"It's raining, Ary." আপনি don't open your eyes as he approaches you.
"I know," আপনি said. আপনি can hear the patter of the rain on the rooftop. It's a soothing rythmless মুসে to your ears.
"Wouldn't আপনি prefer to be inside?" he asks, standing over you.
"If I wanted to go inside, why would I be out here?" আপনি snap.
আপনি sigh and open your eyes. Alek stares blankly at you, letting the rain drops fall on him and soak his jacket.
"I'm sorry, Alek," আপনি apologize, shame forcing আপনি to look down at your hands. "I just..." আপনি trail off, the words dying on your lips as আপনি realized আপনি have no explanation. For once, আপনি have absolutely no answer.
Alek lowers himself onto the ledge beside you. He rests one hand on his knee, letting the other dangle over the edge. He silence helps আপনি collect your thoughts.
"I just get so frustrated sometimes," আপনি mutter, still staring at your palms. "This whole team thing is crazy. I প্রণয় it but..."
He looks over at you, waiting patiently for আপনি to find your words.
"Sometimes I just... I just want to scream," আপনি admitt finally.
"Then do it," Alek permits.
আপনি look over at him, your wet hair falling in your face.
"Really, go on," he prompts. "I don't mind. I won't even listen. See?" He places his hands over his ears. It's very comical.
আপনি shake your head. "I think that may scare the neighbors," আপনি say, meaning the occupants of the apartment building you're perched on.
আপনি listen to the patter of the rain as Alek falls silent once more, thinking over the matter.
"Alright," he says slowly. "Let me প্রদর্শনী আপনি something." He stands and reaches a hand down to help আপনি up.
আপনি look from your partner's outstretched hand to the ledge, searching for an excuse to stay where আপনি are. Why are আপনি looking for one? আপনি ask yourself. After all, this is Alek. Cool, calm, trusting Alek who would never do anything stupid and drag আপনি down with him.
Finally আপনি nod and take his hand, careful not to slip on the wet ledge as he leads আপনি off it. He releases your hand and leads আপনি to the firescape.
আপনি follow him down down down the ladder to the sidewalk below. Across the street. Over the avenue. And down the steps to the underground subway.
It is crowded down below, as usual. আপনি weave through the throng of people, keeping an eye on Alek's green coat. He leads আপনি to a door set in the দেওয়াল at the edge of the crowd.
Alek punches in a sequence and the door clicks open. After a cautious glance over his shoulder, he grasps your hand and quickly pulls আপনি through. Before the door is fully closed, you're jogging down the empty, dimly lit corridor after your partner.
The hall suddenly ends. Literally. It's like someone cleaved off the rest of the corridor. আপনি follow Alek to the edge and realize it opens up to the tunnel.
"It's safe, I promise," he reassures you. Then he turns and climbs down a short ladder leading to a small platform. Beyond the platform are the tracks.
"The engineers use these gaps for repairs," Alek explains as আপনি drop from the gap to the platform.
"I still don't understand why we're here," আপনি remind him as আপনি dust off your jeans.
"Wait for it," he says simply, watching the tracks.
After a moment আপনি feel the floor begin to vibrate beneath আপনি feet. The silence is gone and is replaced দ্বারা a growing roar.
"Alek," আপনি say nervously.
"It's the পরবর্তি train," he says. "Count to ten, then let it all go!"
আপনি finally understand. The roar of the train will surely cover any scream. It is an ingenious idea.
Not seeing any reason not to, আপনি shut your eyes.
1... 2... 3... আপনি think of every time you've been outsmarted. 4... 5... 6... Of every time আপনি have gotten annoyed, angered, frustrated.The floor of the platform is shuddering so hard it's becoming difficult to stand in place. The roar in your ears is defining.
7...8...9... আপনি think of every time you've wanted to slam a door. মুষ্ট্যাঘাত a wall. Cry and yell and scream at the শীর্ষ of you're lungs, but didn't because it would be immature and childish. 10.
আপনি squeeze your eyes shut and scream as loud as আপনি possibly can.
It's like popping the lid of a fizzing bottle, only to have it explode. And that's what আপনি do. Explode.
আপনি scream and scream, adding to the thunder as the train rushes past. The sounds mix to a single voice.
আপনি scream and yell and scream scream scream.
Finally, আপনি feel the air escape your lungs. আপনি yell a final burst, then slowly open your eyes, panting. The end of the train comes and goes.
আপনি feel light as air. It's a new feeling. A great feeling. আপনি grin widely. Just because আপনি can.
আপনি look over at your partner. His face is red as a beet and he's breathing as hard as আপনি are. Alek had taken his own advice. He faces আপনি and grins as widely as আপনি are, his eyes glittering emeralds.
"Better?" he asks.
আপনি nod truthfully. "Much."