Dreams

Chapter 3: Len Kagamine

"Len, your supervisor is looking for you."

He gulped and looked anxiously at his colleague. It must be about some complaints from his clients.

"Don't tell me that woman really reported against me," he mumbled and groaned. "But I was just doing my job."

"People love to complaint these days. It can't be help though. Good luck then," his colleague said and dismissed himself.

Len got up from the bench and threw his empty paper cup away into the bin. He headed towards his superior's office and knocked on the door with a slight hesitation.

"Come in."

Len opened the door and immediately bowed to his supervisor.

"Goo... Good afternoon, Sir."

"Kagamine," his supervisor spoke in a serious tone as he took out an envelope from his drawer. "There is something I want to tell you."

Len gulped again. The supervisor handed the envelope to him and he stared at it with huge terrified eyes. He looked back at his supervisor and noticed his face became more serious than before.

"I received a call from one of your client this morning..."

"I'm sorry, Sir!" Len interrupted and went down onto his knees. "I should have allowed her to smoke. I should not have taken away her cigarette. I promise I won't do it again. Please don't fire me!"

Len lowered his head and waited for his supervisor to speak. He was so afraid of being fired because this was the only job he could apply for with his current qualification. Furthermore, he could not let his mother down too.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm very, very sorry! I promise I will be more lenient with my clients. I will allow them to smoke in my car..."

"Kagamine, just what are you..."

"Sir, please don't fire me!" Len put his palms together and held them there in the air.

The supervisor stared at him in disbelief and shook his head.

"Look up, Kagamine. I say, look up."

Len looked up.

"Kagamine, that letter contains..."

"Please don't fire me..."

His superior frowned and interrupted him, "Shut up, young man. If you keep on blabbering nonsenses to me, I will fire you... for real."

Len finally remained quiet and looked at him with huge trembling eyes. The middle-aged man gave him a smile and pointed at the letter.

He began, "This is your salary of this month, including your bonus."

Len was stunned for a moment and finally lowered his head again to thank him.

"Furthermore, a female client of yours personally came down to see me this morning," he continued. "She likes your good service and honest attitude. She even wanted to pay for her cab fee which was not paid last night."

"So... did she?"

"She did, but don't worry. She has told me the whole story."

Len could feel blood draining from his poor head. What did she tell his superior? Fortunately, it did not seem that bad at all. Maybe that client did praise him for good! He heaved a sigh of relief. If he were to meet her again by coincidence just like the day before, he would definitely thank her and return her a cigarette. The latter would only be applicable if possible.

"Kagamine, do remember that smoking is not allowed in the cab. Don't ever let your passengers smoke inside, so do you. There will be weekly car inspections too."

"Yes, Sir."

Maybe she did not.

-:-:-:-

Len opened the front door of his old apartment and was immediately greeted by his ill mother who was sitting in the living room watching some television programmes. His mother was already in her late fifties and had heart problems. She could not go to work like she used to when she was still young and healthy. It could be helped anyway. Len had decided to work and support the family in her place.

"Len, you're early today," his mother spoke in a weak voice.

Len smiled warmly and said, "My supervisor told me to rest for tonight and this weekend. He said that I have worked hard and needed a break. I do think I need a break too."

He stretched his tensioned arm muscles and let out a soft moan. His mother chuckled and switched off the television.

"I guess it is my turn to work hard too since my dear son is not working for the next two days. I am going to bake your favourite banana cake and orange puddings."

"Mum, you don't have to."

"But my son has been working very hard for my medical bills."

"It's okay, Mum. I can buy..."

His mother shot him a glare and interjected, "So, you hate my banana cakes and orange puddings. Fine! I am going to make them for myself to eat!"

That made Len guilty and embarrassed. Of course, he loved his mother's banana cakes and puddings. He had not been eating them ever since he started working as a cab driver and missed them dearly.

"I guess... I don't mind at all," he said and scratched his head awkwardly. "If only you don't hurt and stress yourself too much."

She grinned in satisfaction and walked into the small kitchen. Len shook his head and walked into his room. He lay on his bed and stared into space. It had really been a long time since he had the time to idle around as if time and money was not as important as his dreams. However, he had longed forgo his dreams three years ago.

Suddenly, his handphone rang and he picked it up lazily.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Len! It's me, Kaito."

Len's eyes widened and he immediately sat up. He brought the handphone closer to his ear and smiled happily.

"Kaito, how are you? It has been weeks since we last contacted each other!" Len sounded really excited and that made his friend laugh.

"I'm fine. What about you? Is your boss making your life difficult for you?"

"Of course, I'm fine and my superiors treat me very good. They have even given me a short break for today and this weekend."

"Good for you, dude. My exams will be next month so I will be very busy for the next few weeks."

"Good luck, Kaito. I'm sure that you can do it."

There was a small pause before his friend continued.

"Hey, are you free tonight? Do you want to hang out together like we used to?"

