Jun

2-1

J.A. Malec

2The following weeks turned out to be a real ordeal. You can imagine how difficult it is to take a shower when you have only one able arm, one able leg and bloody painful ribs. I'm glad Eve helped me, because otherwise I would smell for at least two weeks until my ribs allow me to bend down low enough to reach my feet. Try to take a shower with one leg outside the shower base, and with one hand lifted up to avoid wetting the plaster. Even a gymnast would give up. All right, enough of that self-pity.

Apart from the general crisis, there were also some interesting moments. My birthday for example. My hopes that Eve has forgotten about it, proved to be futile. She always remembers such occasions. It all started innocently, but ended on a naughty and painful note.

Eve ruled the kitchen, when suddenly I heard her scream. She was lamenting that she dropped her earring into the sink. She made such noise as if she dropped a fifty-carat diamond. We called on a plumber, well she did. There came the three of them. Each one looked like a model from the cover of a magazine, well, maybe except for their work clothes. And at that very moment, I started getting suspicious. The gaffer of the group introduced his apprentices, and asked if they can also come in to watch him work and learn. They all walked in. They wandered about for a while, knocked on some pipes and just when I was about to ask them when they were going to set to work and look for the earring, the music started to play, and they looked at me with devilish smiles on their faces. Chippendales! I knew something was fishy here.

Suddenly, a bunch of my friends stormed the kitchen and screamed: happy birthday Jun! They started giving me hugs (it hurt and that's why I'm going to kill Eve). They ushered me to an armchair, so I could sit down comfortably and watch the show. To my surprise it turned out that two of the dancers were actual apprentices, because they were kind of clumsy. One of them got caught in his trousers which were unclasped on the sides, and fell flat on his back. You couldn't help yourself but laugh...and I couldn't. Another one came up to me to give me a lap dance, but soon lost the inspiration for his moves and simply got up and walked away. Their teacher did a good job, maybe except for the fact that he kept eying Eve who, in turn, kept sending him reprimanding looks.

After the show the boys were getting ready to go, and I was begging for a painkiller. My ribs were compromised, as I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Everyone scattered upon seeing my pained face. Eve apologized for the hundredth time, and I, to be honest, had never had so much fun at my birthday party before. However, I had to pay my dues – I spent the whole next day sleeping.

Another day, Eve dragged me to a caff saying: “ You'll put down your roots here, and I'll have to bring a bulldozer over to pull you out”. Of course I was outraged as usual, and I hurled a bunch of insults at her, calling her all possible names that are used for loose girls, but she only kept on laughing while staring at me. Eve is out of her mind.

But well, being outraged didn't pay off. Instead of leaving, she dragged me to a caff. It was nice until the man who “fell” on me walked in. I was praying to God that he wouldn't notice us, but I could always count on my gal pal, couldn't I?

“ Oh, hi the man who has fallen, what are you doing here?” She got sarcastic.

What have I done to deserve it? At this moment I just felt like hiding under the table.

He noticed Eve and smiled at her. Now I know what the hospital sheets were concealing. The view was priceless. 6.5 foot worth of pure muscles in a T-shirt and jeans. He looked delicious with his slightly long blond hair and blue eyes. He looked like a desirable surfer. I looked around only to see that all women are drooling at his sight.

“ Hello ladies. It's nice to see you. Finally some familiar faces. How are you feeling? I can see you're still in a cast, how long is it going to be?” He looked remorseful.

“ Hello, something like two or two and a half weeks”.

“ I really roughed you up, didn't I? My sincere apologies. Will you let me buy you and your friend coffee?”

Oh dear, here he goes.

“ Actually, we...”

“ ...would love to have some” Eve interrupted before I had a chance to say anything.

“ What's your favourite flavour?” Goodness me.

“ I'd like a latte, please and Jun doesn't drink coffee, so she can have green tea.”

“ Yes, please”. I sighed.

The man left to place an order.

“ What the hell do you think you are doing?!” I quietly growled at Eve.

“ I'm fixing you up with quite a hottie.”

“ Don't you dare. You're not being serious.”

“ Right, and that's why I still remember what s*x is.”

“ Hey missy...” I hissed through my teeth, but finishing the sentence just wasn't in my cards.

“ I'm back. Here's your coffee and here's your tea Jun.”

“ Thank you.”

“ Maybe you could reveal your name stranger, or should we keep calling you the fallen one?” Eve said.

Surprisingly, he lost his cool, as if Eve said something upsetting. What is that man hiding? Stop! Don't pay attention to him. Guys like him are nothing but trouble.

“ My name is Ariel” He introduced himself with a serious tone of voice.

Eve snorted, splattering coffee on the table. Really, what have I done to deserve it?

“ You have a name like a Little Mermaid? Eve started laughing until she saw the expression on my face.

“ It's also a man's name” I explained to Eve, what automatically cheered up our guest.

“ I'm Jun, and the one who has been spat on is Eve. Don't mind her, she is out of control. It's the way she was born.”

“Huh, thank you” He whispered.

“ Where are you from, Ariel?”

“ From far away.” He said quietly.

