The counter girl stepped back into the bedroom and stopped momentarily while tapping something into her phone. After Claire was done with whatever she was doing, her gaze finally met mine. Her face went through a series of expressions, from surprise, to contemplation, to realization, to a resignation. In her eyes, I could almost read the unasked question of ‘Did you hear everything?’ Keeping my own silence, I just nodded with a shrug. Which led to a deep sigh from the counter girl.

With a great reluctance, I extracted myself from Olivia’s embrace, who then curled into almost a ball. What was she? A cat? I gestured for Claire to follow me into the kitchen, which she did, and closed both doors behind us.

“So.” What a way to start a conversation, indeed. “I guess you are about to leave?”

“Um, I guess so,” the counter girl’s answer was just as awkward.

“Is it about the morning episode?” I decided to ask.

“In a way…” Claire drawled. “But not entirely. I… I just don’t want to be a third-wheel any longer.”

“You are still on that?” I sighed. “Hey, Claire, did either of us tell you that you are in the way?”

“No. Neither of you did. And that makes me even more self-conscious…” she replied. “Tian, I don’t know what to do, or even what to think, right now. You were right, your love life is a helluva complicated thing, and I am not certain if I want to be a part of it.”

“But you aren’t fully against it either,” I nodded, voicing the unsaid part of her sentence.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “And that makes me feel even more confused.”

“Understandable,” I nodded once more. “So, do you want me to stop then?”

“And if I said yes, would you?” Clare responded with a question of her own.

“Yep. I would,” I gave her an answer.

“Just like that?” She sounded surprised.

“Just like that,” I confirmed.

“Why?” And another one.

“Because that would mean one of the two things. You either aren’t interested, or you want to play some kind of stupid games with me. And in both cases I have better things to do with my time,” I gave her the truth.

“And then what? Will you just disappear into thin air?” Claire questioned, with a hint of bitterness in her tone.

“Hm. No, not really. I will just stop seeing you as a potential interest, and will shift my priorities accordingly. I will still greet you if we met on your shift in the convenience store, or in that park, or in the gym,” I explained. “You also seem to hit it off decently well with Olivia. So, I guess, I will be your acquaintance, your friend’s boyfriend. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Not a friend?” Even more bitterness in her tone.

“Claire. Please. I can’t be your friend. That would be a disservice to us both.” I shook my head. “Even if we ignored the existing knowledge about the true nature of my intentions. Not to sound too arrogant, but do you think your future boyfriend would ever feel safe with me being close to you? I wouldn’t let my woman stay in contact with someone like myself, either. Too much risk.”

“I would never!” Claire exclaimed.

“Yes, you wouldn’t. But I would,” I interrupted her. “Keeping everything that already happened between the two of us in mind. With everything I told you about who I am as well. Answer me this, do you believe that you can stop me?”

In one fluid motion, I was already in her personal space, towering above her petite form, my hands clasped on her waist, limiting her escape possibilities. Disbelief, shock, apprehension, and a bit of fear clear in her gaze. Wait, there was something else. Expectation? Her hands clenched on my chest, not even trying to push me away. She hasn’t screamed either, even knowing that Olivia was just two doors away. On second thought, Olivia was my girlfriend, yes, but, at the very least, the chance was worth the effort. What is wrong with you, counter girl?

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With a little to no effort, I raised Claire into the air and put her on a kitchen table, half-laying her on her back. Afterward, with long since honed motion, first I got my knee between her legs, spreading them a bit apart, then inserting the rest of my body, putting enough of my weight onto hers, so she wouldn’t be able to run away. Taking off my right hand from her waist, I got it underneath her shirt and raised it, freeing her breasts. With another honed motion, using the same hand, I scooped her right breast, big enough to spill out of my palm and firm enough to defy gravity, and squeezed it a little, even playing a bit with a hardened nipple.

