CURSE COFFEE MACHINE
"Akira, a short black."
"Akira, long black please."
"Akira, I want hot chocolate."
"Akira, hot water."
Another day, same old routine. I should've been used to it by now, since it'd almost been a week since I came to live in this mansion, occupied by the Kitsune mafia boss and his underlings, but there were still some days I was surprised out of my wits. Luckily, today wasn't one of them.
Before going to class, I had to make sure all their drinks were made; otherwise there would be boo-hoo-hoo for the rest of the day, mainly from Sakuragi and Kaede, complaining they couldn't work until they had my magic potion, aka, my coffee.
But anyway, I felt so refreshed today. I'd finish all my chores and now was sitting contentedly in the lecture hall, writing down notes on Professor Takumi lesson.
His voice boomed and boomed; I was sure half the student population must have gone deaf already. But I didn't care about this. I was in my own world. I hardly had days when I could relax easily. So, I was taking it all in, enjoying the time I had left before that Kitsune mafia boss interrupt me again.
Last week, when he called me at three in the morning just to make him one small cup of flat white, I'd ended up with panda eyes the size of golf balls. I had to wear sunglasses the whole day. Thankfully, my friend Koshino didn't see me in that attire.
Speaking of Koshino, he was pleasantly sitting beside me, jotting down notes, too. I wasn't even sure when he'd arrived. He seemed to just appear in my peripheral, sometimes.
"Akira," he called.
I swirled around to face him, giving him my lazy smile.
Koshino is a good friend. I always teased him about not having a girlfriend hanging around his neck. He always teased me that I'm a gay because not having a girlfriend either. Even though many girls like me.
"Kosh, what is it?" I asked, seeing that frown again. These last few weeks, Koshino seemed to always appear before me with a frown. "You're frowning again. Stop. It makes you look old, Kosh. And you know girls in college don't like guys who're wrinkled." I pressed my thumb on this forehead to smooth it.
"Your hair still fell down, Akira. What's give? I thought you really like when your hair spike." Koshino asked instead, ignoring my advice and removing my thumb from his forehead, only to grasp it between his fingers. "And where were you Friday? I called over at your house, but it was locked up. I tried calling your phone, but you didn't pick up, either."
I cringed and thought back on my sad, sorry life. I didn't have the heart to tell him my house had been put into foreclosure. Kaede had taken possession of it and wouldn't let me live there. I had to stay at his mansion in my closet room until the three million had been paid off.
"I moved," I told him cheerfully, extracting my thumb from his grasp. "Somewhere closer to the university. Sorry for not telling you. It was hectic with the move."
"You should have called me. I could have come over to help." Koshino held an expression that clearly showed he was hurt.
"Ah, so sorry. Don't be upset." I hurriedly pacified him. "It was a very quick decision. I didn't mean to let it slide. I just forgot, that's all. I was going to, seriously."
"You don't have to look all flustered." He chuckled. "I was only teasing. Haven't we been friends since high school."
"Yeah, of course," I said.
"So, give me your new address." Koshino asking with smiling on his face.
What? No. No. I couldn't give him that mafia boss address. Kitsune will kill me. Also, I couldn't let Koshino know I was up and over my eyeballs in Dad debt. So, I lied.
"What? No. No, I don't think it's a good idea."
"Is it your dad? I know he doesn't like you hanging out with me. He thought we're gay couple, right?" Then, Koshino laughed.
"No, of course not."
"Then your sister, Ayumi."
I shook my head. "No. Not Dad. Not Ayumi. They don't live with me."
"Where are they now? You mean to tell me you live alone?" A startled look crossed his face.
"Oh, no. I don't live alone." I tried to pacify him. "You see, I'm boarding. Dad and Ayumi..." Sorry, Kosh, but I have to lie to you. "They moved, too. But since they live so far from the university, I thought I'd board somewhere closer, since I have longer to study compared to Ayumi."
"So, give me your address, then. I'll keep you company."
"No. It's my landlord, you see. I live with him. He won't be too happy if I give his address to some stranger," I whispered, turning back just in time to see Professor Takumi pointing to the balance sheet again.
"I'm your friend, Akira, not some stranger." He turned to me around to face him again. "I'm sure the old geezer won't mind."
I almost laughed when Koshino called Kaede an old geezer. Even I'd thought he was an old man in the beginning. If only Koshino could see Kaede now, I was sure he would choke on his words.
"Not to me, Kosh, but to him you are." I pointed out, trying to keep a straight face.
"Look. I just want to know if you're living in a safe neighborhood. You don't know, Akira. You're too nice with people's."
"I know, Kosh." I smiled at him, patting his hand like a good friend would. "If you want to see me, just text me. I'll meet you in town."
"Yeah. That'll be cool." Koshino smiled stiffly.
"Yeah. Cool." I turned back to Prof. Takumi lecture, but I noticed Koshino was still staring at my face. "What is it, Kosh? Something on my face?"
"No. Nothing." He continued with his task.
"Hey, Kosh. Want to have lunch at this new Korean restaurant that just opened up across the street? I have another class to attend, but we could meet--"
Buzz. Buzz.
My phone vibrated in my jeans pocket. I gestured for Koshino to give me a second and flipped my phone on. My eyeballs almost popped out.
Boss: Aki, I want my coffee. Get here as soon as possible or else...
Kitsune, you ass! How dare you interrupt my tranquil time when I'm busy studying? Oh, I was so tempted to tell him off. So I did.
Akira: Get there ASAP or else what?
"Akira, who texted you?"
"Ah?" I looked up to see Koshino face.
"Who texted you?" Koshino repeated his question.
"Sorry, it's my landlord."
"What does he want?"
"Said he needs to talk to me about my boarding at his--"
Just then, another text message came through.
Boss: Or else you'll live to regret the day you didn't serve me coffee. Get here now. ASAP!
Sheesh! How did he find the time to even type in the exclamation mark? I was already struggling to write proper sentences in text form.
"Can't he wait?" Koshino interrupted my train of thought. "You're in class. Tell him to wait until you finish for the day."
I shifted in my seat uncomfortably.
"I can't. I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow. Kay?"
With that said, I slipped out the back door of the lecture hall and raced to my bike, parked a good five minute walk from the building.
That sprint to my bike cost cost me two minutes. Eight minutes to go. Through some calculations, I deduced the quickest route to get to Cory Mansion was through Central Park. And my God, I cycled like I was a competitor in Tour de France.
This is my curse. Pure and simple. I'm cursed to be the maid and coffee machine for that mafia boss.
By the time I got to Cory Mansion, I was already huffing, puffing, and, dare I say, on the verge of collapsing. But I raced to Kaede office and slammed the door open, only to find him lying on his couch.
I staggered toward him. "Boss..." I puffed, my tongue wagging out like a dog after a good sprint. "I'm here. I made it."
He didn't reply. I walked closer to see why he was so damned rude. When I got near him, I almost beat his head with my fist.
He called me to rush over as soon as possible, and when I arrived, he was sleeping! I couldn't believe this. I marched forward and was about to take my revenge on him when I was struck by his beauty.
Wow. He's really beautiful up close. So, I ended up squatting and observing his face instead.
Long black lashes, beautiful bow shaped lips, and defined eyebrows. This man was just too perfect. Seriously, such perfection should only exist in paintings.
Oh, I got an idea in my head. I couldn't get it out until I put it to action.
So, I did. My finger inched forward until it was almost at his forehead, and then I applied pressure, poking him. And suddenly...Kitsune opened his eyes.