HIM – AN AWKWARD THING

Aya walked forward anxiously as Tyson followed, slowly opening the doors to her house and peering in. She immediately heard the sound of running water from the kitchen and sighed, surrendering. Tyson’s smirk widened as he followed her in, and the two soon found Aya’s mom washing dishes.

“Ah, good morning sweetie!” she exclaimed as she smiled at the two, drying her hands. “Was your night so good you had to come with him just to properly explain it?”

“Mom, please…” Aya mumbled.

“Good morning,” Tyson said, smiling. “How are you?”

“Wonderful! To think my daughter would be so open with me as to even demonstrate what kind of fun she had in front--”

“Ugh, just stop!” Aya scoffed, lowering her head. “I’ll… I’ll just take the shower. You two… just… whatever…” without waiting another moment, she headed upstairs, leaving Tyson and her mom alone.

“You think I went too far?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Want some breakfast?”

“We had some on our way here,” Tyson said, sitting down. “I – obviously – wanted to buy something for you too, but Aya just refused. I don’t know what’s up with her…”

“Ha ha, I can imagine,” she said, smiling as she poured the two a cup of already brewed coffee and sat down. “So… how was the night?”

“Ah, it was… great, yeah,” Tyson said. “She’s really understanding, you know?”

“Understanding?” she arched her brow lightly. “Ah, I get it. Well, you know, it happens to everyone from time to time.” … wait. No. She isn’t… right?

“Uh, sure? I-I suppose.”

“Don’t be so awkward about it,” What am I saying, she’s Aya’s mom… she obviously is thinking that!! “Sometimes--”

“No, not that!” Tyson interrupted as his cheeks flushed red. “Uh, there wasn’t, you know, just the two of us, but a friendly… gathering. Nothing happened.”

“Oh. It’s like that. Yeah, leave it to the old lady to make things awkward. And, you know what? Even if it did, why am I prying into my daughter’s sex life, right?” Oh for the love of!! “I mean, it’s her choice of who she sleeps with.”

“R-right, of cour--”

“And you seem like a, you know, careful guy. I’m sure you wouldn’t go straight for the homerun without filling up some bases, if you know what I mean.”

“With my whole heart, I’ll pretend I don’t.”

“Ah, right, look at me, ha ha. So sorry, didn’t mean to make things awkward.”

“N-no, I get it,” Tyson said, slowly drinking the coffee. “I… I mean, she’s your daughter. Of course you’d be concerned.”

“Well, if you could tell her that, it would mean a world to me.”

“Hah, I’m sure she gets it though,” Tyson said, smiling gently. “She’s brilliant, after all.”

“… I know,” she said, sighing suddenly. “Always been, really. Worries me sometimes. She never used to open up, you know? Both her dad and I… we knew that it was hard on her. However, no matter what we did, she’d always say she was fine. But, well, looks like she opened up to you, so all’s great.”

“…”

“Ah, I can see what she means when she says ‘he’s adorable when he blushes’. You really are.” Is the entire family so open about… everything?!! “Well, as much as I’d love to continue playing the part of the cool, involved mom… I’ll have to put that on hold for a moment. I care for Aya very much, Tyson, and the last thing I want to see is her being hurt. Whether she likes to admit it or not, we both know she’s rather naive when it comes to relationships.” SHE IS?!! THEN WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MAKE ME? A WIZARD?! “So… if… if she’s just one of your attempts to get over that other girl, I’d really appreciate it if you… you know…”

“Ah, she told you about Emma, huh?” Tyson chuckled for a moment, leaning back. “Yeah, I imagine it looks that way from the outside. But… and I can’t believe I’m saying this to her mother of all people… I really like her. I wouldn’t say she’s special, because clearly there’s at least two of you out there…”

“Ha ha, right…”

“But, she’s… far, far more than just a rebound or something like that.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said, smiling. “Because, you know, the day you told her you liked her, she came back home with the biggest grin on her face. And, I’m glad you’re there for her, right now when it counts. She may seem fine, but… her dad’s death hit her really hard, Tyson.”

“…” Tyson said nothing, a complex expression on his face.

“Right, enough with the depressing topics. Joy, happiness and such, right? What about your parents?”

