Queen of Love

Perhaps that was what she needed now. Put my feelings on the backburner. Any burgeoning love she felt for Aya had to be set aside while they navigated this unfortunate turn of events. It wasn’t like they were passionately involved right now, anyway. Aya was busy kissing ass at work so she could come back and do the parts of her job she found interesting. Genevieve wanted this bar to open without a hitch – and for her business relations back in Singapore and Taiwan to not suffer any more than they had. Why did things have to be so complicated?

This is a mess. It always had been, but the more Genevieve introduced logic to the situation, the more she realized the disaster she had courted.

***

“I know this isn’t ideal.” That’s what Aya heard when Genevieve dropped by her place at eleven at night. It would be one thing if she were dressed for a sleepover or to drop something off, but… Genevieve was in travel clothes. Nice ones. She also had a rolling bag beside her, and one of her floppy hats on her head. While Aya stood in her T-shirt and shorts, ready for bed, she faced something that made her throat tighten and her stomach turn. “But I thought I should tell you face to face before I head back to Singapore in the next hour.”

“Bit late, isn’t it?” Aya closed the door behind her girlfriend so the whole hallway didn’t have to hear their conversation. “Why do you have to fly back right now?”

“My PR agent wants to have an in-person meeting with me at eight sharp.” Genevieve plucked her sunglasses off her head and folded them against her chest. What do you need sunglasses for? It’s pitch dark outside! “It’s imperative I get my reputation under control back in Singapore. That extends to here, you know.” She glanced away. “I’m sorry. I know this is sudden, but I have to go.”

“For how long? I thought you said it was getting harder to keep coming in and out of Japan, so you were going to stay here until the bar was open and operating.” And spend time with Aya. That was important, too.

“Yes, that was the original plan, before the hack happened.”

“I’ll come with you.” Aya hoped she had enough time to pack the necessities. “It’s not like I’ve got a lot going on here right now. What’s my boss gonna do? Yell at me for looking at rentals from Singapore?”

“Aya.” Genevieve put a hand on Aya’s arm before she could march back to her bedroom and grab an overnight bag. “No. It’s fine. I’m going to be really busy. Also… my firm thinks you should stay here. We should put some distance between us if I’m leaving Japan.”

“What? Why?”

The look on Genevieve’s face implied she didn’t want to have this part of the conversation. That’s a break-up face. Aya steeled herself, but no matter how prepared she was to hear the bad news, her heart threatened to vomit up the last of her living emotions.

“Because it’s difficult,” she finally said. “Sentiment among some of my oldest connections and business partners is that it’s already bad enough I’m cavorting in public with other women. If I’m to get away with that, I have to be with a certain caliber of woman. Which isn’t to say you’re low-class or something!” She said that too quickly for Aya’s tastes. “Yet, recent events mean I have to do damage control. Hiding out isn’t working. You’re…”

Aya didn’t know what prompted her to say it. Genevieve certainly wasn’t expecting it, based on the damnable visage that soon appeared on her face. “Japanese.”

“It’s not like that,” Genevieve softly said, although her gaze was so averted she might as well have been looking at the moon.

“I’ve noticed, okay? When people are past the homophobia, they’re hung up on our ethnicities. Like it’s so weird today!”

“Aya…” Genevieve sighed. “It’s only for a while. I need to get things in my life sorted before I open the new bar. That’s when I’ll be back.”

“Huh? That’s almost a whole month away. Who’s going to be taking care of it until then? Don’t you still have a bunch of work to do?”

“Nyla will be staying here a while longer to oversee things. I’ve put her up in a hotel. Here.” Genevieve reached into her wallet and produced a single key. “To my apartment. Drop by whenever you want or need.”

Aya barely registered the brass key now in her hand. “She doesn’t speak Japanese. How is she communicating with the contractors? You don’t expect me to do it, do you? I’m this close to getting back into the office.”

“I’ve hired a competent interpreter to help. They speak Mandarin and Japanese, so don’t worry about it.”

“You’ve really thought this through, huh? You’re just now telling me about it. How long have you been planning this?”

A cursed look afflicted Genevieve’s eyes. “Not as long as you might think. This has happened quickly. Much like our relationship.”

”Is that the real issue?”

“No, Aya.” Exasperation struck Genevieve’s words as she held back Aya’s worries. “I’m really sorry. I have to do this. I’ll be in touch, of course. I’m not breaking up with you!”

It’s what it feels like, though. Aya’s hand closed over the key. How could her girlfriend going back to Singapore for a month hurt her so much? Was it the suddenness? Was it Aya being left out of the decision? As if she were an afterthought? Is it because of who I am? Who she is? Would she ever get an answer?

“Genny.” Aya stopped her girlfriend before she stepped through the door with her rolling suitcase. “I’m sorry. This is a shock. It’s just that…”

She slowly turned around, her sunglasses returning to her forehead. “Yes?”

She looks like an old movie star departing at the end of a tragic movie. Aya swallowed her pride. She didn’t have much left, anyway. “Take care. Call me when you get there. I…”

A soft smile appeared on Genevieve’s face.

“I love you.”

Although the smile did not leave, Genevieve’s voice did. She said nothing as she walked through the door and shut Aya out.