[https://i.postimg.cc/cCxYHKmN/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time.gif]

Nona closed the laptop after sending her last e-mail. Her back hurt from sitting at an awkward angle all day long. She left her office room and walked towards the kitchen, where she would have a cup of coffee. The coffee machine was still on and warm.

The house was terribly quiet without Eske. It felt empty, and she couldn't put her finger around why. She barely knew the guy. Although she has to admit she sorta liked the morning shower display. Fuck, the guy is hot. She should have been quiet about it. Nona gave her first sip of the coffee, which tasted as if filled with coins and screws. She spat it back in the mug and threw it down the drain.

The door hall opened, and she could hear Eske taking off his shoes. She greeted him with a broad smile: 'Hi!'

'Hey.'; he said in a low tone and went directly to his room. He didn't even look at Nona. And closed his door. Did she do or say something she shouldn't? And why would she care? He was nothing to her, just a random dude paying half the rent.

She went to the living room and turned her console on. She wasn't really in the mood to socialise either. Why? Because he didn't tell you hi with a smile? Really? Why would you think a guy like that would look to a girl like you. Nona tried to focus on the game but repeatedly died on the same jump. 'This is ridiculous.'; she mumbled and tried again.

She felt weird, almost as if she couldn't breathe, and her heart was drumming fast and loud. She could swear she was about to have a heart attack. Her arms and hands were tingling, and the room seemed to shift completely to the left. Was she sick? Was something terrible about to happen to her? She dropped the remote controller and started to touch her skin. She tried to breathe calmly. She tried to inhale, exhale, and inhale again. The more she tried to remain calm, the more she could feel a cold crawling shiver through her spine, raising the hair of her neck and arms. There were no sounds around her. An abrupt silence fell, and the sudden intense taste of metal, stones and chia. The taste was so strong she could almost chew it. She thought she was about to throw up, but only a few black particles flew out of her mouth. And she heard it, a smooth, calm, stoic young man shouting:

> Why you don't listen to me, bloody girl! I told you to come home! Why don’t you do as told! Why are you trying to get me upset? Why Nona? Why!

Nona could breathe again, and her heart was calmer. She didn't want to make a sound. Nona didn't want to call him. She didn't want to be a burden, so she didn't move.

'Meow.'; an orange cat walked around her, brushing its head against her. 'Meow.'; it meowed once more and sat beside her, staring into her eyes. Its fur had a metallic shine to it.

It stared at her, then licked her cheek and disappeared into a flood of black dust right back into her mouth. And she heard him again:

> You should just get rid of it! We both know you are not fit to be a mother! What a joke, Nona, what a joke!

Nona fell to the ground, almost unconscious. She couldn't move, paralysed by an electric flow flashing through her shoulder until her fingers. She could feel her back arching and her head bashing to the floor. 'I'm dying, this is it.'; this was her last thought while strong long hands held her wrists: 'I'm dying.'; the thought screamed inside her head.

'Shhh, shhh, you're alright. I'm here, baby. I'm here,'; the voice whispered in her ear: 'I'm here. It will pass. Shhh, shhh....'

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She let her lids fall and finally exhaled the remnants of something that didn't belong here or there. Not even when.

Nona woke up on the couch with her head on Eske's lap. He was holding a towel with ice over her head. She moved slightly around as if to be sure she was still in the living room.

'Don't move. You hurt your head.'

She slowly drove her hand to her neck, feeling the pain and the soreness.

'You okay?'; he asked, looking concerned.

'Yeah... yeah.'; she answered, trying not to show any signs of drawback. 'Huh, thanks.'; she replied.

He smiled, with his eyes swollen and red: 'How was your day?'; he asked.

'Okay.'; she lied. 'Thanks again for the help.'; she added.

'No problem.'; he responded.

They stayed there for some minutes before she tried to stand up. 'Well, good night.'

He held her by the wrist and asked: 'Could you please stay here with me, just for a bit?'

She looked again at his eyes, red and swollen. 'Sure.'; she answered, nodding. 'Did you cry? Did something happen besides me almost... who knows what.'

'No, I just was in a house with a cat. Is just allergies, don't worry.'; he said.

'Oh, okay.'; she shrugged. 'I guess even if you were crying, you wouldn't tell me the truth.'

His face got serious, and he nodded. 'I failed my assignment, and I don't know how to face the people who are counting on me. That's pretty much the reason for my allergies.'; he explained.

'Can you try again tomorrow?'

'Probably.'; he agreed. 'But tonight, can we watch a movie together?'

'Sure.'; she said. 'Vodka?'

'Vodka?'

'Yes, vodka.'; she repeated. 'We need to relax, get drunk! Forget all this fucking day.'; she said, smiling.

He laughed. 'That's what I call relaxing, too.'; he said.

They barely watched the movies and drank the bottle off by shots. They talked, they laughed, and then there was this moment where Eske was too close.

She could almost taste him, and it wasn't the strong flavour of the liquor. A lightweight taste of something new, something that wouldn't exist in no other place or time. It was almost intoxicated. He stopped laughing and looked at her straight.

'What are you doing?'; she asked.

He didn't answer. Instead, he kissed Nona softly and tenderly. His lips caressed hers gently. He took her hands and placed them on his chest. She could feel his heart beating fast. He pulled away and looked deeply into her eyes.

'Not like this, baby. You would call it cheating.'; he said.

Nona's eyes opened wide as if she suddenly sobered up: 'You're right, this is a terrible idea.'; she stood up from the couch when Eske grabbed her hand.

'Wait, are you mad?'

'No, you're right. We are roommates. This would get messy.'; she said, shaking her head.

Eske sighed. 'Let me explain, I...'

'It's fine, dude. Is clear. Now let me go. I have work tomorrow.'; she said, pulling her arm free.

'Please wait.'; he pleaded.

'Goodnight!'

Eske heard her slamming her bedroom door. 'Yup, wifey is pissed.'; he mumbled, standing up and walking towards the bathroom.

'Fuck!'; he cursed under his breath. 'Why did I stop?'

Nona faced inside her bedroom, completely frozen, the orange cat was back, but it was not one nor two. There were hundreds of ginger cats meowing and looking at her. Each one of them tasted the same.

[https://i.postimg.cc/nhYDDRyR/0305-The-Ava-Incident.png]

[https://i.postimg.cc/6q9LFb4w/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time-2.gif]