Artificial Mates - Chapter 51

I rolled in bed and groaned at the massive headache resonating in my head. I haven’t opened my eyes yet and already knew this Friday was going to be a failure.

-Quit with the bad attitude. Just wake up already, said the invader in my thoughts.

“Quit with the head invasion,” I muttered into my pillow. I peeked at the face smiling next to mine. Grant was cheerful and all sunshine as usual. He didn’t seem to be affected by my massive hangover.

-I am, but I’m trying to deal with it.

“Really? And you can still smile?” I inquired with my eyebrow crooking upward.

-See you wake up always makes me happy.

I shoved my pillow at him. Why was he throwing cheesy lines this early especially when I was rocking a hangover? He caught the pillow without trouble.

“Just accept that I love you,” he said. An uneasy sensation lit at the back of the head, I yawned to distract him from noticing and saw that I’ve shifted from my black dress to my unicorn pajamas. My hand went up to the front of my shirt. I had no memory of how I got here. Grant smiled at me raising my level of anxiety.

“Don’t tell me…” my voice trailed off.

“Those were a cute pair of underwear,” he gave me a timid smile. I pulled the front of my shirt to check if I was still wearing them. I sighed with relief when I saw them on. I shot him a dark look.

“Never! You understand, never undress me without my consent!” I waved a finger at him. He nodded without protest. “Ok, good,” I quickly got out of bed. Demos were not around as usual.

-He’s getting ready.

When I got to my feet my head was pounding. I groaned at the pain. It’s been years since my last hangover. Without Lyla around to drag me to our girls-night-out, it was something I simply crossed off my list.

“I’m not going to drink. Promise me you’ll not allow me to drink ever again,” I pointed a menacing finger at him. He only chuckled at my reaction. Grant was clearly the reason I accepted that first drink.

-Sorry, I can’t do that.

“But it’s for my own good, alcohol makes me stupid,” he nodded in agreement. I glared at him, somehow I was getting the feeling he liked that I act stupid.

-It was very entertaining. We had a blast as you sang your way to the elevator. Jil couldn’t believe her eyes. I like drunk Liliane, she’s very honest.

I swirled around from my closet with eyes wide with panic making my head spin. Me singing? This must be a joke. His face said a whole other story. His mischievous grin spoke tones.

“What?” I shouted.

-You also cried in front of the door, saying you were scared of having s.e.x with us. I was a little shock to hear that. I mean, we said we’ll take it slowly. We didn’t know that was an issue.

Heat rose to my face. He must be kidding. The door to the bathroom opened and Demos came out fully dressed. He gave me a large smile. He slowly strode to the middle of the room like the king of the castle. Damn, he was s.e.xy in his black pants and formal pale shirt. I wonder where those came from.

“He’s right, I had to throw you over my back and carry you inside. It was terrible. All the way to the apartment, you sang singing in the rain. It was quite the view,” he laughed. “You also mention the threesome part, I didn’t know you were the v.i.r.g.i.n type,” he gave me a suggestive smile. I slammed my closet door, I haven’t even look at what cloth I’ve selected and stormed to the bathroom.

“I don’t remember and I’m sure you’re making this up,” I closed the door with a loud bang. I rested against the door with my heart slamming in my chest. Oh my god! This must be a nightmare. My shaking legs carried me to the sink. The mirror flashed my terrible looking face at me, a typical hangover face. With two aspirins and a quick shower, I was somewhat presentable. When I got out Grant waited for me with my lunch bag. He wore his pink apron. It shoved away part of the bad mood. I couldn’t stop my smile. He was too cute.

“Thanks, honey,” I kissed him.

-Please, consider the trip.

My frown ran back. Here goes my rose bubble. Why did he have to bring it up? I’ve already forgotten about it all. I let out a deep sigh.

“Man, you’re persistent. Like a real house-wife,” I said then rushed to the door to escape from having to answer him. He gave me his brightest smile and waved us goodbye by the door. I paused then turned back to him.

“Ok, you can go work with your Adrien guy,” I added flatly. He cheered and jumped. “Whatever happens is on you. You had better make it work. If it turns out to be a scam… it’s on you,” his smile dropped and he nodded with a serious face.

“Ok, I’ll do my best,” he said then I continued to the elevator where Demos waited for me.

“You awfully nice this morning,” he commented as the elevator made its descent.

“I have a terrible headache…maybe that’s the reason,” I said full with sarcasm. Well, I’ve found a way to shut him up about that visit was more like it. He chuckled softly by my side.

