(This is early in the OliKai relationship.)
(OLIVER POV)
Kai and I are laying on the bed in her room.
In the past when we came to her room, we’d just cuddle immediately, but we were having an engaging conversation while grabbing some snacks from the kitchen.
We talked about mythology, and we made our way into Kai’s room and just sorta sat down on the bed.
The conversation shifted to a discussion of theology and at some point, we shifted to laying on our backs, side by side.
The conversation is basically done, so now we’re just enjoying the quiet and each other’s company.
Funny enough- despite having the same amount of family members- Kai’s house is quieter than mine.
That said, Kai has explained in the past that it’s a bit more complex than that:
On weekends, her mom is busy in the next town over, caring for Kai’s step-grandfather, whose nearing the end of his life in a nursing home.
Her dad is here but he usually stays in his room (Kai jokingly calls it a bat cave) playing video games or watching anime. 😋I can see where Kai gets her interests.
That said, it makes sense: between being a clergyman for the church and having a decently demanding office job and all those meetings and lots of “homework” - I’d probably spend my Saturday hibernating too.
As for Kai’s sister, Bella, she usually spends the weekend away with her boyfriend or hanging out with friends. Lots of sleep-overs.
Kai has often jokes that the whole Lynn family’s natural energy for socializing went to Bella.
I guess I must have been mulling this over for a while…
… and Kai must be bored, because she randomly asks:
“Where in the world did you get a hoodie that looks like an egg and says egg-celent?”
“There’s an actual Cafe called Egg-celent.”
“Did you go there?”
“Yeah”
“Aww, you got merch.”
I feel my face heat up. “It was good food!”
Kai lightly laughs for a moment (an enchanting moment…)
Looking at me with a smile fading off the laugh, Kai notes, “You wear this one a lot.”
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I tell her “Actually, this is my favorite hoodie.”
“Oh that’s fun, because I’m currently wearing my favorite hooded-jacket.”
I can't help but titter a little. “Of course it’s black.”
Kai points out, “There’s dark grey here.”
“Is that why you like it? Because it’s dark colors?”
Most of Kai’s wardrobe consists of dark colors.
Kai puts a hand over her face and also it seems like she’s repressing a laugh,
“Ah… I DO like the colors since this goes with everything… but no, that’s not why it’s my favorite.”
She moves her hand off her face and her her head away from me a little.
“It holds some meaning for me…. Uh, it’s kind of a dumb story but when I first got this- I randomly decided to cut thumb-holes into the bottom of the sleeves.”
This is interesting, since she has a lot of stuff that already has thumb holes.
She told me it’s less about the look and more about helping with touch-sensory issues and whatnot.
“The reason it’s kinda funny is because normally when I consider changing anything about clothes, I always go back and forth about it because I might mess up and regret it… usually I don’t do anything like that- but for some reason- I did it with this within 30 minutes of buying it.”
Ah, I see the meaning now.
Kai’s still staring at the sleeves. “Beyond the feeling and the look, it kind of reminds me that sometimes just doing what feels right in the moment is better than over-thinking everything can be a good thing.”
Kai looks away from her sleeves and glances to the wall. “And also it looks cool- or whatever.”
This person …
“That’s really cool that you have that feeling attached to it.”
With sarcasm, Kai nods. “Uh-huh, sure.”
“I mean it.”
Kai jokes “Anyway- I told you my life story.” Kai asks, “So why’s that one your favorite hoodie?”
“Egg-celent…” I look down. “and the pocket is a little yolk😊”
“Any other reasons?”
I mindlessly play with one of the hoodie-strings. “I wish I had a cool story like you did, but for me, I just like the way it looks and feels.”
Kai rolls onto her back, looking at the ceiling.
“That’s fine. Comfy stuff is best stuff.”
I grin. “Facts.”
“And look-good feel-good is more true than you’d think. Like I always feel better about life after putting on my ear cuffs and ring”
“Yeah… Back to the original topic” I move onto my back too. “The way everything about you has something like a story behind it is amazing.”
Kai almost immediately throws the compliment away and insists “Oh please, it’s dumb a- and weird.”
Surprised she used the word that way, I ask, “I thought you liked being weird?”
“Maybe not weird- but…” Kai rolls over so her back is facing me now.
Her voice comes out quieter. “It makes me a damn sap”
I roll into my side, just looking at the back of her head.
I can never understand why Kai gets embarrassed over things like this.
If I thought about things the way she does, I’d spend all day talking about every single one.
I lower my volume to match hers. “It doesn’t make you a sap… being syrup on a pancake would be sappy.”
I hear her snicker a little. “Nimrod.”
“I’m serious though.” I gently tug on her arm, and she rolls onto her back and looks at me.
Her eyes are a little narrowed, so I know she doesn’t completely believe me.
Trying to come up with how to get my feelings across, I tell her:
“It’s not something to feel weird about.” I try to think of the words to say. “The way you think deeper about everything, and …”
What else? “see the world with- with all its hidden details…”
Kai’s face makes an embarrassed smile and a “Tch” sound.
I continue- “and even if you can talk about all sorts of connections and details… you still always have more to wonder about.”
Kai glances at the ceiling. “So I’m very inquisitive?”
She is smiling a bit, but I feel I can make her smile more.
“Yeah. I love that about you.”
Kai averts her eyes from me but doesn’t turn her head away. “Well you ask a lot of questions too.”
“And that’s why I like it: we’re like-minded people. But the way you put deeper meanings to things… it’s beautiful.”
Her eyes widden, and her expression softens.
Kai turns her back to me again, and her voice comes out like a small hiss. “Fuc… step off.”
“Everything you do is beautiful. You’re beautiful.”
I mean I feel like I’m making word vomit… but it’s all true,
“Doofus.”
Kai pulls the hood of the jacket over her head, and her voice comes out a little breathy, which I’ve learned by now means she’s trying to keep calm when she’s flustered.
“Umm… well… thanks for that.”
I can’t help but smile imagining what her expression looks like right now.
(KAI POV)
Stop being precious, idiot.
I’m already crazy for you.
You don’t need to make Cupid fly by me with ten arrows again every time I am with you