Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 35: Unfamiliar

Chapter 35: Unfamiliar

RINA

Oh.

My.

God.

What on everloving hell was that?

Who do you even call for when aliens magically replaced your best friend?

Rina was catatonic. She just witnessed the North and South Pole making out at the dining table.

Sure, the poles were married. But only on paper. So what the fuck was this?

And all this Eli cared about was their meeting at the Cafe.

Not that anything improved, but now Eli was facing her, still in between Lucian’s legs as he sat there, drinking his coffee like nothing earth-shattering had just happened.

Rina just stood there, unaware of how long it had been, but by the time she snapped out of it, the two were already standing beside her.

"Bag." Her cousin said to Eli as she handed him her things for today’s meeting.

When they got to the door, they finally remembered her.

"Are you planning on taking root right there?" Eli asked, finding my mental breakdown amusing.

So I picked up my bag and ran over to the door.

"Are we riding with him?" I asked, wondering why Lucian was exiting with us.

"He said he was coming with us." Eli shrugged, nonchalant at this development.

Rina felt so choked about everything that she struggled to breathe. People would say that she was overreacting, but that’s because they don’t know these two.

They don’t know how impossible this is. She couldn’t even describe "this" properly; all she could do was motion with her hands.

But actually, there was once a time when they were like this. Sticky sweet, something no sane person would want to be a light bulb for.

Before age seven, these two stuck to each other like velcro. Back then, her cousin had already been annoying, but he had a sweet side and wasn’t stingy about showing affection or his emotions.

Eli was the designated repository. Anything good was meant for Eli, including the best worms from the ground.

Then, by the age of seven, their Grandma died. They had to fly abroad for the wake and to assist his Grandpa, but Rina couldn’t come. She had been hospitalized for dengue back then, so she was forced to stay behind.

The adults kept on telling her that she got lucky. Her hospitalization eventually saved her from experiencing something worse. Saved from what she didn’t understand back then. But in time, she figured out what it meant.

Lucian came back a different person. He was so different and cold that people began to think he had psychological issues. He even got tested multiple times, but nothing.

She did ask about what went down with the family, but no one wanted to discuss anything with her. But from then on, Lucian stayed that way—cold, calculating, and practically unapproachable.

So, the reflection of the backseat was horrifying to her.

Lucian sat casually while Eli had her head on his lap. She hugged a small pillow as she napped, covered in a fluffy blanket.

Who the hell are these people?

She was alone and feeling weirded out because even Mr. Jim, the driver, looked chill about everything.

__

ELIANA

I napped like it was no one’s business because I felt sore and tender. Then, there was the need to momentarily escape Rina’s interrogation.

Not that I’d be able to put it off forever, but a short respite would be welcome.

Because how would she even explain this without sounding nuts in the head?

When we first started heavy petting, we actually had to stop to talk about our limitations.

Like, who does that in the middle of caressing each other?

Well, we did.

No wonder we suck at relationships.

But anyway, we did. And our conclusion was to follow our instincts regarding physical intimacy.

This is so that no one gets to use the shitty excuse of not getting enough physical intimacy to cheat.

Nothing illegal, though. They’re not that unhinged. And for anything that sounded dubious, one must ask for consent.

As if this whole relationship isn’t classified as "dubious."

But we’re fine like this. I’d like to think so.

Priorities should be discussed.

That’s what Lucian wanted. No work or career disturbances. If he’s free, I can whine about the most idiotic things, but that’s not allowed during crunch time.

And what did I want?

Peace, convenience, and security. My highest priorities, without sounding any more selfish than I already am.

Do I like what I have now? Yep.

Do I get to enjoy perks I’ve never had before? Yep. Yep.

Do I wake up in the morning feeling like some bastard’s going to cheat on me? Nope. He’s too busy.

Have I caught unnecessary feelings? Nope.

Will I die without love? Nope! And I’m currently not willing to die for it.

Personal Conclusion: I’m good. Still Alive.

But how do I explain that to my best friend and family? Those people wish fairytales on me.

And how sustainable is this?

And then it hit me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle, attracting Lucian’s attention as I trembled.

How far have I gone to be able to ask about sustainability? For a very long time, everything but the knowledge I’ve absorbed was all at risk of being taken away.

What was mine had always been at risk of being hers, so I had to be partially disassociated from anything I wanted to keep.

This was already the strongest tie I’ve made since my parents and Rina. It’s the oddest tie but, at the same time, the easiest to predict.

This tie didn’t require much maintenance. In fact, this one would prefer less maintenance. There’s also no need to do much shit other than exist. And if I needed love, there’s always the dog and a cute new little sister.

I’ve gotten more selfish because I’ve suddenly gotten more than what I originally had.

If these are all taken away one day, it’ll be just the same as before; I’ll just be richer afterward.

My standards for a good life were clearly shitty, I’m painfully aware. But this was already something for someone whose food kept on being taken literally an inch from her mouth.

So what about my current food?

Should I be thankful that this one could only be taken if he wanted to be taken? Or that most people who’d take him would end up wanting to return the goods?

I snickered at the thought because even I had days when I wanted a refund since returns and exchanges weren’t allowed.

"Stop snickering, your madness is showing." Lucian knocked on my forehead lightly.

"Madness, my ass," I grumbled at him.

But then I remembered something I had meant to ask, so I turned my head towards him, suddenly blessed with Lucian’s look.

Amazed but focused, I spit out, "So, who’s coming for us today?"

I asked because his talent fee was expensive. His being this docile was because of my current disability, but his existence couldn’t be because of my poor back and groin.

"Jasper. Booked the next lounge to your booking."

See?

"And your talent fee?" Let’s see if I can afford it.

"The Windham Public Unveiling. Next month."

"If you could prepare the materials." I countered. I’m not going to the slaughterhouse unprepared.

"Done," Lucian said with finality, and we shook on it.

"Pleasure doing business with you." I grinned.

See that? That I can handle.