"I don't think you could remember but… I believe that it's been two forevers since we met since no one is telling me anything," Juanito muttered, holding his breath as he tried to lift his hand to reach out to her until he tilted his head and gave up from doing so.
They were surrounded yet again by a set of cold golden walls defined by the bumps, bevels, and spiral lines that were beautifully carved on its surface to make it appear like wood. They did feel safe being inside this room that looked so close to each other to the point that it made it hard for them to breathe if not for the light brown carpet that draped the floor for their benefit. It gave him the liberty of finding the distance between the comfort room, even to the sink that housed a small stove, to the table that held this little green cactus beside a stack of magazines, and into the bed in a corner where Mary lay unmoved. He just looked at her, with her body tucked into a thick brown blanket and with her bandaged head resting on a pillow. Juanito, who sat on a wooden chair beside her, couldn't help but turn his head away as he found her looking at him with those sad and empty eyes as though she was still caught in a daze.
"But yeah, I've had a quite of a fun-filled adventure," he continued with a laugh before his smile faded with this heavy feeling that bore a huge hole in his chest. "That… went… until everyone came… and... Mr. Rei died…"
He sighed and shook his head. "But yeah, I met Death… he's a swell guy and I actually asked him for a fistfight because you know… I liked the name I gave myself. He told me about this job as a reaper too and how you go down and risk your lives to save us from ourselves and us from hurting other people. I kinda admired that…
"Of course, that preconception just ended right then and there when I met Mr. Rei and took me for a mission," he let out another sad laugh as he scratched the side of his cheeks. "Man, I tell you, I've seen hentais, a lot of them, where this older sister would… you know how it goes... and to see that naked woman riding that sleeping kid on the bed with an elated smile before he lopped her head off was just…" He chuckled as he ran his palm on his dreaded face. "It was really quite an adventure.
"It's really funny how I fooled myself to go here, thinking that I would be the one to cheer you on and yet… here I am, practically begging you to stand up and tell me that I did a good job," Juanito let out a heavy sigh and took a deep long breath through his nose. "No one… no one is talking about it. I… I thought that I would be fine but the thought of my brain switching too fast to me doing just a fine job to me doing shit is… maybe, maybe," he let out a slow and a sad laugh. "maybe this is why you're so mean to me at that time. Funny how my ability now reminds me of when you reprimanded me like a baby. It makes me cringe, especially when all I could do is to force people to look at me. That shit is like… wack, man."
Juanito scratched the back of his head and then, still with a heavy heart, he sighed once more and looked into her empty eyes. "At least I know now how dangerous this job could be even though we're branded as saviors." He held his breath and as though he finally found the courage in his heart, he leaned forward to touch her bandaged arm. "It made me realize how weak I am as well… so yeah, see you later then…"
He kept his silence and stood from his seat. His eyes just glanced over her beaten state once more and after an awkward moment that ended with him swallowing his saliva, he took his dreaded face and turned towards the door. However, at that very second, the dark brown door that separated this little room of hers from the rest of the ship was kicked open.
"Sup bitch, how you doing?" Jeremy, who wore a top tank shirt with a pair of shorts and slippers, entered with a cheerful tone and a wide smile.
"She's fine… Sir Rick told me earlier that she'll get fixed up along with Sir Miggy and Miss Viela once we reach the headquarters," Juanito replied as he looked down and tried to walk towards the exit.
Seeing that, Jeremy blocked his path and placed his hand over his shoulders as his mischievous grin grew wider. "I meant that for you two but, it's good to know what would happen to her later," he chuckled, looking at Mary before turning his gaze back to him. Then, after a second and as though he woke up with a sudden twisted realization, his eyes widened as he pressed both his palms against Juanito's cheeks. "But still, tell me, are you a 'Shinji' boy?"
Juanito lifted his chin and faced him as he furrowed his brows in confusion. "Shinji… sir?"
"Shinji, motherfucking Shinji 'I-cried-at-the-supposed-female-lead-on-a-hospital- bed-and-ending-up-getting-myself-off-to-her-bare-beaten-body' Ikari." Jeremy nudged his head with his fingertips slowly sinking into the side of his head as he waited for his answer.
Juanito looked at his side in an immediate panic and blurted, "No, sir..."
Jeremy tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "Is that a no on you being a Shinji or you not knowing the motherfucking greatness that is of the bitchass, Shinji Ikari?"
"Yes…" he replied with a panicking sense of uncertainty behind his tone as he instinctively held his hands behind him.
"Good, now show me your hands." Jeremy widened his eyes.
Juanito's lips began to twitch and curve into an awkward grin. "Uhh… I'm s-sorry?"
"Show me your hands, motherfucker!" Jeremy shouted as he stressed his words.
"Alright, alright, I'll do it!" Juanito shouted back, pulling his arms towards the man in front of him as he closed his eyes. Just then, he heard him chuckle as the clutches on the side of his face disappeared.
"Good," Jeremy replied as he walked past him and turned his eyes to Mary with a smug grin. "I just have to make sure that those hands are clean. You should go now, they're looking for you in the meeting room. There's another one of me waiting just around the corner and he'll take you there, assuming that you don't know the way. I'll take care of her for now."
"Why?" Juanito asked as he took a step closer to the door. "I'm useless, why would I be there when you're more… qualified than me… "
"Bitch, I have shadow clones, I'll know what's up," he replied with his eyes glued to Mary. Then, with a more deep sarcastic tone, he added, "Ex-boss specifically told me and the other Jeremys to look for you, now go."
"What's with the hands…" He continued with his voice sounding more of a whisper.
"Well, two people alone in a room?" Jeremy gave him a serious gaze before his unkempt face broke into a laugh as he shook his head. "Nah, I'm just kidding, I just can't have people masturbating to bandaged and beaten girls, man."
"What the fuck...." Juanito replied slowly as his gaze fell into his hands.
Seeing this, Jeremy leaned back and scowled at him, saying, "Bitch, I am with the lewd police, I ain't a motherfucking Shinji."
"Why?" He raised his brow and let out a wry smile.
"Are you asking why am I part of the lewd police or are you talking about the part why you're being called to the room meeting?" Jeremy continued, still with that playful smirk.
"The… latter…" Juanito continued with his voice trembling.
"Oh, a lot of things happened since you both got here but TL;DR, MC is holding up a meeting about what's going to happen now that Rei is dead and what to do with Mary while we're at it. I'm asked not to give out spoilers to make things worse so yeah, you'll know when you get there," Jeremy replied, leaning forward to Mary and moving past her empty gaze before he proceeded to nudge her forehead with the tip of his finger as he chuckled. Then, without even turning his head, he added, "Also if you know why I designated myself as part of the lewd police, then I shall tell you a little tale I had with another reaper about some days ago—"
"No… No, that's fine," Juanito interrupted him as he opened the door in resignation and walked outside. He turned his head from left to right and after an audible sigh while he closed the door, he added, "I'll be heading off now, thank you for your help."