The Aftermath
by Hidden Tala
June 12th
Monday, 10:45:32 AM
School Library
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You have an instant message from:LI MEILING
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Meiling: PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE I'M SERIOUS IF YOU DON'T I'M GONNA BOMBARD YOUR WALL WITH PORN
Seen 10:46 AM
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You have an instant message from:LI MEILING
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Meiling: I'VE BEEN SEEN-ED?!
Seen 5 seconds ago
Meiling: YOU DARE?!
Seen 4 seconds ago
Meiling: JUST YOU WAIT I'M GONNA SEARCH FOR THE UGLIEST PORNSTAR THERE IS AND WE'LL PARTY AT YOUR WALL
Seen a second ago
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Same day, 10:51:56 AM
At the copiers, Library
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June 14th
Wednesday, 7:01:27 PM
Denny's Karaoke & Grill, Roponggi, Minato-ku
It was Karaoke Wednesday.
Their mid-week ritual aka the beacon of light in the dark tunnel that was the sad and stressful life of a teacher. Of course she's exaggerating─she's in love with her job─but that is not to say that being a mother to 35 children times 5, or doing tons of paperwork for a total of that number, or answering to their real-life parents after hours is a walk in the park. No, Karaoke Wednesdays was established for the sole reason that they wanted to stay sane. Because it was therapy, their only saving grace, the last thread keeping them from succumbing to multiple nervous breakdowns.
And yet instead of being there, screaming her lungs out, she's out here in the dark corridor alone, staring intensely at the ringing phone in her hand, willing for the person on the other line to finally give up and drop the call.
"What in the world are you doing out here in the dark?"
In her fright, she jumped forward and nearly bumped her head on the pillar she's leaning on. Glancing behind her, she found the blond man, Jared, the school's resident ALT who also happened to be her former roommate (back when she was homeless and dirt poor) and closest friend at work, holding two buckets of empty beers, probably on his way to order more.
Coming up behind her, Jared McKenzie saw the photo that registered in her screen. "Isn't that your semi-boyfriend? The one you brought in Okinawa?"
"He's not my boyfriend," she snapped irritably, hiding the phone from his view. "I brought him along because he's never been there before. Now go away and leave me in peace."
Jared tsk-ed from behind her and she heard the clang of metals colliding. "Look, darling," he began, gently patting her shoulder. "Just turn it off if you don't want to talk. I need you inside. The old biddies are monopolizing the microphone. This is supposed to be a fun night. But I'm all stressed out because of their chatter about grandbabies and income taxes."
She just grunted, feeling the phone cease from by vibrating. And then it was back on again. Stomping her foot, she hung her head upwards. "Oh god, please make it stop."
Suddenly, the phone disappeared in her hand. And to her horror, she heard Jared speak in straight English, "Hey, it's Jared. The hot one in Okinawa. The one with the six pack. Blond. American. Tomoyo's friend. Look, she left for the bathroom, like, ten minutes ago, must be the spicy miso soup we had at lunch. Oh. We're at the bar. It's karaoke Wednesday. Doesn't she tell you anything?" the idiot chuckled flirtatiously. "Yes, I'll tell her. I'll make sure to make her call you back when she's finished taking a dump. Okay. Take care. Good night. Bye~"
Furious, she snatched her phone from the grinning idiot's ear. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?!"
Undaunted, Jared only rolled his eyes. "I may have just fixed your love life. You're welcome."
Agitated, she began pacing back and forth, silent-screaming, gesticulating wildly as if going into seizure or an epileptic attack.
"Oh, stop. Don't get your panties in a bunch. He knew you wouldn't call him back."
She stopped mid-stride and snarled at him. "What?!"
"He passed me a message."
Breathing hotly, she hunched her shoulders and she crossed her arms.
"He… said…─"
A tic formed in her temple. "Hurry up, you piece of human garbage─"
Jared grinned.
Smarmily.
She could punch him.
"On Friday. After class. He's coming by to pick you up."
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June 16th
Friday, 6:48:43 PM
SANDROS, Daikanyama, Shibuya-ku
The thing about her and Eriol is that they're friends.
Very good friends.
She didn't know when she started thinking this but he became her go-to person in this lonely city, second only to Jared, and she was his first. She knew because he told her so. And wasn't that how it all started anyway? He needed a tour guide. She was available. And if people had mistaken their weekly outings as 'dates', well, it's their fault for jumping into illogically fallacious conclusions.
Can't a man and woman go out without romantic intentions?
