President and Boss

 I find myself leaning on a windowsill. A gust of wind caresses my face while I stare into the eternal green horizon. I can’t help but find serenity from the peace outside. The peace lasts until I notice the presence of someone behind me.

“Boss,” the girl behind me spoke.

It’s only the second time I heard the word ‘boss’ today, but unlike the first one, it sends a wave of nostalgia coursing through my body. I smile sweetly as I turn to the girl. She has green hair, tied with a darker green bow. The combination of her ponytail and bow ridiculously silhouettes a three-leaf clover. I have to crack, “Got a name, or should I just call you Cutie?”

She immediately pulls her hands up on her chest and frowns. “D-Didn’t I tell you my name already?” she said nervously.

“Really now?” I teased.

“Uh… umm… I even showed you the recipe from my mother’s cooking, it almost got me in trouble!”

Oh boy. Looking at her right now, I could tell she is on the verge of a mental breakdown. She almost reminds me of a quivering chihuahua, only replacing the rage with terror. I don’t want to upset her any longer, but I really can’t remember her name.

“I’m—just kidding?” I said with a degree of uncertainty as I gave a fake laugh.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, what’s up?”

“Your mistress is calling for you.”

“Hey, you’re the one that just called me. Is that right, my mistress?” Now the laugh I give is genuine.

She tuts, but I could hear her whisper, “I wish.”

Oh jeez, another admirer to add to the list, but apparently not a girlfriend… That’s a relief—I think? She’s cute and all, and I could imagine being her boyfriend, but I already got a lot of gals to think about!

“You’re not my ‘mistress’? Well, that just makes me sad.” I feign a frown, clutching my chest.

She nervously chuckles. Sarcasm aside, I almost blurted out—one of my mistresses—back there.

“But seriously, Boss, you wouldn’t want to keep the Supreme President waiting.”

I guess it’s kind of a relief to know this girl’s not another girlfriend of mine. After the day I went through, I can’t believe it’s hard for me to talk to girls and think: “Wow, another one?” I seem to have lots of them. Although, it does make me sad that I don’t know who this girl is. She’s apparently used to my antics. I get the sense that I want to call her Clover.

…

So the Pres is one of my gals, huh? Could she have been one of the girlfriends I already met? So far, there’s the headstrong Madison; She’s barking orders around and correcting her subordinate’s stances, and criticizing some students’ forms. The way she presents herself, it seems she’s the head of the club—the vibes she’s giving off are like a leader of the pack instead of a senior helping their juniors. I popped a smile after she saw me leaning on the door, and she replied with a sour half-smile. She’s being courteous so I think that’s a good sign that she’s not totally angry with me. Then, there’s Pamela, who I think would rather deal with machines than with people because she’s just so ingrained with her work and of course, the robots most likely. Then that just leaves me with either Pearl or Ruby. The latter doesn’t seem to be the political type though. Could the President be Pearl then?

“Uhh, Boss? You’re staring at a distance again.”

“Oh? Sorry about that.” I softly chuckle.

A silent moment passes where she just stares through my eyes, then sighs and shakes her head. “Look, I really don’t want to get in trouble again.” She bites her lips. “Just, here.” She grabs my arm and pulls me to the hallways, dragging me as soft as she can, or maybe I’m really heavy. Can’t really blame her though.

After walking a considerable distance, I start to ponder. So Clover and I are this close, huh? If so, then why is she scared of getting into trouble? Is the Pres really that strict to people like little ol’ Clover here, to the point where they’re willing to break personal boundaries just to get the job done?

Now that I think about it, Pearl doesn’t seem to be the type to do such a thing. From what I can tell so far is that she prefers her money to do the influencing.

Still, I should assure Clover she’s not getting into trouble. Not on my watch anyways. “Hey, the Pres is my gal, so don’t worry,” I give a reassuring smile, “I’ll make sure you won’t get into too much trouble.” I wink on instinct—which I realized might be a suggestive mistake.

“Umm… The Supreme President’s not bad, but she’s not the one who’s going to scold me.

“Then who will?”

We reach a wide hall where a group of students is lined up in column-like formations; facing each other with a good distance between them. Clover lets go of my hand. “Make way for the Boss!” she shouts.

“Hail, Great Boss!” they shout in perfect unison as they raise their arms—slanting upward with fists closed.

