"-She doesn't care if he tries to ignore. He runs away, but still she follows. She'll try again, she likes to think that she'll get him in the end! Yeah! Can't you just go somewhere on vacation? I could book your flight and pack your bags, if you want. A one way ticket out of my life, watching you fly away. I never liked you! I never wanted you!"
-Simple Plan: Vacation
No way! This is just too coincidental!
It never occurred to her that she would be seeing him again so soon. Yet, there he was, sitting at the same table in the same place he was in yesterday. Michelle could hardly believe her luck, or her eyes.
It was all so perfect. He was just sitting there, browsing through the menu and oblivious to her presence... and existence. It wasn't his fault, though. The young Chinese girl had tried to make herself lesser known by hiding behind a plastic potted plant in the corner of the shop as she planned her next move, and it was working. She wouldn't lie; she did feel a little like a stalker, watching him from a distance like this, but she hoped in her mind that it would all pay off in the end. For now, she had to think of a way to make a connection.
The boy proved to be even cuter up close and she just couldn't help what she did. She didn't know what came over her, suddenly having a random moment of confidence mixed with stone-hard determination take over her actions. It was the first time that she ever marched up to a complete stranger like that and it was making her palms sweaty and her heart pound like a drum several times louder than usual, the action causing the vibrations of the merciless beatings to travel up and down her bones. It was a miracle that she could even walk straight with her head feeling that light and airy.
However, from the second she said her first line, it all seemed to fall apart before it even really started. He just wouldn't say anything! Not a word. Nothing at all. And the worst part was, she, herself, couldn't stop talking, so it resulted in what Michelle would call 'an utter fuck-up', aka, a complete and total disaster.
She tried desperately to save herself, but she could see that it just wasn't working out right for some reason, especially when she eventually drove him to get up and leave. She was horrified. So much for a 'perfect' start.
What did I do wrong? she asked herself in disappointment as she sat behind the cash register. Today did not go as well as planned. He seemed like such a difficult person to get through to, and frankly, it put her off slightly. But why? Was it something she did? Maybe she came on too strong. Maybe she was talking too much. But if she had kept quiet, wouldn't that be twice as awkward? Although, not many people would really trust strangers so easily like that. But did that just mean that she didn't look trustworthy enough to talk to? But she was being as friendly as she possibly could without having a nervous breakdown! Ughh!
She banged her balled-up fist on the counter out of frustration, scowling a little.
...Maybe it wasn't her at all. Maybe it was him. Maybe he was just shy. No that can't be it, she ruled out that possibility in her head. Shy people don't act the way he does. She could clearly sense a superior air of arrogance and ignorance emitting from him. She was pretty sure he was just ignoring her on purpose.
Maybe he was just a snob. Maybe he knew that he was beautiful and that she had so hopelessly fallen into attraction for him and the reason that he was just waving her off like a pesky housefly was because she wasn't good enough for him. Maybe that was what that was all about...
Michelle leaned over and propped her chin up with her palm, grudgingly blowing some hair out of her face nosily.
"If that's the case..." she muttered under her breath, her determination starting to burn again, six times hotter as before, her self-consciousness and worries drying up faster than a small puddle under the heat of a raging flame. An almost dangerous look glinted in her eyes, and some of the people in the shop were giving her freaked-out glances as she grinned to herself, "I'll just have to try even harder!"
She chuckled to herself, lost in her own world as a parent hastily dragged their staring and pointing toddler away.
...Oh yes. She will get that boy to talk to her, no matter what.
He wasn't there at the coffee shop the next afternoon.
She didn't know where he went, or that he was even out at all in the first place. She tried checking in places close by to where the coffee shop was, but that didn't work out so well. All she achieved was looking like a frantic mother looking for her missing child who had wandered off on his own somewhere when she wasn't looking.
Michelle searched high and low, down streets, up roads, passed buildings, inside of stores. Still nothing. Three hours had passed since she first started and she was slowly starting to lose hope of ever seeing that boy again.
