The Key

Chapter 46

“Hot day,” Mira giggled. “I wanted to invite Gabriel to go to the beach, but this jerk has work.”

Gabriel was cleaning the counters and barked a laugh. “Hey, I’m trying my best here. Now that you’ve told me about the dumb road trip, I’ve gotta work extra time to pay for all the booze.”

“Speaking of booze,” Aaron interjected. “Wouldn’t it be illegal for us in America?”

“s**t, you’re right,” Gabriel groaned. “f**k, I forgot about that.”

Mira sighed and leaned against Deimos. The male made an annoyed face and Kalmin smiled at him. He noticed his grins and smirked back.

“Is anyone in our group twenty one?” Mira asked.

“f**k no,” Gabriel said pointedly.

“Are we gonna sneak booze into America?” She joked.

“Might as well,” Aaron shrugged. “Good memories am I right? f**k the patriarchy.”

She laughed. “I don’t wanna go to jail though.”

“It’ll be fine,” Gabriel waved it off.

While Mira and Gabriel bickered about being locked up in American prison, Aaron made Kalmin his usual drink and their top secret breakfast sandwich that consisted of a glazed donut, eggs, bacon, hash browns and copious amounts of syrup. One time Gabriel made it out of sheer desperation on his break and it’s become a hot item for the workers. Calmly, he ate it by the nearest table to the counter. Kalmin had no business in their “road trip” discussion and ate quietly. However, a few seconds afterwards, Deimos sat in front of him and sighed.

“I hope drinking isn’t the only thing they planned for the road trip,” he commented.

Kalmin chuckled. “Where are you guys going on this magical road trip?” He asked politely. He sipped his iced coffee and smiled as it wasn’t too bitter and wasn’t too sweet. Aaron knew exactly what he liked.

Deimos made a face at him. “You’re coming with us, dude.”

“Wait, what?”

“Has anyone told you yet?”

“No?”

“Oh.” He blinked. “Well, one of Mira’s roommates has a beach house over the border and she’s planning a huge week-long trip down there two weeks from now.”

Shocked, Kalmin blinked back at him. “Wait, and I’m invited?”

“Well, yeah. Gabriel is bringing Aaron and you’re his best friend. Raven wants to see you again too,” he said bluntly. “You’re hitching a ride with us.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” he stuttered. “I-I can’t I’ve got work.”

“Aaron said that he booked you off for that week.”

Hotly, he looked at Aaron, who coincidentally was snooping on their conversation the whole time. He smiled at him wickedly. That asshole has pulled stunts like this before. Midnight drives. Weekend-long road trips. Concert surprises.

However, what he didn’t expect was to be included in whatever road trip this was.

Mira sighed and flopped onto the cool living room floor. She stared out the open window, the sun’s colours turning her skin gold. She glanced over at her tanned boyfriend who was sitting in front of the fan absentmindedly sipping his usual caffeinated drink.

“Hey, Deimos?”

“Hm?”

“Y’know Kalmin?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you think he’s like, stupidly hot?”

He glanced over at her, eyes wide. The drinks they had just gotten were made by him.

“Good to know we’re on the same page,” he laughed.

Mira gasped and cracked a smile. “Wait, so you were thinking that too?”

“Yeah,” he said in a matter-of-fact. “Dude, he’s f*****g ripped.”

She burst out laughing. “Hockey boys are always so…gross but he’s like? Super nice to look at?”

Deimos laughed. (God, that beautiful laugh and smile was going to kill her) “Did we just find a mutual hobby?”

“I think we did!” She giggled.

Deimos laid on Mira’s porch with a popsicle in his mouth. He covered his eyes from the blinding sun with his forearm, lazily sucking the sweet treat. He heard the patter of feet and lifted his arm just in time as Raven slid the screen door open and walked into their little veranda.

“You look like you’re having fun,” she commented.

“So much fun,” he muttered. “I’m tanning.”

“You’re burning.”

“I’m fine.”