I suddenly got shivers up my spine as I cringed like all Hells. This is way too much for pleasantries! Albeit, I can’t lie—this feels way too good for my ego.

And yep, Pearl wouldn’t definitely be having this kind of overblown ceremony. She strikes me as a person who’ll rather let the money talk.

Clover walks forward then she beckons me to follow. After we reach the door; I suddenly feel the pressure choking inside me.

Thanks to that recent ceremony just now, they made me think that I’m about to meet a goddamn god!

Stupid-ass ‘guards’ and their shouting. I almost forgot I’m just here to see my girlfriend dammit! Just because she’s the Supreme President; doesn’t mean she’s a stranger!

… Well, she technically is… because, you know, amnesia.

Clover clears her throat and it got my attention. “She’s waiting for you inside, Boss.” Her brows curl inward, “Please—don’t keep her waiting.”

I sigh. “Alright, but we’re not done. You hear me?”

She bites her lower lip and I mimic it unconsciously. She eventually exhales, “Sure.”

Yeah, that didn’t sound convincing.

“I should take my leave.”

A couple of short seconds pass by and the both of us are still here standing. I have a hilarious theory as to why she hasn’t left yet. I crack a little smile. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Clover squeaks, “Your permission, of course!”

I try to hold my laughter. “And if I say no?”

“Then-Then you would just be a real meanie!”

I pull my hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright,” I give her a sarcastic salute using my left hand, “Dismissed, soldier!” I said in a ridiculous tone.

She shakes her head, sighs, then leaves. Not far off, she looks back at the door and sees me still looking at her. I wink at her to assure her everything will be alright. She immediately darts off.

That was fun. Now, it’s time to get serious. It should be something urgent. Given that I’m literally summoned by a subordinate to come to the Pres, instead of just at least calling me on my phone.

I take a deep breath and then knock on the door, but now that I think about it. The guards’ antics from earlier already announced my arrival.

A few, strange moments pass by, but—no reply. I cave in and open the door myself.

Entering the room, I am immediately greeted by the ray of light, shining through the intricate design, stained glass window. A portion of the huge light, however, is offset by the silhouette of a huge, black-leathered swivel chair that’s facing me with its back.

I suppose my girlfriend’s sitting there; she’s not anywhere in this huge room filled with furniture that’s arranged to look both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

I cough to get her attention and casually sit on the desk. “Uhh… You called?”

No answer. Crap. Is she giving me the silent treatment? “Look. Sorry I’m late,” still no reaction. I start to walk in front of her. “I’m sorry I’m late, okay? You don’t have to-Oh.”

So that’s why she’s been silent the whole time.

She’s dead!

Well, not really. It’s more like she’s in a deep sleep.

Wow. She must be one heavy sleeper. Even those boisterous guards couldn’t wake her up.

Speaking of which, I can’t believe she’s drop-dead gorgeous! Heyyoooo! I give myself a high five.

Okay, that was stupid of me. I’m glad nobody else is around to see me being ecstatic at the sight of a sleeping beauty.

Moving on, she looks pretty cute from her peaceful nap, still holding her phone. The lock screen has our faces on it. From the looks of the photo, I’m the one who took it with my other arm hugging her chest. She looks flushed despite her hands covering the major lower half of her face, her brows curl upwards. Why is this her screen picture? It looks like I shot it without her consent. My hair in the photo catches my attention. It’s short and it has blonde highlights instead of the black, medium in length that I have right now.

Still, even with the odd choice of picture, all evidence points out that she really is a girlfriend of mine. I’m willing to bet she already called me on her phone by the looks of it. Crap, I forgot my phone at home, but what happened after I woke up; it’s not that surprising.

Say, am I really that good at scoring hotties, or am I just really lucky?

Either way, I can’t stop the feeling that everything that happened up to this point makes me feel like a scumbag.

Not a moment soon, she suddenly shivers. I can’t just let you catch a cold now, can I?

I scan the room for any blankets I could find. Bingo, here’s one—and it’s a rare Titan Thunder Collector’s Edition Blanket?!

I chuckle—Well, well, well, someone here’s obviously a huge nerd, and to think that she’s the Supreme President of all people. I wonder if I could trade with her?

Anyway, after placing the blanket on the departed, I take my suit off and lie down on the nearest sofa that just so happens to be a little bit too spacey for my taste.

