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“You could wish for me to pick something for you,” Odai suggests.
That would make this easier, not having to deal with my usual decision fatigue.
Or rising panic attack.
“I absolutely wish that!” I say. “I would love it if you could pick something for me, Odai. Something you think I’d like or that you think would look good on me.”
“There is nothing in this store, Jeffrey, that would not look good on you.” Odai takes my hand again, lifts it to his mouth, and kisses it, before leading me through the rest of the store.
I stop worrying about what I might want to buy and enjoy watching Odai’s excitement while he shops. At the wall of flag focused clothing and accessories, I explain the differences to him, and he ends up choosing a pansexual scarf for himself—good to know—not basic color-blocked, but a mixed design of pink, yellow, and teal that looks really nice with his teal and ivory outfit.
This so feels like a shopping date with a boyfriend, which I don’t think I’ve ever gone on before.
“You can wish for more, you know,” Odai says once we’ve circled the store and are back near the beginning. He hasn’t chosen something for me yet, but also doesn’t seem to be looking anymore, like he’s made up his mind and is leaving me in wait. “Small things. Simple things. Even seemingly innocuous desires can be some of the most gratifying to fulfill.”
“I guess it’s still strange to think that I can wish for things. Like… if I broke my glasses?”
“I could fix them.”
“If I wanted to… go home after this and watch a movie? With you.” It shouldn’t feel strange asking out the man who I am basically on a date with now, but this is nothing like any relationship I’ve had before.
Odai smiles and turns to face me. “I have learned a bit about this cinema of yours. I have never seen anything like it of course. It was only on the cusp of invention last I was here. But I have always enjoyed performances. I would love to watch a movie with you, Jeffrey. So, consider that wish pending.”
That Odai’s answer is equated to a wish makes me frown. He still has my hand, but even if this feels like a date, it also feels like its own performance. “You’d love to because I’m your owner, right? Because you sort of have to?”
“No.” Odai’s smile drops with a fiercer scrunch to his brow, and he squeezes my hand tighter. “No. Let me reassure you again and again, Jeffrey. You are enjoyable company. It is my pleasure to serve you, but also to be with you. It would be a pleasure even if the amulet did not exist.” He touches his fingers to where it is hidden beneath my sweatshirt, and his touch makes the metal feel warmer against my skin.
Calling this a relationship might be a stretch, but it could be the start of one. Right? I want it to be, to keep getting to know Odai and see where this leads, even if it is insane and super unconventional. “I believe you. I did wish for you to never lie. And I’m glad. Really glad. When we get back, we can watch—oh shit.” Having responsibilities other than enjoying my day off suddenly strikes me. “I have grad work I need to finish first. But afterward?”
Most of my assignments are due Mondays by midnight because the Data Analysis professor understands we usually forget over the weekend and need Mondays to go oh shit. I actually got most of my work done on Saturday, so it shouldn’t take me too long.
“I need, like, an hour max,” I say, “and then, just you and me? Dinner, a movie, and whatever else we want to do for a date night?”
“Do you wish it?” Odai asks with a grin, teasing me now, though there is always an extra eagerness when he asks for what I want to be a wish. He did admit that he needs to fulfill wishes, so what’s the harm in indulging him as much he indulges me?
“I wish for all of it,” I say.
“You two find everything okay?” SJ swoops in with Cas trailing behind her. “What do you think of the shop? Are you getting anything?”
While I am still computing which of those questions to answer first, Odai beats me to it.
“The shop is wonderful, SJ. Thank you for bringing us. I can imagine wanting to return here many times in the future. I found a lovely scarf for myself, and for Jeffrey, I am getting him this.” He reaches to pluck a hangered item from a rack without even having to take a step or retract the hand holding mine.
He claims the cropped zip-up.
But wait. Getting me?
“You don’t need to buy it for me!” I protest. “I want to support the shop too!”
“But you are. Without you, I wouldn’t be here.” Odai kisses my hand again, and then walks away to make his purchases.
Cas snorts. “Bit of a sugar daddy too, huh? Nice. I might even be jealous.”
SJ snickers and playfully smacks Cas’s shoulder.
“Stop,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up. Although I can’t deny that a sugar daddy is sort of exactly what Odai is since his greatest desire is to keep granting mine.
I have no idea what I am going to wear that hoodie with, but I can’t deny being excited to own it. I’m still a little curious how Odai has money, but I guess small manifestations don’t draw much attention.