Raven smirked and slid into a chair beside him while he still laid on his back on the ground. The sun was nice against his skin, if he didn’t move it wasn’t that unbearable. “Where’s Mira?”

“She’s on a grocery run with Renee.”

“Really? She’d go get vegetables in the middle of painting?”

“Well, she was out of white paint so she made a compromise with Renee.”

Raven laughed. “Now that sounds like her.”

Deimos smiled.

“How are you two?”

“Hm?”

“You and Mira. Having any problems with that dork?”

“It’s been like a month and a half, we’re still in the honeymoon period.”

Raven chuckled. “The moment you guys became friends was your honeymoon period. What changed is that you kiss each other on the mouth now.”

“We’ll you’re not wrong.”

“So, having any problems?”

“No, everything’s good. Should I be concerned?”

“No.” Raven shook her head. “Mira can be a little crazy now and then, but you’ve got that s**t handled.”

“We’re all a little crazy now and then.”

“Touché.”

“You really like her?”

“Yeah.”

“Love her?”

Deimos felt blush creep across his cheeks. “Y-Yeah.”

“Have you told her that?”

He was silent.

“You totally did.”

“Is that wrong?” He muttered. “Am I going to fast?”

Raven smiled at him weakly and shrugged. “No, I think it’s cute.”

“But?” Deimos has hung out with Raven enough to understand her quirks as well.

She shook her head. “Be patient with one another.”

“That sounds super foreboding.”

“I didn’t mean it to be,” she groaned. She scratched her head nervously. “Anyway, whatever happens, I’ve got your back. You can talk to me if you ever need any help.”

“Thanks, dude.”

“You’re welcome, bro.”

“Always, bro.”

They smiled at each other and snickered.

“Do you wanna get some sweet-ass drinks at the café down the street?” Raven asked calmly. “I’m craving an iced caramel macchiato.”

“Is Gabriel working?”

“No idea. I think Kalmin is though.”

Deimos sat up, dizzy for a second, and ate the rest of his popsicle.

“Kalmin, huh,” Deimos muttered. He remembered his little comedic conversation with Mira about him. A smile stretched across his face. It was nice being out. It was nice having a queer girlfriend. They both could admire both sexes, and people out and in between. They could bond over the cute girl in the bookstore or the hot guy across the street. There was just another sense of familiarity that made him all grossly happy inside.

“Aaron’s friend. The cute mixed barista.”

“He’s pretty quiet,” he commented. And pretty.

“Reminds me of someone half a year ago.” Hotly, Deimos glared at Raven. She smiled. “Hey, I’m not wrong.”

“Don’t need to point it out.”

She laughed and followed him into the house. Quickly, they gathered their money and flip flops, and headed out into the hot summer heat with simmering sidewalks and dead air. Raven was good company to have around, Deimos could see why Mira had a crush on her for such a long time.

The ten minute walk through the blistering heat ended with the glorious rush of an ice-cold air conditioned breeze and the rush of roasted coffee beans. With a jingle, Deimos and Raven entered the quiet golden café and looked to the counter to see the usual lip-pierced barista chatting happily with a group of old ladies near the counter and Kalmin who was grinding said roasted glorious-smelling beans. From the jingle of the bells above the door, he automatically looked up from the machine and met Deimos’ stare. His bronze eyes looked golden in this dark light, popping brilliantly against his bronze skin. He blinked, his curly black hair falling down his face.

God, he was definitely not going to tell Raven how beautiful this man was.

“Hey,” he said with a dimpled smile.

“Hey,” Deimos said bluntly back.

“The usual?”

Deimos nodded. Raven smiled. “Have we seriously been here that many times to just know our order?”

Kalmin chuckled shyly. “Yeah, you have. You guys come here like four times a week- all of us know your orders.”

“What about, just out of spite, I get something different?” Deimos joked.

“Sure,” he laughed. He bit his lip.

“What would you recommend that would suit my taste?”

“Can I surprise you?” He teased.

Deimos laughed. “Try me.”

“Good thing we have free health care in Canada,” Raven commented.