Making myself comfortable, I start to think, ‘So, another girlfriend, huh?’ That makes them five in a row. Do the girls already know about each other?

Well, Ruby knows that I have someone else and that someone is Pearl, but does Pearl know about Ruby?

The major problem is that it’s hard to ask any of them. What if they didn’t know in the first place? Then I’d just break their heart!

What in the Hells did I get myself into?

Even if I tell them I have amnesia; playing the ‘I woke up and forgot everything’ card; they’ll most likely be thinking I’m lying, after all, if they discovered that I had seemed to hide them from one another, I won’t blame them if they won’t trust whatever I’ll say next.

I could hear footsteps come toward me. I turn around to see that it’s the bed-haired beauty. “Hey, had a good sleep?”

She breathes heavily and replies, “Oh shut up, it is your fault you kept going at it last night.”

Hold up, did we?

No.

Yes? Damn you, brain—you should’ve at least kept the important details last night!

“W-Well, at least you have Titan Thunder to keep you warm.”

“Hm? Oh, yes. Thank you, again, for lending this blanket to the office.”

It was… mine?!

Why would-how could I?! Uuuugggghhhhhh. “A-Anything for my Princess…”

She looks at me inquisitively.

“Hmmm….”

Bet I look like I’m about to cry right now.

Out of the blue, she remarks, “Your eyes are watering.”

I knew it! “I’m holding out as best as I can—okay?”

She scoffs, “Anyway, scooch over. I want to rest on the couch.”

After wiping the invisible tears from my dry eyes, I comply. “Sure thing.”

“No need to get up. Just move a little bit to the edge. I will lie in between.”

“Wouldn’t I just get in the way of your sleep?”

She shakes her head. “You are going to be my body pillow. Is that not obvious?”

I look at her half-closed eyes meaningfully. “Alright.”

She slides her way through my body. This feels nice, sure, but I bet it was even nicer last night.

She lays her head on my chest. I suggest to her, “Are you sure you’re going to use these babies as a pillow? They’re hard as rocks, you know.”

She softly speaks with a certain grogginess in her tone, “Do not flatter yourself too much. I can bite them off, you know.”

Despite the threat, I repeatedly flex the pec her head is lying on. She starts to laugh. “Stop making it bob, Seth.”

“I would—if you stop snickering about it.”

She hums and plops on top of me. I can’t believe how soft she feels. “Oh, so you want to play, eh? Feel my wrath!” I scream from the nipple twister while she cackles from my pain. My torment quickly stops. “Seth, what are you so excited about down there?! Do you know it’s against policy to carry guns?”

Her humor for my hard rifle is not her finest quality, but I appreciate it nonetheless. “Oh, shut up,” I smile playfully, “It’s your fault you never stopped going at it.”

Our moment of bliss immediately comes to a halt when we hear a loud banging on the door.

Damn. Just when things were about to get some real fun.

She looks at me with sad eyes and gives a bittersweet smile. “I should go get it.”

She stands, but as she’s about to leave—I softly grab her hand on instinct. I whisper, “Wait, you don’t have to answer it. Whoever just knocked will eventually think that nobody’s here if you don’t open up that door.” After saying that, I just remembered the glorified guards outside, but what’s said has been said.

“Seth, you hornless devil.”

I think ‘horny’ would have been more appropriate.

“I have a duty to fulfill, and as much as we want to stay with each other—do you not think that their concern is more important?”

Just like that, Red, fierce as fire; like the blood that could trickle from the struck cord inside my heart. Red, you’re always set in your burning determination. “As you wish, Princess,” I said as I kissed her hand and let it go. She turns for the door.

Fire Red, from the determined intensity of your eyes. I always get lost from staring at them too much. Although, right now, I could only stare at your cute ass. Hey, I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave, Scarlet.

“What the absolute shit?!” Oh boy. There’s only one person who could pull an attractive shout like that. “But you just said there’s someone inside!” Oof, I pity the fella who has to feel her wrath. “Then why—the fuck—isn’t anybody answering-Oh. Took your time; didn’t ‘cha you prude!”

“That’s ‘Supreme President’ to you, churl!”

“And? Like I give a fuck.”

Madison almost throws the stack of paper she’s just supposed to show.

“Here you go, Your Majesty.”

“What is this garbage?”

“Well, this garbage you speak of is a bunch of papers I need your high-and-mighty ass to sign.”

