Ranka's First Ballad

Alternate Universe; Ranka was 17 when he realized his deepest affections...for a guy. But just when he was about to confess his feelings, someone else came into the picture...?

Episode 1: I was 17, he was 22

25 December 1988

Merry Christmas.

I couldn't concentrate at work today. Oh well, there weren't many customers to begin with. But the shift seemed forever, and I was really bored to tears.

Until that guy came along...

He wanted a pack of cigarettes. I knew he's legal age, yet for some odd reason I asked to see his ID which he obliged instantly. 14 February 1966. Wow, so he's a Valentine's baby. I quickly handed him the cigarettes and passed back his ID to avoid suspicion. Yes, I was somewhat drawn to his presence. He's tall and lean, accompanied by such smooth and pleasant facial features. Sheesh, by time he left the store I found a trail of saliva down my chin. Yuck. YUCK. Thankfully there wasn't anyone else to witness that. And so, it was really a long shift. My mind kept drifting away to wonderland. To that cigarette guy.

After work, I headed home. Home's sure a lot different when one hits independence and decides to move. When I first rented a space I was both happy and uncertain. And it was a few months before I grew really used to the place. Well, actually...sometimes I still get freaked out by weird noises popping out from nowhere. I would like to think my place is not haunted.

Christmas. I like Christmas. The carols and beautiful decorations all over town. The Santa Claus and his reindeer travelling places and handing out presents to kids. I used to hang stockings when I was much younger. And Santa would give me lots of candy and soft toys. I guess the novelty disappeared when I realized how fast I'd matured. Now, it's me and the television.

Some Christmas movie special...guess I will settle for that.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...

Hmm, that male lead looked a lot like the cigarette guy...shit, why am I thinking of him? And why the constant reference to him as the cigarette guy? He should have a proper name! Thing is, I didn't look closer at his ID. Sheesh. And another trail of saliva down the chin. What's with my sudden infatuation? At this rate I might end up devouring him.

Back to reality, Ranka. Back to reality!

Sheesh. I should just turn off the TV and go sleep.

Ranka-san...

Nani? Who's there?

Ranka-san...over here. Over here!

(RING!!!)

Sheesh, time to wakey already? Yawn. Believe it or not, the convenience store isn't employing new staff. And I feel so abused here, having to work on national holidays. So it's me, the manager and one more guy who's struggling for his college entrance exams. And seriously, why the extra workload when he's already got so much to worry? Some things are just beyond comprehension.

26 December 1988

Happy Boxing Day.

Today was a nightmare. First, the cash register malfunctioned and caught fire (!?) but thankfully the money was safely retrieved. Then, three light tubes went out and I burnt my fingers trying to change them. And to top that up, the ladder gave way for some odd reason and I thought I was about to die, or get paralyzed from spinal injuries. Lucky thing was, the cigarette guy appeared and happened to grab me before anything else. Oh my hero! Puke.

Oh did I mention...the cigarette guy? Count myself extremely lucky, and luckier for being able to hear him speak more than usual.

"Daijobu desu ka?" Oh god, please let me melt in his words. His voice is so sexy! He looked at me quite coldly yet I could sense some anxiety in him. Oh god.

"Hai, daijobu desu. Gomen ne." I quickly got up and recovered the scattered tools. As I approached the counter I could sense his cold glances. Sheesh, I must have had caused myself so much embarrassment. As I settled down by the cash register I waited for his usual request. He knew what he wanted yet he had this habit of scanning the entire cigarette compartment, as if he was looking for something else. Well, that gave me more time to observe his...uh...good looks. I'm so evil.

Well, he did catch me looking at him though. But he kept his coldness mode and asked for his usual brand of cigarettes. I collected his payment and watched him leave the store. Sigh, such a cold person. He could have made a little small talk to make me swoon. In my dreams. The moment he left, my nightmare was back to haunt me. This time it was the personal hygiene shelf. The entire rack of tampons and such crashed down and practically made my life more miserable since I'm not trained in the carpentry department. Sheesh. As if it wasn't already bad enough to work on a national holiday. Woe is me.

And I thought I heard that voice...again.

"Need help?" God, please just kill me with that sexy voice! The cigarette guy was standing right behind, and I went red as this was another big embarrassment to be witnessed by him. Without waiting for my response, he picked up some nails, screws and such and gestured me to one corner while he fixed that terrible mess on my behalf. God, he looked so...oh my, my eyes could go blind anytime!

"Today's just not your day..." The cigarette guy mumbled as he finished up the last fixes on that damn shelf. I blushed and didn't answer. He turned around and handed me the tools. I thanked him and quickly put back the toolbox.

What came out of his mouth next almost made me trip and fall.

"You like me, don't you?" He had this smirk on his face which I couldn't make up my mind whether he's being sarcastic or not. I just stood there, not knowing what to reply.

"I tell you what, I like you...and I want to date you." God, please just slice off my ears. I couldn't believe what I had heard. He repeated that line and the next thing he did was simply close to death-inducing.

He kissed me.

Kamisama!

(to be continued)