At that time I was in the school library yaa… because the sensei there asked me to help him heheh. No wonder if I'm called "The Bookworm-kun Friend", because reading text is much easier for me than reading humans, hehe…
Suddenly…. I heard the sound of soft footsteps from behind my ears. I turned my body to see. Seen a girl, the most annoying human. I saw every step she left behind, only fallen books seen, making my heart annoyed.
My steps approached her.. but suddenly this annoying girl was the one who came closer.
"Oiii bakaa!! Where is the book about the Moon Prince?''
I furrowed my brows. How dare she!!! I pointed towards the bookshelf next to us and accidentally I said…
"Cih."
In my annoyed feeling, suddenly that annoying girl refused to face the shelf I pointed at. She stared at me. Her eyes were the eyes of someone who would kill a person if they didn't answer.
"Whaaat did you say!!!!!! You 'cih' damn bookworm!"
She pulled my hair as if I were just a door hanger.
"Bakaaa!! Want me to smash your face?" she said in a very warm breath.
For a split second I saw heaven in front of me. Is it possible… this is the time to end my youth? God, give me a little more time, my mind said.
"Sssorrry," I said in a low voice and trailing like the wind.
"You say sorry?"
She stopped pulling my hair as if it was a normal thing for an annoying girl like her.
"Hehe, after insulting me I won't let you go, Bookworm-kuun."
As if a wave hit my face when she called me that.
"So, as a man, you must treat me to dinner after this."
Her words made my brain nerves feel like they were pulled by a broken branch.
"Daa-date?"
"Dinner, stupid!!" She screamed at me as if my eardrums wouldn't burst.
"I-yes.. Why.. why must be with me?" I was confused why a girl like a street delinquent would invite someone like me. Did I lack going to the temple ya this week?
"A naive person like you hehe, very easy to tease?" She said that while pulling my shirt collar.
"I-i-yes let go of me, I will come." I pinched my school pants tightly.
"Alright hahah, give me your number. Or I'll check your home address and tell your mom today you got me pregnant, how about that?"
I was startled in a moment of silence. How dare she say those words in this situation. I looked around, sharp eyes (other students) like knives stabbing into my neck.
"H-here.."
I took out my flip phone and gave my number to her.
''See you later yaa… stupid!" the girl said while walking towards the library exit.
I thought for a moment why ehhh.. wasn't she supposed to take the book about the moon prince. Wait, that annoying girl is playing with me. I could only hold my head while thinking how unlucky today is ya today maybe this stupid guy starts his adventure with that annoying girl.
Six hours passed just like that...
I took out and opened my flip phone. There was a message written from my mom: "Ren-kun, don't be late for dinner today."
I replied to my mom's message slowly: "Sorry Mom, today maybe I'll be a little late."
Suddenly, a new notification appeared from an unknown number. I opened the message: "Hey stupid bookworm! Don't forget, 2 hours from now. If you don't come, watch out :3"
I only read the message briefly then I closed my flip phone. I wiped my head slowly with hands that were trembling. I didn't know whether to choose between my mom or this delinquent girl.
Damn..it! I muttered in my heart.
Suddenly mom called me. Cring… cringg.. cring... I opened and picked up the call.
"Son, today Mom is coming home late ya. Later Mom will order dinner for you, how about it dear?"
"It's okay Mom, I also have a plan to have dinner with my friend."
"Hmm.. it's good if you have a friend now. Be careful there ya. I love you, my son."
"I love you too, Mom."
Tut… the end sound of that conversation.
In my heart I was hesitant. Did God grant my wish when I was in the library earlier, or is this just a difficult choice? I was silent for a moment. I tried to tidy up the messy books in my room and accelerated my task.
I took my jacket, getting ready to go to dinner with that girl. Hmm, maybe...
I walked under the Kyoto sky that started to dim, seeing birds flying above the sky as if the wind was hesitant to drop them.
Tink.. the sound of an incoming message rang in my pants pocket. I opened my flip phone. I opened the message box, there a name was written: Delinquent Girl. I opened her message:
"3 more minutes if you don't show up in front of me I'll crush your head into ashes."
"Cih, damn." Why do I have to meet a girl like this in my life. I replied to her message:
"Be patient, I've arrived. Don't forget your ethics, delinquent."
I sent that message, accidentally the corner of my mouth slightly lifted.
I finally arrived at a simple yatai stall at the corner of the street. I stepped step by step there, suddenly seen one girl who was very standout with clothes that were neat and annoying in my opinion. She was seen standing waiting for me before our eye contact met, as if the night wind blew its breath and blew my head... seeing the delinquent girl in the library compared to the one now was very different.
