“I can finally see you’re as fucked up as me, so how do we win?”

https://open.spotify.com/track/4hjbxjZpJ8H6qRCzDOGI0M?si=Uc1owD8vQlS2PnUXakFKnQ

[Atlas] Lex, your car is fixed. Pulang kantor aku ambilin, ya.

Alexa was washing her dishes when Atlas’ text came.

It had been three days since the wrecked car fiasco, and Atlas was keeping her informed while he took over the matter from her hands and insisted on fixing the car for her. You need to let people take care of you sometimes, he said, and she let him.

Somehow she felt as though it was Atlas who needed it, not her. Maybe taking care of her took his mind off of something else.

She wiped her hand dry, and she was about to type a reply when she changed her mind. She pressed the phone icon, and not long after, Atlas picked up her call.

“Hi.”

“Hi. Busy day at the office?”

There was a sound of rustling papers and sliding chair. “Not really, just had a long meeting and finally I’m having a break now. Have you eaten lunch?”

“I’m cooking.” Alexa fiddled with her bracelet, suddenly felt nervous at the prospect of this so-called friendship, because why did the call feel… domestic? “By the way, regarding the car… Kalau kamu repot, aku yang ambil gapapa, Laz. You’ve helped me so much already.”

Atlas’ chuckle was deep. “Nggak repot, Alexandra. Aku nggak bawa mobil juga, jadi nanti tinggal naik taksi aja dari apart kamu.”

“You’re not thinking of staying?”

There was a silence. “You want me to?”

“Well, I’ve offered you a few times already… If you’re still rejecting this one, I will ask on one knee next time.”

His laugh sounded dreamy. “That’s tempting…”

“Emang takut ngapain aku sih, Laz?”

“Bukan takut ngapain kamu, aku takut diapa-apain kamu.”

“Iya, lagi. Aku udah prepare condoms, just to be safe.”

“KAN.” Both of them were laughing at Alexa’s jokes.