Marvel is right about the buffet. Everything looks amazing. I help myself to some buttered chicken and sparkling punch and take a seat across from where he’s sitting at a small table. It’s a pretty spot overlooking the grape field.
Tambara: Nice spot.
Marvel smiles.
Marvel: I had to practically bribe the hostess to get it.
Tambara: Nothing wrong with a little bribe.
Marvel takes a bite of his meal before starting up a conversation.
Marvel: You haven’t told me much about your parents, besides your mother being in town.
Tambara: There’s not much to tell. They’re divorced, and my dad is seeing some woman I haven’t met yet.
The bitterness in my words is unexpected and makes it harder to swallow my food.
Marvel: Oh wow. Sorry to hear that. Was it cheating?
Tambara: I wish it were that simple.
I look down at my food and take my time cutting a piece of my chicken before I continue.
Tambara: They divorced because of me.
Marvel suddenly gets very serious.
Marvel: Because of you? What do you mean?
Tambara: Every fight they had was about me.
Marvel: That’s really what you think?
I meet his eyes and nod, afraid to tear up if I speak. Marvel’s eyes narrow and become intense.
Marvel: I’m sure it feels that way, but if two adults fight and break up because of something a child did, they had underlying issues that had nothing to do with the child.
Tambara: You think so?
Marvel: Absolutely. What could a little kid possibly do to cause a divorce between two adults? I’m sorry if their breakup made you feel like it was your fault.
The passion in his voice and fire in his eyes leave me no choice but to believe him. Although my parents have told me the same thing in their own way, it wasn’t as easy to hear coming from them.
Tambara: Thanks for saying that.
Marvel: My parents almost broke up once. But it was because my dad almost cheated. It was on me and Opus’ birthday. I didn’t know anything about it until years later. As far as I knew up until then, they had the perfect marriage.
Tambara: Almost cheated? On your birthday? How’d they manage to work it out?
Marvel: I’m not sure of the details, but I guess they decided that staying together was better than being apart. They ended up renewing their vows** soon after.
Tambara: See? That’s the kind of marriage I want, one that doesn’t break the second something goes wrong.
Marvel: Yeah. Me too.
A thoughtful expression crosses Marvel’s face. I can tell he’s about to change the subject, and I appreciate that.
Marvel: Hey, there’s something I want to show you in the cellar.
Tambara: Sure, okay.
(**Link takes you to Tumblr)
I follow Marvel inside the building and to the stairs. As we descend, the air becomes cooler and slightly damp, similar to my nectar cellar at home. When we reach the bottom, we turn and come face to face with two nectar barrels.
Marvel: This is a good chance to show off your new skills.
Tambara: Okay, but only if you’re willing to try it too.
Marvel: I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I tell him the steps to making nectar as we clean our feet thoroughly and decide what type of nectar we’ll make. I advise him to try apple as I fill my barrel with grapes. I step into one barrel, and he steps into another.
Tambara: Now take it slow, or you’ll fall in. I learned that the hard way.
Marvel follows my lead and begins stomping on his fruit.
Tambara: There’s rhythm to it, but keep it controlled and steady. It’s like dancing, but don’t be tempted to try out your new moves. I learned that the hard way too.
Marvel chuckles.
Marvel: No dancing…got it!
The pulp has been mashed thoroughly, filling the air with the scent of fresh apple cider and grape juice. As we fill our bottles, Marvel suggests that we try the nectar.
We leave the cellar and go to one of the tasting rooms upstairs.
Marvel: Let’s try your nectar, since you’re the more experienced one.
Tambara: I don’t know about that.
I don’t tell him that I’ve never tried my own nectar before. He doesn’t seem to be put off by the process of stomping with our feet, so I agree. I pour two glasses of the grape nectar.
Marvel takes a glass to his lips.
He takes a moment to smell the nectar, sip, and swish it around his mouth like a nectar‑tasting expert. He then closes his eyes. I watch as if his opinion is the only one that matters in the world.
Marvel: This is the best nectar I’ve ever tasted.
I’m sure he’s just trying to butter me up, so I take a sip and realize he’s right. The nectar is amazing.
Tambara: It is good.
Marvel: This is much better than that machine‑processed stuff.
Tambara: According to Juanita, it’s even better when it’s aged.
I swirl the drink in my hand and take another sip.
After our nectar tasting adventure, Marvel and I make our way to the lounge upstairs. There’s music playing, so we take seats in front of the old-fashioned Victrola. My eyes land on a game sitting nearby. It’s called Woo Who!?
