Chapter 15 - Judy

"Oi, it's not a rant; don't say it like I'm Grandpa when he rambles on. Hey, since when can Eco communicate? Yes, you traitorous DOG," I exclaimed as I waved at Judy and yelled at Eco. The traitor hid behind Judy, as if seeking protection from me... fucking dog.

"Tch, you're here already. It's about time, you know? I thought you forgot about our project, to be a hero, saving mothers with children from mean junkies who want to steal and do evil in Night City... Hahahahahaha," Judy teased, causing a vein to swell on my forehead. She was mocking me for helping Gloria, hugging herself as she narrated whatever Eco had told her, brushing away an invisible tear like a damsel in distress. Then, she put a hand on my shoulder just to laugh in my face... again, making me think, "Fucking dog."

"What's the matter? Are you jealous that I did my good deed of the day with another woman? Don't worry; the bad deed of the day I plan to do with you, my Ra-ni-ta," I retorted, trying to embarrass her in revenge for laughing at me. I grabbed her chin with two fingers, holding it close while she continued to laugh. But now, her mouth hung open, her face not quite processing what I had said, until she turned as red as the fire truck behind her and pushed me and my hand away from her flushed face, turning around.

I may have overdone it, but I wanted to see how she would react. Would she like it, or would she be disgusted? Wow, I didn't think she would react like that, I thought, as I watched Judy, who didn't turn around after a few seconds... well, it's okay.

"Oi, Ranita, are you—"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"BUT, what's your problem, WOMAN?! That HURT!!! FUCK," I exclaimed as I grabbed my groin after being hit by the nunchaku, which Judy had taken from the wrench. She still had a somewhat embarrassed expression on her red face, but... she seemed kind of happy... so you liked it, eh, Ranita? I laughed in my mind as I pondered what to say.

"YOU DESERVE IT, pervert! Who do you think you're saying that to... pervert?" Judy retorted, running over her words.

"I'm ALSO going to KILL Grandpa. Sorry, Peter, but I couldn't hold back anymore, well, or nothing."

"Hey, hey, hey, Judy, it was a joke, a joke, okay? So, drop the wrench. The Mini-Soras can't be treated like that. I'll give you the manual," I said with a smile, looking at Judy, who froze for a moment before lunging towards me with the wrench held high.

"NO, NO, NO, NO, ANOTHER JOKE, ANOTHER JOKE! Stop, Ranita, stop! Let go of the wrench; let's talk. I'm sorry, okay?"

"COME HERE, PERVERTIDO, PIG! IF I CATCH YOU, I'LL SMASH THEM, and DON'T call me THAT."

"Oi, Judy, STOP!!!" I shouted, stretching my arms up high toward Judy, causing her to halt her chase with her 30cm wrench still raised.

"Judy, you really need to learn to control yourself. Do you want our children to be born dumb or what?" I knew I was going to pay for that comment, but I couldn't hold back.

As a fist slowly headed for my face, which I suppose I deserved, I closed my eyes and accepted Judy's slow punishment.

BOOM!

When I took the blow, I dropped to the ground as if someone had cut my strings and continued to keep my eyes closed.

"HA, you deserve that, PENDEJO, for laughing at me, you fucking slit-eyed demon..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Sora, you wouldn't say my fist knocked you out, would you? Psch... You think I'd fall for something like that..."

"..."

"..."

"Sora... you're okay, aren't you?"

"..."

"OI Sora, answer! It's not funny anymore."

"Yes, it is," I thought to myself.

As I continued with my act, I noticed that my head was no longer on the floor and was resting on something really nice—9/10 if I have to rate how comfortable I am right now.

"S-ora, come on, answer! It's not funny anymore." Oh, there was some fear in her voice; it almost made me stop... almost.

"I'm not going to get mad anymore, so... All right?"

"Sora, enough! Wake up, Sora!"

Until I felt something splashing me, and...

"" When I heard that, I felt what I thought were tears I could no longer hold back. My silly joke had gone too far. I opened my eyes, feeling bad for making Judy worry so much. But when I opened my eyes with a worried face...

"" There was Judy, with my head in her lap, looking at her face upside down, laughing happily and triumphantly for having won our little prank and not fallen for mine. Shit, she still had a bottle of water in her hand, which she used to simulate tears. Shit. But looking at it the other way, I was actually very comfortable, so it was a win for me.

As she laughed, I got more comfortable in our current position, causing Judy's laughter to stop, and she asked me somewhat surprised...

""

"" Hearing my cheeky reply, Judy retaliated by...

She started stroking my hair, and we stayed like that without talking for a few minutes.

Then, without knowing how long exactly, I opened my eyes, feeling refreshed by the little respite Judy and I had.

"" I felt that my tone when I spoke was somewhat different... If I had to describe it, I would say serene.

"" It was strange; I also noticed the same tone in Judy.

Without wasting any more time, we got to work on fixing the truck. When it was 2:00 in the afternoon, we took a break to eat and rest, and I gave Judy the bento that Grandma Aoi gave me.

"That she loves them, I also like them very much." Resting in the shade after eating when the sun was at its highest, before returning to work on the truck, Judy told me that she needed to go home for a moment. When she came back, she brought with her a small box that she could carry with one hand.

"" Judy said as she handed me the plain box, but with a beautiful black color.

"" I said, embarrassed, without knowing when I had become so nervous.

When I opened the box, there was a piece of black wool? When I took it out of the box, I could see that it was a scarf in a closed form, a rather large black neck tube.

"" I said with some sarcasm at the gift Judy had given me. I really appreciated it. Next to that guitar from my old life and Cortana from my mom, this was without a doubt the best gift I've ever been given. Although I didn't know what it was for, it was still the third best because Judy was the one who gave it to me. But still, I was puzzled.

Rolling her eyes and then answering, Judy said, "" She finished with a confident smile.

When I did as she said and put on the scarf, which reached the beginning of my sternum at the bottom part and covered my chin at the top part, almost touching the collars with LEDs of my jacket.

"."

I did as she said without saying anything, as I was now too interested in the not-so-simple scarf Judy had given me. Seeing her expectant face, I couldn't help myself.

"" I said while striking a pose like certain heroes with colorful tight lycra.

cri, cri!

cri, cri!

I know there are no crickets in Night City, but I swear I could hear them as I made my silly joke, which earned me Judy rolling her eyes again. But the corner of her mouth subtly turned up, which, to me, was worth the reward for my silly joke, and I was satisfied.