Chapter 3: Drizzle

He looked at me with eyes darthing with agony. He stopped quickly and said something to the girl he is with then he walked towards us and told me, "Congratulations! I've never seen you this happy before." He shook my hand and his grip lingered. He looked at my wrist and I froze.

He shook Delf's hands and said, "What a lucky man. Hi. My name is Cray! The girl beside you was my girlfriend. Be sure to take care of her." I can't believe he's actually doing this.

He changed his name. I could have called him in his real name if I acted on impulse. I never knew this time would come. The very first sight of him in three years. Never have I ever longed for this day to come. I missed him so much. I'll miss him even more. Delf was a little tense as Cray turned his back from us and approached the girl he was with.

When he was walking away he uttered, "How can you be so happy holding hands with a man while still wearing the watch I gave you in our anniversary?"

I was about to burst into tears when Delf spoke out, "Whatever happened pre-war is erased. Bear that in mind. If you care about her safety and her feelings, you should've just shut your mouth."

"You are just paired with her? What's with that sympathy? I mean. Don't get me wrong here. You just met her right? She'll tell you eventually. Do you even know her?" He was still walking away and I still froze.

"Hey." Delf went out and stopped their way. "She didn't know you were alive and signed up for government participation. I was there when she went on her way to pass the form to rescue you."

How can Delf possibly know that? Oh, I do remember it all now. He had his form too not knowing it was also a form of government's experiments participation.

"You don't know what happened. We decided to never participate. It's fine by me if she just signed herself but she forcibly filled out mine without my consent." Cray's voice lingered in the hallway.

Delf was out of words. I walked to his side and I shouted out with the loudest volume for Cray to hear, "That is the only way to know if you are alive! They will provide you anything you need wherever you are at that time or if you're dead they're going to extract your corpse. I was the one to fill it out but your father, in his last breath, was the one who signed it for you. We were all worried sick about you. We thought you died."

"I...didn't know." Those were the only words I heard he said.

Delf was silent and gently held my hand, "We're going now, Cray." He was almost dragging me in the process. We ran away not looking back. I can picture Cray standing there being silent feeling sorry for the things he shouldn't have known.

Delf exclaimed, "I wish I will not see my ex or anything. It would make my heart burst. If she was alive...I may not have known what to do."

"You're amazing back there." I told him. His eyes shine like diamonds.

"Oh really?" He beamed a smile at me.

I'm melting.

We had gotten outside the facility, with my umbrella in my hands, when he blurted out, "Are we going to check the house first or get the supplies?"

I cannot deny that he emphasized the word first here. It's uncomfortable.

"Why are you so enthusiastic about this?" I questioned him when we were at the steep stairs.

"We have no other choice but to get to know about each other more." He put his arm around my shoulders.

"I don't want to check the house first." I emphasized on the word first too.

"Supplies it is!" Maybe he read my mind. He said that in an unnatural sarcastic but enthusiastic tone.

"I want to eat and drink something cold first." I asked him.

"Oh yeah. I'm starving too. Do you want to go to the circle?" He was back in his usual self.

Delf stretched his arms and smiled at me. I realized that the clouds were clearer and the sun shone rendering his brown hair blonde. It was a majestic sight as if he was a living demi-god.

"Yes. I would love to go to the circle."

"Ella, can I look at the map?" I gave him the map and he snatched it instantly, "You see here this number 6 shaped hall, that place is where official trade and ration money is utilized."

"We also have a place like that but smaller but it is scattered."

"Oh. You see there is an abundance of craftsmen, artisans and merchants in this circle. The Circle was a stone's throw away from the Center so we opt to walk to go there."

"Okay." I smiled at him and held his hand.

