Ari held her coffee mug tightly, embracing it’s warm feeling into her hands. Her deep blue eyes stick on the computer monitor in front of her, reading every words on it with so much concentration someone could muster with half brain already thinking her fluffy bed on her home. Her lips twitched in annoyance after she failed to understand the whole paragraph and have to re read it again.
“Glen, did you check on news a few minutes ago?” she asked her coworker besides her.
“What of it?” Glen answered in lazy tone. He was busy doing his work.
Ignoring the reluctant in his tone, Ari just ask in monotonous tone. “Did you see any terrorist attack destroying my university?”
Glen stopped his work. He tilted his gaze toward the girl. “No.” His brow furrowed. “Did your homework make your brain lit on fire again?”
“You sure? How about plane crashed?”
“No!”
“Gas leak? Cult attack? Anything?”
“For God sake Ari! There is nothing happen! Just do your homework please and stop bothering me!”
The blonde girl slumped on her chair. “You are no fun Glen!”
Glen rolled his eyes in disbelief and try to get back at his own jon. But not before reminded the cheeky girl that she had deadline for a cooking writing corner this afternoon. After hearing her cute scream of frustration, he back at his own work and start doing it with a smile.
The Harmonica magazine was a small family oriented magazine that had been existed from the early 60ish. Located on small city Erin, Ontario, Canada, the company boasted to be the dream job for anyone that wishes live quietly far from big city, at least that was they said during the interview.
Ariana Valentine, a young woman in her early 20, was a high school graduate when she becoming employee at this magazine. Pursuing her passion in writing world, she was stuck on the family related stuff. She always wanted to be a reporter, to report real stuff, real things that make the world turn around.
“Get a degree they said. It would be fun they said.” Ari mumbled in annoyance once again.
She stuck in this company. No larger magazine or newspaper answered her application and the fact that her cv only consist of family oriented writing did not help at all. Last year her boyfriend gave her idea about getting a degree, which in a sense should make her cv a bit more attractive. She regret her decision right away after the first day. Not to mention her college debt, she was not the smartest girl during high school years. In short term, her life was stuck.
“Ari! Why are you still here?”
Ari stretched her neck to see who called her.
“Jerry! What are you talking about?” Her gaze fixed on his new haircut. It’s low cut with green and bright yellow combination like a fucking pineapple.
“Oh, nice hair by the way.” she said with a smirk.
Hearing those compliment Jerry shone brighter with a glittering eyes and dazzling smile. He made a pose which make everyone could see his new haircut. Ari already regret her compliment earlier.
“And? Why are you here?” She asked while put down her mug.
Jerry stop his ridiculous pose and quickly skipping his steps to get closer. His steps stopped when he saw her outfit.
“What a lovely new jeans you got there Ms. Ari. It really make your ass stood out.”
“Why thank you. Now please tell me what do you need for me?”
“Ashame your boyfriend not here to see it huh?” He said with a smirk.
Ari’s temple started to twitched in annoyance. “Thanks for the reminder. Now what do you want? That’s my third question jerry! Don’t push me now!”
“Oh right!” Jerry snapped at her words. “Ray Edmund is on the emma’s show right now!” He said with much enthusiasm.
Ari pondered for a moment. “Ray Edmund?”
“My god this short memory girl! Ray Edmund! Godly abs! Devilish charm! Tight sexy ass!” Jerry half shouted to the blonde girl.
Not knowing what the short man excited about, Ari just sat there while raised an eyebrow.
Rolling his eyes in disbelief, Jerry put his hand on his hips. “George Clooney with the body of Chris Evans? Did that got your attention now silly girl?
“OH!!” was all Ari could muster. Her eyes opened wide.
“Yes girl, good going brain bird for remembering a hot man like that.”
“Why did you not tell me sooner!!” now she practically screaming. “Let’s go!” she said while leaving the pineapple guy.
