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Jaxon spots Merry just as she arrives at the bus stop.
He’d been watching her every move ever since he first saw her a month ago, when the latter was buying some snacks in the candy store near the University of Washington. He knew about the transit route she’d take to reach the School of Art at the University of Washington. So, he’d always park his car at 23rd Avenue East, giving him a clear view of his beloved at the bus stop. After all, the sight of Merry’s silky black hair and red eyes, paired with her white blouse and red bow collar, is enough to brighten all of his days, to say nothing of her long red skirt and red wedge pumps.
He honestly can’t tell if he should praise her for her ensemble or scold her for wearing that in front of other men.
Still, he knew he had to remain patient. He gives the brown paper parcel he’d delivered, for want of a better term, to the bus stop a last once-over before he finishes setting up his video camera and begins recording.
Meanwhile, Merry pauses upon noticing the parcel.
“Huh?” she mutters as she looks it over. “For me? But… there’s no return address, either…”
After looking around for a moment, she sits down on the bench and opens the parcel. Her confusion deepens as she sees the parcel’s contents.
“W-why would anyone send… these?” Merry asks. “First edition, too. It’s… I don’t know.”
She sets the volume aside and picks up the white card bundled with the half-leather box of books.
“Why didn’t you tell me there was danger? Why didn’t you warn me?” Merry recites. “‘Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them of these tricks.’ Uh…”
After one last glance around, Merry begins to read one of the books. Jaxon zooms his camera in, trying to record those expressions he’d come to love from who he thinks is the shining student of the University of Washington and beauty in Seattle. He takes solace in the knowledge that she’s too timid to send them back with an equally baffling quote from some obscure part of the book.
“…I give up,” Merry mutters, setting the book aside. “It’s too… bleak.”
“Ah! Merry’s here, too!”
Merry nearly lets out a shriek the moment she hears the newcomer. She instantly drops the box and scoots away, her back pressing against the glass shelter of the bus stop, as she glances at the ginger-haired woman whose cheerful smile had turned into concern at how severely she’d reacted to the greeting.
“It’s okay, I won’t jump or anything…” the woman says, both hands raised as her expression settles into a friendly smile. “We’re both from the UW School of Art, you see?”
She shows her Husky Card to Merry.
“See? I’m Lyra!” she introduces herself. “And those are…?”
Lyra points at the Tess of the d’Urbervilles books Merry had knocked over. Unbeknownst to them, the sight had caused Jaxon to produce the exact growling a running dryer makes.
“Unbelievable,” he growls.
He continues recording as Lyra’s interactions with Merry continue. He sees the moment Lyra coaxes the timid woman over with a lollipop, his jealousy flaring when Lyra hugs Merry and feeds her the lollipop. He watches as they clean up the dropped books, setting them back in the box and re-wrapping the paper parcel, and his heart nearly stops when he sees Lyra propose selling the books in an auction. He even has to hold himself back from storming out in a jealous rage when he sees the two women settle into the bus stop, reading the book Lyra brought. And then, just as he was about to leave, his camera caught sight of the book’s cover.
“Traumatophobia…” Jaxon mutters, recognizing the title. “I can’t believe she likes reading a book about horror story protagonists gaining magic powers and fighting for their happy endings rather than a classic!”
He slams his fist against the steering wheel.
“If a classic novel doesn’t impress her, I know what will,” he grumbles.
With one last glance at Lyra and Merry putting the book away as the bus arrives, Jaxon shuts his camera and drives off.
For the rest of the month, Jaxon goes on a massive shopping spree. He procures every single luxurious thing he’d heard women like to ask their boyfriends and husbands to buy, even paying a premium for custom designs. His business suffers from the financial strain, and creditors begin circling him, but he pays them no heed. Even going into debt fails to deter him, as he simply resorts to deferred payments and outright embezzlement to pay for the gifts.
Once the summer of 2013 rolls around, Jaxon stands by the bus stop as Merry and Lyra arrive.
“My lovely red gem, I have a gift for you,” Jaxon says. Merry steps back when he approaches, but Lyra simply holds Merry’s hand.
“Where?” Lyra asks.
“Here.”
As Jaxon steps aside, both women are left agape at the sight. A massive truck completely blocks the road, its side open to show an absolute treasure trove of lavish gifts ranging from first-edition copies of classic novels, entire closets’ worth of designer apparel, an entire shelf dedicated to jewelry, and even a full office suite’s worth of technology. In front of the truck are eight supercars parked next to each other, all of which look custom-built for the occasion.
“This is overkill!” Lyra exclaims.
“And appropriate for her,” Jaxon retorts. “Love, please accept my gifts.”
“U-uh… I’m dating Lyra, actually,” Merry sheepishly answers.
Hearing her response, something in Jaxon snaps. Within seconds, he drops down and starts scream-crying from heartbreak as both women walk away from him, all while a police van pulls up to arrest Jaxon. The last thing Merry heard before she left the premises was an officer calling for backup to seize everything, all while Jaxon loudly called out to her.