Epilogue: The Afterhour Conundrums

Ray’s tired – of keeping on a poker face. It’s hard when he’s holding a lone ace and harder when he glimpses the table. To his right, Amy’s got three cards and she’s jittering worse than a chihuahua with hypothermia. She’d be calmer if he were her teammate but, for one, Hana’s very competitive, for two, he’s pretty lucky and for three, playing with your girlfriend is – usually – cute. Especially when he knows she’s smiling behind that fan of cards, urging you to just end it all already. And he’d do that, were it not for –

Mia. One card and that impenetrable smirk he can’t get a read on. Could it be a trump? Likely, with how slim the deck is. Then again, she could just be psyching him out. A low rumble tugs at his chest as he’s mulling his options. He could claim and risk her edging him out or he could play on, pray he draws the trump himself and risk. Risk not doing that, risk drawing a king, risk Mia beating him with a bloody nine, risk, risk, risk.

Mia chuckles lightly, but she gets nothing more than a leer from Ray. Batting her lashes, she turns to Hana, “Isn’t he cute? His eyes already seek other girls.”

Hana scoffs, “Your point?”

“He’s trying to replace you.”

“As if you’d be an improvement?”

“Is there any contest?”

“No, I’ve already won.”

“What do you have there?” Ray mutters to himself. Too loud, they both heard him.

“Only one way to find out,” Mia sing-songs. It’s a dangerous invitation. Normally, it’d make his blood boil, ignite his ‘fortune favours the bold’ schtick. But now? He just wants to get it over with. It’s been an hour since Hana’s sat across him.

“Claim,” he slams his card on the table. “One.”

“Thirteen,” Hana quickly chimes in. “What do you have there?” she drills Mia. Mia shakes her head. Is she being condescending or is she conceding defeat? If he wasn’t on edge before, he sure is now. He’s never liked Mia’s elusive nature. It makes every cushion feel like a thumbtack carpet. After eyeing them both, she touches the card to her mouth, then twirls it around with two fingers. Ray can’t hold in a victorious laugh.

“Five,” Mia drawls.

“Fucking finally!” Ray shouts. He reaches to Hana for a high-five, but Mia stops him. Even clearing her throat puts him ill-at-ease.

“Amy?” she asks. On cue, they all snap to Amy and she snaps in return. Her gaze stops skittering around the coffeeshop and falls to the ground. He snarls under his breath. How evil can Mia be? It’s obvious she’s lost, why does she have to put Amy on the spot like that, all high expectations and –

“N-naught…” she stutters.

Three…trumps… Ray’s mind becomes a smooth field, wind tickling the grass. But it doesn’t take long for the breeze to bring forth sounds of fire crackling. He clenches his fists, snorting ash. He lost. He looked like an overconfident chump. He let Hana down. He hears shuffling, probably Mia doing a little bougie dance to celebrate the spoils of war that she didn’t earn. It was all because of Amy and it was all –

“BULLSHIT!” he roars, flinging himself up. Bloodshot glare and hair a ravaged mane, he puffs; a wild boar. He wants to run, to charge, to rip the very fabric of time and space because of that little mousy bitch of a best friend that snubbed him of – of what?

The warm spot on his cheek blurs his focus. A small, soft ball nuzzles against his side, dragging him down to his seat. Instinctively, he lifts his arm to welcome it, curling it tightly against the little needy thing. Red has fled his vision by the time he’s back on the sofa’s cushions. Hana grabs tightly at his waist.

“Settle down, toro.”

“That’s Spanish,” he rasps back.

“Chupa me.”

“That’s… wow.”

She giggles and he can’t help doing the same.

“Glad to see you’re not too mad about it,” she coos in his ear.

“I am, though,” he whispers back. “We lost.”

“Yeah, but that’s my thing. I’m seething because they beat us.”

“You don’t look angry.”

“Coping mechanisms include hugging my boyfriend, cussing him in his native tongue and teasing.”

“Ready to do that last thing?” Ray nods to the side. Mia’s sipping on her tea while Amy’s lips warble between contentedness and despair. There’s barely an inch of distance between them and they each have a hand hidden under the table.

“Lead the way,” Hana simpers.

“Roundabout or straightforward?”

“Surprise me.”

Both it is.

Ray clears his throat, loud enough to gather their concerned attention. “So, how long since your last kiss?”

He can spot the precise moment when Amy’s throat seizes up and her tongue knots. She casts a pleading look at Mia, but it’s no use. She’s as nervous as her, it’s just harder to gauge. But with how long she’s been holding her cup up, she’s either just returned from the Sahara or trying to hide clattering teeth.

“W-what are you talking about?” Amy replies, her voice going up and down in tune with her whirlwind pulse.

“You know,” Hana interjects, “the show was a week ago.”

“What–ever do you mean? We didn’t kiss then, haha…”

“Since then,” Ray corrects. “Did you touch second base yet?”

