As some of you may realize, I've been re-editing my stories these days.
Worry not, for I'll still continue updating Screw My Life lastest by this Sunday.
That aside, I'm finally getting an account in AO3, so if you guys have account there too, be sure to show your support~
Pen name is still UnheardSalvation btw.
Edited: 26 Dec 2016
Disclaimer : I don't own -Man
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Orange For A Husband; Apple For A Wife
Chapter 1
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"...I'm hungry." Allen muttered to himself as he lazily leaned on beside the cool metal frame of a window. His silver eyes scanning through the living room slowly.
Leenalee left him alone again.
Not that he was mad or anything, but seriously, if you are planning to spend this vacation with your special someone, why oh why in the world will you drag your best friend to a foreign country and throw your best friend alone in the apartment while you went out with your special someone? Chill, Allen. Chill. He breathed in deeply, alright, he was at fault too actually.
How can he not realize Leenalee only dragged him to this foreign country just for the sake of her boyfriend? There were so many give-away signs before they left England together!
Leenalee hiding something from him, Leenalee looked at him apologetically all the time, Leenalee treating him so much better out of a sudden —
Sighing in defeat, alright he sure was an idiot to ignore those obvious signals from his friend.
Using me as an excuse to meet her boyfriend in this country to avoid Komui's rage... Such friend she is, Allen thought glumly. Sighing once more, Allen decided to wait for Leenalee's return to bring him food. He was too afraid to go around in a foreign country after all, due to his... ability to get lost easily.
Just then, his stomach grumbles loudly, complaining to its owner regarding the absence of food in it since morning. Allen's mood darkens even more. He had wake up late that day, thinking that Leenalee may have left some food for him. Gracefully, he walked down the stairs, only to be greeted by a small post-it note pasted on the fridge.
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I'm not coming back tonight.
Lavi's bringing me to join this "Paogam" activity in a place called Tanjong Harapan.
Enjoy your day without me! :)
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Leenalee.
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And thus, leading to the current situation.
Checking the fridge, to only find out there was no food left in it, Allen was speechless for a while before muttering, "... Leenalee, I hate you."
What is so important about this Paogam activity to that point she starve her friend?!
Oh god damn it!
In the end, Allen decided to get out of the house and went to the nearby market to buy himself some food. Money was not the problem since he was going to use Leenalee's credit card for everything he eat. She will pay for starving him.
Revenge's a bitch, hope you learn your lesson, my friend.
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Orange For A Husband, Apple For A Wife
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"Oh, what a pretty lady we have here!" Another owner of the shop praised him for his good looks.
In the wrong bloody way.
How many times does he need to tell them?! He's a guy for goddess sake!
Even so, every time he explained his gender to them, none of the locals in this country believed him. Oh lord, why have thou forsake me?
"Anyway, young girl."
"...Yes?" He gave up trying to prove his manliness and answered tiredly.
"Are you joining the Paogam activity later?"
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Paogam? The one Leenalee ditched him for?
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"I'm afraid I don't understand what activity you were talking about?" As curiosity gets the better side of him, he decided to dig full information of this activity from the locals.
"Huh? You're not here to join the activity, young girl?"
"... I never heard it before." Well, it is the truth. From where he came from, such activity does not exist... Or maybe he's the only one didn't know it exist...
The locals smiled warmly at him, patting the side of the chair gently, asking Allen to sit beside them. Not even hesitating, Allen sat down and stared at the locals in anticipation.
"Listen well, Paogam is an activity the youngsters take part in it every year during the Lantern Festival."
Allen nodded, showing that he understood them.
"Every year, the youngsters will write their name and contact information on an orange and throw them into a river or a lake."
Wait a second... What?
Perhaps he had showed a weird expression, the locals chuckled slightly before continuing, "It doesn't have to be your real name. A nickname will do."
"And the... Contact information?"
"It doesn't have to be your cell phone number, young girl. You can write your e-mail address or even your account names on any social media."
"And what's the use of... these?" Allen questioned.
"This is how singles gets their partners."
"Hold it, I'm lost." Singles getting partners? Does that refer to lovers or something else?
"You write your name and contact information on an orange, throw it into a river or a lake, and later, people will collect it."
"I still don't get it..."
"Silly young girl, the people who collected them can contact you and start a relationship with you!"
A... A relationship?! He panicked for a while. It was not that he never had any girlfriends before, but none of them lasted long! The last time Allen was in a relationship was like... 5 years ago? Or maybe even longer, he lost track of the time.
Now that he gave a thought about it, maybe he should find a girlfriend too. At least, he won't be left alone by Leenalee again if he spends time with his girlfriend. Yup, maybe he should join this activity too.
"... Can I be the one collecting the oranges instead of throwing it?" He asked timidly, clearly interested in the activity. Even so, it's not really safe to let your contact information exposed to random strangers...
"No! That is unheard of! You can only throw an orange!"