While Kalmin worked, Deimos and Raven chatted with him. It was kind of hypnotizing watching him work. There was this looseness and grace to him that almost seemed like he was dancing. He poured milk and espresso so smoothly and seamlessly. He delicately dabbed at the foam. He drizzled chocolate in intricate patterns. Then the drink was in his hands.

It tasted incredible. Caramel and chocolate in an ice cold drink with the bitterness of espresso to balance the creamy sweetness out. “Holy f**k,” he blurted out loud. “This is glorious.”

Kalmin was beaming at him. Like, literally beaming, it seemed like the sun brightened with that damn smile. He bit his lip shyly. “Secret menu item. The Caramilk Iced Coffee.” Raven stole a sip and sunk into the ground.

“Jesus Christ, that’s really good,” she gasped.

Kalmin leaned against the counter, laughing. “Thanks.”

“Oh my god, you know what I just realized?” Raven said quickly.

“What?” Kalmin and Deimos said in unison. For a moment, they paused, stared at each other, grinned, and fist bumped.

“We’ve got three baristas coming with us to America, which means for a week straight we’ve got beautiful boys making us coffee every morning for free,” she cried. “I’m so blessed.”

“Well, for free is stretching it,” Kalmin said sarcastically.

“Dude, I’m paying for most of the booze and food,” she pointed out, sassing him immediately.

Kalmin shrugged. “I don’t know, labor costs,” he sneered.

“Our unconditional love?” Raven suggested.

“Which is unsolicited cuddles and compliments,” Deimos added. “Well, not from me, but the girls.”

He burst out laughing. What a f*****g smile. What a f*****g laugh this jerk has a cute laugh-

“I’ll take it.” He bit his lip hard and smirked at them. “Talking about the road trip, it’s coming quick isn’t it?”

“Yep, three more days,” Raven hummed. “Hey, when are you done work for today?”

Kalmin blinked and looked at the time. “Half an hour, and I’m free.”

“You wanna come over for dinner?” She suggested happily. “You’ll get to know the animals you’re going to be housed up with for the week.”

He shrugged. “Sure, if you’ll take me,” he laughed. “Any of them I should be wary of?”

Raven smirked and exchanged looks with Deimos.

Mira had just finished cleaning her brushes in the sink when Deimos came home. She popped out of the washroom and padded through the halls to the entrance place, listening to the soft murmur and shuffling. Surprisingly, Kalmin was with them, tall and handsome, smiling at a stupid pun Deimos made. He had dimples and that was kind of adorable. Deimos locked eyes with Mira and both of them grinned at each other. It’s been a few coffee shop dates later since they joked about both being incredibly attracted to this hockey-playing barista, and both established a sort of look when Kalmin did something cute. Exhibit A: being in their house.

Raven kicked off her flip flops first and gave Mira a thumbs up.

“Kalmin can cook,” she whispered excitedly. “Where’s Renee?”

It was nice to know Raven agreed with her. “Organizing groceries with Annie,” Mira replied. Suddenly arms were around her waist and Deimos kissed the top of her head.

“Hey,” he greeted with a pink iced tea.

Mira took it from him and greeted back softly. Kalmin followed Deimos in, his eyes darting from one spot to the next. Mira couldn’t really blame him, their house was a house of artists and that brought a lot of…creativity. Patterned blankets, paintings and drawings were pinned to the walls. Gems and rocks were crammed in every corner imaginable. Handmade pillows and blankets piled up on couches and chairs. Movies and books were stacked high on shelves. And on every table was a work in progress, be it a new knitted scarf, a painting, a notebook for new stories, or a new craft project.

“I know, our house is a hot mess,” Mira laughed as they walked into the living room. All three of them flopped onto the couch covered in blankets and pillows. Kalmin sat beside her and he smelled like coffee.

“No, it’s kind of cool. To be honest, it’s pretty clean to what I’m used to,” he laughed, rubbing his neck.

