"Ah, there goes your crush" Josh slapped me on my back, barely holding a snicker.
Yeah yeah… I've already seen that, don't make it even more awkward. I thought to myself.
So the lovely Mexican young girl who caught my eyes and mind a few days ago is now riding in a car with a dude, and of course, my friends are making the most out of it.
"Hey man…you're just too sweet. Like, it tastes bad" Kevin tried to advise me. And I can't ignore him, for he is the lady killer of our group who's so confident in his ability to pull even the most ice cold girl with his charm. I know that I can't ever be at his level but I'd like to have a girlfriend nonetheless.
"Yep. He's got a point…you're just too kind and considerate that girls might think you're a weirdo. Have an attitude man…be mysterious and pull more weight " Ben said, lightly punching my stomach. Luckily, considering his monstrous muscles, that punch was very gentle and soft.
Oh come on! I know. I'm not a macho person and I'm not an attitude guy either. And I know that I'm unnecessarily nice, to the point someone could take advantage of it. But, I'm afraid to change.
"Dude you're like what, 19 and still you don't get a first kiss. If you want, I'll pretend like I'm a girl!!" Josh made a kissing gesture and they all started laughing.
Seeing my irritation, Katy intervened. "Hey Misato…As a fellow introvert just hear me out, wait for your girl and when the time's right just step in... "
"Shut up nerd!!" Ben interrupted her. "You already have your future in books and music. But don't pull my man inside your dreamworld too" Ben pulled on her book and she flipped the finger on him telling him to mind his own business.
So messy, so out of place. Yet the closest to my heart. I could call my small friendship circle this way.
I'm Misato. Kendo Misato. Like my name suggests, I was born in Japan. Yet when I was 7 or 8 my mother migrated to the US with me. Unfortunately she passed away 2 years ago and I was on medication for a few months after her loss, for she was practically the whole family to me.
And my father…I don't know. The only time I saw his image was a family photo that my mother forgot to burn away. And she seems to hate him so much that my records don't have my father's column filled. I don't even know his name. And basically that's me.
After the college hours I went to my usual work spot, Mrs Valentine's book shop. And like always Smurf was waiting for me. Yet on seeing me she turned her face like she didn't even know me.
"Hey Smurf…how do you do…did Valentine drive you nuts with her old jazz? " I asked the orange tabby 3 year old Smurf and she just meowed like she wasn't interested in small talk. She lazily looked at me with a yawn and curled back again.
Oh I got it… you're in for a challenge huh?
So just to spite her, I pulled out the laser pointer I kept on the counter and made her run a marathon. Then I cleaned the books and tables, opened the windows and door and sat behind the counter reading a book on Roman culture. I'm not a nerd but I'd agree to be called a history nerd - and even my college subject is history.
Most of my friends think that history is weird and useless. Well…in a sense history is the record of how people interacted with each other and how they lived. And a lesson of how they could have lived. It's the tale of cultures and how they flourished, plateaued and fell, and how a few of them rebuilt themselves. It gives us the hope that not everything is lost forever. With the right people and right bonds, hope becomes reality.
Despite it all, history comes with some silly moments too, like…being an Asian, especially someone of Japanese origin in history class is not so easy. The classes on Japanese invasion of China or the nukes often come with sneaky comments.
Umm.. Yes, I'm from Japan but I was like 8 when I came from Japan and I hardly know Japanese.
Speaking about Japan, I would like to visit there again after earning some money, and I especially like to visit the serene villages and rice fields rather than the bustling cities.
I snapped from my daydreams when a kid came in for a comic and after dealing with her I went back to reading again.
Well, damn… seems like it's a dull day for business and that kid was the only customer. After feeding Smurf I closed the shop by 8 and went to the parking lot. One of Ken's friends gave me a small task to bring a book to her uncle's home a little away and I already have that book nicely packed in the bag. A quick one - night ride for some handsome change. It's a little cold outside with some wind, perhaps it might start raining soon.
I looked at the bike's mirror after climbing on. I look not half bad… a mustache would be nice, but of course not a beard, a little haircut change? And I don't want those weird tattoos. I chuckled a little and made some wacky expressions in the mirror.
I borrowed the bike from Kevin for 2 days by nicely picking on his soft spot for that friend and I know he won't mind me using his bike if it's for a favor for his friend. Good luck bro.
When I took the bag and felt the book inside it I almost slapped my own face. I forgot to hide the book on orchid botany among the comic books! And I hid the 76'th birthday greeting card for Mrs Valentine inside that book …. Well never mind - she's visiting her daughter in Colorado.
Though she feels a little grumpy, she's a loving mother…. And…my mother was not so good at either role. I know, life was so hard for her she almost forgot to smile. And she never smiled at me. At least she never cried in front of me, but I've seen her crying in her private room and the smell of sake and wine fill my nose when thinking about that room.
When I started the bike it scared off a stray cat and she meowed sharply. So I meowed back at her and started the journey. Within just 5 minutes I reached the outskirts of the town and since my town is rather small the road was not so busy, especially after 8 PM. And it felt like a thunderstorm was imminent.
Ah, damn just a few more minutes later it started to rain with strong winds. The downpour is so strong that I got tempted to park the bike on a side and wait under a shelter for a while until the heavy rain subdues. So I slowed down, parked on the side and stepped off the bike. And…that's it.
An eye popping flash that enveloped all my senses.
It didn't hurt at all…. But, is it lightning?
Maybe… That's the most logical conclusion. And then everything feels like…from another perspective…like I'm floating. And I'm not freaked out, which is the scariest part of it all. Is... Is this this death?
And if this is death - the end of it all, I don't have many complaints,
Except that I never had a girlfriend and I was a virgin. And…if I knew that my life was this short I could have lived a better and colourful life with a…no.. If possible more than one girlfriend like Kevin. And I'd like to express my voice and emotions more freely if I knew that my life was this short…. And if I get a quick chance I want to thank my friends.
Darkness. Pitch - black darkness …. Hmm…so this is the end.
Bye Mrs Valentine, you were a good boss. Bye smurf…I actually brought your favorite food, but I forgot it somewhere under the shelf. If you're lucky someone else will find it out for you. And sorry Kevin…I'm not sure if the bike's alright. And now I think I haven't even asked the name of that Mexican girl. I'm so stupid.
And I opened my eyes again.