oak tree, claiming it as their headquarters. Marcela plopped down, spreading out the snacks like a small picnic spread, while Auri followed suit, still giggling at her new friend's theatrics.
"So," Marcela said, nibbling on a chocolate-covered almond, "what's your favorite snack? And I don't mean boring stuff like crackers or… lettuce. I need real answers here."
Auri shrugged, picking up a granola bar. "Honestly? Probably granola bars. They're simple, reliable… like me."
Marcela gasped dramatically. "Simple and reliable? Sacrilege! Everyone knows the best snacks are the wild ones—the ones that surprise you, like chocolate-covered gummy bears or marshmallow-stuffed pretzels."
Auri laughed. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?"
"Do you see this level of preparedness? Of course I've thought about it." Marcela gestured to her snack spread like a general surveying her troops. "A good snack plan is crucial for survival in public parks."
Auri shook her head, smiling. "I feel like I'm going to regret admitting this, but I actually brought a water bottle… and that's it."
Marcela gasped again, clutching her chest. "Only water? How do you survive without a tactical snack arsenal? Are you trying to tempt fate?"
"I survive very well, thank you," Auri said, laughing.
Marcela leaned back dramatically, eyes scanning the park. "Okay, fine, but consider this: one day, a rogue duck will attack you, and granola alone will not save you."
Auri raised an eyebrow. "A rogue duck?"
Marcela nodded gravely. "Oh, yes. They're fierce. Very territorial. And their quacks are psychological warfare."
Auri chuckled. "You make it sound terrifying."
"You have no idea," Marcela said, biting into a gummy worm like it was a sword. "One wrong step, and your lunch is gone, your dignity stolen, and your socks soaked in pond water."
Auri laughed so hard she almost dropped her granola bar. "You've been attacked by ducks before, haven't you?"
Marcela smirked, a gleam of pride in her eyes. "Maybe once. Or twice. I survived, obviously. But the scars remain."
Auri giggled again, shaking her head. She realized that being around Marcela was like stepping into a mini comedy show where the leading actress had impeccable timing and zero filter.
After a while, Marcela leaned back on her elbows, stretching dramatically. "So, tell me about yourself, Auri. The real you. Not the girl who smiles politely and avoids duck attacks."
Auri hesitated for just a second, then shrugged. "Honestly? Not much. I… I like quiet places, long walks, and… I don't know. Laughing. I like laughing a lot."
Marcela's eyes sparkled. "Good. Because laughing is mandatory in my presence. Also, I hope you like bad puns."
"Oh no," Auri groaned playfully. "I feel that's a trap."
"Never a trap! Only a test of endurance." Marcela pointed dramatically at her. "For instance: Why don't ducks tell secrets?"
Auri rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Why?"
"Because they'd quack under pressure!" Marcela flung her arms wide.
Auri groaned and laughed simultaneously. "I can't tell if that was awful or brilliant."
Marcela winked. "Both. That's the goal."
The two of them spent the next hour in a hilarious game of one-upmanship: bad jokes, exaggerated stories about "duck invasions," and a running debate over the superiority of gummy worms versus chocolate-covered almonds. Passersby probably thought they were a pair of eccentric comedians on break.
At one point, a curious squirrel wandered close to their picnic area. Marcela froze, eyes wide.
"Deploy the gummy worm decoy!" she whispered dramatically. She tossed a gummy worm a few feet away, and the squirrel scampered after it. Marcela lowered her voice. "See? Tactical distraction. Never underestimate wildlife."
Auri doubled over laughing. "You are insane."
Marcela threw her hands in the air. "I prefer innovative."
As the afternoon sun climbed higher, they wandered toward a small fountain, taking turns trying to toss stones as close to the center as possible. Every attempt was accompanied by dramatic commentary from Marcela, who treated each pebble like a high-stakes mission.
"Ah! So close! The water trembles in anticipation!" she shouted as Auri's stone barely made a ripple.
"It's just a fountain!" Auri managed through her laughter.
"Just a fountain? That is blasphemy!" Marcela gasped. "How dare you mock the sacred art of stone-skipping!"
Soon, they settled on a park bench, munching on the remainder of their snacks. Auri found herself staring at Marcela in amazement—how could someone be so endlessly energetic, so… contagious with their enthusiasm?
"You know," Auri said between bites of chocolate, "I think you're the most ridiculous person I've ever met."
Marcela gasped, clutching her chest. "Most ridiculous? You wound me, Auri!"
Auri laughed. "I mean it in the best way possible."
Marcela grinned. "Good. That's exactly how I like it." She leaned back, tossing a gummy worm into her mouth. "You know, not everyone can handle my level of ridiculousness. It's a gift, really."
Auri shook her head, smiling, feeling a warm bubble of contentment she hadn't felt in weeks. She realized that in the chaos of Marcela's energy, she could forget about deadlines, responsibilities, and everything else that normally weighed her down.
"Hey," Marcela said suddenly, pointing at a small family nearby trying to control a flock of pigeons, "I challenge you to a pigeon-avoidance contest."
Auri blinked. "Pigeon… avoidance?"
"Yes! Whoever avoids being pooped on the longest wins!" Marcela declared.
Auri laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. "That's… ridiculous. I accept."
For the next twenty minutes, they zigzagged through the park, laughing hysterically every time a pigeon got too close or someone gave them a confused look. By the end, both of them were breathless, hair messy, and full of giggles.
"Okay," Marcela said finally, collapsing onto the grass, "I declare this the most successful afternoon of human history."
"Agreed," Auri said, lying down beside her. She stared up at the sky, feeling unusually light. "I… had no idea meeting someone could be this fun."
Marcela turned her head with a grin. "Well, buckle up, Auri. You haven't even seen my karaoke skills yet."
Auri laughed, shaking her head. "Please don't subject me to that today."
"No promises!" Marcela said, winking. "But next time, definitely. It's… life-changing."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, munching the last of their snacks, watching the park life around them. The laughter, the ridiculous stories, the shared snack battles—it all felt so natural, so effortless.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft orange and pink, Auri realized something: sometimes, the best afternoons weren't about big adventures or grand plans. They were about gummy worms, pigeon dodges, terrible jokes, and a friend who could make you laugh until your cheeks hurt.
And as she walked home later, Auri felt a lightness in her chest, a buoyancy she hadn't realized she was missing. Today had been simple, ridiculous, funny—and exactly what she needed.
Marcela waved goodbye at the park gate, bouncing lightly on her toes. "Thank you for today, Auri"
Auri grinned. "Thank you, too."
Marcela's laughter echoed through the park as she disappeared down the path, leaving Auri smiling to herself. Sometimes, the most unexpected friendships were the ones that brought the brightest light—and Marcela was exactly that.