She's My Sleeping Pill

"What time will she arrive?" Seiji asked.

"She'll be here in half an hour." Cayenne replied. "By the way, do you guys have any idea who we are meeting today?"

"Duh! I'm not an idiot." Seiji responded. "We're meeting Marian today, right?"

"Bingo!" Cayenne replied and looked towards Arthur. "Did you guess the same?"

"Aren't we composed of four people during high school? Aside from that brat, who else would we be meeting?"

Stefan looked at the three people and sighed. He's thankful that Cayenne was never left out and that her friends never let her felt belittled because of the disparity in their status.

The three of them talked while Stefan motioned the waitress to come over and place the menu books on the table. In that way, they can order as soon as Marian arrives.

Cayenne's phone buzzed on the table and when she looked at it, she found Veronica's message. "They have arrived already. Let's just wait for them."

"How are you doing by the way?" Arthur asked in passing since Stefan wasn't making any move against him. "After that kidnapping incident, I really wanted to check on you."

"Hmp! As if you haven't tried doing so." Stefan mumbled which made Arthur feel a little embarrassed. Seiji could only snicker at this moment and Cayenne held Stefan's hand under the table, tugging it a little to stop him from saying anything more. "I didn't say anything wrong. I'm just stating facts."

"I didn't say you're lying." Cayenne retorted back and kissed his cheek. "Just forget about it, okay? I don't want any tension around us when Marian is here." Stefan didn't say anything and because of that, Cayenne took his silence as 'yes'. Even if he wanted to complain, he didn't want to put his wife on the spot between him and her friends.

"Hi."

The four of them looked at the door and found Marian standing with Veronica beside her. She looked really pale but there was a wide smile on her lips. Her eyes were shining brightly and her face has a bit of blush from so much excitement from seeing her friends.

"Marian! It's good to see you again. I miss you so much." Seiji was the first one to recover and stood up to approach his friend.

"Miss me? Didn't you see me a month ago? How could you miss me that quick?"

"I knew it!" Cayenne exclaimed. "I had this feeling that Seiji has an idea of your whereabouts but I didn't ask him, though."

"I know why you didn't ask." Arthur commented and in passing, he stole a glance towards Stefan. "But I won't say it."

Marian hugged Seiji and after that, she walked towards Arthur to give him a hug, too. "Behave yourself. She's already married." Marian whispered to her friend which only the two of them hear. Right after Arthur was Cayenne. The two of them met last week but they still couldn't get enough of themselves. They hugged each other for a long time before letting go.  "I'm so glad you've made my wish possible."

"It's not that difficult to do and my husband did most of the plan." Cayenne replied to her best friend. "He's the one who called your parents to let you come as well."

"Thank you so much, Mr.  Dumrique."

"No big deal. I just want my wife to be happy." Stefan answered without shying away from Cayenne's statement. "Have a seat. Let your friend come and sit as well." Marian's impression was lifted a bit higher on the good side when he said 'friend' towards Veronica. It's obvious that the woman was her personal maid but he didn't address her that way.

The six of them finally took a seat around the table, chatting how she's doing in the past years even though it can be seen that she's sickly and was suffering from an illness.

"Let's order first." Cayenne commented. "We can talk while waiting for our food to arrive."

"That's a good idea." Seiji second her and picked up the menu as well. "Do you guys want to drink some wine?"

"Can't. Just juice for me." Marian stated.

"Those who wants wine can get wine. Those who likes juice can get juice. You don't have to be polite. My wife will be paying for this meal." Stefan told them which made Seiji roll his eyes.

Arthur didn't say anything and just looked towards Veronica. When the woman looked at her, he instantly lowered his head and looked at the menu.

"Young miss." Veronica called in whisper towards Marian who was sitting beside her. "Young miss, do I have something on my face? Like some smudged lipstick or any dirt?"

"Nope. Why?"

"Oh. I'm just wondering why that guy keeps looking at me." Veronica replied while gesturing her fingers towards Arthur. "Forget it. Let's just order."

Soon, the six people ordered their food and waited for a while. Stefan had booked the whole restaurant for the convenient of the patient and Cayenne was very thankful that she's got a very considerate husband beside her.

"By the way, I wanted to give you this." Seiji picked a paper bag under the table and handed it to Marian. "You wanted a copy of this book, right?"

"How did you get this? I heard that this was sold out already."

"A friend of mine is actually close with the author of that book. She helped me get a copy."

"That's so nice of you. Thank you."

"I have a gift, too." Arthur stated and gave Marian a small box. "It's nothing special but I hope you will like it anyway."

Marian opened the small box and found a small device laying inside the box. When she pressed on the small red button on the side, it lit up and a small hologram appeared. Videos of them during high school as well as collections of their pictures started showing up which were all close to her heart.

"That's one step ahead of me." Seiji commented as he looked towards Arthur.

"Why don't I get any gifts?" Cayenne questioned with one of her eyebrows raised a bit higher than usual. "Am I not part of this friendship?"

"You are part, of course. We just don't dare." Arthur replied while glancing at the man next to Cayenne.

"Right. And what things do you want that your husband can't get for you? Just name it and he will find ways to obtain it. Even if you ask him for the stars or the moon, he will have ways to pluck it for you."

Cayenne looked towards Stefan who was silently observing her and her friends. She leaned a bit closer to him and smiled happily, with no constraints or worries. "I agree. My husband is the best."

'Ahh! Why did I even comment?' Seiji asked himself after being stuffed with another display of affection.

"Could you spare us, singles from all this dog food? It's unhealthy to be stuffed so much of this food.." Arthur mumbled but no one really cared.