Arrival with a Carryon

Kaleo had one bag slung over his shoulder, camo print and all, his face cold and defensive. Wonder if they made him look like that at college, losing all his personality for good ethics and whatever hubba-jubba they ask of you there. He stayed like that when dad neared him, they shook hands all business professional, Dad didn’t do hugs. I hear Hawaiian- at least he hadn’t lost that yet.

“That’s him?”

Oh. I forgot he was next to me. I looked back with my face all twisted and grinning manically, his face told me everything he wanted to know. I grabbed his arms and nodded excitedly; a snort to bursted giggles came from me before I could let out a word.

“Yeah yeah that’s him! Cmon let’s go over there, you’ll loooove him!”

“Uhuh, sure Khels. Does he… did you tell him about me, or… us?”

“Nope! But if you passed dads test he’ll be easy!”

“Khelani- are you sure about that”

“What? Of course! He’s not that bad… I mean he’s not a different person Kai’!”

He smiled at me, but I knew he was probably scared inside, for what reason I didn’t know. It’s just my brother… just a person I haven’t met in years… just a-

I didn’t get a second look at him other than seeing that his shoulders were pulled up in surprise as I was scooped up, my emotions bubbling over like a lava lamp, stomach flips and backyard kicks. I gave a good startled yell before swatting at his face. Kaleo hadn’t lost his touch, even though I grew a ton he still managed to pick me up with ease and spin me in circles. Man this is when I wish the spotters in cheer could be as controlled as Kaleo was, even with my cat schematics.

“LEO PUT ME DOWNN AHA haha!!”

For the first time since foreverago he and I finally made eye contact. He was different. Same cake mold, different cake. I’d say like going from strawberry to coconut. He was still my brother but: older, obviously. Still broad shouldered, more so like dad, as his scar flicked with his eye moving. His cheekbones were shaper and his lips were parted in a grin, the smile was the same, as his eyes. Mom always messed around saying that he couldn’t pick his favorite parent so he was stuck with one of each: a perfect middle. Amber like dad, ash like mom.

“Hoʻomanaʻo ʻoe iaʻu?”

My stomach always fizzled when he spoke Hawaiian- I hadn’t learned it like he did, so I knew more English. It reminded me his voice dropped a level, I think. Hard to gage when I hadn’t seen him. It wasn’t weird, mostly, it fit the face.

“Hehe, yes I do, even without-“

Yeah, his hair was chopped, the buzz cut really shook my perception of him, and made him look really ugly, at least to me. I couldn’t keep it in as I giggled uncontrollably, my eyes pooling in tears.

“Even without your hair!!”

He didn’t smile, which worried me in offending him, but he rolled his eyes and took one arm from holding me to pinch my face. 

A bunch of kisses, the amount that’s unbearable until I was red on the cheek and physically rolling over inside.

Eventually he let go of me and peered over to him, his eyes sharp daggers, fire burned inside. Yeah, even I can admit Kaleo does a good “scare me shitless face” and in that moment I questioned if he even liked what he saw, I really should have told him a bunch’a things. Not skipping a beat, he goes to interrogate- god that’s embarrassing. He asked me first.

“ʻO kēia ka mea maikaʻi loa hiki iā ʻoe ke hana?”

Of course it’s in Hawaiian.

But he knew exactly what Kaleo said too, his poor face turned beet red, my embarrassment too. Before I could make words he responded, this seemed like the whole “shaking boyfriend getting dads approval” all over again. He responded before I could, Kaleo still staring daggers.

“Something wrong with that?

…

He aha kāu e hāʻawi ai?”

For the first time yet, Kaleo smiled.

“Not bad. Care to explain…?”

Oh - that ones for me again.

“Kaleo… I’d like to introduce you to umm…. Someone very very special to me- ummm this is. This is Kaipo! My b-“

“Boyfriend.”

Yeah. He finished it first. He liked too, eyes swirling about, his hand came to hold mine. I let it happen. Smooth sand to ocean water, his confidence in his voice, albeit eyes shaking. I leaned into his chest and found my sweet spot, his hand on my cheek, bubbling up in a fever of happiness.

“Nice to meet you… Kaleo?”

“Yeah, that’s me, break her heart and I’ll break your ass okay?”

“Oh my god Kaleo don’t be so weird-“

“Sure thing man, flight good..?”

Kaleo came close and I broke connection, his arm swung around Kaipo as he started answering, more questions from Kaipo “Would you recommend it?” “Miss Hawaii..?”, they seemed to be getting along, a sigh of relief. I didn’t really think that it would go bad, I smiled.

It was sunny in Honolulu, the sun always meant good days, to hang loose and feel the love. I like it, but that’s a given- only “weird” people hate the sun and clear skies. Beaches were best on days like this, meetups and friend gossip circles only felt right like this. My shoulders shook from behind, my mom kissed me.

“I see they’ll get along hmm? Nervous energy gone?”

I nodded.

“Well unless you count Kaleo being embarrassing or up handling my secrets then yeah, it’s gone.”

My mom chuckled and hugged me from behind.

“That’s what I’m here for, you don’t have to worry about you brother doing that-“

“MOMM!!”

Sunny days also reminded me of our fist dates in Waikiki, first homecoming proposal, and my dream promposal, under the glass canopy at school, where the sun could hug my sun kissed skin, and where the school would murmur and clap in cheers to us, the high school sweethearts.

Kaipo reminded me of rainy days. At first those too I liked, it was refreshing. Quiet days with me in his arms, a cliche movie scene. 

It didn’t last long. 

Now those days hurt, they’re uncomfortable. I don’t like to think about it, but it’s hard when April’s showers come late in May. These months are only a sore month, suck’s my birthday is right in the middle of it. I didn’t realized this would last forever.

You never do. It’s true love to you, after all.