Until...
"...Seriously. There is no fucking way that this is just a coincidence."
On her way back home, hands in her pockets and a deflated frown on her face, it just so happened that she decided to take the longer route home instead of the one she always used. One lucky turn of her head and something white caught her eye in the window of a toy store, communicating to a sales woman. Hm. Hard work pays off in the end, after all.
"Are you certain that the WJK model no. 808 is no longer available?" a disappointed Near sighed softly as he twirled a lock of soft, white hair around his finger.
The sales woman shook her head apologetically and Near had to fight not to keep himself from sighing a second time. Today had been the day he had planned to get that new toy robot that he had so badly wanted. It was the latest model from a series of hot-selling toy figurines and they were selling out like hot cocoa on a cold winter's day. He had spent the whole day going from shop to shop and asking the same question over and over again, only to no avail. It was sold out everywhere. He tried not to sulk. What a disappointment. This day could not possibly get any worse-
"HEY IT'S YOU! I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
-I stand corrected. Freezing on the spot from the sound of that voice- that dreadful, dreadful voice- Near had to grit his teeth together in order to stop himself from ripping out the lock of hair coiled around his fingers.
Please let her not be referring to me. Please let her not be referring to me. Please let her not be referring to me. Please let her not be referring to me. Please let her not be referring to me...
"I knew I would find you if I looked hard enough!" a sparkly-eyed, overjoyed teenage girl joined him by his side, looking like she was full to the brim with happiness. "I've been looking everywhere for you, Angel! And man, it was getting really tiring... oh well. At least it worked!"
Damn it. Damn it all. This has got to be some sort of joke. And whoever planned this ridiculous prank better be prepared to have their sorry posterior ready to be sentenced to a lifetime behind bars, as long as I can help it. Near thought sourly and very slowly turned his head to force himself to double check that this walking nightmare was really there, and it just wasn't his overly bored mind playing tricks on him in the name of twisted entertainment.
When he looked at her, she beamed back brightly and he felt like running out of there as fast as he could.
Did she said that she was looking for me everywhere? What is she? My self-proclaimed stalker? What reasons does she have for tracking me down? I don't even know her name! This is absurd! Utter nonsense.
"Um... sir?" the sales lady spoke up and Near was pulled out of his own thoughts and switched his attention over to her instead. "I'm really sorry for interrupting, but about the WJK robot, if I'm not wrong, the next batch should be arriving to town in about a month or so... or if you're lucky, it should be in slightly earlier. Would that be okay?"
A month? Near sulked to himself on the inside. That sounds so far away...although I suppose it's better than not owning it at all. Next time I'll make sure to be here on time. Tardiness does indeed lead to disasters, doesn't it?
"WJK robot? What's that? A toy?" the girl beside him questioned, blinking at the sales person before turning to look at Near, who already started to walk away.
Of course it's a toy, you imbecile. He pushed the door open with one hand and stepped back outside, closely followed by the persistent stranger. We're inside of a toy store, are we not? What else could they be selling here? This day is not going so well. I better return back home and have another look at those case files.
"Where are you going now? Hey?"
"..."
Shuffle.. shuffle...
"Angel! HEY! Speak to me already!"
"..."
Shuffle... shuffle... shuffle...
"Oh, come on!" She whined, pouting as she stopped a foot and sped up to keep up with his brisk shuffling. "I know you can talk! You were talking to that sales-girl, weren't you? So you're definitely not a mute or something."
Yeah, well-done there, Sherlock Holmes.
Shuffle..shuffle..shuffle..shuffle..shuffle...
"This is stupid!" She cried as he increased his shuffling tenfold, now itching to get away from her as quickly as possible. No duh, Near would have told her if he had wanted to grace her with his gift of speech.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Shuffle... shuf- Stop.
