Marine Snow's
Ep. 02: Partner
“You are so great, Aiden!” exclaimed the man with spike hair who was leaning on the end of my desk. “I might not be able to make Lincoln's face that funny. Did you see how he expressed himself, Nate?”
A woman sitting opposite me nodded. “Of course. You told me yourself that Mr. Lincoln would make a unique expression, Dom. How can I not come?”
Dominic Miller, the man leaning on my desk, laughed cheerfully. I've been trying for years to adapt to his laughter. Honey, all my efforts are running aground and now, I just have a preventive effort. Clog your ears with both hands or excuse yourself to the bathroom.
“Nate dear, I said it because my faith in Aiden is very high. Didn't we see the evidence? All the cases Aiden dealt with were a huge success and ended with a funny expression from the suspect. It's really fun!”
Natalie Carter ─Dominic more often calls her Nate- staring at me as if asking for approval to speak. He always does. As if, every action is required to have permission from me as someone with a higher rank.
Had he known that I didn't care, he would have snuggled Dominic's mouth, always complaining about my name. Sure.
“True. It was fun,” Natalie said at the end of her residence. The woman forced a smile on me and a sincere one on Dominic. “Don't you want to be a Prosecutor, Dom? I think it's just as fun.”
Basic lady.
“Aiden, what do you think?”
I know, Dominic's looking at me right now. His overly smiling face formed an inquisitive look. Again, I don't care. It would be a big mistake if a woman like Natalie Carter tried to intimidate me in such a lowly way.
“You will definitely agree with Nate,” Dominic said again. “But I can't. The Public Prosecutor is not a position to be taken lightly. It takes a lot of experience in expressing opinions and cornering suspects. I can't surpass Aiden.”
I don't think I need to explain Dominic's situation. The man was always pessimistic about himself and wished me very highly. Sometimes I don't understand how his mind goes. In a day, he can turn into someone who is very annoying ─ like this time. On another day or hour, Dominic Miller suddenly had a brain as sharp as a dagger.
The incident that I never forgot about the habits of the bright brown-eyed man was the routine of ‘support’ in each of my trials. Just like he did a few hours ago. Yelling my name, waving my hands at me, cheering occasionally if I throw an ace in front of all elements of the court, and end up being dragged forcibly out of the courtroom. I have to admit that Dominic Miller's habits are very disturbing. But I can't do anything to stop it.
That's karmaku.
I can't get Dominic Miller's name out of my life. Especially after seeing how his ability to uncover the secrets that the suspect tried to hide. I need it on this team. That's why Natalie hates me. I used Dominic Miller.
Dominic is still talking about all my greatness that must have been considered the wind by Natalie. I was almost tired of hearing it myself. So, right now, I'm trying to fly my memories into the Tennessee Supreme Court lobby two years ago. Just as Helga greeted us ─aku and Dominic, then referred to us as a duo with an invisible bond.
Companions.
Back then ─even until now-I don't really care how others think about us. I need Dominic Miller. And to the extent of my observation all this time, he also needed my presence. Not in the sense of the unusual relationship that Natalie once accused us of. Gays. Big no's! I'd rather be Dominic Miller's best friend than jump into that world in the middle of nowhere.
“... Nate, you have to understand how awesome Aiden Johnson is. Aren't you a woman?”
I want to get out of here. Dominic's mindset has tortured me enough. And right now, I don't want to face Natalie's dead red face.
“I'm a woman, Dom! Just so you know, women still have the right to choose the men they think they deserve, even though the male population is less than the female! My problem! Men do not have to interfere in women's affairs in choosing men! We have rights! Understood?!”
My escape attempt failed. Natalie had already stood up from her chair and blocked the door. The goal is that Dominic can not escape so that he can account for the consequences of his words. But I know Natalie won't let me go either. It's a problem between women and men. Of course I'm in it.
I was a man.
***
I was about to reach the first Act fourth Scene of the obsolete book Dad gave me when I realized that the elevator doors for the 5th floor had opened. Hamlet. A play by William Shakespeare written in the late 15th century. The language used is confusing. Especially for me who had just entered Memphis University School. I barely understood half of the book.
“Why, what should be the fear?I don't set my life at a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself?”
Mumbled. Trying to explore the figure of Hamlet. I don't know why those two things always happen when Hamlet is in my hands, dancing in my eyes, and playing in my brain. Maybe because I like it too much. And it could be, because of the persuasive effects of Dad. Hamlet is Shakespeare's work at the top. I remember how Dad said that phrase.
Not many people agree with me and Dad. Especially the people around me. Dominic always turned a deaf ear when one of Hamlet's poems was read. Usually, he also ran away. His attitude was immediately exemplified by Natalie Carter. That woman must have found another reason as to why I should be hated and shunned.
Because I read Hamlet. Ridiculous, no?
After walking through the hallway on the right side of the elevator, then turning left, I stopped right in front of my apartment door. Password I've entered and the bell sounds heard once, the door sign has opened. Pantofel that has been attached for 9 hours on my feet in the day, I immediately take off and put on the shoe rack on the left side of the door. A few seconds later, I stepped in with Dominic's black cellop on my birthday.
Nose sniffing. Pizzas. I couldn't have mistaken his scent. Especially because Dominic often eats the ready-to-eat food. He never made it himself. The kitchen is not his best friend, but me. Is correct. I'm Dominic Miller's only friend.
