Chapter 11

“Andrew?”

I opened my eyes. Woops, I had fallen asleep. I rubbed my eyes as I looked around. It seemed Oliver had just got home. I looked at him and waved. I looked to my right and there was Nadia and Aisling, they were smiling… As they always should.

“Sorry… The pain pills must have knocked me out.”

I looked around.

“Where’s Michael?”

AI spoke from the tv, “He went out. He said he had urgent business, and I can confirm it is important. He said he would be back maybe tonight, but definitely tomorrow morning.”

I nodded, fair enough, he was still an agent after all. I looked around, Ashley wasn’t here either. My safety isn’t a concern, the Black Roses were no doubt everywhere around us, protecting the angels and myself.

Oliver walked up to me, “Andrew, I'm also heading out ok?”

I looked at him surprised, “Oh?”

He smiled, “I’m visiting someone.”

I read his body language. Right, he’s off to get laid, fair enough.

“See you later, mate.” I said as I yawned and gently stretched. I looked at the two sitting there. I needed to find a way to get Aisling alone. I thought for a second as I watched Oliver leave the apartment. I glanced and saw the Black Roses standing there in the passageway.

I had an idea as I suddenly patted my hoodie and my jeans.

“Oh shit… My cards!” I whispered.

Nadia leaned forward, “What’s wrong?”

“I think I dropped my cards! It must have fallen when Michael took me out of the car! Shit!”

I did another frantic patdown of myself as I reached into my inner pocket and shook my head.

“Nadia, I can’t stand or walk! Could you please go see if I dropped it in the car park?”

Nadia looked a bit panicked, “I will get the Black Roses to get it.”

“No, those cards are precious to me! I need someone I can trust to find them, please!”

She nodded and stood up, quickly walking out the front door. I heard her hastily speak with the Black Roses, “I need to go find something lost, at the car park, come with me please.” The Black Rose soldiers walked forward instantly, with her behind them and the door shut behind them.

Aisling looked at me worried, “I hope they find it, those cards mean so much to you!”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the sack of cards. I gently placed them on the table, so that Aisling could clearly see them.

“Wait… You did have them?” She was very confused.

I leaned forward and stared straight into her eyes. I had at most 5 to 10 minutes. I needed to do this quickly.

“Aisling, why are you hiding that you’re a lesbian?”

Aisling jolted in surprise. Her eyes widened as she took a few breaths before speaking.

“What? I’m not-”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Aisling stared at me quietly, as her eyes went sad.

AI appeared on the TV, “Why am I not surprised that you worked it out effortlessly.”

I ignored AI, “I don’t understand, Aisling. It’s not illegal… In fact it’s not even frowned upon anymore. I might have thought it was you acting professionally… But this is not a corporation or government entity. The Roses don’t care about people's private lives and they don’t prevent sex or relationships. So it’s not professionalism…”

Aisling shook her head, her eyes were sad. She started crying as she looked away.

“Nadia.” She quietly said.

“Nadia? What about Nadia?”

“She told me that her family is religious and strongly against homosexuality…”

“Ah right, what is her opinion though?”

“I don’t know, but I assume it’s the same as her family’s …”

“Right. Ok, you know what they say about assumptions right-”

The front door quickly opened and Nadia quickly walked in. Her face was frustrated as she clearly had no luck finding the cards.

Nadia started explaining, “I looked every-.” She noticed the cards on the table.

I put my hands in the air, “I’m so sorry. I realised I left them on the counter… I actually didn’t take them with me today… Stupid me, please forgive me?”

She smiled and nodded as she took a seat, “Thank goodness, I was panicking about all your hard work being lost.”

Nadia looked at Aisling and noticed she was crying.

“What’s wrong, Ash?”

Aisling looked away, “Nothing…”

“No, come on, talk to me, what’s the matter?”

Aisling just shook her head. After a few moments, Nadia looked at me confused. I crossed my arms and looked at Nadia.

I leaned forward, “Nadia, let’s talk, you and I. I have some questions to ask you… Would you please answer them for me?”

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She looked around confused, “Um, sure, but what about Aisling?”

“She is still the focus, don’t worry. May I ask you some questions?”

“Ok…” She looked at Aisling, but Aisling was still intentionally looking away.

“You are of Indian descent, am I right?”

“Yes obviously.”

“Is your family traditional?”

“Yes…?”

“So they are religious?”

“Yes Andrew, they practise Hinduism.”

“Do you share their beliefs?”

“No, I’m agnostic.”

Aisling took a surprised breath. I was confused as I didn’t know what that word meant.

“AI, sorry to bother you… What is an agnostic please?”

AI spoke, “A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

AI smiled, “It means they believe in a greater meaning, but they don’t subscribe to any religions.”

“Ah right, I never knew that was a thing, cool.”

Nadia looked very confused, she was waiting for some clarity.

“Ok Nadia, tell me… Does your family traditions affect you in… Personal matters?”

“Personal matters?”

“Um… You know… Like what team do you bat for?”

“Oh! No, I'm bisexual, my family knows that, even though it annoys them.”

That solved that. I leaned back to let the truth sit for a second. I knew what was coming next… Aisling started sobbing intensely. I imagine her relief was immense. Nadia turned to Aisling with a worried face.

“Honey, talk to me, what’s wrong! I can’t stand to see you cry!”

Aisling leaned on Nadia's shoulder, “I thought you would despise me!”

