Too much time on my hands. Second chapter. I'm seriously thinking how I'm going to develop the story... Doing my best!

CCS is not mine. I just randomly thought of Happy Willow. If a restaurant with this name somehow exists, it's not mine. I repeat, Yue and Nakuru are speaking in Japanese. An italicized conversation means it's in English.

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They talked about random things. Well, she talked anyway. She told him about how people in England were good to her apart from some nasty resto-people, she calls them, who would not allow her to enter because of her pet cat. "I mean they didn't even give Suppi a chance! He never causes trouble to anybody. He's a sweet little cat. Oh that's a bit ironic because he's kinda allergic to sweets. So maybe he did cause an uproar once or twice or well. But it's not his fault. One time a kid shove a bar of chocolate into his mouth and he got all berserk when ... Oh by the way. He's name is Suppi but I guess you know that already."

She was too talkative and he wondered what came over him to make him decide to go with her.

He nodded.

"Here hold him." She shoved the cat into his chest and he instinctively grabbed him. He had a pet cat at home so he knows how to handle them but this one really stares at him.

"The cat hates me."

Nakuru laughed. "He hates everybody. He's antisocial but he's a good cat. He ignored me for a while you know because I called him Suppi. His real name is Spinel by the way. My father named him. He never liked being called Suppi. I'm hoping he'd get used to it by now."

"Why Suppi then?" the cat suddenly struggled out of his hands and jumped to Nakuru's head hissing at him. "The cat just hates me."

"He's still not used to other people calling him Suppi. Oh, okay. Call him Spinel. He'll be satisfied."

"Come here Spinel." He stretched his hand to reach the cat's chin and stoked it until it purred and calmed down. He pulled it out of the girl's head and continued to scratch its head. That cat looked satisfied.

"Hey, you handled that well."

"I have a cat in Japan too." He found himself thinking that conversing with her was easy.

"Really? What's his name?"

"Cerberus."

"Why would you name a cat like that? I'll call him Kero-chan!"

"Why Suppi anyway?" He was staring at the cat who was finally friends with him because instead of glaring, the cat was smiling at him. The girl's craziness is rubbing in on him. Why would a cat's glare bother him so much?

"I dunno. I suddenly thought of it and it sounded cute." She noticed her looking at him again with that really bright smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just found another reason to like you."

"Why is it that you say those things easily?"

"Because if I don't say it, you won't know." Somehow, he saw the point in her words but he still gets uneasy about her straightforwardness. They just met an hour ago! He was actually talking to some stranger or better yet to a girl who suddenly confessed to him out of the blue! He had too much time in his hands . Maybe he just welcomed the distraction.

Oh no!" And then, she suddenly pulled him by the wrist so he carried the cat who was also startled on his other arm. They were running really fast in his opinion until they turned on a corner where she suddenly stopped. "That was close."

"What is going on?" he was looking at her suspiciously.

"It was my editor. My deadline's tomorrow and I'm out of ideas so see, I'm sort of running away from her. I'm a cartoonist and I know I'm giving my editor a hard time but I just can't give them anything right now."

"So this is why you're out wandering around?"

"Yeah. Well, you can't just force one person to write you know? I'm all out of ideas now and I already told them I'll give them what they want tomorrow evening anyway. I still have a lot of hours. Geez, I told them to relax already."

"You're supposed to report to them aren't you?"

"Hmpf. Like I said. I told them to relax already. It's a Sunday anyway. And I have an appointment today." she wrapped her arms around his free arm.

He sighed. "I don't remember setting an appointment with you."

"Shame on you. You owe me a date!"

"There is no getting away with you. Let's eat first. It's past lunch time. Tell me why you are grinning."

"Nothing." Then she rested her head on her arms. He wasn't in the mood to argue.

She led him to a small crowded restaurant nearby called Happy Willow where everybody seems to know her. The moment they entered, she shouted her greeting enthusiastically and everybody responded including the customers. The cat suddenly jumped and sat on a comfy-looking pillow on one corner which was undoubtedly made for him if his satisfied expression was any indication about it. Nakuru led Yue to an empty seat just beside the glass window and a friendly-looking waiter came and gave them the menu.

