I.
01. Perfume
She had gotten a new perfume. He had known her long enough to detect her fragrance's change. She had always worn heavy perfumes before; a composition of incense and rum, assorting well with the smell of tobacco.
Her new perfume was as light and sweet as the spring. It did not match with winter, and most of all he thought that it did not suit her.
Wincing, Hina realized that Smoker was gazing at her with his nostrils expanded, inhaling her new perfume. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
Smoker closed his eyes. "That other fragrance suited you better."
02. Cigar
Hina raised her eyebrows and shook the pack of cigarettes. "Hina doesn't have cigarettes," she said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
Smoker who sat next to her took out a cigar and gave it to Hina without looking at her. The smoke of the cigar in his mouth ascended into the sky.
Skeptically she looked at the cigar.
"We have plenty of time. Do you want to smoke or do you want to stand there doing nothing?"
The corners of her mouth twitched. She took the cigar, placed it between her lips, and lit it. "Thanks."
The three billows of smoke merged in the air.
03. A Pack of Cigarettes
"There."
Hina came to a halt. She raised her hand and caught the item Smoker had thrown at her. Surprised, she realised that it was a pack of cigarettes. But they were not regular cigarettes; they were expensive ones; quality cigarettes that she maybe bought once a year.
"Yesterday was your birthday, right?" Smoker said, preparing to leave. This is my present. I'm sorry I didn't wrap it. You would have torn the paper anyways."
Maybe he's not that selfish… Smoker disappeard, and Hina could not help smiling.
04. Billower Bike
"So that is your new mean of transportation," Hina stated, crooking her head.
Smoker was polishing his Billower Bike.
"Not bad," she said, "but it could use a bit more... pep." She started moving, and Smoker narrowed his eyes when Hina took out a sticker out of her jacket's pocket.
Smoker stood up. "What are you doing?" he asked her, but Hina unhibitedly applied the sticker on his bike's headlight.
"How do you like it?"
Smoker pushed his cigars to the other side of his mouth. "It looks terrible," he answered, and Hina grinned.
Smoker did not remove the sticker.
05. Work and Personal Life
"It's none of your business."
Usually his words did not hurt her since she was used to his character and was a hardy woman, but this time everything was different. She disliked the fact that he did not want to tell her anything even though they were more than comrades now. "Hina disappointed," she said.
Smoker did not say anything. He had turned his back on her and kept silent.
Hina's mouth became a thin line. Before she could lose her stoic attitude, she turned on her heels and left the room with forcedly slow steps.
He was right: They had to separate work from personal life.