Jerry slumped his shoulder. “That’s it? You going to leave me just like that?” he said while mumbling in annoyance.
Ari couldn’t believe herself. How could she forgot about the show? The freakin show! Ray Edmund was the first Guild spokesman that not boring and rigid when talking to the public or press. The Guild has long known for their tight lips and closed society when the rest of the world asking question. People were hungry about information regarding how is life in the dungeon city of Vanskoria. They wanted to know how dungeon diving felt like, how the monster inside looked and how they fought it.
And the charismatic guy even took it to another step up. Ray decided to stay in Los Angeles and works on several project that would promote the Guild. One of those steps were being a guest star on one of the most famous talk show, the Emma’s Show.
Ari turned her steps into the entertainment room where her old crew already waiting.
“Ari! Where the hell are you! We already waiting for ten minutes!” Said a tall dark brunette with slight british accent. Sheila has been her best friend since they came together on this company two years ago.
“Sorry hon, i’m drowning on my homework.” Said Ari while sighed hard, trying hard to looks miserable.
“Come and sit here! But don’t touch the meatballs, those are mine!” Another girl, with chubby cheek and swollen tummy, said after gulping down a rice cracker.
“For god sake Nina, I’m not so petty to steal food from a pregnant lady.” said Ari with cheeky smile.
Nina snorted. “Said someone who stole my black forest last week!”
“You already ate a whole cake for yourself before that!” Said Ari in disbelief.
“Well me and my baby need extra nutritions you know!”
Ari rolled her eyes. “And please reminds me again what the nutrition you get from a cake? A damn ton of sugar?”
Sheila laughing hard from the two banter before she realizing something. “Hey where is Jerry?”
Just after she asked, the door opened wide, with a pineapple came in. That pineapple brought a tray full of snack and diet coke. “Thanks for waiting my lady. As always, it was me Jerry the butler that saving these young ladies for the danger of hunger.”
All the woman in that room shouting in unison when they saw the food. Ari and Nina started their food fight immediately while Sheila helping Jerry put down the tray and let the small man sat beside her.
“Oh shut up now! It’s gonna start!” said Jerry half shouting.
Everyone turned into the 40 inch TV in front of them. The show started with a brief introduction about the Guild and the dungeon, but it’s more like a teaser rather than information giving actually. After a another short opening by the show owner, their main guest finally make an entrance.
A mix of loud applause and booing welcomed him as soon as he entered the stage. But Ray Edmund just walk in full confidence and perfect smile. He had good physique, staggering at 190 cm with compact muscle on chest without looking too much. When approaching mid 40ish a man usually started to look wither, but not for this man. He looked so fresh and full energy despite his hair started to dip in white color. On the contrary, it was part of his charm beside his half crooked smile. His green eyes shone with cool confident as he shook hand with Emma, the show owner.
“Dear god, he is so hot! Did you see his smile? I think i’m going to melt!” Sheila sad with a sly grin.
They started with the usual small talk about few things in life, about how he had to life outside Vanskoria, and how his family are doing. It was a standard set up that Ari had seen hundreds of times before. But there was something bothering her this time. Unlike her friends that kept cheering how handsome Ray is, she was fixed on something completely different.
“And after a short break we will back with more questions that everyone eager to get the answer. How is it life in the dungeon city of Vanskoria? Stay tune just after this!”
Ari woke off from the couch and said she would get some hot tea. Sheila was tagging along and just ignored several plea of her friends that begging her to bring them some more snack.
She found her best friend in the pantry, pouring a hot water into a mug.
“Hon, you okay?”
Ari tilted her head in confusion. “Sure i’m okay. Why i wouldn’t?”
“I saw how you reacted when you saw Ray on TV.” Sheila took a mug for herself. “It’s not that everyday we saw a Magus in our world. Did you found what are you looking for?”
The blonde girl shaking her head. “I don’t think i understand what are you talking about.”
“You know you are not good at lying right? I know how you felt about Magus, i also know how one of them save you during your high school year.”
