CHAPTER 2

When I entered the lunch room at work, I saw Elma sitting near to Miss Kobayashi. Elma was eating miso soup and Miss Kobayashi had eggs and noodles. Being the shy individual I am, I did not want to go up to them. I felt like I would be disturbing them from their conversation so I went to have lunch at an empty table. I was always happy when I found an empty table because it would mean I don't have to make awkward small talk.

I was savouring the donuts I had picked up at the coffee shop that morning. As I began downing it with some coffee, I heard a voice call out to me.

"Nai-san. Here here!"

I turned around and looked to the furthest corner of the medium-sized lunch room where I saw Elma waving to me. I began to feel a little uneasy since she had drawn so much attention to me but I gathered up the courage to go over to the table where she and Kobayashi were sitting.

"Hi Elma and Kobyashi"

"Hi Nai-san. Oh Kobayashi-san, this is Nai-san. She works in HR."

Kobayashi stretched out her hand when Elma had finished introducing me to her. I shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you Kobayashi-san" I said. This was the first time I had ever talked to Kobayashi. I didn't have much friends in the work-place. Because of my shy personality, the others assumed I was unapproachable. I might be quiet but I was no snob. I help out my colleagues whenever I can but that's just office work. I can't remember the last time I had a friendly conversation with someone at the office until now. Kobayashi, Elma and I sat talking for nearly twenty minutes. Kobayashi wasn't much of a talker but she did tell us about Kanna. She said Kanna was a relative she was looking after. She mentioned how the child was well-behaved and excelled in athletics. I didn't had anything interesting to add to the conversation. Maybe that's why I had no friends. I just nodded along and smiled. But every time Elma smiled or said anything, it was difficult not to blush. Even when she mentioned something about a new food outlet, I had found her every word to be interesting. I loved how Kobayashi might tease her every now and then about being a foodie, and she would get all worked up and blush like crazy. Kobayashi and Elma seemed like good friends. It was as if they had known each other for years. I felt a little "out-of-place" in the conversation.

"So Kobayashi-san, I heard that there will be a local food festival this weekend. Wanna tag along and bring Tohru and Kanna too?" Elma said.

"So-sorry Elma. I have plans with Tohru this weekend. I can't make it but maybe next time."

Elma frowned for a second. Then she looked at me. "What about you Nai-san? Are food festivals your thing?"

"Uh-yeah. I like food. I hardly go out though…But I'd love to go to the food festival with you, if you don't mind." As I spoke those words, my heart thudded in my chest.

"Really? Well it's a date. Saturday let's meet up and go." Her aqua blue eyes seemed to smile. In that moment I felt like I would do anything this woman asked me to, just to see those eyes light up. Why was I feeling so happy that Elma asked me? Maybe it was because she was being so friendly to me, I told myself.

The day I was most nervous about came. Yes, today Elma and I would go to a food festival. I haven't been to one since I my college days. I normally spend my weekends at home, resting and watching anime.

I straightened my hair. I couldn't find a good outfit to wear. I tried on a dozen shirts, jeans and dresses until I settled for a simple white shirt and denim jeans. I straightened my hair which I hadn't done since I was a teenager. I always wore my hair in a ponytail but for some reason, I wanted to look different tonight. I put on a pair of dangly earrings and put some light make-up on. I hardly ever did these things.

I glanced at my white wrist watch. I had fifteen minutes to meet Elma.

As I approached the gates of the event, my jaw nearly dropped at the sight of Elma Joui in a sky blue yukata. It had a neat purple ribbon at the front. She was not wearing her glasses. Her eyes seemed to shine in the dark evening. The purple streaks in her hair seemed to glow in the moonlight. Although there were hundreds of people at the festival, it seemed like the only people there were Elma and I. I found myself staring at her as I approached her at the entrance. I was entirely captivated by her appearance. She looked divine, like some being worth of praise and respect. She did have this authoritative air about her but she was easy to tease too. I found it endearing how she'd get all worked up when Kobayashi playfully teased her.

I finally approached her though I hoped she hadn't caught me staring.

"Ha-Hi Elma! That yukata really suits you. I'm sorry. If I knew you were wearing one…"

"You have nothing to say sorry for Nai-san. You look…different. I mean you look pretty. Let's get going shall we?"

"Ye-yes." I said nervously. My hands got clammy. Did she just call me 'pretty'?

Upon entrance my eyes were unable to take in all of the sights that welcomed Elma and I. There were stalls, street vendors, costumes, everything that was common at a festival. At the stalls, all types of foods lined the table. The area looked like a rainbow of color and culture not to mention the beautiful flags that lined the roof. The area was unrecognizable from its usually boring brown colours to this lively colourful place. The smell of food was beginning to make my mouth water. I glanced at Elma who had some drool on her chin. She saw me looking at her.

"Uh Elma… I think there's something…wait"

I reached for a tissue in my canvas tote bag and gently wiped away the drool on her chin. The hand I used was still shaking after I had done so. Now both of us were blushing. My heart raced. I thought I might have collapsed after touching Elma. I felt weak in my knees but I distracted myself by looking at the delicious wok stands.

"Hey they have takoyaki!" I felt Elma grab me by the arm and pulled me across the lane to a takoyaki vendor. For a woman who looked like she could be in her late 20s or early 30s, she was rather strong. I was even surprised that my own two legs were able to walk as quickly as she dragged me along. It felt like we were there in a minute!

"Was Elma superhuman?" I thought.

"We'll have a box. Actually make that two boxes" She shouted.

The host smiled and handed Elma two boxes of hot takoyaki. She gave me one.

"No I couldn't." I told her.

"Consider this a repayment for the day you bought me ice cream."

I accepted the box. "You didn't have to Elma."

"Now where shall we go next?" Elma said as she joyfully ate her takoyaki.

"This is good" I told her as I savoured the exotic flavours. It was unlike anything I had tasted before.

"Maybe I should come to food festivals more often" I thought. I was glad Elma had invited me. We spent some more hours visiting the food stalls back and forth. Elma had even won a bunch of sweets at this competition where you had to put your hand in a ton of sweets and see how much you can pull out, with just one hand. Elma pulled out a great deal. The little girls and boys at the stand were bewildered. She shared some of her sweets with them and gave me some too. At the time, I was unsure if I felt envy or adoration for her.

"I can't believe so much time has passed. We had fun didn't we Nai-san?"

"Sure did, Elma. And it's just Nai. You don't need to call me Nai-san. We're friends ok?"

"Ok Nai….speaking of friends, I wanted to give you this for being so friendly to me. I am glad you could have come with me today."

She placed a charm in my hand. My heart skipped a beat as I felt her fingers touch the inside of my palm.

"It's a friendship charm. I made this for you."

The charm was made of hard wood. It was shaped like two interlocking rings but they were not rings. The rings were actually donuts and had blue die on them for its icing. It read "I donut know what I'd do without chu"

"Oh my Elma this is so beautiful. I love it. Thank you!" My eyes were beginning to water. No one had ever given me anything handmade before. Her present, how simple, was something I'll always cherish.

"Is something wrong Nai-san? I mean Nai"

I felt embarrassed because she probably saw me on the verge of tears.

"No-no I'm ok. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah."

We made more small talk on the way home about the weather and the festival. I had not felt this way in quite a while. I felt…happy.

A thought came, one that saddened me. What if I hadn't helped Elma pick out an ice-cream flavour that day? What drew me to her in the first place? It was unlike me to do something so spontaneous. My mind was boggled by these questions as Elma and I walked to our apartment complexes. Have I fallen head over heels for this woman?