Under the Same Roof - Chapter Six
By: Moments of Insanity
Date : 19 August 2007
Revised Date :
Disclaimer: not mine
Author's note: English is not my first language. I had to try my best to tackle the horrible English grammar. If you see any blatant mistake Please review, and drop a note. Also Constructive criticism will be most appreciated.
This is a "nothing-much" happens fiction, as in no enemies, no conspiracy, just a scribble about two ordinary people learning to live together.
Well, I have nothing to say, except I'm really sorry about this delay. I'm not a very good writer; I don't follow deadlines at all!
Hands, Zale reflected, are curious extensions of the body. There are so many nerve endings in the hand that it tingles when you hold something foreign which is warm and soft. He also decided that holding hands was definitely different from shaking hand; it was an intimate gesture. To hold a hand was definitely different from giving a hug; it was, like a direct connection to another person, to fully be conscious of the other person.
Zale also concluded rather glumly and embarrassedly that his hands were too sensitive. It seemed his hand had memorized the soft texture of her palm to the calluses on her fingertips, and had relay the information clearly to his brain; His mind was still replaying the moment his hand took hers.
Zale could feel the return of burning sensation in his ears, and for once in his life, he wished he had misplaced his hair tie so that he could hide his ears under his messy mope of hair. He also hoped desperately that Ami would not notice his sweaty hands.
Hence it was to his relieve and regret when they reached the cozy Italian shop next to a park. He let go of her hand and immediately felt a sense of loss. He politely pulled out a chair for her before seating. With haste, he quickly picked up the menu to hide his flaming face.
After several minutes, a delicate hand crept over the edge of the menu and gently tugged it down. "What are you having?" Ami asked, though her eyes seem to ask another question.
Zale quickly pulled his menu up, and pretended to look while he tried to still his thumping heart. How could one touch throw him off equilibrium so easily? "grilled chicken breast with pesto linguine," he blurted out his favorite dish in this café, in a rather squeaky voice. He coughed again and repeated his answer.
"Is that good?" Ami asked politely, while Zale thanked the high heavens that Ami did not take away his menu. Then he realized to his mortification that there was only one menu. He quickly surrendered his menu to his lunch mate.
"One of my favorites," Zale replied while adding sheepishly, "I haven't explored the rest of the menu yet." Ami nodded while still reading the menu. Feeling the easy silence between the two, the tension he felt before slowly drained away. As he waited for Ami to order, he began to doodle on the paper placemat.
Minutes later, Ami leaned over and with a small exclamation that startled Zale out of his reverie. He looked at the doodle he drawn and again felt the blood rush to his face. The doodle which started as a problem solving exercise for the office had morphed into an observation of his lunch mate. Blue biro finely drew the strands of her hair that was left messy after the trek through the winter wind. They framed the gentle curves of her cheek and neck before leaving the page.
"You are really good artist," Ami observed with a hint of respect in her voice, crunching her nose to make a face, "is my hair that messy?" her hand ran though her hair to try to restore some sort of order. Ami continued, oblivious of her lunch mate's embarrassment, "my father is also an artist."
Zale looked at her silently; they never talked about their respective family before. Zale simply accepted that as children of broken family it was not the most comfortable subject to talk about. He coughed and signaled a waiter to place their order.
"He is an amature artist," Ami clarified, after both placed their order.
"Where is he now?"
"In Harvard, he is a visiting professor for the oncology department. That is where my mom will be going after her conference in Christmas." At Zale's stunned silence, "I grew up without my father. Mom brought me up; it can't be helped. Mom could not give up her post in the private hospital, nor could father give up his research post."
She smiled wryly at him, "they are still very much in love. My father would call every day just to chat. It was they just have very different goals." She took out her purse and opened it to reveal a photo. It was a family portrait taken at a graduation. A dark-haired man with a shy smile stood next to Ami and her mother. "I am not surprise that you looked stunned; majority of my friends thought my parents are divorced. In fact Usagi was profusely apologizing when my father came to my graduation."
"In fact, this is the only photo I have of him together as a family. He is extremely camera shy," Ami explained, beaming with pride, her palm supporting her cheek as eyes twinkle with mirth at memories with her father.
"You love him?" Zale asked softly, suddenly feeling very resentful. He also felt alone as the common ground between them was suddenly gone.
"Ami?" Suddenly a voice interrupted the conversation. Zale turned to see a tall man with messy brown hair in smart shirt wearing a black apron which was the uniform of the café. He was holding two plates of steaming food.
"Mister Hibiki!" a smile bloomed on Ami's face. She quickly stood up to greet a man with messy brown hair and a gentle smile. "I haven't seen you for a long time!"
The man in question groaned mockingly. "The name is Ken, Ami, Ken. I have known you for at least 8 years now, so please call me Ken. And please sit down. No need to get up." Ken replied, he was holding their dishes. "Let me put these down before you give me a hug," he winked flirtingly. "Though I'm not sure if lover boy here would mind," Ken joked as he placed the dishes on the place mat.
"Don't be silly," Ami sat back down and admonished, "if Ryo hear this, he wouldn't be that happy. Zale, this is Ken Hibiki, he's a high school friend. He went to Hokkaido to study. Ken, meet Zale, he is my flat mate."
Ken arched his eyebrow curiously and frowned slightly before offering a friendly smile at Zale. "Any friend of Ami is my friend. Too bad I don't own this place, or I would have given you a discount."
"So why are you here?" Ami asked curiously. "Are you back for good?"
"I am now studying in Tokyo," Ken shrugged as he set down the dishes. "I am still at college."
"I thought you've graduated."
"Degree. Yes. However, I am doing my Masters right now," Ken said proudly with a beaming smile. "I want to continue studying though. So I am looking into getting a doctorate." He paused a bit. "So how's Makoto?" He tried to ask casually, the carefree grin lost some of its spark.
"The usual," Ami replied.
"Happy?" There was an undertone of yearning in his voice.
"Yes." Ami paused hesitatingly, she wanted to continue but Ken beat her to it.
"Don't worry about it."
"Why don't you contact her?"
"It is just difficult." Ken shrugged, looking away to signal the end of the conversation.
Ami, who sensed his reluctance, changed the subject. "What about Ryo? Has he finished his course in Hokkaido?" She asked eagerly.
Ken paused awhile before he answered flippantly. "Oh, he's fine. He graduated last year; That bum has been busy with life."
"I haven't heard from him for a long time already." Ami admitted rather dejectedly. "I don't seem to be able to find him. But then I've been busy with school as well."
Ken gave her a measured look and said, "Maybe we should meet up to talk a bit more." At Ami's protest, he bent down and tapped her nose playfully, "your food is going to get cold you know. And your lunch date is probably getting bored with us." He took a paper from his pocket and scribbled a note his number and an address on it. "Meet me at the Rouge; the address is here. I will be working there on Christmas day. Give me a call if you can't find it."
She cast a look at Zale before saying with a small frown, "can we change the date?"
"Ryo would be there," Ken said in a clip tone. "You have to come," his voice soften as he cajoled her, "you don't have to stay for a long time."
Straightening up, Ken gave Zale a look before saying seriously, "Ami is like a little sister to me, hopefully she is not going to be a handful. Enjoy your food." He turned and gave Zale a friendly pet on the shoulder. Leaving Zale confused with his choice of words.
Okay, I am getting better in publishing I think, atleast this time is less then a year between installments. Again this had been in my computer for a while refusing to write itself, the dialogues seems to be quite awkward. Anyway, a great thank you to all who reviewed.
The usually note : Please read and review. And please drop notes where my grammar had gone drastically wrong and suggestions where I could improve.