Night pooled like ink. Two Little Lolis huddled on a sky-blue goose-down bed, a light quilt like warm mist over their heads. On the wall, a vast plasma hung like a black lake. In it, Sadako crawled from the screen, a pale hand like a spider. "Who the heck bought a TV this huge?" The giant screen made the scene too real, like a ghost breathing in the room. Joanna yelped and crushed into Xiao Qianxue, clutching her like driftwood.
Fear needled her chest before the words came. "Don’t be scared, it’s all fake..." Little Loli stroked her bestie’s smooth brown hair, fingers like feathers on silk. Even so, her voice quivered like a plucked string, betraying the storm under her ribs. One eye gold, one crimson, she stared at the screen like a guard at a gate, afraid Sadako would really crawl through. Time slid by like cold water, and the movie finally ended with a sigh. "Joanna, you’re something. You wanted a horror flick to steel yourself, then you bailed first." The blonde teased, her tone light as wind bells. "Hmph, I didn’t expect it to be this scary. I thought it’d be average," Joanna said, still rattled like a leaf. "Oh, you dare tease me? Let’s see how many rounds you last on this bed!" Joanna pushed the blonde down like a playful tiger and pounced, laughter scattering like beads.
At last, they lay sprawled on the rumpled bed, breaths rising and falling like small waves. "Joanna, let’s sleep early. We’re heading to sea in the morning." Little Loli leaned on the headboard, smoothing her gold-silk hair like drawing a comb through sun. Joanna lay beside her, panting like a winded cat, then nodded. "Fair point. Lights out," she murmured, voice soft as dusk.
Morning blushed like peach over the harbor as the two Little Lolis rode to the pier. "Xiaoxue, let’s rent a small yacht and play offshore. I don’t want to cram with strangers." Joanna stood behind her, fingers idly combing Xiaoxue’s silk-fine golden hair. "Sure. When do we cast off?" Little Loli asked, eyes roaming the docks like curious swallows.
"Give it a minute. I sent the driver to handle the paperwork," Joanna said, twirling a lock like a ribbon. The driver jogged up, breath puffing like steam. "Miss, I’m back. Not many people are heading out today, so the rental went smooth as glass."
"Why so few?" Little Loli asked, curiosity bobbing like a cork. "The weather might shift," the driver said, face tilted to a sky like tarnished steel. "The sky does look iffy," Little Loli murmured, golden pupils flashing like coins, worry rippling through her. "Joanna, do we really have to go today? Don’t force it. We can take one more day off."
"We’re here, the boat’s paid for. How can we back down now?" Joanna planted her hands on her hips, a little general beneath a cloudy banner. "Weather always changes anyway. We’ll be fine." What could possibly go wrong. "You’re so stubborn... fine, let’s launch. Who’s at the helm?" Little Loli toyed with her long hair like winding a golden rope. The driver raised his hand, eyes bright as lamps. "I got a yacht license for fun back then. Please let me pilot for you two today."
"Wow, that’s awesome, sir. You can even handle a yacht," Little Loli said, awe popping like sparklers. Even Joanna looked stunned, brows lifting like wings. "How did I not know this?" Joanna asked, half laughing. "Uh, it never seemed useful before," the driver said, scratching his head like a shy schoolboy.
Soon the three of them reached a white mid-size yacht, its hull gleaming like a bone-white fish. A staffer fussed over the last checks, tools clicking like crickets. "We’re about to put to sea!" Joanna bounced, excitement fizzing like soda; she’d never gone out alone before. Little Loli wandered the deck, touching this and that like a curious cat, then slipped below into the cabin like a tide.
The driver chatted with the staffer for a bit, words low as the hum of wires, and the man disembarked. "We’ll depart now, Miss. Please wait in the cabin. Come out once we’re in deep water to enjoy the view." The driver smiled, calm as a harbor. "Okay, we’ll do it your way," Joanna said, and she headed inside. Little Loli was sprawled on the sofa, bored, tapping at her phone like rain on a drum.
"Aaah—so sleepy," Little Loli yawned, mouth opening like a tiny cave in winter. Suddenly Joanna swung a leg over her back like a rider mounting a pony. Smack—the palm landed on her backside like a firecracker.