“…”

“Wow, I’m really on a roll today…”

“No, it’s fine,” Tyson said, smiling. “They’re, uh, divorced. For a while, really.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”

“Things just didn’t work out,” he said, forcing a smile. “It was for the best, really.”

“…” Welp, way to make things awkward, Ty…

“Ah, there she is! Freshly showered angel!” Tyson turned his head as Aya’s mom exclaimed and saw Aya walking down.

“Right, and there you are, eternally annoying devil.”

“Ouch. I have a feeling you’ve been rubbing off on her, Tyson.”

“Nope, don’t pin that one on me,” Tyson said. “She’s been like that with me literally from the first time she spoke with me.”

“Right, well, what have you two been talking about behind my back?” Aya asked. “Spill it out.”

“Oh, just, you know, some embarrassing stuff and such.” Aya’s mom said evasively.

“Really Ty? All you did was kiss me a few times, grab a tit or two, and one ass pinch. And you just couldn’t wait to say it, huh?”

“… uh…” Nope, she’s the queen of making things awkward.

“E-emotionally embarrassing stuff, sweetie…” Aya’s mom said, smiling awkwardly.

“Oh. That. Right. Oh well,” Aya said, pulling Tyson up. “At least now you know how far we’ve gone.”

“… I certainly do.”

“Well, we’re late for class so we’re off.” Aya said.

“Have fun you two.”

“We will!”

HER – A NAIVE GIRL

Aya walked with quickened pace with Tyson following closely behind. I’m never going back home!! Whilst her expression remained deadpan, her thoughts were aflame at their depths.

“You do know that we aren’t actually late, right?” Tyson asked as he suddenly grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Oh, I get it! You’re embarrassed! Ha ha, well of course you are! Who the hell would want their parents to know the exact kinks they’ve been doing.”

“It’s more like I’m ashamed I didn’t have more to tell her,” Aya said, smirking. “You should up your game, big dog.”

“… big dog?”

“Yeah, I heard it. Move on.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, I honestly thought it wasn’t that bad.” Tyson said. “More like, utterly hilarious.”

“Ha, ha. I’m glad you had fun. Seriously though, what were you two talking about anyway?” Aya asked as the two began walking slowly, hand in hand.

“Sorry, I made a sacred vow not to tell.”

“There’s devil’s threesome, right?”

“… r-right?”

“Ever wondered what devil’s highway is, then?”

“She just wanted to know if you were a rebound girl for Emma and if I plan on hurting you any further which she all so politely asked me not to do and to keep you happy.” Tyson said in one breath. … why do I get the feeling he knows what the devil’s highway is? Aya thought as she creased her brows for a moment. “You know, the usual parent stuff.”

“So, what’d you tell her?”

“That I was planning on having the threesome as god had intended it!”

“I don’t think she’d be into it.”

“… shouldn’t you be the first one to object it?!” Tyson exclaimed.

“What? I quite fancy her, actually,” Aya said, grinning. “What’s not to like anyway? Sweet smile, smooth skin, perky in all the right places--”

“Alright, alright, I’d rather not hear what your devil whispers to you.”

“Well, last night he whispered he liked me. Surprised me quite a lot, actually.”

“Devil? If you’re gonna make me a celestial, at least make me an angel.” Tyson said. “After all, I do have the divine touch.” he winked. … crap, that was good.

“Crap, that was good. Got nothing.” she said.

“Besides, I seem to recall that you said it first.”

“That’s because I thought you were asleep. By the way, still not cool.”

“You were the first one to pretend to be asleep to tempt me! I merely repaid the favor!”

“Yeah, but my intentions were good.”

“… you wanted me to grope your tits!” Tyson said.

“Hence the good intentions.”

“Right, we can clearly see who’s the devil in this relationship. And to think your mom believes you’re ‘naive when it comes to relationships’. Poor woman…” … right, of course she’d tell him something like that. Now I have to keep this up… ugh…

“Poor woman? Where do you think I learned all of this?”

“… wow, you really do like dragging your poor mom through the mud, don’t you? Own up to your own… weirdness.” the two came to a halt at the bus stop and sat down on the empty bench.

