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“I want ice-cream,” Chaeyoung whined.“We could get some,” Dahyun said.“We could,” Chaeyoung agreed. “Tzu? Do you want ice-cream or is that tree better company?”“That can’t be comfortable,” Dahyun said.“Mm,” Tzuyu hummed.“Is that a yes or no?” Chaeyoung asked.“You didn’t ask a yes or no question,” Tzuyu said.“Ice-cream is yes, tree-hugging is no,” Chaeyoung said.“Lazy,” Tzuyu said.“We can bring it to you,” Dahyun said.“By then it will have melted.”“Then you can drink it.”“Boo.”“So you want ice-cream but you don’t want to move?” Chaeyoung asked.“Mm-hm. Tree is nice. And it’s too warm.”“It is too warm,” Dahyun said.“But I want ice-cream,” Chaeyoung complained.“Then let’s get some,” Dahyun said.“But Tzuyu doesn’t want to,” Chaeyoung said.“Do you need her to come along?” Dahyun asked.“No?”“So?”“Then let’s go?”“But I want to go together! Who knows if we’re ever gonna get the opportunity to eat ice-cream together.”“Why wouldn’t we?” Dahyun questioned.“Exactly,” Chaeyoung said. “You never know.”“Maybe next year we will be even more poor,” Tzuyu suggested.“That’s not even possible,” Dahyun said. “We have exactly no money at all. We can’t have less than zero.”“Not true,” Tzuyu said. “We could be in debt, you know. But okay, we don’t have enough money to buy ice-cream right now.”“Not for all three of us,” Chaeyoung said.“No, not even for one of us,” Tzuyu replied.“No one was talking about buying ice-cream anyway,” Chaeyoung said.“We can’t get in trouble again,” Dahyun said.“Chicken.”“They will kick us out.”“Dubu is right. At least let’s not get kicked out for stealing ice-cream,” Tzuyu said.“Fine. Why are you hugging that tree again?” Chaeyoung asked.“It’s better company than you,” Tzuyu replied.“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that,” Chaeyoung said.“Are you ears okay?” Dahyun asked.“No, Dubu, I said pretend. My ears are fine,” Chaeyoung said.“Oh. Maybe my ears don’t work.”“What, the tree getting boring now?” Chaeyoung asked. “Don’t tell me you like us more than the tree.”“Can’t leave you two alone. The world would end,” Tzuyu explained.“Why?” Dahyun asked. “I wouldn’t end the world! That would hurt a lot of people. I’m not mean!”“No, you’re not,” Tzuyu said. “But Chaeng would probably blow something up with one of her brilliant plans.”“Hey! My plans are good,” Chaeyoung argued.“Yeah, like stealing ice-cream,” Tzuyu said.“That was just an idea, not a plan,” Chaeyoung defended.“Still stupid,” Tzuyu said. “But it’s okay as long as you got me to fix your plans.”“I hope it never changes. Do you think it will always be like this?” Chaeyoung asked.“No,” Tzuyu said.“Brutal,” Dahyun said.“I hope this will never change. Us, I mean. Always being together,” Chaeyoung said.“You’re so sentimental, Chaeng,” Tzuyu said.“I hope so too,” Dahyun said.“It’s too warm for hand holding,” Tzuyu complained.“No it’s not!” Chaeyoung said. “Now give me your hand!”“Fine,” Tzuyu said. “We will get older, you know? Maybe next year we won’t be sitting under this tree anymore.”“You think too much about the future,” Chaeyoung said.“And you not enough,” Tzuyu countered.“You know me,” Chaeyoung sighed.“Air-head,” Dahyun said.“Mean!” Chaeyoung whined.“Where’s your head at, Dubu, future or present?” Tzuyu asked.“Now, I guess. Both?” Dahyun said.“Translation,” Chaeyoung said, “nowhere. Who’s the air head now?”“Meow.”“Case in point,” Tzuyu said.“Hey, meowing is my thing!” Chaeyoung complained.“You don’t own meowing!” Dahyun said.“Get your own animal,” Chaeyoung said.