He caught my interest. I was wondering what he was hiding. He didn't look like a thug, as he didn't have any visible tattoos which could be a sign that he is a gang member. He was polite, he was clean, and he smelled well. His clothes were ironed. They might not have been designer clothes, but they were made of quality material. My curiosity usually got me into trouble, so I decided to let go.

“ Are you here on business or are you visiting someone? Or maybe you are here by accident?” Eve kept inquiring.

“ It's probably the latter one.” He replied with a strange expression on his face.

“ Take it easy, ninety percent of us visit this place just for a while.” I smiled politely, what helped him relax for a moment.

We spend an hour talking about everything and nothing. Three teas later I decided to leave. I was tired and also knew that Eve has a date, and getting ready for it always takes her a few hours.

“ Eve, it's time to go. Should I remind you that you have a date tonight?” With a panicky look on her face, Eve looked at her watch.

“ Oh, no, no, no! I won't have time to get ready!” She yelled in horror.

She had over four hours left till her date, and because she was beautiful and naturally ginger, she really didn't have to do much. She was medium hight and slim, and all her necessary curves were in place.

Men adored her for her gentle and innocent look. Each of them wanted to defend her and protect her. They got frisky with her, but I wasn't envious because most of the time she ended up at my place, having a girls' night with lots of ice cream, white wine and tissues. Watching my friend broken hearted wasn't easy, so I wasn't very excited about those nights. And unfortunately, those nights took place at least once a week.

“ So, maybe I will take Jun home and you would go and get ready for your date?” asked Ariel.

“ Seriously? You could do it for me? You're amazing, thank you! Bye Jun, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll drop by to share some spicy details with you”. She took off as if she were chased by a pack of wild dogs. My jaw dropped and I didn't know what to say.

“ I...uhm...will be fine, no worries.” I stuttered out.

“ I insist. You've suffered enough because of me. So it's time for me to show my gratitude.” He said smiling.

“ O.K., where's your car?”

He answered with a strange look on his face:

“ Well, I don't have a car, but I'm good at flagging a taxi.” He smiled again with his electrifying smile.

“ It's my treat, of course.”

I looked at him as if he was crazy and then I burst into laughter. He felt relaxed, and started laughing along with me. He helped me get up and we left the caff. As he promised, he managed to quickly flag a taxi. We saw me off to my place and I invited him for coffee. He refused, but offered that he would drop by the next day, and would check up on me.

We said good byes.

The next day, he showed up around noon and brought green tea and a delicious chocolate muffin. We spent half a day together, talking about nothing.

For the following two weeks, he was coming to visit every two or three days, but there was no chemistry between us. Too bad because he's quite a hunk, but you have to like what you've got, so we became friends.

When the time came to remove the cast, he took me to the hospital and stayed with me until they were done. But then, something happened, and he started to be nervous and quiet.

“ Ariel, what's going on?”

“ Hmm? Nothing, what is supposed to be going on?”

“ Stop fooling me, I can see that something's wrong. If your fingers weren't sore, you would start biting them.” He looked at his fingers and made a wry face.

“ Common, chew the rag right now!”

“ Hmm...'cause I...I don't know...”

“Spit it out already!”

“ Jun, would you mind if I asked Eve out?”

“ Yes.”

He frowned.

“ Yes, if your intention is to hurt her.”

“ Me?! Never, I swear!”

“ Well, don't be so sure. I know you well, so please, bear in mind, that I'll get even with you if you do. ”

“ I can swear on anything that I'll be a good boy!” He said, saluting like a soldier.

“ Oh, no, no worries, if you're good, I will have to console you! You have to find the golden mean because women like to have a little bit of something in bed.”

His face turned red.

“ But I...I mean yes...but not right away...” He started stuttering.

“ Relax, don't fret, I saw how the two of you were exchanging glimpses secretly.” His smile swept me off my feet.

“ Did she look at me the same way?”

“ Oh, please.” I started laughing. “Sometimes I wonder if you are still a teenager.

“ I am, Precious. And that's why women love me.” He said smiling broadly.

“ Well, maybe it's time you dated only one woman?” I reckoned.

“ Yes, madam. I swear.”

He started laughing, and then he took me home, by taxi of course.

We got off in front of my place, and almost immediately I started to have this eerie feeling. I stopped in front of my door and hesitated to open it. Ariel came up to me.

“ What's going on?”

“ No, nothing, I just have a feeling that something is not right.”

He frowned and immersed in his thoughts. Before he managed to respond, I opened the door and went inside. Everything was fine. I walked around the entire house, and didn't find anything suspicious except for the usual clatter.

“ I think everything is O.K.” I said.

“ Yes, I think you're ri...” He turned to me and froze, looking over my shoulder.

A moment later I was pinned to the wall by a pair of invisible hands.

“ Whoa, whoa, whoa! She's not an enemy, leave her alone!” Said Ariel to that 'something'.

With my eyes wide open and my jaw dropped, I watched Ariel talk to the air. My eyes went even wider when a huge man materialized in front of me. I dangled two feet above the floor and was looking him in the eye. Mr. Muscles, with eyes and face features similar to Ariel's. I gathered that it must be his relative, but I didn't say anything because I was speechless. Of course, when I finally regained my speech, I had to blurt out something stupid.