+TYPED OUT-

+CASUAL CONVERSATION-

When people moved about to chat, the man waited for a moment to find the only person whose opinion counted concerning his talks. Monday was not an adept of his coaching. She had nothing to gain from flattering him. The man wished to know her thoughts and what she retained. It was Kenneths' way to ensure the message he delivered was evident even for the non-initiated. The man got up, but it was impossible to make it to her. Someone captured him in a mockup of deep pondering every time he came close.

The woman didn't notice; Mondays' mind throbbed with chapters. She estimated having fulfilled her duty during the day. She had one more day to go before going back to her pajamas, mini twists, and créme brûlee bubble teas.

Monday missed the four walls of the apartment she shared with her cousin Luce.

Exhausted by nodding to show acknowledgment, the woman got ready to leave when she felt herself snoozing. She liked writing books not listening to peoples' analogies.

"Need a pillow?"

"Pardon," she said and turned to face her interlocutor, only to meet Kenneth's predominant nose and enchanting green eyes. The woman slid her head back and shuffled her seat away a few inches. They weren't close enough for him to invade her psychological bubble. Monday looked about everyone had left the table.

"Hey," the man said to capture her attention.

"Good evening, Kenneth," Monday said.

"I see you're enjoying yourself."

"It's a euphemism," Monday replied with a hint of irony in her voice before getting up and going to the bar. Kenneth smiled; it reassured the man to know he wasn't the only one who found the dinner a strain.

The BookInc organizers tried to satisfy the exhibitors who complained about not having enough opportunities to make contacts in the feedback survey. The professionals were glued by the obligation to interact with visitors and had little time for the rest. The comity listened and created calibrated events to allow them to connect.

Kenneth got up and followed her, "thank you for coming today. I hope you got the answers to your question."

"Yes, I did."

"And?"

Monday lowered her eyes and turned to pick up a cherry rum, "what? You think my books have nothing special. It's true; what can I say? I'm a tuna sandwich writer," the woman shrugged.

Kenneth expected a more outraged reaction that would lead to a debate, but Monday had no intention of satisfying the mans' sadist penchant. Her attitude threw a shade on his curly head savage theory.

He rebounded, "how about the rest?"

"What do you mean the happy alone part?" Monday said as she used the toothpick to pop a cherry in her mouth, "humans are meant to live in society, and seeking a partner is in our DNA."

The man blinked; his mind remained stuck on Mondays' red lipstick and the cherry. He gulped, "wow, that's a very Darwinist vision."

"No, I believe in the spiritual version of evolution."

Even better, thought the man for whom God or any other spiritual belief resembled the fictional stories Monday wrote. The man, unable to withhold his expression, grimaced.

"What's with the etched face?"

"Well, I wouldn't have expected such a response from a woman who seems as modern as you."

Monday sighed; she didn't understand why he even dedicated a minute's conversation to debate on the subject with her. She had had enough hearing him. Monday found his voice quite annoying. He didn't have a slick British accent, but an in-between London slash NYC as if he didn't know where he lived. One got an impression he hummed when he spoke for too long, "listen, Kenneth, you don't believe in love. That's your choice. You shouldn't encourage people to adopt that otherwiseㅡ."

"Otherwise, what?"

"There's a lot of single people still waitingㅡ."

"Are you single?"

Monday frowned. She hated the mans' habit of interrupting her when she spoke, "pardon, yes and?"

"Why?"

"Why am I single? Because I don't have time."

Kenneth picked up a beer on a passing tray, "are you sure it's about time and not a pretext?"

Monday pursed her lips. Couldn't someone take him away like they usually did?

"I don't have many opportunities to meet people."

"What? Look around you. Don't tell me there's no one in this room you find appealing?"

Monday blinked in dismay. She expected anything except this question from Kenneth of all people. The woman looked about to ensure no one eavesdropped before returning her focus on the man.

His stare was intense, but one could flare excitement peeping behind his eyelids' curtains. Kenneth awaited an answer.

Monday gulped.