~~
“I still can’t believe Evan liked Athena. I mean how can anyone like her? She’s heartless.” I complained as I stuffed a fork full of Maggi in my mouth.
“Maybe she’s just pretending you know.” Zivah said, trying to get the Maggi in her chopsticks.
I rolled my eyes at her failed attempts at using the chopsticks. “Will you stop that? Just use a fork.”
Zivah pouted, trying one more time before sighing and placing the chopsticks on the table with force. “Stupid long sticks, so useless. The people in Korean drama use it so effortlessly.”
“That’s because they have been using it since childhood. For you, it’s been 10 minutes.” I muttered, almost finishing the Maggi on my plate. “Hurry up and eat it Ziv.” I pointed at her full plate.
Zivah groaned and picked up the fork, finally eating the Maggi.
“So about you and Lucas.” I started.
“You don’t have to worry about it.” Zivah said, looking at me with guilt. “It didn’t mean anything. Really.”
I breathed out, shaking my head. “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel better.”
Zivah looked down. “I know. I should have told you about it. I shouldn’t have done it. Sorry.”
I pressed my lips together, not quite understanding what thoughts came into her brain. “What about Seb?”
She didn’t reply immediately so I patiently waited for her to get her mind straight. “His family is a bit difficult.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Difficult how?”
Zivah sighed and leaned back against the chair, staring at the fork she was holding. “Well, you know Cinderella’s stepmother?”
“Um yes.” I answered in confusion.
“His mother is like that, just a little worse.”
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “So Seb has a stepmother?”
Zivah shook her head. “That would have been better. It’s his own mother that is a bitch.”
“Oh.” I blinked, not knowing what to reply to that. “So she doesn’t like you?”
“She doesn’t like Seb.”
“Hmm.” I muttered, pretending to understand and analyze the situation. “So if Seb is Cinderella then why don’t you be the Prince Charming?”
Zivah pressed her lips into a flat smile. “You see that’s the issue. For me to be the Prince Charming, Cinderella must first leave his shoe behind.”
“But you already know his identity.” I pointed out, this whole talk in the context of idioms was starting to annoy me.
Zivah huffed, sending me a glare. “That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“That for me to be the Prince Charming, he should be a Damsel in Distress first. How can I save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?”
My mouth formed an ‘O’ as I finally fathomed what she meant. “That is an issue.”
Zivah rolled her eyes, stuffing her mouth with Maggi irately.
“Maybe you could be the Prince Charming with a Hero Syndrome.” I joked. “You know set a fire so that you can save him.”
My eyes widened when I saw Zivah’s eyes brightening at my idea. I shook my head swiftly. “No no no Ziv. I don’t really mean that. Don’t do something stupid.”
Zivah grinned, finishing off the contents on her plate. She feigned innocence as she walked past me to keep the plate on the counter. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I closed my eyes in regret. “Zivah Chopra, I am serious.” I turned to face her with a stern gaze. “Don’t do anything that you might regret later. You will-”
I stopped as I heard my phone ring, looking around for it.
Zivah pointed at the couch. “It’s there.” She smiled and winked at me.
I gritted my teeth. “This conversation is not over.” I promised, narrowing my eyes at her.
She just waved me off. “Go pick up that call.”
I puffed out the air in irritation as I picked up the call. “Yes?”
There was a slight pause. “You seem pissed.”
I sighed, closing my eyes and shaking my head. “Not really, it’s just Zivah. I just don’t understand what she will do next.”
Alex chuckled softly on the other side and that sound was enough to bring a small smile to my face. I felt the frustration quietly slip away. “She’s crazy but she’s not stupid.”
“Yeah you are right.” I agreed. “So is the case ready?”
I heard some papers shuffling and Alex sigh. “Yes, it was surprisingly quite easy. For a hacker, you would think he would hide all the stolen documents and papers in a folder that no one can see. But there were there in plain sight. Such easy evidence.”
I let out a small laugh. “Well maybe he didn’t think he would ever get caught.”
“Maybe. But it doesn’t feel right.”
I scratched the back of my neck. “There is still evidence.” I pointed.
Alex hummed. “Yes, there is. He is going away in jail for sure.”
“Good.” I whispered. “That’s good.”
“You seem to be fine now. You were the one who said he looked innocent.” Alex noted.
