Ren makes his way to the bathroom, and only the three of us are left.
I take a sip of my water. Mai says, I fucked him last night.
What ? Veah demands, at the same time I choke.
I fucked him last
Unfortunately, I still can’t breathe.
Philosophical question #2 : If you choke on water and die, does your tombstone say Lived a great life or Fucking moron who couldn’t drink her water ?
I don’t particularly want to find out.
Are you okay ? Mai asks me, as I choke and turn red.
Veah stands up to help me, but I just fling my hand out forcefully.
Really, she says coolly. You would rather die than let me help you.
The choking subsides, and I give her a scathing look.
I’m so glad you finally get it, I manage to say.
Mai begins, Are you
Please don’t ask me if I’m okay, I tell Mai. If you do, I’ll have to remember the past thirty seconds and then I’ll probably cry.
Crying is good for you, Mai says, not unkindly. Anyways, I finally gave in. After years, and years, and years
You’re twenty, not two hundred, Veah says.
And years of his little lovesick eyes, I finally gave in. We fucked. Made love. Whatever. I think he has some kind of inferiority complex. I really don’t know why he did it.
Veah’s eyes blaze as she leans over the table. Because you’re both in love with eachz other ?
I don’t deserve him, Mai says simply. He’stoo good. So last night was a mistake, and now, I . . . I’m really terrified of losing him as a friend.
You deserve each other, Veah says softly, fiercely.
Mai bites her lip, tearing her eyes away. It’s fine. I’m pretending it never happened. I’m just going to keep my calm, I won’t lose it andoh, look. Shrimp Dick is back anyway. Hey, did you clean yourself up ? Loud enough that everyone can hear, she says, It’s okay to have little accidents.
You’re five feet tall, Ren says, sitting back down with ease. Do you think it would be considered a little accident if I happened to stab you with this knife ?
Just because you’re six feet
Six feet and four inches, Ren reminds her.
doesn’t mean it gives you the right to be rude about height.
Sure it does, if you’re as tall as a kindergartener.
I am not Mai is spitting fire by now. I’m going to suffocate you in your sleep.
I think that would involve being in my bed, Ren says. Would you be able to keep your hands off me ?
Would I be able to Mai jumps up. I’ll show you right now what it’ll look like with my hands around your throat !
Ren makes a humming sound. Then choke me, daddy.
Mai makes a sound a lot like a screech. You insufferable, intolerable, cocksure prick ! I wish I never fucked you !
I wonder what happened to I’m going to stay calm.
You didn’t seem to mind when I proved you wrong, Ren says.
Mai stalks away from the table, just as the waiter arrives. He holds his notepad in front of him, saying something in Japanese to Veah.
Dimly, I wonder if I should try and go after Mai. I barely know her, but
Veah glances at me. Is it okay if I order something for you ?
I . . . hadn’t expected her to ask.
With a wry grin, I say, Go ahead.
Her eyes flicker to mine as she speaks in Japanese, and a slow smile forms on my lips at that secret look.
As soon as her and Ren have ordered, the waiter disappears, winding back through the crowded outdoor tables.
The night sky is brilliant above us. Cars honk in the distancevoices overlap each otherand soft violin music echoes from somewhere inside the restaurant.
Finally, once the waiter is gone, I ask, Is she going to . . . uh, come back ?
I can tell Ren’s smile is forced. She likes making a scene, he says, almost wistfully. I think I pushed her too hard.
Veah tilts her head. What were you saying before, about proving her wrong ?
At this, Ren’s grin becomes purely devilish.
Well, she always said I had a little
My eyes widen, and Veah cuts him off. Actually, never mind.
Ren looks down. Swallowing. You know, last night, weuh
Fucked ? Veah says calmly.
Yeah, he says, relieved. How’d you guess ?
Veah’s eyes slide to mine, and I fight to keep back a grin.
Ren groans, tipping his head back, so the column of his throat is exposed to the night air. I can see the appealhe is handsome, in an elegant, sharp way. Uzai, he mutters. She told you, didn’t she ? What did she say ?
He looks at both of us so hopefully I wince.
But he detects that slight movement, and his face falls. It was bad, wasn’t it ?
No, I say quickly. She
I knew it, Ren says listlessly. I don’t deserve her. I was stupid to think
No ! I protest again. That’s not at all
He stands up, his head bowed so that his curly black hair falls over his eyes. I’m going to try and find her. We can just pretend it never even happened. I’d rather have her as a best friend than not at all.
No, wait ! I say, but it’s too latehe is already striding off the restaurant’s patio. I blink, and he has already disappeared into the streets of Tokyo.
Flushed, I sit back down.
Don’t worry too much about that, Veah says, though she looks more worried than I’ve ever seen her. They’ve always done this. Back and forth. Neither of them thinks they deserve the other, so they just bicker, and argue, and bicker some more.
It’s different this time, though, isn’t it ? Because they . . .
Fucked ?
Veah seems to enjoy the way I recoil when she says that.