Her, Saving Grace

27

Catherine

"I'm not going."

Damon turned his eyes away from the television as I walked in from the kitchen, a glass of apple juice inhand. He invited me for poker night back at The Garage. I turned him down instantly. Why would you want to invite a woman during poker night? I don't even play poker.

"You're not the only girl there you know. We have female reapers, bonbon. They'll keep you company."

After reconsidering it for about a hundred times, and giving up on finding an adult reason not to go,I decided to just tell him the truth.

He kept looking back at the television as a woman walked slowly on the seashore while her one true love awaited her, holding a rose at the far end. He admitted on liking the reality shows they have on TV. From the girls fighting over one bachelor to couples dating naked.

"But I already told the guys you were coming." He extended his hand and pouted, pointing towards what I was holding. I handed him my glass and he took a sip before mouthing a thank you. He gave me a wink before turning his attention back to see the reality couple hug just in time for a perfect, golden lit sunset.

"What am I even going to do there?"

***

"This doesn't look like poker night."

I turned to see Damon smiling widely as he took in the Garage's cheery aura. Considering the fact that this place has more male than female ratio, rowdy would've been the more appropriate term.

"It's more of a family gathering of sorts. The guys just think it would be manlier to call it poker night. We have four tables for that. Now, face me." I frowned as he turned his body towards me, as I did what I was told. My eyes widened as he placed his hands on my shoulder, my body slightly shaking. He all but grinned at me as he regarded my confused face.

"It wouldn't be any fun to just see them like this. They like you, you know."

I grimaced as I remembered the last floral blouse I had on during my sleepover.

May it rest in peace.

"Damon! About time ye got here! Michelle's been drinking a little too much as usual. I swear that man's brain doesn't know when to tell his stomach to stop." The woman slapped Damon on the back and turned to grin at me.

"Well whattaya know. Catherine Wright. Thought ye'd never show up after that reaper fiasco and meeting his stepmama last week. The guys' been betting you'd go bonkers, ye know, living with this fellar," she slapped a hand on Damon's chest to emphasize her last words. The latter groaned and pushed her away from him.

It was still new to me that whenever my eye was closed, I saw Benjie as a woman. But once Damon explained that nobody wanted to see a dead relative walking past them, they were physically changed to be somebody else. Damon was an exception since he was alive. Unless he was willing to undergo plastic surgery.

The point here is if a person's eye is open, they see Benjie as he is - a man with the kindest eyes and a toothy grin. But when an outsider's eye is closed, they see him as a woman with curves that would make any man beg on his knees, and me eventually calling her Gina.

Gina must've seen the look of disapproval I gave Damon and turned to him.

"Her eye not open?" Damon all but shrugged. Gina placed a hand on her hip. The ancient gesture that women used whenever she's about to make a point and she knows she's right.

"I think it would be best to just keep it open. She could've just screamed her lungs out when she saw Sabina's goons, knowing how hideous those bastards were. " my head turned from Damon and Gina.