Three Days of Happiness

48
Chapter 4: Let's Compare Answers
Here, my buffoonery really picked up the pace.
I told Miyagi “Just making a call, I’ll be right back,” and purposefully
went outside the apartment. My intent was to keep her from
listening in to my calls, but sure enough, Miyagi was hobbling right
behind.
It had too long since I’d called someone myself rather than being
called. I stared at the name “Wakana” on the phone’s screen for a
long time.
Summer insects made high-pitched noises from the thicket behind
the apartment.
I was extremely nervous on the phone. Actually, it had always been
that way since I was a child; I also never invited anyone over, nor
started a conversation with someone out of the blue.
True, I missed a lot of opportunities thanks to that, but it also
allowed me to avoid an equal amount of worry. I’m not particularly
regretful nor content with it.
I stopped my train of thought and used those few thoughtless
seconds to press the call button. I just had to make the call. The
actual conversation would be what it would.
The dialtone added to my nerves. Once, twice, three times. At this
point, I finally recalled the possibility that she might not answer. I
hadn’t done this in so long, I’d come to think that people would
always answer a call.
Four, five, six. It didn’t feel like she was going to “answer any
moment now.” Part of me was relieved.