Edwin P.O.V.
This week has been a pretty average week at work. I did some lab work, additional research and now I am conducting a BLAST on some of the nucleotide sequences of the samples we are observing.
The others in the lab were finishing some of their work and were starting to carefully clean and put away the equipment they used. This was part of our routine before we took our lunch breaks.
"Hey Edwin, are you going to join us?" Makini asked.
"In two minutes, I just want to take some notes on these BLAST results." I replied.
"Okay, see you later." Makini said as she and the others left for our lunch break.
I finished up my notes on the BLAST results, which only took up about two to three minutes. To be honest, I am also just glad it's Friday because this week has been particularly busy.
After I finished my notes, I organized my lab station, grabbed my laptop and headed towards my office. I put my laptop away, took off my lab coat, grabbed my lunch and started to head outside of the department. As soon as I exited the genetic department offices, to my surprise I found Jasiri, in her human form, standing by the door. It appears that she was waiting for me, so I approached her.
"Hi Jasiri, is something wrong?" I asked in which she came up to me with a light-hearted expression on her face.
"Oh nothing's wrong Edwin, I just wanted to surprise you. Though I was a little surprised myself when you did not come out with the others." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, I had to finish my notes from a BLAST analysis I performed on two of our samples." I replied.
"Wait, what is a BLAST analysis?" She asked.
"Well a BLAST, or Basic Alignment Search Tool, is an algorithm and program that enables us to compare nucleic acid and protein sequences from our experimental sequences to known samples of the same or similar species in the sequence database we use. This will enable us to compare the similarities between our experimental samples not only with each other, but of known sequences from other experiments." I said.
"That sounds really cool! Just out of curiosity, do you know Kendall and Jamal's numbers because I really enjoyed hanging out with them." Jasiri asked.
"Sure, I have Kendall's number but I do not have Jamal's, so I'll ask her for that later. And I agree it was nice to hang out with Kendall again and Jamal's a pretty cool guy." I replied.
"Yeah, I didn't realize how much we had in common." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, we all seem to have common interests, we all have graduate degrees and we all attended public high schools. It is interesting to find out the similarities that each individual unknowingly shares." I said.
"Yes it's kind of interesting to find some of the small connections we have to each other." Jasir replied.
We began to walk down the hallway and we happened to see Beshte walking out of a door in the hallway we were walking in. He turned his head towards us.
"Oh Hey guys! How's it going?" Beshte said.
"Hi Beshte, we were just heading for our lunch break, what about you? Wait... aren't you usually on the lower floor on Fridays?" Jasiri said.
"Oh yeah I am, but I was called up here to help with another lost kid. That makes it the fourth one this week." Beshte replied.
"Seriously? Some parents really need to keep a better eye on their younger kids." I said.
"I know, even though I don't mind helping lost kids find their parents, the rate at which it occurs in this museum can be exhausting sometimes." Beshte said.
"Where are you heading now, Beshte?" Jasiri said.
"Well I am also heading for my lunch break, but I need to get something downstairs." Beshte said.
"Cool, you can join us if you want." I said.
We were walking towards the staircase until we heard a voice coming towards our right.
"Hey, how's the happy couple doing?" A voice called, we turned around to find that it was that of Kovu from the artifact conservation lab, who I did not expect to encounter until our next Human-Hybrid Alliance. Another surprising thing was that his wife Kiara was also with him, which is surprising since she works at the business sector which is downstairs.
"Hi Kovu, how's it going? We are great although Edwin and I have only been dating for a little over a week, but overall it's been great." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, we've just been taking it one step at a time. Also, I am a little surprised to see you here Kiara because isn't the business sector downstairs?" I asked.
"Oh yeah it is, I just came up to surprise Kovu before we go out for lunch, it's something we started to do on Fridays." Kiara said.
"That's cool, we just usually go to the cafe at the lower level for our lunch breaks." Jasiri said.
"Cool, we haven't really done that in years. I do not know why we stopped, I think it was when that Nepali restaurant we liked opened up a couple of years ago." Kovu said.
"Okay, interesting. How far is it from here?" Jasiri asked.
"It's only a couple of blocks from here." Kiara said.