I smiled. “Yes, well. I do feel a little bad for him. But he deserves it. I mean there is enough evidence right?”
“Right. So I am free this evening.” Alex said, changing the subject.
The smile on my face grew. “Really? So?”
“So I am jealous of your heart as it gets to pump inside you.”
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed in horror, feeling my face heat up at the hidden meaning of his sentence.
I heard Alex let out a throaty chuckle. “I like that one.”
“Shut up.” I muttered, placing a palm on my cheeks to stop the blushing.
“Okay okay so are you free for dinner?”
“Oh let me check my schedule.” I faked a posh accent as tapped my chin with a forefinger. “Looks like I am free tonight.”
“Wow thank you for removing time for a poor person like me.” Alex said, faking humbleness.
“You can’t even fake being humble.” I snorted. “Such a snobby person.”
“Hey!” Alex retorted. “That is not how you talk to your boyfriend.”
I grinned at the endearment. That’s right, I have a boyfriend now. A very hot one at that. “You are lucky I agreed.” I said, knowing well enough that I was equally lucky that he agreed.
“That I am.” I could hear the small smile in his voice. “I’ll pick you up at 7.”
“Sure.” I nodded, my mind thinking of what to wear.
At 7 in the evening, I was ready with plain black jeans and a full sleeve mustard yellow sweater.
“Grab a scarf.” Zivah shouted from the bedroom. “It’s chilly.”
“Yes, mother.” I shouted back.
“Ungrateful bitch.” I heard her mumble and I let out a small laugh at that.
The doorbell rang before I could reply. I opened the door and smiled as I saw Alex dressed in casual wear leaning against the wall. His eyes scanned my outfit and I couldn’t help but blush and avert my eyes.
“Let’s go.” I whispered, as I grabbed the scarf and closed the door behind me.
Alex took a step closer, until I felt his breath on my ear. “You look delicious.”
I snuck in a breath, not daring to look in his direction. “That’s-” I swallowed. “That’s a weird compliment.”
“What’s weird in it?” Alex whispered. “We only call something delicious when we really really want to eat it.”
I blinked, staring straight ahead and trying to fight the desire in me. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t even walk away.
Alex noticed my impasse and let out a soft throaty chuckle. “Are you nervous?”
“Ha.” I gasped out. “As if!” I lied.
“Let’s go before you forget how to breathe and die here.” Alex mocked, taking a step away from me.
I let out a deep breath of relief, glad about the distance. I walked swiftly downstairs, without glancing back at him. I heard his heavy footsteps behind him and I could bet that he was smiling proudly, blissful with the reaction he got from me.
“Stupid mush brain.” I scoffed in a whisper, cussing my brain and body at having no control when it came to him.
“Where are we going?” I asked once we were in the car.
“The Aquarium.”
I blinked in surprise. “Really?”
“Don’t like it?”
I shook my head in disagreement. “I am just surprised. I thought it was a restaurant.”
“They have food there, burgers and fries and junk oily food. You like that.”
I chuckled at that. “Yes I do like that.” I sighed, leaning back on the seat. “I have never been to an aquarium.”
“I know.” Alex said arrogantly.
I scoffed. “Zivah.”
“She’s turning out to be a good friend.” Alex smiled, winking at me.
“To you.” I snorted. “All she does is help you.”
“Because she thinks I am perfect for you.”
“Eh. Eh.” I rolled my eyes, turning away to look out of the window. He didn’t need to know that I thought he was perfect for me too.
My fingers casually drummed on my thigh as I saw the dim lights and people walking on the streets. I almost jumped in shock when I felt a graze over my hand.
My head snapped to see Alex’s fingers slowly linking into mine. I looked at him and he was looking straight ahead, with zero expression on his face.
I pressed my lips tighter, fighting the smile that wanted to find its place on my face. I didn’t pull away, I let his fingers link into mine and I let his thumb slowly brush against the back of my hand.
This was the first time we were holding hands like this and it felt good. It felt right.
I continued to look outside the window, the smile finally winning and swaying on my face. The entire ride we held hands and I felt a deep rush of content.
There was something comforting, in the simple action of holding hands that made you feel safe and so loving.
—
“For the last time, not every clownfish is called Nemo.”
The small kid didn’t care, he pointed at the group of clownfish and screamed. “Nemo, Nemo, so many Nemo.”
