A/N: Hello again! This chapter here is more like a little filler, I am working on the next one already! Thank you again for your reviews! I know this work is a little different from my others - but every now and then you need something new, right? :D


[CHICHI] Think before you speak. Always. (3)

My senses felt sharper than before. My mind was clear, and I felt strangely satiated. Not in regards of food but in everything. I did not crave whatever you could crave for. And my reflexes were insanely good! I was not known to be clumsy but to be that quick was not normal either…

I gazed at the cup I had just caught in a matter of seconds, wondering what was wrong with me. Or not wrong with me – I couldn't explain it.

"You okay?" My colleague took me out of my thoughts as I couldn't stop looking at the mug in my hands.

"Huh? Oh…yeah." I placed the porcelain on the tray before continuing to clean the table. A bunch of teenagers had caused quite a ruckus and now it looked like a real mess. I had wanted to kick them out, but the rest of the staff had feared they would vandalize more then, so we had waited until they would leave by themselves. Now, one of my colleagues was sweeping the floor while I was trying to organize everything above. Youth these days had no respect whatsoever. If it were me, I had slapped some sense into them…

I sighed as the both of us finished our tasks and placed my hands on my hips, checking if we had missed anything.

In that very moment the door to our shop opened and the both of us smiled to greet the new costumer – who was no other than Bulma.

Really? Today as well? I frowned.

"Yahoo!" the blue-haired waved enthusiastically in our direction and walked towards us with quick steps. I inclined my neck at her as she grinned at me mischievously. What did she want now? She had started to visit me every day ever since the incident at her mother's birthday – it slowly started to feel suspicious. Not that I minded her company, I never would. It felt good someone was worrying about me but checking on me even at my workplace? For four days in a row? That was highly unlikely for her.

"How's it going? You're feeling fine?" she wanted to know while sitting comfortably at the table I just had cleaned.

"Why do you ask me the same question over and over again as soon as you see me?"

She shrugged her shoulders "I am your best friend. Can't I? It's normal to ask, isn't it?"

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Bulma while my colleague left and gave us more space. "It is normal, but not for you. You're behaving strange, you know that?"

"Me?" she pointed with her index finger towards herself "Strange? Why?"

"You tell me." I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I appreciate your concern for me but you're overly protective ever since that happened. It is…slightly getting on my nerves, to be honest." I pouted. I had the feeling she was constantly observing me, and I didn't like it. I was happy she looked out for me, but it got out of hand, didn't it? We were the best of friends, but we never had to stick together all the time to verify our friendship. A fact I appreciated very much as I enjoyed my alone-time. And as I never really told her what had happened with Goku – I did tell her he tried to kiss me and that was it – there was nothing for her to worry about at all.

She made a guilty expression while her fingers vanished in her short blue hair. "Was I that obvious?"

I snorted. "Well, let's just say you were never known to be subtle. But you don't have to constantly ask me how I'm doing. In fact, I feel perfectly fine!"

"Are you sure?" her big blue eyes looked at me. "No dizzy spells? No fever? No headaches?"

"Nope, nope and nope. All good!" I grinned at her and lifted my thumb up. She didn't look relieved at all. "Ah come on, Buls! Give it a rest already! I know it must have been shocking seeing me in that state – and believe me, it was new for me as well – but it was once, and I am fine now. So…can we just forget it and stop talking about it? Please? I don't want to be reminded over and over again…"

"Because of him?"

I sighed audibly, ignoring the pain in my sternum which strangely enough always occurred as soon as I thought of the spikey haired man. "Let's just say he is one reason, yeah. But we cannot change what has already happened or make it undone…"

Be it his sweet kisses or my harsh rejection….no wait! I do not regret what I've said!

Bulma's eyes widened and she slightly lifted her nose as if she wanted to sniff something. "What?" I looked at her confusedly. "Do I stink? Am I smelly?"

"Oh…eh…no! No! Sorry, I just smelled the fresh coffee and thought I should get one. Could you bring me a cup of my favorite?"

"Sure." I nodded and walked away, relieved that we quickly were done with this conversation about a certain someone before we could even start. A certain someone who surprisingly did what I had wanted him to do – ever since that day he stopped coming to see me. Somehow that made me happy because he did as I had told him to, on the other hand I was strangely disappointed?

I am not making any sense.

I instinctively looked at the floor as I reprimanded myself, not paying attention to the person in front of me. I did not see someone standing in my way, until I walked right into him, squishing my nose in the process.

"Ouf!"

"Woah! Careful!" the man chuckled lightly while I felt myself turning red. I bowed deeply as I apologized.

