Page 79 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze
So I'm going to get Christian's confirmation tomorrow before I go and win over my girl.
Lily
I spend the entire rest of Saturday lounging in bed, where I may or may not have cried my eyes out. But oh, how I missed doing so in the comfort of my own bed. Then I ordered some ramen, already missing the convenience stores in Japan, then brought my laptop to my bed and watched one of my favorite movies.
Big mistake.
It only catapulted me right back to the amusement park with memories how we met the characters playing on repeat. Fuck.
But today, I’ll allow myself a bit of self-pity. Maybe even my own pity-party, although it won’t have any guests.
Tomorrow, everything will be forgotten, and on Monday, I’m back at work and all will be just like before I left for Tokyo.
Sounds like a good plan, right? I glare at my phone as it buzzes with an incoming message, then sigh and pick it up anyways.
Lucy: Are you free tomorrow?
I sigh and toss my phone onto the bed beside me, then change my mind and type back.
Lily: Yeah, come get your souvenirs, bring cupcakes.
Lucy: Roger.
Then she sends an ‘aye aye captain’ gif along and I toss my phone into a corner of the bed, continuing the movie.
The next day, Lucy trudges into my apartment like she owns the place. "So,” she starts, setting the bakery package onto my counter before turning to me and looking me up and down curiously. “How was it? Tell me everything!"
"It was really fucking warm," I tell her, and she playfully slaps my shoulder.
"You went to Tokyo in September – what did you expect?" she asks through laughter and I shrug.
"I expected nothing less, but Ihopedit would be a bit cooler."
I walk past her and get some plates out of my cupboard, opening the cute bakery packaging to transfer them over. God, they look amazing. "Want some coffee?"
"Only a little bit," she says, taking a seat at my kitchen island and making grabby hands for the cupcakes. "With how strong you make it, I need to drown it out with milk or I won’t sleep for three days."
"You’re exaggerating," I scold her, but only fill her cup about a quarter full.
"Like this?" I ask and lower the cup so she can see.
She narrows her eyes at it, then lifts her hand to show a little gap between her thumb and index finger. “A little more.”
I pour a sip more into it, then slide it over the marble countertop to her.
"There's your clothes." I point to a bag in the corner. I pull another bag from a compartment and place it on the table in front of me. And yes, I might have stored it right there for the dramatic effect of randomly pulling it out. "And here’s your souvenir."
Her head whips around to the bag with her clothes first, then snaps back to the souvenir bag as I set it down.
"Oh, you didn’t have to," she says, beaming yet pretending to be demure while reaching for the bag with her grubby little hands. I try to hide my grin, but it’s impossible.
"Here you go," I say, sliding the bag toward her. I didn’t even take her gift out of the inconspicuous sex shop bag, butshe’s so distracted by getting to open a present, she doesn’t even notice.
Just like predicted, she digs into it like a child opening birthday presents. Maybe I should have wrapped it in unicorn gift paper with a pretty little bow.
"What the...?" she exclaims, turning it, still in the bag. Since it’s still in its plastic box, she won’t see much of it unless she takes it out.
"Don't be shy, take it out," I dare her, a wide grin on my face, quickly pretending to take a sip of my coffee to hide it. Oh, I’m having so much fun watching her squirm. She might love presents, but it looks like she’s fearing a jumpscare. I make a mental note to get her a jack in the box next time.