"But, isn't that dangerous? What if a bad person collects my orange?!" He does not want a bad girlfriend!
The locals stared at him before bursting out in laughter.
"If you want a relationship, you have to be willing to take the risk, you get me?"
It's true... But why was Allen having a bad feeling about this?
"Where is it held? This Paogam activity." Well, he might not visit this country anymore, might as well have a little fun here.
"Tanjong Harapan, Bridge 8 of the North Port in Klang."
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Orange For A Husband, Apple For A Wife
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Allen stood lonely in the crowd, an orange in his hand. The organizer yelled loudly into the speaker, brightening up the lively atmosphere of the Lantern Festival. Though it was a waste Allen understood nothing from what the organizer said to the crowd. He regretted not learning Mandarin from Leenalee so much... Maybe it's about the precaution of this activity? When he heard of the whispers of a pair of girls beside warning each other to be careful near the port in English, he nodded to himself. Guess it really was about the precaution of this activity.
"ARE YOU READY?!" The man yelled into the mic once more, in English this time.
The crowd cheered loudly and yelled back a "YES!" to the man.
"I can't hear you — ARE YOU READY?!"
"YES!" An even louder reply this time.
"ALRIGHT! ON THREE! TWO! ONE!"
The crowd cheered once again before rushing to the port, throwing their oranges into the lake. Allen quickly follow the crowd, and threw his orange out as well. The once cleaned water slowly dyed into a pool of oranges and bananas near the port. Banana? Maybe it's for luck or something? Before long, the crowd dismissed and another group of people jumped down into the lake, collecting the fruits with a net large enough to only hold a fruit.
Hold it... Men?
Why were most the collector men?
Maybe they'll distribute to the girls later. Most girls are scared of water after all... Allen tried convincing himself.
It was then he saw a long-haired Asian looking girl among the men. Her raven hair was tied so neatly behind her head, and her graceful movements. She stole his breath away.
Oh please, collect my orange!
The raven-haired girl scooped up an orange. Allen could swear his heart was beating so fast he couldn't breathe well.
He saw her drying her hands before taking out her cell phone, dialing a number into the device.
Is it mine? Oh please, let it be mine!
Just then, Allen's phone rang. He quickly took it out and read the message received.
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Hey, Kanda here.
I collected your orange.
How about meeting this Friday?
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(Unknown)
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Is it her? Is it?
He wanted to reply back instantly, but he was afraid.
What if, it's not her but some other people?
Sneaking a look to the oranges collectors, he felt insecure.
That girl was the only one he wished to be his girlfriend! Even if the male collectors will distribute the oranges to the single ladies later, he still doesn't want that!
"Allen...?" A familiar voice rang up from behind him.
Turning around, he saw Leenalee and Lavi behind him, looking at him in shock.
"Leenalee? Lavi?"
"Allen, what are you doing here?"
"I... I was joining the Paogam activity?"
Leenalee's eyes went wide before turning to her boyfriend. Lavi had the same reaction as her and turned to the port Allen threw his orange just now.
Now that he thought about it... Why was there so many girls with him back then?
"So err... Allen buddy, anyone contacted you?"
He quickly showed the message to them, any thoughts of doubt, he threw it all away. She matters more now.
"Is it her, Lavi?"
"Allen buddy, you mean that one with the high pony tail?" Lavi pointed to her with his thumb, resulting in Allen's excited nodding of his head.
Leenalee stared at her from far, a weird look crossed her face, before turning back to Lavi, clearly in lost of words.
"... Allen buddy, the good news is, I know this Kanda person."
"Just tell me if it's her."
"It is that person but..."
But?
"Well, you might not like that person when you guys meet up."
Lavi refused to say more about it after that.
But that's enough. He'll get to meet her this coming Friday after all.
He have a feeling this will be the best date ever!
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Or not.
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TBC
A/N : I'm not sure if other country celebrate this Paogam activity during their Lantern Festival, but mine sure do ;) Yes, it's a real thing, I did not make it up. This activity really exist. In Malaysia, at least.I haven't been there yet, seeing that I only stepped into college this year, but I'm gonna join the activity when I'm desperate needing a boyfriend xD ((lol)) By the way, this is how it works :
1) You write your name and contact number on the fruit. If you are a guy, it's a banana; if you're a girl, its an orange ((Yes, Allen was tricked into throwing an orange here xD ))
2) Throw the fruit into the lake ((ONLY IN SPECIFIC LOCATION PEOPLE. IF NOT YOU'LL POLLUTE THE RIVER OR LAKE!))
3) You can go into the lake or river to collect the opposite fruit. Eg. If you are a girl, you collect a banana; if you're a guy, collect an orange
4) Contact the owner of the fruit.
5) Have fun meeting them and wish for the best for a relationship ;)
Hope you guys enjoy this fanfic! Reviews are welcome~
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R&R
UnheardSalvation