“Hmph! Unfortunately for me—as Supreme President—I have to oblige, you swine!”

Maddy, with her hands on her hips, leans dangerously close to her bitter rival’s face. Their visages are just inches away from each other—which I find kind of hot, despite the tense atmosphere.

Maddy grits her teeth, “Say. That. Again. Bitch!”

What kind of hostile exchange was that?!

Scarlet gruffs and strides back to the desk with an irritated face. Maddy—arms crossed—also begrudgingly drags herself also to the desk, fuming, but her face soon lights up when she spots me inside the room.

“Whoa, Seth, you scumbag! What sorta mess did you get into this time, huh?” she adorably grinned.

I replied, “Jaywalking.” From the other room, Scarlet laughs while Maddy goes silent.

“Oh,” she lamented and followed it up with a shallow laugh. Ouch. “Oh, hey!” She perks up as if she just remembered something important. “My old man’s cooking up some barbecue today. You’re coming, right?”

I stroke my chin and ponder. “Hmm…” Scarlet coughs, interrupting my thoughts. “Huh…?” I suddenly tense up; my eyes pop out; the blood in my veins starts to surge as I come to the realization that I have two girlfriends in the same room right now!

Do they already know about each other?!

“Well,” Maddy tuts and grimaces. “I guess her Royal Highness could also come and eat with us.”

You could do without rolling your eyes, Madds! Although, inviting Scarlet to the barbecue is a good thing, right?

“Well… thank you for the invitation, dear Madison, but the past few weeks have been exhausting. In fact, the binge Seth and I did to grind my character to level sixty last night made me lose sleep!”

Hold up, we just played games all night?! I… don't know if I should be disappointed.

“Although… I would rather sleep on an empty stomach than get my hands greasy with you.”

Ahh, there it is. This is definitely bad.

“What the hell did you just say?!” Maddy reacted.

“I. Said. That-”

Don’t. Just… don’t. Please. I convey those thoughts by shaking my head sideways in Scarlet’s direction, glaring. Thankfully, she apparently got the message since she reacted by sighing in compliance and defeat.

“That I would love to,” she cracked a visibly forced smile. “But, I really am terribly exhausted right now.”

“Whatever. Just sign the damn papers already, and let’s get this over with!” Maddy turns away, mutters under her breath then falls on the sofa on top of my blanket. My paranoia starts to burn up at the thought that she could pick up the supposed smell that Scarlet and I possibly left on it. I look at Scarlet to see her palm on her face.

Scarlet whispers, “Why does it have to be always like this with her?” I look down and see something surprising.

“Uhh… Princess?” I whispered, “You spilled ink on Maddy’s papers.”

Scarlet hums. “Oh my!” From the way she said it—Somehow, I get the feeling she’s just feigning concern.

“That’s unfortunate. Want some help?”

“Yes! Although, please—do not tell her about this. She will think of me as an idiot. Please, keep her busy while I go and print new documents!”

Wouldn’t Maddy just notice-Oh right. It’s Maddy we’re talking about here… I guess I could also scratch the thought that super smell is also a part of her powers, besides unfathomable strength. Anxiety finally leaves—but only in this particular instance. There’s still a lot of shit left on hold. Going back to the problem at hand, I give adorable Red here a wink. “Sure thing, babe. I’ll keep her occupied.”

She looks at me with a bitter smile. “Thank you.”

After Scarlet walks to the computer, I go up to Maddy, who is furiously typing on her phone. I grin, “Hey there… Sunshine,” she gives me a scowling look—like her face is saying, ‘What the fuck?’, “I gotta say, I look forward to the barbecue-”

She cuts off, “Yeah, sure. That’s great,” she spoke quickly until…

“Hey, Seth. Look, I just remembered, there are still some papers that need stamping! I left in a hurry so I forgot some of it.”

“T-That’s… unfortunate. Want some help?”

“Yeah. I do. Don’t tell her about this though, or she’ll think I’m incompetent! Could you distract her while I go back to our club?”

I can’t believe what’s happening right now. The unfolding parallels are really ironic.

“Uhh… Sure, thing. Babe?”

She slits her eyes.

“You don’t sound so sure to me…”

After turning to look at Scarlet operating the computer, I return my attention to Maddy. “No, I definitely can, for sure.”

