“Why don’t you talk to Zaria before we start filming, try to sort it out like adults?”
Shrugging, I wince. “Not sure she’ll wanna see me.”
“Only one way to find out?”
I take a deep breath. “Shit! I hate adulting,” I say as Matt laughs and slaps my back.
“It’s a tough gig, but sometimes you just gotta be a man about these things.”
“Yeah, I’ll work up to it. Talk myself into messaging her.”
Matt chuckles. “You need some good vibes.”
I roll my eyes. “The ficus isn’t working,” I admit, and he smiles.
“I agree, nor the coffee table where it is. I’ve stubbed my toe three fucking times.”
I laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. “Exactly! Glad you’re seeing sense,” I say before heading back upstairs.
Once in my room, I pace, trying to come up with the right words for Ria. I’ve been here for a while now, running through what to say and debating whether to call or send a message.Every scenario plays out in my head, but none of them feel quite right.
My mind keeps playing tricks on me, and I can’t come up with a definitive answer.
It’s driving me insane when I hear the doorbell ring.
I furrow my brows and sit upright on my bed, wondering who the hell has come to our home. Then I hear the manic laughter of a little Asian man, and my body tenses.
“Matt, you didn’t,” I murmur under my breath as I stand and walk to my door, peering out and listening to see if I’m hearing right.
“Oh, hello, you sexy boy, your arms have gotten bigger, yes? Hahaha,” Whisper’s distinctive voice chimes up from downstairs. My body tenses, and I roll my eyes, wondering what Matt is thinking.I thought we just said that this Fung Shui thing isn’t working.
I move out to the stairs and traipse down them to see Whisper in his usual monk attire. He spots me and smiles, throwing his hands into a prayer pose, then he bows his head in greeting. “Namaste, Nathaniel son. May waves of a thousand oceans roll over and caress your soul like endless soothing suns of heaven,” he says.
I raise my eyebrow at him and cock my lip up in confusion. “Um… what now?” I ask.
“Hahaha, you so funny. I see you have badju-juagain. It flow off you like a torrent. I wash it away. We go shower, sexy boy?”
I choke on a laugh. “Um… fuck no. What the—”
“I kid, I make joke. Hahaha. I so funny. I got you good one, Nathaniel. Yes?” Whisper asks, and I tense up, shaking my head slightly as Matt chuckles.
“I asked Whisper back to rearrange the Fung Shui again because it’s not working for us. We need to get it so it’s working better this time,” Matt says, and Whisper nods.
“Yes, yes… I see where problem lies. Art was all wrong, and it threw everything off-key. I did not take it in last time. I move it all again, and it work much, much better this time. You see. It fix all your problems, you sexy boys. Okay?”
“Yes, sure,” Matt says.
“No,” I say at the same time.
“You see, Nathaniel, I fix theju-ju. Then your luck change like flick of switch! Trust in power of the Whisper.”
I roll my eyes and stand to the side. “Fine! Whatever! But, Matt, you’re paying for all thisshit.”
Whisper glares at me and does his hand zip thing.
“Sorry,” I murmur, with a gigantic sigh.
“Okay, I get to work, you big, sexy boys. You stand there and say,cool, calm, collected, over and over, yes?”