"I am so sorry, sir! I did not pay any attention!"

"Now there, no need to worry. It happens, doesn't it?" He laughed but I couldn't help myself and feel uneasy although that stranger was friendly towards me, who was the rude one for running into him. I was not used to such behavior. Normally you'd get yelled at. I looked up to a dashingly handsome young face, blond hair, a dimple in a left cheek which probably invited a lot to pinch it, grey eyes and a very good physique. An uncomfortable shiver ran down my spine.

Somehow it feels odd, looking at him.

I evaded my eyes. "Well yes, it happens." I agreed.

When his palm suddenly landed on my shoulder and pat me as if we were old acquaintances I flinched and stopped myself from slapping his hand away. He was still a customer and not touching me inappropriately or anything, but still…did he have to?

I took a small step back, hoping to get him to let go of me. Unfortunately, his fingers slightly bored themselves into my shoulder and I stopped retreating. I tried another tactic instead by adding "Let me make it up to you with some coffee, for free. Obviously."

"Obviously, she says. How cute." He grinned but his hand did not move.

"Well, yes. So…If you'll excuse me, so I can just bring you the – " I tried to duck out of his touch.

"How about I treat you to some coffee instead, huh?" he suddenly suggested, and I bit my lip in distress.

"I appreciate your offer sir, but I am working here. There is no need to invite me."

"Yeah, but there are times you are not working, right?" his hand was still where it was, rooting me to the spot. I felt sick.

What is that foul odor? Urgh…

"I still have to decline, sorry. If you could let go of me now…"

"Aw, don't be like that! I asked you nicely, didn't I?"

What the fuck does asking nicely have anything to do with this?

He somehow reminded me of Goku but with him I had not felt that disgusted. Was that a common male thing? Talking to women they've only just met like they were easy to get?

My hands turned into fists as I felt the anger flood my system.

"Hey, Chi!" Bulma suddenly stood beside me, glaring at the man who held me captured. "Is anything the matter?"

"Tsk." The male clicked his tongue, the oh-so-friendly façade vanishing as soon as he spotted the blue haired, the foul smell intensifying. "Your kinds are here too, huh? Damn it…I thought this territory was neutral." His hand finally left me while he eyed Bulma angrily.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but you're bothering my friend here." Bulma evaded his strange statement while standing there with her arms crossed. As if she wanted to intimidate him.

As if that'd work…

"I see." He looked at me and then back to Bulma, as if he was guessing his chances? It didn't take him long to decide what to do: Turning around with a grumpy expression and leaving the café.

Huh? It worked?

"What the heck was that about?" I mumbled as I massaged the spot he had touched. Somehow that spot felt defiled.

"Does this happen often?" Bulma turned towards me with a frown on her face. I just shook my head. "Not really…" I tapped my chin with my index finger. "But now that you ask…this was the third time in four days a man tried to hit on me. That is strange, isn't it?"

I was not used to such attention. In fact, Goku was the first to show such interest in me.

And now that I had rejected him…

Wait a second!

Was this his doing? Was he mocking me? Were these guys his friends?! Was he trying to take revenge?! My eyes went wide as I looked at Bulma, opening my mouth to verbalize my horrible assumption but Bulma only shook her head no, as if she knew what I was thinking.

"No, Goku's not at fault."

I pouted "How did you know I was thinking that?"

"I know you long enough, dummy." She flicked my forehead with her fingers.

"Ouch!"

"And that was for not telling me sooner! Why do you keep such things to yourself? Ah fuck!" she cursed as the alarm on her mobile suddenly went off. "Forget that coffee, I need to go now!" She flicked her wrist and looked at her watch. She was not happy at all. "Call me when your shift is done. And tell me as soon as another guy tries to harass you."

"I would not say that this was harassing, but – ""

"Tell me!" she insisted, and I sighed in agreement before I saw her leave. When she opened the door she turned around again, pointing with her finger at me and then at herself before signalizing me to call her. Her mouth moved soundlessly, and I was sure she was verbalizing "You. Better. Tell. Me. Next. Time!"

And she was gone.

Who would have thought she would get upset like that? I did not think it was necessary to consult anyone because those men stopped approaching me as soon as I rejected them multiple times. Well, one man got punched in the face. He was really persistent – he had it coming. But I was perfectly capable of protecting myself from a bunch of idiots…

My own mobile vibrated and I automatically looked at it although I shouldn't during working hours. But I had a feeling I had to look.

[BULMA] Tell me ASAP!

Really now… Maybe I shouldn't have told her at all…