Trickle

Ultra Maniac

A/N – Yo! I'm back from Japan, and I'm using my new account already, Whimsical Gentleman. Well anyway. I had a fun time there. I resorted to everything related with udon. God. We went to Kyoto, but stayed at Kansai, Osaka the whole time. We also went to Universal Studio Japan, and experienced the wonderful joy of public bath (That is so gay). Well, I wouldn't blabber about my vacation (maybe next time, I suppose), but here I am, inspired with Chapter II of Trickle. Please read!

Oh yeah. Japanese girls are way cute. They were the reasons why I even planned a conspiracy to intentionally lose my passport so I couldn't go back here to the Philippines. Just kidding. Chow! Enjoy this chapter. 

Chapter II

Friendly Strangers

Definitely, after some time, I couldn't just remain twenty-four seven the whole time at the lakeside. I did thought though I could. I just had to face the fact in the end a simple body of water was not enough company for me. True, nature could be your best friend, but I see nothing of a best friend when I look at my reflection. Just fools me. As if the same lake accompanying me was tormenting me the same time, the calming movements of its current; but at the same time that glare of my own face foolishly staring back at me…

It soon led me to the decision to move away then, and for me, it was a miserable thing to decide on, since I didn't know where to stop by next. It felt like I belong to nowhere. Maybe everyone had felt that kind of feeling already, only thing is that the factors that made everyone feel lost differs.

The urban streets were nearing, and for every step I take the cacophonic noise startled to bustle more boisterously. My instincts probably suggested I dressed differently among others. Well, I was in a dress a dozen of people would address to as most formal or that kind of gown you would wear in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I don't know with them. Maybe they're just giving my look too much attention I suppose.

"I'll be at Mimi's Locket, Ayu. I still have part-time there so just drop by if you're done with this silly charades of yours…"

Kaji told me. Well, recollecting that, he obviously expected me to go Mimi's Locket in the end for some kind of human support, not rotting beside the lakeside he would logically deduce. It was all the time he knew always what would be my reaction, what would I say, what would I complain about. Its either way he's a psychology genius, or unfortunately maybe because I'm a banal girl who could be easily predicted by men like him… I don't know. All I could think of is that as long as its Kaji I'd be happy to let him predict my actions, no matter how stupid and clumsy they are.

I started to walk briskly, and I regretted I didn't bring an umbrella or my leather trench coat at least. What I noticed was that it was getting a bit dark and cloudy, even in the daily mid-afternoon weather everyday. My clothing really didn't suit well with the mildly cold air, and that bit touch of wind made me slightly shiver. All it brought was a resigned sigh and nothing more, that same ounce of helplessness rushing through myself again.

I arrive at that avenue finally, Bench Fork Avenue, as it was named literally because the park benches formed a fork shape that also designed that certain walkway. It started to drizzle, God's grace showered abundant as I saw a tree for temporary roof. Again, my mother popped out again, as I remembered, she was too careful for me not to get a fever or even the slightest cold or my temperature decimals up than thirty-seven Celsius, she would persistently send me vitamin C, a mish mash of differently colored pills and chewable Flintstone tablets, and loads and loads of more. I wished it all happened again.

The drizzle progressed stronger to the point it was considered already as rain, and the wind colder. I changed my mind about being idle under the tree. I walked out and let myself get wet, thinking my mom would send me pills or vitamins still, probably medicine from heaven, I thought sickly…

Own feet wandered again. It took me long enough to see I was alone walking boldly under the rain, just beside me a commotion of cars bundling up traffic as water deluged and flooded. "Go to Mimi's Locket"

It wasn't Kaji's order, it was mine. Well, at least a certain side of my own self. That certain part of Ayu was forcing me to make a left turn in that corner I was facing just now. And I did make a left turn. What met me was a cemented wall of a building with a broken window with dirt-showered glass. This was usually the landmark that symbolized I was near Mimi's Locket. Well, frankly at least that I could remember always when searching for the café hideout. It was one of those little places you didn't expect you'd find at the shabby narrow back streets. It was raining, and mud puddles that ominously spilled on my feet were found on the badly cemented floor. But aside the grubby urban setting there was that distant but true smell of perfume-like scent of coffee, tea, and cinnamon, or the head-turner music of slow rock bustling the laid-back mood of that paradise lounge just near the place where I was standing at a halt.

I faced that old descending wooden stairs, only accommodating one person at a time when climbing down due to the narrowness of the stairway. It looked almost like fossil, for me. Haggardly I walked to the stairway, at one step a sound of a very scary creak wound be audible. I looked at my watch while doing so – just about quarter to seven – That was good timing… Kaji still worked there. I reached the door, and I peeked first behind the colored glass.

There was Kaji. I smiled sparsely as I saw him. He looked awesome in his candid way of serving a variation of people. He was in his usual hair, brown hair pushback, and in the official and stylish Mimi's Locket uniform, which comprised of a purple suit and tie. From what it seemed he looked like making coffee, and he looked like enjoying it.

