QUESTION

Niki's eyes twinkled like sapphires with enthusiasm, "did you get It?"

"If you mean Aurelie's wedding invitation, I did, and I'm not going," Xenia replied with a deadpan stare.

"Why?"

"Because you are not going."

Niki grinned and nudged Xenia, "of course, I am."

"Why do you want to go? The girl didn't even acknowledge your existence in High school."

"That's why I'm going, like in your face type of action, to show Aurelie what a badass rose I've become," Niki said while she waved her hand at herself.

"That's childish, "Xenia smiled, "I'll help you pick the dress, but wait, if you go alone, you'll look like a loser."

"Who said I'm going alone," Niki's eyes darted from side to side.

"What you have a date?"

Niki blushed and tucked her hair behind her ears, "Sort of."

"What do you mean by sort of?" Xenia was curious to know who was the lucky man.

"Well, you know Malik from the overseas accountant."

"You mean the guy with his fitness YouTube channel?"

"Yep, Monsieur biceps himself."

"Oh, my goodness, how did you manage that?" Xenia was impressed to see how far shy highschool nerd Niki Wright had come and how she always captured hot men.

"Malik spilled his coffee on me; he said he owed me, and you know I've been trying out Tinder, right."

Xenia folded her arms, "yes, and you know I disapprove of the idea of sleeping with random guys."

"Anyway, guess who turned up at my rendezvous?"

"No."

"Yes, Malik said it was fate, so we've gone exclusive. No more Tinder for us."

Xenia smiled, "so, like you, two are the thing?"

"We are," Niki said, doing her super beam eyes.

"Okay, so you'll go with your boyfriend. I can't be 3rd wheeling."

Niki bit into her sandwich, "ask so-me-one."

Xenia lifted an eyebrow, "I don't communicate with men. We don't speak the same language."

"Ask Gregory."

Xenia looked at Niki while silence decorated the atmosphere before bursting into a laughing fit.

"Xenia, are you crying?"

"That joke was so hilarious, Niki; you should do stand up comedy."

"I wasn't joking, though."

"Gurl, are you out of your mind?" Xenia said, banging her hand on the table. "Earth calling Niki Wright, hello, did I hear you right? We are talking about a man who said I was a crazy misandrous, and at this exact moment, thinks I'm a lesbian."

"Yeah, but he understands you in some twisted kind of formula."

"Twisted, that's the word, my relationship with the man is twisted. It's not because we've called it truce that he would agree to come with me. I mean, why would he do that for me?"

"I think Gregory would be delighted, he just works all the time, and I've seen the way he eyes you."

"You are crazy," Xenia said.

"Trust me, ask him, I mean, what do you have to lose?"

"My dignity."

"Oh, come on, Xenia, if you don't ask him, I will."

"What you'll invite our company's auditor?" Xenia felt her cheeks heating up.

"Yes, on your behalf, and make you look like a shy shrimp for the occasion. Your dignity and pride will be 60knots under like commando Custo's dive."

"Okay, okay, why him, though?"

"Because Gregory is the only guy you have around and whose not scared of dealing with you."

What is going through Niki's mind of all men on Earth, Gregory, Xenia thought.

XX XY

Xenia couldn't have Niki invite Gregory in her stead, so she swallowed a little pride. The hump had a hard time going down, but she ended up in front of the man.

"Eh, Gregory."

"Yes."

Xenia bit her lip, "ㅡeh, nevermind."

The game went on for two days, with Xenia unable to utter a word.

Xenia finally decided not to ask him at work, and so she left Sia chasing Oasis to hug the cat a minute. She found herself ringing at his door. After one ring and no answer, Xenia was about to leave when the door opened to give way to an unexpected attire and a scenario she only saw in movies.

Gregory stood in a towel with heatwave emanating from his body, which smelt a hot and fresh shower.

Xenia stepped back, afraid of being corrupted by the manly scent she whiffed.

"Xenia."

"ㅡEh-eh-eh, have you got milk?"

"Milk?"

"Yeah, milk, the thing with the lactose and protein," Xenia said. Her eyes darted from side to side like a ferret.

"Milk," Gregory repeated.

"Yeah."

"Mom, we have milk," a small voice from behind Xenia said.

"Salut, Sia."

"Salut, Gregory."

Xenia gave Gregory an embarrassed smile.

"Okay, just a moment," Gregory went back to his apartment and coming back wearing a t-shirt, "here."

"Thanks."

"Is there anything else you wanted?" Gregory leaned in his door frame.