“Shush.” The elder guy, probably his brother shushed the small kid, grabbing his hand and walking away in the opposite direction.
The kid waved at the fishes. “Bye Nemo.”
“Mom, I don’t want him.” The elder guy complained, making the few people in the aquarium laugh.
“So cute.” I muttered with a smile as I saw the two kids disappear.
“So annoying.” Alex replied, making me roll my eyes.
“So do you like fishes?”
“I had a pet Betta fish when I was young. But because I gave it too much attention, Sofia my younger sister got jealous of it and she threw it away in the toilet.”
My jaw dropped before letting out a laugh. “Seriously?”
Alex grinned, smiling at the memory. “Yes, I was so angry at her. I didn’t speak with her for days. So she begged father to buy me another fish. But dad didn’t agree so she painted a Betta fish and gave it to me.” Alex took out his wallet and removed an old half torn paper.
I delicately took the paper, opening it. It was drawing of a fish and it was definitely not artistic. “How old was she?”
“7 maybe.”
“She clearly wasn’t good at painting.” I joked, looking at the funny drawing and out of context coloring. Next to the fish in sloppy almost illegible handwriting was written – ‘Alex’s fish. Do not kill.’
“She wasn’t. But it was the sweetest thing she did for me. I really loved my fish and losing him made me sad. So whenever I miss him, I look at this.” Alex took the paper, looking at it with a small smile and happy eyes.
I felt a warm rush of protectiveness wash over me. I wanted him to have more such sweet things, more such wonderful memories. So that after a few years he would recollect them and smile fondly. So that he would treasure the memories and relive them every time he thought of them. I wanted to give him such memories.
I wanted to be his fish.
Swallowing the lump of unwavering affection, I tapped his shoulder lightly. “Let’s go look at the sharks.”
And we did, we looked at so many species of fishes, some I had heard for the first time. And most I had seen for the first time.
“I am so glad we came here.” I grinned, as I stuffed the fries into my mouth.
“The food isn’t running away. Chew.” Alex commanded, pointing at my mouth.
I just nodded with my mouth full. After chewing and swallowing I smiled cheekily. “Happy?”
“When I am with you, always.”
I couldn’t reply to that. Nor could I control the blush that crept up my neck and face. “So cheesy.” I breathed out teasingly.
“You love cheese.” he pointed at the extra cheeseburger I was eating.
“Whatever.” Was my perfect argument.
We ate the oily unhealthy food with a happy face and joked about everything and nothing. I found myself laughing at the lamest things and scoffing at his cheesy lines. I couldn’t complain one bit. I was truly content.
“Do you want anything?” Alex pointed at the gift shop.
I glanced at it, an idea coming to my mind. “No, you get the car. I’ll wait out.”
Alex nodded, walking away to the parking lot. It took me less than 10 minutes to run into the gift shop and come back out with a giddy smile on my face.
“Why are you smiling like a fool?” Alex asked from the window as he stopped the car in front of me.
My smile didn’t drop, it instead widened with excitement. I got into the car and placed the bag on his lap.
He looked at the bag in confusion and then at me. “What is it?”
“Open it!” I clapped with a huge grin.
Alex looked at me with skepticism as he opened the bag. He smiled as he slowly removed it. “A Betta fish?” he held the blue and red Betta fish soft toy in his hands.
“You said you missed it.” I shrugged.
I couldn’t decipher the expression playing on his face as he looked at the fish. He didn’t reply for a few minutes and it started to worry me. Maybe he didn’t like it. Maybe it was too childish. Maybe this was a mistake.
“We can return it if you want.” I suggested, leaning to take it back.
“No!” Alex’s sudden yelp made me jolt back. He smiled softly. “I like it. I love it. Thank you.”
“Really?” I asked for confirmation.
“Yes Myra.” He patted the fish lovingly and then placed it back in the bag. “I will keep this next to my pillow.”
I smiled, the wariness dissipating away. I breathed out, glad that he liked the gift. “You are welcome.”
Alex started the car again, this time I was the one who held his hand first. His thumb lightly grazed my hand and I leaned back peacefully.
And if you were to ask me, how it felt being so close to him, I would say – it felt like my dreams were finally turning into a reality.
The question is how long till a nightmare interrupts the dream?