"Cool, we should probably try it out some time." I replied.
"Sure, perhaps we could try it next week." Jasiri said.
We continued to talk going down the staircase.
"So Kovu and I were talking about how we need some more couple friends and perhaps we should hang out sometime." Kiara said.
"Yeah, because other than our next door neighbors along with Anga and her human boyfriend Fabian. Even though they are very nice people, most of our gatherings involve going to where they do crossfit and let's just say the last time we went, it was not ideal. I'm not sure it is possible to sprain the same muscle twice, but it definitely felt that way for me. What made it especially awkward was that it was a night class so I was in my anthro lion form, and when I strained the muscle both times, I literally roared in pain and I kinda gave many of the humans in that class a bit of a fright.I ended up sitting the rest of that class out because of the sprain in my hamstring. But fortunately we are still on good terms with Anga and Fabian, but we probably won't be going to crossfit as frequently as they do." Kovu said.
"I'm sorry to hear about that incident Kovu, at least you guys are on good terms with them. And I agree, we should probably hangout some more outside of work, in fact we don't even hang out that much inside of work. What do you think of Edwin?" Jasiri asked.
" I think it sounds like a great idea. Also besides, I think it is fair because you've already met some of my friends, so I think it will be interesting to get some of your friends a little more." I replied.
"Sure, we should definitely plan something some time." Kiara said.
"Oh Jasiri, I had a question, I was curious because I read somewhere that some fossil labs use a device called a Fiber Optic Illuminators, and I want to ask more about how they are used in context to fossil preparation." I asked.
"Sure, so when we have fossils with certain textures or features to which we want to make more visible, we use…" Jasiri was talking but she was interrupted when we heard the sound of loud footsteps.
We saw that walking from the hallway next to us, is Nala, the CEO's wife and the museum's Chief Financial Officer, with a box that appears to have some files and stuff that people would usually place on an office desk. Then all the sudden Simba was rushing behind her.
"Nala….Why are you making such a big fuss about this. You submitted your two week notice and you still have two weeks left. I think you might be making a mistake by leaving. We can try to make this work." Simba said in a pleading tone and Nala stopped and turned around with a blank expression on her face.
"I've made my decision, Simba. I'm leaving, both the museum...and this marriage. I need to move on with a new stage and path of my life for my true self. Besides, I've applied to several openings already, including a possible position at the Art Institute. You don't have to worry about me. My things and I will be out of the house by the end of the day." Nala said. Simba's expression turned from a pleading one to a more flustered and angered one.
"Oh common Nala, why do you have to be so childish about this?! We have to work this out! We are the royal family! People don't expect flaws from us! Plus we should work it out because let's just face the facts: You are nothing without me!" Simba angrily said.
I couldn't believe that the CEO of the museum would reduce such immature and egoistic behavior. I thought that he was egoistic before, but this is to a new level.
Nala turned around, placed her box down on the floor and turned back around towards Simba. And she looked furious.
"You know what Simba…...I'VE HAD IT! I've had it with you! I've had it with your stubborn, immature and absolutely selfish behavior you've exhibited since the time we've met each other and since the time we've been married! AND I'M ABSOLUTELY TIRED OF LIVING A LIE FOR THE PAST 20-SOMETHING YEARS WE'VE BEEN MARRIED! I'm just tired of the dishonesty that you have given me throughout that time. Including that about your 'activities' when you are not home." Nala said basically yelling, as Simba's expression turned to one of somewhat surprise.
"Ohh...So you know about Melinda?" Simba said
When I turned to the others, they all had wide eyes and some of their jaws dropped. Though Jasiri and I already knew that he was allegedly cheating on her with one of the interns, it was still surprising to hear him confirm it I also noticed that the scene has attracted the attention of other tourists and employees who happen to be in the area.
"Oh please, I've known about her for a while! I've also known about your former mistresses and flings, including Tracy, Paula, Magdalena, Divina and Izabel. I also know about the times you slept with some of the other lionesses of the Pride Lands. So yes, I knew about Adiah, Amne, Kichaka, Kamaria and Barika. Oh and speaking of Barika, I KNOW that you were Zuri's biological father, did you really think you were going to hide that from me?!" Nala angrily said practically yelling.
