Arrangement [H.S]

16

What struck me as most unusual, though, was the fact that Naomi and I were sitting in the same room, engaging in a conversation that wasn't plagued by the usual tension or veiled animosity. She has a unique talent for getting on my nerves, and I'd grown accustomed to our verbal sparring. Yet, in that moment, the familiar irritation was absent.

It was perplexing, to say the least. I'd always prided myself on my ability to maintain my composure and not let emotions cloud my judgment. My disdain for Naomi was well-founded, a result of our shared history and her penchant for pushing my buttons.

But as we exchanged words that morning, my usual anger and annoyance seemed to have taken a backseat. I found myself engaging in a regular conversation with her without feeling the urge to lash out or escalate the tension. It was, dare I admit it, a surprisingly pleasant change of pace.

Don't get me wrong—I still didn't like her. Her mere presence continued to irritate me on occasion, and the differences in our personalities and outlooks on life were as stark as ever. Yet, as I watched her laugh, her carefree demeanor contrasting sharply with our usual interactions, I couldn't help but acknowledge that it tested my resolve.

There was something disarming about seeing Naomi in such a light-hearted and unguarded state. It was a side of her that I rarely encountered, and it challenged the well-established boundaries of our 'relationship'.

As I continued to observe her, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that perhaps I was being too harsh, too quick to judge. But I dismissed that voice with a mental shrug. After all, we were two individuals who had spent about month locked in a contentious dynamic, and a single night of revelry wouldn't change that.

No, my dislike for Naomi remained intact, firmly rooted in our shared history and the undeniable fact that she still managed to irritate me often. But as I watched her laugh, a begrudging acknowledgment of her ability to elicit genuine moments of mirth from me couldn't be denied.

She pats my shoulder and it took me away from my crowd of unnecessary and redundant thoughts "Oh yeah, our relationship is sure to be long."

"You don't think I'm suitable for long relationships?" I am curious and ask a question. I had never thought about it before and it didn't matter to me. But I don't know why, I'm curious about Naomi's view on this, how she sees me.

The atmosphere in the room remained oddly pleasant and devoid of tension. It was a rarity for Naomi and me, and I couldn't help but wonder what had brought about this temporary truce.

We found ourselves venturing into the territory of relationships, a topic I usually avoided like the plague. But on this particular morning, I was strangely curious about Naomi's perspective, as if a veil of detachment had lifted, revealing a new layer of intrigue.

She seems to be even more surprised by my question, you can see that she did not expect it from me.

"I mean, have you ever been in a long relationship?" She stares with the curiosity painted on her face. "No, no, have you been in any relationship?" I shake my head and she goes on, "Well then, you've never been in a relationship, and seeing how you act towards me, you don't seem like an easy person."

"Okay, so how many relationships was my specialist in?" She turned pale at my words and made a sad expression on her face.

She cleared her throat. "Some of the less serious and one serious, I mean long."

I am not discreet enough and continue this topic. "And why are you not in this relationship anymore? Our ideal partner is not that perfect? You are not easy person huh?"

"Just a few things got complicated and we broke up." She speaks straight and a little quiet.

"'We broke up,' -so he broke up with you, yeah? See? You're not an easy person to be, too, it seems." She rolls her eyes. "Well, don't be offended, you're just saying I'm not perfect and you can tell you're not either."

"Well we're both not easy people in relationships it looks like." You can see she doesn't agree with me, but since she doesn't want to go any further, she nods to me.

I began tentatively, leaning back on the couch and studying her as I spoke. "What's your take on long-term relationships?"

Naomi's expression softened, her eyes glancing away for a moment before returning to meet mine. "Well, I believe in the possibility of them," she replied, her voice surprisingly gentle. "But they require effort, understanding, and compromise. It's not always easy, but if both people are willing to work on it, it can be worth it." She slowly started to get up from the couch.

"Go on a date with me." She stops on her way to the kitchen and looks at me like I'm crazy. "Not real, of course." You can see that she doesn't understand me. "Let's have a date and each of us has something to prepare and we will check who of us can do better and would do better in a relationship."

"I don't understand. Since it's supposed to be a fake date, and one in addition, how would it affect who would do better in the relationship?" Maybe she's right, but I still encourage her.

"After one date you can often see who is what kind of person and how will behave in the future. After all, after one date you have to decide whether you want to continue the relationship or cut the ties."

"Why do you care so much about this? And who's going to decide who's gonna do better?"

"We both will decide, we will see how cool I am and how better I am. Secondly, I love to compete. Third, I don't like when someone accuses me of something and doesn't know what the truth is."

I'm lying. I am totally lying. I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about me, what they assume about me. But I don't know why I just want to convince her otherwise.

"Okay, one date."

I don't know what possessed me to do it. Inviting Naomi on a fake date, of all things. It's not like I enjoy her company or anything. Hell, I don't even like her most of the time. So why the hell did I impulsively ask her out?

The whole idea is ridiculous. We're not a couple, not even close. We're just two people who got stuck in this bizarre arranged marriage, and we've been at each other's throats more times than I can count. But for some reason, I want to see her smile more often. It's a weird and confusing feeling that I can't quite explain.

Maybe it's because I'm tired of the constant arguments and tension in this apartment. Maybe I just want a break from all that hostility. Or maybe... maybe there's something about Naomi that intrigues me, something I can't put my finger on.

But that doesn't change the fact that I don't like her. I don't. I'm sure of it. So why the hell did I invite her out for a fake date? It doesn't make any sense.

And yet, as confused as I am about my own motivations, a small part of me can't help but hope that this fake date will be different. Maybe it'll be a chance for us to let our guards down, to share a few laughs, and to actually enjoy each other's company. Or maybe it'll be a total disaster, and we'll go right back to arguing like we always do.

Either way, I can't deny that I'm looking forward to it, even if I don't understand why. Maybe I'm just as baffling as Naomi herself.

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xoxo