"Why'd you have to go and spout all of that?"

"What do you mean? All I did was give my thoughts on the matter - thoughts you were having too." My dear partner responded heartlessly, paying more attention to the egg sandwich in her hand. But as she took a bite out of it, a hint of dissatisfaction covered her face - the reason was something I could more than relate to as I unenthusiastically bit a piece of my own ham-stuffed snack. The ball was now behind us. Well, at least a day had passed, meaning our daily lives could commence per usual.

Not really. To begin, during the event's conclusion, we really did have nothing else to do other than sit and wait. With no other choice,

Other than having even an ounce of self-discipline.

I may or may not have drank a little over my intended amount and earned quite the headache in the morning. For the most part, though, it was manageable. However, what isn't is the cause of our lackluster meal this afternoon.

"I still find it strange that the shop was closed, with neither Edmond nor Fable in sight. In all my time as a regular, it's never occurred once." Myla spoke up once she swallowed her morsel, one below our usual standards. The sandwich shop, which had become our usual spot for our breaks, was currently nothing more than a pair of rolling shutters. Without our source of pause and sustenance during our work day, we had no choice but to satiate ourselves with the microwaved fare at a particular convenience store whose name would add up to eighteen.

"It was bound to happen at some point. First time for everything and al- Hey, wait, don't change the subject."

"Hmm? You've been on about that the entire day." Myla didn't seem to understand what she had elicited last night, and as someone with pride to maintain, I wasn't going to spell it out for her.

"Look, all I'm asking is if sharing your presumptions were all you intended to tell me last night," I questioned in a bit of an exasperated tone, not because I was annoyed but more on edge surrounding the topic.

"...Yes, that was all I was trying to communicate." She took a second before responding and continuing, a hand to her chin in thought. "The night is slightly hazy in my memory, but what would I have said or done that would imply anything else?"

"Irk, nothing really. My recollection on the whole thing isn't super clear either, is all." I gave up on extracting any more information from her as if that was really all there was to it - I would just be wasting my time overthinking things. And after last night's events, I'd rather not spend so much mental energy on it again.

You can't play with me like that woman. Guys aren't mentally or emotionally prepared for that kind of thing.

"Moving on then, what's the plan?" I resumed the conversation as we returned to the chalkboard for our peculiar pair. Myla finished her sandwich and crumpled the plastic that covered her instant meal, and confidently chucked it into the bin, missing it by an inch.

Come on, have a bit more class. I'm supposed to do those kinds of things.

"Nash will depart in three days, quite a short timeframe for us to work. And while they were able to get through the night, the conclusion resembles a superficial success."

"Yep, if we really want to help them, we'll need a more permanent, or at the very least, maintainable solution." I continued, initiating work mode as our discussion got into swing. I also finished my food and followed my dear partner's actions, bundling the wrapper and tossing it into the trash can, earning a successful miss. Myla looked at me with disappointment - I wondered if it was out of my childishness or that neither of us could achieve such a simple feat.

"Um, right. Looking over our cards again then," I pressed on,

"In Nash's case, he aims to become more friendly and outgoing, even if he stumbles from time to time. In short, he needs some kind of outlet for that." She began, prompting me to analyze the other half of the equation.

"And for Lily, she struggles with simple socialization because she's overly conscious about the people around her, forcing her to clam up and resort to just nodding along."

"So, their connecting thread is that they both want to become more presentable in some way. And that the absence of the other will only make things harder to improve." Myla tied things together and placed her head on her hand, bringing up a concern of mine.

"Speaking of, how much should they rely on each other for this, let alone us?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ah, nothing. Ignore that, actually. I'm just rambling."

Time and place for everything. Then again, I've been holding on to these for days now. With this many bottled-up questions and feelings, I feel like a teenager again.

Jokes aside, it was a genuine worry I had. If we were to give them an answer that had them depend on each other, how well could they preserve it from afar? How would that even work in the first place? And entertaining the idea that we could come up with such a plan, could we execute it in the time we had? The hurdles were tall with this case. And that gave us all the more reason not to half-ass it with a "You've gone to a social event once! Job well done! Good luck with life!"

"Ugh, why'd we always get the difficult ones."