Ari stopped her hand that just about put tea bag on her mug, her eyes opened wide as she stare the tall brunette with surprised looks.
“You told me by yourself.” She chuckled. “About a year ago when your relationship fell apart, we had a drink and you started to sing about the greatness of magus and how ordinary men are trash.”
“I-It’s just drunk talk.” Ari said awkwardly.
Sheila just sighed hard and smiled wryly. “If you said so. I’m your bestfriend and not your mother. Just talk to me if you got any problem okay?”
With that sentence Sheila took off from the pantry, leaving the confused girl alone.
Ari felt miserable. It’s not that she did not wanted to tell her best friend, but it’s more like she did not know what she looking for. It’s true that she put Magnus person in special place in her heart after she met one during holidays 5 years ago. She was 16 years old at that time, a fragile little girl with identity crisis like any other teenagers. Her childhood were filled with reading books, being a lone wolf, and uncaring for her personal looks. It was not until the puberty hit her hard that she started to looked at the mirror. She hated herself and decide to change during her junior year at high school. She went out more, catch on fashion, gossiping, and fishing for boys with her friends. But even after all changes she made, her inner self would still came and knocking on inside her heart. She wanted to be away from all the buzzing sound of daily life. So she did what her foolish heart said. On a day during mid summer holiday, she left her home for a small trips to recharges her mental strength.
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It was a start of her bitter sweet memories.
Ari was a late bloomer. Her body developed much later than girl at her age. So when she was 16 years old her appearance were not that much different with 13ish old girl. Childish look, almost flat chest, underdeveloped hips, and a deadly innocence smile. While during her schooldays she could cover it up with uniform and light make up or hairstyle, during it’s adventure she decided to be her true self once again. With a big glasses, loose t-shirt and baggy jeans she was set to her journey. It was a simple plan actually. There was a small woods just 150 km from her hometown and she was planning to get there by bus or ask someone to ride. Near the woods there was a tourist village, with inns and beautiful landscape as the background. She intended to spent a few days in one of those inns, just read books all day while enjoying a quiet atmosphere and a mixture of woods air.
Long story short, a nice man took her with his car, they had nice chat along the road, even had lunch together. Next time she knew, she was tied on some sort of unused cabin on the woods. She never felt so much fear on her life after she realize what would happened to her when she saw the man across the room, already half naked with a disgusting smile. He was using an eerie pig mask, something that triggered her trauma later on every time she saw pig head. Fortune for her, somehow the chastity goddess still smiled upon her. With the last strength she could muster, she was able to escape from that cabin before he was able to do anything to her. Her luck ran out pretty quickly though. With bare feet and difficult terrain she was out of stamina and outpaced from the pig. Her scream were ignored as the man put several fist into her body and slaps on her face. Desperately struggle, the girl resist so hard until a big blow landed on her stomach, silencing her scream and struggle at once.
This was the moment when all things got blurry and foggy on her memories. Between her faded consciousness, she barely remember that the pig pick her up on his shoulder. But not long after that came another man. With his fist he knocked the pig into a pulp. Their fight was intense but short lived with the pig got screwed so hard. She could even swear she hear something broken between his pathetic scream. Just before she fell asleep, she cursed the pig, hoping he can just die and tortured in hell.
Few hours later she woke up on a sofa inside the cabin. Her clothes were gone, replaced by a clean big t-shirt that she couldn’t recognize. Several bandages were wrapped on her body, foot, hands and head. She could smell both disinfectant and herb from them. A thick blanket also wrapped her body nicely. She wiched when she tried to move her body. Her body full of bruises and few scratches. Gave up the idea to move around, she lay back on the sofa and tried to be as comfort as possible.
When a man suddenly showed up she almost screaming in terror, only to realize that this was the man who saved her. He put a bowl of chicken porridge and hot tea on the table before left without saying anything. In fact, the only voice he said during that night was she needs no worries about the pig and he would bring her to nearby hospital tomorrow morning. Strangely, she could believed those words and started to crying from the relieved feeling that suddenly filling her heart.