“O-Okay. Now I’ll just have to make an excuse to leave.”

“Okay.”

She shouts, “I gotta take a leak!” From the volume, I swear I could hear it coming from a mile away. Eardrums will get destroyed even with earplugs. “Be back in a sec!”

After recovering from the shockwave, my attention turns to Scarlet. I wonder how she’s doing. So I walk up to her and immediately, I hear her say, “I should not wonder how that girl has no shroud of decency, but I digress. Did she suspect anything awry?”

I just realized she uses proper sentences. Usually, it’s nigh insufferable to hear, but she’s lucky she looks cute doing it. I can’t help but smile as I pinch her cheeks. Her brows pucker. “I’m confident she’s not.” Biting my lip, I let go of my hands.

She grins while shaking her head; standing triumphantly like a great commander. “Unsurprising.” She looks at me and starts to fidget. “G-Good job, my l-love.”

The way she’s being awkward makes me snicker.”What was that?” I teased. After a little period of silence, she unexpectedly kisses my lips. I reacted, “I… really didn’t do much.”

She dismissively waves. “Nonsense, I am sure you were spectacular.” After her compliment, she proceeds to line up the freshly printed documents appropriately while taking her time. She smiles brightly as she acknowledges how things are going her way. I can’t help but be in awe of her radiance. “By the way, I have to get new ink for my stamp. You just stay right here and—flex your pecs?”

“I guess, do you have any mirrors here though?”

She laughs aloud. Does she want to see my flex or not? Maybe this will change her mind!

Scarlet leaves even though I was still showing off the guns. Not long after, Maddy returns with her paperwork. She sees me toying with a whistle I just found. “She’s not here?”

“Yeah, she left.”

“She did?” She grins, her face sneers like a proud mastermind. “Good job, hon!” And here goes another reward to the same spot. I really don’t know what to make of this situation anymore.

After listening to Madison whine about how unnecessary the office looked, a few seconds pass. Scarlet enters the room. I give her a smile and she smiles back. I turn my gaze to her lips. It reminds me that both of them just kissed me on the same spot on the same day. Does it count as an indirect kiss to both of them? Now that sounds pretty gay in my book.

Of course, although my loaded rifle thinks that’s hot, my brain enforces that I’m a scumbag in every translation. I wouldn't wonder if my brain would suddenly stop working with the magnitude of information flowing into me. One thing is for sure though; this experience so far just leaves me with a confused boner.

While Scarlet is exploring her desk, I walk up to her, curious about the papers and the design of her stamp. Meanwhile, Maddy is standing impatiently with her arms crossed. Both of us watch Scarlet drop ink on her ink pad. After that, she readies her transparent stamp. She flinches when she notices that crumpled-up papers are sitting on top of the clean and straight documents that she recently printed. She slowly looks up at Madison, only to see her firmly turn her face away and humphs. It’s funny how Maddy is the only person oblivious to everything. That, or maybe she doesn’t care, or more likely, in her own words, just doesn’t give a flying fuck. Scarlet giggles at Madison’s apparent ignorance.

A moment passes after Scarlet finally finishes stamping all the papers. The placement of her signatures almost looks like they came straight out of a printer because of her accuracy in stamping it on the exact location per piece of paper. Her meticulousness, however, is contrasted by the cute heart-shaped stroke under the final letter of her signature. It takes confidence to add charming shapes like that to official documents, but she is the daughter of the most powerful god on this planet.

Contented, Scarlet sighs and holds the paper to Madison, “There. I have finished stamping all of them. Satisfied, bitch?”

Whhooooaaaahh, what?

Madison replies, “Thanks, cunt.”

Ladies, stop! My confused boner might just go all out! Dammit, woody!

Even after putting an endnote to their interaction, both of them are still gripping the paper and it looks like it’s about to be ripped apart!

Thinking fast, I use the whistle I was playing with and let out a loud, sharp sound which makes both of them cringe and flash their gaze at my face. “Gals, c’mon. No need to include this innocent stack of paper in your fight.” And ruin all the work they did?

They begrudgingly relent. Maddy suddenly yells, “Whatever!” she points a finger at me and then, “Seth, barbecue! Don’t forget it!”

I sigh to relieve myself from the tension then stand straight and smile at Madison. “Looking forward to it.”

After that exchange, she pumps her fist and mutters “alright” and immediately leaves. Although—I swear she seemed to be trotting out, just a little bit.

