A Danger That Lurks In The Darkness | A TPQ AU |

XXIX | A Statement Of Fact

RUDY
Laughter rang through the air: filled with giddiness, excitement. 

The bride and the groom were currently being swarmed by well-wishers, as people were slowly entering the reception area. 

“How ya doin’?” His own voice was airy, directed at the hunched over frame of his date. 

Mini didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the cue-cards, as she silently mouthed the words to herself. 

“Not so good?”

Again, no response. 

He tapped her on the shoulder, slightly amused. At physical touch, she flinched, looking up at him, “Huh?”

“I said, ‘How are you doing?’” 

“Oh. Um, okay, I guess,” 

“Lies. You look extremely stressed.” 

She lifted a shoulder, uncertainty written across her face. “I’m not that fond of public speaking. So many things could happen— I could drop the cue-cards, forget what to say, completely mess up,”

“I think you need to calm down.” He offered her a glass of champagne. “Want some?”

“No.” 

Clearing his throat, he said, “Would you like some advice?” 

The nervousness on her face gave way to slight laughter. “Sure, why not?”

He rubbed his palms together, clearing his throat, and said, “When speaking in public, I recommend that you focus on one person— and imagine you’re saying the speech to that person.” 

“Hm— like Aru?”

He frowned. “I was kinda hoping you would think of me— the beautiful option, but, sure, Aru.” 

She sighed. “You didn’t just call my best friend ugly.” 

“I didn’t— I just called myself beautiful,” 

To punctuate his point, he offered his signature smirk in her direction, only for it to be met by a gentle flick of her finger on his forehead. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I feel like I'm going to throw up,”

“Want a drink?”

“That sounds like… a really bad idea,”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. “I'm getting myself one, though,”

“Bye,” she said, perfunctorily, her focus returning to the cue cards. The last words he heard her mumble were, “When we were twelve, Aru and I promised each other…”; her attention totally taken by the speech. 

He scowled, momentarily, before glancing at the drinks table, sauntering over there.

That momentary thought: Wait, why do I care whether she gives me attention or not? Invaded his mind, as his hands stilled over two flutes of champagne. 

He'd tried to dismiss it before, excuses automatically coming to him before, but now…

He lifted a shoulder, and said, to nobody in particular, “I don’t care,”

He also ignored the startled look a waiter sent in his direction. 

He felt his own heart in his ears, some strange kind of sensation coursing through him, like he was on the precipice of realising something. What, though?

He felt heat creep up his cheeks, as— even if just for a moment— Mini’s face flashed in his mind. 

Scowling, he downed both the glasses of champagne, one after the other.