Mia chokes, disguising it with a snicker, but she can’t do the same with the pink flushing her face. He can’t wait for the moment she runs out of tea. Just thinking of her being all squirmy and fidgety makes Ray giddy on the inside. And on the outside too. Amy’s sweating buckets and she’ll soon move up to fire hydrants.

“Good one,” Hana praises him. “You scamp.”

“Learnt from the best.”

“Final blow?”

“All yours.”

“Star,” Hana chirps, “Have you told her you love her yet?”

Masterful. The nickname, the saccharine tone, the blunt question. A recipe for a devastating blow. Mia’s defences lie in ruins. She puts the cup down, trying to seem together, but they all hear how it vibrates when it touches the wood. Anymore and she would’ve shattered it. She tries to talk, but no words come out.

“I – I – I“ she stammers endlessly.

“We’re dating!” Amy blurts out, closing her eyes as if to brace for impact.

“Well, duh?” Hana offers. “We know?”

A terrifying realisation crosses Amy’s brow, “Y-you do?”

“You’ve asked me if she could come today about a billion times,” Ray says.

“And we both know who took Marco’s place,” Hana adds.

“And you’re holding hands.”

“We’re – not?” Amy chirps.

Hana and Ray share a confused glare. Though, it doesn’t take long before they realise.

“Cute,” they voice in unison.

“Not cute,” Amy pouts. “It’s – shut up!”

“My mistake,” Hana says. She blushes ever so slightly, “So – how is it? Being together?”

“What’s it to you?” Mia cuts.

“Just curious.”

“You’re never just curious.”

“People grow, people change. You should know that best, you widdle cherry, you.”

Mia turns to her girlfriend. For a while, they exchange glances, a long, silent conversation that ends with both of them letting their heads hang. It’s not embarrassment, it’s discomforting shame.

Mia sighs, “It’s – amazing…”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” Ray retorts.

“Well, a puppy can only be so happy indoors.”

“So you’re keeping it a secret?” They both nod. “Understood. Why?” he asks confused.

They share another glance, this time brimming with pain.

Amy starts, “So her father kind of hates me?”

“And her father hates mine,” Mia continues.

“Then there’s this list of potential suitors that will flip their shit?”

“We’re talking intercontinental missiles and biological weapons.”

“Sean will probably try killing me?”

“With whining. You know how he gets.”

“Gossip runs rampant.”

“And paparazzi will hunt us.”

“Amy will get hate.”

“Mia will get shade.”

“Not that it matters because we d-don’t c-care about that.”

“Really, it’s just –“ Mia moves under the table. Amy throws her a quizzical stare, enlightened when Mia beams back a timid grin. “It’s a lot. A lot to take in and get used to. With all the dangers and pressure, it’s not a risk worth taking.”

“Will you hide forever, then?” Hana chides.

“I – don’t know. I hope – I don’t want to think about it.”

“Huh. Very… very well. I wish you all the best, then. Shall we?” Hana asks Ray.

He does a double take. It’s odd enough that she was nice to Mia, but seeing her so distraught worries him even more. Something’s wrong; he can feel it. She gets up and flattens her skirt as he searches for his wallet.

“You don’t have to,” Mia says.

“Let me guess. You own this place?”

“The whole street, even.”

“Um, okay. Cool? Thank you? I’ll –“ he hears a bell. When he looks for her, Hana’s already outside “–see you later, then? Bye, have fun, many smooches!”

Ray stumbles out of the booth and almost crashes into a waiter carrying a tray full of desserts. He doesn’t have time to apologise, nor listen to his cussing, though. Hana acting weird is a staple of his life, but today it’s hardly endearing. He rushes out the front door and, as soon as the fresh air whips his senses, Hana latches onto him and whisks him away.

“Where are we going?” he asks. No answer. He fights the urge to stomp his feet. His past self would’ve made a scene, but his present cares about Hana a bit too much. And knows her a little too well. She leads him away from the Astella’s street, through a narrow alley untouched by sun. By now he expects to show up in the news with a headline containing ‘tragedy’ and ‘cold-blood’, but that’s a scenario soon put out of his mind.

They turn a corner and all six feet of him are pressed against the wall. She’s not that strong; her will weakens him, overpowers him. She pulls him down and his knees give way. When they reach the same level, she jumps him. Their lips collide and they fight a brief skirmish. He surrenders almost instantly, but still wins. It’s not the first time it happens, after all.

“Hana…”

“I’m sorry.”

“You can’t keep doing this.”

“I know.”

“But you try still.”

“And you let me get away with it.”

He goes all the way down. His butt rests on the cold, damp pavement. It last rained a couple days ago, but this place never dries all the way. She collapses onto him, ear against the accelerated drumming of his heart.