The night passed slowly. Ari still laid on sofa beside the fireplace, unable to closed her eyes. Her gaze were fixed on her savior back who sat on the carpet across the room. Those back looked so strong and dependable. Half her heart screaming like a little girl because she saw her prince in shining armor. But her other half, the woman’s part, were looking at him with concern. That back looked so lonely and wounded, inviting her to go there and hug him, just to held it together and make sure it was not broken into pieces.
Ari snapped from her flashback. Sighed heavily while realizing that she put the tea bag too long and make her tea too thick for her taste. She made another cup of hot tea, this time she had to make sure not to mess up like last time.
Now that i think about it, i still haven’t found the tea from that time.
She was always a tea lover. Even more so after she was saved back there. But after all this year, after hundreds of tea she drank, she would never coming back to the special taste of tea that she felt that night. She still remembered that rich raw taste of tea leaves that leave tasty after taste. She also remembered the smell and the color. But one thing she could not remembered at all is her benefactor face. No matter how hard she recalled that night, she could not remember his face. Only his back that stuck on her mind. That dependable yet fragile big back of his.
Get a grip girl, no use think about it too much.
Frowned, her thought back at her tea. When she got what she wanted, she went back to the entertainment room.
Five years had passed since that accident. Now that she take a look at herself in the mirror, Ari could not find trace of that young girl from that time. Her petite body already grown so much that her friends from middle school barely recognize her anymore. Her shoulder length blonde hair was always had a natural curl, but in the hand of her hair stylish, it had a nice pattern and a touch of brownish color on the tip make it stood out even more. Her face and body proportion were developed so much and leave no childish look at all. Her breast grown to a decent size and shape, she had a curvy body line which, with a proper lingerie, drawn sexyness to the fullest. Her boyfriend put would gave her a huge perverted grin if she asked him on this matter.
The second stich of Emma show were more interested than the first. While the topic was everyday life in Vanskoria city, everyone knew that the most exciting was about the social life on the city that has been rumored since forever, yet almost no one could deny nor giving affirmation about it.
“Now you know that i have to asked you this Ray.” Emma smiling playfully. “But is it true that having more than one lover or partner is a common practice in Vanskoria?”
Everyone shown different reaction toward the question.
Ray put his best smile he could muster. He knew the question was coming. “You have to ask it do you?”
Emma, still with her playful smile, just shrugged her shoulder.
“Yes it is true. Multiple partner were common practice in Vanskoria.” His answered swallowed by the reaction from the audience. “But! Let me explain it to you something…”
“In Vanskoria, we have different social structure from the world. We held old style system from the beginning of Vanskoria city and… Emma, please don’t put those scary smile okay.” Ray skilfully lowering the judgemental stare from the crowd and asked them to hear him first.
“Let me explain to you how the Vanskoria city works” Ray said still with his big smile on his face.
The dungeon city pulse of life centered on the dungeon dive activity. Not all had the capabilities to dive into the dungeon. Those who had the capabilities were called Hunter and Witches. Male had tendencies to be a hunter who relies its ability to strengthening their physical power. On the opposite, female tends to be a witch, who had superior mana manipulation both in precision and concentration.
“So you are a hunter?” Emma asked
Ray nodded. “Yes, i’m hunter with defence speciality. I carry huge shield at front of my party.”
Audience gasped hearing that. Emma let out a sly grin. “Now we talking. That sounds so hot big guy.”
Ray just shrugged, still smiling.
“We do have your photo in your armor. Let us look right now.” Emma said while looked at giant big screen behind them.
The screen shown up a full body of a young man with half torn armor and cracked shield. He wore a dangerous expression while his eyes glittering with sharp gaze. Overall, it’s looked so manly and already make woman in the room smiling devilishly. They clapped their hands and some even started to calling his name.