“Frat houses?” Deimos joked. Kalmin glanced over at him and elbowed him playfully. They snickered at each other.

“Well, you’re not wrong.” He shrugged. “Hockey players are disgusting. The moment my exams were done, I moved back with my parents.”

“Pft, what are parents,” Mira muttered softly. Deimos smirked. “So, what’s the grossest thing you’ve witnessed over at your little hockey house?”

Kalmin sighed and settled in. “Let’s make this completely clear, hockey players are disgusting,” he began. “I’ve seen a decent amount of trash piles and puke, but the most disgusting thing ever is the stench of a player’s gear after a game rotting in a corner.”

“Gross!” Mira crinkled her nose.

“And multiply that by twenty,” Kalmin finished. Mira and Deimos physically recoiled and gagged. Kalmin laughed at them, his smile bright and sparkly. “I’ll deal with my parents, at least they can clean up after themselves.”

“Dude, if you ever need a place to get away, hit me up,” Mira said seriously.

“I might actually take you up on that offer.” He bit his lip.

“And do!” Mira patted his arm. (He was ripped)

“They leave their house unlocked all the time, you seriously can come over anytime you want,” Deimos added. Kalmin laughed again, and Mira and Deimos exchanged looks. Truthfully, Mira was actually surprised how friendly and outgoing Deimos was being. It was nice.

“Hey ladies,” Raven suddenly interrupted. She sat on the armrest near Deimos.

Deimos made a face. “There’s only one lady here.”

Raven didn’t even skip a beat. “Hey ladies,” she repeated bluntly. “So how are you feeling about burgers and fries for tonight?”

“Sure,” Mira replied. Deimos and Kalmin nodded.

“Do you need any help?” Kalmin offered.

“What a gentleman,” Mira commented.

“No, Renee, Annie and I have it under control.” Raven paused and then grinned brightly. “But, I was thinking about making cookies tonight?”

“Just call me and I’ll be there,” Kalmin chuckled.

“What a gentleman,” Mira emphasized.

“I feel attacked,” Deimos muttered.

Kalmin giggled.

After Raven went back to cooking in the kitchen, Mira and Deimos took turns getting to know Kalmin. Apparently he was a year ahead of them and majored in Human Kinetics. Also apparently he lived pretty close, a ten-minute-walk-kind of close. Mira and Kalmin ended up chatting about high school and Deimos wandered into the kitchen to help the others. Eventually it got too loud to chat peacefully with Raven’s choice of loud music blasting as she cooked, so instead Mira showed Kalmin around the house. He marveled at the many homemade decorations on the walls and the passive aggressive sticky notes Annie likes to tack on anywhere available. They made it to Mira’s room and he took his time looking around the various artworks she’s accumulated throughout the year. Her room was decently clean today (thank god), with only a few books towering on her desk and blankets unmade on her bed. There was the obvious disaster zone in one corner of her room consisting of paintings and drawings in progress, and Kalmin politely tip toed around them to look. Thankfully it was pretty safe for work- just a few still life paintings and portrait sketches of Rika and Micheal.

“You’re so talented,” Kalmin muttered. Mira laughed and shrugged.

“I’m not the best with realism.”

“I’d disagree.” He shook his head and gestured to them as if that was the answer. Mira smiled shyly. “To be honest, the athletic kids, or at least my team, thought you Visual Art students only came to university for fun, not for anything serious. But... I can’t agree with them now.”

Mira tipped her head to the side. “Well, the Visual Arts kids are the smallest department at the campus, so I’m not surprised.” Kalmin looked down nervously as if he had offended her. Mira chuckled and hip bumped him. “And hey, the athletic kids are kind of notorious for being the craziest partiers.”

“Accurate,” he commented. “Well, for the exception of me.”

“Don’t like parties?”

He shook his head. “Not really. Everything…gets out of hand and I always end up taking care of my teammates instead of having fun.”

“I don’t mind parties that much, but I can sympathize,” Mira murmured. “What do you enjoy more? Movie night? Game night?”

