Never Said

3. VAGUE & MYSTERIOUS [Off, Tay]

.oOo.

Moving the yellow-tinted sunglasses to the top of his head, Off carefully picked up two brightly coloured boxes.

Three-pack? Twelve-pack?

His brow furrowed. He had no idea how many he'd need.

What if he got too many?

Or what if he got too few...?

Is it better to be over-prepared--or did that make him seem too confident? Was that too much? Would having fewer make him look more sincere?

Putting the small packages back into the metal display, he adjusted his black face mask, then straightened the front of his colourful button-down before glancing at his watch. He had plenty of time before their dinner date--he chose an orange carton--and it helped that he was already at the mall. No need to fight traffic, find parking, or navigate through the Friday night crowd that usually gathered.

All he had to do was decide on what to purchase.

Putting the pack back, his fingers gravitated toward a green box. Ultra-thin featuring soothing aloe vera...soothing...

Scratching the nape of his neck he then grabbed a white box with his other hand. Pleasure Dots featuring a cooling menthol lubricant. He blinked at what he'd just read. Pleasure Dots?

"Oh, those are good. Leaves kind of a minty fresh feeling." He looked up as an unfamiliar hand seized the packet of condoms from him, flipping it over as though reading it. "I wouldn't recommend twelve, though. Use sparingly."

The stranger raised the package in the air and with a smile of acknowledgement proceeded to the check-out counter.

Wait--what?

Looking from his empty hand to the man's back he tilted his head at the contradiction--but before he could do anything else, his phone vibrated. Using his newly freed hand to pull it from the pocket of his high-waisted khakis, he swiped to answer the call. "Hallo?"

"My friend! Where are you? Do you have time today to spend with your friend?"

"I'm at the mall buying some," he eyed the display in front of him, "things," he checked his watch again--and realized he was still holding the green box, "and then having a meal with nong."

"Nong Gun?" The voice on the other end of the line brightened. "Is he there? Which store are you a--aow! Peng!" He turned to see the familiar, radiant smile, wrapped in a white shirt and denim jacket, bounding toward him from across the way. Ending the call, Off slipped the phone back into its place.

Slowing his pace, Tay waved when he reached his friend, stashing his cell in the pocket of his dark pants. "I didn't expect you to be here! How nice! Let's shop together--what are you buying, hmm?" Looking excitedly from his friend's face to the box in his hand, and then to the display beside them and back again, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Aow," he gestured to the display, "condoms?"

Off nodded, adjusting the sunglasses on top of his head. "Mm."

Tay eyed his companion and then the array of colourful boxes, and back to his friend. "Why?"

Closing his eyes, Off made a gesture to slap his friend. The other man flinched and chuckled. "Ai'Tay! Why do you think?" Pulling his mask to his chin he picked up two more packages. "I just wanted to be prepared but then there are all of these..." he frowned, waving the boxes at his counterpart, "options...!"

Holding a hand up to protect himself, Tay tilted his head, giving the annoyed man a sideways glance. "And what exactly are you preparing for?" He wiggled his brow in jest.