L a t t e M a c c h i a t o
Hikari Yagami has everything a girl could ever want:
A trendy penthouse in the center of NYC.
A wardrobe full with designers she can barely afford.
And a job as a journalist and photographer for a well known fashion magazine.
But life is never perfect, and she still regrets.
Like spilling her latte macchiato on that hot guy she met a few minutes ago…
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S u n d a y, J u l y 1 3, 2 0 0 8. 14:44
Disclaimer belongs to Digimon, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and thinly to the Shopaholic book series and Waltz Alone in her version of Shopaholic with a Li Syaoran and Sakura Kinomoto from Card Captor Sakura canon called In the Shoes of a Shopaholic. I'm hoping that this would be good, and I have a bad habit of making and breaking stories that I don't like after reading it over like… twice. The only story I was able to love but took me a sad heart to delete for I was switching accounts was called Prerogative. Well, please read and review! With lots of love … la.chocolique.
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Jimmy Choo studded patent-leather sandals, 450.00.
Alberta Ferretti sequined leather and wood sandals, 345.00.
Alexander McQueen metal and leather sandals, 1,085.00.
I stared at the three receipts I received after purchasing those nice pair of designer sandals. 450 plus 345 plus 1,085 would be… Well, it should be close to approximately 2000 dollars including tax! Groaning at my bad habit of buying some unnecessary shoes that I thought would look great to fill the empty space on my shoe rack, I relentlessly dropped the receipts into my beige Bally Jana handbag that costs about 675.00.
My name is Hikari Yagami. I'm a Japanese journalist and photographer that work for a well-known fashion magazine called 'euphoria Lust'. I originally lived in Odaiba, Japan, until I reached 18 and decided to move to New York City to expand my independency and to explore my talents. With dark brown locks and auburn coloured eyes, I must say I'm quite gorgeous myself. Well… yes, I must be pretty if a handful of guys actually came out to me to dance with them when I went to a famous NYC club as a V.I.P.
I guess living for 3 years in New York City has done a hell of a good job to me. After accepting a euphoria Lust magazine internship, I worked my way up within a year and immediately got promoted to be a journalist and photographer after my popular self edit issue on Dior's Miss Dior Chérie perfume. Quite shallow, but I get paid with a fairly large amount of money.
I basically have everything a 21 years old girl, or, err… woman, could ever want. I have a trendy penthouse designed by famous interior designer Rachael Ashwell who has designed for many popular entertainment icons like Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Anthony Hopkins, and even Julia Roberts. The original building is built on the main street in the center of New York City, so getting a subway ride or taxi ride is way too easy for me. As you can see in the beginning when I was handling with my 2000.00 receipts, I have a wardrobe full with designers. And vice versa, my job is super cool and pays super well.
What I didn't account for was a call from my boss. Sonya is a petite but pretty blonde who's the main editor-and-chief of euphoria Lust magazine. As soon as I dropped my receipts into my designer handbag, my Apple iPhone began ringing and I quickly picked it up. "Hikari Yagami here."
"Hikari! I have the next big project planned ahead for the next issue of euphoriaLust, and I want you to take lead in this."
"But I'm kind of on vacation here…"
"Well you can continue vacationing at your location spot where your project will take place."
"You mean it's not a New York City issue?"
"No, euphoria Lust is taking next month's issue to Odaiba, Japan!"
I froze. Odaiba, Japan? I haven't been to my hometown for years. "Can't you get someone else like Anna to do it?"
"Hikari, the only person fluent in Japanese is you. How the hell do you expect Anna or even Yuri to survive in Odaiba if they're blabbering English or Russian to the commoners over there? I have prepared a plane for you within the next three hours. Next month's issue is on anything you want, as long as its big, funky, and Odaiba!"
"But-"
"Well then, I will see you within two weeks!"
Then with that, my phone clicked off, and I stood there looking like an idiot, staring at my iPhone that was beeping. After just standing there like a moron knowing nothing to do, I shook my head and finally cursed, "Shit!" Then I quickly hailed a taxi and travelled to my penthouse to gather my belongings and to make haste to Odaiba.
Of course, after riding in a euphoria Lust sponsored private jet, I was in Odaiba and waiting for my latte macchiato uncomfortably in the closest American Starbucks I could find within the next day.
