The More the Merrier.

On our way home we had to stop at a convenience store because my mother asked me to buy some stuff. It was all things that you don't know you can buy when you're a teenager, like poison for mosquitoes. All my life I have used it not knowing that it actually comes from a store, since whenever I went to the supermarket with my parents they never put it with the rest of the things they bought. Other things she asked for were sanitary pads, which to some men are hard to buy by themselves, but I don't see what the problem is, in the end they are necessary in women's health and care products. My parents raised me to know and understand that sort of thing, since I often saw those things envelope in the trash or the package in my parents closet, alongside a small calendar to help my mom keep track of the days she may need them. One thing that you might think about my mom is that she is a pervert for her behavior last night, but that is completely wrong, she has never treat topics like sex and intimacy in a very open, embarrassing or comic way, she has always discuss that with the seriousness it requires and explained things like the menstrual cycle in a way that I can be mindful and understand the situation women go through, rather than make fun of it like some guys do, and since I'm dating Agatta I can actually help her if she need my help.

My mother told me to buy them in the store near our house, so there was no need for us to carry them for long. I asked if it was ok to have another friend over, because Tsuji was still coming with us. She said it was ok and the only thing left was for us to buy that stuff.

The store’s manager is an old lady we have know since long ago, she also lives in the neighborhood, and she is known for being really kind and sweet, both her and her husband take care of the store and mainly employ teenagers as part timers, since for them it is important for the youth to have opportunities and experience in life and work, her brother runs a small candy shop that we visited so often when we were younger, he is also really a good man but since that store is smaller he is the only one in charge of it. The three of us stepped inside and greeted her:

“Good afternoon, Ten-san.”

“Good afternoon, Impo and Agatta, how are you two doing today?”

“Very good, thank you.” I replied.

“How is your husband?” Asked Agatta.

“He is fine as ever dear, he will be here in a few hours.” Then she turned towards the third guy that came in with us. “Oh my, but if it isn’t Tsuji-kun! Long time no see! How are you doing?”

“Good afternoon Ten-san. I’m very good, thanks for asking, and I see you are in excellent health as well.”

“Eh, you know her Shi-kun?” I asked while I was picking up the things my mom asked me for.

“Of course, I live around here too.” He replied. “Two blocks away from the station, in the opposite direction we came from.”

“Eh? That’s a surprise!” I replied.

“What are you doing around here son?” Asked the old lady.

“Well, I have spoken about this man here without knowing his situation, so in order to make up for my mistakes and regain peace in my mind I shall now serve him as his butler.”

She looked at me, wondering what he was talking about. I raised my shoulders and shook my head to let her know that it wasn't my idea and I didn’t fully understand him either.

“Well…” She said. “I don’t fully get it, but if you think it will help then go ahead.”

Then, to prevent the conversation from developing into different questions I didn’t want to answer, I handed over the things I was carrying to Ten-san to finish our shopping detour.

“This is going to be it, please.” I told her.

“Oh right, yeah, your mother told me you were coming here in advance.” She then looked at Tsuji and told him: “Excuse me dear, would you be so kind as to wait outside for a moment? I need to talk about something private with these two.”

“Of course. I’ll wait for you outside master.” He said and then he left.

I thought it was weird for her to ask just the two of us to be there, I mean, she also knows who Tsuji is, so why did she ask him to wait outside?

“Now.” She said standing up from her seat. “I know that this is what you came for.” And she pulled out a cardboard box and showed us its contents.

It was full of packs of preservatives, so many and from so many different brands and colors that you can hardly remember what the previous one was about as soon as you looked at the next box. Suddenly it all made sense to me, this was a set up. My mother planned this from the start, which means that she’s planning to make me go sleep in Agatta’s house again.

“Eh…” I tried to say. I was planning to act dumb and pretend I didn’t know what she was talking about. But the devil knows more because he’s old than because he’s the devil.

“It’s ok son, you don’t have to put on an act with me.” The old lady interrupted me. “I know you two are at that age, and it’s ok to explore and try a lot of things, but I’m sure your parents and the school have already told you to be careful.”

"Y-yes but…" I was trying to find the correct words before I could speak. "We only came for things my mother asked for."

"Well, she told me you two were probably in need of some of these… Unless you have already filled out the marriage registration format…"

Oh my god. She knows about that too.

"Besides…" She continued. "There is a special sale for cute little couples like you two…"

I started to have a cold sweat, this situation was worse than you could imagine, because I have known this woman my entire life. We have come here to buy stuff since we were little children, both Agatta and myself, we know her husband, their children, his brother and his brother's family, we are as close as family with them, and now she, the same lady that has sold us sweets and junk food all our lives, a woman who has watched us grow almost as much as our parents basically another member of our family, she is pushing us into buying preservatives. That's a feeling of pressure and awkwardness I never thought I'd ever feel.

“T-t-thank you.” I awkwardly replied. “But we don’t need any of those.”