I looked towards the other and they looked even more shocked. I thought I saw Beshte mouth his lips to say What?! While Jasiri and Kovu just continued to stand there with their mouths open, Kiara looked as if she was just frozen in shock and I think I saw a tear coming down her face. I was shocked too, finding out that the CEO of the museum has a history of cheating on his spouse and at least one child as a result of those affairs.
"Okay, I apologize for not telling you about that, but why are you acting so dramatic?! In most lion prides, including ours, the dominant male, also known as me, had his right to his choice of mates and you just happened to be my favorite lioness. And this was nothing new, my mother told me that other than her, my father had like eight lionesses he mated with. In actuality, the majority of our lion cub friends from our cubhood were actually my half-siblings, and before Mufasa was killed, I was still on the path to be king because I happened to be the oldest out of Mufasa's cubs, but since the others were not the cubs the official royal couple Mufasa and Sarabi, they were considered illegitimate and not in line for the throne or the Lion Guard. In fact, you were one out of only two cubs in our age group whose father was not Mufasa. Because we know what happened to your dad, who abandoned the pride, you, and your mom shortly after you were born. And then there was our old friend Kito, nobody knew who his father was, some thought it was a rogue, others thought it could have been your father and some even thought it could have been Scar, all we knew was that it was not Mufasa. And why do you look so upset, didn't you mate with any other males while Scar desecrated our lands?" Simba said.
"I couldn't because Scar either killed or forcibly exiled any male lion who he saw was a threat to his so-called 'royal calling', which was essentially any male lion that he could see. And though yes, I am aware of the dominant male's so-called 'mating rights', but they were incredibly unfair because the males including Mufasa and you always restricted who the females can mate with, which was a total double-standard. And even after you came back, you were the only male in the pride, with the exception of the couple of rogues that passed by on occasion and you still restricted who we can mate with and basically critiqued those who did not follow these standards. I initially thought that I could love you, but now I realized that I have wasted twenty something years impeding on being my true self, but I also wasted it with a cynical, immature, selfish and temperamental being such as yourself, whether you were a lion, hybrid or whatever…" Nala said as she began to take off what I assumed was her wedding ring and threw it at Simba.
"You know what...Screw it! I no longer let my life be dictated by you and I am going to live my life the way I want it and stop living the lie that I have been living for the past twenty something years….so we're over. I'm divorcing you, and I'll have all my stuff out of the house by the end of the day. Take your damn ring back and go fuck around with someone else's life!" Nala yelled.
Nala soon grabbed her box and items and went out of the main entrance with Simba just standing there in shock. He then turned around in our direction and I even turned around a little bit and saw that along with us, several museum employees and many tourists who were in the general vicinity watched the whole thing go down. Some tourists have their phones out recording the whole thing.
"OKAY, THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE! YOU DON'T NEED TO RECORD ANYTHING SO YOU CAN PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN!" Simba said, projecting towards the tourists who have their phones out.
Kiara then walked towards him with the same shocked expression on her face, but this time there were some undertones of anger under it.
"WAIT?! So Zuri was my half-sister?!" Kiara said to him.
He just walked towards our group, then started to look towards her and Kovu.
"I'm sorry you guys had to see that, I'll talk to you about this at a later time." Simba calmly said to the with a blank expression on his face.
He then turned towards Beshte, Jasiri, and I with a slightly more irritated expression on his face.
"As for you three, have you guys ever been taught not to stick your noses into business that is yours. Please report back to your departments, or lunch breaks, or whatever you guys are going to do before this went on." Simba said, noticeably irritated.
Soon Jasiri, Beshte and I went to walk towards the stairwell that goes to the lower floor where the museum cafe was located, while Simba headed back toward the direction he came from and Kovu and Kiara walked in a separate direction.
The three of us ended up walking to the cafe where we saw our colleagues at our usual table, and when we approached the table, Makini turned towards us.
"Hey guys, you came later than usual. Though I knew that Edwin had to finish something he was doing in the lab, but Jasiri and Beshte, why are you guys late?" Makini said.
