Ride on Time

Chapter 54

Mitsuo felt unproductive, staying in his room for the most part. He had a ton of snacks that he could gobble up, and didn't really have the need to go out for lunch. So far, the only thing he tried was the nasi lemak and some Indian fried rice that he ordered through delivery.
And now was dinner time, which he decided to have in the hotel cafe itself. After all, a variety of Malaysian food was served there too.
There was sushi too and he couldn't help but try a few, together with the Laksa Penang that they served.
Mitsuo started crying because of how spicy it was.
His face was red and coated with tears and sweat, a fire alarm was going off in his mouth but...
Mitsuo loved it. He loved the new experience of eating spicy food, even managing to finish everything even when it might land him in diarrhoea.
He finally left the dining hall, trying his best to move despite being stuffed, and started making his way towards the lift lobby to go up to his room. He had to pass the banquet hall and it seemed like there was a party going on.
Mitsuo heard the opening of Mari Iijima's Cecile no Amagasa (Version II) in the air. He decided to stop by the entrance and take a peek inside.
A woman clad in a green satin yukata stepped onto the stage, holding a printed black fan in front of her face as she strode into the stage. She closed the fan with a rapid movement of her hand and respectfully bowed. A smile formed on her red lips as she gracefully strode off to the other side of the stage, exiting.
The song ended right before the vocals and changed to a different one as another person strutted in.
Mitsuo couldn't help but feel awed. He was in Malaysia, but yet he's still seeing fragments of his homeland. He smiled to himself and went up to his room.

Snacks, milk, buns, and even jam, but no water. Mitsuo groaned and grabbed his wallet before making his way downstairs. He bought everything but he didn't buy bottled water.
To the convenience store it was.
Mitsuo took the lift to the ground floor and marched out, making his way to the lobby. He had to pass the the banquet hall again and this time it looked like the party was over. Everyone bustled out, murmuring and calling to one another.
All of a sudden, Mitsuo heard his name being called. He turned to look but saw no one that he knew. He frowned and walked on.
This time, he was sure his name was being called. Mitsuo abruptly turned around and saw a Malay woman in a colourful garb waving at him. Confused, he turned around to look and saw the woman dressed as a geisha, Plum Blossom makeup adorning her forehead, now holding a gold trophy.
"Shree!" The kebaya-clad woman called again.
Mitsuo was dumbfounded with whatever that just happened. The woman was calling the kimono-clad lady. Why on earth did he feel as though she was calling to him instead?
He rushed out of the hotel without looking back.

Shree happily left the banquet hall, holding a small golden trophy, inscribed with Best Costume. Hanis came over, repeatedly shouting her name, with a big grin on her face.
"Shree!" Hanis squealed again. "Oh my gosh, how long have I been calling you and you didn't even hear me?!"
Shree chuckled sheepishly, holding onto her trophy. "Sorry, I'm just very excited."
"Never mind that," Hanis smiled. "I wanna congratulate you!"
"Thank you," Shree grinned. "I didn't expect I would win!"
"With that outfit, it would be impossible to not win," Hanis pointed out. "Anyway, bye! I have to go home."
Shree waved her off and texted her brother to come pick her up, going over to the lobby to wait.
While then, she decided to continue reading Timeless Love. She hadn't really had the time to read and was only halfway through the book.

Mitsuo walked back to the hotel, a heavy plastic bag of bottled water weighing down in his hand. He tried alternating it between hands but that didn't help with the painful sensation of the handles biting into his skin.
In the end, he gave up carrying the bag by the handles and ended up hoisting it onto the crook of his elbow, as if it was a baby, and went up the ramp to the hotel lobby. There was a car waiting right in front of the sheltered drop-off and Mitsuo couldn't help but stare at the Rolls Royce in awe as he made his way to the lobby. He felt like stopping to take a photo but just went on walking, afraid that he might seem suspicious to the owner.
Mitsuo entered the lobby and spotted a green form sitting on one of the sofas. It was the woman that dressed up as a geisha for the party. He couldn't help but notice the book she was reading.
Timeless Love.
Mitsuo decided to approach her.
"Hello," Mitsuo greeted with a slight bow.
The young woman looked up from her book, her eyes wide with surprise.
"I couldn't help but notice the book you're reading," Mitsuo smiled. "How is it?"
She still looked confused but nodded, making one of the handmade kanzashi on her head bob.
Mitsuo grinned. "Trust me, it's a really good book."
The girl nodded again. All of a sudden, she took out her phone, looked at it, then got up. She stuffed the book into her bag after placing a printed Japanese-themed bookmark between the pages and gave Mitsuo a bow before running off.
Mitsuo bowed too, then noticed something on the ground.
The girl left a blue kanzashi in her wake.
He quickly picked it up and went after her.
"Excuse me, Miss!" Mitsuo called. "You dropped this!"
The woman only glanced at him as she sped even faster out the hotel and got into a Lapis Blue Volkswagen Arteon. Mitsuo was left to stare after the car as it sped off.
"Wait, your kanzashi!" Mitsuo called, holding up the blue flower hairpin. He sighed and looked at it. 'Well, I guess this a souvenir from this encounter, then.' He thought.

Shree jumped into the car's backseat, panting. "Go go go!"
"Why lah?" Chandrika asked, seated beside her.
"Vasu, just go!" Shree screamed again.
A man ran up and Vasu immediately floored it, speeding down the road and to the bridge built by the hotel, exiting into the highway. Shree heaved a sigh of relief.
"What happened lah?" Chandrika asked, scooting closer to her. "Who's that feller?"
"I don't know, suddenly he come and ask if my book nice," Shree answered. "Then he started running after me when I got up to go!"
"Aiyo... be careful lah, next time," Chandrika warned. "This kinda people also got."
"I know, right?" Shree shivered. "I was sitting in the lobby, that feller just came only."
"Next time wait inside," Devi added. "Wait in the restaurant or something."
"Be careful next time, Akka," Vasu advised too. "If you see him again, just call me."
Shree couldn't help but snort. "I will, Vasu. I will."
Vasu exited the highway through the Jalan Timur intersection and drove straight home.

-feller is just how we say fellow or fella in Malaysia. I'm surprised, autocorrect didn't disturb that word lol.
Also, the song mentioned for Shree's entree can be found at the top.