"Eh, no, see ya."

Xenia rushed back to her apartment, where she crumbled behind the door in front of the amused stares of both her cat and daughter, heart pounding as she recalled topless Gregory.

The instant he opened the door kept playing in her mind with Miguel and Marvin Gaye's songs. Xenia couldn't face Gregory anymore as every time she saw him, the man was topless in her imagination.

Frustrated by Xenia's behavior, Gregory found himself knocking on the coordination bureau.

"Miss Wright, can I talk to you for a minute."

Niki fanned herself; this was it. Gregory was going to fire for the apartment set up, Niki thought. She got up and followed him.

"Gregory Iㅡ."

"Eh, what is with Xenia?"

"Xenia?"

"Your friend hasn't finished a sentence in my presence since Monday. I thought you might have an idea about what she wants to say?"

"Ask you, oh-oh, I know," Niki's eyes gleamed, and she rocked her head from side to side.

Gregory furrowed his eyebrows. What were these women up to? "Niki, tell me what is it she wants?"

"Okay, Mr. Carlton, Xenia wants to ask you a favor. It isn't anything bad or illegal. Please promise me you'll say yes, please, you won't regret it. By the way, are you free on Saturday?"

Niki's Candide smile wasn't what made Gregory promise. As a kid, he was curious to know what the versatile Xenia wanted, and so it was in front of the vending machine who bared witness that they agreed on everything.

"Eh, Gregory."

"Yes, Xenia, my answer is yes."

Xenia remained silent, letting the blood rush to her head, "Hmm, Gregory, you don't know what I'm about to ask."

"I don't, but you seem to need me for something, and I have nothing against helping a damsel in distress from time to time."

Xenia shook her head, "you know what forget it."

"No," Gregory said and grabbed her. Xenia looked at where his hand was on her wrist.

Miguelstop, singing, please!

"I said, yes, Xenia, and I mean it."

"It could be the death of you," Xenia said, staring into his eyes.

"Now you've tickled my curiosity, you might as well go for the kill," Gregory replied with a devilish smile.

"Okay, there's a wedding on Saturday."

"What time?"

"Can I communicate it later," Xenia said bashfully, "and also Gregory, can I have my wrist back, Please?"

"Oh, sorry."

"Thank you, Gregory," Xenia walked away. Gregory watched her silhouette fade.

Only two days till a D-day, Gregory sort of looked forward to it.

XY XY

Finally, Saturday arrived; Gregory stared at the woman who stood before him with a facial expression Xenia had not yet encountered.

"Oh, God judging from your stare, I must have lipstick on my teeth or something," Xenia said as she prepared to grab a small mirror from her purse.

"No, it's not that."

"It's what, spill it, your silence is killing me."

Gregory cleared his throat and said in the most strict manners, "you look good."

It was the only thing he had come up with after locking up you're-drop-dead-gorgeous in a place where it couldn't spill out. Xenia's dress was in admiral blue. The gown's satin texture made it change with the lighting. Gregory knew the choice of the dress's color was a mere coincidence; Xenia couldn't guess his preferences.

"Thank you; you're not bad yourself."

They stood to face each other, and Xenia found herself wondering if the man had always been so tall and broad-shouldered. She realized how she never observed Gregory, but he fitted the description Niki made of him.

"Ready to go?"

Gregory's voice attained Xenia's ears for the first time. This was the accent and voice everyone hummed about; it felt like discovering a trend years after everybody else and wondering where you were during the whole time.

"Yes."

Why did her answer sound so engaging? Thought the woman.

"Oh, no, I haven't called the taxi."

"There's no need. I have a car."

"You have a car?"

"I rented," Gregory said with a smile.

"You shouldn't have. It's already nice of you to come with me; you didn't need to," Xenia said as the elevator doors open on the first floor.

"I'm not a fan of taxis," Gregory replied, opening the door of the building where Maserati Ghibli in Royal Blue waited for them.

Xenia looked at the car, her dress before turning to sink in Gregory's sky blue eyes. Everything was matched up and connected like a constellation.

"Don't tell me you rented this."

"Maybe I should of choose black," Gregory said as he clicked open the car doors and walked to the driver's side.

Xenia blinked at his answer; how could the man keep a straight face?

He's an alien, was the only explanation for such behavior, according to Xenia, who grabbed the bottom of her dress to climb in the car where the leather purred as she sat.

"Are you sure you can drive? I mean your steering wheels on the other side in England. I want to see tomorrow, you know."

Gregory just threw an amused stare.