“I wanna be an eagle! But I can’t do a good eagle impression,” Dahyun sighed. “Meowing is easier.”“You’re a piggy! And Tzuyu’s a deer. And I’m a tiger. A baby tiger,” Chaeyoung said.“Why am I a pig?” Dahyun asked.“Why am I a deer?” Tzuyu asked. “If you’re a tiger, does that mean you want to eat me?”“Piggies are cute! And deer are elegant and graceful,” Chaeyoung explained.“Cool,” Dahyun said, “I get to be a dirty and lazy animal while Tzu is elegant and graceful.”“Pigs are a symbol for fertility, you know,” Tzuyu informed.“I get to be a mother. Great”“It means you’re you and don’t care about what others think!” Chaeyoung said. “And piggies are so cute, come on.”“No, I want to be an eagle. Or maybe an otter. Otters are cool,” Dahyun said.“Otters are so cute,” Tzuyu agreed. “Sorry, Chae, but you’re not a tiger, you’re a lion cub.”“That’s fine,” Chaeyoung said. “To me you will always be a cute little piggy and a pretty deer.”“We’re just animals for you?” Tzuyu asked.“Cute animals,” Chaeyoung clarified.“Oh, then it’s okay. As long as we’re cute,” Tzuyu said.“But I’m not an animal,” Dahyun pouted.“She’s not being serious, Dubu,” Tzuyu said.“Oh. Sorry.”“Nothing to be sorry about,” Chaeyoung said. “My cute piggy.”“Mean!” Dahyun whined. “I’m not a pig.”“No, you’re not,” Chaeyoung said. “You really don’t want to get ice-cream?”“Don’t you think it was already stupid enough when we all dyed our hair blonde?” Tzuyu asked.“Hey, I like my hair!” Chaeyoung said.“I miss my black hair,” Dahyun cried.“You both look hot as blondes, okay?” Chaeyoung said.“I didn’t say anything about looking bad,” Tzuyu said. “I know I look good. But it’s drawing more attention and we will get caught more easily.”“So wear a beanie,” Chaeyoung said. “I don’t see why it’s a big deal.”“Too hot for a beanie. And if we get caught, which we will if we do it in broad daylight and someone sees us, they might kick us out. And then what? We will be back on the streets. I’m tired of begging,” Tzuyu said. “Aren’t you?”“You’re always thinking about the worst thing that could happen,” Chaeyoung said. “They won’t kick us out. If we even get caught, which we won’t!”“Sorry Chaeng, I’m with Tzuyu on this,” Dahyun said.“Shocker. You’re always on her side,” Chaeyoung moped.“Not true. Ice-cream is just not worth the risk,” Dahyun said.“What risk? I remember when you two were never against a job.”“Different times. Now we got a roof over our heads and we get free food,” Tzuyu said. “We need to be more careful about what we do and what is worth taking a risk for.”“But it’s our thing!” Chaeyoung argued.“Do you want to climb some buildings later?” Tzuyu suggested. “Last night I saw there was construction work being done on a house two blocks away from here that we could climb later when the workers are finished for the day.”“Like old times?” Chaeyoung asked.“Yeah,” Tzuyu said.“I’ll trip and break my legs,” Dahyun said.“You’ve climbed hundreds of buildings and that’s never happened,” Chaeyoung pointed out.“But this time it will happen,” Dahyun said.“I’ll catch you,” Chaeyoung said.“You’re as clumsy as me.”“Tzuyu will catch us.”“Won’t,” Tzuyu said. “Not my fault if you can’t climb.”“You’re so cold,” Chaeyoung whined. “One day we will find out what’s wrong with you.”“My mother was still doing drugs while she was pregnant with me,” Tzuyu said. “That’s your answer.”“Do you think your parents would have liked me?” Chaeyoung asked.“Stop being stupid. You know they wouldn’t,” Tzuyu said.“Maybe they would have changed,” Chaeyoung countered.“Yeah, right.”“Maybe,” Dahyun said.“Do you think they were good people?” Tzuyu asked.