"Good morning Rin. I made you your favorite." Sebastian said. I sat down at the table with a blank expression on my face apparently. I tried my best to hide it. "Is something wrong Rin?"
"No. I'm just not hungry."
"Not enough for strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes?"
I sat up and walked over to the fridge and got out the carton of milk and Luna's dish. I poured her some milk as she leaped up on the counter to lap it up.
"Sorry you had to go through the trouble of making them Sebastian. I'll wrap them up and put it in the fridge. I'll eat them later." I said, petting Luna.
"...N-no it's ok. I'll do it." he replied, "So...you called madam last night?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She's coming home. For three months." I smiled.
"Unbelieveable. Isn't that wonderful?"
"I know."
"...What's wrong?" Sebastian asked.
I went back to avoiding his eye contact and petting Luna. "Nothing's wrong. Why would you ask?"
"You seem off today Rin. Did something happen?"
"...I'm probably just tired. I talked to mom on the phone all night."
"That doesn't explain why you refused pancakes."
I weakly smiled. "There isn't an explaination. I'll be up in my room." I took Luna and went back upstairs.
As soon as I got into my room, I walked over to my dresser mirror. There was a picture booth film strip taped to to the edge of the mirror of me and Shun that time we went to the amusment park together. I looked at my face. So blank...My eyes started to sting now. The vision of my face started to blur and my chest started to hurt again. I bowed my head and tears started to fall on my dresser. Luna leaped up onto the edge of the dresser, staring at me with soft eyes. Luna always knew how I felt. She softly mewled at me and jumped into my arms. I carried her over to my bed where I layed there with her. I fell asleep again. A heavy sleep.
I opened my eyes again to see the light coming in from my window shining in a different part of the room. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. It was 1:00 now. I got up at 10:00. I had an entire day to myself. I wanted to get out. Staying home wouldn't help with anything. I called Kari.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Rin."
"What's up?"
"I wanna hang out. Where are you?" I asked.
"Sorry kid, I can't spend time with you today or tomarrow. I'm working at the store."
"Oh...is...Shun there?"
"No. He only works on week days after school. I work week days after school and weekends."
"Well, maybe I could come over to see you."
"Sure."
"I'll be there in a few."
Kari was at the cash register when I got there. Shun wasn't anywhere to be found. I really didn't want to see him. I felt humilated. Played. I just need to talk to a friend. Kari waved at me as I walked through the automatic doors. Only a few people where in the store.
"Hey kiddo!"
"So what's it like to be a working lady now?"
"Awsome. Hey have you found a job yet?"
"No," I replied, "But then again, I have'nt been looking yet."
"Oh really?" I stepped aside as an old woman brought her items to the counter.
"...Kari? Can I tell you something?"
"Shoot." She turned to the old woman, "That'll be $10.56."
"...I might like Shun."
"...I knew it."
"Huh?"
"You two knew eachother for a long time. Plus you guys can connect on a completely different level than with anybody else. You like spending time with him...alone..."
"That obvious?" I asked.
"Are you noticing now? Thank you have a nice day."
"Yes. I can't see myself as his girlfriend but I'm starting to feel uneasy everytime I see him with-"
"Adzumi?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry babe, they're dating now."
"I know. He told me. Even after he told me he like me."
"Wait what?"
"I told him that I had feelings for him and he told me he had them for me too. He suggested that we become friends with benefits. Yesterday, he ignored me, then I woke up to a text saying he's dating Zumi-chan."
"...What the hell?"
"...I know."
"That dick!" yelled Kari.
"..."
"Sorry to hear that, love. I'll tell him off the next time I see his scrawny ass."
"No. It's ok. I couldn't see myself with him anyway. I was confused, so I hesitated."
"Well, he's not confused with Zumi,"
I turned to Kari and looked in the same direction as her. Out the window of the sliding doors was Shun with his arms around Adzumi's waist, his lips to hers. I sharply turned my head away from them. Kari frowned.
"Is there another way out?" I asked.
"You shouldn't hide from him. I know you're hurting, but you should walk out that door with pride. Show him he didn't break you."
"I'm not ready for that. Now a back door? Please?"
"...Come on." Kari showed me out the back door from the stock room.
"Thanks, I'll call you later." And with that, I left the store.
