18. Roman
18
ROMAN
By the time Mom says goodnight and retreats to her little cottage, Mikey is already snoring on my couch in a food coma.
I sigh and toss a blanket over him, but the sound is fond. I’m sure with everything that happened today that tonight would’ve been a fun night even if it was just Mom and me, but Mikey brought an extra dose of merriment. It’s one of the best parts of having him around.
Glancing at my phone, I realize it’s still relatively early. Early enough that I don’t want to go to bed yet.
So, keeping the volume low and the subtitles on, I settle on the opposite couch and turn on the TV.
I scroll mindlessly through the streaming apps for a few minutes before eventually settling on a thriller I saw a few years ago. I watch the familiar gory opening scene before my thoughts start to wander.
Specifically, to Lily.
I wonder if she’s seen this one. She knew almost all the movies I had listed, so it’s likely she has.
Then again, she admitted to missing a huge classic. So maybe not.
I wonder…
It hits me for the first time that I could ask her. Because I have her number now. She gave me her number. To use for instances like this, if her stress relief suggestions were anything to go by.
Spinning the phone in my hands, I debate long and hard for a few minutes.
And then I pull up her contact.
Roman: What’s more important in a movie, the story or the cinematography?
I don’t think I expected her to respond. Between my non-introduction and the fact that I don’t get night owl vibes from Lily, I startle when my phone buzzes a minute later.
Liliana: Story. Definitely.
Instantly, I’m smiling.
Roman: Follow-up question: can impressive cinematography save a bad movie?
Bubbles appear immediately.
Liliana: Not to the point that I could rate it a 10, but it could bump a movie a few points.
I’m in the middle of typing a response when I get a flurry of texts.
Liliana: Here’s my question though
Liliana: If a movie is shitty or uninteresting, can a blow-your-mind ending still save it?
Liliana: Like if you hated 90% of it, but loved the last 10, what’s the likely rating?
Roman: Probably still a 9/10. The ending is the part that sticks with you, so if the ending is amazing, it’s likely going to be your main takeaway from the movie.
Roman: Fighting was like that too. We always said to go hardest the last ten seconds of every round, and then the last round in its entirety, because that’s what the judges remember.
This time, it takes a minute for the bubbles to appear. Long enough to wonder if I somehow managed to turn her off of the conversation.
Liliana: That’s valid, I guess
Liliana: I disagree, but it’s valid
I huff a laugh to myself.
Roman: You’d still rate a movie low?
Liliana: Absolutely. A great ending can’t make me forget that I hated a large majority of the movie. I’d still feel like I wasted two hours of my life.
Roman: Have you ever walked out of a movie theater because the movie was so bad?
Liliana: No but one time I really, really wanted to
Roman: Why didn’t you?
Liliana: It was one of my favorite directors and I absolutely refused to believe that it was as bad as it was. I was convinced there was going to be a twist at the end that explained everything.
Roman: Ah so you DO think a good ending can save a movie
Liliana: Nothing would have saved that movie. It just would’ve saved my best friend from the two-hour rant that followed.
Twisting on the couch to lay down into a more comfortable position, I quickly pick up my phone and find another text.
Liliana: By the way…who is this?
I quirk an eyebrow at the screen.
Roman: Are you telling me you’d entertain complete strangers with your movie theories?
Liliana: Of course. It’s fun.
I shake my head, my smile still in place.
Roman: No sense of stranger danger. See? This is why I stayed at the clinic when that repairman was coming.
Liliana: I thought you said you didn’t think you could protect me…
My heartrate picks up.
Roman: I thought you said you didn’t know who this is…
My phone stays silent for a minute, the weight of what’s happening right now finally settling into the conversation. I’m texting Lily. And she’s texting back. I don’t need to ask to know this is against the rules, but at the same time, there wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to let her throw that piece of paper away today.
Even if she had only intended it to be a lifeline for me.
But talking about movies isn’t exactly a talk-me-off-the-ledge conversation piece, and now I’m wondering if I should feel guilty about chatting with her about non-PT things.
Just as that thought hits, my phone buzzes.
Liliana: Are you a cat person?
I frown at the message.
Roman: I’m more of a dog person, but I don’t exactly hate cats.
Roman: Why?
In response, I get a picture.
And immediately burst out laughing.
