Subject 3033...(BWAM, Sci-fi Romance, 18+)

Chapter Twenty Two

I strike the bag with such a vengeance, punching at it like it was a life-threatening enemy, and even with my limbs screaming and begging for me to take a two-seconds break, I press on. I spin and kick, before slamming a gloved fist into the punching bag, causing it to dangle violently. The repeated tapping on my left shoulder, is what snaps me out of my trance, and so, I turn to glare at the intruder.

"Harlow, hey. How are you?"
"Oh, Tokyo, hello. I am doing okay."
"Yeah, the punching bag seems to disagree with you. Come on, what's troubling you? You shouldn't be here with the amount of blood you donated yester evening," she replies, moving around me, to hold the bag in position.

"Uh, I just needed some space to breathe, to think critically. Anyway, how is the drug manufacturing coming along?"

"Hectic. I've had no sleep. That poor woman's pleas are still very prominent in my mind. That, and having to synthesize a drug to combat such a volatile species is no joke. I've carried out tests, observed how your plasma, and white cells react when in contact with the fertilized eggs, and the results granted me newly-found strength. The eggs rapidly clump together, which brings forth suffocation, effectively hindering advancement into the next stages."

"That is the very first piece of good news I have heard today."
"Is it Noe? What did he do this time?"
"This time? What do you mean?" I inquire, landing another forceful strike into the bag, satisfied at the fist print it leaves behind.

"Well, I saw how you left the club in a hurry, the other night, courtesy of Gillian's little deed. What? She came over to make amends with the guy?"
"Believably, yes."

"So, what did he do this time?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what he did, with pleasure. He said that whatever was going on between the two of us," another slamming of the fist into the bag, "was prone to happen, that it is what happens when a man and woman inhabit one home for far too long. You know how stupid that sounds?"

"You mean, the two of you were getting all handsy for a hot minute?"
"Much as I'm embarrassed to admit it, yes, and let me tell you this. I have done my share of idiotic, nonsensical acts in all my life, but this time round, I managed to outdo myself."
The words make her laugh out, and I smile at the soft sound of it.

"So, you admit to having feelings for him."
"I do, because I was gullible enough to develop a liking for him."
She grabs the bag forcibly between gloved palms, and I stop with my repeated hand movements.

"Noe is a man driven by both bravery, and fear. He was brave enough to join, as well as train relentlessly in the army, courageous enough to build shields around the valley, strong enough to save the lives of all those who inhabit the bunker, but too petrified to let himself take joy in falling in love."

I keep silent, awaiting her to make sense of her words.
"Noe has lost so much. He lost his mother at nine. She'd been suffering from type 2.05 O leukemia, lost his father, my only guardian, to an overdose, then, when he was recruited into the army, he left behind his first love.

Fast forward to seven months later, the woman decided to move to another entirely different continent, severing all ties, as well as communications with him. See, he does not seek a repetition of past accounts, so he is pushing you away, instead. I simply hope he won't lose you to another, because if he does, then what a great lose."

I can only breathe out the stress, as Tokyo's words engrave themselves in the darkest pits of my memory. Now, now I have mixed emotions towards the man. He's gone through a whole lot, and I feel for him. I don't want him to push me away, but at the same time, I will not let myself struggle with a person who chooses to outrightly ignore my worth.

"He called me Harlow, I punched him in retaliation. No, I am not proud of myself."
She bursts into pearls of throaty laughter, and I find myself laughing with her.

"Well, guess what? Tonight, there will be another party to celebrate three months of our survival. That shouldn't be much of a challenge, seeing as there are numerous crafty and very artistic people living here, who spin fibre and weave. The same persons who've been supplying clothing for the past twelve weeks, thanks to the textile machines that had been formerly making soldiers' regalia."

"I am not coming along, Tokyo."
"Said no one living in the bunker, ever. I'll doll you up, make the guys drool over you, and make Noe go blind with jealousy. He wants to push you away so bad? Let's see if he'll win tonight," she speaks so confidently, smirking a devious smirk at me, and I simply go back to punching...

*******************

"How do you like it? I selected shoes I knew would be comfortable enough for you to rock."
I stare at my reflection in the mirror subtly admiring the outfit; a large denim jacket buttoned up, that reaches my midthighs, black-as-midnight thigh boots, a black gothic choker and hoop earrings, curly strands of hair held in a high, sleek ponytail, and maroon lipstick to complete the look.

"You like it? A combo of black and blue, really is your colour. But alas! I am a straight female," Tokyo chirps from behind me, resting her chin against my shoulder, whilst eyeing my reflection.
"And you have Jabal, whom you are completely head over heels in love with."

"Hey, who said I was in love with the guy?"
"Uh, your eyes, whenever you looked at him. They light up."
We both chuckle at the statement, before Tokyo pulls out her gloss, smearing and puckering her already scarlet lips.
"Let me ask, Tokyo. Where did you get all these fancy garment from?"

"Before this whole 'living in a bunker thing started' I came to visit Noe, conduct research on the area, since information on it, is not exactly dated on the internet, and I'd been planning to stay for three weeks, before heading over to the main base. So, I brought these clothes with me."
My dewei piece beeps, effectively interrupting our conversation, and signalling an incoming call from Noe. As a response, Tokyo lifts a brow at me, shaking her head calmly.

"Ignore it. If he pushes you away, then he should struggle to draw you back. You are priceless, Harlow. I know he's had his fair share of tribulations, but so have you. Now, it's seven thirty, and I only want to get wasted and a little high, before drowning my brain in science," she speaks with finality, looping our arms and walking us out of her room, and out of the premises entirely...

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