Page 48

Aoi

Friday morning, I arrive on campus, wondering why I chose to wear a sweater today. I can already feel the sweat building up under the grey cotton fabric.

Thankfully, I put on a shirt underneath, so I tug the sweater off and inhale the fresh spring air.

“Aoi!” a bright and bubbly voice calls out.

I turn around to face Sally who jumps into my arms, strangling me in a hug. “Ouch, ouch, ouch, Sally you’re gonna kill me.”

Chuckling she lets go and slaps my back instead. “You look like shit. What happened?”

“You’re always a delight, you know?” I say, rolling my eyes and flicking her shoulder playfully. “Nothing happened.”

She fake gags and locks her arm with mine, guiding us to class. “Bro I gotta tell you something crazy.”

“You gathered new gossip? How can you care so much about other people’s lives?”

“Shut up, goody two shoes. This is important.” She grins. “I think Elena likes Amira.”

“Are you sure?” An image of both women pops into my mind, and I have to smile. “They’d look good together.”

“Right?” She jumps, all giddy. “But I thought Amira was straight?”

“Really?” I ask, perplexed.

Amira didn’t strike me as straight. From the day I met her, she scanned women more than men, so I assumed she was into them, but I might’ve been wrong.

“Yeah! She kind of gave me those vibes, I dunno. My gaydar is off to be honest,” she snickers, pulling me through the hallway.

Her brown locks bounce as she walks. “Did you sleep last night?”

“Kinda.”

She frowns and yanks me to a stop. “You can’t keep doing shit like that. You have literal eye-bags from lack of sleep. Get some rest, damn it. What if you get a heart attack from stress and sleep deprivation?”

I know she means well, but it’s not as though I have power over this. I’ve never been able to sleep well, even though I’m always exhausted. It’s usually related to stress and for once also to the barrel of booze I drowned myself in.

“I know, stop hitting me.” I laugh, acting hurt. “I got myself into a shitty situation and might’ve drunk a bit.”

She gasps. “A bit being how many bottles?”

“Like two tequila bottles in seven hours.”

“You got wasted without me?! How could you? I thought we were friends?” She wipes a fake tear and clutches her chest dramatically.

“Jesus, you alcoholic queen.” I roll my eyes and laugh. “That was Tuesday, by the way. My liver hates me and refuses to let me recover.”

“You’re like an old man.” She croaks and pulls me back into walking beside her. The instant she catches a glimpse of our friends she squeals and rushes over. “Elena! Amira!”

She almost bumps into five people while running toward them. I wince at the barely avoided pile up and shake my head as I follow her.

Amira pulls me into a tight embrace, sliding her arms around my neck and patting my back gently. “You ended up not texting me back.”

“I’m sorry I forgot.”

She shoots me a disapproving look but soon smiles gently at me and squeezes my arm. “Call me before you run away next time.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

She parts her lips to question me, but Sally interrupts her. “He got drunk without us!”

Elena gives me a knowing smile. “We’ll survive this treason.”

So, she must’ve been the woman I heard while being on the phone with Amira.

Sally slumps dramatically against my shoulder. “I cannot believe this inhumane treatment. My dearest friends are conspiring against me, what an outrage!”

“Ah yes, your highness, we deserve the death penalty.” I play along, bowing. “Now get moving. We have a course in ten minutes, and you know I like being early.”

Groaning, she straightens up and falls back into step next to me. Amira and Elena settle behind us, throwing intense glances at each other.

The course ends up being boring as usual, pushing me to wonder why I even chose it to begin with. The time passed quickly though, due to Sally’s constant dirty jokes which made us laugh so hard that I feared we’d get thrown out of class.

We stroll around campus, chatting about everything and nothing.

“We should do something tonight!”

Elena throws her arm around Sally’s shoulder and grins ear to ear. “Hell yeah, we haven’t hung out in a while.”

I glance at Amira, waiting for her to say something but she simply shrugs. “I’d love to, but Aoi’s got work today.”

I can’t believe she knows my schedule better than I do. I completely forgot I had work this afternoon.

“Thanks for the reminder,” I say, nudging her in the rib. “I completely forgot about it. Maybe another time then?”

Sally pouts but doesn’t argue while Amira and Elena smile at me.

The latter speaks up. “That’s alright. We’ll just have to find another date then.”

I nod, smiling at their understanding. “Gotta go. See you later.”

I pick up the pace towards the parking lot as they wave at me. Sally blows me a dramatic kiss and a wink which I jokingly catch.

I get to my car and drive at RTStar, a renowned publishing agency, where I’m about to spend another exhausting couple of hours, working my ass off.

