Page 28 of Sixty Meters Under

As Ryosuke sat on the edge of the bed, Ayame crept behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso. “I know what might help you feel better.”

Ryosuke knew exactly what she had in mind. “We’ll be late for breakfast.”

“Don’t you worry about that. There’s still plenty of time.” She kissed his earlobe.

Ryosuke knew there was no reason to avoid her needs any longer; they would be intimate who knows how many times in the following months. Deep inside he fought against it, but he knew it didn’t make sense. He should just relax and let it happen. It wasn’t their first time, but it always felt like that. Ayame was a beautiful woman and his fiancé, and Ryosuke knew he should be happy to have her. The thing was, he didn’t enjoy being intimate, and because of this he often thought he was asexual. He’d shared this with Ayame before they got engaged, and she accepted that part of him. But as the time passed it seemed like Ayame convinced herself that if she tried hard enough, she could change it, making him more willing to have sex with her.

“Relax, baby,” she whispered into his ear as she sneaked her hand under his pajama bottoms.

I’m not a baby.Ryosuke thought to himself, irritated.

Giving up on his inner battle, Ryosuke lay back on the mattress so Ayame would have better access. It always tooklonger than it should to get him stiff enough, but when Ryosuke noticed Ayame getting ready to ride him, he warned, “Get the condom first!”

Chapter 10

When Ayame and Ryosuke entered the canteen, the large round clock on the wall showed 9:26. The couple went straight to the table where an older woman served the food.

“Good morning! Is there any food left?” Ayame put her hands on the counter, trying to balance herself after a hurried pace.

“Good morning!” The woman greeted them, handing a tray to one of the residents. “Yes, there’s something left. Vegetarian or not?”

“Normal. And thank you!” Ayame smiled, still fighting to catch her breath.

They were given two plastic trays with compartments; each contained a hardboiled egg still in the shell, three slices of ham, a slice of bread spread with cheese, and a few slices of pepper and tomato. Ayame and Ryosuke shared a look and sat down at the nearest table.

The canteen was almost empty, and the residents talked quietly, enjoying their meal. Ryosuke looked around absently before devoting himself to his food.

“What are you thinking about?” Ayame broke the silence.

“Thinking?” Ryosuke directed his gaze at her. “No, I’m not thinking about anything in particular. I’m just observing?”

“Observing, mhm.” Ayame smiled and took a bite. “And, what do you see?”

Ryosuke’s brows furrowed.What can I see that she can’t?

Ayame seemed to notice his confused look, so she giggled. “Just kidding!”

Ryosuke blinked, then smiled and shook his head.

Ayame looked at her plate and cut vegetables into little pieces. “It’s bothering me though: how long will we stay here? Like for real?”

“I don’t know. I mean, no one knows.” Ryosuke stared thoughtfully at his egg, but he was already thinking about this when the current hostilities started. “Wars usually tend to last for years. The bigger question would be: how long would the effects of war remain if nuclear weapons were used?”

“A year? Two… five?” Ayame’s eyes went wide.

“Maybe even ten.”

Ayame looked at him horrified. Ryosuke shook his head. “I really hope not that long, but we can’t know.”

“I don’t mind us being here, but I wouldn’t want it to last forever.”

“I know. Me neither.”

They fell silent again and when they had nearly finished eating, Ryosuke’s attention was drawn to a tiny voice. At the table, not far from them, was a woman sitting with a little girl.Mother and daughter, Ryosuke assumed, since he heard the girl saymommya couple of times.

The little girl wore a red fluffy sweater, and her golden hair was adorned with a headband with a white bow. She asked her mother various questions, and the woman patiently answered every one of them. The only thing that stuck in Ryosuke’s mind was when the little girl asked one particular question: “Are we supposed to be in this place for Christmas too?”

“Yes, Sarah.”