"And so, junior, do you now understand that how different you and Vivienne are from each other? You know, I don't even have anything against you. It's just unruly rumors have been going around about Vivienne and you. Idiots.."
The dude, who was now giving me a lecture with all these weird exaggerated hand gestures on the backside of the school's nursery, was my senior. I don't even know this guy's name. He just came to my class and took me here, saying he had something important to talk about. And now he was blabbering on about some nonsense he heard.
I really wonder if this was the level of normal high school students. I was getting second-hand embarrassment from all of their stupid antics.
It all started yesterday, when I was going to the school cafeteria. On the corridor, Vivienne and I crossed paths. Being the bundle of sunshine she was, she greeted me with the biggest smile. The interaction made its rounds in the senior year and this dude was here now, lecturing me about keeping distance from 'High Places'.
After nodding my head and explaining that it must have been a misunderstanding, I excused myself with the reasoning of my part-time.
I was still turning that conversation over in my head. If he had kept talking for even a minute longer, I might have really punched his face. It was annoying to hear a kid explain all about statuses and social hierarchies. I am not saying I have any experience with those things, but I could understand the kind of sheltered environment these kids had been living in.
It should have been just another no-incident work shift. Except Iris was here. She had come to personally see me at my part-time job. Even though I clearly said I will make time for her on the days I didn't have job. She was, really, an impatient woman.
"I believe I informed you clearly that I would only be able to entertain you on my days off."
"Ohh, I remember that clearly."
"Then, would you explain this unprompted visit of yours?"
"Ahhh, that is where you are making your mistake. I am here just like any of the other customers."
"Well, with the two bodyguards behind you, I would beg to differ."
"Sorry, I forgot."
She ordered them to go outside and turned to smile at me. She looked at me like I should praise her for following my instructions. I could only sigh at her antics. Unconsciously, I bent over the counter and patted her head.
Must have been creepy as hell. I was dumbfounded by it. But it was an involuntary action. I have never patted anyone before this. The atmosphere became awkward and quiet.
______________
Both Iris and I sat down inside the staff room to have the tea she had brought with her.
"So, it would be fair to assume you have already bought the store and that no customer would be coming in during the time you are here. "
"You are smart as always, Darling."
Her speaking endearingly still gave me the jitters. (In a good way?)
"So, you are not going to say that you are quitting the job now, right? Exclaiming about how you want to be independent, stand on my own legs-"
"Yeah, you can stop at that. Sadly, I don't think I will be quitting this job. Everyone knows that your family practically owns one-third of the city. It would be meaningless to look for one after that. And even if I got something, the next moment you can buy it off anyway."
"Darling, it seems, you have been doing your homework on me. I am impressed that you would show interest in my wealth."
"I found out while looking into who you were. I cannot be a husband, who doesn't even know his own wife, now, can I?"
She had a hearty laugh at my remark.
"Now that we have gotten ourselves all the time in the world, are you going to let me know about our shared past?"
"I don't know? I don't want to reveal everything. I always liked to keep people in the dark, you know. And you being the cutest thing you are, I really want to keep you guessing. Hmm, but to be fair, I will give you a hint. We were childhood friends before we fell in love with each other. That's all, I will give you for now."
"Hmmm. So, was it some kind of nomadic culture, right?"
Iris was clearly surprised by my answer.
"How? More like, what even is your reasoning for such a far-stretched guess?"
"Hmm, I wonder if I should be the one keeping the secret this time."
She immediately grabbed and pulled me by my collar, "Answer me."
"It was easy if you simply connect the dots. You had only ever gone to one country and that country just happened to be best known for its nomadic societies."
"That still doesn't justify your conclusion."
"Well, there were a few more minor details, but yeah, you were focused so much on being unreadable that I could actually read you keenly."
After staring at me for a while and realizing that I was not going to reveal, she removed her hand from my collar and sat back sighing.
"You always surprise me."
And so, the banter continued until my shift ended. Though, Iris offered to drop me at my house, I politely declined it. I didn't trust her that much.
You never know when she might just kidnap me and bolt.
After dinner, I was headbutted by the Penguin, I had left it at my home to charge before leaving for my shift.
"Ouch, what was that for you bastard?!"
"For leaving me alone."
"What are you, my girlfriend or something, you dumb bird? Why would I carry your ass around with me all the time?"
"Because I am your journey companion."
It started tearing up. Even I started feeling a bit bad for it.
"An orange cat was toying with me. I was very scared. Don't leave me alone like that."
"And here I thought that you were affectionate about me. Also, aren't you a machine? Why are you even scared of a cat?"
"It doesn't matter. Just don't leave me alone again."
Rolling my eyes at the absurdity, I went to bed, while the Penguin was still holding on to me.