“Mhm…” She said looking at me, then she turned towards Agatta and said: “Are you sure?”

I was sure that Agatta was going to reply immediately, but she didn’t,so I looked at her face, and what I saw scared me. She was staring steadily at the box of preservatives, she wasn’t blinking, her eyes could dry any second but she was not going to move because of it, it was as if she was hypnotized by it, as if a mysterious force took control of her and it was making her look nowhere but there. Then her hand moved slowly towards them, the Agatta I know would never do something like that, she would have rejected them since the old lady pulled the box out or at least run away when she saw them, so it was clear that this wasn’t Agatta, this was a disturbed side of her, one that can’t think straight, one that is the completely opposite of who she is. Then I remembered, several times when I was younger my mom would usually start acting strange during the day, as she too wasn’t her normal self but my father told me that sometimes my mother was like that because she was looking for something, and she would not rest until she had it, but once she got what she needed she would be back to normal, so I should be patient and wait until he gave her what she was looking for, because what she needed was from him, and from no one else. Now I think I finally get it, she was horny all along, that’s what she needed from my dad, but then that would also mean that Agatta right now is…

“Agatta!” I tried calling her name but I didn’t get an answer.

Her hand was still moving slowly but steadily towards the preservatives, it was as if I was watching her descend into the dark side.

“AGATTA!” I yelled, but I still got no response.

Now she was dangerously close to them. I had to do something or else she would be forever lost in that void. So to try to stop her I put my hand right below where her hand was aiming for, so when she lowered, instead of grabbing the condoms our hands would meet. Lucky that's exactly what happened and as soon as she felt my hand she immediately blinked and shook her head l, snapping out of the curse she had upon her. Realizing what she was doing she turned red beyond belief. Then she just walked away saying:

“I-I’ll wait outside too!”

As soon as she walked away Ten-san laughed a little and said:

“Well, that’s a shame, you should have let her choose one.”

I realized I was holding my breath all this time, so I finally exhaled and almost fainted on the counter.

“Don’t toy with us like that please!”

“I wasn’t, sunshine. Your mother told me to do that and if I didn’t know the two of you have been dating since long ago I wouldn’t have done it.”

“But we aren’t doing any of that yet!”

“Yeah, YET son, YET!” She said. “But how much do you think it’ll take for you to get to that point?”

I also turned red and I felt unable to answer. So she just kept going:

“Listen, there is nothing wrong with that, I mean, your parents already think it’s good for you to start doing that, so there’s nothing I can say to deny it, is it?”

“But…”

“Come on, sunshine.” She interrupted me, probably knowing what I was going to say. “You think your mom would have sent you to sleep in Agatta’s house if her mother would have not suggested it?”

WHAT?!

SHE KNOWS EVEN MORE THAN I KNOW!

Who else is involved in these shenanigans?

“Listen.” She continued. “Ever since I knew you two were dating 3 years ago, I only had a thought that engulfed my mind: Good for them. I have known you since you two were literal children, I have seen you playing together, getting into trouble together and solving your problems together. In my long life I have failed to see two souls that are more destined to be with each other than you two and that makes me so happy.

“That doesn’t mean there is not going to be any trouble between you two, but I’m sure you will be able to work it out. So don’t be afraid of trying to do the things that you two will eventually do, but also don’t be reckless and do things that can cause you or her a lot of trouble. Remember that there’s always two in a relationship, and in order to advance, they need to think like one.”

I remained silent for some time, maybe Agatta was really interested in doing something and because of what I did she could be thinking that I see her as a bad or an impure woman. But that’s not how it is, I just thought it wasn’T something that she wanted to do and she was just being pressured into it. That’s right, all these years I have not let Agatta tell me what she want to do, or if there is something she might need help with, I have even figured a way to avoid fighting with her, just talking about food instead of what we were talking about, but that’s not what I’m supposed to do, if I really love Agatta then it doesn’t matter if we fight, what matters it’s for us to find a way to solve things.

“Thank you very much Ten-san!” I said and I bowed my head. “I will follow your advice in order to make our relationship progress. Thank you so much again.”

She grabbed my head and gave it a little shake, she has always done that since I can remember.

“God bless you two, my children. I know there is happiness waiting for you.”

I paid for the things I went for and then met Tsuji and Agatta outside.

Agatta was sitting in one of the benches outside the store, she was still red but in a slighter way, her eyes were lost into the nothingness and she was breathing heavily, I can swear I’ve seen her doing that face before but I can’t remember when or where she did it. Tsuji was desperately doing the times of a fan, blowing air into Agatta’s face with a notebook he was carrying in his backpack. As soon as he saw me step outside he rushed towards me and told me:

“Master I am so sorry, she has been like that since she left the store and nothing I have done has helped in the slightest!”

“I’m ok, I just-” Interrupted Agatta, apparently regaining consciousness. “I just needed some air. Thank you.”

“Ah…” Said Tsuji, exhaling heavily. “Thank goodness! Thought you were gone for real!”