Fantasy and Reality (Macau and Hong Kong)

Sophia went quiet as we walked beside the canal inside the Venetian Macau. The tension was so thick I could cut it. And I knew Sophia enough to know when she was passive aggressive.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She said not looking at me.

“I know something is wrong,” and I grabbed her lightly by the arm and tugged on her to stop. “Tell me.”

She stopped and leaned back against the railing and crossed her arms. “Nothing is wrong.”

“Come on.” Then I thought a moment and then I dropped the bomb. “Are you jealous of the gondola lady?”

She shook her head immediately. “No, I am not jealous of the gondola lady. That’s stupid.”

“I think you are.”

She was quiet and watched as another gondola passed behind her. This time it was a gondola guy and he was in the back rowing and singing. “I should have not even been in the boat.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You two just hit it off immediately.”

“She was from Italy! And she was desperate to talk to someone. She doesn’t know Chinese. So she was excited to meet someone who had lived in Italy and liked to sing jazz.”

“Did you have to sing with her? Everyone was watching.”

I laughed at seeing her brows wrinkling together. “I was singing Dean Martin and she was background vocals. We were just kidding. And besides, we got a standing ovation from all the people around the sides.”

Sophia looked away again. She looked like she had been cut to the core. “Go back and sing with your Italian gondola bitch.”

I laughed even harder on that one. “Gondola bitch?” And I moved closer and pulled her into my embrace. She struggled against me and I just nestled her closer. “Gondola bitch?” I repeated. “God you are a crazy.”

“Fuck you.” Sophia said.

I smiled. “I would love you to.”

“No, I am serious.”

I just held her. “I know you are. But remember, I would have a million realities with you than one fantasy with her.” Against her will I kissed her on the mouth. And it wasn’t long after she was soft in my arms and was kissing me back.

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