After the double glass doors slid open, Claire and I stepped out of the building where we worked. A gust of dusty air blew past us as I looked around. I stared at the cars moving and waiting for the traffic lights to change. I stared at the tall trees that stood on sidewalks to give some shade and fresh air. I stared at my favorite hotdog stand, where Mr. Kelly had just given a hotdog on a bun to some gangster guy.

"What are you standing there for?" Claire asked, but I ignored her for a moment.

I still couldn't believe that I'm really back. I really am back, aren't I? I could breath the dusty city air. I could hear the city noises. I could even feel the harsh noon sun!

"Jay?"

Finally, I blinked and looked at her frowning yet gorgeous face.

"Something wrong?"

"Not..." I slowly said, looking back, and through the glass, I saw Mike sweet talking to the woman behind the information booth. "...sure..." I breathed out as I noticed a few of our coworkers were walking towards us to go out and eat lunch.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I shook my head and sighed with a small smile. "Nah, nothing..." I turned to her. "Eh, lead the way, I guess?"

She blinked, and studied my expression with concerned eyes. "You're...um...acting weird..." she said as she moved closer to me, to give way to those who just went out of the building. "If you do anything funny, I'm calling the cops," she said with a slight glare.

I arched an eyebrow. "Where'd that come from?" I closed my eyes and slightly shook my head. "Eh... I guess I'm hungrier than I thought I was..."

She tilted her head slightly, but then nodded. "Well, that's good." She turned and stared at some restaurant not too far from where we were. "I may be new to the company, but I'm not new to this city!" She looked back to me as she pointed at the restaurant. "That there's a good place to eat! Good food and price, too."

I nodded, and tried to feel my wallet through my jeans. The Next payday is next week, if my estimation is correct. Hope I have enough cash left... "Sure," I said as I turned to the road, just in time to see the pedestrian light turned green. "After you, then," I said with a small smile.

She nodded and led the way, though it wasn't really needed. We still don't know each other that much, so walking side-by-side would be awkward, to me at least. That, and I could steal a glance at her ass.

...what? I'm a guy! So it's natural for us to do these things.

Anyway, normally, I'd do that, but as I followed her, I was also looking around, staring at the parked cars, taxis, and other vehicles, shops and stores and restaus and other establishments around.

I don't really know. I should really be happy to be back, but at the same time, I also find it hard to believe that I'm back.

...or maybe the thing I find hard to believe was that I went to a new world, leaving my world frozen in time until I returned.

...or maybe, just maybe...I'm trying to spot a creature, or three, with a yellow, purple, or brown furs...

"Here we are!" Claire's voice broke my train of thought.

I turned and saw her grabbing the door handle, and pushed the glass door open.

I mentally slapped myself for letting her open the door. Minus points for being a gentleman, Jay. Damn, I'm having a bad start already...

The place is well-lit. Not too much, and not too dim. Wall was dark blue, I think, and the tables here looked not so classy, with plain maroon table clothes. Chairs were black and looked like they're made of metal.

There were a few diners as well. Hm... I guess they're called lunchers? Eh... Anyway, it's not really a fancy restaurant where some waiter or whatever the guy is called, who stands by the door and escorts you to your table. Nah, here, there were already cooked meals at the counter to my left, behind clean and transparent glass. I guess this is one of those self-service Asian restaus? Anyway, the food there were steaming as I followed Claire.

As she looked at the various food, I already took a tray.

"What will you be having?" she asked without breaking her eyes off of the different food.

I shrugged. "Something cheap that won't put a hole in my wallet." ...I should probably try not to sound too...uncaring?

She looked at me with a frown. "I told you that I'm treating you to lunch, right?"

...oh yeah. I forgot. I just smiled, shrugged, and play it cool. "Oi, what kind of a guy would I be if I'll let you pay for everything?"

She frowned even further. "A guy who almost lost his job because of my screw up."

There she goes again. I rolled my eyes and slightly shook my head, and stared at the food, or to be more specific, at the food's price tags. Huh, food here's cheap. "Aaand I told you not to worry yourself about that, didn't I?"

"But still, I—"

"Can you two lovebirds get a move on?" said a very familiar voice behind us.

I gulped, and suddenly found it hard to turn, yet I still did, and saw the boss boringly staring at the both of us. I smiled nervously as I tiptoed to the side, Claire did as well. "A-after you, boss!"

"We're not in the office," he said, taking a step forward and stared at the food. "So don't call me that."

I blinked. Weird to see him so calm and not caring like this. Then again, maybe he's just different depending on where he is. Some people are like that, right?

Here, he acts like he doesn't even know who we are. He just made his order, the two middle-aged females behind the counter prepared his food and placed them on his tray, and off he goes to a table by the corner, his eyes glued on a television screen that I just noticed.

Claire stared at him for a few moments before staring back at me. I just shrugged and ordered rice and chicken curry. Claire ordered some veggie salad. Sheesh, females and their dieting habits.

Anyway, I led her to a table, a few tables away from our not-our-boss-at-the-moment boss. I held my tray on one arm and pulled a chair for her with the other. She rolled her eyes, but smiled nevertheless. Score points! After she sat down, I went to my seat and we quietly, and awkwardly began eating. Awkward for me, at least. I was always eating lunch with Mike and a bunch of other dudes in some fast food restaurant. Here though, I'll have to properly hold the silverware while I eat. Y'know, for more plus points. At least the curry taste good.

