Beautiful Dreamer

54. Come Pick Me Up

"Busy day?"

"Mostly."

"I'll bring you dinner."

"Rey, I'm busy today. I don't have time for your stubbornness."

"I'll drop it off, then leave."

Ari seemed exasperated. "Did you have any other reason for calling?"

"This isn't fair. I haven't seen my girlfriend for a week, and when I make an effort to reach out, she scolds me."

"Stop calling me that; It's weird." Ari checked the time on her computer, and her jaw dropped. "It's almost 8:00 pm! What is my secretary working another overtime for?"

"I called you repeatedly to let you know about a change of plans. Mun and I made dinner today and invited my sister and your brother over. We were wondering what was taking you so long today."

"Why is everyone there? ...Wait a minute... What is my brother doing in my apartment?"

"Well, I wanted to officiate our relationship. They know we are dating, but I want to give my sister a proper introduction considering  the big transformation on my end..."

"You told my brother where I live!" Ari was livid. "What is wrong with you Rey?"

"That's why I called earlier and you weren't picking up. Either way, it's too late to cancel since everyone is here." When Ari didn't say a word, Rey hesitated briefly and then asked. "Are you angry?"

"I'm just surprised."

"Oh, that's a relief..."

"Of course I'm angry! What do you think?"

"I can just reschedule, then you and I can spend the night elsewhere. My place is one option since my sister wants to retire here. Mun offered, so I couldn't."

"Rey, get my brother out of my apartment and make him forget where I live. I'll wrap things up here quickly and be on my way...."

"I like you, Ari."

"Oh, brother! Timing Rey! Timing!"

The sound of a phone getting disconnected left Rey dumbfounded. He remained in a state of confusion for a while, looking at his phone screen, tempted to call again.

"She hung up?" Mun popped up from behind Rey, startling him.

"Y-Yea."

"I knew you'd get in trouble. I equally have a lot of explaining to do, having allowed her brother here." Mun's expression seemed relaxed, and that worried Rey even more.

"How is it that I'm the one panicking here? Ari's brother recognised you too."

"He did, but he knows what is at stake when he snitches about knowing me."

"But you have no obligation to him."

"Well, I somewhat do, you see. As for you, I wonder why you keep meeting him, helping him for free. Speak up, kid."

"I... Well, he helps..." Rey stuttered "When we meet, I ask about Ari's past... Growing up with her that is."

Mun appeared bemused. "What for? She is a completely different person now."

"From what he tells me, Ari was just an ordinary girl like any of us. You and her can't part, and I get that, but I wish to become a part of her past and hopefully help her walk through whatever she went through given her gender state. When we began dating, I probed into her past, but she would just dismiss me, saying I'm ruining the mood."

"And I agree with her. What are you hoping to achieve, making her relieve her pain, reminding him how he felt over and over again? Even I know less of her. Just leave the past for the past. If I were carrying my exes into my other flings, I'd have been dead by now."