Arodelf, 'increasingly getting sweeter' as time passes by, said, "My family's permanent home is near here. It's not that big. Our house was wrecked when bombs hit it. It's near the lake. Somehow we managed, but since the first biennial, things got a little rough. My sister was married two years ago in the first bienneal. It was tough for her because she didn't know anything about her pair. She had twins. It was a good news not just for her but for us, her family. We get twice the ration! She occasionally visits us when she is allowed to do so and her house is very far from the center. My father is a war casualty, let's just avoid to talk about that. Now that I'm paired now, the only person living in the house is my mom. I felt sorry for her."

"Sorry to hear about that."

"Don't be. I'm just sad that we got to stay in a house that is far away from here. How about your family?"

"Both of my parents are still alive. My father registered under the name of my mother. My parents depended on me confirming to the government participation. We only get two rations since I'm eligible for pairing."

"Hmm. I know about that."

"You know about that?"

He nodded. "Yes. I don't remember who told me that but I wasn't shocked. You're very eccentric. You treated the world owed you something. I guess all of that hatred turned to gratitude when the world conspired to give you back your family."

"I guess so…"

There was a long pause. We passed by a garden made from the ruins. We saw a pair of lovebirds by a little acacia tree. The birds were singing, not a care to the cruel world they live in.

"What do you like in bed?" He burst the silence between us. We were crossing a little bridge made out of recycled wood.

"What? I..." My face turned red and I cannot grasp my words. I evaded his gaze.

"Are you a virgin?" He added. I looked at his eyes. His eyes examined my face looking for signs of truth.

"I'm a virgin." I'm not ashamed of that. "I was very busy and I never had the chance to have some time for those things and..."

"I'm not going to force you into anything. Don't worry." He patted my head and whispered, "It's not that I am an expert or something but they told us to consummate our marriage immediately."

"Can we just talk about something that... can we just talk about it later?" It's a little awkward. "I'm not the type of person to talk about intimate things in public. I don't even want to do those things with you...yet."

"Okay... " he smiled and walked ahead of me.

"Hey...wait...wait for me!" I ran to cover for his long strides.

"I am trying my hardest to connect with you."

"It's not like that though."

He paused to look at me, "Then what?"

"I'm still guilty of marrying you instead of Cray." My voice was low and sad. I even heard it resonate in the place.

"That you only imagined doing it with him? Is that correct? As if we had a choice, Micella. One wrong move and we may say goodbye to both of our parents." He looked at me and I saw a trickle of tear he managed to held.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it. I rather conserve it for a little while. I want to get to now you more. I want to know your personality and such. You're very hard to read though. I have lots of questions to ask you too."

"We'll get there. They told us to consummate the marriage immediately. If we're not obedient, a friend may lose a finger or a limb." He looked at me with angry eyes but he eventually smiled and hugged me. I cannot see his face as my face is planted on his chest. I felt his steady heartbeat. It was not fast. "The war had crushed my desire to love. It took the future I had imagined. I find it difficult to connect with people again. I want to protect my family and friends. Now that you are a part of me, I must take care of you too. I'm sorry about the words I said. I was just, to be honest, excited. I'm human. It's only natural to crave for flesh. I mean everything, as in everything, was suppressed for three years."

"I get you now." That is all I can say.

We had gone to a local restaurant and sat at the table near the window. The windchimes resonated and we can smell the flowers surrounding the restaurant.

The waiter took our orders.

"One Lasagna Bolognese and a Mango Smoothie. One Fettuccine in White Sauce and a Chocolate Pearl Tea. Is that all?"

"For afters... what do you like?" He looked at me.

"I guess ice cream would do. Cookies and Cream."

"We'll also get two ice creams please."

"You're orders will be served for within an estimated time of twenty minutes."

"Thank you." We both said in chorus.

The food arrived early and I think it was a consensus—we take in the atmosphere visually before started chatting, "Why did you made me head of the family?" I took a sip of the smoothie.

"It was a spur of the moment thing and I don't think that you will like me dominating the home. We will just fight over that decision and I am willing to give my position to you." He took a sip of his bubble tea. He exclaimed an ahh as his thrist was quench, "Why are you staring at me?"

"Oh. Nothing. I guess so but we could have talked about it."

"I know we'll eventually fight over that."

