“Oh look who’s finally decided to remember I exist,” Akari smiled in her normal sarcastic manner as they strolled to the other side of the room where it was quieter.
By now, Rebekah had learned that her friend didn’t really mean anything by these kinds of remarks. It was just…Akari.
“I’m sorry, I got distracted,” Rebekah offered meekly.
“It’s fine, who can blame you? If I wasn’t married, I’d be gunning for that piece of ass as well. I mean look around us, everyone here is basically one step away from a senior citizen and they look like they’ve been hiding in a dark cave for months. That man is definitely a catch.”
“Yeah, he’s okay,” Rebekah said modestly. She felt her gaze being pulled towards Emile’s gravitational field even from across the room. He was talking enthusiastically with a group of delegates who had gathered around him. Even from where she stood she could see the way they were looking at him, hanging on his every word.
How can he be so perfect? Rebekah thought.
“Okay? If that is the way you act around men you think are okay, I’d love to see how you are when you actually have a crush on someone. You looked like a teenager on a first date when you two were on the dance floor all anxious and starry-eyed.”
“Shit, do you think anyone noticed?” she asked nervously.
“Of course not. They don’t even know who you are. Come with me,” Akari said, heading for the door.
“Where are we going?” Rebekah queried, but followed nonetheless. She could feel his gaze on her as she walked out the door and she resisted the urge to look over her shoulder.
“The roof, I need to smoke,” Akari said simply, pressing the buttons on the elevator.
“Since when do you smoke?”
“What do you mean since when? We haven’t known each other that long and you’re so damn smitten, it’s not exactly like you’ve asked me much about my life.”
“Now you’re just making me feel bad,” Rebekah said as they got out on the twenty-second floor and climbed the last flight to the top.
“Feel what you want but I was just making a point,” Akari said, smiling, as she sat down on one of the deckchairs by the pool overlooking the city.
This time there was no glass pane between them and the view. The outside air was humid with not so much as a hint of breeze, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. French classical music softly played in the background as some of the other hotel guests enjoyed cocktails or a night swim, leisurely draped over the outdoor furniture.
Rebekah didn’t sit down. She leaned against the seemingly thin decorative panes separating her from the world below, staring out over the lights, the ocean, and the impressive six-star hotel across the way. The world below was alive with activity on this warm so-called winter’s night.
Akari was lying back in the chair, eyes closed, puffing slowly on a long, thin cigarette. She had clearly been holding out for a while, enjoying every inhale.
“So, out with it,” she said simply, not opening her eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t stand there anxiously waiting for me to finish my conversation for nothing. Clearly, there’s something on your mind, so spill it. I mean, it’s not like I can’t guess, but humor me.”
She could easily see how some might perceive Akari as bitchy, but personally, she found her straight-forward demeanor refreshing. She never had to worry where she stood with the feisty Japanese girl who looked half Rebekah’s age, but was actually a few years older.
“Can I have a drag?”
“You don’t smoke,” Akari said simply.
“How do you know that? I used to.”
“Exactly, now tell me what’s happening. Why are you here and not dancing the night away with that beautiful Argentinean?”
“I can’t just follow him to his room, everyone would see. They would talk! My career would be over before it even has a chance to start! I’d be just another cheap girl sleeping her way to the top.”
“Jeez, you really are a drama queen,” Akari laughed, taking another heavy drag.
“What do you mean?”
“You keep asking me that. If you’d just wait long enough, I would tell you,” Akari sat up straight and put out the cigarette.
“Okay, sorry.” Rebekah sat down in the chair next to her.
“Firstly, sleeping your way to the top doesn’t really apply here. It’s not like he’s your boss or even tied to your career. I mean really, Rebekah. Secondly, as I said, nobody here really knows who you are. The moment you remove that name tag around your neck, you could be just another guest in this hotel and even if they did know you, just don’t be so damn obvious about it. Have you never watched a romantic comedy before or read a romance novel? Nobody is saying you should walk out arm-in-arm, making out in the hallway before marching to his room. Christ. We’re in a damn hotel. Just go to his room later. There are literally hundreds of rooms in this place. It’s not like people have been keeping track of who is staying where. You really are useless with this kind of thing. I thought you were such a pro with the concept of no-strings-attached.”
“Yeah, but usually I don’t exactly know the guy. Usually, it’s just some rando I meet in a club or a coffee shop or a train. I normally don’t even know their last name. Or get their number after! It’s a one-time thing and then I move on with my life. This is different. He knows who I am and I know who he is. I know what he does for a living. He’s not just some man. He’s a man with a past, with a life, with a future. Most importantly, a man that can find me again when this is over. He’s too real.”
“I’ll have to Google what the exact definition of the word ‘rando’ is ,” Akari stated as she let out a big laugh. “Don’t you think you’re taking your commitment phobia a bit far here? What’s the worst that could happen? The sex is bad? So what, then you move on. We all get on a plane tomorrow and fly away. You don’t have to ever see him again if you don’t want to, or even talk to him for that matter. You live on another part of the world, remember? What do you have to lose? Do you really want this to be one of those things you think about five years down the line as you group it on your long list of regrets?”
“You know, for one of the most pessimistic people I’ve met recently, you give one hell of a pep talk. If this engineering thing doesn’t work out, you could always go into motivational speaking,” Rebekah joked.
“Well, that’s all you’re getting out of me before I start charging,” Akari said, getting up. “Do it, don’t do it, but I do not want to hear you bitch and moan about this all day tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?”
“To Skype my husband and tell him how happy I am that I’m not single anymore,” Akari smiled, hugged Rebekah good night, and started towards the stairs.
Rebekah stared out over the lively city for a while longer, trying to organize her racing mind, before heading back to the party.
Akari was right, what did she have to lose?