“Seth,” Scarlet called.

I turn to her with a smile on my face still. “Yeah, Red?”

“You just indirectly kissed Ivan,” she said, failing to hold her laughter.

“Wait, this isn’t your whistle?!”

“Well, have you ever seen me carrying a whistle? Ivan is literally the only student who carries that thing on a daily basis.”

My eyes crack. “Oh, no.”

Scarlet chuckles, “That seems pretty gay in my book!”

“I-I’ll just have to friskily rinse my mouth at home, I guess. It’s just sad to know there’ll be no kissies from now. I should get going, then. I just have to tell… a friend there’s free dinner at Madison’s place.”

“Wait, we still have to talk about the meeting.”

Of course, the meeting, that’s what I’m supposed to come to school for!

Scarlet continues, “I understand if you miss a couple of meetings. You are… you. No force in existence can stop you.”

A shiver crawls behind my back as doubt begins to focus on the idea, “Nothing can stop you.”

She holds my hands, which inadvertently kills my anxiety. “These meetings are boring, I get it. I… I’ll keep my request short.”

“Whatever it is, I can handle it,” I replied without much of a thought.

“That’s what I love to hear, darling!”

“So, what’s the short?”

“The Golden Apex needs you. Now, more than ever.”

The Golden Apex. Remembering the name brings goosebumps to my skin. Oh, the glory days. “What about them? There’s a reason I quit, remember?” Because I sure don’t.

Scarlet pulls me into an embrace. I hug her back with a suspicious look. She softly speaks, “It’s a simple request, darling. You show up to the meeting and… Show them who’s, and who always will be the Boss.”

She traces her fingers on my chest, making my heart race and start to agonizingly ache.

The past flashes between my eyes. Her pained and pleading face comes to mind covered in the flaming hot night; the destruction of a world she just caused.

I hold her from behind. I felt a kind of strange comfort feeling her body with mine, despite my aggravating intention. She didn’t struggle but instead buried her head in my chest. She started to have a laugh where I knew it wasn’t genuine; she was trembling.

Sniffing through her tears, she screamed to me, “I thought you would do anything for me, Seth?!”

I didn’t want to scream back, instead, I whispered in her ear, “Anything for my Princess… but not for this chaos.”

Oh, dear Scarlet. The ambition I saw, coursing through your piercing, burning eyes—is really beautiful to me. Despite all this pandemonium, your commitment and sheer force of will was the brightest light that incrementally made you more stunning and painfully attractive.

Like a naive moth, it was that scorching flame that caused me to want just a taste, just a glimmer of it. Even if you were an unapologetic villain, it still doesn’t excuse me from what I did to you. When we were all alone in that classroom—on that cold dusk. You were a pure, unfiltered element of chaos—and I ruined it all with my stain. A sin I will never forgive myself. I told Scarlet, “You—having me—was so that you wouldn’t be afraid anymore. You look at the sky, beyond the stars—I hoped that instead of the darkness, you’ll see all of me. All-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, and beyond that, you have my heart. Am I not more than enough?”

“I… I am sorry.” She bawled. I loosened my grip after she intended to turn around and hugged my back. She continues her tears, flowing down the scar on my chest.

The pain from the fragments of memory of the scar jolts me back to the present. Scarlet circles my heart with her fingers.

Looking at her, seemingly playing on my chest, reminds me of my resolve. You’ll have all of me to keep you safe, even if you still resent me over the cold and dusky past, and still find me despicable.

She looks at my face, her face glowing more beautiful than ever. She says, “What do you say… Babe?” From that last word, she giggles, blushes, and hides away on my chest—the place where she ripped my heart apart.

I can’t help but find it funny that she would always press herself on my scar whenever she wants to request something from me. Not that I mind this time though. I’ll just have to show up at the place she asked me to. I can’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t go. Besides, how can I ever say no to this pretty face? “Anything to make you happy, Princess.” I give a sincere, yet feeble smile.

She starts to wipe my lips with the collar of my uniform and slowly pulls me in. Through our bated breaths, she pecks me on the cheek. I sigh. “For a second there, I thought you would have gone right through it.”

“I don’t think Ivan’s stench is worth it.”

“I’m glad you did!”

Both of us laugh to deflate the tension in the air, and the magic is back again. Dammit, woody!