“The way they died… probably not, right?” Dahyun said.“I bet they were heroes,” Chaeyoung said. “That’s why you are awesome too.”“By that logic I’d be a prostitute,” Tzuyu deadpanned. “And a drug addict.”“Aren’t you? – ow! I’d still love you,” Chaeyoung pouted.“You wouldn’t say that if I had AIDS from sticking needles into my arms,” Tzuyu replied.“You’re so dark,” Dahyun said.“I’d love both of you no matter what,” Chaeyoung said.“We’ll see,” Tzuyu said.“We’re too stupid for her, Chaeng Chaeng. She will leave us for someone smarter the first chance she gets,” Dahyun said. “Owww! Stop hitting us! That’s why you’re never allowed to go out.”“You’re both idiots,” Tzuyu said.“Proving my point here, Tzu,” Dahyun said.“But you are my idiots,” Tzuyu said.“Naawwwwwwwwwww,” Chaeyoung cooed. “That’s the sweetest thing you have ever said to us.”“Forget it. Never happened,” Tzuyu said.“Mm-mm! Never forget.”“Fine. Be remembered as my idiots for all I care.”“I should get that tattooed,” Chaeyoung said. “Tzu’s idiot.”“I could punch you with a fork,” Tzuyu retorted, “if you want lifelong marks.”“His eye is still not healed from that. I heard the nurse say he might never get his full sight back in that eye.”“Serves him right,” Tzuyu said.“You’re scary, you know that?” Dahyun asked.“He made fun of you,” Tzuyu said. “He deserved it.”“I didn’t even realise. I thought he was being nice,” Dahyun said.“That’s why you have me. To protect you,” Tzuyu said. “No one makes fun of you. And if they do, they need to be punished.”“Meow,” Chaeyoung said.“Did you know that the longest cat was one point two four meters long?” Dahyun asked. “His name was Stewie. He died of cancer when he was seven, poor guy.”“And a cat named Stubbs was the mayor of an Alaskan town for 20 years,” Tzuyu said.“How do you even know all these random things?” Chaeyoung asked.“We read books unlike you,” Tzuyu said.“You read books about a cat being the mayor of some town?”“Talkeetna. That was the town. He won multiple elections.”“In 1963 a cat went to space.”“The oldest cat ever was 38 when it died.”“A group of kittens is called a kindle. Or a litter. Or an intrigue.”“Cats sleep for 12 to 16 hours a day.”“I wish I was a cat,” Chaeyoung mused. “Also, you two are nerds.”“I love cats,” Dahyun said. “Do you want to know facts about otters? Otters are so cool. Just swimming, mm.”“It’s so hot,” Chaeyoung said. “I’m sweating like some pig.”“I thought pigs were cute,” Tzuyu said.“I said piggies are cute.”“Sea otters hold hands when they sleep,” Dahyun said. “Isn’t that super cute?”“You’re cuter,” Chaeyoung said.“No,” Dahyun replied. “Nothing is as cute as hand-holding otters.”“Not even cats?” Chaeyoung asked.“No.”“Okay,” Chaeyoung conceded. “Not even baby Yoda?”“Ew. He’s green and wrinkly,” Dahyun said.“I meant Tzu,” Chaeyoung said.“Oh. You’re cute, Tzuyu, yes.”“Cuter than hand-holding otters?” Chaeyoung asked.“No,” Dahyun said.“We should go back soon,” Tzuyu said. “Jihyo will beat us up if we’re late for dinner again.”“My shoulder still hurts,” Chaeyoung complained. “Do you think Nayeon will help us sneak out? Last time was a close call. I hope she’s not spooked.”“What if she wants to come with us again?” Tzuyu asked.“Fine by me,” Chaeyoung said.“No,” Dahyun said.“Why not?”“Just us. No one else,” Dahyun snapped. “No one else.”“Okay. I still want that ice-cream.”“Chaeng…” Tzuyu said.“I know.”“Maybe next month,” Tzuyu said.“Shouldn’t have made you dye your hair,” Chaeyoung said. “Maybe we could afford ice-cream now.”“Are you blaming yourself for that?” Dahyun asked.