"This is ridiculous," she heard him say behind the menu that was covering her face. Hesitantly, she lowered it to her nose. He was scowling at her. "You've been hiding in that thing since we got here. Come on. Let's talk like mature adults here. So it happened. Are we going to stop seeing each other? It was a fluke. We were both drunk. It's not a big deal─"
"It is to me," she forced out through gritted teeth. "You know it's just so predictable for a man to treat women and sex like a piece of commodity─"
Eriol raised his hands, put them on his head and pulled at his hair. "No. Please. No, don't turn this into a gender issue─"
Incensed, she slammed the menu down the table, earning them a few startled gazes from tables nearby. She willfully ignored them. To his credit, Eriol did too.
"Just because you treat sex casually it doesn't mean─"
"I don't," he interrupted, his frustration mounting. "I just want us to move past─"
"─I do too. I know it's not common but I'm a firm believer of saving one's self before marriage─
Paling, his hands dropped to his face. Like a child, he nervously bit on his thumb. "Wait. Just hold on a second. You mean to say─"
"─and everything was shattered when I had drunk sex with you. I don't even remember anything. I'm─"
To distract her, he snatched her hand which had been gesticulating wildly between them, and this action did its purpose. He watched as her brow rose almost to her hairline, an irritated tic forming in her temple. He squeezed her hand harder when she opened her lips, probably in preparation to spew abuse at him.
"I don't know what to say," he told her honestly, knowing whatever he said was not enough. "I can't even think right now."
She breathed loudly in an attempt to control her rising temper. What was he doing looking at her like that? Like she's some puppy that's gotten kicked out of a home?
Without consent, he joined their hands together, trapping hers in between, and began hitting his head with it. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me─"
She struggled to get her hand away but his hold was firm, hitting himself even harder. "Stop."
He didn't.
Glancing around, she realized they have already made an audience so she shook her arm to get him off. "Stop it, you idiot," she hissed, leaning forward so he can hear. "People are watching─"
"I don't give a fuck," he rasped, raising his head to meet her gaze. He was beyond embarrassment or shame. He couldn't give a rat's ass about what other people think. He just wanted her to forgive him.
She paused, taken aback, and feeling discomfited somehow. He's never been this serious, at least not with her. Maybe he really is sorry.
"Okay," she began in a placating tone, "I get it. I know you're sorry. But please let go of my hand. I'm getting uncomfortable."
He reluctantly released her, looking lost and sad. He sat back and watched her, his brows furrowing, waiting for her to say what's on her mind.
"It's not like you forced me or anything," she admitted grudgingly, staring straight at the centerpiece and decidedly not at him. "I went out with you to get drunk. My virginity was collateral damage."
"No," he said forcefully. "I had felt that something was up but instead of talking to you about it, I just let you ply me with drinks. I should have known better."
She visibly cringed, remembering that they were supposed to watch a play that night but she dragged him to the bar instead. She can't recall who jumped whom but if anybody's pointing fingers on whose fault is it, it should be directed at her. "Look, I'm sorry too. I just feel so ashamed, you know? I'm so embarrassed I can't even look at you. I forgive you but you have to give me time to process all this."
He didn't say anything for a while that she had to sneak a glance at him.
"So you don't want to see me anymore, is that it?" he said flatly, boring holes in her bowed head.
She looked up at his tone and frowned at him. "It's not forever. And it's not like we're breaking up. We're not even together."
"You're my closest friend," he snapped, feeling angry that she's being so unreasonable.
"And you're mine!" she bit back, slapping the table making the plates and cutleries clatter noisily between them. "But I need time to collect myself. I need time to get my dignity back. Give me a week or two to do it. I'm not leaving you behind. This is purely for self-preservation and not some excuse to avoid you."
They stared at each other for what seemed like hours. He, more than glared. But then, as if losing a fight with himself, he looked away, seemingly resigned with her decision. "Fine. Do what you want. You know my number when you're ready."
At last, she thought, she could finally breathe easy. "Thank you, Eriol. I'll call you for sure and then we can go out and watch movies again."
When it was evident that no row would start again, she hailed the waitress and began to order.
When it was his turn, he just said, "The most expensive wine and dish, please."
She squawked loudly.
Eriol smiled happily at the waitress who turned to Tomoyo in surprise. "It's her turn to pay."
A/N: Hi. Finally this is out. This was hard to write especially with real life going on, and writer's block, and crippling depression. But anyway it's here. Writing this has opened a window of joy and peace for me. I had forgotten how writing is therapeutic. I hope you're all well and still reading this. I know I take too long to update and have no excuses for it but thanks for waiting. Please leave a review to let me know what you think :)