MOAB

Chapter 26: Galene @ 0.9x nhs

Chapter 26: Galene @ 0.9x nhs

“Well, that was a complete and utter failure,” Galene snarled while pulling wires.

“It’s okay, it was worth trying out. It’s just not working for me, don’t be discouraged,” Greg tried to calm her down.

Her idea of making a dedicated reading computer for RSVP, the blinking text thingie, was a bust. Greg had tried it out for hours, changing the text speed, trying to find a sweet spot. In the end, it just wasn’t meant for him.

Galene sat down and pouted just like a baby would, her lower lip quivering up front.

Greg brought her a cookie.

“I don’t want a cookie,” she pouted and pushed it away.

“What do you want?” he asked softly.

“I wanna go to Epidayros and watch ancient theatre.”

“That was… awfully specific. When?”

“Tonight,” she slapped her palm on the floor.

“Let’s go then,” Greg said and went to his room. “I’ll be ready in six minutes.”

“Really?” she asked, yelling across the rooms.

“Yeah. I’ll have Mel book us tickets, we’ll be there in two hours. We’ll stop by your place for you to get changed.”

Gal bit her lip and jumped up. She loved it when he took control.

They watched Prometheus Bound. Unlike the streak of re-imaginings and modernised plays that were all the rage these days, this play was awfully close to the original, just with modern language instead of Ancient Greek. They had kept a few of the one-liners though. Their meaning was conveyed anyway from the exaggerated acting. That particular play utilised holographic projection technology, and you could hear the wave of disgust sweeping the audience as you saw Prometheus’ liver being torn from his body as realistically and graphically as possible.

Nobody could look away.

After the play, they went to the city Nea Epidayros for a walk by the sea.

“I didn’t know you liked theatre,” he said, licking his ice cream.

“Did you think I only liked video games and movies?” she said, finishing hers.

“No, I simply didn’t know. I assumed nothing. Hey, did you eat that already?”

Gal threw the napkin in the trash and hastily interlocked her arm with his, and dug her hands inside his warm coat. She wanted to do that since the beginning of their walk but she wasn’t gonna admit that to him.

“Yes,” she winced. “Massive. Brainfreeze. Ouch.”

“Hah! Noob,” he teased and brushed her head.

She held him close.

It was a lovely night, with lights shimmering in the sea, fishing boats lazily moving about, couples walking up and down.

“Greg?”

“Yeah?”

“Are we dating?”

“Of course. Isn’t this our second date?”

“According to my friend Natalie’s count it’s our third-and-a-half.”

He nodded deeply, “Third-and-a-half it is, then.”

“What about our age difference? What will people say?”

“Who cares?”

She couldn’t help but smile. “Do you honestly believe that, or are you just saying it because you think that’s what I wanna hear?”

“Gal, baby, I like you. Your brain, your body, your smile, all of it. Yes we have an age gap. Yes, people might say I’m having a crisis or whatever. But, who cares, as long as we’re happy?”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m happier than I’ve been in a very long time,” he assured her.

“I’m happy too.” She sank her face in his neck and closed her eyes, inhaling his aftershave. “Mmm, you smell like a baby prostitute,” she said sweetly. She kissed him on the neck with her sticky lips.

“Okay, you really have got to stop watching Mean Girls every night.”