Lunch

Mia:....

Custard Face:....

..... Why is it so awkward?! I agreed to go lunch but, why won't he say anything?

Mia: Do you want to... place an order?

Custard Face: Ah, yeah. What would you like to eat?

Mia: Anything's fine.

Custard Face: Okay....

He places an order for both of us and...

Both:....

I can't take this anymore! I should say something!

Both: Um!

Custard Face: Oh, you go first.

Mia: Fine, about yesterday... I'm sorry for cancelling the plan at the last minute. I hope I didn't leave you hanging.

Custard Face: Don't be, I met my cousin after so long anyway.

Mia: Cousin?

Custard Face: Yeah, I met her while I was waiting for you.

Wait, that means the woman I saw with him was his cousin and not a lady friend! I don't really know why but, it makes me relieved.

Mia: I just remembered, you forgot something at the store.

Custard Face: What?

I take out my wallet to remove his photo. As I take it out, one of the larger pieces of the hairpin with the bow slips out as well.

Mia:..!

Custard Face: That pin...

He starts to reach for it but I quickly pick it up. I hand him the photo instead.

Mia: Here.

Custard Face:... Thanks.

Mia:...?

Is it only me or did his tone waver slightly? After a while, the food arrives. Chicken and broccoli soup, creamy vegetable croquettes and sweet and spicy pork stew?!

Mia: Hey, this looks good!

They're all my favorites too! I stuff a spoonful of the sweet and spicy stew in my mouth.

Mia: Mmm! This ish sho good!

Custard Face: Pfft. I guess somethings never change.

Mia: Whar?

I ask, still eating.

Custard Face: Er, I meant the sweet sauce; it's still the same.

Mia: Obviously, why would they change it?

Custard Face: Hah, anyway, you've got sauce on your cheek.

Mia: What?!

I dab my cheek with a napkin.

Mia: Is it gone?

Custard Face: You're wiping the wrong side, silly.

He reaches out towards me but I dodge.

Mia: I... I can do it myself.

Custard Face:...

He withdraws his hand and I wipe my cheek clean. I look over at him to see him idly poking a piece of chicken. I must've sounded like I was warding him off.

Mia:.. Don't get me wrong, I just... don't like relying on others for little things.

Custard Face: Okay...

True, after Jason moved out of town with his family, there was nobody to protect me from bullies. My dad even enrolled me for martial arts classes for self defense till I was 17 (that's 12 years of training). I used to rely a lot on him and he just left out of the blue; since then, I've avoided relying on others as much as possible. But then why do I feel like I just did something wrong? Whatever, if I keep thinking about this depressing stuff, the food's going to get cold! I continue eating my food, shoving other thoughts away.

After lunch, Custard Face walks me back to the store.

Mia: Say, don't you have to go to work? I could've gone back myself y'know.

Custard Face: Well, my job isn't so hectic that I need to run around like a headless chicken all the time.

Mia: Huh? What kind of work do you do?

Custard Face: I'm a fashion illustrator.

Fashion illustrator?! Freaky, even Jason wanted to become one when he grew up. The more I get to know this guy, the more similar he seems to Jason; it keeps giving me wrong idea.

Mia: What?! Then you must have a lot on your plate right now!

Custard Face: Not really, I just meet my clients to discuss what they want, submit my sketches, select the fabrics for the dress after they get the green light and send them to my tailoring team.

Mia: That still sounds like a lot! How's the pay though?

Custard Face: Well, what I earn a day is almost 10 times as much as you earn in a month.

Mia: What?! I should start to call you Rich Guy instead of Custard Face now!

Custard Face: Wow, you still call me that? I have a name too, you see. It's-

Just as he starts to say his next words, I spot my boss, Ethan, coming towards our shore. If he sees me wasting time and loitering around, he's either going to deduct my salary or cancel my bonus!

Mia: I'm so sorry! My boss is coming back, I need to get going!

Custard Face: What?

Mia: Bye!

I run towards the store as fast as I can. Aw crap! I didn't get his name again! But right now, my job's more important! I ditch the thought of knowing his name for the time being as I get closer and closer to the store....