"Okay, but based on the manual, it can be changed during a bienneal registration." I ate a forkful of Bolognese Lasagna.

"I know. I'm willing to endure. Please take care of me, Ella." He took in a large forkful of his Pasta.

"Oh. Should you call me based on my code? Is that allowed?"

"We're here inside the Circle. We can say our given names."

"Should I just call you Delf?"

He nodded and gestured me to edge closer and whispered, "Every time I gestured you to edge closer, I want you to laugh or squeak."

"Okay. I get it."

"But at those times, I will tell something important so listen carefully. I'm an Anti."

A bit of shock resonated through me. I heard lots of stories about this secret organization. "Noted. Lots of cameras are outside the streets and in our homes. I don't even know what's freedom anymore."

"I know. It feels unreal. How can we break away from this system?"

"I really don't know maybe we just have to plan it."

"How? How can we do it?" He said in disbelief.

"I don't know. A secret language?"

"Hmm. I know. You plan. I'll create a system of writing or language."

"It seems impossible you know."

"We'll find a way."

"Without getting caught?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Let's go and get some supplies first." Delf edged closer and kissed my cheeks, "Let's finish eating."

"Hey wanna try my food?"

"I could taste it but... " He frowned.

I took a forkful of his food. "It's good."

"You like the sauce?"

"Yes I really do. It's my favorite!" Arodelf started laughing and I don't know why.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing."

I'm taking a sip of my smoothie when he said, "Yes. Micella likes white sauce."

I nearly choked. "You...!"

"What? I'm just joking you know." He laughed at me.

"You better be." I looked at him in a ruthless gaze.

"You're really beautiful, you know."

I can't believe what he just said. I countered his flattery with truths. "Yes. The procedures literally scraped and restructured my jawbone."

"Really?"

"Yes. That's why my face is smaller."

"I like your face better now. It really suits you." Delf cupped my face. He was careful not to touch my jaw. "How about your cheeks?"

"They were not operated."

"You're eyes?"

"Natural."

"Oh."

"Can you just let me finish eating. Please? Finish eating too! We. don't have much time!"

We ate quietly but I can see Delf gazing at me when I'm not looking.

After eating, we headed out of the Circle and into the community proper. Since I am the head of the family now, I'm the one in charge in getting the supplies from a nearby distribution center.

"Good afternoon, I am code 4aQ:F136-0001." I swiped the card and a woman assisted us and gave us two sets of keys.

She questioned us, "Do any one of you knows how to drive?"

Delf raised his hand.

The woman asked us, "Would you like your family to receive a car?"

I looked at him and he nodded, "Yes."

"We're going to check if your husband has a driver's license."

She gave us another key. "Please swipe the card again."

I did what she said shakily.

"Do not worry. The government will provide what you need. It's a gift for your marriage."

Delf's hand slipped to my waist and whispered, "Sorry, I'm not sure of this one."

I nodded.

She then handed me a small box. "These are your official phones from now on. You can keep your old phones, the ones that were given from last year. You will be given a new one every year."

"Thanks." Delf smiled at the woman and tapped my shoulder.

"Oh yes. Thank you very much for the government's kindness."

"Please wait for fifteen minutes in the waiting area. You can configure your phone with your fingerprint."

We sat there in silence after configuring our phones. He looked at me. I looked at him. I formed my hands into the ball in my lap.

"This is weird." He said putting his hand on my hands. "They had given us a house, car, supplies…for free?"

"As a gift, they say." My voice was almost shaking.

"I do think that this will come at a price."

"I know."

"4aQ:F136-0001 and 4aLM135-0003."

We got to the counter. She gave us an envelope.

"These are the certificates that you might need that can also be downloaded in your phones. Included there are files, contracts and other certificates that you are entitled to keep. Please proceed outside and go to Lot 7, Dock 5. Here is a bag where you can keep all your things. Enjoy your first day as husband and wife."

"Thank you very much for your service." We both said happily...regrettably.