XL | Entry

❦

Nora
keeps glancing
at Rowan

as we're sprawled
around the bar

where Tom works.

His workplace
looks similar
to the nameless chicken rice shop
in decor.

But it has a name:
BLUE ABYSS.

It's crowded tonight.

'Why did you ask her to come?'
she asks me.

I gulp down
a can of real beer.

'To see her reaction.'

Nora stares at me,
skeptical.

Rowan sits a distance away
from the rest of us—

where I left her
after we started drinking.

She's the only one
with a glass of water.

I don't know what she's looking at,
staring into space like that,
but she doesn't even try

to start a conversation with my friends.

maybe I should have

introduced her?

'She looks uncomfortable,'
Nora says.

'It's hurting my eyes.'

'Ignore her. She's sulking.'

Nora is quiet for a while.

Then she asks

if I like her.
If I really intend to date her.

To be honest,
despite what I said to Jerry,

I agree with him:

Both of us
are (really) very similar.

I don't know.

Nora doesn't give her opinion after that.

That's what
I like
about her.

She's honest.

Unlike someone.

It's complicated.

Nora sighs.
Even playing around is hard.

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