A raised eyebrow and slightly widened eyes which quickly turned into a hard look, Near slowly raised his hand to the side of his head to habitually twist one of his locks while looking straight at the stubborn face of his 'stalker'.
She was standing directly in front of him and blocking his way, arms crossed and legs standing straight and parted confidently as she gave him what he assumed was an 'angry glare', which pretty much looked more like a 'childish pout', in any case.
There was a pregnant silence between them as they both started to stare each other down, daring the other to make a first move.
"..."
"..."
After what seemed like hours into the awkward quietness, the girl finally heaved a defeated sigh and relaxed her stance, arms falling to her sides limply. Near continued twirling his hair wordlessly and watched her. That was the first time she has ever kept silent for so long, he observed, the slightest bit amused as he scanned and studied her expression. Has she finally given up?
"God, what is wrong with you?" she grumbled exasperatedly, putting a hand tentatively to her forehead, her voice almost cracking with stress. "What is wrong with me? Do you have that much of a problem with me that you just refuse to have anything to do with me? Is that it, Angel?"
Near averted his eyes uncomfortably at the sound of the nickname she chose for him, but looked back at her with the same stony face he had on all of the time in the next second. He still didn't get why she kept calling him that, and it both bothered him and intrigued him at the same time.
...She really looks put out. He thought as she loosely hugged herself around the waist with tired arms and glanced to the side with a sad face. He felt himself soften the tiniest amount. As... much as I hate to admit it, no one has really put in that much work into trying to get acquainted with me before... she doesn't even have a valid reason to. Surely... on some levels her efforts must be commendable...?
He caught himself half-way and looked to the side as well, hand slipping from his hair. No. I can't think that. Just because... just because I feel sorry for her, doesn't mean I have to give in and surrender to this childish game of hers. It's not good. I can't let myself think that way or I'll... I'll...
...
...Emotions are useless, the quick reminder surfaced to his brain, cutting all other thoughts into two. They do nothing but blur judgment and cause illogical decisions. I don't need this. I just have to turn around now and start walking-
"My name..." He raised his eyes to meet her gaze when she started to speak again, but this time in a softer voice that didn't bother Near as much as it did before. She looked at him to make sure that he was paying attention as she bit her lip softly and started again to finish her belated introduction, "..My name... is Michelle. Michelle Chua."
He stared at her in shock, tensing slightly at her simple words. Near was pretty sure that this particular girl... was either very, very, stupid or just too trustful. What is she thinking? Giving her name out like that to a stranger so quickly? Hasn't she heard the news about Kira? Giving her name out like that would be considered as good as asking someone to stick a knife in her chest!
Unless that wasn't her real name and she was lying? His brain countered quickly and he was set into contemplative mode. In fact, what are the chances that this girl might even be an accomplice of Kira himself? L stated long ago that 'Light Yagami' is most definitely Kira, and his points and verbal evidences seem to suggest that as well, but what is stopping him from making more allies? For all I know, this girl might be one of them. It's not that unlikely... but then again, L has made sure that my identity is concealed from Light Yagami, so he couldn't have possibly known that I am involved in the case from behind the scenes as well...
"Hey, umm... is it okay if you tell me your name, too?"
...she's asking for my name! That makes her sound quite suspicious, if not even more so than before. Could I be speculating and rashly jumping into conclusions, however? What if she just only wants to know my name to simply get more acquainted? ...What should I do? Actually, what kind of question is that? Why DO I have to get acquainted with the likes of her? She's so pesky! A better question would be, why am I just standing here like a buffoon and not walking off already?
Michelle tensed as he turned away from her for what seemed like the hundredth time without answering her question, and her shoulders slumped down when he started taking the first steps in the other direction. He was leaving.
