Chapter 1007: Efficient Time
Chapter 1007: Efficient Time
I was merely joking when I gave my suggestion.
Okay, maybe only half-joking. Maybe, it could also potentially be more than half. 70/30, we’ll say. But it didn’t matter anyhow, the outcome was the same either way.
I can already see the roll of her eyes, hear the slight amusement in the scoff of her breath. I was making a joke, after all. That’s how she’ll surely see it, right?
Right?
"I wouldn’t mind that, actually," Irene said, her voice low with a quiet sincerity. "If you’re sure things will be fine on your end, I suppose you can stay for a while if you really want to."
Predictions these awful, it’s a real good thing I don’t gamble. No one ask me for the forecast tomorrow either, I might just inadvertently turn sunny skies to a category five if you do.
"You’re serious?" I asked.
"Oh, you mean you weren’t?"
Irene’s eyes widened a little. I could practically see the awkwardness in real-time ripple across her expression.
"No, I was. I am," I quickly said, stopping that feeling dead in its tracks before it could plague her with any cringe-induced insomnias at three-something in the morning. "I just thought you wouldn’t be so... agreeable. You did say you have lots of things to do tomorrow. Work piling up. That not gonna be an issue, or...?"
"I don’t start work until I’m at work. That kind of how work works in case you weren’t aware. I do need to be up quite early, that’s for sure. But, I mean, it’s not as if we’re going to be staying up all night, are we?"
I felt my lips pull into another smile. "No, probably not. But maybe I oughta call home first just in case—tell them I might be staying over for the night. You never know, right?"
"Actually, I think it’s best if you head home immediately afterwards."
"Ah, worried you’d be late for your shift after all?"
"Today may be my day, but it is still your birthday, all things considered," Irene said, sounding a bit more pragmatic than playful. "Hoarding you all to myself the entire time wouldn’t feel right. You aren’t thinking of it now, but I definitely expect the guilt to keep you up all night for having quite the time here while everyone else sleeps alone and unloved in their bed tonight."
See now that’s how you make an actual prediction. I can pretty much see all of that happening; a prophecy foretold that I was doomed to follow upon hearkening its very utterance. I could already feel a little of that guilt start to prick as soon as she pointed it out to me.
Probably a good idea to take her gambling with me if the mood ever strikes me.
"Don’t get me wrong, though. It’s not like I’m going to be entirely selfless here," she continued, her black eyes harboring the slightest slytest glint of red within them. "There’s still a few more hours of Friday left. A few more hours where I still technically have you all to myself. I think you’ll find I can be quite efficient with utilizing the time that I’m given."
I gulped. Even without her pheremones constantly titillating my hormones, she’s said and done enough to get me feeling all lightheaded.
"Don’t get too eager yourself," I warned her, reaching for my key in the ignition. "I have work early tomorrow too."
Then something buzzed, rang. The air stricken so hard by its ruckus, it instantly dissipated the rising ambiance that had been steadily building between us. Before I could even begin to wonder where it was coming from, Irene reached into the flap of her blazer and pulled out her phone glowing, its display glowing with an intensity to match.
Police business was my initial and only assumption, then my guesses stemmed off into specifics from there—break-in, vandalism, homicide—whatever the case, it all meant just one thing: neither of us was gonna have to worry about being late for work in the morning.
Shame.
"Amanda?" Irene muttered, her bewildered expression starkly illuminated in a bright white.
I shared her surprise. "Amanda?"
Irene placed the phone to her ear, pacing to the side, and upon speaking, it was evident she was more disgruntled by the interruption than I could ever be
"Yes? Something the matter? Why are you calling me at this time?"
I sat there and watched the scene in front of me quietly, one foot to the pavement, engine still rumbling with newfound vigor. Nothing happened for a moment, then Irene threw a quick glance in my direction.
"Yes, he’s also here," she replied, answering some inquiry I’ll never know. "No, I’m home now. We’re done training him for the day. Stop it, no. He was just dropping me home, Amanda. Do you really expect me to walk back? Why are you asking exactly?"
It got quiet again for quite a while; whatever it was Amanda was whispering in her ear, it’s got Irene listening intently—stopping her dead in her tracks even.
"Huh? What?" Suddenly, Irene whirled around toward me. Her eyes were wide, unblinking and seemed to be boring into my very being. "Do you hear yourself? Do you hear what you’re asking me? No, listen! Why on earth would I even—?"
A loud squeak of interjection expelled out of her speakerphone, shrill and loud enough to even make her wince. Irene’s expression changed again and with a begrudging sigh, I watched her retreat from me... far enough away to the point where I was guaranteed to be beyond earshot.
Almost like she was being instructed to. Amanda, what the hell are you making this poor woman do?
By that point, I was burning with curiosity. It was genuinely excruciating. I could see Irene still bickering, still exclaiming, arguing... but unless there was some magic skill I could pick up in an instant that would bestow me the boon super hearing, I continued to be left stranded in the dark. Literally, even.
Then, right in the middle of it all, I felt a buzz of my own tingling my left thigh. I quickly pulled out my phone, typed my password without prying my eyes off Irene, and gave only the briefest glance to whatever the hell it was that demanded my attention.
I read only one word—the sender’s name—and instantly felt all vested interest gravitate onto the words written on my display instead. Dad had texted me.
<<Thank you for your help today. I’m sorry if I made things awkward between you and your girlfriend. Could you give me a call once you get this? Whenever you’re free. Preferably before you go to bed tonight would be best. Happy birthday, son.>>
No follow-up text after that. All he wanted to say in one single message. Just a simple request without any further elaboration. I don’t even dare to wonder what he could possibly want from me this time... only one way to find out, though.
Right before I could sate this one particular curiosity, I looked up, hearing the clack of heels on cobble and found Irene standing before me once more. Her phone was nowhere in sight, only a look of clear resignation on her face.
"Amanda’s coming over in a bit," she stated simply.
"Amanda’s—what?"
"Yeah," Irene sagged a little. Every part of her slightly hunched and lowered. Even her voice had a bit of a drag to it. "She’s asking for help with something. She said no one else can help. Apparently, it’s something really, really important, so..."
"So...?" I said, returning her sentence back to her before it could stray. "So, it can’t wait? It has to be right away?"
"Really, really important," she repeated again. "I guess I’ll... see you tomorrow? When you open?"
"Just wait a second there, Irene. What? What’d you just agree to help her with? Don’t pretend I didn’t see you protesting like your life depended on it a minute ago. What’s going on?"
Irene blinked blankly back at me. "It’s your Amanda we’re talking about here. You really think she’s going to let me blab to you regarding what she has in store?"
"Yes! ’Course! Hell, you did it before!" I exclaimed. "You’re the one that spilled the beans about her secret dating schedule, remember? I don’t see what’s so different about this time."
"I don’t even want to talk about it anymore, frankly," she said. "I’m sorry, but that’s how it is. She’s on her way here, and you need to leave. Oh, and don’t bother asking her either. You won’t get anywhere with her."
Irene moved quickly before I could say any more. With a jolt, I felt her lips press into mine. She drew back after another second, wearing a smile that quickly faded back into a subtle grimace.
"Good night. Drive safe. I’ll see you tomorrow, alright?"
I wasn’t done asking yet, however.
"Weren’t you just about to show me how efficiently you use your time?"
Irene was halfway to her front door before she stopped to respond to that, glancing back.
"I am. It may not look like it, but this is an efficient use of my time," she said, then with as much as she could muster, she smiled again. "You’ll see."