“What was it this time?” he asks, caressing her hair. She plays the collected part well, so much so that he’s among the few who’ve seen her cracks. They’re not many, but they’re deep.

“Promise you won’t be mad.”

“I’m only mad about silly stuff.”

“I don’t want you to start with the serious ones. Slippery slope.”

He presses her closer to him. “Promise.”

“It’s – stupid. Very stupid.”

“Par for the course, then.”

“It’s… I got jealous of Mia again.”

Hearing that is like a dull headache. He’s used to them, but they’re still annoying.

“What could you possibly be jealous of her now?” he fails not to raise his voice. “That she can’t hug her partner without half the world bursting into flames?”

“Well…”

“You’re joking.”

“I told you it was very stupid!”

“Okay? Make it sound smart, then.”

But he’s sure she won’t be able to. His teeth grind in anticipation. He’s been dreading this for a long time now, getting genuinely mad at someone he genuinely likes. Even if it was bound to happen at some point, he hoped his first girlfriend wouldn’t start that series. Especially not when she’s in his arms and he could squeeze the lights out of her.

“I know it’s wrong and I wish I didn’t feel like this but, when those two started listing every obstacle in their relationship, I just… I realised that, for once, I got off easy. I found you and nary a thing threatens us. And if you think I’m dumb now, here comes the bomb – I’m so, so happy with you and it’s weird to me. I didn’t have to work for it. I didn’t have to overcome anything. It’s such an important thing in my life and, without any adversity, it just doesn’t feel important… And I just want to –“

Ray pecks her on the forehead. She stops shivering, but it takes far longer for her to fully calm down. A drop falls on his leg. Rain, snot or tears, doesn’t matter. It dries in a second.

“You shouldn’t be doing this,” she mumbles.

“Why not?”

“I’m very needy. If I hadn’t been taught self-control, I’d want you to hold and listen and talk to me forever and a day.”

“Maybe you’ll think you matter then.”

“Maybe.”

Shyly, she stands up, then helps him to his feet. Together, they start towards the end of the alley. With her having cried, him being all red and both their hands behind their back, anyone seeing them would get the wrong impression.

“You should’ve gotten angry,” she notes.

“Didn’t feel like it.”

“I didn’t match your expectations, though.”

One week of being together and he still hasn’t gotten used to her reading him like an open book. Maybe a month will help. Or a year. Or forever and a day.

“You – didn’t.”

“Will you ever learn not to assume?”

“Will you ever stop comparing your life to others’?”

“Maybe.” The little space between them vanishes in a second. She can be such a cat sometimes, tripping him up whenever she wants him to pet her. And if he doesn’t, she’ll just rub her head against him. “W-will you,” she mewls, “help – me?”

He cracks a smile, then a snigger. “Only if you do the same.”

“Deal. Now pick me up.”

“Are you tired?”

“Leah is throwing a party tonight. I will be.”

“Piggyback?”

“Can you do princess?”

“There’s a first for everything, I suppose.”

And it’s always better when it takes you by surprise. Before she can prepare herself, he’s already swooped her off her feet. She’s seen her cry twice, but he never thought he’d hear her yelp. Short as it was, it’s cute. She’s let her guard down more than ever before. And to think it was because –

“What’s so funny?” she asks.

“You, I guess. Though it’s more silly than funny. Can you imagine being mad no one wants to break us up?”

I don’t want to.

* * *

“It’s Edward.”

“I know, dear. You should’ve started with why you’ve thought it appropriate to wake me up.”

“I know of your gala. You haven’t caught a wink of sleep, yet.”

“You and your knowledge. Care to guess what I’m wearing?”

“That white, form-fitting affair you always zebra with a black scarf.”

“Being one step ahead can sometimes put you two behind, Edward.”

“I need a favour, Leah.”

“And here I thought this was a courtesy call.”

“I will not waste much time. I believe you and everyone else had borne witness to Mia’s shameful lust.”

“You sad, little man. Woe is me, my daughter is escaping my bony clutches and exploring the pleasures of life!”

“You know what I mean.”

“I never will, Edward. If it weren’t for our lucrative collaboration, I would’ve lost your number a long time ago, alongside your address and the memory of your face. Be quick.”

“I need one of your girls.”

“A replacement? How droll. The one I sent you stopped tickling your fancy?”

“She’s plenty capable still, just not for the task at hand.”

“Grand. Care to share?”

“Seduction.”

“Pathetic. Any preference? Appearance, personality, aptitudes?”

“Your chief servant will do.”

“Leah?”

“Go fuck yourself, Edward.”

She hangs up, much to his joy. If he’s learnt anything from Leah Murphy, it’s that the angrier she gets, the better deals they strike. And though she will get back at him, most assuredly by means of delivery, he can sleep soundly knowing that, within a business week, he’ll have a new pawn at his disposal. And this time, he’ll stop at nothing to make sure she does her job well.