Chapter two

[ note: at last, chapter two! Sorry for the long wait, everyone! Small note regarding the narrators – Motoko speaks in present tense. Mei-Lin speaks in past tense, unless she is writing in her diary. Enjoy! ]



Chapter two: friends till the end.



Dear diary!

-- is that a stupid way to begin my life-story? It probably is.

Anyway, listen up. No lame introductions, no memories (because truly, I could summarise my whole past using one word: Motoko). I am scared she will find this booklet, so I disguised it as a notepad for school. Currently, Motoko is where she always is around this time — in my closet.



She stays there to do what she calls ‘recharging’, although the last time I checked, she did not run on batteries! I do not think she runs on anything, to be honest. . . She does not eat, sleep or even breathe. Yep. Scary, isn’t it?

When I was younger I once opened the door, curious about what I would find. Motoko was standing there motionlessly, staring at the inside of the door — doing nothing whatsoever. Not even batting an eyelid. I don’t think she saw me, or would be able to recall the event if I asked her. It raises questions regarding what she is exactly, but all she told me was that black magic had been involved.

Right. As if that exists.



I made a friend, though! Her name is Ayumi. She is one of the ‘snobs’, like Motoko called them. I make sure only to invite her when Motoko is resting, because I know that she is jealous. I love her, I really do. But. . . meh. She is too aggressive at times. I rather keep Ayumi away from her, just to be safe.



Because where Mei-Lin is, is Motoko.

--

Later that night.



After another, exhausting day, I felt relieved to rest my back on the silken sheets of my bed. The skies had darkened into a deep blue, but thanks to the millions of stars and their lunar mother my room was not completely unlit. I slowly breathed in and out, folding my hands neatly on my tummy and looked around. That was when I suddenly looked straight into the sapphire eyes of Motoko, who apparently had come out of her closet without a sound.

She was staring at me intensely, and it made me feel lightly uncomfortable. I wanted to hide my face under my blankets, instinctively thinking that if I did not see her, she would not be there. But I swallowed and stayed, trying to keep my face as emotionless as hers.



Like a soldier waiting for orders, she stood at the end of my bed. Sweat-drops started trickling down my spine.

“What’s wrong, Motoko?” I asked. Darn, my voice quivered.



She did not answer; sat down on my bed instead and propped up the pillow to support her lithe body. Motoko had always protected me, there was no need to be scared. She would never ever harm me. Nevertheless, I felt nervous.



“Don’t you love me?” she then said, taking me aback. I expected her to be seething beside me, but when I turned my head, her lips were pouting and her eyes almost crying.

“Why do you ask that?” I replied.

“Your friend! You are leaving me, aren’t you.”



I could not help but smile. It was the only thing I was not able to keep inside, because I really wanted to burst into laughter.

“Of course I won’t leave you.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”



I thought she doubted my answer, but she said no more. She merely stared at the ceiling, with a strange sort of sorrow shimmering in her eyes. How could one like her feel emotions, without being alive in the first place? It puzzled me. One day, I would probably have to leave her. I kind of feared that day. I wondered whether she would hurt me if I did.

“I will be back soon,” Motoko broke the silence. “I need some fresh air.”

I nodded. “Ok. I will be sleeping when you return.” Or pretending to be asleep.

Motoko gave me another intense look, and then she was gone. Into the night. I rolled over and pulled my pillow over my head.





“You will not have my Mei-Lin!”