“Yeah, thats me when i was younger. I was 20 at that time.” said Ray.
Emma did not let this chance go away. “What’s the story about this photo? Why are your armor was only half?” she chuckled. “Not that the girls here have any complain though.”
With the cheers from the audience, Ray put his hands in the air. “Alright, it was a request to hunt Arphadillos, a giant half lizard- half crocodile with size of 5 meter.”
Ray took a moment to let his words sinking in. “It was supposed to be an easy ride. They were not that dangerous. My party already set everything and we had this big arph in the middle of the swamp, not moving like it was sleeping.”
“So we approach him from behind the wind, slow and steady with harpoon in hand.” Ray nodding repeatedly as his memory bringing the scene in front of him. “Then suddenly, out of nowhere, they just came out. There were lot of them, like 5 or 6, jumping at my party in the same time.”
He gulped. Those scene were not easy for him, even after 20 years. “It was an ambush. Even today i still kicking myself for our stupidity at that point. It was… it was total disaster. Forget about the witches, beside me as the main tanker, the hunter just had light armor and not equipped with their main weapon.”
Ray pointed at his broken armor. “This was caused by that big aph that lay in the middle. He literally jumped at me and bit me on the shoulder. If not because of my armor, i’ll be dead for sure. The fight were long and taxing on us. I still remembered how i desperately swinging that shield around just to distract them while my party get on their feet.”
The nodding continues as Ray’s gaze swept the entire audience. “Somehow we made it alive. Yes we have scars, we have broken bone and ripped flesh, but we alive. And it’s daily life for us. Everytime we dive into that dungeon, we always had to deal with the fear of death.”
He smiled wryly. “And i’m here to tell the world about this tale. Thousand tale and sacrifice we make everyday just to keep the dungeon stay calm and peaceful.”
Ari let his story sinking in her head. Sheila and Jerry had an argument about whether the story was make sense or not. Nina ignored them, eating her meatballs in peaceful manner. Ari agreed with Nina and took a sip of her tea, only realized that her tea no longer warm.
With those words the audience started to clasp their hands. Even Emma seems troubled to find words. “Ray, i have to tell you. That was… Wow, i’m sorry that was beyond what i thought.”
The tall guy put his charming smile back. “Oh cmon now, let’s back to your question shall we?”
Emma pouted. “You just couldn’t wait to brag about your women eh? Fine, go on and tell us.”
With a laugh, he continued his explanation. “There is a barrier that make any normal human could not stay long in Vanskoria.”
Vanskoria was a city which entirely covered in low mana density, around 2% and could climb to 3% during summer. This circumstances alone made normal human without mana resistance could only be inside the city for 3 to 5 days before the mana began disturbing internal organ function. And by the 10th day, any ordinary human would be died from heart attack.
“Because these circumstances, like i said before, we have different social structure. We could say that we are a closed society.” Ray explaining further.
The Guild held the most important role in the city. From governing the city to dungeon related management, down to as cheesy as marriage interview. Below the guild, stands 5 main family of Vanskoria. This family held by Hunter or witches descendens. They had half power to determined course of the guild. The third class would be the minor family who support the main Family. They were consist of craftsman, merchant, teacher, basically anyone that had the qualification and skill to support the main family. the final class would be anyone who did not held any special skill but had mana resistance to stay in the city.
“Apart from this class diversion, there are other classification that held degree of importance in Vanskoria.”
The mana core density was something that would make difference in someone destiny in Vanskoria. To be a Hunter or witches someone required to have core density more than 70%, which called Alpha Core. To be supporter would need Beta Core which possed minimum 30% core density. Below that someone were not allowed to do dungeon diving. While Beta Core could not dive too deep, they still had enough resistance to dive lower floor. This was very suitable for any works related dungeon like mining, hunting, and researching.