The second I step into the lobby, I’m assailed by Dixon’s extroverted attitude and his extravagant baby-blue suit inspired by 70’s fashion.

I stop for a minute to admire his outfit and the way his presence is always shining. “Love the suit, Dix,” I say, gesturing at his outfit.

Beaming with pride, he smiles smugly. “I know right? I spent a liver on this baby.”

He spins around, giving me a better look at his suit. I can’t help a chuckle from escaping. Everyone around me has so much energy and optimism that it makes me look like an empty roll of toilet paper.

I should match their attitudes. It’ll do me good to smile more and be more positive. Life isn’t as bad as my sick brain tries to make me believe.

“You’re right on time, dude. The boss has a guest. And not just any guest,” he says, edging the news as if it’s the result of the presidential election.

“Is it Selena Gomez?” I ask, mocking his dramatic suspense.

He rolls his eyes and nudges my rib. “Jerk. Nah I swear, it’s crazy.”

“Then spill it. Stop edging me on, dumbass.”

A maniacal laugh overtakes him and for a second, he turns into the Joker. “I need to get into character. Like the presenter of the Hunger Games. I can’t for the life of me remember his name though. Cea…Ceasor? No that’s not it.” He furrows his brows, plunging into his memories to find the name.

“Caesar Flickerman.”

Snapping his fingers he grins. “Exactly! This guy. Man, I love this guy.”

The lobby is bustling with people rushing around to get their work done. We head towards the elevator when Dixon slaps his hands together.

“The CEO of Lacroix Corporation is in Mr. William’s office!”

“Bellami Lacroix?”

He nods, pointing at the upper floor.

I can’t believe it.

“Do you know him?” he asks, following after me and scanning my face. “Why’re you so pissed? Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened. I just have something to tell Mr. Williams.” I grit my teeth, striding towards the elevator.

I can’t believe that asshole is at my workplace now. No matter which aspect of my life, he tries to poison it. I won’t let him get under my skin further. It’s already enough that he’s taking Visha, he should know where to stop.

“Hey, Aoi? I think you should take a breather before you get in.” He fidgets awkwardly, pulling my arm to stop me. “He’s busy and you’ll get in trouble if you bother them.”

“So what?” I snap, yanking my arm out of his grasp. “Mind your business, Dix. This is between me and that jerk.”

He lifts his hands in the air and backs up. “Alright. Don’t take it out on me. You better tell me all about the drama later.”

I run to Mr. Williams’ office and knock on the door despite his secretary’s refusal. The door flies open, and I settle inside. Both men gawk at me with a certain understanding unknown to me.

“Aoi, I’m quite busy right now.” Mr. Williams smiles politely at me.

I sense unease in his expression. Maybe he thinks I’m going to tell Bellami about last night. Lucky him, because I genuinely couldn’t care less about that right now.

Bellami doesn’t bother greeting me. Hell, he doesn’t even acknowledge my existence.

“Seems like you have a second appointment. I’m going to head out then. Thank you for your time,” he says, shaking Williams’ hand firmly.

“May I speak to you Mr. Lacroix?” I regulate my tone to the best I can, hoping to sound as polite to my bosses’ eyes, while that other jerk understands my anger.

Mr. Williams blinks as he glances between us. “Do you know each other?”

Bellami only smirks.

He’s leaving it to me to choose but we both know what I should say to avoid pissing him off.

“Unfortunately, no we don’t, but I admire Mr. Lacroix greatly and wish to have a small chat with him. If that’s alright with you, sir?”

“I suppose I have two minutes to spare.” His dark gaze is filled with enough disdain to kill a snake with.

Mr. Williams moves in discomfort, sensing the tension between us. He doesn’t ask unnecessary questions and simply heads toward the door.

“I’ll leave you both to it then.”

I’m not surprised at how submissive my boss is being, considering the entity he has to face.

My turn, bitch.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing at my workplace? Don’t you dare say that it’s only a coincidence, I won’t believe shit.”

“This is none of your concern,” he asserts, flicking invisible lint off his vest. “You should focus on what’s really your business.”

I know he’s warning me but still I can’t stay put. “Did you see Visha the past few days or is that beyond your care?”

That nonchalance enveloping his attitude disappears and leaves place to a frost so lethal I step back.

“Watch yourself,” he growls. “I have been busy with paperwork concerning his transfer. I’ll have a lifetime to see him.”

The last bit cuts deep into my flesh, opening a wound I forgot hasn’t healed yet.

As though he can tell he hit a sensitive spot, he smirks. “Your two minutes are up.”

On these words he walks past me, letting the heavy obsidian door slam behind him.