Trial 26: Ask Away

Before I could ask my first question, Dashiell supplied that he was the one who named Pillow. He explained, "When I first brought Pillow home, I observed that she likes sleeping on pillows so one day I thought out loud that I will name her Pillow which she seemed to had liked since she purred right then."

After that, Dashiell didn't speak for a minute so I thought I could start with my first question. "So, when and where-"

And just like that, Dashiell interrupts me and steals the rest of the words out of my mouth, saying, "When and where did I get Pillow from, huh? I got her two years ago when I was going back to the bunker from my tiring work."

"You mean, Pillow was once a stray kitten?"

"Ah, no. I got her from an animal shelter. She-"

This time it's me who interrupts him. "Awesome! You adopted her then?"

"Geez! Let me finish, will you?" responded a seemingly annoyed Dashiell

"Oops, sorry! I got excited, " was my shy reply.

Dashiell sighs then continue "I did adopt her. I know you'll ask next what made me decide to adopt a cat. The adoption was actually accidental. Anyway, I adopted her after hearing that no one wants to adopt her."

"How could they not want to adopt her? Also, what do you mean by accidental?"

"If you look closer, Pillow's kind of cross-eyed, and she walks a bit funny because she has Wobbly Cat Syndrome. Luckily, her case with Wobbly Cat Syndrome isn't that bad since she can still move a little closer to what's considered normal. Too bad though, she had to be spayed. About the accidental thing, it wasn't originally my plan to adopt a cat. My boss just sort of dragged me with him, into the animal shelter. He said his daughter wanted a cat. Inside the pet shelter, my boss was presented with the different kittens and cats that they have. As my boss was choosing, I noticed Pillow because of her eyes and the way she walked then. She got me interested so I asked what's wrong with her. The employee filled me in with everything about her; how she eats poorly and not thriving as good as the others and no one wants her. I also heard from the employee that if things won't look good for her by the following month, euthanasia is their option for her because her maintenance requires a lot of work and is quite costly; more importantly, to end her misery; hence, the adoption."

"Euthanize her? That's dreadful."

"Uh-huh. It sure is. Well, moving on, I took turns with Dr. Al, Aunt Mari, and dad in taking care of her in the bunker but almost a year ago, I had to bring her here so I can focus more on this mission. Uncle Ray looks after her for me since then and I visit her only when I have extra time. It sucks that I had to do that even when I already quit my job."

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that. But you know looking at Pillow now, I think she looks happier than how she was back in the animal shelter, doesn't she?"

Dashiell nodded then reached over Pillow to carry her. Pillow meows sweetly then licks Dashiell's face. Feeling fascinated by it, I reached my hand towards her and on the next second, she licks my hand which tickles a lot that it causes me to laugh heartily.

"Dashiell, she's so adorable!"

"Right? I'm glad I took her back then if not, things would have continued being boring for me."

I nod as I giggle over Pillow. It feels nice to have Pillow warm up to me quickly.

I got so lost observing Dashiell's and Pillow's interaction that I almost forgot the other things that I want to ask Dashiell.

I cleared my throat to get Dashiell's attention back. My move is successful as he faces me back, eager to listen to my next question, and says, "Ready to fire your next question, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, go ahead."

"Um, is it okay to ask my remaining questions for now all at once?"

"Wait, for now? That means you'll have a bunch of questions for me after today, yeah?"

"Uh, yes-"

"Now I feel like I have to attend a courtroom every time."

"No, it's not like that though I'm sorry if that's how you see it. I just-"

"Ssh. Hush, I get it. I'm really suspicious!" came the snark of a laughing Dashiell.

I feel bad that I make him think that way because of what I'm doing. It hurts that he doesn't want to acknowledge that I only want to get to know him more. Nonetheless, I want to push through with this. Maybe someday things will get better between us so here goes nothing, I ask simultaneously, "How tall are you? What are your hobbies? Favorite Music? Favorite food and drink? Favorite color? Your Pet Peeves-"

"Hey Stop! Is this a Slambook?"

"Maybe?"

And Dashiell sighed again and facepalmed as I waited for his reply. In the next minute, he recovers his usual composure and starts, "I'm 183 cm tall. Playing with Pillow is probably my hobby if that counts as one. I have no favorite music in particular since I was not exposed to it. I don't have a favorite food or cuisine but if I have to choose, I like pasta and meat dishes. Also, I have no favorite drink since I don't drink but if you meant non-alcoholic drinks then I'm not particularly averse to any of them. You could say I like any drink. I have no favorite color. People who are vain and nitpicky are my pet peeves. You didn't directly say that this is a Slambook but you didn't deny it either so yeah let me add these: My hair color is dirty blonde. The color of my eyes is sea green. Lastly, I don't have a first crush, first kiss, or whatever and I think that's pretty obvious-"

I interrupted, "It's okay, Dashiell. You can stop there. Listen, I have no ill intention behind these questions. I only want to know you more, nothing else."

"Hmm. What if I tell you that you don't need to know more about me?"

"But Dashiell, I didn't say I need to know you more. I said I want to know you more."

"Tch! Touché, " was Dashiell's response with a smirk.

I smiled at him in response.

"Hey! Don't think that I'll let you off of this easily, " said Dashiell.

My smile turned into a scowl with that.

Dashiell in turn laughs at my scowl then mumbles, "Don't worry it's not like I'll toast you alive." He pauses to pinch my cheeks then resumes, "You made me talk that much so you're going to have to talk as much as I did about yourself. Fair enough?"

"Absolutely! I'll start now-"

"Oops! I didn't say you'll start it now."

"Oh when then? And why not?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

His question made me raise my brow and ponder for a moment. In the end, I didn't realize if there's something I'm forgetting so I didn't say anything, resulting in Dashiell's facepalming.

In the next moment, I unconsciously look at the time and that's when it hits me that we still have the training.

Dashiell seems to get that realization finally hits me as he speaks, "Yeah, we're like an hour late in our schedule. We better get ready to go back."

We both said our goodbyes to Pillow. Pillow acknowledged our goodbyes by meowing softly. We left right away and head back to the bunker. As we entered the bunker, I call on Dashiell and ask, "Can I go visit Pillow with you again?"

"Judging from my reaction, what do you think?"

Dashiell wore a dreary look after my question, so I realized it's a no. Even so, I threw him the most genuine smile I could muster and reassured him that I understand so it's okay.

Unexpectedly, he tapped my shoulder and told me, "I'm sorry. It's not easy, I know but hang on, okay? It will get better."

I nod at him and mutter, "I know."

Dashiell suddenly grabs my hand and says, "Let's go, Alaine."

The action makes my face feel hot which I don't understand why. Ugh! I wonder when I will ever realize the reason behind these feelings I get whenever Dashiell is involved.

When we got further into the bunker, Dashiell pointed out that I can't train while still in my pajamas. That's when I remember that I didn't even bother to change my outfit earlier. Dashiell urges me to go get changed and heads to the training room's direction. Before I complied, I called out, "Dashiell, when's your birthday?"

Dashiell looks shocked about it but manages to answer, "29th of October; I'll be 25."

"Okay, thanks."

"Hurry up, Alaine. See you at the training room."

I shouted a "yes" as I raced back to my bedroom, feeling gratified with how things went, following my plan.