-In 2023, not all parents hold their children to traditional standards for love and marriage, but modern lifestyles are still not always accepted. Especially not when your younger sibling is getting married first and your parents are practically jum...
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I was tired of my lady
We'd been together too long
Like a worn out recording
Of a favorite song
The next song on your playlist begins as you walk down the street away from the school you had been at all day. You hum quietly to yourself until your fingers reach the door to the coffee shop you stop at most days on your way home.
Inside, you give the barista your order and walk over to your usual table where you sit and wait, still listening to the song.
So I waited with high hopes
And she walked in the place
I knew her smile in an instant
I knew the curve of her face
A few minutes later you hear the barista call your name. You hardly pay any attention to the door opening at the same time until some stranger beats you to your own drink. A handsome stranger with bright orange hair and beautiful eyes that burn through to your soul. If he wasn't such a dick, you'd probably consider asking him out.
"Hey, man, what's your-" you begin until he starts up his own apology.
"I'm sorry. I thought it was mine. I did that online ordering for the first time and I guess we got the same thing," he tells you.
"Oh," you gasp, shocked that he genuinely apologized. "Well, it's alright. Guess it's kinda popular, huh?" you smile.
"Yeah, and it's my favorite, too," he smiles widely, his whole face lighting up at the same time.
Yes, I like piña coladas
And gettin' caught in the rain
I'm not much into health food
I am into champagne
"You like piña coladas, too?" you chuckle to yourself as you continue to hear the song in your ears.
"What?" he then asks, confused by your question.
"Nothing," you smile, shaking your head to yourself. Just as you're about to back away, the bartender comes back calling a drink for 'Hinata'.
"Oo, that's me!" he grins once again. "Hey, are you staying for a bit?"
"Yeah. I got a table over by the window," you smile back, taking your earplugs out of your ears and putting them back into their little container.
The two of you walk over to your table for two and sit down across from each other right next to the window. You can't help but smile at yourself from the cliché situation you've found yourself in.
"So how's your day been?" he asks, awkwardly starting the small talk conversation.
"Just got out of school," you tell him. "I'm so burnt out but coming here always helps. What about you?"
"Oh, I'm an event manager. I was working on a project just a little ways off and I stopped in here kind of on a whim, but I'm happy to know that I did," he beams at you.
"An event manager? That sounds important," you smile back. "So are you from around here or are you only here for your event?"
"I'm from the area, but I do get to travel around a lot," he nods.
"Ever been out of the country?" you then ask, becoming curious.
"I went to the U.S. and Canada a handful of times, but I typically stay here in Japan."
"That's so cool," you smile at the thought of visiting another country. "I've never got to travel internationally. I've always wanted to but, you know, school."
The two of you continue to talk in the coffee shop until, before you even realize it, it's already gotten dark. Once the coffee shop begins to close up, the two of you finally stand and throw out your drinks, making your way toward the front door.
"Well I think that was the most fun I've ever had getting a drink before," he hums as he reaches for the door and allows you to walk through first.
"Same here. Perhaps, though, if you'd ever like to get a drink again we could cut through all this red tape and meet up at the bar this weekend," you offer as he walks out the door behind you.
"If we were to do that, I'd need to get your number first to coordinate the whole thing," he says, continuing the banter just like he has since you first met.
"Fair point," you smile as you reach into your back pocket and pull out your phone. "I'll be at the university all day on Friday but I'll be free afterward if you'd like to meet up then."
After you hand Hinata your phone, he types in his number and quietly hands it back to you. There, you notice he's sent you a message from your phone saying:
Yes, I like piña coladas.
Once Hinata walks away with a big wave and a wide smile, you walk home with what feels like a large weight off your shoulders. Though you had been stressed out from working at the university all day. Planning lessons. Correcting papers. Helping students. Hinata managed to make you feel so calm after just one conversation.
With a slight smile growing on your lips, you hope that maybe he will be the solution to yet another stressor heavily weighing you down.
And instead of walking home, you head straight toward your friend Faye's house where you're hoping you can tell her and Kotonoha the good news.
