Business and Innocence
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Bob and Sam were sitting side by side in the room of this inn. Their shoulders touched each other from behind.
The room was a double-deck type, so there was enough space between them to make it feel like they had their own private rooms. In front of them, on the desk, were two bottles of water. One bottle was cold while the other one was warm, but both tasted good. This was probably how Sam felt when she drank tea. She looked down at the water before her.
“It’s delicious…”
Sam said this as if surprised that something could taste good after drinking all day. Bob nodded in agreement. He took out a cup and poured some into it, adding honey and lemon to his drink. It seemed he liked sweets quite a bit too.
“…So, where were we?”
He smiled, looking up from the table.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” he apologized again, “You must have been worried.”
“Well… I don’t know exactly what you think happened back there, but… I guess we did get pretty close…”
She paused for a moment, then continued speaking with a slightly embarrassed expression. “But that’s not what happened! We only kissed!”
“Hmm, so that’s how it is?”
“Yes! That’s what it is!!”
After a few seconds of silence, Bob spoke once more. “…I see.”
This time, it was Sam who replied. “What do you mean by ‘I see’? What does that mean?! You’re the one who started it by coming to my room!! And then you just pushed me against the wall and pulled my body against yours, making me scream out in pain and fear!!”
“That’s exactly what happened.”
“Why? Why would you do something like that?!”
“Because I wanted to, of course.”
“Huh?! What are you saying?! Of course, it hurt!”
“I thought it might feel nice… But apparently, it didn’t.”
“Then why?! What about me made you want to do that?! Is it because I look weak?”
“No, not at all. I’d say you look quite strong and manly, actually.”
“Then what about what happened earlier?! Don’t try to tell me it doesn’t count!”
“…I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
“You don’t even know what I’m talking about!”
Her voice grew louder than usual, but no matter how loud it got, he remained silent. The anger inside her slowly began to fade away.
“Uhh… I guess I’ve really messed things up, haven’t I…?” she mumbled with tears in her eyes. “I should never have let myself fall in love with someone so young… I always knew that I was being played for a fool… I just didn’t know that person could be me…”
She sat there for a long time in silence, her shoulders shaking with grief. At last, she lifted her face, still filled with sadness, and stared straight into his eyes. Then, she spoke in a quiet voice.
“I’m so sorry…”
His response was simple: “It’s okay.”
After hearing his words, she closed her eyes tightly. For a long while, she stayed like that. Eventually, she opened her eyes again. Bob had returned to staring at the water in front of him. After several seconds of silence passed, Sam asked him a question.
“How old are you anyway?”
“I’m thirty-one years old,” Bob answered, still avoiding looking at her.
“Thirt-one… That means you’re an adult now, right…?”
“Correct.”
“An adult… Well… I guess you can’t blame yourself for what happened back there.”
“Thank you.”
For the first time since the two had met, they finally exchanged smiles. But soon their conversation turned into something else entirely.
“By the way, you mentioned a ‘friend’. Who’s your friend? I’m guessing there’s more than one person involved, right? Maybe a whole group of friends?”
“You mean my wife?”
“M-m-my… Wife…?”
“Yes. My wife.”
“Wife…?”
“My wife is a girl named Aya, whom I’ve been dating for over two years.”
“Two years…”
“Yes. And we plan to get married next summer.”
Sam stared at him with a confused expression. “Your wife…?”
“Yes, my wife.”
The End