Seventy Six: What the Dragon cannot hold
I'm my own High School Rival: Christina's arc: Bend or Break
During Christina's confrontation in the school bathroom…
I sat in Trish's office, wondering where things had gone wrong in my life that had led me to this situation. Instead of pulling up a chair and talking down to me like I had expected, she made me sit on a love sofa with her. Subaki was still in the room, but she acted like I didn't even exist.
"Don't be shy," Trish said. "I just want to ask you a few questions. Think of it as a welcome-aboard questionnaire," she said, brushing the back of my head with her hand.
She wore a white blouse with a short black skirt, and I swear that every time I looked down, she would open her legs, and I'd look up again.
"Still don't want to talk? Well, I see you rather enjoy the clothing my daughter bought you with my money."
I looked at the sweat suit. It was comfortable, I admit, but I didn't force her to do anything.
"Ma'am."
"Please," she said, grabbing my shoulders and turning me to face her, "call me Mom."
"Um. Ms. Tetsusen—"
"That wasn't optional."
…
She held my gaze and my life. I had begun to understand why Christina was the way she was.
"Mom…I didn't ask for these clothes; I'm wearing them because Christina told me mine were bloodied."
She still held my shoulders, and I felt like I could reach out and grab hers. But what would happen if I touched the Queen? I swallowed saliva.
"How about we hug to celebrate your survival?" Her grip on my shoulders tightened and then relaxed. "Come on, bring it in."
We embraced, but I didn't fully hug her. My hands remained unwrapped while she rubbed my back. I could no longer see Subaki.
"There we go. Nice and safe."
Then why don't I feel safe?
"Son, let me ask you a few questions. I know how I framed it, but you don't have a choice but to answer, do you understand me?"
I looked up, fully embraced by the queen and the notion that she could crush me in her arms.
I squirmed, but her arms didn't budge.
"Well, my dear boy, did you fuck my daughter?"
I froze. Subaki coughed, and Trish stared into my soul, wringing out my fear.
"Can we use a different word?"
She squeezed.
"That wasn't an answer."
…
"I-I didn't do anything with your daughter!"
"Have you done anything with anyone? Say, the woman in the love hotel?"
Just how much did she know? Did she follow Kami and me?
Her arms tightened again.
"I never even lay in the same bed as Kami!" I screamed with the little air I had left.
She loosened her arms.
"That's good. What about the woman who stabbed you?"
I gasped for air. Heaving as if I would choke.
"Well, I'm waiting," she said.
I looked toward Subaki for comfort, and she stood there like a statue. Her eyes focused on something across the room since she pretended not to see what her boss was doing.
Trish took me by the chin, gently bringing me back to her.
"She won't save you, son; nobody can. Now, tell me. Did you sleep with the woman who stabbed you? Is that how you survived for so long?"
She let go of me, pushed me down onto the sofa, and hovered over me.
I could see Subaki from my position on my back. She had her hands behind her back.
I could feel Trish's face near mine, and then she leaned in and inhaled.
Subaki gripped her sleeve, creating wrinkles in her coat.
"Dear son, I want my answer," she said, breath warm against my face.
…
I can't catch a break. If not the daughter, the mother wants to take a bite out of me.
"Fine!" I shouted. "I traded my body for time, and she agreed. I did whatever she wanted and never asked why. So, send me home!"
I closed my eyes and prayed that she would drop the topic and me.
She dragged her lips across my cheek.
I shivered.
"Then show me what you did for her."
My heart sank.
What do I do now? No one's touched me, so how do I fake this? Also, I don't know what she does or doesn't know about me or the incident.
"Okay, okay, but you have to let me stand up."
Through shallow breaths and blinking eyes, Trish studied me; our faces too close, sharing breaths.
She sat up, still on top of me, and ran her hand through her black hair, undoing her bun and allowing her hair to fall naturally.
"Okay, you can put on a show for me, son," she said, smirking.
She moved from on top of me, still kneeling on the love sofa. She pushed me off the sofa with her foot, and I fell to the floor.
Subaki didn't move, but her once stoic face was visited by a frown.
I gradually stood, not knowing what I would do.
My heartbeat raced.
"Well, I'm waiting," she made herself comfortable on the red sofa.
I looked at her desk and then the door. The space between was vast. I'd considered climbing the bookshelf, but I'd accomplish nothing.
There isn't anything I can do…
I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.
Screw it!
I ran for the door, and Subaki's eyes closed.
Had I made the wrong decision?
She stepped aside, giving me a clear path to freedom. But when I got to the door, I couldn't open it…I couldn't touch it. I don't know if it was locked because I never touched the handle. Cold chills consumed every inch of my skin. I started to sweat as if I were in a torrential storm. My legs wobbled until they gave out.
Has Trish done something to me?
I turned slowly to see if she was standing over me, but she was still on the couch, and then the ground started to shake; my arms gave way, and I fell to the floor.
Am I dying…
"Damn shame," Trish said.
I watched as Trish's black fan-embroidered high heels made their way toward me. "I was looking forward to the performance since I know that you hadn't done anything with Shizuka."
