In case you didn't know — the book is still in my bag. 💀
I was thinking of finding her classroom and returning the book, but the class was so crowded that I had to retreat.
AI: Coward. 😏
Shut Up! 🙄
You have no idea how much trouble caused by the book.
In the morning, Yumeko was having her breakfast at the dining table with me.
She kept peeking at me and when I looked at her asking "What's wrong", she shook her head and looked away.
On the way to school, she insisted on walking behind me, I kept looking back at her just to make sure she's fine.
I saw her looking away again every time we looked at each other.
At night, when I was about to sit next to her — she moved away, keeping three seats away from me…
Every single time I tried to explain to her that the book was not mine, she refused to communicate by saying "本当に大丈夫です,何も見てない" (It's really fine, I didn't see anything) and ran away.
That was not fine at all. 😭😭😭
Since then, she blushes when she looks at me — for no reason. 😭😭😭
AI: I think you should just quit explaining.
I can't let her misunderstand me forever, even right now we were having lunch in the restaurant — she insisted on sitting separately.
AI: Just give her some time, buddy.
...…..
Me: あの...これから,スーパー行く?(Um…after this, you wanna come along to the supermarket?)
She almost spit out the juice from the straw in her mouth when she heard it.
Yumeko: ま.....待て,一緒に???(Eh? Ho….Hold on, together???)
Me: もっちろん (Of course)
She took a few minutes to process….I don't know what she's trying to process.
Yumeko: い...いい.(Okay)
She glanced at me for a few seconds, while her finger twirling her hair.
Just when the waiter was printing out my check, out of a sudden — a girl sat down before my seat.
She was in a mask, cool shades and a hooded coat with a cap, the only way to tell that she's a girl is her body size and the ponytail.
For a moment I thought she was a criminal trying to threaten me or buy her some food.
Her: Hey, Rin. Remember me?
Me: You're…
She took off the mask and shades — Yes, it's Clara. 🥲
Her: You still have the book with you?
Seriously? You think I'll carry that thing everywhere I go?
Me: Uh…no, but it's still in my bag.
Clara: May I have it today?
Then, Yumeko noticed someone was at my booth seat.
Yumeko: リン,誰ですか?(Rin, who's that? )
Me: あ,べ....別に,クラスメートです(Erm, No…Nothing, is my classmate)
After lying to Yumeko, I lowered my head and whispered to Clara.
Me: Not now, we're going to the supermarket after this.
Clara: I can come along.
Me: What???
Clara: It's okay, I don't mind waiting.
I do.
Yumeko: Hi, you are...
Yumeko suddenly appeared at my booth seat which scared the hell out of me...but why? I did nothing wrong. 😭😭😭
Clara: Um…sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your dating….
Yumeko: え?(Eh?)
Me: No no no no no….she's my cousin, and we're not dating.
Yumeko: は?デートじゃない?
Me: 本当だ,勘違いしない,それは…誤解だ (I'm serious, don't get me wrong, it was just….a misunderstanding.)
...
Yumeko: ふんー!(Hmmph—!)
Uh? 💀
She hmphed me like Cindy did and left the restaurant.
What was that for?
...
WHAT WAS THAT FOR??? 😭😭😭😭
AI: Disappointment, buddy. 😏
Of WHAT??? 😭😭😭
AI: You invited her to the supermarket, remember? 😏
And?
AI: …..gosh, you're hopeless. 🤣
After paying the bill, I walked behind Yumeko trying to figure out what I did wrong.
And somehow, Clara was behind us.
Me: Ptzzz, seriously? Are you in such a hurry?
Clara: It was the first volume, I haven't read it.
Me: Then why'd you give it to me?
Suddenly, Yumeko hit a man as she was focusing on her phone.
Yumeko: Sorry.
Man: Are you blind? Huh?
Yumeko: I'm really sorry, I didn't see you coming….
Man: Oh, so that's how your parents taught you? That's how you apologize huh?
The 1.8m tall man started to approach Yumeko slowly with his fierce look and his hooligan tone, while Yumeko was about to be scared to tears.
Me: I'm sorry, allow me to apologize to her.
...
I know it's not my responsibility, but...what else can I say? I'm scared too. 😭😭😭
Man: Of course it's your problem, kiddo.
The man grabbed my collar while he noticed I was filming him with the phone placed on my chest.
Me: Oops, I forgot to turn off the stream, I guess my fans are all watching, wanna say hi?
Yeah…I made it up...😐
But it worked, the man let me go and left right after.
I patted Yumeko's head gently.
Me: も…もう...安全だ.(It's safe now.)
I really wish someone could pat my head as well — I'M TERRIFIED!!! 😭😭😭
But then, the tears leaked from her eyes and she sobbed silently.
Yumeko: こ...怖いよ (That was scary)
...
I know. 🥲
....
I can't feel myself standing...I almost wet myself. 🥲
*INHALE*...*EXHALE*...better now.
Me: じゃ,行くぞ.(Well, let's go.)
She nodded, but then she grabbed my arm when we were on the way to the supermarket.
While Clara kept staring at us all along the journey...for what???
AI: Because you just clarified that you weren't dating. 😏
...
Hold on, you mean….she misunderstood something?
AI: Haha~ Not Just 'Something', is 'Everything'.
...💀
Just when I was thinking I should explain again to Clara, Yumeko poked my shoulder.
