The Side Away
16
"So how long have you been friends?" ask Lucy
Laura placed the plate on the table and turned to look at Gino. The man was flipping the meat on the grill while David looked annoyed with the fan in his hand.
"Since childhood" said Laura.
"I'm not going to tell Mario."
"You love David?" ask Laura to make sure.
***
"If you do something to Laura, I'll kill you!"
"Gino, what's wrong with you?" ask Mika amused. "I'm just kidding, your reaction is like I hurt your girl. I don't even know him, don't threaten someone's life, especially if you're a lawyer. Gino, you have to go after him if you really love him."
"I'm after him, Mika, you're meddling in my business too much. Just think about your husband and your in-laws' problems" Gino reminded.
"Both are assholes, you'd rather die if you lived like me."
***
The sky was already dark, Laura looked at the scenery around her in silence. He's on the roof of the building with Mario and Jason. The abandoned job involves Jason writing the script while Mario says verbally. Both of them looked serious and Laura was like the third person in that place. He remembered Gino whom he left without a message, perhaps the man panicked to look for him. Laura gave a small smile recalling Gino's nervous attitude that day. About cucumber masks, scorched eggs and also the incident of ornamental plants. All those memories are well stored in her head, Laura never forgets even the smallest secret of Gino, Laura knows it.
"Lala?"
Laura turned her head to the side, it turned out Jason, Mario was not there like Mingye was taking the man away.
"I saw you at Jean's party, you were with Argino Mahendra. Talented young lawyers and you're from the same country. Lala, is he that guy?" ask Jason.
Laura took a deep breath, Jason was very sensitive and such a small thing could guess him correctly.
"Mika my cousin, we grew up together and we were one year adrift. He is older and I respect him a lot. He had a hard time losing his parents and keeping the company alone. At such a young age Mika managed to prove that one's abilities are not based on age. But hard work and the desire to survive. She is beautiful and smart but also very stupid. The only thing that made him stupid was accepting family matchmaking. Lala, I don't want to talk about Mika and bother you. I'm just explaining that my relationship with Mario, Lucy, and Mika started as a child. You could say we were childhood friends and separated when Mario's parents moved to New York."
"Thank you for telling me this" Laura said.
"So did you accept Mario's proposal?"
Laura nodded. "Mario needs someone and I can't ignore it. He was once the most important person in my life. Jason, don't tell Mario about Gino, my relationship with him is just a schoolmate. Those memories are just the euphoria of adolescence."
"I feel bad but I'll keep it for Mario's sake" Jason said.
"Jason, do you really love Lucy?"
"Of course, Lucy's the only person in my heart."
Laura nodded, not daring to discuss any further about Lucy and the woman's enthusiasm for David. However Lucy has privacy, it is inappropriate for Laura to say that even if it is for Jason's good.
"Lala hope you don't regret your decision."
Laura smiled faintly, feeling Jason reminiscent of her chosen decision.
"Mario's a good person, I can't possibly regret it."
"Good are just excuses when one reaches saturation point. Lala, you can't like someone just for their kindness. If one day that person becomes evil then your feelings will disappear by themselves."
"Jason thank you, it's okay as long as Mario is happy."
***
