My Dear Parasyte

Chapter 7

Regret or Not to?

After the painfully uncomfortable meeting with Mister Takeshi; Sonia could care less if she ever saw him again. Maybe that statement wasn't entirely true. Mister Takeshi was attractive and so was the guy that looked as if he spent every waking moment in the gym. Could men like them be at all interested in a Plain Jane such as Sonia? Could they possibly have anything in common with her? Still she had tried to initiate a kind relationship and failed miserably. Friday had arrived and Sonia was going about her normal school day. Life always seemed so humdrum for her. She wished for a fraction of the excitement that she read about in novels. On the other hand Sonia was glad that no one had figured about her little book. Otherwise she wouldn't be in line for excitement it would be more like next in line to die. Still there was worry on her mind. Like she had said so many times before it was only a matter of time. Perhaps she should flee the country now while she still could. There was nowhere else on the planet she could hide though so there was no use. This was the daily dilemma in the life of Sonia.

Sonia cracks her knuckles. She had decided to stay in her classroom during the lunch period. Still feeling bluer than usual she opens her bag lunch. No one in the world was more pathetic than she was right now. Sonia would be a liar if she said that meeting with Takeshi hadn't delivered an extra blow of devastation to her self-esteem. She sighs and takes a bite of the sandwich that she packed. It was a turkey sandwich with extra mayo. There is a strong knock on her classroom door.

"Come on in." says Sonia

She has to chew fast in order to swallow before one of her colleague's enter.

"Hello."

Sonia's straightens her posture in surprise. The person now standing in her doorway was none other than Mister Takeshi. Sonia can't seem to bring herself to speak so she ends up just staring at him.

"Miss Sonia Tara?" He asks

Sonia is still so in shock that she can't verbally reply so she instead nods.

"I wanted to come by to thank you for your gift. It was very kind of you." Says Takeshi.

Mister Takeshi now seems like a different person. He is respondent, smiling, and polite. Sonia is completely thrown off by the sudden attitude adjustment. Should she be rude to him? The thought crosses her mind.

"How did you find me?" asks Sonia

She is even more disturbed by the thought of how he could have tracked her down.

"Well you did leave your full name on the gift tag. After all what kind of mayor would I be if I couldn't find one of my special citizens?" he asks smiling.

"Special?" asks Sonia.

"Yes. I wanted to personally invite you to my banquet next week. Please excuse me for the other day. With stress and so many work hours I forgot my manners." He says

"O….okay." responds Sonia.

"I really do enjoy my lamp. Here's my card. I wrote the time and place of the banquet on the back." He says

"I must confess. I am not into politics and I really don't know much about business either." Says Sonia as her cheeks go red.

"This isn't a business call so no need to be nervous. It's only an opportunity for us to get to know each other." Says Mister Takeshi.

"Wow." Says Sonia.

"So will you attend?" he asks.

"I apologize for barging in on you like that. I didn't know you were in a meeting." Says Sonia.

Mister Takeshi waves his hand to dismiss the statement.

"I sometimes get very wrapped up in my work and forget about those most important." He says

"Yeah. I'll come." Says Sonia

"Great then I will see you there." He says

"I still can't believe you came all the way to the school to talk to me. You really didn't have to do that."

"You did the same for me." he says.

After no response from Sonia he smiles again before leaving. Sonia is in such awe that she watches him leave shutting the door softly behind him. Her colleagues were sure to be talking about her now.

Sonia is in no rush to leave at the end of the day. Just as she suspected one of her male colleagues come to stop her in the hallway.

"Did you know that the Mayor our Mayor came in today?" he asks not hiding his excitement.

He might not know the purpose of the visit and Sonia isn't about to spill the beans.

"He did?" asks Sonia pretending to be excited.

She wasn't winning any acting awards but her colleague seems to buy the performance.

"So what did he say?" asks Sonia

"He spoke to Reiko." He says

"What?" Sonia practically shouts.

"Yes apparently he must have his eye on the mystery woman….along with others." He adds.

"What was he talking to her about?" asks Sonia in disbelief.

"I don't know the conversation was pretty hush hush if you know what I mean." He says.

"Not sure that I do." Says Sonia

"Hey. You looked kind of down today. Why don't you come out with me? I am getting together with a few other instructors and painting the town tonight. Are you in?"

"No…sorry I have plans."

"Can't you break them just for tonight? Come on you never come out." He pleads.

"I can't. I really can't. I'm going out with Reiko tonight." Says Sonia

"Say what?"

Her male colleague now stands stunned staring at Sonia in shock.

"She only asked me to go clothes shopping with her." Says Sonia

"Hmmmm…. is that code for something?" he asks.

A little twinkle emerges in his eye and Sonia doesn't like it one bit.

"Are you trying to insinuate something?" asks Sonia bluntly.

"No men have had any luck with her maybe she's really into tuna." He says with a snort.

"I should tell her that you said that!"

"Tell her, any attention from Reiko is good attention. She treats me like part of the wallpaper." He says

Sonia shakes her head and storms away without as much as a goodbye.