“Why would I possi-” Nadia froze as she connected the dots.

Nadia smiled as she hugged Aisling, “I never knew you were bi as well. Why would I care about that?”

Aisling sobbed, “I’m not bi…”

Nadia kept smiling, “So you’re into ladies only? I still don’t care, as long as you’re happy Ash…”

Aisling kept crying as Nadia gently stroked her hair. After a while, Aisling finally recovered herself. She gently escaped the hug, as she wiped her tears from her eyes.

Aisling’s face was sad, “I thought you would hate gay people like your family did…”

Nadia shook her head, “I only realised my family disliked gays when I came out to them. They were only half angry, because they think I’m half gay.” Nadia chuckled.

“So… You don’t mind that I’m…”

Nadia beamed a glorious smile, “Not even the slightest.”

Aisling stared into the distance, “All this time… I was hiding it from you…”

Nadia nodded, “You hid it so well, I never would have thought…”

Aisling leaned her head gently on her friend's shoulder. Her smile was so pure. I could only imagine how much happier she must have been, now that she didn’t have to hide who she was. I knew how that felt, to hide. A few days ago, I was trying to hide my past to save my pride. We all have things we’re too afraid to share.

AI had her arms crossed and her face was frustrated, “Andrew… I asked you to let it go.”

“I know AI, but this was important.”

“Are you going to constantly ignore people's privacy, on your own personal measurements of what is important?”

“This is the leadership of the Roses we are talking about. Their happiness directly affects their ability to perform their role! Do you not think Aisling was struggling to be hopeful, when she was hiding herself from her own best friend?”

“It was personal Andrew, you crossed the line.”

“Yes, it was personal and I did cross the line. Throw shame on me, call me reckless, disrespectful and toss me into the mud with the pigs! I see the relief and happiness on Aisling's face… I respect the closure this gave her… I regret nothing.”

Aisling gently spoke, “AI… It’s alright… His intentions were good.”

AI frowned, “Andrew, you won’t always guess right. One day, you will guess wrong, interfere and ruin a relationship. Please, I implore you… Apply maximum caution.”

I nodded, “I promise AI. I would never maliciously interfere for the sake of drama. I only act, when success is certain.”

AI smiled at me, “Good. Then I will say no more on the matter.”

I sat there feeling quite odd and I wasn’t sure why, so I thought about it. I realised something.

“AI… This was our first argument… Did you know that?”

AI nodded, “Indeed. It was inevitable that we would disagree at some stage, right?”

“Of course. I feel closer to you now. I want you to always be honest with me, like you were now, ok?”

“Certainly, I was always going to either way.”

Nadia and Aisling laughed. I won’t lie, if I could laugh, I would have also. It was funny hearing AI speak so… Casually.

Aisling smiled at me, “Thank you Andrew.”

I glanced between the both of them, “Your friendship with each other is precious. Don’t keep secrets, don’t hide who you are. Life is too short to pretend with people you care for.”

Aisling looked curious, “How did you realise I was lesbian, Andrew?”

“Oh, because of how awkward you were with Ruth.”

“Ruth…”

“Yes, I introduced you and you kinda rushed away.”

“Right… I don’t know where you are going with this?”

“Well… Aren’t you… With her?”

“What?! No!”

I sat there motionlessly. Did I… Misread? No, surely not, even AI was on the same wavelength as me. I tilted my head sideways to show confusion.

“I’m so confused now, I could have sworn you were reacting to Ruth… AI, you even thought what I thought?”

AI looked at me shaking her head, “No Andrew. I won’t tell you, because I respect people's privacy.”

“Oof, ok… So I guessed you were a lesbian, by a false flag. I guess you were right AI, I did screw up, I just got lucky in my stupid guess…”

Aisling looked at me with a serious face, “Andrew, it was Ashley who made me uncomfortable. That’s why I left.”

“Yeah, she was so angry with me, I don’t blame you for feeling uncomfortable.”

“No, Andrew… Ashley…”

“Ashley made you uncomfortable for another reason?”

“Andrew, bless you… Your current mental state is blinding you to the obvious answer. I am a lesbian… And Ashley made me feel uncomfortable.”

“Maybe I am still half asleep becaus- OH!” I bounced a bit on the sofa as the realisation hit me like a truck.

I covered my face in shame. How on earth did I not catch that implication? My sex drive was clearly shot to hell. I shook my head as I looked down at the floor, disappointed in myself. Nadia and Aisling both laughed at my reaction.

“Right… So you and Ashley… Gotcha.” I said through my hands.

“No, we are not… In a relationship.”

“Jesus… You people give me a headache with the way you talk! On the street, we spoke so much more directly.” I shook my head.

“Ok Andrew… How would they say this on the streets?”

“You’re fucking. That’s what we would say, easy peasy.”

Nadia laughed, “You have to admit… That does perfectly describe it…”

Aisling chuckled, “I suppose it does… Out of curiosity, what do they say when you are in a romantic relationship?”

“We’d say a couple are smitten.”

Aisling nodded, “That’s pretty straight forward. Now I want to ask about a lot of terms actually…”

I leaned back, “Maybe another time… I need to go to sleep now, I am struggling to focus… Sorry.”

Aisling and Nadia got up, they said thanks again and left. It was a good outcome and that’s the most important point. I tried standing up and immediately remembered that I couldn’t walk, oops. I guessed I was sleeping on the sofa that night… I’ve slept in far worse conditions than this… This was luxury.