Kalmin bit his lip and smiled. “Game night,” he said coyly. “Not the sports, but video games.”

“Deimos and you will get along well,” Mira laughed. “We started playing Abzu. Well, he did, I just watch and cry about the game design.”

He smiled brightly. “You guys got Abzu? I just bought it recently.” For the first time, Mira saw him genuinely excited. His smile was addicting and it just made hers even wider. “Have you played Journey?”

She shook her head. “Not yet for me. Deimos has already and he’s planning to go buy another controller for me because the game is co-op.”

“Hey, if you want, you can borrow mine. I’ve got three decent controllers,” he suggested happily.

“That’d be amazing,” Mira laughed. “Thanks, dude.”

They snickered. The night seemed to go smoother after that.

Kalmin was a sweet dude. He was so positive and polite and pretty to look at. Positive, polite and pretty, he was the Ultimate Triple P of Perfection. He was easy to talk to and gentle with whatever Mira gave him. Her artworks, her books, her CDs, he took them as if they were made of glass. Conversation flowed smoothly and seamlessly, the time slipping past them as Mira chatted happily about her dumb high school photos, and Kalmin showing his on f*******:, which prompted them to send and accept friend requests of each other. Deimos came in to notify that the food was almost ready and when Mira turned back around, Kalmin had poked around to her little shelf shoved in the corner littered with anime movies, shows and merchandise. When she was younger, it would have been flaunted everywhere, but after she moved into her new home, she forgot about “flaunting” her expensive goods.

“You like anime?” Kalmin asked, shocked.

Mira’s cheeks burned. “M-Maybe,” she stuttered. Did she f**k up? Was this the end?

Kalmin burst out laughing. “That’s awesome,” he snickered. Mira’s jitters were washed away with the warmth of this stupid hockey-playing barista’s smile.

She found herself smiling once again. “Anime’s trash.”

Kalmin bit his lip. “Anime is definitely trash.”

“First anime?”

“Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z.”

Mira grinned brightly at him and held out her fist. Kalmin calmly bumped it and leaned against her shoulder.

“Started out young too, huh,” she commented. “Those are rare.”

“Ah yes, the rare weeboo,” he joked.

Mira’s laugh was cute. Her smile was cute. Her clothes were cute and her room was cute and her house was cute. She didn’t seem real. This didn’t seem real. Sitting in some girl’s bed, sitting in some girl’s room that smelled of vanilla and coconut, beside some cute girl who giggled at his stupid jokes and looked at him so brightly. Mira had a small personal bubble and was very touchy with people. Kalmin noticed that the first time he really saw her (he’s seen her many times before). She was very intimate with people. Hand holding. Soft touches. Hugs. Kisses. She communicated her affection not through words but through actions. Kalmin knew because he was the same, but also not the same. Mira wasn’t afraid of hugging or even kissing people. Kalmin was. It was a mixture of being confused of his sexuality and romantic attraction for half his life. Hugs seemed to only be shared between loved ones. But as a brat, he thought just his partner. His romantic partner. He knows now he shouldn’t be afraid to hug someone now, but the physical reaction is still there.

Is this too much? Will he or she think that I’m hitting on them? Is this hug completely platonic? Are hugs romantic? Am I allowed to show this amount of affection?

The thoughts come as well. Kisses are a whole different ballpark. His paranoia is irrational, he knows that now. Physical displays of attraction are for anyone you like romantically, sexually or platonically.

Mira understands that. Kalmin does too, but he’s still hesitant. Hesitant to completely relax when Mira puts her hand on his thigh or stares to long into his eyes. She’s dating Deimos.

She’s dating Deimos.

The thought haunts him to think he likes a taken lady. Nothing comes good with that. Nothing. Deimos is lucky. Mira is lucky.

God, being bisexual f*****g sucks.