In advance, I opened the door and chimes clattered with each other gently. If you were to observe the place outside it looked a lot brighter than the impression if you step in finally. In certainty, the place was rather dark. It made you feel like those times you lived in the medieval ages, just like as if candles were strung on the ceiling to keep light barely glowing for visibility in the room.

The café smelled like coffee potpourri with its strong flavored scent it made your senses slurry. Fashionably disarranged was the term and excuse for the chaotically placed furniture, as if a cyclone had just gone wild inside Mimi's Locket. There were only a few people inside. Logically, who would want to get involved with dark alleys and reach this little hideout, unless they would desire for good-looking and kind café tenders, I guess.

Kaji eyed me as he heard the chimes, solely getting finished giving the platter of chorizos and a cup of steaming coffee to one of the customers, just behind the counter with grotesque buntings. He smiled, his eyes shone as the dim light pounded on his irises, "Good evening ma'am, how may I help you?"

Tsk. Now he's pretending Ayu Tateishi didn't exist in his life, for guaranteed and I strictly believed was a joke, otherwise I might have got a comatose right now. I sat down the tall chair, resting my arms on the counter, facing Kaji himself, giving him back a faint smile, "Mimi's Brew, minus the sugar," I told him, looking away, casually suggesting we didn't even know each other,

"Miss, it's rather bitter without the sugar,"

I rolled up my eyes to have a look at him, and a grim chuckle escaped my mouth, "Well, no such difference compared to me."

"And you look dreadful being bitter, pardon me for saying that," replied Kaji, heaving a little sigh, starting to make my coffee. He glanced again at me, demonstrating mock observation scanning over my all-black attire, "Did you just go to a funeral, if you don't mine me asking, Miss—"

Kaji stopped, and I was thinking why is that. Oh yeah, 'He doesn't know me yet'. God. Get a life, I thought. I smirked sullenly, "Ayu Tateishi. Oh! And wow, how did you know I went to a funeral?" I asked in an obviously fake surprised tone,

He shrugged when I looked at him, "You looked like it, also with what you wear, all-black really gives you the impression hell just visited you here." I could hear the hot coffee being poured on my cup, and the instant smell of it comforted my nostrils, "You remind me of someone I met earlier though, just a couple of hours ago."

I took my cup; having a sideward glance at it I quietly gave praise to their silverware. The coffee was delicious, well, only to me perhaps, as the totality of sugar in the steaming beverage was zero. "Yeah?" I replied,

"Yeah, a really close friend of mine actually. I found her secluded beside a lake, moping about her dead mother and this so-called foolishness she sees it as some big fat monster." Kaji told me; in that personally foreign voice he was as if detesting what he had said, "I tried helping her, trying to convince her she got friends here so there's nothing to worry about, but she really isn't giving herself a chance to bend. It's annoying, somehow. Not realizing how stubborn a woman can be after so many years you had known her."

"But perhaps it was too much of a shock…" I reasoned out,

He grinned, and he looked good as he smiled in the hazy lighting, "That's what she said too. You know, you're really like her."

I laughed a little. I didn't expect Kaji would be so serious with this playing-around that we were strangers to each other. "Because maybe that girl you were referring to and me are just the same person…" I finally suggested,

Kaji shook his head, "No."

"Why so?"

"Because the Ayu Tateishi in front of me is a greater lady than the Ayu Tateishi bawling at the lakeside." I smiled at him. A real smile. "Say what," Kaji cut off my silence, "I'll treat you a cinnamon bun," That made me smile some more. Their cinnamon buns were divine… not to mention expensive, "Don't worry, they wouldn't notice it. Besides, you're one of the few people who immaculately go here regularly. We give you credit."

I was about to reply, when the door chimes echoed again within the room, and that creaking sound that meant someone was going inside. The sounds were too much conspicuous it was hard not to get curious. I had a sideward glance at the person who came in. Surprisingly, it was a woman, a tall woman exactly. She had blonde hair in straight tresses covered her face, and she wore a plum-colored trench coat with a white tank top and an averagely short black skirt with dangling lace frilled all over it. Oh. And Hush Puppies white boots that reached the knees as it gleamed. She had a bearing of a model, "Wow. Does she go here frequently? She could have turned more heads in more popular cafes in town."

"No. It's also the first time for me to see that lady here." Spoke Kaji, but his eyes were like a vulture's over the woman walking towards a table beside the wall.

"Boys." I sighed.

"What? Don't get me wrong! You're more beautiful, don't worry."

I smirked theatrically. "Boys." I repeated again. I sipped my coffee again casually, and Kaji shoved the cinnamon bun on a plate and put it in front of me.

"Here you go, eat it while it's hot, Ayu." He told me, suggesting he had already stopped from pretending they didn't know each other.