Dressed lazily in a pair of oat coloured cotton twill pants, a light heather grey cotton v-neck tee, a charcoal grey short sleeved cardigan, and wrapped in magenta light weight scarf, I sniffed drowsily in the corner of the overly expensive Starbucks store. On the coffee table in front of me was my Mac laptop, waiting for me to type in my ideas for the next issue, but I was just too pissed off and jet-lagged to even think properly.
As soon as the employee called "Latte macchiato, number 8!" right after "Pumpkin scone, number 7!" I stood up and hastily strolled over to the employee and took my latte macchiato with a pretty smile and a 'arigato', I turned just in time to knock my 'Espresso' print written all over mug filled with hot coffee on a tall and lean blonde.
"Ah, shit!" I swore loudly in English, causing a stir in the small group of (probably wealthy) customers (since Starbucks is an expensive American coffee shop in a Japanese community).
"Quite the little temper, don't you?" The blonde replied back fluently and smoothly in Japanese, looking straight in the eyes at me revealing strikingly cobalt blue eyes. "Japanese, but speaks English, what are the chances in that."
I fell backwards in surprise when I heard him speak English. Taking my time to look him over, I finally clarified myself to be damned in humiliation for having to spill my latte macchiato on a hot guy like him. He was dressed casually in a pair of bootcut jeans, a black polo, and a striped hoodie. His adorably messy blonde hair became even messier when he ruffled his hair.
"You speak English, and you're Japanese." I shot back, biting my lip and mentally warning myself not to sneak any rude words to him, for that was my habit.
"Ah, feisty."
"A jackass, aren't you?" I finally snapped, and then my hands on my mouth. Shit, I just insulted a hot guy I spilled my caffeine on!
As if he hadn't heard my last comment, the mysterious blonde continued on, "I'm actually French and Japanese, not English, but being stuck with a life I didn't originally planned to have does have a bit of advantages…"
"Look stranger, right now I'm currently jet-lagging, aching with a headache, and just called you a jackass yet you continue to harass me. Honestly, just piss off!" I fumed, beginning to let my impatience getting the best of me, picking up the mug and standing up, scowling at the blonde in which I was beginning to regret in yelling at. Before the blonde could answer, I struck my index finger at him to silence him as soon as my phone began to ring.
Picking it up, I asked, "Moshi, Moshi?" I was partially hoping that it wouldn't be my father or mother.
"My, my, Hikari. Already speaking Japanese." The voice on the other line cooed, "It's Sonya. And I can see you're in Odaiba healthy and soon to be wealthy as soon as you hand in your report by the next two weeks. I know I said I'll let you pick your own issue headline, but I just got the most brilliant idea! How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days! We are going to choose a guy perfect for you to unfold your plans on-"
"-You mean to unfold your plans on-"
"-Which is basically you doing every single thing a girl should not do to keep a guy! For example, you will keep on being annoying, prissy, totally sickening sweet, et cetera, and you are going to write down your 10 days progress and return to New York City for editing as soon as possible!"
Long breath, I thought, before regaining posture and helped lifted the stranger up as he waited patiently for me to get off the phone, "Look, I'm kind of tied down in an accident here. So, 'sure' to that topic of yours. We'll continue discussing it later."
"No way! I want you to pick a guy now!"
I held the phone away from my ears as Sonya continued rambling about the 'importance of the next euphoria Lust issue hastiness' and finally shouted, "Alright, alright! I already have a guy I'm using!" I lied, just to get Sonya off of my back.
"That's wonderful! What's his name?"
Anxious because I was lying to Sonya, I pathetically and apologetically glanced at the tall standing stranger and asked, "What's your name?"
"Takeru Takaishi?" The blonde replied, looking at me amusedly.
"Takeru Takaishi." I said, before stopping, and inwardly swore 'fuck!' as soon as I realized I had told my boss that I was going to date and dump a guy I had just spilled my coffee on and swore at as an experiment.
"Takeru Takaishi?" Sonya gasped.
"What about him?"
"He's like, Paris's most wealthiest and gorgeous looking entrepreneur ever lived! He was a popular basketball player back in his high school days." Sonya filled in, filing her fingernails as her toenails were getting manicures and pedicures on the other side of the world.
"Sure?" I said, not even paying attention.
