12
"Here," Re-lee said and handed Tina another handkerchief. "You really need to stop crying like this."
"I know, but this is all my fault."
"Yes. It is," Re-lee said, and looked back at her tablet.
Tina shook her head. "You're not helping me."
"And tell me why I should? You are already ruining my perfect match record by rejecting your match."
"I didn't say I rejected him."
"You're leaving him. It is the same thing."
"It's not," Tina said. "I still love him, I--"
"See, I told you," Gianna said as she and Vinka marched into the IDA offices. "She does love him."
"What? Wait. No. Now you don't know--"
"I heard it; did you hear it?" Gianna asked.
"I think I heard it," Vinka said.
Re-lee glanced at Vinka. "It is about time you got here. I can only stall so much."
Tina leaped up. "You were stalling?"
Re-lee turned back to Tina. "It was not that hard," Re-lee said. "I knew you would come to your senses when you had to leave. Stepping through the circle was enough for many to realize the truth of their heart."
"I never said I didn't care about him. I just have--"
"Yeah. We know. You've been going on about your responsibilities since you got here. We get it," Gianna said. "Look. I'm one of your best friends."
"True," Tina replied, blotting away the tears.
"And have I ever steered you wrong?"
"That orange jumpsuit comes to mind."
Gianna burst out laughing.
Tina realized what she said and started laughing too. "Listen, I didn't mean that kind of orange jumpsuit. I mean--"
"That's what makes it funnier." Gianna laughed harder.
And Tina couldn't help joining in, because she could only imagine Kolvin, Marcin and Solkan intheorange jumpsuits on Earth.
"What is so funny?" Re-lee asked.
"Yeah, I don't get it," Vinka added.
"Orange jumpsuits are what prisoners wear on Earth," Gianna said.
Tina burst out laughing again.
Vinka started to laugh as well. "Oh, that's funny."
