AURORA

XXIV

JANUARY 2020

THE MODERN WORLD

AZEALA LAQUI

-

We sat outside the coffee shop. The air was bright and warm but still cold enough that people were covered in coats. I shivered slightly as my hand touched the polystyrene cup of the coffee in front of me.

"So," I asked sipping the coffee, it was warm and right now so much better than a beer, "What do you do."

"I was a businessman," he said after a long time, "But now, well you could say, I'm unemployed."

"What happenned to your business," I asked.

"When you said, you had killed the girl," he said slowly, my body started pounding, "Were you telling the truth."

I had the feeling he had wanted to ask this for a long time I nodded, truthfully, watching his expression. Surprisingly, he didn't look shocked or confused.

"You were the girl in black, that day," he responded. Now I looked shocked.

"Yeah," I replied, "how do you know." He shrugged.

"Come on, Louis," I said laughing to hide my shock, "how do you know."

"I was working for the people, who caused the situation in the first place." It was like someone had burnt me, I recoiled away from him.

"You were working with the people who caused the situation," I repeated. He nodded. And for the first time I saw a look of resentment and guilt on his face. It was weird, though I couldn't understand what guilt meant in myself I could instantly detect it in others.

I guess all of us become little blind as we see ourselves.

He leaned forward, and grabbed my focus, "I didn't know, what they were to do, I was a fool."

"Have you ever done that before," I said my voice cool and detached.

"No," he said, "You have to believe me."

"Why should I," I asked, "I don't know you." He grinned, but there was still as sadness in his eyes.

"Because, I need at least one person to forgive me of my crimes," he said quietly. I shook my head slowly and took another sip of coffee.

"We're all damned for our sins," I said, my voice shook a little with the anger, "We are all damned, sometimes we all make mistakes, the point is to remember that at the moment you made the decision you were sure it was the correct one."

He watched me thoughtfully.

"If you were sure of that, that's all that matters," I said. He nodded and smiled.

"So, you'd forgive me," he said.

"That's not for me to do."

I stared at him wondering whether I should stand up and leave right now. This conversation was going to get me nowhere but into a shit load of trouble. However though, he was, unfortunately, doing a damn good job of taking my mind of things.

"This date was supposed to be quiet, fun one," Louis said a grin on his face.

"Date," I scoffed.

"When did you get that into your thick head."

"Since, you slipped your hand into mine and gazed at me with those dove eyes of yours." I grinned, then mock glared at him.

"You wanted to, do not lie," he said. I grinned again and sipped my coffee, allowing my eyes to speak for myself.

"Why don't we start again, then," I asked allowing my eyes to meet his. He raised a brow.

"Are you sure you want that," he said, then smirked, "I knew you couldn't resist me, I'm just too hot."

I leaned back and let my eyes roam over his body. Was doing it so unabashedly that he grinned at me.

"You like what you see."

"If I had to really decide, I'd have to remove the clothes," I replied sipping my coffee. His eyes gleamed.

"A little eager aren't you." I fixed him with a sultry look and flipped all my hair back, so my neck was fully exposed. Trailing my hand down t innocently, I smiled.

"You'd think I'd be ashamed to say yes," I asked, "especially when you're just a one night stand." He laughed and crossed his arms on his chest, so that his muscles budged out.

"Ouch," he said, "I'm wounded."

"Good."

"Well, to starting again, I think we'll do that." I nodded and fixed a semi-serious expression on my face.

"Hello, I'm Louis Agnor," he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I would say likewise, but I can't," I whispered cupping my hands around my mouth. He grinned and shrugged, "It's okay, right."

"Nice to meet you too," I said instead.

"What's your name he asked. I fixed him a look, like I was gonna tell him that.

"Princess, will do," I replied trying my hardest not to laugh.

"Okay, so what do you do," he grinned.

"Well you know," I replied, "I kill people."

"How funny, so do I." We both caught each other's amused looks and burst into laughter. It was honestly crazy, how I was having a conversation like such right now.

I was clutching my stomach trying my hardest not to drop my coffee.

"What's really funny," he said at last, containing himself, "is that we managed to meet another person exactly like ourselves." His hair had fallen to his eyes and he was brushing it away.

"That's not true," I said, only because I didn't want him to have the last word.

"Of course, I forgot myself, there is no one the world like you." I smiled. I did not expect to say that. I flipped my hair back and stared at my nails, trying to act as dramatic as possible.

"Of course, there isn't." His deep laughter rumbled across the tables and I found myself grinning back at him.

"You know," he said quietly, he spoke like he was to state a fact, an observation ,"You are an awfully confident woman." I laughed, feeling genuinely pleased with myself

"You know," I responded, "You have no filter over your mouth whatsoever."

"Isn't it better that way, you like that way," he said. I nodded without thinking and a triumphing smile spread across his face.

"See, I am perfect for you."

"Perfect for me to kill, I mean you could work, but there's the lack of skill and the ability not to satisfy my carnal self," I said, grinning.

"Oh, satisfy you, princess," he said with a confident smile on his face, "I could satisfy you; you'd be begging for more."

I laughed, "I'm sure it'd be the opposite."

He took a long sip of his latte, his eyes were focused on mine, slightly darkening, he grinned, "I'd think we'd have to determine that in the situation, love."

OOMPA LOOMPA