Ch. 9 - Clingy.

The next morning I got up, trying to remember how I fall asleep last night, I always have trouble falling asleep and sometimes I resort to some of my own techniques to fall asleep, its so rare for me to fall asleep quickly or peacefully. Anyways im happy I did, I woke up perfectly rested and started my day, I bought a coffee in a cafè near by and walk along the coast near my house to work. As I sip on my coffee I stare at the sun rising in the sea horizon, I feel much at ease, my mind becomes so peaceful and fills my heart with warmth, I throw away my worries as I threw away my cup in the trash bin. I look back at the sea with the sun on my face. As I reach the end of the road where I can see the sea, I took a cab and rode to work.

My working place is always chaotic and busy, I always tend to clear my mind so I can concentrate and be much efficient as possible. Whenever I have the opportunity I always go to the coast or the park, throwing away my worries and endlessly starring with deep thoughts how beautiful and peaceful it is at the moment. I like nature, I let my thoughts fly as I rest my body while inhaling fresh air with the sun on my face.

Everyday after work, I always walk with my friends, but when we finish the day early, I walk by myself along the coast line and occasionally before the sun sets, I stood on the shore or a dock. I look into the sky and pray in my mind, I pray for strength and wisdom, and pray to find happiness and peace in my life. And just like any other days, today is not an exception. I walk home looking at the orange sky and listening to the sea waves hitting shore. The birds flying in the sky in search of a home to rest for the night, people walking home after their work carrying bags of gifts or boxes of sweets, certainly for their wife and children, couples walking together hand in hand. And I was all alone by myself, nevertheless im happy and content for what little I have, its not that I dont have anyone but rather I intentionally isolate myself. In my past experience I have met and been used by toxic people, it traumatized me, thinking every single person I let in my life and paid attention too might be just another parasite who's only into me for his or her own interests. I do know there's still some people who stayed with me, and im grateful for that I dont want to add anyone.

*Beep*

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I check it out and its a notification from my ChatBook account. Someone sent me a GIF, at first it looks odd as only my friends knew of my account but I dont recognized the username of the sender, I opened and check it out, its from Airi and it shows me a happy bunny waving its hand with the caption

"How are you? I hope your doing well~".

I dont know she also uses this app and I wonder how she found me.

To be honest I dont know what she's after, but she can't do anything severe or harsh to me, and I won't lose anything since she's just an online friend of mine, I just get along with her, sure sometimes I feel touch, but after I few minutes it already disappears and im back to my normal mood.

I replied with "Im doing fine, just walking home from work. Hoe about you?".

Then I put it back in my pocket, I feel my phone vibrate again, it seems like she already replied. But I dont like holding out my phone in public while walking, accidents are caused they dont just happen. So I will reply as soon as I got home. I arrive at my house, I change my clothes and went to the kitchen to grab I plate to eat the food I cook at the restaurant earlier. I check my phone and I have 7 new messages from her alone. I sighed and check it out.

"Oh really? glad to hear it!".

"Be careful on your way home."

"Anyways, how was work?".

"Are you still there?".

"Did something happened?."

"Are you home now?".

"If your busy I will wait for you."

Looking at the time stamp she messages me all of these in just a span of 10 minutes. She must've really eager to talk to me, I kinda feel bad not replying sooner, I put down my plate and try to reply to every single one of her messages in the same way how she messages me.

"Yeah, how about you?". *send*

"I will, and don't im safe with the route I take." *send*

"Its tiring but worthwhile and fun nonetheless". *send*

"Yes, im still here, I just got home". *send*

"No, nothing happened I just do-".

I wasn't even finish typing my fifth reply and she already massaged me back.

Airi : "Welcome back! im glad to hear your doing okay~".

I deleted what I was currently typing and I just remain on standby.

Airi : "What were you doing earlier?"

Akagi : "I was walking home from work."

Airi : "You didn't reply earlier so I thought something happened."

Akagi : "No, I was fine I just dont hold my phone out in public."

Airi : "Oh I see, I see..."

Akagi : "Anyways, is there a problem?"

Airi : "Nothing, I just miss you~".

This honesty caught me off guard, for some reason I always feel teased and blushed everytime she says these kind of things.

Airi : "Are you going to play tonight?"