"Yeah, though I knew that Jasiri was going ro be a little late because she wanted to surprise Edwin, but I'm curious, because it is longer than I expected it would take, and why was Beshte with you guys?" Makuu asked.
We just sat down at the table getting ready to explain the whole fiasco we saw on the main floor.
"Oh boy, let's just say it's a good thing you guys are seated because this is going to be a long story…." I told them.
So we basically talked about how we bumped into Kiara and Kovu for some casual conversation with each other, then how the whole Nala and Simba fiasco unfolded. Essentially how Nala quitted her job at the museum, and how they are going to be divorcing each other now. We also mentioned Simba's history of infidelity in both the human world, and back in his old lion pride, along with the child he had outside of Nala. We also discussed his arrogant and chauvinistic behavior towards Nala. I didn't say this out loud but I am kind of relieved that the two are getting divorced now that I know that the marriage was essentially doomed from the start, similar to my parents' marriage before they divorced, but under different circumstances. The others seemed to be in complete shock when we finished.
"Wait, Nala really quit her job as the museum's chief financial officer? Wow, out of the time I've been working at the museum, this is surprising to quit all of the sudden." Pete said.
"It's not for me, a few years ago Rani, Kion's ex-wife left to escape the abuse Kion was imposing on her. Plus, she wanted to pursue her passion for teaching." Makuu said.
"Yeah, that's true, but still, the divorce between Simba and Nala is still shocking." Bupu said.
"Yeah because we initially always saw them as this perfect couple before recently. And I can't believe that he was Zuri's biological father because she disappeared during the drought, and though he did show some concern, he didn't show as much as if Kiara or Kion were the ones who disappeared. I can't believe he had a child outside of Kiara and Kion and told nobody about it. And apparently he slept with some of the other lionesses of the pride?!" Makini said.
"So am I, although I have heard potential allegations hinting about Simba sleeping around, but most of us in my herd always thought that was just a rumor or exaggeration someone made up. I can't believe it's actually true." Vuruga replied.
"Yeah, I didn't realize how much the royal family has been hiding all these years. I feel so bad for Nala and Kiara because Nala was essentially forcing herself to live with the dishonesty and egoism Simba had all these years. Also, based on what I saw, it seems that Kiara was completely oblivious to these secrets so she has probably been lied to her entire life and I have no idea whether or not Kion already knew. Wait...do you think that could be potentially responsible for his complete change from a fair, reasonable and caring leader to a selfish, abusive and temperamental being." Beshte said, while having a visibly frustrated expression on his face.
"Yeah, it is quite shocking that Simba basically lied to all those closest to him for all those years. Apparently from what I heard, he said his father had around seven or eight lionesses he mated with outside of Simba's mother." I said.
"I know right!? I was shocked hearing that, because although I have heard of some lions from other lions having more than one mate, I never thought that Mufasa or Simba did because they never mentioned anything about mating lionesses outside of their official mates. I cannot believe that both of those kings would lie to us when they were frequently portrayed as honest leaders." Vuruga said.
"Yeah, as former Pride Landers, some feel kind of betrayed that the lion we called leader lied to us all this time." Makini said.
We just continued to talk about Simba and Nala's fight and how the couple are now appearing to be getting divorced.
Third Person P.O.V:
As the group continued to talk about the subject matter of Simba and Nala; Edwin, Jasiri and Beshte do not realize that along with them, some other employees had a front row seat to Simba and Nala's argument, including Muhimu and Twiga who were working their shift at the information desk that was forty feet away. They were having lunch a few tables away from Edwin and Jasiri's group. They were also talking about Nala and Simba splitting up.
"I cannot believe that the rumor of Simba sleeping with one of his interns is actually true! Poor Nala! She said that Simba had cheated on her multiple times both in the human world and back in the Pride Lands!" Muhimu said.
"I know, and I couldn't believe he was Zuri's biological father, he never even acknowledged her other than Kiara's, and Kiara has been lied to almost all of her life. Do you think Kion knows about his father's 'habits'? Do you think that could have influenced the change in his personality since entering the human world?" Twiga said.