I gasped for air that I could not find, and tried to command limbs that wouldn't respond.
"If you're wondering how I know, it's because she told me while I was breaking her other leg."
Familiar hands brought me to their embrace.
"Subaki, what the fuck is wrong with him? Am I just that damn appealing?"
The world started to fade in and out as the soft red carpet blurred.
"He's having a panic attack, your grace. After all, he was attacked by a woman who had taken many lives, and probably intended to take his life, too."
"Well, make him stop. I'm monologuing, and I want him to hear it."
A gentle knock at the door, and then it opened.
"I didn't do anything, so don't give me that fucking look…"
"Trish," an unfamiliar voice said, "are you breaking my daughter's consort? Do you want to sleep in the extra room?"
"No, I don't want to sleep in the extra fucking room. I just asked him some—"
I looked up, still struggling to find air in the open room. A man with sun-kissed hair and a white suit with fur around his collar grabbed Trish by the skirt and tugged it.
"It's wrinkled, Trish."
"Well, it must have gotten bunched up while I was sitting at my desk," she said, leaning back from him.
He, on the other hand, leaned forward. "Hum, your lipstick is smudged."
The air from the open door calmed me down, and Subaki was counting backward from seven.
I'm not sure why I found that soothing, but my heart started to slow down.
"It…must have been something I ate," she laughed, but her laugh lacked certainty.
With both hands, he took Trish by the face in the most gentle hold I've ever seen. For a moment, I thought they were going to kiss, but he only smelled her breath.
"Drinking this early, Trish?"
Her face pouted, and she slumped a bit.
"I am not, Masayuki. Why are you here?"
He softly tugged at her waist in a playful way. He smiled, and she frowned, but she didn't stop him.
"I'm busy. I'll play with you after I'm done—"
"Playing with him?"
Trish's eyes widened, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"You think I would—with him? Don't even joke like that."
It wasn't a joke when you were on top of me…
I took my first clean breath since the door.
"I understand. Well, you can tell me everything the day after tomorrow."
She blinked.
"Why the day after?"
He caressed her face, rubbing his thumb across her lips.
"The day after, because you'll be sleeping in the extra room."
He pushed away from Trish, and she didn't fight him. He just slipped through her arms and walked over to me.
"M-Masayuki," she called out, "You can't be serious. I didn't do anything to him. He started to leave and freaked out at the door."
She said, her fist shaking at her sides.
He walked over and knelt down in front of me. He patted my head and smiled.
"Hello, joy of my world. I've been anticipating this moment for many days, and now here you are!" He held me under my arms and slowly stood with me.
"Masayuki, let's think about this for a moment, love."
He turned to Trish, wrapping his left arm around my neck, and turned me toward Trish.
I could feel the white fleece brushing against my neck.
She looked at me, then Masayuki.
"I-I am the queen of the Iron Fan Court. If I tell you that I'm not sleeping in the extra room, you'll listen, just as he will follow every order I give him, do you understand me?"
He ran his right hand through his blond hair and delivered a subtle glance.
What's he going to do now?
"You're absolutely right, my wonderful queen."
Trish smirked as if she didn't know the power she wielded.
"I guess I'll just have to share my daughter's bed again."
The smirk dropped. Her jaw slackened, and I swear I heard a faint giggle from Subaki.
"May we leave without making a scene, my queen?"
She plopped down onto the love sofa and slouched over the right arm.
"Will you at least consider sleeping with me tonight?"
Masayuki drew circles with his finger on his cheek. He smiled as if he didn't just oppose the queen of the clan.
"We will see. Right now, I've got so much to talk about with my heart's love."
We turned to the door.
"Subaki!" He said.
Subaki revealed a faint smile.
"Please allow me to get the door for you, Mr. Tetsusen."
***
I stared at my door as it closed with my fucking husband and my entertainment. My plan was perfect, my execution was flawless, so how did it all turn to shit?
I sank into my love seat, wishing the outcome was different, but by some stroke of misfortune, Masayuki dropped by at the wrong time.
"Subaki," I said, sounding more hoarse than needed. "What just happened?"
I could hear her footsteps approaching me.
"Well, your grace—"
"Cut the crap."
She knelt down beside me.
"Well, Trish, your husband walked off with Christina's future lover and told you to sleep in the extra room."
"Fuck. Why doesn't he?"
"You would sleep in there with him…"
I blinked.
"Why are men so hard?" I whined.
I brushed my hair back with my hand, considering his shitty emotional state and my daughter's future outburst.
"Subaki, I did tell Antwon not to tell Christina, right?"
I looked up at Subaki, and she frowned.
"Well, it can't get any worse." I turned and lay down on my sofa. "Subaki, bring me a drink, and don't judge me yet."
"I won't, Trish. I'll bring you some painkillers and some water, too," she said, standing up.
I sighed.
I haven't lost…I just need a moment to recalibrate.
My phone buzzed, and I reached into my skirt.
Then Subaki's phone vibrated, too.
…
The screen illuminated in my hand.
…
"That fucking four-eyed cunt named Rika Iga-fucking-rashi!
Masayuki Tetsusen.