Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 11:03:27 GMT
OFF-CAMERA
'A Mexican WHAT match?!'
Jenny's tone is the kind of shrill normally only used by characters on TV. She holds up her phone in front of my face, the Cinco de Mayo card clearly visible on its screen, as if showing it to me would make any difference at this point.
'Relax, Jen.' I try a chuckle, but it comes out hollow. 'That's just a name. Nobody actually dies in a deathmatch.'
'That's real comforting to know, Jason.' Jenny's tone is not getting any calmer, and her glare is not getting any gentler. 'It really puts my mind at ease to know that at least my boyfriend's not going to die because he was stupid enough to let his company book him in a match like that.' She chuckles, but it's about as genuine as my own attempt. 'Nevermind that he could still end up burnt or something, because his rival is a nutcase who thinks throwing fireballs at people is a-okay!'
'He wasn't aiming for my face, Jen.' This time, I manage to make my tone more assertive. 'He wanted to burn off my mask. That's all.'
'Again, Jason, very comforting.' There's no winning this one – that much is clear to me now. Jenny wants to be right, she wants to have the last word, and the only way to avoid a scene is to let her.
'Look, Jenny, I'm sorry', I say, doing the right thing. 'But it doesn't matter now, anyway. The match is made.'
'Can't you ask the office to cancel it?' Jenny is pleading with her eyes. 'Or like, make it a normal match or something?'
I shake my head. 'Sorry, hon. It's too late to change it. Besides, what kind of coward would I look like, trying to dodge a match like that, in front of a Mexican crowd, on their national holiday? El Vainillo is supposed to be one of them, remember?'
Jenny throws me a pleading look again, but this time, it's her who can't win.
'I'm sorry, babe.' I step forward to give her a hug, and am surprised at how quickly she accepts it. A moment later, our lips are stuck together, and it's like we've never been fighting.
'I just want you to be safe, Jason', Jenny whispers, her blue eyes looking deep into mine.
'I know, babe', I whisper back, leaning in for another quick kiss. 'But I gotta end this thing with Tiger one way or another. You know that, right?'
She nods, trying to fight back tears. 'Just be careful, okay? I don't want anything else to happen to you.'
'I'll try, hon', I promise, meaning it.
Jenny nods again, then says those three words every man wants to hear from the woman they're with.
'I love you.'
'I love you too, Jen', I reply, softly.
And I've never meant anything more in my life.
Final Word Count: 480
Final Word Count: 480