she’s nervous, not only because she is straight out doing something she’d never done before, not since she’d stepped foot on the surface, mera isn’t used to do something good, something of substance. she was used to the shadier side of things, was used to picking pockets, to con-ing ( mostly ) men out of their money; something she one way or another, couldn’t have done forever. moa was right about that, cared enough for her to want a proper and secure future for her. that’s not what had mera nervous, meeting hamad was what kept her palms sweaty. it’s not every day that you met your girlfriend’s adult sun. what if hamad didn’t like her?
‘ public transport is fine. ’ she offers, given she’ll have to take the route on the daily soon anyways. she steps out of her home, purse, phone and keys in hand as the door falls into it’s lock behind her. ‘ moa mentioned you’ll start working on your doctorate soon? ’ small-talk, small-talk she could do. ‘ will you, uh, be around campus? the library? or will you write it from home? ’ she is rushing down the stairs, or forcing herself not to, regardless she is glad he can’t see her face and the awkward grimace that follows her words. turns out she couldn’t do small-talk after all. granted, she didn’t want to smooth or sweet talk him—-
they’re out of the building and walk along the street when she gives up ‘ god I’m sorry. ’ something like a chuckle escapes her lips, red curls fly as she shakes her head ‘ I’m—- terrible at stuff like that. this is just—- so bizarre? ’ she turns to regard him, the hint of a soft smile playing around her lips. ‘ not in a bad way I mean, I just—- ’ she struggles, shrugs, unsure what to say, what to make out of the entire situation. it’s a good thing moa wasn’t here to witness the awkward rumble of words that escapes her lips.
❛ &. ┊ His mother has a way of teaching all those around her to adopt the same composure in the long run; Ephraim certainly has it. Kua has it. He, himself, has seen its reflection in the mirror also. And regardless how much one varies the composure, how strictly Ephraim keeps his hands against his back and Kua learned to show little to no expression on worn-out features, ultimately it all roots in the slender silhouette of his mother. And here Mera walks next to him, flustered to such an extent that it almost makes him uncomfortable -- because he isn’t sure if he’s made a mistake already. If his own subtle nervousness broke through the cracks of a perfected countenance. Moa wouldn’t be happy if the attempted relationship bore no fruits -- but as pebbly as the path is, he doesn’t dare to trust his optimism all that much. “ I work at a library near the campus. Not the university library, per se, but I’ll definitely be around to tutor younger students in programming and statistics. ” A break, a meagre smile. “ If you end up having to take statistics classes, you know where to go to ask any questions. ”
Which is... some kind of offer. He doesn’t know if she expects more than that. If she wants him to skip the awkward talking and go rights into accepting her as his mother’s new significant other. It’s the goal of all of this, isn’t it? If it weren’t that serious, he wouldn’t be guiding her to the nearest bus stop and playing a well-behaved son. He never got to meet Kua that way, knew even as a kid that nothing good would come out of two obsessive counterparts. He just appeared in the kitchen every other night, scared him half to death when he wanted to sneak out ot grab a glass of juice. He didn’t bring him to school, didn’t really help him with homework -- wasn’t even around that much during day time. God knows, he still can’t stand him. But it means something. They were married, after all. That and his mother finally has filed for a divorce. He knows the papers must be lying somewhere on the lawyer’s desk and he unbearably unwilling to sign them. But Mera’s nice. Even if he’s expected more... social skills from an ex-criminal.
❛ &. ┊ “ I look about her age, ” he finishes her sentence but ultimately, maybe that’s not even what she’s aiming at. Another smile, a little warmer this time, as eyes collate the time on the departure board with the clock on his mobile phone’s screen. “ It isn’t a date, Mera. You don’t have to get to know me on the way to the celebration. But if it makes you less jittery, the first impression you left was good. I’m more concerned about the event itself. They tend to be incredibly boring. ”