I decided to go to the kitchen. I closed the Hamlet, then put it in my work bag which was almost a perfect square. There's a special place for him, a long zipper on the second saf. Hamlet will be safe there. Not mixed with the case files I brought home or not left in the apartment. I can't survive an empty hour without Hamlet.
“Oh, have you gone home? I didn't hear the door.”
Not intending to answer, I walked over to the dining table and saw what was on it. There's nothing on the table. I should have known, it's Thursday. One of the two days of the week that always lowers my appetite. Because Thursday and Sunday is Dominic's turn to make dinner.
I said as I put my briefcase on the table. After turning around, a single glance I cast for the man wearing the black t-shirt and the red-striped pajama pants. I got a big smile in response. He even ignored me, switched on the microwave behind him, and took out a medium-sized pizza from there.
Dominic smiled again. “You better not complain, Aiden. You know very well if I can't adapt to the kitchen.”
My eyeball followed the tall figure out of the small kitchen, then walked past me. The smell of pizza follows every step. It didn't take long to shift the position of my briefcase and replace it with a pre-heated pizza.
“This time I ordered a pizza with your favorite topping, beef. There was no mushroom in the topping. I swear,” he said again.
“I believe,” I said as I glanced cynically at the unhealthy food that would soon enter my body. I saw Dominic crossing both his arms around his chest. He wants recognition for his hard work. “Don't you already know if I avoid junk food? And incidentally, pizza is in that category.”
“Come, Aiden!”
Dominic forced me to sit on one of two wooden chairs with padded black padding. After going through a bit of the wrestling scene, he sat down opposite me and picked up a slice of pizza. “I can't cook.”
“I know.”
“I'm not like you who can do everything, Aiden. And I don't like any other food besides your homemade cooking and pizza.” He bit off the tip of his pizza, chewed quickly, then swallowed it. “I think I've said this many times. Why don't you understand that too?”
“I think you can change,” I replied briefly.
My empty stomach forced my muscles to grab a slice of pizza and stuff it into my mouth. Dominic's face turned bright. He taught me about junk food. Starting from the innovation of taste, shape, and quality. I don't really understand what he says. But all I know is that this pizza tastes good.
“You want to say something, Aiden?” ask Dominic when I'm gonna bite my second slice of pizza.
Hearing the question, I stopped. I don't want to look silly choking, then coughing like a movie player would with a sudden question. “It's good,” I replied honestly.
He laughed out loud, then started leaning forward. “Finally you admit that pizza is delicious! I think two years is enough to make you change your mind.”
“Yes. It's been two years that we've been living in Nashville,” my mumbling while putting back junk food pieces on a plate. My brain twisted the pieces two years ago. I could even bring up the sensation of the weight of the big green backpack I was using back then. Dominic's face was also red.
The man in front of me did not respond. He was too engrossed in chewing on his favorite food while staring at the balcony of the apartment which was three steps away from the dining table. Sometimes, I think how strategic this dining table position is. We could always see the pitch-black sky of Nashville. It is beautiful, although there are not always stars.
“You want to ask me?” Dominic slid his jaw until half his face was facing me. “Ask only, Aiden. I'll answer this time.”
He knows me well. Indeed, I have long been curious about the reason for his reddened face. “What happened back then?”
“Ya,” she said. I saw that he had focused all his attention on me. Both of his eyebrows shot up, then Dominic started talking. “Mom was furious when I asked permission to go with you to Nashville. And you know how Mom.”
Overprotective, sometimes temperamental, and tend to have an old-fashioned mindset. The first time I met Cindy Miller was when delivering Dominic's notebook left at my house ─we used to do chores together. At first the woman greeted me kindly. But when I introduced myself as Aiden Johnson, he started saying unimportant things.
“Mom always underestimates you, Aiden. You'll never know how cruel he is when he curses. I was defending you and he slapped me. I did the right thing by being angry with him. Then I followed you and have no regrets at all.”
His words had completely explained the reason for his dead red face. An angry Dominic always turns red. Not green like the Hulk. “Dominic, I think you made a mistake.”
His hands stopped reaching for the pizza. “What's my mistake? Angry at Mom?”
“Not. But you know I ran away from home. If you want to follow me, you should have done it without asking Mrs Miller's permission. It's against the rules.”
Dominic's laughter broke again. Finally he took out a slice of pizza, left it suspended in mid-air, and continued that sickly discordant laughter. “Rules? Since when does running away from home have rules, Aiden? You're so funny! I didn't run away from home anyway. I just followed your lead to success.”
We threw arguments at each other after that remark. Dominic persists with his opinion of running away from home having no rules. I support the other side. The argument went on until my back hurt and the clock showed nine o'clock at night. But we haven't given up.
“There will never be a chapter for the act of escape, Aiden. Law does not want to regulate it.”
“Indeed there are no written rules about it. But if you want to do─” I pause when Dominic's fingers reach for the last pizza and devour it. My stomach is screaming. “Hei! Isn't that my pizza?! Why do you eat five and I only one?!”
Damnit damnit!
I lose my appetite every night on Thursdays and Sundays. Also control over my body. Just because of Dominic's favorite pizza, all the crap, and his behavior. I said it once, didn't I?
Dominic Miller is a very annoying guy.
***
