Friends

Miki's flat was on the fifth floor of a seven-story apartment building overlooking the east side of the park. It was a quiet block with wide and clean streets, lampposts every few feet so there wasn't an inch of unlit space come nightfall, big and small cars parked on the sides with the common feature being that they were all expensive. And of course, most important, the homes were big and grand, even though they seemed almost nondescript at first glance. The apartment building was especially bland from the outside. Just a tall grey building next to the park. But the grey of the walls was graded so it seemed to disappear into the colour of the sky at the top and the street at the bottom. The windows were all glass but they were at the same time reflecting the sky and plain as the walls. The most telling were the long balconies with concrete parapets. It was an expensive building.

The inside was completely different. Residents had their biometrics stored in the building's system, so no outsiders could get in. There was a security station at the back of the otherwise bare lobby, where there was one guard at all times. There were three guards in total, who worked in shifts. The cleaning staff was invisible, because the lobby as well as the hallways and the rest of the common area of the building were always spotless even if the residents seemed to have no memory of the staff. As far as the residents were concerned, the lobby covered the entire lower story, for the systems room and the other maintenance facilities in the back weren't of any concern to them. The flats were on the remaining six stories, two flats per floor. That made them massive in floor area and deserving of the sky high prices. Half the residents owned the flats they called home, while the other half signed lease contracts. Miki had signed the lease for three years, with the clause of having the highest priority when the lease was due for renewal.

The key was an access card that had the appearance of a blank business card, but actually housed a sophisticated chip that was next to impossible to make a copy of. His biometrics were saved into the system the day he signed the contract, but he rather liked the access card, which was the key to more than his flat. It was needed to enter the building, to access the lift, and to access the roof. Miki hadn't really seen the flat or the building outside of the pictures in the contract. He was in no rush. What he truly wanted was the walk into his new home, even if it was temporary, on the first day and take a proper tour. Nothing could be better than a tour of what was truly yours.

The doors to the two flats on each floor were on the opposite ends of the hallway. There were even two lifts, each next to the door. So, the neighbours wouldn't need to interact unless they explicitly chose to do so. Miki was told his neighbour was practically a shut in, which was kind of perfect. He walked up to his flat, stood in front of the closed door as if enjoying the blandness and the brownness. Finally, when it would seem like he was afraid, he rest his palm on the middle of the door, where his palm was scanned and the door was unlocked. He walked in, and saw Cici.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"Coz you're gonna tell me what's goin on," she answered, her expression straight and her voice frighteningly calm.

He didn't answer immediately. And when he did, it was a question. "Jiro?"

"That too," she shot back with the same suppressed fury.

"Call him," he said, and walked in. "I'm sure he's here. Ask him to come in. I'll shower. There's coffee."

"I know. Medium dark roast. Jibrinee plantation. I'll put some on."

He nodded. And was off. The flat was truly ready to move into. It was furnished tastefully. The carpet area of a little over 4000 square feet was divided into three bedrooms and three bathrooms, two balconies, the hall and a kitchen. The walls had been torn down to redesign the flat according to Miki's requirements, which were that he wanted a simple flat that was open. The bedrooms offered privacy. The hall and the kitchen were separated by a hazy boundary in the absence of a proper wall. The only reason there were bedrooms was because he predicted he would have guests.

A half hour later, hair still damp and dressed in blue pjs, Miki walked out to the hall, to his waiting friends. Cici clicked her tongue in frustration, before grabbing the towel and drying Miki's hair. Jiro poured Miki a mug of coffee, and set it on the short table, next to the two other mugs. A little while later, the three sat drinking coffee. Jiro and Cici on the sofa. Miki on the floor in front of his two friends.

"How much do you know?" Miki asked.

Cici went first. "I knew something was up from the third year. Right after you sold uncle the application and told us he'd offered you a job. I've been waiting for you to come out with the truth. I waited as you signed the lease on this flat. I waited as you had it remodelled. I waited as you quietly sat through the interviews. I waited as we had dinner, celebrating graduation. I waited until last night. I couldn't wait any more."

Miki nodded. And turned toward Jiro.

"I know you're hiding something," Jiro said.

Cici snorted like that was the most obvious. Miki's smile was different. Miki waited for Jiro to continue.

"I saw flashes. Occasionally. A few times. I didn't want to make guesses. I guess I could have gone on waiting. I think that's what you were expecting as well. But, Cici can be quite forceful. You know that."

Miki smiled wider. Nodded. Took a deep breath. And began.

"Mother was pregnant with me when father disappeared. We never discussed him. Mother never mentioned him. And I never questioned why. I know I can just ask. Mother would tell me. Uncle probably knows as well, and he would definitely tell. But I want the whole truth. So, I'm looking for father. I intend to find him, or the truth at least. I would like to give that to mother, as a present. I can't explain how, but I know that she doesn't know the whole truth either. For some reason, she never tried to find out. And that tells me, whatever that reason is, could be dangerous."

There was expected silence. Miki shook his head. Not wanting to give them the opportunity to feel sorry for him, he told them what he knew.

"Mother and father met in college. Firehurst college. It's a ten minute drive from here. Uncle's a City college alumnus. Mother and he knew each other from before. No one else is from before mother moved. So, none of our friends can help. I found mother and father's marriage certificate. Keegan Shores. Father's name. I started with that. Gathered quite a bit. I've also looked into what was happening in the city back then. It's all here. Well, that's the background. I have one request, do not tell mother. Not yet. And one question."

"Yes," Cici answered before Miki could ask. "I'm staying. Don't you dare say it could be dangerous. It's far more dangerous alone that with us together."

Jiro was slower. And when he spoke, his words were well thought. "There's more. I promise I won't tell anyone. But I'd like to hear more before I answer the question."

"That's fine," Miki answered, ignoring Cici's glare. "Why don't you wash up. Shower. Change. Your's is the bedroom on the right. There's pjs your size in the closet. But it's all matching. Victor thought it'd be funny."

Jiro smiled, nodded and set off. When it was just them, Cici opened the gates, and the tears poured out. Miki didn't move from where he was sitting. And Cici didn't reach for him.

"Why couldn't you tell me before?" She asked, looking and sounding pained.

"You know why," he answered calmly.

"No. Still, tell me."

"Because that shouldn't affect you."

"But it did. You knew it would. Hypocrite. You knew we would come to this too."

"There's still much you don't know. I know what I'll sound like, but I am certain it was for the best."

She laughed, without a trace of humour. "I hate you. I'll never forgive you. Even if I'll always love you, I hate you."

The two sat in silence, looking anywhere but at each other. When Jiro returned, having changed into blue pjs that were the exact same as Miki's, and sat by Cici's side, taking her hand, and looked into Miki's eyes, it signalled that they were ready.