“If you’re really going then let me know, ok,” I gave him a side-glance but remained silent. I haven’t taken any decision yet. I had to get through the day first then I’ll think about throwing myself into the lion’s den.

Our trip to my work was short and quiet. Demos kept smiling about something he didn’t want to share, even though I bombarded him with questions. I had a feeling it had something to do with my drunkard episode. I’m definitely not going to drink, ever! Anna waited for me by the door. She greeted me with a wave. I quickly made my way to the front door.

“Hi,” she said with glee. Her high-pitched voice made me grimaced. Her voice was like sandpaper on a sour wound. More like icepick shoving into my head. Welcome hangover.

“Not so loud,” I said, her eyebrows arched at me.

“Did you party too much last night? Oh My God! You have to tell me everything!” she slapped her hands together. I knew the day was going to be very long in a terrible way.

***

Anna turned away from her screen with a frown. She spent the past hour typing frenetically on the keyboard, entering the data from the latest batch of what the label said was turkey meat. I knew from the composition it was definitely something else. The box had a bioengineered meat logo plastered all over the side.

“Have you ever had a moral and ethical doubt about working here?” I looked up from the microscope. Since my experience in the happy house and the terrible food served there for years, impacted my eating habits. As long as what I put in my mouth tasted good I never asked where it came from. I slowly shook my head at her.

“Well, I guess you’ve been here too long to even care, is it?” she smiled. However, her odd question got me thinking. Anna went back to drumming on the plastic keyboard. Surely, there was something bothering her. I’ve been here so long that I’ve stopped thinking at all. I starred at the soya bean composition popping up on the screen by the microscope. I was numb from all of this.

“My mom is sick,” I muttered. Anna gasped and pushed away from her screen.

“Liliane, that’s… terrible. How serious is it? Is it the flu? I mean you never talk about your life outside of work. Oh god! I’m a little surprised,” she talked in a rapid flow of words. My eyes rested on the level of protein on the microscope. I shook my head and sighed. I felt like a heavyweight lifted off my shoulders.

“I’m not the type who just share my life with everyone. But this has been suffocating me, my mom… it’s very serious… like she doesn’t have long to live,” I lowered my head. I heard her seat creaked as he got to her feet. Her tiny hand took mine in hers.

“Liliane, look at me,” she said, she voice breaking up. I meet her teary light brown eyes. “Why are you here at work? Shouldn’t you be at her side?” I wasn’t sure I had an answer to her question so I gave her a nervous smile then averted my gaze.

“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. Last night, didn’t really help me clear up my thoughts. I was afraid to look stupid however, those blue drinks I surely did. Anna stroked my hand. I was afraid to face my parents. The party was only an excuse to run away from my problem. In the end, I’m a coward. I just kept running from reality.

“Is that why you went out and got drunk? You know alcohol only help drown problems and never solve anything. The hangover can be pretty bad too,” I nodded making my headache pulsed. I almost forgot my hangover wasn’t completely gone.

“Are your parents in Level twenty?” she leaned to catch my attention.

“No, they are out of town in the middle of nowhere, I haven’t visited them for a while,” I kept my gaze on my canvas shoes.

“Well, that’s a good reason to go visit,” she smiled. “And also announce them that you’re synced with… your boyfriends?” she voice trailed off. My head sprung up. “Maybe that’s not a good idea,” she laughed. “Since syncing is literally like getting married. Imagine that! You visit them with two people after not seeing them for years. If that was my mother, she’d die of a heart attack,” Anna giggled as she threw her red curls away from her face. I just stared at her for the ability to laugh as any serious matter. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I don’t want your family reunion to turn into a drama. Far from that,” she laughed. Yeah, Anna had some weird sense of humor. “I really think you should go. Just be prepared for a possible crisis. Put on your anti-drama-queen armor and you’re good to go,” she released my hands and went back to her work.

-Anna is right. I’ll go with you if you need support. If you want, I can even check the prices for the tickets.

I sighed at Grant’s comforting words. Maybe, I should go. I just want to get it over.

“Please, prepare a small bag with the bare minimum. It will be a rapid trip,” I muttered at empty space.

-Ok, Liliane. I’ll come to pick you up later.

“What did you just say?” asked Anna.

“I said, I guess I’ll go. Do you want me to bring souvenirs for you?” I laughed feeling the tension seeping out of my shoulders. I can do this. I can face my demons…my past. I can go back there.