Love is the Object

Kiril loves Addison. Addison loves Kiril. But 5 years can change everything. The score should be irrelevant, but they’re too proud to forget.

.1.

Kiril had loved Addison for a very long time. It was that very persistence that he believed paid off, after a while. He had gotten Addison for himself at very, very long last. He always likened their story to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Addison always had Prince Charming-s knocking at her door, offering to save her. But Addison had remembered the dwarf, the one who had helped her do the laundry and made her laugh. Prince Charming couldn’t ride his white horse forever, but Kiril was more than equipped to love Addison for a million lifetimes.

“Sweetie, sometimes you make me wonder. I know you’ve got an IQ of practically one million, but I can’t believe you didn’t notice,” said Kiril gleefully.

“It was extremely realistic! I could hardly believe that you noticed!”

“Riiigghhhttttt. If that makes you feel better.”

“So I don’t have common sense. I don’t need it.”

“No, you don’t. You just need it for noticing that David’s glued on fake nails for guitar are fake. Or…reading time…remembering the number of days in all the months…”

Addison glared balefully at Kiril. “Are you trying to say something? Are you hinting at something, perhaps, Kiril? Unfortunately, I don’t understand hints. They’re too complicated for me. Spell it out for me.”

One look at her eyes and Kiril knew that spelling it out for her was the last thing that should be attempted, and if he were to attempt it, would in fact be the last thing he would do in his life. Choking and dying didn’t count.

“No, no hint.” Kiril took a big deep breath and shut his mouth.

Then opened it again. “Just a statement of fact.”

Addison sighed, unsuccessfully fighting off a smile. “Right…fact.”

“That’s why I love you, sweetheart! You should be grateful to have found someone as magnanimous as I am. Not everyone enjoys the company of the insane. I’m not exactly common, now am I?”

Addison laughed, throwing a spare pillow at his head. “Ha! We both know who drew the short stick in this relationship…”

“Yeah, I know. Me.”

Addison growled and pounced on Kiril, ineffectually trying to hurt him with a feather pillow. She stopped when Kiril was laughing so hard she could feel the vibrations while sitting on top of him. She reluctantly put the pillow to the side and plopped down on his lap, crossing her arms petulantly.

“Shut up, you ungrateful bastard. I don’t know why I put up with you, honestly.”

“I know why. Because you L.O.V.E. me. And you have for…hmm, what day is it today?” Kiril held up his fingers and began flicking each one up, counting.

“Well, I know for a fact that it is more than 20 days, so I suppose you’re out of luck with the fingers,” said Addison dryly.

“Wrong again, honey. I have 40 fingers, because yours are mine too.”

Addison smiled for a split second before she strangled it.

“Well, give or take a week because I can’t remember if it’s the 21st of July or the 11th, I would say that you have been in love with me for…8 years, one month, and…3 days.”

Addison smiled wryly, “You think I’ve been in love with you since the first day we met?”

“Well, if you’ve been in love with me for as long as I’ve been in love with you, then yes. I was being optimistic in these calculations, after all.”

“Optimism isn’t for business people.”

“It is for those who own art galleries. I walk into work every morning and hope to God that I get a new piece.”

Addison smiled. “I think you do a little bit more than hope.”

“Nope, it’s in the job description. I know, I wrote the job description, in case I need to be replaced.”

“I know you wrote it, babe. I think it’s the last thing you wrote after college. Who knows if you can still form coherent sentences anymore? It’s a sad day when people can make their millions without knowing how to spell. Works out well for me though,” said Addison.

“Ad, why does it work out well for you?”

“Because I get to spend your millions, and save mine so I can funnel it all into my escape plan.”

“Your escape plan? I’ll have you know, I know a bit about security systems, that’s another thing we do at ye ol’ art gallery.”

“Bet you couldn’t stop me.”

“Bet I could.”

“Bet you couldn’t.”

“Bet you wouldn’t try.”

Addison smiled. “We’ll see.”

Kiril sighed. “I love you, Ad.”

“I know, sweetie.”

Truth was, she didn’t always know.

Addison walked slowly to her computer science lab. Why this class was required for graduation she didn’t know, and moreover, she didn’t understand. Unfortunately, since she had skipped the last two, her freebies were up, so she had no choice but to go to class.

She trudged slowly towards the computer lab, an unforgiving 10 minute walk away from her dorm room. It was as if they made it that far away so that the unsuspecting student would have ample time to be seduced away from class. Only the strong made it in. Well, today, she was just going to have to be one of the strong.

Finally, she walked in, already 5 minutes late. There was only one seat left, at the back of the room in the far right corner. She walked over, muttering a quick ‘excuse me’ to the two people she squeezed past, shifting her black bag awkwardly to avoid hitting them.

“So partner up and start the lab, ok?” said the T.A. “We’ll be walking around so if you have any questions just grab one of us, ok?”

Addison quickly logged onto the computer.

“I take it you’re not going to know anything about the lab, are you?” said her new partner.

Addison laughed. “Well, do you know anything about the lab?”

“Plead the fifth, then.”

Addison laughed again, glancing over to look at her new partner. He winked at her.

“I was wondering when you’d finally look at me,” he said.

Addison stuck out a hand. “Addison.”

“Kiril, at your service, ma’am.” He shook her hand, smiling.

“You’re smirking at me already. Never a good sign.” Addison turned back to her computer, pulling up the page detailing the lab assignment. “Do you mind if I type?”

“Not at all.” Kiril moved his chair closer so he could see the screen more clearly.

Addison didn’t look up, scanning the page carefully.

She started to type. He continued to watch.

“Ok guys, save what you’re doing. You don’t have to hand it in, but remember it’s always a good idea to use them as practice. See you next week.”

“Do you mind sending me the file?” said Kiril.

“Sure, no problem. Email address?” asked Addison. She quickly logged onto her gmail account, and hit compose mail.

“Let me type it in.” Kiril reached over her, typing his email address. “Your fingers must be tired.”

“My fingers don’t get tired that easily.” Addison colored. “Um, in the conventional sense of fingers getting tired doing something, you know. The entirely normal way.”

Kiril laughed, looking at her flushed face. “Yes, I get it. I mean, I suppose it takes a bit more effort to make them tired, don’t you think?”

“Right. Um, yes.”

“Alright then, Miss Addison, thank you very much. Perhaps I’ll see you next week?”

“If you’re lucky.”

“Don’t worry, I am.” Kiril waved and got up, leaving Addison to shove her binder back into her bag.

Addison smiled at him, and wondered if she would ever see him again.

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