Len raised his eyebrows and asked, "Aren't you busy?"

"Just for tonight, Len. I can start my revision tomorrow."

He thought for awhile before he replied, "Sure. I'm free tonight."

"Oh, really? That's great! I will introduce a few friends of mine to you. You will definitely like them. And yes, Meiko will be there."

Len's face nearly fell. He knew that crazy woman who liked to pull his little ponytail all the time when they were both studying in high school in the past. He shivered at the thought of losing his hair just from her hard pull.

"There is a girl I want you to meet too. You know... I... kind of..."

"Okay, I get it," Len interrupted and smirked. "You have a thing for her."

"How... how do you know?" Kaito shouted and blushed heavily.

Len chuckled. "Who do you think I am, dude? Am I like a stupid friend who doesn't even know what his buddy is thinking? You're too obvious, Kaito. So, have you taken a step forward with her?"

"Hmm... what do you mean?"

"Have you asked her out? Or have the both of you started dating a long time ago?"

Len could hear him click his tongue. Then, his dear friend started laughing after much hesitation.

"Actually, I haven't asked her out yet and she doesn't know my feelings either. I... I'm such a slow person. Ha!"

Len smacked his own forehead and sighed. He knew Kaito was a shy person and had problems expressing his feelings to the person he liked. Kaito used to like a girl in high school and had tried to get close to her by any possible means like helping her in her homework and walking home with her. Unfortunately, the saddest part was that he had never gotten the chance to confess his feelings to her due to his shy personality and the girl was taken away by someone else.

"So, I will meet you and your friends tonight. Where is the place?"

-:-:-:-

Those dresses were beautiful. Those idols looked resplendent in them as they walked down the aisle in a confident manner. The frills, colourful beads, ribbons and flowers had never failed to intrigue him since young and he would always stare at those dresses in admiration, instead of the idols.

He clutched onto his new sketch book tightly and continued to stare ahead in awe. He wished he was the one who create those clothes. He wished he would be the one who would probably start a new trend or fashion in the near future.

'Knock!'

He took out a pencil and began sketching a dress on his sketch book. He wanted the dress to have a huge ribbon at the side of the waist area, a red artificial rose with colourful beads as leaves in between the collars and short frills at the hem of the dress. He knew that if a girl were to wear it, she would definitely look like an adorable fairy.

'Knock! Knock!'

Len jerked and looked up. He stared blankly at his friend who was standing outside his car and knocking the rear panel. After realising that he had been daydreaming in his vehicle for a long time, he immediately put his sketch book aside and got out of the car.

"Len, why were you staring blankly at your sketch book? I have been calling you," Kaito said and narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't tell me that you are still thinking of the past."

Len bit his lips and looked down. "I... wasn't."

"Len," Kaito's voice softened as he placed his hand on his shoulder. "That sketch book is already old and tattered. I thought that you had given up on it... I mean, you dream."

"I did," Len muttered. "I have happened to clear my things in my cupboard just now and found this old sketch book of mine. I just want to look back what I have drawn in the past. I... I'm so sorry that I have lost track of time while waiting for you."

Kaito sighed deeply and shook his head.

Holding his friend's wrist, he carefully dragged him away and said in a soft voice, "It's okay, dude. I was the one who was actually late. Let's go and meet Meiko and the others. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun tonight."

Len looked at the back of Kaito speechlessly as his dear friend continued to drag him into a strange looking store. It was more of a karaoke stand to him though. When they entered into the store, Kaito told the receptionist his karaoke room number and headed into the room with Len tagging behind. Len had never been to this type of places before so his eyes were wide opened and scanning around with mouth agaped like a small child.

"We're here," Kaito interrupted Len's new discovery as he opened the door to his reserved room. "Guys, please meet an old friend of mine. His name is Len Kagamine."

Len saw a few huge pairs of eyes staring up at him. He inhaled deeply and finally picked up a lot of courage just to give all of them a wave with a small grin on his sweaty face. Of course, he was scared and uncomfortable. Why weren't those people saying anything besides staring at him?

"Hi... I mean, hel... hello? Nice... to meet... ah... you," he stammered and let out a sheepish laugh, hoping someone would respond to his awkward introduction.

Someone did respond to him but it was not what he had expected when he heard a gasp, then followed by a loud crash. Everyone in the room, including Len, turned to the direction where the source of noises came from.

"Rin, are you all right?" a brunette whom Len recognised as Meiko spoke to a female blonde whose glass was shattered on the granite floor.

The blonde stood up abruptly and stared at Len in horror. Not only that, her face was painted scarlet red. Len gulped anxiously.

What had he gotten himself into again?

Hi guys, thanks for reading up to Chapter 3.

Next, I would like to thank those who had reviewed Chapter 2. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D

Here are the reviewers:

- YellowFluffiesForever22
- Happiness Sunshine and Gum
- 12domba
- Gruesome Deaths
- seraphim.159

Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story.

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