She fought not to let her emotions bring her down, the mass disappointment threatening to cause her downcast brown eyes to water up slightly. She knew she was being silly, and she did feel unreasonable and even a little annoyed with herself. It wasn't everyday that she teared up over a matter so small. Then again, it wasn't everyday that I wanted to get to know someone so damn badly, either. Geez. I am such a fucking drama-mama. It's as if I'm letting my whole life walk away from me, right before my very eyes. Ridiculous! Tch. What the hell was I doing, anyway? I just can't FORCE people into becoming my friends like that! She reasoned, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.
Now that I think about it, it was almost a bit creepy... okay, I admit, I was being super fucking creepy. And what did I expect? He knows he's too good for me... and I guess I know that too... a boy like him shouldn't even be seen with a girl like me. This is sad... why am I beating myself up over this? I should stop feeling sorry for myself. Sober up, Michelle! Life goes on, right? I'll just have to find someone more in my league, that's all!
With that thought in her head, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans and smiled wryly at the white retreating back in front of her, trying not to be too upset.
"...Goodbye, Angel," she whispered just loud enough for him to catch and was about to go off her own way as well when the sound of shuffling stopped abruptly.
"Fourteen."
Michelle whipped around immediately. What?
"...h-huh...?"
Slowly, he looked over his shoulder with a look that seemed to stop her breathing. His dark, doll-like eyes seemed to be grabbing her by the throat and wrapping their gaze around it and squeezing so very tightly like some kind of vicious serpent.
"...Fourteen," he repeated firmly.
"Y-you're speaking!" Michelle squeaked when she finally realized where that voice came from and raised a finger to point at him, unable to think or do anything else.
HE'S NOT MUTE AFTER ALL, I KNEW IT! I KNEEEEEW IT! HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME, THAT'S ALL! THAT BRAT! OH MY GOD, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE MORE PISSED OR HAPPY! I SHOULD SMACK HIM OR HUG HIM...OR BOTH! YEEEEeeess... but that would be rude. C-calm yourself, you stupid motherfucker. And speak! Don't be a damn moron! You've been doing that enough for the past few days!
He nodded but said nothing else, observing as Michelle tried not to look as if God had descended from the heavens, riding a golden, glowing unicorn to deliver her a bouquet of heaven-brand roses himself.
"W-why..?"
He shrugged.
"...are you going to say anything else?"
She was confused. She was even more confused when he shook his head- no- and repeated the only word he ever said to her again.
"Fourteen."
"...what?"
Fourteen WHAT? HE ISN'T MAKING SENSE! Is he indicating my age or something? Or is he telling me his? But why the fuck would he do that? ...He's really weird. Seriously. Like not just his looks, his attitude too. Honestly speaking, I have never met a kid with such a punk-ass, pain in the butt personality before- but... you know what? I kind of... like it... at the same time, for some reason. I just thought he would've been... nicer, you know? like how angels are SUPPOSED to be... or imagined to be. But.. but this is fine! This is great!
His voice sounds so gooooddd... even if he's just saying 'fourteen, fourteen' over and over again. He sounds so young. Yet his tone is low and hushed, and mellowed out. It's whisper-y and so smooth sounding and- fuck. I'M BEING CREEPY AGAIN!
After giving herself a punch in the face or two mentally, she tried her best to smile normally at him, and he blinked blankly.
When she opened her mouth to say something else, she was cut off by the sharp, beeping sound of an alarm going off on her digital wrist watch, signally that it was time to go. Again.
"...WHAAAT? IT'S ALREADY SO LATE? DAMN IT! NOT AGAIN!" Michelle gawked at the time and slapped a hand to her forehead at her carelessness. She was going to have to hear Rod preach about her tardiness again, for the seventy-second time.
"I-I'm sorry we have to leave things like this, Angel, but I have to get back to work... I'm late again! Er, I'll see you around somewhere, yeah? Don't look for me, I'll look for you! CIAO!"
He tilted his head side-ways at the rush she was in but said nothing as she ran off with a big smile stretching her face, even though she knew she was going to be in trouble when she got back. It felt good and she was letting it take control.
TRIUMPH! Bwuhahahaha!