Still no scream followed. Her arms were just clenching my own shirt. She was biting her lip fighting back the moan, her face flustered to the extreme. Her eyes were half-lidded, most negative emotions in them were gone, leaving only expectations, lust and a lot of apprehension.

“Is this another lesson?” I heard Olivia’s voice all of a sudden.

Her words went through my head like a wave of frigid water, shackling the fucking animal that I am, and leaving behind the cold clarity. I fucked up. Royally.

“No, that’s me losing control.” I shook my head, releasing my hold on Claire’s… everything. “I’m sorry, Claire, I fucked up.”

Not waiting for her answer, what was there to wait for even, I left the kitchen, brushing past silent Olivia, and went to the bathroom. I turned the cold water on and stuck my head under the faucet.

***

Fuck. Well, there went my nefarious plans. Pity. I focused on the feeling of cold water running down my head and neck. Worse yet, Olivia had seen me losing my control. Double fuck. Obviously enough, I expected to slip at some point, but not this early.

I heard someone knocking on the bathroom door. Leaving from under the water stream, I took a towel and wiped off the dripping liquid. I was stalling for time, of course, and I knew that. A moment later, I opened the door, getting ready for what was about to come.

“Hey, Tian.” I must’ve started hallucinating. “I think I need a shower. Again.”

Instead of screaming at me, rightfully accusing me of all the sins in the world, there stood Claire, a wry smile on her lips, the leftover blush still playing on her face.

“And. Um. Well. I think I got my answer for your previous question.” She even had the nerve to chuckle. “Um, also, I kind of heard what you said about my mixed signals to Olivia last night. It’s not that I faked my blackout, it’s just, you know, I briefly woke up when you threw me onto the bed.”

She stumbled a bit in her words, for some reason, trying to explain herself to me. What the hell?

“So, um. It’s not that I don’t know which ones I want you to follow. It’s just I want you to follow all of them simultaneously.” Another chuckle. Did I dream all of this up or what? “I said it once previously. You are an enigma to me. I never met anyone quite like you before. And you make me feel all kinds of things. And I don’t know what to make out of it. Just like right before, in the kitchen…”

She gulped and stopped talking for a moment, while I, still not quite sure what was going on, kept my mouth shut.

“It was unexpected, shocking even. Scary,” she hugged herself, shuddering a bit. “And very exciting. I, um, don’t think I will forget this lesson like ever.”

“I would prefer if you forgot, not going to lie,” I muttered.

“Nuh-uh, not going to happen. For better or for worse,” Claire smiled. “But I digress. You asked me what I want from you. And, um, my answer is simple. I want you to continue doing all of this.”

“All of this?” I asked back.

“Um, maybe except the kitchen thing… I don’t think I am ready. Not yet,” the flustered girl sputtered.

“Oh. Yeah, I must apologize again,” I sighed. “Sorry Claire. I let my control slip for a moment there. I… will try my best not to mess like that again, but I will understand if you decide to avoid me.”

Instead of speaking, the counter girl took a step closer to me and made a gesture for me to lower my head. Well, a few slaps were the least I expected to get from this mess, so I did as she asked and braced myself.

Only the slap never came. Instead, Claire kissed me on the cheek. Nothing more than a quick peck. I barely felt a touch of her lips.

“You are forgiven,” the koala girl graced me with her verdict. “Just, um, please, don’t do it again, um, without permission.”

Yes, a hallucination it was. Good to know. I still tried to lie to myself, not wanting to accept the true scope of the Chaos that was my second life. A moment later I put a hand on Claire’s chin and raised her face up, with a dark pleasure looking into her widening eyes. And gave her a kiss, a chaste one, no tongue involved, just long enough for her body to go stiff.

“Then don’t give me chances like that, Counter Girl,” I whispered into her ear.

I released her and went out, leaving behind the blushing mess with her hand on her lips. What is there to say? Chaos was much more interesting than Boredom. I felt the smile stretching my lips.