The next morning, I wake up late, finding the spot on my couch empty, & a slight crick in my neck from looking down at Dakota all night. I panic for a minute, wondering where my heart has gone, before remembering he must have just left for work. I forgot he had that again. It would be interesting trying to work around his schedule now... But I am willing to do whatever, as long as it means I have some time with him.
I had been hoping to make us breakfast, but he had already left, though he did leave a handwritten note in his sloppy, yet endearing, handwriting.
Rain,
Don't panic, I just went to work... I really didn't want to leave, but I kinda had to to make a living, you know... Anyways... I have a lunch break at around 12 today (I texted you the address), if you want to stop by... If not, I'll text/talk to you later, I guess? Or you can come over to my place for dinner?
Love you,
Dakota <3
Ps- please text if/when you come by
I smile slowly, a kind of wistful smile usually reserved for recalling a cherished childhood memory or a particularly pleasing dream. But that's what my life felt like now with Dakota here, a dream.
. . .
I end up meeting him for lunch at the place he texted me, a park near a crumbling public fountain he & his colleagues are working on at the moment. I beam as I sit on a bench nearby, setting the bag of takeout next to me as I watch them finish up.
Dakota smiles & waves as he realizes I'm there, coming to sit next to me once he's finished. I see his other colleagues start to head their own directions to eat their lunches among themselves, except one. A young woman about Dakota's age with black hair & glasses hesitates a moment, before approaching us.
"Hi!" She says cheerily. "I haven't seen you in a while, Dakota. The boss said that you were going to be out for a few days, but didn't say why... Are you ok?" Her eyebrows furrowed, & she frowned slightly.
He nodded. "Yes, I'm great, thanks for asking, Sakiko."
She beamed. "That's great! I know we don't talk much, but I just wanted to make sure you were ok." She turned to me, still smiling. "Who's this?"
Dakota's face reddened & he stuttered. "Um, uh... This is... uh, Rain..."
She looked sympathetically between the two of us, & sort of nodded & winked. "No need to explain. Nice to meet you, Rain." She extended her hand & I shook it. "I'm Dakota's colleague, as you can tell... & well we don't know each other real well..." She scratched her arm self-consciously. "I've never been real good at talking to people... I'm glad he met you. He seems a lot happier today that he has since I've known him, if that makes a difference!" She smiled & laughed nervously, seeming to shine with all the positive vibes she was emitting. It was both a little off-putting & welcoming at the same time. "Well..." She looked around skeptically. "I better go eat my lunch now! I don't want to interrupt you." She winked & we both blushed. "I'll see you guys later, I guess, & enjoy your lunch!" & with that, she sauntered off, leaving us to our lunch.
What do you guys think of Sakiko? I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this chapter, but I've been enjoying writing/posting so much that I decided to post it early :> <3. Hope you guys liked it :3
Here's Sakiko, btw :)
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