"Maybe because we ourselves are troublesome,"

"Is that some self-awareness I hear?" I asked teasingly, subconsciously understanding that if Myla was going along with my objections, she was just as stumped as I was. She didn't reply to my query, deciding instead to finish her caffeine and stand up to dispose of her trash correctly. As she did, she lowered her gaze to the bin, only to look back up and be greeted by a large middle-aged man. He looked to be in his 50s, with a large and well-kept beard, one that had my puny stubble look childish,

Hey, why would you say that?

He was a little on the chubby side, and with a gray shirt, cargo pants, and a green cap, he looked like the role he played flawlessly. And as he opened his bristled mouth to speak, a deep but welcoming voice filled the air.

Guess that means our attendance is still perfect.

"Who woulda thought I'd run into you two while out for groceries, eh?" Edmond Edwards, the owner of the sandwich shop Myla and I frequented, now sat with us, a steamed bun in his hands as he spoke with a smile.

"Well, this was the closest location to your place, so we just went here out of convenience," I replied, accompanying a quick shrug with my answer.

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"Convenience, huh? Guess this is where all my customers have run off to!" The aged fellow continued with a hearty laugh as he took a chunk out of the white pastry.

"I'd doubt any reasonable person would choose this over your products Mister Edwards," Myla spoke up, causing the man in question to light up with joy before she continued, "And speaking of, what was the reason for the shop being closed today?"

"Ah, that, don't worry too much. It's just Fable, the lass. She's been busy, and I can't run the place on my own anymore, yeah? Besides, that's not what you should I be talking to you lot about," He said, downing the last of his snack before taking a confident stance.

Well, as confident as a dad who just ate a bao bun in three bites.

"What? Do you have something to ask us?" I asked, curious about his intentions when he held his hands together and placed them on the table.

"I see Fable talking to you two on breaks. And she goes on and raves to me about helping you with a client, so since I couldn't make you your lunches today, I may as well see if I can help you some other way." Myla and I looked at each other, a bit surprised but also confused about how we should react to his offer.

"You don't have to. We don't want to bother you more than we already have." Myla interposed, but all the old fellow did was shake his head and smirk.

"Come now, if we could lean on you when Fable needed it, I'm more than happy to give my back to you in return. Unless you don't want an old man's advice, that is." And with his permission, we confided in him our woes.

"Yep, I've got no idea either," Edmond replied immediately after, taking no more than two seconds of contemplation before throwing in the towel.

"Eh? What happened to the wise old coot thing from earlier?" I asked as Myla threw a quick glare at me for my wording.

"Well, back in my day,"

He said it! Guys, he said the funny phrase!

"I knew everyone in my neighborhood since we had nothing to do but go out and talk to people." He continued with a hefty sigh, joining us in our puzzlement. It's not like we could blame him, experience is the best teacher when it comes to these kinds of things, and there wasn't a silver bullet we could shoot at this to fix it anyway.

"It was worth a shot," Myla stated, almost as if reading my mind and sensing the expression I used, "We appreciate the help, Mister Edwards."

"Though I've gotta say, even if they sound like a handful, they sound like a good pair if they're open about that kinda thing to each other. Heck, they even seem more worried about the other's problems than the fact one of 'em has to work abroad." Edmond said something that caught my attention in his praise for the couple. But before I could mull over it, he continued,

"I've met some couples in my time that are too focused on just one half's problems. Or sometimes even have to force the other to help them. It's a rough sight to watch since I can't help but wonder if they can eventually sort things out. I guess what I'm trying to prattle on about is that it's good to have someone watching from the outside to make sure the two can hear each other, yeah?" As the old fellow resumed, he faced my dear partner with a grateful smile.

"You did your fair share during that time too, Mister Edwards. Alexandre and I aren't wholly responsible for the outcome of Fable's relationship."

"Eh? Who said I was referring to you?" He asked with a chuckle, causing Myla to be caught in surprise before taking a second and smirking.

"Still, you do have a point. Learning to rely on each other is vital in any relationship, even more with the circumstances we have. Our jobs revolve around that - after all. Seeing as we're doing what most friends and families do for new couples and as such, at times, even I do sympathize with a pair's joys and pains." Myla said that last line in her characteristic cold tone, but for a split second, I could see her glance at me with a hint of regret. But that wasn't what had the most significance to me regarding her statement - it was what her words made me realize.

Oh, I've been a big idiot this entire time.

