The Question

The Question, part 3

'So tiny' 

That was my first thought after setting foot on the wooden deck. Agil closed the tatami door behind us and leaned against the railing, pouring a measure of Whisky on each glass.

- I had no idea this thing was behind the Dicey Café - I said recieving one of the glasses.

- I know, right? Is one of the main reasons for why we chose this place in particular - he said, chugging down the content on his recipient - I still remember Trish's face when she saw it for the first time. She looked so happy and excited that I knew we had found the perfect place.

I tried mimicking him and poured the entire content of the glass down my throat. I'd had Whisky in Aincrad before, so the taste nor the sting were much of a surprise, but the difference between alcohol in Aincrad and the real World, is that here I could get drunk. And knowing myself, that was most likely gonna happen.

But taking in consideration the circumstances, that might not be a bad idea.

I looked back at Agil who was pointing at me with the bottle, so I was forced to extend my arm and get a refill.

- I can kinda relate to that - I fanally said.

- Hmm? - Agil soundlessly asked.

- Well, it was in Aincrad, not the real World, but if I close my eyes I can clearly see Asuna's eyes sparkling at the sight of our home in the 22nd Floor...

Without realizing it, I started telling Agil a rather embarrassing story, but reviving those moments with Asuna in my head made it totally worth it.

- We had spent an entire day looking for that specific house with Argo, and just when the sun began to set, we finally found it. I remember waving The Rat goodbye and turning again towards Asuna, only to find her with her gaze stuck on the little cabin. The wind was softly brushing her brown hair against the side of her face, creating a veil that almost denied me the gorgeous scene. Her hazel-brown eyes were gleaming thanks to the remaining sunlight, and I found myself doubting if it was all a dream...

As I spoke my cheeks started to feel hotter and hotter, either from the alcohol or the embarrassment, so I took a quick sip of my whisky to try and brush the sensation off. I turned towards Agil who luckily wasn't looking in my direction and probably didn't see my flushed face.

- That's the place you two moved in after getting married, right? - he filled the gap left by my sudden silence.

- Yeah, even if it was only for two weeks, inside a videogame of death and without a proper proposal...

- Pfgh! - 

The sound came from Agil, and I quickly spun to face him.

- You alright?

- Yeah I *cough* I'm fine... Is just that... Don't mention that word.

- Hmm...? - I wondered for a bit before realizing - You mean...proposal?

Agil didn't respond, but he slightly nodded and shruged in defeat, exhaling heavily while pouring himself a rather large meassure of Whisky. All that acting by my usually cold-headed friend aroused my curiosity, so I pushed a little trying to sound as serious as possible.

- Did something happen with your proposal Agil? 

- 'Something' is an understatement. Everything that could've gone wrong, went worse than wrong - he said looking away with embarrassment.

I knew that I was pushing my luck and asking too much, but I really wanted, needed to hear Agil's story, so I pierced his temple with my gaze and slightly bowed.