“I talked you into it and now you don’t even like it and we can’t get ice-cream either,” Chaeyoung said.“We can always get it another day,” Dahyun reasoned.“But what if we all die tonight? Then we will never know,” Chaeyoung said.“No one will die tonight,” Tzuyu said.“How can you know? You can’t know things like that,” Chaeyoung argued.“It’s highly unlikely. Not impossible but highly unlikely,” Tzuyu replied.“What are the odds?” Chaeyoung asked.“Depends on many things,” Tzuyu said. “Age, current health, hobbies, where you live, et cetera.”“For us. What are the chances I die today?” Chaeyoung asked.“Well, the probability of someone of your age and gender dying over the span of this year is about point zero zero zero two. Even lower if just for today, but slightly higher in your specific case considering your life. But still, essentially zero.”“I love how smart you are,” Chaeyoung said.“See? We can get ice-cream another day,” Dahyun said.“What if ice-cream doesn’t taste nice?” Chaeyoung wondered.“Everyone likes it so it must be good,” Dahyun said.“But what if it isn’t?”“Then it isn’t. Who cares?” Tzuyu said.“I do!” Chaeyoung said.“Cry about it.”“I will.”“I don’t get your fascination with ice-cream,” Dahyun said.“I just want to know what it tastes like. We could never afford it. My mom always said, ‘next time, Chaengie,’ and then there never was a next time! She said I would it get some for my birthday. Promise me you won’t die! Or at least wait until after we’ve had ice-cream, okay?”“Promise,” Dahyun said.“Tzu?” Chaeyoung prodded. “Tzuuuuuyyuuuuuu.”“It will always be us together, right?” Tzuyu asked. “No matter what?”“No matter what,” Chaeyoung promised.“Unless one of us dies,” Dahyun said.“Dubu.”“Sorry.”“Okay,” Tzuyu said. “Promise.”“Cool,” Chaeyoung said. “Can we get ice-cream now?”“Soon. You big baby.” # Tzuyu is smiling, one hand in her pockets, the other holding her cone of ice-cream. Strawberry for Chaeng, vanilla for Dubu, cookies and cream for herself. She raises her cone in a silent toast to the gravestones below her.Son Chaeyoung 1999 – 2017Kim Dahyun 1998 – 2017Tzuyu was the only one who woke up again, alone.The stones don’t even say anything. All the other ones babble something about beloved mother, sister, daughter, or some quote to remember them by. But no one comes here except her. Two forgotten graves for two forgotten lives. Couldn’t even be bothered to remember the exact dates of their lives, from birth to death.“There she is,” policeman 1 says. “She’s getting predictable.”“Quick, before she runs,” policeman 2 says.They jump her before she notices them, her ice-cream dropping onto Chaeyoung’s grave.“Easy, easy,” policeman 1 says.She screams, and kicks, and bites, but they wrestle her under control.“That bitch bit me!” policeman 2 says. “Next time she runs away I’m not going after her!”“Stop complaining,” policeman 1 grumbles.“Let’s just bring her back.”She screams their names, over and over and over. They don’t come back. They never do.Policeman 1 and policeman 2 don’t care. They drag her into the car and drive her back.They’re dead. They are dead.She screams until she blacks out.When she wakes up, the calculated faces of her therapists stare at her. “Now, now, what did we say about running away?”“They wanted ice-cream,” Tzuyu says.“Who wanted ice-cream? Are the voices back?”“They’re real! I’m not crazy! They were real, they were real. I’m not crazy...”“We know, Tzu, we know. Shush now, just relax. That’s good, yes, just sleep. You’re doing amazing.“Just. Sleep.”She’s not crazy.She’s not.She’s.........