Intrusion at the Dinner Table! [Scene 19]

Director's Cut: Character Edition!

Name: Jada Aime

Age: 27

Birthplace: Bogota, Colombia

Date of Birth: July 8th

Astrological Sign: Cancer

Fact: Moved to America at the age of 13 and starred in her first child acting role as an extra at 15 years old. 

Action!

***

The hostess walked us over to our table as the leftover glass crunched beneath my feet. Some of the employees went to broom and clean the surrounding mess. I wanted to apologize, but I felt too embarrassed. It wasn't my fault, truly. It was my girlfriend. The owner of the restaurant glared at me in the distance, and I felt my pockets shrink. I wondered how much it would this cost this time.

Speaking of, Yunaria's eyes were starry at every turn, walking around to admire the statues that remained standing, the mid-century paintings that hung along the back walls. Music started once again in the ambience, setting the tone for the high-class atmosphere. I didn't like these kinds of places, but in all of Yunaria's romance novels, I noticed she tended to like the most picturesque, generic ones. This seemed to fit the bill. 

We sat down by a couch that traced the railing, giving off a view of the Los Angeles skyline. The air was hot, even for it being at night. Sounds of cars and helicopters in the distance laced the airwaves. I looked at the menu and did a double take at the ridiculous prices. Imagine reaching the pinnacle of your dreams, just to have one piece of shrimp seared on a plate circled in brown sauce cost you two-hundred dollars. 

"Hi, welcome to LA Rooftop. Can I place a drink order for you both?" A server approached us.

"Do you happen to have premium gasoline?"

"Uh…?" The young man looked at me with a confused look and I shrugged. What could I say? Lady's choice, eh?

"Just two waters, to start please, and a few appetizers. Any will do,"

"Are you sure, sir?" the server asked nervously and whispered closer to my ear, "Your...date. Is she-"

"Right. Don't worry about her, she's from another-" I had to catch myself, "...country. I'm sure you have great taste, just bring anything, please."

"Sure, right away," The server scurried off. 

Yunaria gazed in the distance, towards the skyline. I noticed everyone kept staring at us, sneaking glances while looking away the moment I caught them looking. It was already awkward enough, the silence between us. Our first date hadn't gone as planned, and worst of all, I could tell Yunaria sensed the way others looked at her. It was a growing worry I had about her stay on Earth. 

"Are all cities on Earth like this one, Los Angeles?" Yunaria asked.

"No. Not even all cities are like this in the same state, or region, country however call it, why do you ask?"

"Because..." she paused, "I want to see as many cities as I can on Earth before I leave,"

My heart dropped. 

All of the city lights dimmed along with the sound of voiced that simmered into white noise. Everything became static. That was fine, okay. She wasn't from Earth. She had to leave at some point. It was only a temporary arrangement. The movie was going well, her being proved very useful to my research in understanding the nature of robot women. It was okay, she could leave. That was always her choice. 

But...

"You know, in some of the books I've read, I saw that there were over one hundred different countries with all types of landscapes and whatnot. If I ever get a break from my job, which by the way is a horrible invention of humans, maybe we can discover all of them. I won't be riding on a plane. Those are inefficient mobiles that have a high rate of crash-" Yunaria stopped. 

"Are you okay?" She asked me. 

I hadn't heard a single word she said. 

"Before I leave" kept replaying in my mind over and over again. I didn't care. It would be easier on me. I could save a lot of money. Gasoline was getting expensive these days, yeah. And my house would be a lot cleaner, right. It wouldn't be filled with cheap vampire smut and gasoline cans. My days away from the demon imps would be stress free. I wouldn't come home to random boxes on junk or have half of my closet infested with women's clothes. No more explaining meaningless concepts that only humans understood. I'd be free again. 

"You're not enjoying this date, are you?"

I snapped back to her words. "What?"

Yunaria looked around. "All of these humans, they're staring at me, aren't they? I think the majority of them exhibit a humanly nicety, I call it. They feel one thing yet say another. I've grown accustomed to it. Even you. You do the same thing."

