บท 27: The Story of Them
THE STORY OF THEM
The usually busy streets were rather empty as noise of olden cars filled the air. Jared and Emma stopped by a coffee shops and bought two to go. Sun had slowly begun rising on the horizon, casting its golden sheen over the building tops and paved avenues in-between. Emma glanced warmly at Jared as she smiled.
"… thanks." she muttered.
"For what?" Jared asked.
"I don't think many boyfriends would be fine with their girlfriend practically confessing to having liked another guy." Emma said. "I don't know if that makes you dumb… or understanding."
"Hah," Jared chuckled for a moment. "It's not as though I'd be fine with you telling some guys I don't know that. But it's Ty. It'd be weirder if you liked me instead of him first."
"You really should have told me Aya was listening, though," Emma grunted, jabbing him gently. "I actually quite like the girl. I don't want her to hate me."
"Well, if she starts hating you over something so dumb, I'll just ask Ty to break up with her."
"That's cruel."
"Eh, he's a big boy. Anyway, how'd it feel to get it off your chest?" he asked.
"… I don't know." Emma said in a low voice. "I never actually planned on telling him, but now that I have… I can't quite remember what was so scary about it."
"… eh, it is scary," Jared said. "I've lived with that same fear for quite some time."
"… yeaah, sorry about that."
"Ha ha, it was worth it though. That idiot has no clue what he's missed." Jared laughed for a moment as he glanced down at her. "Did it hurt?"
"Hm?"
"Learning that he never liked you back, I mean."
"… ah, yeah, it stung a bit," Emma said, smiling lightly. "Even though I told him I don't regret it, a part of me does. But, it's all in the past. What matters is today and tomorrow, not yesterday."
"And where'd you read that one?"
"Asshole! That's Emma-original!"
"I have a hard time believing that."
"… it was on some self-help pamphlet that I picked up." Emma said.
"Figures," Jared chuckled. "Wanna grab some breakfast?"
"Sure. What do you have in mind?"
"Pizza?"
"… we had pizza yesterday." Emma said.
"Chinese?"
"How about we get some pancakes"
"… that's not breakfast." Jared said.
"Says who?"
"Anyone who actually wants to be full after a meal?"
"Don't worry, I'll fill the empty space with my love."
"Aww, that's sweet," Jared said. "But I'd rather get an actual meal."
"… ouch."
"Sorry babe, these muscles don't stay flexed because of your love."
"Well, one does at least."
"Yeah, he really does."
"Let's grab meat pie, then." Emma suggested.
"Meat pie it is." Jared nodded. "Oh, right, I've been meaning to ask you something for awhile, and I suppose now's as good a time as any. When did you start liking him anyway? I only noticed as we were nearing graduation."
"… hmm… when…" Emma said, looking up as she dove into her memories. "I can't quite say myself, actually. Ah, do you remember when we first enrolled in high-school? When Sarah and the girls started making fun of me, 'cause, you know, I had no boobs?"
"Ah, yeah. Those were the days. Wait, you mean when Ty socked one of them so hard he broke some of her teeth?"
"Yeah, ha ha," the two began laughing, drawing gazes of the nearby crowd. "I still can't believe he did it. And, then, in front of the whole class, he yelled 'Don't brag about your tits when your cunt stinks of dicks'. Ha ha, oh my god… that was…"
"Ha ha, yeah, I remember," Jared said. "He got some real heat for it back then. However, he never did back down, despite the fact he'd turn beet-red whenever someone mentioned it."
"… yeah," Emma said. "I suppose that was when I realized that I liked him."
"Yeah, it would have been harder not to." Jared said, taking a deep breath as he forced back the laughter. "I may sound like an asshole, but I'm glad he never liked you."
"I'm glad too," Emma said as she tightened her hold on his hand. "Thanks… for waiting."
"How many times is that that you've thanked me?" Jared said. "A hundredth?"
"Something like that."
"It's starting to wear thin," he said, smiling. "I didn't wait for you, Em. I waited for an opportunity to take you for myself."
"… yeah," she said. "So I don't have to play along with your weird sex fantasies due to all the guilt anymore, right?"
"On second thought, I waited for you for so long, right?" Jared said as Emma burst out in laughter. "I mean, poor lad, sinking in rain, watching the love of his life love another. My poor heart!"
"… love of your life, huh? That's quite a claim. What if you meet even more perfect girl tomorrow, huh?"
"I suppose I'll have to make a deal with the devil then, to live two lives. One for each of you."
"Aah, never-dying romantic, huh?" Emma mumbled as they took the corner. "Damn, that reminds me of the first time we had sex. That was beautiful. What the fuck happened to Jared who went as far as to get self-warming mattress so I don't get cold? Scented candles? Sweet music? Now, it's just 'honey, I'm hom—I mean horny!'."
"Well, I always intend to say 'home', but then I see you and I can't help myself. You're just that hot."
"Oh, am I now?"
"Of course! Though, you'd be even hotter if you wore that suit I bought you."
"Yeah, honey, that's not gonna happen." Emma said plainly. "I'd rather have a threesome with another girl."
"… I never proposed that, though."
"And that's why we're still together."
"Wow, I didn't know the expectations were that low. And here I was, working my butt off."
"And the results are great. Your butt is amazing." Emma said as she playfully pinched it, smiling.
"All for the lovely lady."
"And the lady is flattered," Emma said. "Uh, awkward conversation warning."
"Dully noted."
"Have you thought about it? I mean, what to do after college?" Emma asked.
"… well, I have thought about it, but I'm honestly clueless," Jared said, scratching his head. "I do want to try my chances here, though, before going back home. You?"
"… yeah, I'd like to give it a go too." Emma said, smiling. "Who knows? Maybe one of us hits it big and we become millionaires!"
"Aah, that optimism of yours is really cute."
"Won you over yet?"
"Nope."
"How mean."
"Mean is my middle name!"
"We're not in an action movie, you know that, right?" Emma said.
"… uh, mean is the result of years of self-loathing and depression due to childhood trauma?"
"… yeah, I better feed you. You start saying stupid shit when you're hungry."
"… like, 'Aah Em, I love you so much!'?" Jared said, smiling.
"… y-yeah," she said, smiling back. "Really dumb, right?"
"Eh, I was never the brightest bulb."
"Neither was I," she held him back for a moment as she tiptoed up and kissed him. "Love you too."
"… wow, love really does fill up a stomach, huh?"
"Told ya'! And you doubt my wisdom? Hah!"
"I still want that meat pie, though."
"You'll get your damn meat pie," Emma said, slapping him gently. "Don't ruin our moment."
"The best moments are yet to come, so it's fine if I ruin one or two."
"… yeah, I guess it is. Ah, dad asked me to visit this weekend. Wanna come with?"
"Finally planning on telling him that you chose me instead of Ty?"
"… maybe…"
"I'll be there to intimidate him properly."
"Good boyfriend."
"Amazing boyfriend, please."
"Amazing boyfriend, indeed…"
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