I started to walk down the street. The sky started to turn gray. I didn't notice until I felt rain. It went from a few drops on my head to a drenching shower. People around me started to run. Women calling for a quick cab to find shelter in. Others taking out their unbrellas, business men covering their heads with newspaper as they made a run for it. I didn't change my pace. I still walked slowly in the rain. My hair started to clump together and my clothes started to stick to my skin. My cheeks were started to get cold, but I didn't care. I was going down Nishi street now. I walked by a fairly large Cafe. I looked into window of the cafe, looking at my reflection. I looked so pathetic. The window didn't have a "now hiring" sign, but I figured I should go in to get some warm tea or something.
As soon as I walked in, a boy who looked like a preteen greeted me. "Welcome to Doki Cafe," was what he said. 'Doki'...like the sound of a heart beat. The boy looked cute. He had short to medium length black hair that looked soft and feathery. He had pale skin and big eyes, along with pinchable cheeks. Thin and definately ukeish looking. He guided me to booth. I looked around the cafe. Three girls around my age wearing maid outfits serving drinks and sweets to couples and boys who were obviously there for their attention. Four boys including the one who sat me down. The other three looked much older than the one who greeted me. Extremely good looking boys around their late teens also serving costumers. All where wearing butler uniforms. The youngest one wore the vest with his tie neatly done. Another, one who looked sporty and a few years older than the one at the door wore his uniform without a tie, top bottons of his white button down tucked in shirt undone with the black vest over worn open, his hair was a bleach brown color. Medium length and messy, strands of hair looking handsomely wild around his flawless face. The oldest looking one had short black hair with square rimmed glasses. He wore his uniform down to the best way it could be worn. White shirt buttoned all the way. His vest worn closed. Tie done perfectly. Black pants fitted right and the black blazer jacket button at the midsection. The last one was fairly tall, lean and had black short/medium length hair that looked light and soft. He had strong features with soft touches. He wore his attire with his white shirt untucked with the top buttons undone, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a loose tie. Vest worn open without a blazer. He loosely wore a thick black leather band around his wrist. A couple of simple rings on both his hands. A chain connecting from his belt loop to the back pocket. A white studded belt created contrast against the black pants. All of them were very attractive, and the three girls were as well.
"What would you like to have today?" smiled the boy.
"I'd just like some tea please."
"Green tea?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Coming up!"
The young boy walked away with a bright smile on his face. I sat there silently. I looked at everything at this point. The walls, the booths, tables, walls, ceiling, floor. I looked around to see about a dozen happy couples in the cafe. My heart tugged. I hated how this had to be. All the couples were around high school aged. I tryed to imagine myself with him again. Sitting in this very love themed cafe...still couldn't see it. So why was I still feeling this way? For the first time in my life, I was told I was loved. Apparently, not enough for Shun to pick me. Of all people...Azumi...one of my best friends.
My train of thought was interupted as a loud crash ripped through the happy atmosphere, making the aftermath complete silence. I looked over to where the noise came from. Across the cafe, layed on the floor was broken glass. A fairly tall man, looked around his early twenties held one of the maids by the forearm. Looking closer, his death grip on her arm started to grip even tighter as she winced and tried to helplessly pull away from him.
"Come on, give me your number!" he grunted.
"I don't give it out. Now, please just let me go."
"I just want to show you a good time sweetheart."
I stood, grabbing an empty glass from a nearby table. I threw the glass at the man refusing to let go of the girl. Even from across the cafe, the thump from the glass hitting his head was loud. The glass fell to the floor and shattered. The man finally let go of the maid and started to storm towards me. I stood my ground. Just inches away from me, he was suddenly stopped by the butlers and was pushed out of the cafe, screaming and yelling all the way out.
"The girl isn't interested, so leave it at that or leave!" I sternly said, right before he left the door.
I looked behind me to find a bunch of the girls in the cafe smiling at me. My tea was on the table. I walked to it and took one sip, payed for it along with a few extra bills to pay for the broken glass and stormed for the door. I left and started to walk hastly down the sidewalk. From the corner of my eye, I could see the butlers of the cafe smirking at me. I really wanted to leave not realizing I was capable of making such a bold move.
"Wait!" I heard. I turned around to find a tall man running after me.
"Y-yes?"
"What's your name?"
"Tsukiya Rin." I replied.
"Here," The man handed me his business card.
"...Aikawa Riku."
"I'm the manager and owner of Doki Cafe. I saw what happened."
"I'm sorry for causing trouble. About the glass, I left money to replace it."
He chuckled. "Don't worry about the glass. You helped out one of my workers. What you did was pretty amazing."
"Thank you."
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Um, 17."
"...You looking for a part time job by any chance?"
"Uh...yes but-"
"How about working at Doki?"