"Whaaaat?" I complained, "We're not playing the roles of friendly strangers anymore?" I made puppy dog eyes that made him laugh a little,

"Not anymore, Ayu. After all, I had made my point, right? I'm just happy you're here. I wish though you could have dropped by earlier, since Nina, Yuta, Tsujiai, Maya, all of them were fussing about you, you know. All of them looked so cute trying to find a way to cheer you up while you were gone. They even planned to hire some band and celebrate here without ant permission from my manager. I had to scream just to keep my job safe and intact. I wouldn't want to be the cause of trouble I might end up ruining my reputation here."

"Hehehe." I laughed, and I savored the sweet taste of the cinnamon Kaji gave to me for free. It was good to have close friends working for cafes.

"Tetsushi!" A female voice behind the door leading to the only-for-staff room shouted Kaji's last name, a bit of a commanding voice rather

"Hai." Kaji instantly replied, "I have to jet. Mrs. Chujo is calling me. She hates sluggish people, so I need to rush inside. Ja mata."

I was left sitting, plainly stirring my coffee with the teaspoon. How lonely. I thought to myself. But somehow, I also thought in some way my angst had lifted itself above, something like a lighter burden to carry. I considered the fact I was all alone, if mom died, and she did. Well. I was wrong. I still have Kaji and the rest of the crew. For sure probably no one could replace mother… But everyone said I was brave, then so be it. I'll be brave and valiant. And in spite of my fragile demeanor, by now I would happily— at least try— to move on. I sighed… Maybe I couldn't do that…

Thus my reflective thoughts led me to staring at my coffee. I watched it stir, as well as the steam that wheezed and whirled above it. Maybe I might fail… But trying would be better than doing nothing at all.

I smirked. What a cliché.

"Good evening, dear."

A gentle hand swept my shoulder. Her voice was pretty graceful, more of petite. I looked to see who she was. But before looking, I predicted it was Mrs. Chujo, Kaji's boss. I was incorrect, unfortunately. The lady was smiling, "Can I sit here with you, that is if you feel comfortable with me."

"Oh!" She was the woman in great clothes who entered just a couple of minutes ago, "Please, I really don't mind. In fact, I really want company right now."

"Very well," She sat beside me, and she removed her coat, "Honestly, it's really hot here." She seemed to be in a trance for a while, "Sorry, forgive my manners, I'm Mrs. Seki Kawakami." She grinned again. Mrs.?! I cried mentally to myself as I crowed my eyes at her in a casual way. Would a wide dress up in sleeveless tank tops and a short skirt and really preppy boots. The woman laughed, "I know why you're looking at me like that."

"Oh my god!" I blushed apologetically, "I didn't meant to offe—"

"No, it's okay. I'm already immune to ogling eyes when I inform them I already have a husband, and I'm already in my thirties."

I looked at her in disbelief, "You even talk not so like your age, Mrs. Seki."

"I'll take that as a compliment." She grinned a fabulous grin, "And please just call me S.K. Makes me sound younger, right?" She made me chuckle more. S.K. was an interesting woman, as she made her conversations casually humorous.

"Okay, fine, if you would insist. I'm Ayu Tateishi, by the way."

She looked pleased, and she offered me a shake of hands, "Well, judging from my observations, you seemed pretty close with the café tender." S.K. continued,

"Yup." I told her, and I took a piece of cinnamon. Pretty close, but we were acting like friendly strangers a whole ago.

"You're very lucky you have good-looking friends." She paused, "But I had a weird feeling though, the way you were with him, as you voicelessly talked with him from afar."

"What?"

"Well, pardon me for being quite strange on this, but I have this knack for guessing the thing called expression by looking at one's face." Told S.K. "Yours was happy and at the same time a lot heavy and depressed. As if a person dies, and you retrieve your happiness back just by spending time with a close person— well, in your case, that café tender just back then."

"Wow. How did you know that…"

"It's pretty obvious, you see, with what you wear. It really isn't the season for all-black get-ups, unless you go attend a funeral, or a burial, besides, your face is most expressive." S.K. smiled, and one way or another, the curve of her lips was different compared to the past ones. "It's very fortunate for me to go here, I discovered someone like you."

I stopped drinking my coffee, and eating my cinnamon, "What do you mean by that?"

"Hmmm… Where should I start," she hummed, and she took out her wallet and showed me her I.D. with another dazzling photo. Usually, I.D.s have bad shots of faces, but hers was the exception, "Seki Kawakami also known as S.K., president of Aira modeling agency." She said humbly, without any hint of bragging, "Pleased to meet you."

My eyes widened. I wished Kaji were here just beside me, just in case I ended up falling down from the tall chair I was sitting on, against the counter. My coffee was still, not steaming anymore, probably already cold.

------------------------

A/N – Yo!! Nice Chapter this is!! Hahahaha. I hope the exchange of Ayu's emotions were not too sudden. I did make some proof why Ayu lifted her spirits up. Because of Kaji. He managed to cheer Ayu up. Well, anyway, please review. I think this would be a good start. Oh yeah. There will be a lot of surprises, I promise you. PLEASE REVIEW.