Aya hummed as she boarded the Seelim bus to town. She texted Ats to let him know she was on her way, then waited for him to respond.
[Are you on your way to Rolfe’s? I’m already on the bus.]
[I’m on my way. I’ll probably get there before you, so what do you want to eat?]
[Donuts! :D] Aya texted.
[Donuts it is.] he replied, Aya could detect a hint of amusement in his response.
[By the way, thank you fiving Mars my number. I should probably be thanking you in person.]
[It’s no trouble, she asked me for it and I knew you wao talk to her.] Aya texted back quickly.
[Right.]
Aya remembered they were almost married, she had fotten to ask Mars about it due to all the things that happened earlier that day, it was something they could talk about after they moved into their new home.
Aya looked out of the bus window and noticed she was already iy, it wouldn’t be long before she would be at the bus stop he bakery.
[I’m almost there so let’s save the versation for when we meet.]
[Agreed, it’s a good thing I’ve already ordered those donuts.]
The bus stopped Aya at the bus stop not too far from the bakery where she and Mars had previously been. It was only a couple mio the bakery but it felt longer without Mars by her side. Aya was thankful for the jacket, as the afternoon faded into evening the air cooled, causing a chill.
Aya skipped into the bakery to find Ats sitting in the same seat he occupied st time. Aya took a seat opposite him, beaming.
Ats had a stoic expression on his face but the moment Aya slid into her seat a grin stretched out across his face before he could stop it.
“Hello, Aya. You look lovely.” he said.
Aya giggled.
“Thanks! Mars gave me her jacket and I think it really tied my look together.”
Ats nodded.
“Absolutely.” Aya noticed he wasn’t much of a versationalist but he was trying, and that was really all she could ask for.
“So you’re moving, what’s that like?” Ats asked.
“It feels surreal, I didn’t think I was getting out of here for a long time.” Aya gazed out the window at the passing cars as she spoke, then back at Ats. “My life’s ged so much over the past month it’s crazy.”
“I ’t say I uand.”
“I’m tired.” Aya groaned. “But I’m guessing there's going to be a long period of insanity before I ever have some peace again.”
“Is that good or bad?” Ats asked in fusion.
“Life’s what you make it right, I guess I just o find the calm in the chaos.” Aya said, she stared ily at Ats’s face for a moment. “You know, you’re a lot like Mars. I see why you two almost got married.”
Ats ughed.
“No, that’s not the reason. My parents and her parents thought it would be good te both families and panies.” Ats expined.
“So you didn’t want to get married?” Aya asked resting her head on her hand in i.
“I was relut, open but not really.” Ats replied, drumming his fingers oable.
“Well, why didn’t you say no?”
“I had already made my peace with the fact that I probably wouldn’t marry for love.” His shoulder rexed into the plush seat as he said that. “I was relieved when Mars ran away, I do feel guilty about that. It’s cowardly but I was afraid to speak up.”
He spoke in a tohat let Aya know he was fiding in her, she resolved to keep that secret. A problem shared roblem half solved.
“It sounds like your dad is a pretty tough guy to deal with.” Aya said sugar coating what she really wao say. Ats’s dad sounded like a trolling jerk.
“I respect him and tolerate him but he rules my life with an iron fist.” Ats said. “ I sound me don’t I?”
Aya shook her head frantically.
“Of course not! I’m not so o think you have a perfect family because you’re loaded.” Aya said. “I’m only now learning things about my own family that’s making my head spin.” a nervous ughter followed her statement.
“What pany was Mars’s family running?” Aya asked.
“I thought she would have told you by now, but it’s the Seelim bus and logistipany.” Ats said signaling the waitress t them two cups of tea.
“Eh?” Aya paused to take in his words. “You mean the bus I took here? The bus I used to take to work every day?”
Ats nodded in amusement at her expression.
“Mars’s family.” He ughed.
“Speechless.” Aya said pig up the hot cup of tea, it was just what she he chilly air. She took a sip, rolling the liquid arouo was sweet, but unfamiliar.
She didn’t mind that Mars had kept it from her, the irl was running after all. All the money she knew Mars had made so far was from career gaming.
If no one could fi ossible her family had cut her off so to speak.
“I didn’t know what you would like so I just ordered sweet jasmiea. It’s what I like.” Ats said cutting through Aya’s thoughts.
“I like it, it tastes just like the tea in…” Aya wasn’t sure bringing up the game ropriate now. “Like a tea I’ve had before.”
“Oh good, I wanted you to like it.” Ats said in relief. “The pastries will soon be here.”
As if on cue, a waitress appeared with a ptter of donuts. She pced it oable then fshed Ats a flirtatious smile, leaving Aya to gaze at each donut in hunger.
“Do enjoy your pastries.” the waitress cooed, but Aya barely heard her over her longing. Ats gave a od and a lipless smile.
“I guess Mars’s family wasn’t too keen on gaming.” Aya said reag for a honey gzed donut with glee.
“As a hobby, they were fih it, but they never intended for Mars to have a career path if you get what I mean.”
Aya’s eyes saddened.
“I do.” She lowered the donut from her lips, she’d heard about things like that in books and movies but didn’t think it was something people still did. It didn’t seem real but as.
“I care a lot about her, still do in fact. So imagine my surprise when after a while, she turned up with you.”
Aya beamed, nibbling on her donut.
“She was ag way too suspicious for you guys to not know each other.”
“I guess she was, but I don’t bme her o.”
“I hope you two get the ce to talk then.” Aya said lig a crumb off the er of her lip. “I have a feeling she has a lot to say to you too.”
“Ats?” A puzzled voice called from behind them. Aya turned around to a silver haired man looking over at them from where he had called Ats’s he brue squinted long enough the letters embzoned on her chest.
Eos querors.
“Arlo.”