Twilight Sky Part 1

"Still dating the sunset, huh?" I turned my head, leaving the sunset view before me. Ei, who people say is my long-lost twin sister, stood at the bedroom door. She smiled and then quickly stepped into the room without waiting for another cue. "Are you really better?" she asked as soon as she reached me. I nodded quickly. "Move over!" she said then. The sweet girl then squeezed her slender body into the remaining window space beside me. But, unlike me, she was reluctant to turn around and let her feet dangle in the air. She chose to face away from the sun. "How's school?" I asked. "Just fine. Thank God you weren't there. My life is sooooo much calmer now." "Jerk!" I elbowed her. Ei laughed. One hand then rummaged through her school bag and came out with an orange. She smiled, handing me the orange-skinned fruit. "Thaaanks," I said, feigning childishness. "Thanks... thanks," she scoffed. "Only someone just recovering from typhoid would ask for an orange. Anyway, I'm not getting involved if your dad finds out!" I nodded quickly, as quickly as I peeled the orange skin. Orange, my favorite color, which always accompanies the end of my day. "What's so great about the twilight sky, anyway? You seem to loooove staring at that orange color." Ei began commenting on my habit. Perhaps she was getting bored spending time just gazing at the sky where the sun returns home. "Boring, isn't it?" I asked, handing her the peeled orange. "Not boring, no. Just weird that someone could be so in love with the twilight sky and the color orange like you are. Was there ever something between you and orange?" Ei split the orange segments in half and handed me half. "Maybe because I was born at dusk, you know? So I feel a special connection to dusk, the twilight sky, and orange." I put an orange segment into my mouth. The sour and sweet flavors immediately clashed with the taste buds there. Ei put two orange segments into her mouth at once. "Really? I was born at night, and I don't feel any connection to the night," she said with her mouth full of orange. "Hey, swallow first before you talk! Sounds like you're gargling!" Ei pouted, making me laugh. "I'm really far behind in my lessons, aren't I?" I asked. "Mmm... quite a bit. But no one's had midterms yet, so don't worry. You can definitely catch up. It's impossible for the friend of a former city-wide junior high champion not to catch up on lessons. My pride is at stake." Ei filled her mouth with orange again. "Believe the one who was city-wide champion for three years straight. Arrogant!" Ei laughed. "But you're pathetic, honestly. Getting sick just because of orientation week." "Well, it's not like I asked to get sick. Couldn't refuse it." I took another orange segment and put it into my mouth. "But couldn't it have been prevented?" Ei asked. Ah, she was starting again. "Hey, look!" I pointed towards the sky before my eyes, which was almost entirely orange. "Beautiful, isn't it?" I asked, trying to change the subject before she started nagging and giving me lengthy advice as usual. There was no comment from Ei. When I turned to her, she rolled her eyes. "Ugh, pathetic. Can't see beauty." "Hmm... if I could see beauty, I would have chosen pretty people to be my friends, not like you." "Monkey!" I pulled her hair. Ei laughed, pulled my hair back, then jumped down from the window, heading to her bag. For a few moments, I watched the girl. It turned out I could miss this person who was blunt, careless, fierce, a know-it-all, bossy, acted mature, and was a chatterbox. Since being admitted to the hospital two weeks ago, I had only been able to see her three times. Yet usually, I could see her almost every day. "Are you really better, Ta?" Ei had turned around and was now looking at me, observing my face. She came to the window, sat back on the sill with one hand holding two books. "Alhamdulillah," I replied before chewing my last orange segment. "I just realized that my presence is like air to you, isn't it?" I pouted as if to kiss her. Ei quickly pushed my head away. "Hey, I'm picky when it comes to choosing a partner, you know," she said. I burst out laughing. "I miss attending ceremonies," I said as my laughter subsided. "Oh, come on. Who misses attending ceremonies? If you missed it, why didn't you come to school today?" I rested my head on Ei's shoulder. "Because my sick leave is still valid until today," I said. "I miss school." "Your own fault for getting sick." "Any news at school?" "I already told you, nothing. Just the usual." "Did anyone look for me?" "Who do you think you are?" "How could you forget?" "Is it important to answer?" We then fell silent. I returned to watching the sun, which was truly setting, leaving only a streak of orange at the border of sky and earth. "Hmm... maybe we should just get together, you know?" Ei said suddenly. I immediately lifted my head from her shoulder, placed both my hands on her cheeks, pulled her face closer to mine, and whispered, "Monkey!" "Hahahaha." Ei burst out laughing. "You monkey too!" "Watch out!" I pushed Ei's body, forcing her to stand so I could get down from the window. "What homework do we have for tomorrow?" "Tomorrow? Math." Ei handed me the two books she had been holding. "And Indonesian... Here. How much nicer could I be to you?" she said, handing me her homework. "Thanks, my loooove." "Pfft!" she added. "Alright then. I'm going home now, okay?" "Oh, why go home?" I asked reluctantly. "Seriously, I haven't been home since this morning. I went straight from school to tutoring. Can't you see my uniform is already this worn out?" "Yeah, yeah. Alright. Be careful. Do you need me to walk you out?" I asked. Ei shook her head quickly. "No need. I already know the way home by heart," she replied casually, making me laugh. "Besides, your face is still pale. Just rest first." "Okay." "Alright then. I'm really going home. Bye, sweeetie..." Ei quickly left the room. Soon after, I heard her saying goodbye to Dad and Mom downstairs. My room was quiet again. The laughter and smiles that Ei had brought earlier suddenly vanished again. Especially when my eyes involuntarily fell upon the large writing Dad had taped above my study desk. Must become a doctor!! "Must become a doctor," I mumbled with a bitter smile. "Must..." I sighed, then pulled up a chair and sat down, hurrying to open the books I hadn't touched in over a week. My hard work began again. I had to start again. I started going through Ei's notes. Fortunately, we had the same study method. So, I wasn't too confused reading her notes, which only contained abbreviations and arrows. But before I could even read a single word, the phone I had left on the bed suddenly made a splashing sound, indicating an incoming message. Lazily, I stood up and grabbed it. Ei : Ta, I forgot something. Ei : You're really going back to school tomorrow, right? Sleep well tonight, okay? There's a surprise for you at school tomorrow. My brow furrowed. A surprise? I quickly ran to the window, and I was right. Ei was still there in front of the house gate, on her motorbike, looking towards my bedroom window. I replied to the message. Me : What kind of surprise? I saw Ei lower her gaze to her phone, then a reply quickly came in. Ei : Tomorrow!!! It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. Me : If it's really a surprise, you shouldn't have mentioned it at all earlier!!! Ei : Oh, right? Hahaha... Okay then. Just pretend I never sent you that message. Hahaha... Me : Crazy! Ei's laughter reached my bedroom window. The girl then waved and immediately sped off on her motorbike, disappearing after turning at the intersection. What a strange person. "A surprise..." I mumbled again, refraining from going to the books already open on the table. They felt even less appealing now. My mind preferred to think about the surprise Ei had just mentioned. "Aaaah. Ei, you devil!!" I exclaimed, annoyed. To be continued.