“The problem is, these core density was gift from birth and not something that could be trained or adjusted. And it’s not stopped at that, another problem that should be considered are Hunter and Witches have lower probability to have children due to high mana exposure that they had during dungeon diving. Added the fact that probability a children had Alpha Core were only 3%. And that also required that one of their parents is hunter or witches.”
Several audience started to whispering. Emma herself frowning uncomfortably.
“So based on this circumstances, the guild decide to give privilege toward hunter and witches to have several partner for them.”
“That’s a bit hard to swallow.” Emma said. “But how you choose your partner? And who decided how many partner you can have in your marriage?”
“Well, for sure it’s hard to believe i know.” Ray shifted his hand to his chin. “The marriage partner were decided by the family. It can be said that it was political marriage instead of mutual love.”
“Wow, it’s indeed getting hard in here. I mean in this day? Arranged marriage? Get out of here please!” Emma said with exaggerated gesture to fan out the audience.
“One thing that i had to stressed you before anything else. I love my wives and never do i felt any regret on marrying them. I missed nothing. Arranged married at first, Love them later on as a husband. What else a man can give?”
Another exaggerated gesture from Emma that saying she understand nothing, it’s not stopping the audience to have split opinions.
“Tell you what, let’s just take easy way. We shall asked your wife directly okay?” Emma stood. “Please welcome Tina Edmund!”
From behind came out a beautiful woman, tall at 170-ish cm, with slim built and dark brown skin. Her khaki dress fit perfectly to her body, complimenting her curly dark brown hair that let loose on her shoulder. With perfect full lips smile and glittering dark eyes, Tina waving her hand in confident to the audience. And the audience indeed love her at the first sight.
“I’ve told you Emma.” Ray smirked. “I regret nothing.” He added playfully.
“Alright… Alright, you got me there.” Emma nodded, then turned her attention to Tina. “Welcome Tina, your husband here can’t wait to brag about his women. And i understand after seeing you here girl.”
Tina smiled. “Yea Ray can be a little clingy you know. He loves his women so much.”
“I’m sorry, i have to asked you this. But how on earth did you agreed that he… you know, had more than one wife! This past 10 minutes had been a roller coaster ride for my heart. Please tell us from your point of view, what is it like that your husband have other woman.” Emma asked, this time without overreacted.
Tina looked at Ray and held his hand. She looked so confident and comfortable.
“It’s like having a sister. More or less like that.”
The short answer confused Emma. “Sister? I love my sister y’know. But i’m not sure i could comparing that with another wife.”
Tina raised her eyebrow. “You love your sister? That’s before or after she used your expensive make up then eat your favourite pudding in the fridge?”
“Well thats…” Emma had a laugh. “Damn, i think i know what you're saying girl. I’ll kill that sister of mine if she did that.”
“That’s my point.” Tina added. “We have our share of jealousy, hate, envy, but in front of this man over here, we share our love together, no matter how sweet or bitter that is.”
“You really comfortable with your position as the first wife don’t you?” Emma raised her eyebrow.
“Well, I was born with Beta core from the minor family. That’s means i have obligation to be a supporter for the Hunter. And because i have the highest potential, i was trained to be a first wife.”
“Hold on. Trained to be a first wife?” Emma asked in disbelief.
Tina had wry smile. “I know that sounds weird, but yeah to be a first wife you have to finish your training from the guild.”
Not every girl have the chance to be a first wife. Basically they were the alpha-female and have to deal with internal family problem during husband active duty as a hunter. They must have broad view, calm decision making process, loving others, also have quality to be a great wife and mother. In Vanskoria, to be a first wife held it’s own prestige. Especially if they have children with alpha core, they would have their own class in society.
The circumstances for Witches was a bit different. Because the purpose of have several partner was to boost the chance to have alpha core descendant, the witches held more freedom to choose how many partner they should held. Many would choose just one husband, but have two or three lover. These husband were also need to passed the training first.