Akagi : "Yeah, if im not busy I will play later."

Airi : "Okay, I will wait for you~ I will see you later."

Akagi : "I will see you later."

I put down my phone and grab my plate.

*nom*

"Ah now its a bit cold."

I finished eating and cleaned the plate, now my body kinda aches and my mind kinda urges me to take a hot bath. I didn't hesitate and did it immediately.

I dip in and let out a loud sigh of relief, it feels so good on my back and shoulders. Since my body pain slowly fades away, my mind gets clearer and I was able to think and feel like to be in the mood to draw something, I feel like doing another anime fanart since my shoulder and arms are relaxed now. I also feel like doing something else, something active. I want to stay for while its so relaxing, I wonder why I rarely dip my self in hot water to ease my body pain, why do I keep having quick showers? I should do this everyday.

In the end, I stay in the dip in the bath for so long, that when I get up my body is so relax it doesn't wanna do anything but to lay down. So I quicky change and dry my hair. I look at my bed and its so tempting, I wanna get down in it fast, I wanna feel the comfort and softness of my bed so bad. My hair wasn't even completely dry yet, the back side is still a bit wet, but I ignored it and roll over to my bed.

"Ah this feels great, I love it~ why can't I lay down here for more than 6 hours..."

I stretch my arms and legs all over the bed, I feel so comfortable, taking a hot bath before going to sleep is great. I will draw on the weekends, for now I will just try to get enough sleep.

I lay down comfortably and cover my legs with the sheets. I can feel like im already dozing off, another night were I can successfully fall asleep quicky and peacefully.

* 35 minutes later *

"Zzzzzz...."

*Beep* (Notification SFX)

"Zzzzz...."

*Beep* (Notification SFX)

"...zzzzz...."

*BEEP!* (Vibration ringtone)

"...what the?..."

I struggle to open my eye or move my arm to pick up my phone, I keep my eyes close and try to feel where my phone is.

*Beep*

"What now?" *groans*

I try to open my eyes and check who was messaging me. It was Airi, I look at the time and its 8:49 pm. Its still rather early, I wanna doze off cause I wanna get some more sleep after the many days were I only get 6 hours of sleep. I should check what she wants before I sleep again, I logged in to the game and see whats going on.

"Welcome back darling! are you free right now?"

She said.

Akagi : "Not really, although I was already sleeping."

Airi : "Oh, did I wake you up?"

Akagi : "You kinda did."

Airi : "Oh, sorry darling, it was still early so I didn't know you sleep so early."

Akagi : "No, I usually dont sleep early cause im busy, but whenever my work finish early I always take the opportunity to rest early."

Airi : "Oh I see, are you going back to sleep now?"

Akagi : "Maybe, I dont know."

Airi : "I just miss you, I was looking forward to be with you again but I think I've disturb you. Sorry, you can sleep now."

What a clever way to flirt and make me guilty. I did promise her to play tonight,I guess for just a few minutes maybe I can. I dont wanna be seen as a selfish person or a reneger. Even though this is the only time, the first impression always have the biggest impact.

Akagi : "No, we can play maybe for just a few minutes."

Airi : "Oh really? are you sure? I thought you wanna sleep now?"

Akagi : "I promised you earlier and I would decide when I wanna sleep."

Airi : "Yay! this is going to be fun!"

I wonder if her impressions about me are true, she seems so genuinely happy whenever I accompany her. After for a few rounds of dancing together, we decided to stay in the 3d park feature of the game and just talk for the rest of our time together.

"Darling, I dont think I ever ask you about your love life."

"Huh? where did this question come from?"

"Nothing, I was just curious about your previous relationships and interactions with girls before."

I dont exactly know how to answer this question, trying to remember it all, I was teased and asked by a few girls during my second year in Highschool and so forth. I remember improving my looks and my building up my body after middle school cause I was bullied. And no, I didn't try to look good to gain respect and to be charming. I build up my body and looks to beat the shit out of the people who used to bully and laugh at me during middle school. But this story is for a different time.

Akagi : "I kinda remember some interactions with girls when I was in Highschool."

Airi : "Really? tell me about it please~"

Is she that curious? maybe she's a classmate of mine back then, and now she's guessing if I can still remember her. I try to remember the most interesting interactions I did with girls and see if she's one of them.