OUT OF THE PICTURE

Chapter Twenty-Two || Ivan

Ivan turned off the engine before getting out of the car. He was listening to some Post Malones' while walking towards the ladies' apartment. He got a text earlier that their door was already unlocked, he could go straight inside. 

As he reached the front of the building, a middle-aged woman who was carrying boxes was on her way out. He rushed to the entrance and held the door for her before going in. He reached the floor and as he was getting closer, he could hear voices yelling. The moment he opened the door, he couldn't believe what he saw.

Sarah was on top of Marlin, tackling her down while Marlin pulling her hair, high-pitched screams were all over the room. He bolted as fast as he could pulling Sarah away. When Marlin was discharged from Sarah's grip, she went ahead attacking her but Ivan blocked her.

"Stop! What's wrong you with two!"

"I'm gonna get you!" 

Marlin grabbed Sarah's hair and in return, Sarah kicked her repeatedly.

Ivan was literally in the middle of a fight right now and his ears couldn't take another yelling. He used force to break the two apart and maintaining the distance between them.

He led Sarah in the kitchen and while barricading her, he was calming her down. He heard a smirk behind him, Marlin was on the ground and started laughing. He stared at her confusingly thinking she had gone crazy, but when he turned around, Sarah was laughing too.

The two burst out laughing together and it took him a minute to realize what was going on.

"You're right, his face turns red when panicking!" Sarah cackled.

Marlin slowly got up, still recovering from her laugh.

"Oh God, I'm literally crying right now." Marlin wiped the tears off her face.

Ivan who was still in awe, hadn't said a single word. He was still in the process of absorbing what just happened.

"What the hell was that?"

"What happened my friend was... we got you good." Marlin grinned.

"What's wrong with you two, seriously." Ivan shook his head in disbelief.

Sarah hopped up on the kitchen island. "We did a pretty good job, didn't we?"

"I think we did."

The girls did a high-five while Ivan staring at them, deadpan.

Ivan popped open his third bottle of beer, liquid overflowed on the countertop. Sarah quickly grabbed a paper towel and wiped it up for him.

They were digging into some Fajitas that Marlin had bought earlier, with some pizza while binge drinking. It was a great way to spend Saturday night indoors.

He watched as Marlin took a huge bite of a large slice pizza, spilling over her clothes. He tried hiding his amusement.

"Dammit."

There was something different about her, he thought, but couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

Marlin took some paper towels, got up from where she was sitting and went ahead to the sink. She tried cleaning it with water but the stain didn't come off.

"Well, laundry is gonna be fun." She gave up and went back to her seat.

Sarah had a call that she needed to take in another room, bringing a slice of pizza with her.

"Did you do something with your hair?" He guessed.

"Just a little hair treatment." Marlin flipped her hair jokingly.

"You look--"

"Great?" Marlin remarked.

"I was going to say you look like Chi-chi."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who's Chi-chi?"

"My dog."

Marlin started picking the pepperoni toppings from the pizza and began throwing at him. He was about to take it back but couldn't speak clearly from all the laughing. In his mind, Ivan wanted to say she looked great, but figured out her annoyed face expression was something he'd always enjoyed.

The time Sarah had walked in, Marlin knocked it off. "Okay, who's ready for some Netlfix?"

After scrapping the food off the dish, he handed the plates to Marlin one by one as she shove them through the dishwashing machine. He also helped her clearing the countertops. 

When the cleaning part was done, he went ahead to the living room, sat beside Sarah who was choosing a movie.

"How about Murder Mystery? You're down for that?" Sarah asked.

When he nodded in agreement, she began playing the movie. He placed his arm around her as they drew closer to each other.

Later, Marlin walked towards her room as quietly as she could."Where are you going? The movie is starting." Sarah noticed her.

"Uh no thanks. I don't want to ruin your movie night."

"Don't be silly. You're not ruining anything."

Marlin then glanced at him for confirmation. "What are you talking about? It's fine."

She went to her room and returned back with a blanket. She slumped down on the couch with them, making herself cozy under the covers.

"I bet that Japanese girl is the suspect." He stated just thirty minutes into the movie.

"No way." Marlin shook her head. "It was definitely the son. To stop his father from signing the will."

"Makes sense, but it's too predictable that way."

"Yeah but why would she wants to kill him if all the money would go to her?" She argued.

He opened his mouth and was about to debate her, but couldn't think of any good logic.

"Exactly." She finally said when he had nothing to say.

Sarah chuckled beside him and whispered to his ear. "Don't argue with her. She's always right."

Three movies had passed, and the only sound that he could hear was the movie themesong at the closing credits. He glanced over his shoulders and found both ladies were already dead asleep.

He could already feel his arm getting stiff from wrapping it around Sarah and wasn't able to move it for hours.

He slowly removed his arm as he gently placed her head from his chest to the couch,then covered her with a blanket.

One down, another one to go.

Ivan then faced the opposite side and lifted Marlin's head that had been resting on his shoulder as softly as he could, setting it down on the couch. He picked up the blanket on the floor and placed it over her.

After turning off the TV, he got up to stretch when he accidentally kicked the coffee table. Marlin moved in her sleep and he thought it woke her up. But it didn't. She remained still, as the light from outside was now gleaming at her.

Suddenly, her face was now visible and stood out in this dark room. There was something about it that seemed familiar. He realized he hadn't seen it for a long time.

That innocent demure face was the same one he used to eat lunch with and spent time with after class.