"I'm not sure what happened in regards to Kion. It is such a shame regarding his change to an abusive being. I remembered when he was a young cub starting out in the Lion Guard, he was there when I gave birth to Hamu while protecting us in our migration to the Mbali Fields. But now, he's egotistic, barely helps anyone as a security guard and he does not have a good track record with women since he constantly berated and beaten Rani and Jasiri when he was seeing them." Muhimu said.
"Yeah, I'm not sure what happened either." Twiga said.
"And I can't believe that somehow, Kion was able to avoid domestic violence charges because his dad was able to convince Rani and Jasiri to not bring it to the authorities. How? I don't know."
As Muhimu and Twiga continued their conversation, Timon was enjoying his lunch when Bunga came in and sat down with him.
"How's it going Bunga?" Timon asked.
"It's going well uncle Timon, although I was wondering if you can help me with a little favor?" Bunga replied, causing Timon's depression to turn blank.
"Okay, what is it this time?" Timon said in a noticeably irritated tone.
"Well, I was wondering if you can help me in paying a recent parking ticket." Bunga said, after which Timon raised his hands.
"Seriously Bunga?! Another parking ticket?! This is your eighth ticket this year." Timon said angrily.
"It's not my fault! How could I have known that parking in front of a bus stop at night is illegal? Oh and I'm a little behind on my rent so can you help a guy out?" Bunga said.
After what has to be one of many instances Bunga has asked him for money over their years in the human world, Timon seemed to have reached his breaking point.
"You know what…..I've had it! I've let you borrow-no wait..take money from me to help with the occasional favor...but what started as a few favors became a downright pattern. I thought that this might change but over the years that we have been in the human world, you seemed to have never learned to be responsible with your money. And after all of the times I have helped you or gave you money, you never even one paid me back except for that one time you gave me only twenty dollars...when just over the past ten years you have 'borrowed' a total of ten thousand dollars from me without consideration of paying me back or even helping me when I ever had financial issues! I can't believe how inconsiderate and immature you still are even when you had time to grow up! You know what….I'm done paying off for your mistakes! I'm cutting you off! That's right, the Bank of Timon is officially closed!" Timon said practically yelling.
"Aw come on Timon, you don't need to be like that! I promise that I won't bother you and I'll try to pay you back." Bunga said in a slightly pleading tone.
"That's what you said the last twenty times after you spent a large amount of the money I lent you , but did you follow through any of those promises? No! You just continued to be reckless with your money and so far the only evidence of you paying me back was twenty dollars you gave me five years ago." Timon replied.
"Oh come on Timon, you know that's just one of my quirks. Hakuna Matata man." Bunga said nonchalantly.
"Bunga, I wish that it can be Hakuna Matata, but since living in the human world, I learned that it is basically impossible to live fully in Hakuna Matata because in one place or another, there is always something to worry about. Bills, rent payments, making sure I have the bare necessities, and not to mention all the political, social and emotional tension that is going on in this world right now. We cannot ignore it, that would be an immature and ignorant thing to do." Timon said.
Bunga's expression turned from a pleading one to an irritated one.
"I think that you've spent a little too much time with Gary because you no longer seem like the Timon that I know and love like you were with Puumba." Bunga said, after which Timon raised his hands in exacerbation.
"For goodness sake Bunga! How many times do I have to tell you! Gary and I are happy together, we live together and you need to frigging accept it. No amount of pouting, comments or bad jokes will not do anything. Why can't you just be happy that I found someone I love and that I want to spend time with while also having a deep emotional connection. And I know you miss Puumba, so do I, but he's been dead for twenty one years and I needed to move on. Why can't you be happy that from all of the crappy relationships I had in the human world, that I finally found a great one? If you can't accept that, then I think we might need some space right now." Timon said.
"Fine! Have your space! I can ask Kion to help me out, his dad's rich so I know he has some money!" Bunga stubbornly said while marching out of the cafe.
From afar, Edwin, Jasiri, and the group that they were sitting with saw the commotion with Timon and Bunga, but they were too far to hear what exactly was going on.
"Man, I wonder what that was all about?" Beshte said out loud.
"Who knows, maybe something outside of work?" Edwin replied.
"Maybe." Beshte said.
The group just continued to eat their lunch, hoping that things would calm down after one tense afternoon at the museum, to what initially started as a relatively routine day.