My Dear Parasyte

Chapter 3

Just Curiosity

Takeshi Hirokawa. Where had Sonia heard that name before? It sounded vaguely familiar. Had she heard it on the radio or had she seen him on television? His face didn't look too familiar so that couldn't be it. This riddle was going to drive her crazy if she didn't figure it out. Sonia thinks that maybe she could ask someone tomorrow as she unlocks her front door and enters her home. She couldn't be sure that your typical stranger would know the name but if she asked about the book, "Indifferent Love" everyone and their mother knew about that. Sonia sighs as she turns on the water in the tub to prepare for a nice hot bubble bath. As she undresses she mulls over the idea of getting a pet because she was really starting to feel very alone. It was also a plus because if she got a dog it could alert her to any unwanted visitor showing up at her door. That was just an idea though. Sonia slips into the hot bath resting her throbbing head against the back of it. After a long soak she turns down the bed and goes to the kitchen to have one last cup of tea. She switches on the small television set on the counter and sits on a stool to watch. The latest news is on. Sonia didn't follow current events and wasn't at all into politics so none of this interested her much. She massages her temples with her hands. Most of the pain in her head had subsided so the bath helped a lot.

Her eyes wander to the front of her fridge which is empty except for random magnets that she had gotten over time. There wasn't even pictures not one. God her life was sad. Sonia frowns as she pours herself a cup of Jasmine Tea. She almost stopped buying this kind because it was the same as her pen name. Paranoia almost got the best of her making her think people would put two and two together. The logical response was that anyone could buy the tea that didn't mean anything so Sonia continued.

"Recently elected Mayor, Takeshi Hiroawa has put a protection plan in order to protect the local forests." Says TV Reporter#1

Sonia almost spills the tea from her teacup in her rush to get to the television set. There on the television is the same man she saw in the park. He is making a speech about the efforts that he will put forth. She is in total awe as she stares at the screen. His speech is brief then it cuts back to the first reporter.

"That's a leaf up for all the environmentalist. Back to you Jill." Says Reporter #1

"Thank you Ryan. Officials recently declined comments when asked about a slew of murders on the East side of town." Says Reporter #2

Sonia turns off the set not wanting to hear any more senseless babble about harm the parasites were doing. They were doing harm that's true enough but no one really knew any facts about their species. It was more disturbing that no one tried to find out. They just wanted to blow them all to hell and we called ourselves the civilized race. Yeah Sonia was convinced, not!

Why was the mayor out just sitting in the park? Well he was a person too so he had the right to do what he wanted. She can only imagine how tough his days must be so he was probably out enjoying the peace and quiet. She was sort of excited. The mayor was an important person. Had she known it was him at the time she would have asked more questions. He might not have liked that though if he went to the park to be alone. Would she see him again and if she did what would she say? Sonia decides to stop thinking about it before her headache starts up again. Then she washes out her teacup in the sink and goes to bed. Everything needed to be tidy. Messy things was one of Sonia's pet peeves along with rudeness, and bad breath. Soon Sonia falls asleep. Tomorrow was a new day right?

Sonia wakes up later than she intended on Sunday but she couldn't have intended much since she didn't set an alarm. She gets dressed in her workout gear right away and leaves her home for a run. By the time she makes it to the park on her route her watch says that it's 11:30am. Damn, she cursed herself for not planning ahead now the sun was out and it was going to be a long hot run. Running through the park on a Sunday at almost noon she sees all sorts of people. There's a man walking his dog and picking up poop with a baggie, a woman on her cellphone yelling, and little kids playing a game of tag. It was nice to get out and see other people. Even if it was in passing it made her feel less alone. There was no sign of the mayor and Sonia didn't expect there to be. He was working yesterday and that was Saturday so he was most likely working today too because his job was probably very demanding. He didn't come off as the corrupt type so it wasn't like he was sitting in a recliner while everyone else did his work for him. Actually to be quite honest he seemed rather blank. On the news he spoke with purpose anyone could tell he believed in what he preached but he was different that night on the park bench. Maybe his brain was fried.

What if she went to visit him at his office? Sonia smiles during her run. She would never have the balls to do that. Even if she did scrape up the courage to go what reason would she have to be there? It's not like she was just going to walk into his office and say, "hey wanna go on a date?" That would be too embarrassing and not to mention forward. There was no telling how he would react. What if he was already interested in someone? He clearly didn't seem to have trouble turning a woman away. What if he didn't find her attractive? She had beauty but she wasn't the most confident.