"No, no. I don't think so," I stuttered, "I tell the truth, well, mostly. Some people are idiots and don't actually deserve it. Because would they even understand it? Probably not. Especially those banana suit buffoons at the production company-"

"I think I understand. Humans are fearful creatures. They only live in fear. I didn't know what that word meant until I saw the way some of them looked at me. Either it was morbid curiosity or a distaste. You were the first person I met to not look at me that way. When you asked me to be your girlfriend that day, I thought it was because you had no fear. But I don't think that is true. You don't explain yourself very well. Many humans don't. I begin to wonder what the point was of entering into a human relationship,"

My mind was frazzled. Nothing would come out of my mouth. I didn't realize until a moment ago, that Yunaria understood humans more than I thought. She had been learning. Everything I had ever told her, did, or acted out around her was absorbed. But she used it to understand. I couldn't find the right words or say what I wanted to say. My throat tightened every time I tried. But she said whatever she thought. It was amazing.

"Here you are," the waiter arrived, and my vision had become so blurry and frayed that I hadn't looked up to check my surroundings. I prided myself of always having the upper hand. 

But when I looked up to see four waiters dressed in banana suits, a small chuckle escaped my lips. I had never been so glad to see a stupid banana suit in my life. 

The waiter set the food on the table. It was collection of small plates of crab cake crackers, seared shrimp glazed in some green sauce, a mountain of pork stacked up in a tower shape, and some other nondescript items. I can't lie it looked disgusting. One of the waiters pulled from behind his back a Mexican themed sombrero and placed it on top of my head. She pulled a card from out of his shirt pocket and began to read.

"You are a complete idiot and deserve to be treated as one..."

Hey...

"...but you are also the best director I've ever worked with. I'm sorry for making a big mess. I heard through the grapevine that you would be here, but I didn't realize it would be with a date, and such a beautiful woman. Enjoy your night, with one more surprise..."

I stood up lightning fast and looked around. In the dining room, in the very corner, I saw Jada sitting by herself, laughing and pointing behind me. That bastard. I hadn't answered any of her calls or tried to speak to her on set. I guess this was the only way to get my attention. So cruel. 

A mariachi band, whose name was "La Banda" assembled like a well-oiled machine. They stood on the platform, somewhat like a mini stage that lined across the skyline in the night. I had no idea when that ever got there. A little kid, maybe like five or six years old brought the little microphone and I honestly thought it was an eighty-year-old man. The conviction. Everyone gathered in the outdoor terrace and started clapping along with the song. 

For the first time ever, I saw Yunaria laugh. She had smiled before, but she genuinely started to laugh and enjoy herself. It was at that moment that I knew I had been lying to myself. 

I didn't want her to leave. 

In the crowd, I searched for Jada but saw she had disappeared and decided I would have some choice words for her later. 

I sat down and locked eyes with Yunaria across the table. When had I ever been honest with her? She tried to understand everything about me, but I never gave her anything in return. It was hard for robots and humans to communicate. Or maybe it was just me. 

I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it like always. 

"Did you do all of this for me?"

Maybe, just once more, I could lie. After all, I was only glad she enjoyed herself. 

"Of course, who else could it be for besides my lovely girlfriend," I said. 

 I took my hat off and gently put it on Yunaria's head. She looked so stupid, but then again, she was a space alien robot. How much weirder could my life get? 

"Did I ever tell you that I was a movie director? That's my job, I never told you,"

Her eyes sparkled and she began to float and light her blue flames, but I quelled her down before anyone could notice. Although, we did crash into the middle of the building unscathed. 

"Really?!?! I love movies. On Yalina, we had films of these nature as well, but nothing like the humankinds,"

"Really...?" What could alien movies be about? I would have to investigate this further...

"It was one of the things that reminded me of home. Books, movies. Although, they didn't cost money like on Earth. Will you show me one of your movies?" 

She looked at me sincerely like she did the first time I saw her at Echo Park. That felt like ages ago. We had come a long way. I wondered how much further we could go. Who knew?

"Sure, but you have to stay on Earth to find out,"

She smiled and tilted the Mexican sombrero ever so slightly out of her blue face, "Deal. As long as you're here, I think it was worth leaving Yalina,"

I didn't know why she left or how badly she wanted to return, but for now, I would take it. 

My life of idiocy would continue. 

[ACT I/VOLUME I END]