First Argument

First Argument: Part 2

My curiosity got the better of me. And I was not new at spying. Back in Paradis, I would go around Wall Sheena searching for info about the royal family, that I even met Kenny once. But that's the old me. This, this felt so wrong. But I was so peeved at Armin for not talking to me.

So that night, I went to bed as usual at 10pm. At 11pm, Armin went out. I jumped out of the bed and wore some long jacket and a pair of glasses to disguise. I tied my hair in ponytail and wore a scarf. Totally looked like a lady, and not like Annie Leonhart. Satisfied with a glimpse I saw in the mirror, I went out.

I went after Armin. He was strolling along the road so it was easy to catch up to him. He was deeply thinking about something because he was not aware of his surroundings or that I was following him. A few blocks further, we arrived at a fancy building. It was a hotel. (There was a hotel like this after the Rumbling? Maybe the owner was really rich to be able to build one so fast. Besides, what's there to see in Liberio? Maybe the remains of the War Hammer Titan?) My heart beat so fast. It was an uptown hotel and perhaps the most exclusive. The front of it was lit with lights and was busy with cars.

Armin raised his hand to a valet there, and they engaged in a conversation. I moved slowly to them trying to listen to the conversation. There was a small path near the valet waiting seat, perhaps used by the hotel staff for something. But as I got closer, I heard a familiar voice.

"Yo Commander! Aren't you early?" It was Connie. He's dressed quite slick, in a suit and round hat. He really looked like a Marleyan now. Paradis had a more retro fashion, like they were a century behind. Connie wanted to get some drinks with Armin but he refused, saying he's 'on the job'

Suddenly a pretty lady, just a few years older than me came out of the glass door and fell into Armin's arms. Armin said "Maam," to which the girl tries to kiss Armin's cheek. Armin put his hand to his cheek so the kiss ended up on his hand. The lady (Bitch!) tried to stand but being so drunk, she could not and Armin had to support her. So the valet gave a car key to Armin and Armin walked with the lady to the car.

Did I just see this correctly?

The lady was praising Armin in so many ways, my ears became red listening to it. Armin just smiled, put her in the passenger's seat and sat at the driver seat and drove away. He told Connie he'll be back soon to which Connie said "you'd better" I was so distraught and was about to jump and hail a cab when suddenly the valet remarked to Connie,

"Such a waste. It's so obvious that lady likes him but he treats her like all his other clients"

Clients? What is this job? I stopped at my track.

"He can't be doing this forever. It doesn't pay much and some of the clients are terrible especially because they are drunk. Just grab a rich lady, marry her and live a luxurious life. That lady, Ms Kath, is not a bad catch. And she likes him so much too. I think she purposely gets drunk evey night so that he could drive her home.."

He drove her home EVERY NIGHT? I started trembling.

"He's married right? Doesn't he love his wife very much? Is she beautiful?" the valet continued.

Unblinking, Connie answered,
"Annie? Nah he doesn't love her,"

I was stumped. My heart broke into pieces. My legs felt weak. There was a big box at the side of the road that I had to sit on it in order not to fall.

"He doesn't?! Why did he marry her then?"

Connie the bastard smirked.
"He doesn't love her-HE WORSHIPS HER. I never saw anybody so whipped for his wife like him."

I couldn't believe my ears.

"Annie is beautiful yes but not my type though. She's very quiet but extremely capable. She's a martial art expert you know"

"So it might be he's afraid of his wife?"

"Afraid? He doesn't look like it, but he's the only one among us who doesn't fear Annie for her fearsome skill and strength...as I say, he truly loves her...why do you think he is willing to be a designated driver in the middle of the night till morning, when there is nothing he likes most then sleeping next to his wife and looking at her face?"

Armin's a designated driver. That didn't cross my mind at all. But I had caught him watching my face when I was sleeping a few times, it made me embarrassed.

"But he's too nice to everybody, people are going to misunderstand him"

"Yeah he's nice like that. That's just how he's built, can't do much about it Maybe a few beatings from Annie and he'll not be too nice," Connie laughed.
"I must admit, when Armin told me he's marrying her, I was like, you are outta your mind because they were enemies before you know"

"Yeah the Marley-Eldian thing" the valet added. I didn't think he understood the 'enemies' thing because first, he's a Marleyan and second, he looked puzzled.

"But when I thought of the years he talked to her while she was glass,"

"Excuse me?" the valet raised his eyebrows.

"I mean, er, when she was in 'coma' for 4 years, he visited her and talked to her. No hope, no signs she was going to recover, nor any response but there he was, by her side, looking at her as if she was the most precious thing he has ever beheld. If that is not love then I don't know if anybody has ever loved"

I froze sitting at the box, trying to let everything sink in. Some time had passed when I heard Armin's voice again. I glanced to see him laughing at Connie (they must have had a conversation while I was lost in thoughts) when another client arrived and Armin took his car key and walked with him to the car park. He must be really popular. As always though he didn't realize it.

I really wanted to run to him, embrace him tight and listen to his heart beating, but I was spying on him, and it would make it worse. So quietly I watched him drove away in the client's car.

As I walked home, I came upon a dark road, not unlike the road when he came to see me in Trost, when he tried to lure and trap me into the underground passage. He was so young and beautiful. He shone like the sun and so confident. I was mesmerized. I followed his plan without much thinking. Meeting Eren and Mikasa later pulled the magic away from me. Had it been Armin alone, I would have gone with him into the underground.

I didn't realise when I reached home
but after getting out of my clothes, I took a shower. As the water poured over my head, I felt like I was a new person. Like the shower purged all my doubts and sadness and I emerged, a new me, who loved and was loved in return. I felt whole again, like when I first read my wedding vow and kissed my husband afterward.
I laid on the bed, tears streaking my face and succumbed to sleep.