Picture in the wallet

 “How much money do you have?” You asked.

“Only this.” I opened my black wallet and handed you a ten euros bank note. 

“Damn, my poor little baby..” you shook your head. Disbelieve, as you received the money. I shrugged with a sad look. I showed you my wallet which was filled with three debit cards, insurance cards, student cards, and some membership cards from different stores, and also some receipts I’ve been keeping there for a couple of months, just in case I need them. 

“Financial crisis here..” I opened the empty part where I was supposed to put my money. 

“It’s ok. We will go through this.” You patted my head as if trying to comfort me. 

“And you, how much money do you have now?” I knew the answer, I just wanted to joke around.

“Nothing in here of course.” You grinned, and your teeth gap looked visible. My favorite. You pulled your card holder from your jeans pocket. It was my gift to you, not meant to be used as a wallet, but you did as it was much more convenient to keep as the size is perfect. However, it served the function right, to keep all the important and useless cards, without any bank notes.

“So, I will pay for this pommes, huh?” I glanced at our favorite Hollandische Pommes stall where we were queueing.

“No..of course, no. I’m the one who will pay for this.” You looked surprised. I know you pretend.

“You took my money.” I pointed at your hand. You shook your head.

“No...no...no.. for now, I am just borrowing from you.”

“Yeah, as if you will ever return it.” I rolled my eyes.

“Soon. Don’t worry. I promise you. Just take it as an investment for your future. Later, you will receive a very high return from this.” You said very convincingly while flicking the money as if it was not a big deal. I chuckled. 

You wrapped your arms around my shoulder and looked at the display menu seriously because it would be our turn soon. I knew, our order would be the same as usual. For you, ‘Pommes spezial mit mayo und zwibeln” and mine would be “Pommes mit curry soße”. I knew I would not finish the whole portion, but I also knew that your tummy would always be ready to have some extra.

We took our food to a nearby park where they had a small river with some stairs where we could sit. You ate your food as if you’d been starved for the whole week. I was full after some bites, and I gave you the rest. You always said that yours was much better, but you would finish everything anyway. Do you want to know a secret? I ordered food only if you like it. I want to feed you with lots of delicious food in this world.

“You know what baby, we might be in a real financial crisis in here..” you said while taking your cardholder from your jeans pocket.

“But…” I sense some contradictions in your tone

“But I feel my wallet is full with everything I need in my life.”

“Huh?” I frowned. You barely even have any euros and your debit card was not the most reliable at that time. 

“Look, I have your picture in here. It is worth more than a million bucks or even more than any money in this world.” You opened the part where you put my passport photo from three years ago. I looked skinnier, my hair was longer, my face looked more innocent. 

“Of course, I have put a lot of investment in you since day one.” I said. I took your cardholder and then laughed while looking at my face from three years ago. It was the time when we just started our relationship.

We came from different parts of the world. Our skin color, shape of the nose, shape, and color of our eyes, our build, everything between you and I look completely different. You always joke around that my passport picture would keep you safe if anyone was trying to kidnap you. Because once they see me, they would think that your girlfriend was a Chinese spy. So, they would let you go to avoid the trouble.

Ckckck... Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and seen a Russian thug like in a movie, staring back at you? With your muscular build, green and sharp eyes, big lips, you seem suitable to be a kidnaper. 

"What investment?" You asked.

"Remember honey, every five or ten euros I gave you, every minute I spent with you, every feeling and every attention I gave to you, those are all my ways of investing in my future. Because I know that you will be a very successful man in the future." I said in a very serious manner.

"So, you see this face, baby.." I pointed at my passport photo then my own face,

"This is the face you should never forget. Because I will make you rich someday from all those investments. So, don't think about anything just work very hard to give me the ROI later ok!" You laughed.

"Investing in me huh?"

"Yes of course. I hope it's not going to be a fraud investment." I shrugged. 

"Hahaha, what if it becomes a fraud?"

"Hmmm... you see this one?" I took out my wallet and showed you the Polaroid photo displayed there. We just took it last week after I bought a Polaroid camera. You were holding my white teddy bear and blowing a kiss to the camera. Russian thug looking so cute for his girlfriend huh.

"This one reminds me of who you are and what you owe me. I promise I will never forget your face and I will chase you even to the afterlife if you dare to run away. " You laughed at my answer once again. 

"Be ready, you will never be able to run away from me. I'm gonna stick with you until I get what I deserve." I said, pull your hand and wrap my fingers around yours.

"You deserve the best thing in the world." You said.

"I know."

"But you don't deserve me.." You said, laughing again. I pouted.

"You..you...You don't deserve me." I said it back. Stuck my tongue out.

You kiss my cheek. You smile. I smile. Butterfly in my stomach. Damn, I hope that it's not going to be any fraud investment. Because with you, I don't think I will ever be ready to lose anything. Let alone losing you.

05.05.2024