"Well, great choice! Although he did have a beautiful blonde ex about a year ago… but whatever! I can't wait to read about Takeru Takaishi!" And with that, Sonya finally clicked off and I slumped onto the floor with the Starbuck's janitor staring at me with the expression 'why the hell are you sitting down on the middle of the floor for?'
"Oh shit!" I said again, remembering I had dirtied his jacket, "I'm sorry!"
"That was quite a change in reaction." Takeru smirked.
"Well if it wasn't for your stupid smirk I would've continued my 'I'm so sorry will you ever forgive me?' façade." I said, my temper quickly riffling again as I got up and looked straight into his eyes, "I'm Hikari Yagami."
"Aren't you that writer for a column a year back in euphoria Lust magazine about perfume?"
"You read about perfume and you read euphoria Lust?" I asked curiously, and then began laughing.
"It's not me okay?!" Takeru scowled, "It's my sister-in-law who reads euphoria Lust. She's Sora Tackenouchi, and she's a fashion designer. She usually makes me go and buy a number of euphoria Lust issues when I go on world trips to New York City." He stopped, and the looked at me strangely, "Aren't you a journalist and photographer?" He questioned, taking the mug from my hand and placing it on the counter next to him.
"And what if I am?"
"Don't you know who I am?"
"Takeru Takaishi?"
"No, as in my background."
"Who do think I am, a stalker?" Now it was time for me to scowl at the gorgeous boy.
"No, since you're somewhat a paparazzi…"
"You're calling me a part of the paparazzi, and the paparazzi is what you can say a 'stalker', so basically you're calling me a stalker!" I accused.
"You honestly don't know who I am?"
"I said Takeru Takaishi! I told you a few seconds ago! What are you, deaf?"
The blonde reeled back and began laughing. At first, I dumbly stared at Takeru as if he was some sort of maniac that was related to the Joker in the Batman series, but finally confirmed that Batman and Joker was not real. Anyways, how the hell could a relative of the Joker escape from Gotham City and into Odaiba?
"You're laughing because…?"
"You are probably the first girl who didn't jump on me, and instead, spilled coffee on me, insulted me, and then accused me of calling you a stalker. Since I told you my name," Takeru bent down where his head met directly at my head level, "Why don't you tell me yours?" He asked huskily.
I rolled my eyes, and stalked back to my laptop where I sat down and awaited for another of my latte macchiato to be made again. "You know, now I can call you a stalker." I pointedly said, lifting my Mac cover and staring directly at the eyes of Takeru Takaishi. I somewhat remembered Sonya telling her that he's a … interpreter? Or something like that, but who exactly is he that gives him a right to be so amazed that I had no hell of a clue who he is?
"I'm curious." Takeru honestly replied, "What's your name?"
"If I tell you, would you lay off and get my latte macchiato for me from the counter?" I finally sighed.
"Throw in your phone number and I'll drive you home."
"That means you'll know my phone number and my home address!"
"I'm joking, joking…" Takeru chuckled.
I finally gave him a small smile, "Watashi wa Yagami Hikari." I said in Japanese, then gave him a genuine smile, "Now get me my latte macchiato!" I turned my attention to my Mac and my opened Mozilla Firefox as soon as an icon popped up with 'You got mail!'
Opening it as Takeru slid off of the seat to retrieve my latte macchiato, I read its contents.
Hikari, this is Sonya! : D
After our last call a few minutes ago got me giggling with oh la la euphoria. (Which means happiness, by the way.) You, choosing Paris's richest and hottest looking entrepreneur and meeting him within the first day of your job is a God blessed and God given miracle! Let me remind you, he's a worldwide player, and he's known for taking an interest in dropping a girl after a few days (or nights to be specific, wink, wink ; D) with her. Remember to keep Takeru Takaishi in line as soon as you start to unfold my (as how you politely pointed out) plan on him.
Kisses!
Sonya 3
I looked up as soon as Takeru came back with my coffee and froze. I guess arguing with Takeru got my brain cells going, because I finally understood the information Sonya had recently emailed me.
Wait. Oh my fucking God. Shit. No.
My project in the next euphoria Lust issue is to date and dump Paris's hottest entrepreneur who's known as a worldwide player that I just spilled coffee on and yelled at?
NO FUCKING WAY.
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