Page 57 of Sixty Meters Under

When Ryosuke opened his eyes, pain struck through his skull accompanied by nausea. He groaned in discomfort and tossed in bed, trying to relieve his hangover. Unsuccessful, he sat up, let out a deep sigh and put his aching head in his hands.I knew it was a bad idea to drink that much.

The bathroom door opened. Ryosuke knew Ayame stepped into the room, but he didn’t look up. They hadn’t talked since last night.

He heard her footsteps stop by the bed, and Ayame’s voice: “How long are we going to function like this?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, head still in his hands. Not that he cared much. Ryosuke wasn’t sure why he felt indifferent. In all their years together, they never had a fight, but he didn’t even care.

“You don’t know?” Ryosuke pictured her crossing her arms.

“How can I know?” he snapped and instantly regretted shouting. He added in a calmer manner, “You were the one who made a scene for no reason and stopped talking to me.”

“Now it’s my fault?!” Ayame raised her voice and hung her hands on her hips. As Ryosuke cradled his head with his hands again, she continued, “You were the one who didn’t take my side and even went with her to the restrooms. And who knows what you were doing there!”

Ryosuke lost his patience this time. “For fucks sake!” He looked up at her again and narrowed his eyes. He usually hated to curse, but lately he did it more than he would like. “We didn’t do anything! I just helped her wipe herself off. Why are you so jealous?”

“I–I’m…” Ayame started defensively but soon changed her tone. “Of course I’m jealous! You’re my fiancé and I love you! And I hate to see another woman hanging around you.”

Ryosuke sighed. Yes, it was his fault. He could maybe have prevented it all, but he was annoyed about Ayame’s reaction. And he was angry with himself.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He knew he owed her at least an apology. “I didn’t want any of that to happen.”

“I didn’t either,” Ayame said and sat at the edge of the bed. She looked a little calmer, but Ryosuke didn’t feel any better. “I think you should repay me somehow,” she added seductively, placing her hand on top of his knee.

Ryosuke looked at her in disbelief. “What?”Is she really thinking we should have sex at this moment?

A small smile formed on her lips.

“I really can’t now.” Ryosuke shook his head. “I feel sick, and my head wants to explode.”

“Don’t worry. I was just kidding!” Ayame laughed and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ryosuke looked even more dumbfounded.

“Can you join me for breakfast? Or do you prefer to stay in bed?”

“Sorry. I can’t keep you company. I think I might throw up. I feel too nauseous to even smell food.”

“Oh, baby. Sorry to hear that.” She rubbed his leg and added, “I’ll let you rest then.” Ayame jumped to her feet and headed to the dressing table to brush her long hair.

Ryosuke winced at the pain that was still throbbing in his head. “Do we have any painkillers?”

“Yes. I brought some with me from home.”

?

Ayame entered the canteen to find it close to full. A different atmosphere prevailed that morning. The evidence that there had been a party yesterday was only a couple of balloons hanging onthe walls and the ones that the children were playing with on the floor.

She approached the counter and stopped in line. When she got her portion, she went to sit at the table where her parents and Ryosuke’s mother were already seated, happy that she’d not be all by herself.

“You’re alone, dear?” her mother asked.

“Yeah. Ryosuke is hungover; he couldn’t come.”

“Hungover?” Ryosuke’s mother asked, surprised to hear that.

“Yes.” Ayame nodded.

“Oh, dear. That’s not like him.” Matsuko shook her head and looked at Ayame again. “And how are you, sweety?”

“Me? I’m okay.” Ayame smiled nervously, and looked at her plate.