Jason Leigh

Mia: Um, hello? Earth to.. you.

Custard Face: Huh? Oh, right, the thing. Can we... do it next week, maybe next Saturday?

One week later, huh.

Mia: Okay. By the way, what's your nam-

*Ring Ring*

Mia:...

It's his cellphone. Everytime his name comes up, somebody has to go. Is it all a coincidence or fate's game that I don't get too familiar with him? My heart sinks.

Mia: You should take that. It could be for work.

I smile vaguely.

Custard Face: Yeah. I-

Mia: Goodbye then.

Custard Face: What?

I close the door leaving him dumbfounded and crumple down on floor. I just had to force a smile to turn him away and yet, it feels as though I had to muster up all the strength from my body to do it. I'm so confused that I don't even know what I am doing anymore. I hug my knees and bury my head in them.

7 days later...

I'm walking to the store for work as usual. I haven't talked to him since then. All I heard from him through his text was the time and place of our 'business meet'. It kinda pains me to think of our last meeting that way but, this is what I chose to do at last. After Saturday, that is tomorrow, we'll be back to being strangers all over again. I'm getting cold feet every time I think that tomorrow is when it all ends.

I mentally sigh at the thought when...

*Smack!*

Mia:..!

Someone suddenly hugs my my shoulders from behind with force. What the?!

Naomi: Mia! Why didn't you tell me that you snagged up a gold mine?!

Mia: N-Naomi?! Where did you come from?!

I whirl around to face her and she grabs both of my hands.

Naomi: Don't give me that! Tell me how you did it, girl!

Mia: Did what?

What's she blabbering about?

Naomi: I'm talking about Jason! How did you get so close with him?!

Mia:..!!!

Jason?! How does Naomi know about him?! I never told her his name! Wait, I can't be a 100% sure that she's talking about my Jason.

Mia: Jason who?

Naomi: Hmm, are you pretending to be clueless? Of course I'm talking about Jason Leigh! He's such a famous fashion illustrator! Not to mention handsome!

Mia:..!!!

That's my Jason! Jason Leigh! I can't believe he actually got to make his dream a reality! But that's not the most important thing here!

Mia: How do you know about him?

Naomi: What do you mean by that? He comes to meet you so often.

He comes to meet me? Hold up, that kind of explains how Cindy mentioned seeing the store's business card at his place! However, how do I not recall ever meeting him? It doesn't make sense, even if he did come to meet me, he would say something about the promise we made 19 years ago. Wait, did he not recognize me? Or did he not say anything because *I* didn't recognize him?

Mia: Where did you get his name?

Naomi: His name? I saw it while I was was internet surfing. There was this ad for a magazine special featuring him. It had his name and face on it do I connected the dots.

His picture! That would help me jog my memory!

Mia: Can you show it to me?

Naomi: Heh, looks like you can't keep your eyes away from him.

Mia:...

I want to tell her that it's not like that but, the words just won't come out.

Naomi: Anyway, we should be getting to the store rather than chatting here. You know Ethan, he'll blow up if he finds out we reached late.

Mia: Fine, then can you show it to during break time?

Naomi: Eh?

She looks at me and blinks in surprise. Then a teasing smile forms on her face and she mummers something.

Naomi: You really do like him.

Mia: Huh?

What did she say? We walk to the store and cover our shifts. My mind is still on what Naomi said earlier. There is only one customer that visits me and that is... Is he the Jason she talked about or is it a coincidence that their names are same? It would be a greater coincidence because they look so similar. But if it was really him, he would've said something. I sigh.

Finally during the break time, I enter the break room to find Naomi reading online comics again.

Mia: Can you show me that article?

Naomi: What article? Oh, THAT one. Wait a second.

I take a seat across of her and she glides her finger on her screen. After a short while she flips her phone to show me the screen.

Naomi: Here.

Mia:...!!!

I take one look at the magazine cover and all the color drains from my face. This... This can't be....