The weight of a relationship isn't a couple's alone to carry - it only becomes such if they let it be. But in so many cases, people deserve to have another pair of shoulders to share the burden. In our case, we even have the consent of the partners to meddle with their lives. And while a balance of responsibility was still important, if our actions could steer someone toward a better path - the concept of invalidating a chance at a good ending just because they didn't reach the goal on their own is frankly kind of stupid now that I think about it.

Well, I guess if the couple in question doesn't do anything whatsoever, then yeah, it invalidates it. But 'tis the anguish of those who deal in love.

I wonder how I found myself with those questions in the first place. Maybe I just started looking back and scrutinizing our handiwork after months of servitude. Perhaps my skepticism just got the best of me, and I was blinded by the notion we were doing more harm than good. Really, it could've just been my boredom that caused me to overthink things. And while these two were just as stumped as I was, they still managed to answer everything I bottled up so casually. I placed my eyes back onto my dear partner, callus as ever but for the second day in a row, reminding me whose coattails I've been riding on this entire time.

"Hmm? What is it?" Myla detected my gaze and gave me a curious expression.

"I know it's becoming a trend, but it's nothin'. Actually, I guess there is something," I took in a breath and, with an appreciative face, said,

"Thanks." My dear partner's interest didn't seem to fade, but even I had my limits for how much I could compliment my headache in human form.

I should learn to start relying on you more too, huh?

Of course, as proven to me time and time again, Myla's observant nature wouldn't overlook my introspections. Still, even with a tilted head and quizzical eyes, it seemed she understood that - for now at least, she could take my gratitude at face value.

"Welp, that was a good chat, but I've got to go," Edmond spoke once Myla and my exchange had settled, making that trademark noise dads seem to love making as they make any little movement.

Meanwhile, we can all ignore the many instances I've made the exact same sounds in my mid-twenties. I miss five minutes ago when I felt like a young'n.

"Thanks for trying to help out. Hopefully, the next time we see you, it's at the shop." I bid my goodbye with a wish to meet during better tidings, roughly translating to having lunch that didn't taste like overpriced mush.

"Heh! No kidding! They make good buns but judging by your energy - they don't have anything on my stuff. Besides, that's why I'm leaving so quickly. Gotta get the shop ready when she has you two to feed." With it, he faced Myla and me with a fatherly smile, adjusting his headwear slightly as he looked at the sun, which had just reached its peak minutes earlier.

"Please do tell Fable we said hi," My dear partner added as she gave her candid farewell in the form of a nod.

"Right! You go on and do your best out there! And Myla, don't use your phone while driving like those kids I see filmin' with cameras up in their faces." Edmond said before he began walking off, presumably to where he parked his vehicle, leaving me no time to inquire what he meant with his words of caution.

"What was that all about?"

"Just someone older looking after us, has it never happened to you? That may explain many things."

"You're getting quicker on the draw. I'll give you that. But I meant what he was talking about at the end, the stuff about filming yourself." I continued asking, more drawn in by trivial curiosity than anything.

"While I'm not sure either, he may be referring to those obnoxious videos of people documenting themselves and creating a brand out of their daily lives."

Ah, those, I never liked them either. But credit where credit is due - they know how to keep an audience with their personalities. Wait a sec...

I stood up at the spur of my realization, a convicted expression now covering my earlier defeated look. Myla was startled by my sudden shift in motion and mood, a mixture of annoyance and a piqued interest on her face.

"Ahaha! I've got an idea so out there that only we could pull it off!"

"Oh no. Not again, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be." My dear partner spoke with worry, interest turning into trepidation.

"Myla, Myla, my dearest partner. Trust me on this. You told me we needed a solution, right? Well, I've got one that might just work. We just have to work out the logistics of it." I stated with confidence and a pondering hand to my chin before she continued with a sigh,

"Fine, but you must explain it to me before we consider acting upon it."

"Of course! But first, do you have the number of our first client? Remember them?"

"Hmm? Yes, I do. I keep up with their accounts on their social media."

That's an odd tidbit. But also kind of sweet.

"As for their number, it should be in our database. Why do you ask?" She replied, pulling out her phone and listening intently.

"By chance, can J.C. access that for us?"

"I can't see why he wouldn't be able to."

"Perfect, ring him up. I need to talk to him too. It's about time we did something more on-brand." And with it, while reluctant, we began to dance to a tune far more familiar than the one that filled our ears just a night prior.

Let's hope this doesn't turn them into narcissistic douchebags.