Ocean of Love

~ 1 ~

24 years ago, in college dorm room (1998)

"How about internships?", Lou asked, looking at Debbie who was packing bags hurriedly. "Maybe your parents will believe it and won't ask you to spend a week at their place. They might let you return back here tonight itself"

"Baby, I think this is important. The way mom spoke... Seemed important. And my father... Well, as much as I hate him, I can't just remove him from my life. And my family has to maintain its fake pride and happy family illusion to the world"

"But a week! You'll be gone for a week! That's 7 fucking days. 7 fucking long days without you! That's 168 hours! It equals 10080 minutes! That's too much"

"Why stop there? Convert to seconds too"

"604800 seconds! Jesus! That is fucking too much! I can't think of being away from you for that long!"

"You are so fucking dramatic, you know? Besides, I told you to join me. You refused"

"I don't like meeting parents"

"And that's why you never told me anything about your parents?"

Lou met her eyes with an obvious 'oh c'mon, seriously? Not now, please' look.

"What? Am I lying? I don't know who your parents are. I have no clue about them. Or yourself. Yeah, I fucking don't have any clue about you. I fucking don't know who you are to be honest. I fucking don't know who your parents are! All I know is you are Lou from Australia if the accent is real and not a fake accent, and is two years younger than me, yet in the same class as me. Hell, I don't know your last name! I mean... Not even the last name! I fucking don't know your middle and last name! I even don't know whether Lou is your real name or not! And I fucking madly am in love with you! I am in love with someone I don't know a thing about!"

"You love me", Lou said with a sheepish smile and Debbie rolled her eyes.

"That's not the point here, asshole. I love you. I fucking love you to moon and back. I love you. And so, I told everything about me and my family. I even told how notorious my family is and how much of a bastard my father is. You haven't told me anything. You say you love me too. But you fucking never revealed anything about yourself..."

"I revealed my real name to you. Nobody else in the college knows that I am called Lou. They all believe in my fake identity Vivianne Taylor"

"Okay, well, I don't know anything about you except for your real name Lou. What's your last name?"

Lou shrugged and Debbie sighed. "you can't say! Whatever I ask, you just can't say", Debbie said, shaking her head a bit. "That's what I am not happy about. You cannot say anything to me because of whatever things going on with you. And you haven't let anyone know about our relationship. Not because it's gay and we might face trouble. For heaven's sake, everyone in college knows our sexual preferences. You are hiding our relationship because of your personal reasons! I don't fucking understand who is going to attack or kill you or me if you reveal your identity"

"I told you I kind of am in..."

"Yeah yeah, you can't reveal your identity to anyone owing to safety of yourself and the person you are conversing with; here it's me", Debbie said with a dry tone. "I fucking don't understand who can hurt you and whatever crap your family is in. Are you guys gangsters?"

"What? Noo"

"Terrorists? Are your family most wanted in Australia and you guys fled to avoid prosecution? Are your Aussie special agents looking for you everywhere?"

"Jesus! No!"

"Then why? Are you a politician's daughter and therefore maintaining such level of secrecy? Wait, are you the daughter of Australian president? Oh my god!"