Yumeko: ね,リン,あの姉さんは誰?(Hey, Rin, who's that big sister? )
You know what? This is the chance. 🤓
THIS — IS — THE — MOMENT!!!!
I stopped walking and held onto Yumeko's shoulder as I needed to clarify something important.
Me: 夢ちゃん (Yume-Chan)
Yumeko: え?夢ちゃん?(Eh? Yume-Chan?)
Yumeko was completely frozen and blushed when she heard it....don't ask me, I have no idea.
Me: よく聞いて(Listen carefully)
Yumeko: は...はい!(Ye…Yes!)
Me: あの姉さんはその本の持ち主だ (That big sister is the owner of that book.)
Yumeko nodded like she understood the clarification.
Me: あの日は本当に誤解です(That was was totally a misunderstanding.)
And...Yumeko nodded again.
Me: 僕は変態じゃない,信じてください (I'm not a pervert, you have to trust me.)
And…..same reaction — she nodded.
Me: じゃ,わかりましたか?(So, you got it now?)
She responded with a big nod.
Me: よかった,じゃ,行こ(That's great, well, let's go.)
AI: Erm…you know….-ちゃん is normally for someone...
No no no, don;t!
Don't ruin the vibe.
Now she knows I'm innocent, that's all I need to know. 😌
AI: Arhhh— Whatever. 😏
Clara: Ptzzz—!
Me: ?
Clara: When's the wedding?
….
Huh?
Clara: Did she say yes?
….
Wait!
…..What???
...
WHAT??? 💀💀💀
I was never expecting Clara to drop me another C4 in the middle of the way — and it was in terms of whispering.
Me: What do you mean???
Clara: I didn't understand what you were saying, but that looks more like a confession. Tell me, did she say yes?
Me: No no no no, like I said, she's my cousin, it was not what you think...
Clara: I get it, don't worry.
No you don't! 😭😭😭
Before I get to explain, we have already arrived at the supermarket.
I have no idea why Clara is still here, but when I was picking up the vegetables…
Clara: You can cook?
She spoke to me out of the blue, which scared me for a second. 🥲
Me: Um…sometimes.
Clara: Why's she coming along?
Me: Of course, we lived together.
She gasped sharply when she heard that.
Me: Look, she's just my cousin, okay?
Clara: Hold on, so your terms of cousin are….
...
Good question, I have no idea either.
You see? Yumeko was actually my mother's friend's daughter.
AI: Friends?
But we haven't seen each other for a long time, we're basically new to each other.
AI: In that case….strangers?
We're living under the same roof, sharing the same meal and watching the same TV.
There are things that have changed over the years, and I have no idea if I deserve it or should I restore it.
AI: Sometimes you don't need to make it too complicated, because I bet Yumeko has the same feelings as yours.
Really?
AI: She was sent to study here, and was told to live with someone she was a childhood friend, can you imagine her perspective?
I don't know.
AI: Trust me, buddy. Just…
Let it be, that's what I thought.
Me: ...wha…whatever, it's just….not what you think it is.
I ignored her and then picked out the lettuce. — Yep, I'm done explaining myself. 🥲
After picking out all the groceries, we took a taxi to get back home. Clara left earlier and told me I could return the book on Monday.
What good news that she finally left…
After the dinner, I sat on the floor as I knew she might feel disgusted if I sat next to her.
But what was out of the expectation — she came down from the couch and sat next to me.
She poked me again.
Yumeko: ねえ,りん,ごめん(Hey, Rin, I'm sorry)
Me: 何で?(For what?)
Yumeko: 誤解しましたごめん(I was wrong about you, I'm sorry)
Me: いいえ.(Nevermind)
Just when I thought the conversation ended, during the commercial break…
Yumeko: ねえ,りん...(Hey, Rin...)
Me: ん?(Yea?)
Yumeko: あたし,あなたの何なの?(Who am I to you, actually?)
Me: 分からない (I don't know.)
Yumeko: えっと...友達?(Well....friend?)
Me: なんか違う感じがするよ(Doesn't feel like it)
Yumeko: 確かに....(True….)
After a while, she asked me again.
Yumeko: 妹?(Sister?)
Me: これもなんか違う感じがする(Doesn't feel like it too)
After the show was over, Yumeko was about to go back to her room.
Yumeko: おやすみ (Good night)
Me: あ,おやすみ (Yeah, good night)
...
Me: あの (Um)
Yumeko: はい (Yes)
Me: もう思い出した,君は僕の夢子...(I think I've figured it out, you're my Yumeko.)
Yumeko: 何?(What?)
Me: 僕は君のリン,それは正しい答えだ(And I am your Rin, this is the correct answer.)
...
AI: Oh man, here we go again. 🤣🤣🤣
What? I was waiting for her compliment since I spent the rest of the show hour thinking of the correct answer.
You see? There's no exact answer between us to define our current relationship.
Roommate is the correct answer.
But after getting my answer, she shrugged her shoulders in shock, and immediately closed the door and locked it to cover her blushing face...
Yeah she blushed — again, for no reason.
AI: I told you to stop using Japanese and you won't listen. 🙂↔️
What? Did I say anything wrong?
AI: Yeah, again. Go and take a good look at yourself.
No wait, what did I say?
I was just telling her that we can be our own selves without specifying our relationship, she got my point right?
...
RIGHT??? 💀💀💀
AI: Hopefully, Haha. 🤣
No wait, what did I just say?
HEY!!! TELL ME!!! 😭😭😭😭
AI: All the best to you, buddy. 😊