“Yea, the more you say the more headache i got.” Emma raised her hands. “So let’s ask something more private, like how both of you meet? Is it those boring arranged marriage?”
The couple stare at each other and Tina blushed a little. “I know you would ask that. It’s kind of embarrassing to tell you know.”
“It’s actually had to do with that photo you shown earlier. That armor actually made by Tina’s grandfather. I thought that i should at least give a visit to person that save my life y’know.” Ray said.
Tina smiled meekly. “When he came to our family house, i was 22 at that time. Like my father, i learn about armor making since i was a kid. And i was never a practical person, more like pen and paper person you know. So it was kind of rare to see me that day on our workshop. Worst decision in my life!”
“So i was like doing a project for my college degree. I’m sweating, i wore this rug shirt with outdated jeans, my hair was a mess with ash everywhere. You know where this is going do you?”
Emma and the audience had a giggle. “Go on girl.” she urged Tina to continued.
“At that worst moment my grandpa introduced me to one of the most handsome man i’ve ever seen. I was literally stunned when he grasp my hand and introduced his name. Then, out of nowhere, my stupid grandpa said that this man was looking a wife.”
“At that moment i was feeling the world collapse. I don't even realize that my hand was all dirty! I don’t know, i just wanted to bury myself and not coming out for a year or something.” Tina take a breath. “Emma, you laughing way too hard you know.”
Like several other audience, Emma had a time of her life. “I’m sorry i could not helped it. What’s with this cheesy romance development? I thought we are talking about the depression of arranged marriage?!”
“Wait don’t answer that. Carry on with your story, that's more amusing right now.” She added.
Tina chuckled. “First, He won’t let go of my hand.”
The audience reacted meekly.
“Second, he kiss my hand! My awfully dirty hand!”
They gasped.
“And as if that was not enough torture, he said it was lovely to met a beautiful woman like me.”
Not able to contain anymore, the audience roared and clasped their hand.
“At that moment i know i’m in love with him. Period, i could not think other man as husband than him. He just so sweet!”
The audience clasped for a few moment before finally died down. Emma just had small smile on her lips. “Well then casanova, you did have your way with women eh?”
She asked Tina once again. “So after that you got married?”
“Well, actually no. We married around 2 years after that. Ray still have obligation as Hunter and so we decided to delay the marriage for a while.”
The gank looking at the television in weird atmosphere.
“It’s felt weird isn’t?” Jerry asked.
“Sounds fake?” Sheila muttered.
“No, that ain’t fake.” Nina said between her food. “That Tina is really in love with him. As a wife i can guarantee that.”
Ari raised her eyebrow, amused. Not so much convincing remembering your love for food were larger girl.
Jerry and Sheila exchanged glances, then they stare at Ari at the same time. “What do you think Ari?”
The blonde girl snorted. “It could work. I mean if it’s the world we know. I still could not understand her feeling though.”
“I mean.” She tilted her head.”Can you imagine it’s your usual morning routine and then your husband just say good bye like Honey i’m off to work, going to slay some crocodile today. Then you say be carefull and can you pick up kids on the way home?”
Three of her friend stared at her blankly.
“Certainly that’s a bit…” Sheila mumbled.
Suddenly Ari’s phone blinking. She paled when read the message.
“Crap! My boss is looking for my! I have task for this afternoon!!”
She take off from the entertainment room without another beat, only to came back a second later.
“Are we still on schedule tomorrow? BBQ party on Sheila’s?” She asked.
“Of course! I’ve been dieting for that event you know.” Nina said proudly.
Rolling her eyes Sheila answered. “Yea, we still on it. Only if your boss did not give you extra task because you slacking off today.”
Ari smiled. “Can’t wait for tomorrow! Thanks guys! Love you all!”
The three of them just shrugged it off. It’s not unusual for their friend to be disorganized like that. She was like a wind. Sometimes blow so hard like a hurricane, sometimes just lazily strolling in life.
But still, they love her so much. That’s what friend were for!