There’s Nothing Wrong…

Walter glanced at the video on Rebecca’s phone and dismissed it right away.

“That didn’t happen.”

“How can you say that?” his friend shrugged. “The evidence is right here and we should talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I know what it looks like but it’s not real. The images must have been doctored somehow. The question is why? Why are you showing me this?”

“Because it’s true, sweetie, and I’m tired of seeing you lie to yourself. Please, let’s sit and discuss this like grown-ups.”

The two of them were in his apartment in downtown New Jersey, with Rebecca standing by the kitchen threshold looking rather weary and Walter trying to drown away his sorrow with a hot cup of coffee with a hint of bourbon.

“No!” he exclaimed. “If that’s not fake, then it’s your fault. You did this to me!”

“We’ve talked about this,” Rebecca locked the smartphone’s screen and tucked the device away in the back pocket of her black jeans. “Hypnosis can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Clearly that’s wrong,” he emptied the coffee mug and immediately poured himself another. “It’s the only logical explanation for this travesty.”

“Is it? I’m sorry, but that is bullshit. When I gave you the suggestion to kiss the one person you desired the most, you didn’t choose me or Hannah, but Troy. Troy, Walter! He’s the one you’ve been secretly in love and that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with being gay! Why can’t you see that?”

“I’m not gay!” he threw the cup against the floor, smashing it into a million pieces. “Take that back right now.”

“I can’t, and I won’t. You can throw whatever excuse at the wall you want but your subconscious revealed the truth. You want him. You want him badly and the more you try to deny it, the worse it will be for you. I’ve seen it happen countless times already. Please don’t let your pride stand in the way of your true feelings.”

“Get out!”

“What?”

“You heard me. Get the hell out of here right now. I don’t want to see you or talk to you again until you apologize for messing with my mind.”

“Walter…”

“Leave, Rebecca or I swear to God this will not end well for you.”

“Fine! Pull your shit together and when you’re ready to admit your true nature, look me up,” she stormed out of his apartment without looking back. Alone with his thoughts, Walter looked at the mess he had made and started picking up the ceramic pieces from the wooden floor.

* * *

One hour later, Rebecca sat down with Troy in a little ice cream shop that hardly received any customers and ordered a strawberry cone. He wanted nothing except results.

“Well?” he asked.

“Things are looking a little shaky but he’ll come around it, eventually,” she replied.

“That’s what you said last month and the month before that.”

“Hey, it’s a process! These things take time and he’s been quite resilient to the programming so far but you got your first kiss, didn’t you? Once I make him realize how much he truly loved it, he’ll give in.”

“You better be right. I’m not paying you a fortune every week to have it all come tumbling down.”

“You don’t pay me enough, Troy, but okay. I never failed before and I’m not starting now. You’ll get your gay lover soon, I promise.”

“How soon?”

“Give it another month at least. The next time I get inside his head, he’ll be more receptive than ever.”

“Hmm…” he grumbled. “Don’t you ever feel remorse for what you’re doing to him?”

“Not as long as you keep paying me. Do you?”

“Sometimes, yes.”

“Well, I suggest you stop worrying about that. The transformation is already underway and I’ll make sure it becomes irreversible. Don’t forget to transfer the money tonight, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Talk to you soon then.”

Rebecca exited the venue and returned home, musing on what strategy to employ next. She liked Walter, she really did, but she loved seeing her bank account grow exponentially a lot more. Unethical behavior? Absolutely, but who cared anyway? That kiss would be the first of many, one way or another.

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