I Love You

With deadlines approaching soon, you would expect Smith to sweat or be under stress. He was stone-cold relaxed, chill, and enjoying himself even more than usual. Wilson invited him to coffee, and he gladly accepted even with all the troubles he was having.

"So, how are things going?" asked Wilson curiously.

"You know, not bad, not great either," Smith replied, dry and with his eyes drifting like he was bored.

"How are things going with you and Soph?"

"Oh, you didn't hear. We broke up. She is now dating one of my ex-girlfriends," Smith said again with a monotone voice.

"Whaaat? How did that happen, and are you okay? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she is doing better now from what I heard."

"Well, it doesn't exactly sound like it, but I hope she is not a total mess, and that she is a little bit better, or that she found herself something."

"Why did you call me?" Smith asked, serious now.

"How? What do you mean why? Me and Sabina also wanted to invite 2 of you to dinner to hang out or something."

"Yeah, there is no need for that. You can delete my contact now. Thanks for meeting me here."

Smith stood up, offered a handshake, then pulled Wilson into a hug. Wilson was surprised but didn't say anything. He let Smith go.

Smith put a little bug microphone in Wilson's pocket, of course, to listen in.

Smith also went to his therapist.

The therapist was disappointed in him.

"I believe you bugged my office because I found this microphone."

"Me? No."

"Admit it now, and I will forgive you, and we can continue to work together."

"I didn't bug your office. You can trust me."

"Damn," the therapist said, disappointed. "I am trying to catch the person who did it. But no one is admitting to it."

"Maybe I can help you somehow," said Smith.

"No, no, but thanks. I will handle it."

Smith and the therapist then proceeded to talk about Smith's life, and Smith continued to lie about every little detail.

He then paid for the session and slipped a mic into the lamp again, so that he was able to listen in.

Finally, after a long day of work, deadlines, and chaos, Smith arrived at his apartment.

He had more than 10 microphones planted that he needed to listen to and go over. He recorded some and listened at x2 speed, some even at x4 speed.

At one point he got a little bit confused. One recorded audio was not great—it was overlapping somehow, almost as if two mics were at the same place.

This was at the same time good and bad for him. The audio was bad, but when 2 mics get in the same place, this usually means something good for Smith in his experience.

He listened and listened, then got the gist of it. Sophia was at the therapist where he had planted the mic.

Smith paused the audio for a second. Hmm, should I listen to this conversation? It has some ethical questions and issues if I listen in. I think for the safety of the country and for my safety as an agent, I need to listen in.

Smith even went as far as to convince himself this was the only choice and everyone in his place would naturally do the same.

He was not disappointed when he wasn't mentioned in the session.

Maybe I just didn't hear everything good, but did she really not mention me? Huh, weird. Well, I guess that means I am good at my job. I will take it as a compliment. We spies must be normal and boring. We can't be seen and extravagant. This is for the best.

Smith then, to even his surprise, turned off the mic that he had planted on Sophia. He did it quick, without remorse. In his gut he felt that he must do this. He needs to focus on other stuff now. He needs also to worry about KGB agents that could be everywhere.

They have no morals, he thought. They are unethical, dangerous, and just so, so in everyone's business. With their stupid missions and plans, who knows what is in their heads.

The night had fallen, and the stars in the sky were lighting the silhouettes of Wilson and Sabina walking down the street.

Wilson would talk about the things that he heard from Smith, and Sabina was listening in awe and shock.

"I am glad we are happy together and that we are not having issues like that. Every day something weird and crazy is happening. I am glad that in this chaotic world I got you."

"I am also glad that I have you, love. We found each other at the right moment and right place. I don't believe in destiny, but this is as close to that as it gets."

"Awww, that is awfully cliche and romantic, and we are so cringe and cliche I want to puke."

"It is okay. Cliche is sometimes okay. Sometimes it is okay to be a little bit cringe."

"Yeah, it is only cringe if we decide that it is."

"Sure. I am kinda getting lost in thought, but I am just glad that I have seen through your exterior."

"What do you mean?" asked Sabina, all smiles and giggly.

"You have this 'I am funny, easy-going, simple woman' mask that you show to the world. But you hide your intricacies and your depth from people."

"I love you, Wilson."

"I love you as well."

Smith heard this in his apartment through the bug on Wilson. Luckily, Wilson didn't notice it. Upon hearing these words, Smith felt nothing, maybe slight boredom from hearing this boring conversation. He sped up the recording so that he doesn't die from boredom.