the Devil and the Sea

31| The truth is a lie

"You like to feel that fire, don't you, devil?" The English words creep into my mind in a half whisper and I start to shiver.

If there is a way to speak in front of others, it is Vincent's language. His and Phil's.

I skim my eyes over Phil: he gives Vincent a comical sideways look.

Nobody but Phil pays any attention to Vincent: everyone is busy with their own conversations, or so it seems to me. Anyway, Vincent looks down at me inquisitively when I lift my head and look at him with an expressionless gaze. The corner of his mouth is slightly raised.

"Only I can light your fire, right devil? Not HE, not anyone else." Vincent whispers evilishly.

My mouth dries up, it seems to me that not only I understand what he is talking about. Only Phil understands that, I remind myself.

"Vincent, why are you speaking in English?" Ricky laughs flippantly, pretending he doesn't care. He acts as if Vincent isn't talking to me, his girlfriend, whom he is jealous of.

Phil gives me a warning look. I shrug my shoulders like I have nothing to do with it. Vincent sees this and fists my hair behind my back, but no one can see it. I clench my teeth in anger at him. He plays with me in front of everyone, and I can't oppose anything. He can bully me because Ricky is around, but I can't do the same and it's not fair.

"Vincent likes to make fun of me, but he's afraid to do it in front of you, Ricky." I squeamishly throw. And I feel Vincent's grin over me.

"Dude, control yourself." Ricky warns, but his voice sounds friendly.

Apparently Ricky thinks that I'm flirting with Vincent, and Vincent - the very holiness - would never do this in return, because he has a girlfriend. Ricky's only mad at me, but Vincent doesn't seem to have anything to do with it. In my boyfriend's eyes, the main evil is me. But I don't blame him.

"Dude, it looks like you don't know your girlfriend very well." Throws out Vincent in the same tone as Ricky.

My heart skips a beat, I think I even turned pale, but I gather my will into a fist so as not to attack Vincent with accusations. But to be honest, I have nothing to blame him for. It's all my fault: I brought Vincent into this game, I'm acting awful behind Ricky's back and Vincent probably wants to punish me for it. Is that what this scene is all about? Is he waiting for the right moment to detonate the bomb? I can not understand - why? They are not friends. And his moral compass went astray last night, to now come accusing me of lewd behaviour.

Ricky stiffens up. A cloud of tension hung over our heads.

"She can take care of herself, you have nothing to worry about." Vincent explains monotonously. Vincent's calm casualness makes Ricky believe in him.

"Ricky, if you're going to kick Vincent's ass, then I'm ready to join," Raul jokes and the cloud of tension instantly dissipates.

"Your girlfriend got a good chance to practice her English," Phil throws a friendly hand on Ricky's shoulder. "I wouldn't sweat it if I were you." Phil winks at him.

Ricky looks at Vincent for a few seconds as if considering something, then takes the glass and sips. Phil says something quietly to him.

Vincent sneers arrogantly over my head, but he doesn't let go of my hair, pulling it painfully down, and I get up from the bench. Of course, now he let my hair out of his hands.

"Playing with fire puts you at risk of catching fire, so it's my turn to give advice: make sure your gear is fireproof." My English is not perfect, but I can say it without batting an eyelid.