"Jay?"

"Hm?" couldn't give much of an answer if I'm chewing.

"I'm sorry again for what happened," she said, staring at her salad. "I know, I know... I apologize too much, but I couldn't help it." She looked at me with a sad frown. "I really felt bad about it."

I shrugged as I swallowed. "Eh, it's fine, really." I was already getting tired of saying that answer again and again. Hm... Eh, screw it. "At least I ended up having a lunch date with a cute girl like you."

"Har har," came her smiling answer. "You boys are all the same."

I shrugged. "Can't blame me for trying to steer the conversation to other roads."

She frowned at that. "If it ticks you off if I apologize too much, then I'm n—"

"Oi, oi, oi," I said, stopping her. "I never said that. I get it that you felt bad about what happened and all, but, please, when I say it's okay, it's really okay," I smiled, "okay?"

She took a breath, and nodded. "Okay."

I nodded and then returned to my meal. "Sorry for interrupting you though."

"We're switching places now?" she smiled and ate.

I rolled my eyes. "Hahah."

And we were quiet as we ate. I have to admit, I'm quite surprised how composed and calm I am. I mentally shrugged. But anyway, this silence is a bit uncomfortable, and even though I'm usually the quiet one, I need to say something to break this silence.

"So," I began, "how's work so far?" It's better than saying that the weather today's nice.

She focused on her meal as she thought about it. "My first week wasn't really that exciting."

I believe this week's her second week. Anyway, I smirked. "I doubt any week will be."

"How do you manage?"

I shrugged. "Eh, by listening to music as I do my work. Though that method backfired a couple of times. I erm...couldn't hear if other pipz are calling me, especially the boss."

She frowned at me. "What's the purpose of Skype, then?"

I shrugged again. "Eh, I didn't question it."

"Oh," was her only reply before she went back to eating. At least, for a minute or two. "How long have you been working there?"

"Hm..." I paused from my meal to think about it. "Dunno... Two years and a few months, maybe? I lost count." I suddenly felt a heavy hand pat my shoulder. I looked back, and froze in the middle of the process.

"Food's on me, kid," said our boss, and then leaned closer and whispered to my ear. "Nice catch, by the way." Strange that despite my frozen state, I could actually feel his smirk as he said those lines.

"Eh heh heh heh..." I chuckled nervously as he walked towards the counter. I turned back to Claire. "Phew... Well, that was weird."

"What just happened?" she asked, staring at the boss.

"He...just paid for our meal." I guess he really is a different person outside the office. Wait...how'd he ate so fast?

Claire seemed shocked to hear what I just said. She waited for the boss to leave before turning to me. "R-really?"

I have no idea... I turned to the counter, raised a hand with a thumb's up and with an arch eyebrow, and the ladies there smiled and nodded back. I turned back to Claire. "Yeah, really."

"Weird."

"Tell me about it," I chuckled.

She chuckled as well. "Lunch suddenly tastes better."

I smirked. "Free food always taste better."

She chuckled, and then we went back to eating. After a few moments though, "hey," she said, "just curious, but are you um...s-seeing someone?"

...and there it was.

Weird how the times have changed over the years. Before, it was the males who ask the females out. Not that I'm complaining.

Anyway, I couldn't help but smile shyly as I suddenly found my almost empty plate to be the most interesting thing to stare at. Can't blame me for suddenly feeling nervous. "Er...no... None..." ...Vixie doesn't count. "...at the moment..." I slowly stared back at her. She was also looking at her salad. "H-how about you?"

"Well...no." She slightly shook her head and looked up at me with a shy smile. "What are you looking for in a girl, anyway?"

I shrugged. "Simple, and cute. Loyal could be an added bonus. I guess..." I swallowed, and shouted 'f*ck it' in my head. "...someone like you."

Her reddened cheeks reminded me of Vixie though. Strange, even I don't know why.

Anyway, we were quiet for a long while until I took a glance at my wrist watch. I almost let out a gasp. Lunch time was almost over. "Okay, I'll be frank," since time's a-wasting already. "I like you. I started liking you on your first day, while you were introducing yourself to everyone. I don't understand it, but no other girl made me feel this...spark...and...um..." ...and my tongue got tied...darn it.

Whether I blew it or not, it's up to her. At least I told her how I felt towards her, right? If she turns me down, then at least I wouldn't feel so bad...I hope. Anyway...reality calls.

"Anyway," I slowly and awkwardly stood up, my legs suddenly felt weak and shaky. "Lunch time's almost over."

"Oh!" she said as I quickly walked behind her to pull her chair as she stood up. "T-thanks." She shyly said. We then slowly and quietly walked towards the door, her following me from behind. "Can I um...have your number?"

...goal! I couldn't stop myself from smiling. Too hard to hide it and play calm though, but I managed it, thankfully. I turned around as I pulled my phone out. "S-sure!" Bottling my excitement failed. Whatever. "Why not?"

She smiles with reddened cheeks as she pulls her phone out from her small bag, and then started pushing some buttons. "Also, c-can we go out for dinner tonight?"

...really, really weird times now, the girls are asking the guys out. Aw, what the heck. "Su—" I stopped myself, surprised, after I saw my phone...

Author's Note: I had a difficult time writing the ending part. Lost count how many times I revised it. That, and I also waited for April Fool's to be over.