summer night camaraderie
"Nice place, eh? it’s very … ‘Bali’!" His eyes were sparkling from under his green hat. She smiled agreeing and looked around, enjoying the smell of incense which fit so well with the humid air.
They rushed to a big wooden chair filled with pillows and fought for the biggest pillows available.
"What are u drinking? I can’t drink alcohol tonight"
"No more beers. I’ll take cappuccino" She tried to sit comfortably but could not find the space close or far enough from him.
"hot?" he widened his eyes.
She nodded and twisted a teasing smile.
He shook his head not believing anyone would drink hot beverage this time of the year.
They rested their heads on the red-brick wall, both tired from the long week, watching the flickering candles.
"so, tell me. why don’t you want a girlfriend right now?" she blurted out
He twitched his lips and threw her a serious look.
She congratulated herself for asking that question in such a casual tone.
"mm..too much restraint.. no time for my own life and friends. Is ‘restraint’ the correct word?" He reached for his mobile phone to open a dictionary.
"I guess so"
They stared at each other for three full seconds and then looked back to the energetic dance of the candle lights
"and you?" his eyes were still on the candles
"me?" her eyes were also fixated to the candles
"that day, you said you don’t want a boyfriend too.." eyes still on the candles
"ah true" she rolled her eyes and laughed "i lied.." still on the candles
They both laughed and sipped their drinks nervously.
She exhaled and said "it’s not time yet"
He nodded and leafed through an interior design magazine.
She asked him which style would he want for his own house.
He pointed at one picture and suddenly stood up straight,
"my dream is to have two houses one day. one in here for work. and one near the beach so i can surf"
She laughed, still resting her head on the pile of pillows,
"with the way you work right now, am sure you can do that"
"Ah..Japanese people are always in a rush you know. I am not like that. I hate that"
"Yet.. you want to buy that Lamborghini" she pointed to another picture on another magazine.
"Yes, I want to buy that Lamborghini"
They exchanged looks and laughed, the ice has melted away along with the thick air.
"Here is what I promised you" he handed her a silver bag, inside it, a red yukata with pink sakura printed on it.
"oh my god. oh my oh my. It’s beautiful! You even put the geta in it too!" She was not sure how to react.
"yes, it’s a set"
She gave him the are-you-sure-it’s-okay look. he gave her the it’s-no-problem look.
She landed a kiss on his left cheek. He was caught off guard, she pulled away so quickly.
"Send me a picture once u have tried it on?" he said as they were walking back to the parking lot.
"sure" she nodded excitedly while still hugging her present
"I burnt you this CD. I know it’s nothing compared to a yukata.. but
the last time in the lounge, u said u liked these songs.." she pulled out
a CD from her bag.
"A present for me? Your selections?"
"Yeap"
He tried to catch her eyes, wanted to figure out why she remembered every single words he had said. But her eyes were looking out the window to the scattered fireworks on the hills.
He started the car, played the CD, they exchanged looks and big wide smile once again and glided through the bright night listening to Kylie Minogue going slow.
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