Tambara: Oh, what’s this?
I open the box and pick up a card.
Marvel: It’s a party drinking game. We’re supposed to pick a card and ask each other questions.
Tambara: Want to play?
Marvel: Sure.
I look at the question on the card in my hand and immediately begin to blush. It’s a question about woohoo, which I should have guessed based on the name of the game.
Tambara: Okay, this one is asking… oh gosh.
I break into a little giggle and continue.
Tambara: What’s your favorite place to woohoo?
Marvel looks as if he’s thinking deeply about it.
Tambara: Has it been that many places for you?
Marvel: No, not at all. I’ve actually only ever woohooed in a bed. And it was a big mistake.
Tambara: Oh.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Marvel: How about you?
I’d like to avoid that question, as my mind flashes back to my time with Udom.
Tambara: Don’t even try it! You’re supposed to pull a new card.
Marvel eyes me closely as he pulls the next card and reads it.
Marvel: Reveal your strangest woohoo story.
Another question I’d rather avoid, but if I want him to be open and honest, I figure I’d better be too. Still, I take a while to answer.
Marvel: We can skip this card if you want, but you’re supposed to take a drink.
Tambara: No, I’ll answer it. But you can’t judge me.
Marvel: Okay, no judgment zone.
I sigh and begin.
Tambara: For my young adult birthday, I met a guy when my dad and I traveled to Tomarang.
Marvel: Nothing strange about that.
Tambara: Well, nothing happened between us while I was in Tomarang, but when I returned home, I sort of flew him out and… he was my first. It was a mistake, too.
Marvel averts his eyes and looks deep in thought.
Tambara: You said you weren’t going to judge me.
He meets my gaze again.
Marvel: I’m not. I’m just wondering if I’d ever fly halfway across the world for woohoo. I guess I would for you, so I don’t blame him.
My face reddens even more as I fidget for the next card, trying to keep my lips from turning up into a smile. But reading the next card gives me the excuse I need to let it out.
Tambara: What’s your biggest woohoo regret?
It’s Marvel’s turn to blush.
Marvel: I think I might need a drink for this one.
Tambara: We don’t have any drinks, so you have to answer.
Marvel sighs.
Marvel: I told you that I used to live in Del Sol Valley. I moved there hoping to become a comedian. What I didn’t tell you was that I had a roommate**.
Tambara: Who was your roommate?
Marvel: You know the actress Venessa Jeong?
Tambara: The one in all those B movies?
Marvel: Exactly. Well, she was my roommate, and we lived in a one-bedroom. Most of the time I slept on the couch, except when she wasn’t there. One day I was sleeping in the bed, and she came home early.
Marvel pauses and looks away momentarily before turning his attention back to me.
Marvel: We ended up hooking up… more than once. Although neither of us was looking for a relationship. That’s why I moved out. Things became very awkward after that.
Marvel stops talking and waits for my response. Sounds like we have similar woohoo regret stories.
Tambara: We both have a lot to make up for when it comes to woohoo.
Marvel sits up straighter at that.
(**Link takes you to Tumblr)
We decide to put the game away, since we’ve said pretty much everything we need to say on the subject. Neither of us has much experience anyway.
We migrate over to the couch and sit beside each other.
Tambara: So, what was it that you wanted to ask me?
Marvel turns and looks into my eyes, a teasing smirk on his face.
Marvel: Ask you?
I smack his hand gently.
Tambara: Stop playing! When we were chatting last night, you said you had something to ask me.
He slides closer to me and gets right to the point.
Marvel: I want to ask if you’re interested in being in a relationship with me.
Tambara: So, you’re asking me to be your girlfriend?
Marvel: I am.
Tambara: Absolutely.
He leans in closer, bumping my shoulder playfully with his.
Marvel: Yeah?
Tambara: Yeah.
And I mean it. It feels good to be chosen by someone.
We get up to leave, but he pauses and kisses me on the cheek. I can feel his lips long after he pulls away.
Marvel: This feels good.
Tambara: Yeah.
He takes a quick glance at his watch.
Marvel: It’s almost midnight.
Tambara: Is it?
Marvel: I can take you home.
He could, but we both know that’s not how this night should end.
Tambara: Or you can take me tomorrow.
The glint in his eyes tells me that he understands what I’m implying and that he agrees completely. Maybe this can be our opportunity to make up for our past non-relationships… even if it takes all night.
(Generation 5 Chapter Summaries)
