Chapter 5
"Sorry, was I late?"
"No—" (suddenly stops midway)
"Why? Is there something wrong? Do I look strange?" she asks nervously.
(At that moment, James felt like he had seen a fairy)
Budump..Budump..Budump!!! (Heart racing sound)
James had never seen Nima look so beautiful. The girl who always tied her hair in a ponytail, always dressed in black, and didn't smile much looked so different with her hair down, in a peach-colored dress, with her hands on her back and a bright smile. She blurred his surroundings where he could only focus on her and no one else.
"James, James" (Nima echoed) "Are you okay? Did I keep you waiting for a long time?"
"No, I arrived just a few minutes ago."
(Waited for an hour)
"Then, I'm glad that I wasn't really late."
"Are you hungry? Have you eaten anything?"
Before she could say anything, her stomach grumbles.
"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT. NOW IS NOT THE TIME. I SHOULD JUST DIE. THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING." Mumbles in an embarrassed voice
"Then, why don't we go inside, Nima?"
"AHH, yes."
The wind blows slightly, causing Nima's scent to stumble on his nose. For James, the world stopped and all he could feel was how she smelled so sweet yet nostalgic. She had this faint, sweet but familiar scent. Have I met her somewhere else before?
"How was the food there?"
"It was great, but I didn't expect you to take me somewhere so expensive. I have never come to such a fancy place just to eat. Growing up, my parents never really showed any kind of affection or love. I never got to experience the feeling of love from anyone. It seemed far from reach. I had a little brother. We were two years apart. And when I was in high school, I started working in that café as a part-timer. Then, after college, I totally cut off my ties with my family. Not because I didn't care about them, they never seemed to care about me. After that, I started living alone. I wasn't an outgoing person, so I never had friends. The ones I had either stopped talking to me midway or only wanted to be with me for their own benefits. So, I was better off without them. I never eat breakfast or dinner at home. I just buy something from a convenience store and eat during breaks in my café. But I do cook from time to time when I feel like it." (Said Nima with a sorrowful expression)
"Was I talking too much?" she asks nervously.
"No, it's fine. Sorry to hear that, Nima. You can always tell me when you want to eat something fancy."
"Why? Are you that rich?" said Nima in a sarcastic way.
"Maybe I am rich or maybe even richer than you think I am." James chuckles.
Silent~~
"Do you ever miss them, I mean your parents?" (Asked hesitantly)
"No, I used to hope that they would at least call me and ask how I was doing or if I had eaten. I never got the courage to contact them first since I was the one who moved out quietly. My past isn't something I want to hold as a precious memory. It's so bitter that it stings and numbs my tongue all the way down to my throat."
Looks at Nima carefully and caresses her hair. Nima looks up and looks at James while he gently strokes her head. They look at each other and stay like that for a while.