Track 07.5
“Unbelievable.” The pig-tailed diva threw up her arms in astonishment and marched out of the room.
“Sheria, where are you going?”
“To touch-up my make-up, you deal with this Sunal. -can’t take this kind of stress right now. ”
He clicked his tongue and put his mighty arms on his hips. “That girl.”
Once that child blurted out a clearly kept secret, it’s like I was shoved to the edge of a plank, forced to hope upon hope that this wasn’t one of those we-can’t-let-you-leave-here-alive-now-that-you-know-the-truth moments. The concern shifted once Kaia began to chuckle and the rude girl left the room, which meant my main threat became-
I peeked up and over my shoulder at the macho one, while trying to make myself look as much like a frail, crippled, old hunchback, as possible - because no sane person would try to hurt the elderly. He had been closer than I would have liked, but the look he gave me was gentler than I expected from a man of these muscles. Instead of being angry, he was scratching the back of his shaggy hair in a what-should-we-do-now sort of way. Meanwhile, Axel was holding his temples with his head bowed away from everyone. I’ve never felt so guilty in my entire life.
It was Kaia who broke the ice. She was sipping tea now, “You haven’t touched your pancakes, Rei-chan.”
I gave her a pained look, but tried to play it off in a way that held a bit of dignity and a bunch of politeness. “Y’know, I-I think I’ll just take them with me… like in a napkin or something. Thank you Kaia.” I approached the table holding my pancake on a plate and scooped up the pinkish bundle of batter and strawberries, with the napkin.
A mighty sigh and a mighty hand rained down on my shoulder from behind. This hand belonged to The Bollywood Hulk. Turning to face him wasn’t necessary; it was merely a reflexive action.
“I-I-I-I-I didn’t real-really need the napkin.”
“Little Rei,” he began, “you do realize-”
“-that life is a precious little package.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “-that you cannot tell anyone about us.”
“That too! Yes. Of course… not. I mean, I would never. I wouldn’t have anyone to tell anyway.” An awkward laugh had crept its way into that last part. I closed my eyes, clenched my teeth and stretched out a painful cringe out of self-repulsion. What am I saying?
“It’s okay Sunal” Kaia spoke up to save the day from my awkward parade. “I trust Rei-chan, she came all this way to thank my son for saving her life, she didn’t kill us in our sleep, and she likes hot cocoa and pancakes. She couldn’t be a bad person, she wouldn’t tell anyone.” I bowed with eternal gratitude to Kaia, then stared back and forth between the two of them. “I-I’ll be going then.” I tried moving from the Hulk’s strong hold and was greatly surprised when he let me go without a struggle. I made a little bow to him then rushed towards my freedom. I paused then looked back at Axel. He was leaned back against the counter, looking up at the celling and shaking his head slightly.
It seemed like I caused him an incoming lecture... I caused him all sorts of troubles didn’t I? I made a little bow to him too - this one was heavy with regrets and unspoken apologies – then left shortly after at a brisk march.
On my way out, there was a faint pitter-pattering of feet that followed me to the front of the store. “Gif-girl, are you taking Axel’s pajamas too?”
I looked down and screamed.
***
“…Do you really trust her Kaia?” Sunal asked after hearing Rei’s screams down the hall.
“Hmmm” Kaia had a spoonful of a whipped cream-capped strawberry in her mouth. She made sure to enjoy it before replying. “Who knows… but I do know guilt can work better than aggression… in some cases.” Another spoonful plopped into her mouth.
“Whooa ho ho ho, what a scary woman.”
Kaia smiled that slit-eyed smile of hers. “I wish my son shared your fear of me, Sunal” Kaia was now aiming her spoon at Axel’s head while he made a brave attempt to escape out the backdoor.
Axel looked back scowling with that deathly side-eye of his; a sarcastic smile dazzled his face for a brief second.
“If he won’t fear you, Kaia, he’s going to fear me in a few seconds.” Sunal stepped forward with an exaggerated fist in the air. “Keita!” he called. “Get the cat!”
The blood from Axel’s face drained.