Deimos was hot too. Hot in the way he pushes his hair back, hot in the way he wears leather jackets, hot in the way he drives a truck. He spoke softly and deep, but the way he communicated was through stares. His eyes were intense. The way Deimos communicated his affection was not through physical affection nor vocally, but through stares. Most of his team said he was pretty expressionless (and kind of a d**k) but, the more Kalmin looked, the more he realized how expressive Deimos was with his eyes. His nice, thick eyebrows help as well. His eyebrows knot up when he’s frustrated, they relax when he’s not paying attention. His eyes sparkle when he likes something (like Mira or coffee) and they click from left to right when he stressed out. God, the stare he gives Mira when they’re together. Kalmin wonders what his bedroom eyes are.

But, Deimos is also taken. By an adorable anime-loving artist.

“So.” Mira had slipped her hand on his thigh again. He tensed up, but she didn’t notice. “Studio Ghibli?”

He grinned. “Studio Ghibli?”

“Favourites?”

Dramatically, he sighed. “You’re making me choose?”

She shrugged.

“I don’t think that’s possible for me- I could tell you my least favourite?”

“Is it Porco Rosso?”

She’s incredible. “It’s Porco Rosso and Tales from Earthsea.”

“I knew it,” she laughed. “They’re still outstanding films.”

“Of course they are,” he replied. “Are there any other outstanding anime films you like?”

Mira sneered. “Are you testing me?”

“You’re just digging yourself a grave knowing too much anime.”

She snickered and elbowed him lightly. “Whatever big shot,” she muttered. “I do like some of the classics like Paprika, Akira and Ghost in the Shell.”

Classics. God, she was getting cuter by the second. And also more and more like friend material. (Because she was taken, Kalmin pull it together.) “Have you checked out any of Studio Chizu’s work?”

“f**k yeah I have,” Mira said proudly. This time, Kalmin held out a fist and she bumped it happily. “All of them of course.”

“Only way to watch them.”

“Of course. Any favourite shows?”

She hummed and stared up at the ceiling. “Cowboy Bebop, Eden of the East, No. 6, One Punch Man, Samurai Champloo, Haibane Renmei, Mob Psycho 100, etcetera. You?”

God, she was perfect. It was stupid how perfect she was.

“You kind of named them all,” he laughed. “But what about…Soul Eater, Fruits Basket, Hunter x Hunter, Ouran High School Host Club, Monster, Death Parade and Kids on the Slope?”

There was this sparkle in her eye that excited Kalmin. “What about Haikyuu, Katanagatari, Psycho Pass, Zankyou no Terror, Your Lie in April, Gankutsuou and Kuragehime?”

Instantly after, Kalmin added another five animes to the list. In return, Mira added six more. They bounced off each other, adding more and more animes they’ve watched throughout their lifetimes. It was…electrifying. Stupidly electrifying because they were talking about anime and anime was for nerds. But it was a constant presence in his life that shaped him to be him. And it was exciting to meet someone else who also shared the same experience. The more they talked, the more Mira seemed to be a long lost friend. Someone who cried at the same moments that he did, someone who laughed at the same moments he did and someone who screamed in joy at the same moments he did. And when they did have a differing opinion on an anime, she was understanding and respected his opinion. (But thankfully, they both agreed One Piece was the best out of the “Big Three.”) Mira even trusted him enough to lend some of her anime DVDs to him on shows he hasn’t watched yet like Heroic Age and AnoHana.

When Deimos finally called them over to tell them that dinner was ready, they were gushing about the animation in One Punch Man.

“What did I walk into,” Deimos commented.

Kalmin choked up on his words and clicked to the door. Mira and Kalmin were holding hands, both of them grinning brightly and leaning into each other. They probably looked like they were flirting, even though they were complete dorks obsessing over the last episode of an anime. Mira glanced at Kalmin and he immediately dropped their hands, his face flushing red.

“U-Um,” he stuttered. He didn’t know what to say.

“Kalmin said that he’ll lend us some of his controllers when we play Journey,” Mira said happily. Her hand slipped to his back and patted gently. She smiled at him.

God, she knew how to calm his nerves.

Deimos’ intense stare softened and he blinked. “Wait, really?”