The gift

The crystal clear sound of glasses clinking together, punctuating the humming of voices. A more distinct note sometimes comes to enhance the score with a laugh. Not even the harmonious sounds broadcast in the large room are loud enough to mar these celebratory marks.

     A room with bay windows letting the city’s lights glisten as fireflies floating in the air. A huge purple carpet bordered with gold edging covers gently the floor underneath.

“So… Have you already packed your belongings?”

     Nervously wrapping a lock of dark hair around her index finger, Aki casts side glances at us. The fabric of her dress seems as delicate to the touch as red rose petals of which it has the colour as well. An attempt to disguise her blushing cheeks? I am starting to wonder if they are not defective to take on this shade so often. Nevertheless, it is not like it doesn’t suit her, so evoking it with her would be irrelevant.

     I merely shake my head. For some peculiar reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I only have a few belongings to pack anyway, so this will be quickly done.

     This afternoon, I mainly spent time braiding my long hair on the side, threading here and there opal beads onto my locks of hair. The snow woven dress I wear is a choice of mine, its long sleeves sewn with ruffles caressing my wrists. Trails of celestial bodies appear to have been blown onto the fabric.

“Me neither…” Tenchi adds in a dejected voice.

     Holding a glass of a liquid full of many small bubbles popping one after another on the surface, he is wearing a brown suit that makes him look… way too neat.

“Mmhh…” Aki seems to struggle unsealing her lips. “Uhh… Not that I am going to miss you or something but maybe we can exchange our personal ID. I mean!” She suddenly raises her voice, adding with more eagerness.. “If anything happens this… uhh… can always be useful!”

     Here is the blush again. I offer her a faint smile, as well as Tenchi. Even if his is more visible.

“Do- don’t stare at me like this!!”

     As Aki averts her emerald gaze, making sway her high pony tail, Tenchi chuckles and summons a holographic screen.

“Useful, yes. You’re right. It may be.”

     Tapping the screen as he speaks, he makes a final slide towards Aki and a notification sounds almost immediately.

     Imitating him, I tap on the screen of my own internal device, sending my personal ID in a slide to Aki and then to Tenchi. I am not particularly into the concept of sending virtual messages, though… it seems to brighten their faces as we exchange knowing glances.

“Oh, Look. It is the director.”

     Tenchi takes a look behind me so that I turn to take sight of Mr Leafeyorb’s figure.

     A confident look upon his face, he is wearing a grey suit and a bow tie. As he stops to speak to another man – probably a researcher or a shareholder – I place my glass on a levitating tray passing between the guests.

     The man with whom is talking Marygold gazes at me with curiosity, what draws his attention to me.

“Oh, good evening Aurora. Is the evening to your liking?”

     Standing a few steps away, I nod.

“I’m afraid I won’t have much time tonight.”

     As he speaks, I take the opportunity to grab a small package from the folds of my dress and I hand it to Marygold. It is a golden box with a large silvery ribbon, not larger than my hand.

“Mmh? Is it for me?”

     I nod as a reply, waiting for him to take the gift.

“My, my. Thank you.”

     Grasping softly the small package from my extended hand, the director places it in his right hand. With his other one he pulls on the ribbon, undoing the loop until it disappears like these bubbles in the glasses.

     Pressing his fingers against the upper side of the box, he lifts it up and…

     …As soon as he sees the content of the golden box, he closes it abruptly. The sudden gesture startles the man Marygold was talking with, making him almost jump.

     He visibly struggles to keep an impassible smile upon his face, the corners of his lips twitching.

“…?”

     Tilting slightly my head to the side, I wonder what may be the reason that made him react like this. Though, not losing time the director gently yet firmly grabs me by my shoulders and drags me aside to the greatest surprise of the guests.

     As they see us passing by, I can hear Aki and Tenchi while they follow us with their eyes.

“Awawaw- What did she give him? He seems so eager to speak to her in private!” She blows in one breath, her cheeks matching her dress.

“A ring?” He muses, a hand against his chin.

     The director leads me to an isolated part of the room. Passing a door he leads me on a terrace away from prying eyes.

     His behaviour is quite uncanny. Didn’t he say he wouldn’t have time to spend with me?

     There, he stands still and turns me so I face him.

“Aurora, can you explain me this?” Marygold briefly closes his eyes, flashing me a tight smile.

     I blink several times, not really understanding where the problem lies.

     Releasing my shoulders, he raises in-between us his hand holding the golden box. As he opens it, the box reveals its content. White panties embroidered with pink lace on the edges.

“This.”

“This is a panty.” I comment in an unflappable tone.

“Well, yes. I noticed that. That is not what I-”

     Marygold appears to meet difficulties in speaking. Is he tired?

     I take a look at the panties. Niji explained me earlier that to seduce a man, underwears are often quite effective. Though I do not quite understand how a piece of fabric can affect someone in any reasonable way, I thought it would be hence a good idea to offer him this. So I ordered it by means of my internal device.

     Extending my hands towards it, I take the thin piece of fabric between my hands, holding it with an index finger at each side.

“Is it not to your liking?”

     Gently tugging on each side of the panties, I tilt my head softly to the side. Maybe it is simply the colour he dislikes. Now that I come to think of that, I do not even know his favourite colour, any such simple things.

     For some mysterious reason, the director nearly chokes, coughing sharply.

“That is not the question. Please, be so kind as to put it back in the box.”

     Blinking several times again, the lack of information or precise question of Marygold doesn’t help me to understand the situation. So I simply put the piece of fabric into the box. He almost immediately closes the said box.

“You almost gave me a heart attack…” He sighs. “I would be grateful if you avoided offering me… such things. Especially in public.”

     Extending a hand towards me, he hands me back the box.

“I’m afraid I can’t accept this.”

     Widening slightly my eyes, I half-open my mouth. Standing still, I avoid making any move for a few seconds. Then, I slowly bring back the box, lowering my head.

“I am sorry… I thought this would make you… happy.”

      For him to refuse to even keep it, my gift must have truly displeased him. It makes me feel a little saddened for not being able to offer him a gift that would make him smile.

“…” Marygold stares at me for a while without saying a thing. “That said… There’s another gift I would gladly accept from you if you ever wish.”

     Regaining hope, I raise my head to notice that he has turned his head away. The back of his hand against his lips, there is a faint blush over his face.

     I wonder what he may have in mind, and hold his gaze until he turns back his night orb eyes towards me.

     The wind rustles the ivy leaves growing against the walls of the building, wrapping even around the railing. Leaves’ veins glow with a blueish light, emitting an almost imperceptible frizzle.

“Dance with me.”