AN: I think I'll have a go with this then. I'm glad you guys love the story as much as I did enjoy writing it. It made me happy to know that you love to hear about Kuu and Julie. Thanks for the tip, ayamechin! That helped me a lot. Thank you! Have fun with Fallen everyone! Love you much, Mrazie:)


Shelf #002

Seconds later after Julienna Scott left the bookshop, Martin came back in holding two cups. Hot steam streaming out from the coffee, filling the air with its sweet aroma.

"Cappuccino as ordered."

Kuu blinked from his daze and took a cup from his hand. "Thanks."

He smelled the aroma before he slowly took a sip. Then he spoke again, looking at his employee. "Martin, I don't think you'll believe who was just in here."

"Who? Was it someone famous?" he eagerly asked, his eyes were sure enough gleaming in anticipation.

But Kuu's innate natural, Russian–English–Japanese discretion took over him instead. Best to just keep this news a secret all to himself. For now.

"No. No- one. . . . No– one. . ."

They set about drinking their coffees at the same time in this awkward silence. Then Martin had this good thought.

"Would it be exciting if someone famous did come into the bookshop though, wouldn't it?" he asked. He took another sip. While Kuu never answered, he continued. "Do you know–– this is pretty incredible actually. . . . I once saw Ringo Starr. Or at least I think it was Ringo. It might have been that bloke from 'Fiddler On The Roof' you know, Toppy."

Kuu never blinked as he looked at him. "Topol."

"That's right–– Topol."

Kuu's brows furrowed in thought. "But Ringo Starr doesn't look anything like Topol."

"No, well. . . . he was quite a long way away."

"So it could have been neither of them?"

Martin was hit directly at that point. Making something up was a big mistake. "I suppose so."

"Right. It's not a classic anecdotes, is it?"

"Not classic, no," Martin said as he shook his head in utter embarassment. Kuu continued to drink until he drained his cappuccino.

"Right–– want another one?" he asked.

"Yes. No, wait–– let's go crazy–– I'll have an orange juice."


Julie crossed the street and continued to walk along the road, looking at shop windows to see if there were more that she might wanted to buy. The pretty dress on a manequin in a display window had caught her eyes, so she checked the store name and walked in. True enough, still the same expression she'd get from employees as soon as they realized who she actually was. Who would actually expect a well-known superstar like Julienna Scott suddenly barged inside a simple dress shop? No matter, she kept on a cool, calm face and composure as she felt herself at ease wandering around while browsing through the racks.

Yet the image of that tall man in the bookshop–– what was it called again? Something like Random Walk–– kept popping inside her head. . . . For a moment he seemed like a funny guy to her. The way he talked to her, Julie was very sure that he must have been really nervous. She got that all the time from so many people, for years, so that never really bothered her. . . .

She sighed with wonder. Okay, so why would that weird, funny guy appeared on her mind since she got out from that bookshop, hmm? To check his appearance, for one, he was quite neat, a gentleman to be honest. . . really tall– he actually towered over a good, few inches from her. He definitely have a natural sense of humour, which she liked that it found her cute. Yeah, he's cute. . . really cute. In fact, handsome. . . his soft, a little bit of floppy, bright golden hair with those few bangs hanging on the sides of his chiseled face. He had a narrow-bridge nose, long eyelashes curved slightly at the ends. The impetuous smile curved on his lips, the way he stared at her with those dazed, mesmerizing blue eyes– the best warm eyes she had ever seen in her life– churned her insides up to her throat. Oh, it was such a good choice after all that she hadn't taken off her sunglasses there. It hit her, drawing her cheeks to a slight blush as she finally found the same dress she liked at the display, and took that dress out from the rack. She checked out the size from the tag and placed it back again, browsing through the rest of the hangers to get the right size. If she had taken the sunglasses off then perhaps he would have also seen the same dazed look in her eyes. The glasses was a nice shield to hid that good stare from him. . . . And yes, that voice. His voice sounded a bit low and cool to her ears. . . . when he spoke he sounded quite nervous yet determined. Composed and fearless. . . .

At last she found the perfect size, took it from the rack and went straight to the fitting room. Changing, she thought he was the only person who had naturally sent her to break from her usual composure. Could it be that she was attracted to him then? He's attractive, strikingly and dangerously attractive. . . Every bit of him was attractive to her, because he was just real, natural. Not those poker faced guys she always met in her world. There was more to that perfectly charming sexual appeal than met the eye. She then moved in front of the mirror, checking the image of her dress in all angles. It definitely fit her perfectly. She looked so amazing, the dress flowed as she moved. It felt cool and comfortable to her skin, and showed just the right amount of fairness of her body, not too revealing. She felt like a perfect lady in this dress. If he would see her in this, would he get utterly speechless and stare her dazingly from head to toe. . . What would he say?

The sudden thought drew Julie to shook her head, erasing that thought out of her mind. But it was too late now. . . . She changed back to her attire, placed her sunglasses back to her eyes and got out from the fitting room. The dazed salesperson at the counter took the dress with her money and began the transaction that lasted only two minutes.

"Thank you for shopping with us," said the lady, smiling happily at her. She handed the paper bag to the star.

"Yes, thank you," Julie replied as she took it and left.

Julie walked for another few yards through the buzzling road and took her time looking at the stalls. What if she would meet him again? The moment would still be the same. She just knew it. . . She had never felt anything like this before, not once. . . She felt her heart beat rapidly, in funny rhythms, seeking anticipation every time she would think about him. . . Just as she watched an old man fixed big red roses in his flower stall, Julie finally admitted to herself. . . At long last, for the very first time of her life. . . . She had fallen for a man on the street. . . But it would have been such a completely wonderful news, if only she had known his name.

Julie realized that and sighed softly with a little chuckle. Yeah, he never gave her his name. Well, she never asked for it either, so why would he anyway? She could hardly believe at the sudden thought in her mind. Can this dream be real then– to have felt something like this when you've just met the person once? Was this what her dear friend had told her long ago, was this love at first sight?

It might be that they would never meet again. . . . She lost him forever the moment she got out from that bookshop. . . . No. . . She had to see him again. She would have to find a way to meet him. . And at least, just talk. . Just–– to see his face, and hear his voice. . . To somehow see that handsome smile again. . . . Maybe they could be friends. . Maybe more. . . How she looked forward to meeting him again. And in a fleeting moment–

"I want to see you. . ." whispered Julie, dazed as she walked. Then, she blinked, and saw that this street wasn't the one that she had troded on earlier. Oh, no. Not again! She had to get to the car and drive back!

"Ah mo-! What now?!" she hissed angrily as she turned around and hurried back. She blushed to her own embarassment. This was what happened when you're lost in love. Little Cupid must be having fun right now playing tricks on her.

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