“It’s really unfair,” Aya said, sighing. “You should introduce me to your parents as well so I can get some dirt on you.” Oh. I hit the button. Pull back, pull back. “But, whatever. It’s fine, I’ll just figure out your dirt myself.”

“Wow, that obvious, huh?” Tyson said, smiling lightly.

“Well, would it be harsh of me to say that you can’t act for shit? Which is strange… because you’re usually a pretty good actor. Now that I think about it,” Aya said, feeling Tyson’s grip tighten. “Whenever you’d talk about your past… you’d mostly avoid talking about your parents.”

“…”

“Right, not a conversation to have while waiting for a bus in the dead of the morning.” Aya said. “My bad.”

“Well, I did tell you many times that I’m a delicate, well-layered boy.”

“… right. And you’ve also apparently grown a vagina in the meantime.”

“Wow Aya! That’s so sexist of you!”

“I’m a woman so it’s fine.”

“Well, apparently I’m one too and I’m not!”

“Hey,” she said softly as she put her hand on his cheek, stroking it gently as she smiled. “I don’t need to know, but you need to tell me.”

“… isn’t that the same thing?”

“Well, yeah, but, you know, I gotta see the baggage you’re bringing into this.”

“So it doesn’t crush you?”

“So I can help you carry it.” she said. “I may be a naive little girl when it comes to relationships,” she continued, leaning in. “And I may not understand the Angelic Robot with a divine touch that you are, with me being an alien and all,” the two chuckled for a moment as they pushed their foreheads together. “But, at the very least, I know how to be a friend.”

“Girl.” Tyson added. “Girlfriend.”

“Right, that too. Sure. But, look, if it’s something like ‘I can only get hard when I think about my mom’, it’s just a friend, okay?”

“… where the fuck do you even come up with that shit?”

“Manga.”

“Right, we’re cutting you off.”

“Hah. Good luck with that.”

“Why can’t you just watch fucked up porn like everyone else for crying out loud?” Tyson asked, sighing.

“Well, the bus is here,” Aya said as she suddenly leaned in and kissed him softly. “And you look constipated. Figuratively.”

“Nice correction.”

“Thanks,” she said as the two got up. “I don’t know what it is, but… when you’re ready, I’m here.”

“I know.”

“Good. Because the look of utter embarrassment suits you far better than this ‘brooding, cool’ type you’re going for.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Tyson said, chuckling. “Well, to be fair, the look of utter embarrassment suits you better than the ‘grab my tits bro, free of charge’ as well. Right there. See? I could die staring at that face.” Tyson added, laughing.

“… wow, that’s creepy.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” he said as the two entered the bus.

“And let’s make it so I don’t ever find out, okay?”

“Riight. Good luck with that.”

“… freaking robot.”

“Beautiful angel.” Eh? It took Tyson a moment to realize what he said, causing his cheeks to flush red. “I meant alien! Alien! Beautiful alien!!”

“Riight. Good luck with that. And your face. I should snap this.”

“… ever since I met you, I had this constant urge to jump out the window. I’m starting to realize you might be bad for me.”

“Then dump me.”

“As if.”

“Cute.”

“Yeah, yeah, you are, I get. No need to brag about it.” he said with serious expression.

“… seriously, where the fuck do you come up with stuff like that? It’s like there are two brains living inside of you. One in charge of all the stupid shit that comes out, and one that occasionally shows up when you just floor me dead.”

“What do you mean stupid shit?! Every word I say should be recorded into histories as a legendary saying!”

“… yeah, how about I just dump you instead?”

“I’m not into poop stuff. But, I’ll make the sacrifice…”

“… you do realize we just had the breakfast, right?! RIGHT?!”

“Hey, don’t blame the messenger!” When did our roles switch?! Why am I suddenly the straight man here?!!

“… just drop dead.”

“One day, we all will. See? Profound knowledge. Right here.” he said, pointing at his head. “Masses of it.”

“Yeah, you just unlocked the damn mysteries of the universe! Freaking genius.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far--”

“Just shut up.”

“Dully noted.”

“You’re still talking.”

“…”

“Good. To make sure you stay silent,” she said, leaning over. “I guess we’ll just have to make out the rest of the way.”

“Oh, that sounds like a--” … an excuse.