When Mikey stirs, I have to cover my mouth to smother the sounds, but I’m still shaking with laughter as I look at the picture again.
It’s of a giant orange cat, curled up in Lily’s lap and glaring at the camera. Its expression fits every cat stereotype that’s ever existed.
Roman: That is the fattest cat I’ve ever seen. What do you feed that thing?
Liliana: SHUT UP. He’s not fat, he’s fluffy.
Roman: I highly doubt that, Liliana. That cat looks like it sneaks double lunches and dinners.
Roman: And why is it glaring so hard? Does it hate you?
Liliana: HIS name is Garfield. And no, he does not hate me. This is how he expresses love.
Roman: I never thought I’d say that’s the perfect name for a cat, but…
Liliana: I know, right? My brothers used to tease me that I only gave him the name because he was an orange kitten, but then he grew up and actually became Garfield. It was like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Roman: That means you need an Odie, too
Liliana: Ugh I wish. Our apartment complex doesn’t allow dogs.
Liliana: Do you have any pets?
Roman: Just Rocky
Liliana: And Rocky is a…?
Roman: My pet rock
Liliana: …
Liliana: I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re actually worse at naming pets than I was as a child
Roman: Well now I have to know
Liliana: For starters, my frog was Mr. Frog
Roman: That’s not that bad. I feel like most kids give names like that.
Liliana: I was sixteen
I let out a snort at that.
Roman: Okay yeah, that’s pretty bad
It takes another minute for another text to come through.
Liliana: Did you have pets when you were a kid?
I swallow roughly, my chest tightening the same way it always does when this aspect of my childhood is mentioned.
Roman: No. My dad’s job had us moving around too much, it would’ve been hard to put any pets through that.
Liliana: Ah. I can see how that would make owning a pet difficult
Bubbles appear again, then disappear, then reappear. She’s hesitating.
Liliana: You never talk about your dad
Another rough swallow.
Roman: He died when I was ten. It’s just Mom and me.
Liliana: Oh Roman. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.
Roman: It’s okay. It was a logical progression of the conversation. Plus, it was a long time ago.
Liliana: Even still, I’m sorry
Liliana: If you could have owned a pet, what would you have asked for?
The tightness in my chest loosens at the seamless way she makes things better.
Roman: A snake
Liliana: OH MY GOD
Liliana: I could NEVER
And I’m right back to smiling.
Roman: All caps, huh?
Liliana: YES
Liliana: A snake?? ROMAN
Liliana: YOU HAVE TO FEED THEM LIVE MICE
Roman: So? Your pet kills mice for fun
Another picture comes through, and once again, I burst out laughing.
It’s of her cat, of course. But he’s no longer glaring. Instead, he’s splayed on his back, legs sticking out every which way, with his eyes closed and mouth wide open.
Liliana: Garfield isn’t killing anything, trust me
Roman: Yikes. Fat and lazy, he really is Garfield.
Liliana: Would you believe me if I said he’s so much like Garfield that he actually likes pizza and coffee?
Liliana: I’m telling you, we must have manifested his personality with the name or something
Roman: The pizza I’m not surprised by. But the coffee is weird.
Liliana: Right?? I have to guard my morning coffee because he’s slick about stealing it
Roman: And based on the way I’ve seen you clutch your coffee, I’m assuming the cat stealing it doesn’t put you in a very good mood.
Liliana: Rude. I love coffee the same amount as the average American. I do not “clutch” it.
Roman: I saw you once steal your coworker’s favorite pen because she took the last pod of your favorite Keurig flavor
There’s a long pause before her response text comes through.
Liliana: Should I be flattered that you noticed that, or concerned?
Roman: You wear your emotions on your sleeve, Liliana
This pause is even longer.
Liliana: Yeah, I’ve heard that before…
I’m not sure what to say without making things too serious. I want to send another random question, something lighthearted, but I’m not entirely sure how to do that without making it obvious that I just want to keep talking. Which is odd in itself, because I’ve never been a big texter. But I can’t exactly talk to Lily like this during my sessions at the clinic, so?—
In the end, she makes the decision for me.
Liliana: It’s late, I should head to bed. This is already way past my bedtime.
Roman: Ah, sorry. I’m so used to my night owl hours that I didn’t think about that.
Liliana: No, it’s okay. I’m glad you texted me.
Roman: I’m glad I did too
Roman: Goodnight Liliana