She waved her hand towards me.
"Oi why so long, want me to crack your nose?"
"No-o-not like that, I had a little extra task in the library," I answered tremblingly.
"Hmmm…. alright let's sit inside."
We went in, sat with a 2-chair distance because I didn't want to cause any trouble.
''Oii oii Old Man! I want to order 3 ramen … and 2 oden …." she smiled while staring at me.
"Ehh.. I— don't have that much money."
"Why? Why? Who said you're the one paying?"
She smiled again, an evil smile this time, and then stood up.
"Old Man … I add 4 more yakitori!"
After the girl said that, I was just silent and thought she was playing with me.
"Hei stupid! Quickly order don't daydream."
"I— ramen 1 ya."
"Why only 1, already ate before?"
"N.. n..no, maybe my stomach is full because of the cold wind here haha."
I said that thing to her. How could a person like me say: "Hey don't order too much, you think I'm a successful artist or what?" Anyway, what for did this girl invite me for dinner together?
The order arrived. The table was full with the menu this girl ordered. I don't know between her being hungry or stupid, how could she finish all that.
"Hei stupid! Can you accompany me again like this tomorrow?" she asked and stared at me with eyes exactly like when my mom looks at me having no friends at school.
"Ekhem, sorry I already have a girlfriend," I said to reject that girl gently.
But when I said that, she moved 1 chair closer to me. Her soap scent pierced through the ramen I was inhaling right now. She approached and tapped my back while "pffft" holding back her laugh.
"Pfft hahaha!!! Seriously, who would want to be with you, stupid!!!"
She screamed "stupid" right beside my ear… annoying.
''But Bookworm-kun, actually you're cute you know. A person like you doesn't trouble other people... and I believe you have a girlfriend," she said that while staring at me with her sweet smile.
I felt it... dugg…. dugg… dugg… a loud thumping that I never felt before. My face turned red after she said that. I turned away to hide my shame then said, "Stupid."
She laughed seeing my reaction while not forgetting to tap my back several times.
"That's why I invited you, stupid. Because I like you… you're a unique person, Bookworm. Tomorrow accompany me ya to the beach."
She said that to me with a smile and tongue out teasing me. Her eyes squinted on one side, as if I'm just her toy.
"Alright, whatever," I answered flatly. The atmosphere of the stall that night was very warm behind the cold breeze in the middle of Kyoto.
After finishing the food, I saw this delinquent girl was packing the food she didn't finish. What kind of girl is she exactly? Ordering lots of food and then packing it... cih, hard to predict and dangerous.
"H-..h hello Old Man? I want to pay for the food," I said hesitantly.
"Heii stupid!! Already started following my ethics hahahha!"
Cih, I just don't know what to call this old man. No way I'd call him: "Hello Bald Monk, please I want to pay for the meal," annoying!! I reached for the wallet in my pants, b-b..u..t... dug… dug… dug… like being hit by a big hammer in my chest, turns out my wallet was left on my bed. Crap.
"O—o-old man, I forgot to bring my wallet, wh.. a… what can I do here to help?" I said that with shame. Why at this time did a lucky and unlucky day become one? Should I shave my head to become a monk…..
"Old Man, let me pay for everything!"
"Cih!"
"Stupid man!!! You owe me. Tomorrow to the beach with me, if you don't come I'll tell your mom today you kissed me, wlek!"
Again and again, this girl threatened me and mocked me like a toy. Good grief!! god help me why…
"Cih, alright," I answered flatly.
Finally, after paying for the food that briefly made me feel like I was struck by lightning tonight, we walked home together. Whether it was a threat or a choice now lingering in my mind. I stared at her. This girl's steps were full of confidence, she stepped cheerfully as if the wind was pushing her lighter.
"You, why did you invite me to d.. I mean have dinner with me?" I asked in a flat tone.
"Because I like it.. I like weird people and yeah I want to have fun. Besides, a popular person like me rarely has anyone who wants to have dinner together. Be grateful, stupid!"
"Anyway, why do you keep asking, stupid! Or maybe you lik.."
I covered her mouth with my hand.
"Enough!!! I want to go home," I said with an awkward feeling.
Luckily she didn't say that damn word. Like.. like… so weird and annoying to think about it.
Arriving at the corner where we had to part ways because my house direction was different from hers...
"Byee byee dorky kid hehehe," she said in a rather loud tone piercing the night wind.
"Bye…" I said softly.
A thing I had never said to a girl my age. I recorded today's event into my book, the book I wrote to close my loneliness... I didn't expect it would be filled by an annoying girl.
I like… like someone like her. Giving warmth in the middle of the cold night of Kyoto city.