Shelf #005

Today was at last a morning wake-up call to Kuu, as if he had woken up from his dream and faced reality all over again. These past few days had really been like a dream to him, and seemed so real– which it definitely was alright. . . and now was a day that he felt everything had gone back to normal. But somewhere in the corner of his heart, something was definitely missing. He didn't knew exactly what it was, but he was very sure it felt kind of empty to him. Was it because of the magic that had finally worn off? How he wished the magic was still there. . . . Or maybe it won't be back again. . . .

Kuu and his employee Martin were co-existing inside the bookshop, Random Walk Co. An annoying, familiar customer entered. This person was Mr. Smith. A tall, bald, lanky guy in his early forties.

"Hi. Do you have any books by Dickens?" he asked. He never looked Kuu straight in the eye, because his eyes were all travelling from one side to the other, up and down. Those big goggly eyes moving around almost in circles were annoyingly creepy. Just so creepy.

Of all the things that were in here, he could have just scanned the entire area and looked for it. The obvious sections throughout the shop were in big and bold letters, giving him answers already. Plus they were all arranged in alphabetical order. Kuu just heaved a little sigh. How many times did he ever told the same thing all over again to this guy? Had he not been on this shop already, for more than five times in every other week? Hard to admit it, but this guy was the only one of the very few customers that they have.

"Right through the hallway on the left is the Fiction section," Kuu replied, pointing his hand to the left. Mr. Smith followed and saw the hallway at the end of the shop. "Everything is right in there. Just look for the titles you want. They're all arranged in alphabetical order."

Amazed by the availability and the chills of having all the titles by the genius writer, Mr. Smith nodded and quickly walked past the counter and to the hallway. Kuu was back on the monitor and busy arranging the titles of new arrival books on the computer, when after a few minutes Mr. Smith was back on the counter again. He held a 'Great Expectations' book. Kuu looked up, aware of his presence. He slightly raised an unobvious eyebrow, looking at the cover in his hand. Yes he only picked one. Why so, they actually had all the titles. Surely he never wanted to get any of those? 'Our Mutual Friend'? 'David Copperfield' or 'Bleak House'? 'Dombey and Son' perhaps?

"Okay," Kuu said, smiling as he took the book. He almost began the transaction when Mr. Smith suddenly leaned on the counter.

"Wait– how about that new John Grisham thriller?" he asked, his eyes wide in anticipation. Kuu blinked. Please don't let those eyes grew any bigger than that! And not so fucking near please!

"Uh– that's. . . a novel too, right? 'The Racketeer'–?"

Mr. Smith nodded.

"–um was also at the same section–– sir. . . at. . . shelf, 'T'," Kuu said. Mr. Smith shot back through the hallway. Kuu then put back the book on the counter, never minding to start it first, just in case the man wanted to get more. Kuu so wished he would take more, because that would absolutely help the sales rise a bit. He went back again to the computer when, just as his fingers touched the keyboard, Mr. Smith appeared again. Kuu jumped to a loud slam of a book.

"–Right. Have you got 'Winnie the Pooh'?" he asked.

"Damn he scared the shit out of me! Does he have to do that all the fucking time?!' Kuu's pissed voice at the back of his mind thundered. 'I mean, can't he just get all those crap of books first before he gets here? Not one hell after another!'

He sighed and paused for a bit. . . pressed a button near the register and spoke.

"Martin––? Your customer."

"Yes," Martin's voice said on the speaker.

And quick footsteps echoed on a staircase near the entrance. Martin showed up near the counter, smiling at Mr. Smith.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

Kuu walked out of the counter, sweeping past the two and he went straight to the large, glass window near the door, to the spot where the small table with the new arrival copies of books were. The same spot where he stood dazed right after Julie's first ever visit on this bookshop. He wanted to get a breather here, just freely letting out a bit of steam of annoyance that wanted to rise inside Kuu. He fixed a few books on the small table, placing others open and let it stand in fashion. He looked up. At that moment, the entire window was suddenly taken up by the huge side of a Kyoto bus, obscuring the morning light–– and entirely covered with the portrait of Julienna–– from her new film, 'Tsukigomori'. Her gorgeous face looking up, staring warmly beneath the bright moon above her. It gleamed white through her sparkling bottle green eyes. The silky, shining waves of her golden hair flowed behind her, as if gentle breeze blew across her.

Kuu stared at that portrait and his eyes glued to her as the bus left. Yes, he admitted he was still mesmerized by her enchanting beauty, her gentleness. . . and the soft tone of her voice, filled with so much warmth that melted his heart and soul. No woman has ever captured him whole, only Julie. . . Would they really see each other again? She was so famous, busy with her life than he does with his bookshop. That promise might never become a promise then, he assured himself of that other possibility. But still, he couldn't suppress the lingering hope that completely filled his heart. He really wanted to see her again. He looked forward to that meeting. She even asked him that very same thing. He knew she too also wanted to see him again. Just that alone made his heart skip a beat in joy. She wanted him. . . It felt right on that kiss. . . . Damn. . It was hard to forget her. He can't forget her. . . Her breathtaking smile. . . The tight, loving touch of her warm embrace, the softness of her lips. . . The sinking depth of her sparkling, bottle green eyes staring so lovingly at him. Her golden, wavy hair. . . Everything. . . Just everything about her. . He wanted all of it again. . All to himself. . . Was this such a big, selfish goal? But this was just his honest wish. Because he love her. . . He has fallen for her. . . His mind was completely full of this woman. His voice seeking so much for her.

'Julie. . . .'

Deep inside his heart, he believed he couldn't ever deny that it was not goodbye. He still couldn't forget her.

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