"Good afternoon my dear Nakuru! How's your day? Finished with your homework yet?"

"Oh not you too. I'm telling you, I'm going to make it on time! Now how about you bring us the usual." And she returned the menu smiling sweetly at this waiter and it got him pissed for no reason he looked away.

"And who's this? Is this your boyfriend?"

He was busying himself looking at an empty street outside the window but he was curious as to how she would introduce him.

"Well. I don't know. It's kind of complicated." He heard her say. Yue smirked. When did things complicate like this? This morning he had a meeting then he went back to his apartment only to go out because he got bored and then everything got so random when a certain crazy girl suddenly approached him.

"That's a shame. And I was hoping I'd have my chance on you."

"I'm sorry to break your heart but you'll find someone better than me."

"I'm afraid there's no one better than you sweetheart."

"Oh yes. I guess that's true but you'll find some good girl around."

He was getting irritated by this flirting by the second. "We'll have our order please." He interrupted.

"Oops. I think I got your prince angry," he winked. "My deepest apologies sir. On my way." And he walked to the counter.

"What?" He saw Nakuru looking at him smiling widely.

"Jealous already? But don't worry about him. We like to play around. I've already decided on you."

He swears this girl is driving him crazy! He knew nothing about being jealous especially to some girl who was still technically a stranger but he…

His thoughts were interrupted when Nakuru suddenly sat beside him and wrapped her arms around his again with her head on his shoulder. Everybody seemed to look at them at that instant like they were a picture of some romantic couple. He decided to give up resisting. In a short period of time, he was already getting used to her clinging.

The food came. Nakuru was trying to feed him but he just glared at her which was of course useless but she gave up anyway and pouted before eating. He found out Nakuru sometimes worked part-time here if she was not busy with her actual work which was a lot of time because she doesn't like the stress, and that's why Spinel, he decided the name was better, was more than welcome here. People finished with their meal would go towards them to greet Nakuru and tell him to take good care of their cheerful little friend. Some even threatened him if he hurts her. They were not even in a relationship but it was too troublesome to argue so let it be.

When they were done, Nakuru bid goodbye to the people around in her usual cheery loud voice and Spinel who also had his meal jumped back in her arms.

They were walking with no particular destination in mind when a group of three young children who look around six to seven years old suddenly went running towards them.

"Nakuru!"

And they crowded Nakuru who sat down immediately to meet their eyes. "Oh hey Elizabeth, Samuel, Edward. You were on an errand?"

A little boy with orange hair replied, "Yes and we're on our way back. Please come with us!" And then the other two chorused on the last phrase.

"Of course I'll go with you. Hey I want you to meet a new friend. His name is Yue."

"Hello Mister Yue." All three kids were politely bowing at him. He nodded. Then suddenly, a girl with blond pigtails screamed and pointed at him. "It's the prince! He really looks like that prince you told us about!" Yue was puzzled.

"Doesn't he? Told you he's real. We should get going now. Mr. Flint must be waiting for the groceries."

"Oh yeah. Hello Suppi!" The cat from Nakuru's arm hissed at the fat brown-haired kid who tried to get the cat out of Nakuru's arms. "Oh right! But you're fine when Nakuru calls you that! Meanie cat!" And with lack of results from his attempts he gave in. "Spinel come here!" The boy tried again and the cat obliged. That cat has some issues.

They were walking to wherever the kids live. The children were playing with Spinel who was a little annoyed by the noise and the kids' attention but he was behaving himself. Yue and Nakuru were behind them.

"What prince?"

"I told them I had a dream about a silver-haired prince coming for me."

He didn't know what to think of that.


Okay, so I confess. I'm struggling with my own plot because I change my mind too often. Now I have only a vague idea of the big picture I was talking about. Oh, but I'm going to finish what I started. I'm still polishing my writing skills.

I feel glad I can post my ideas here! Happy days!