French Cup: A Neighborhood Story

Chapter 20: -Kazuya- Tippi Hedren in The Birds

It's a date.

He'd definitely said that. It wasn't a dream. It was like none of it had happened, and if I weren't so tired, knowing I hadn't been asleep, I'd half believe it wasn't real. 

Nikki walked past me to refill his coffee server. Some regulars were here, and a couple of new people in a corner talking. They were dressed in black clothes, their hair super straightened and like wigs in appearance. Seemed like the first of the crowd for Zombie Walk had arrived. I was happy to see them, but my mind was elsewhere and had been all day. 

I'd forgotten to separate my egg whites and yolks this morning. I'd had to throw the whole mixture out, but I didn't care. Remembering him watching that movie, his hand over his mouth. Wondering if he was enjoying it. He never said a word, and he hadn't touched the chocolate he'd bought. It made me wonder about him. His life experiences, where he'd been. We'd never had a real conversation like that.

Oh, but now. Maybe we'd get to. He'd definitely said those words last night. It's a date...

I couldn't let myself get lost in this. It was ridiculous to think about. Maybe he meant it a different way. Surely he did. Let's go out as friends. It couldn't possibly meant he was gay. I'd forced him to come out with me. We'd gone to all the places I'd wanted to go. Maybe he felt forced, but he'd willingly agreed for more. And, he'd been waiting for me outside of French Cup in the first place. That, I couldn't explain.

"Earth to Kazu," Nikki laughed, snapping his fingers in front of my face. 

"Uh- huh?" I asked, blinking hard. In front of me was one of the goth kids, smiling at me expectantly. "Oh- uh, welcome to French Cup."

"Thank you. I'm interested in the mille feuille."

I jumped into action, remembering myself. I went to the showcase, and he followed me. He pointed to the strawberries and cream one, and I loyally took it out of the case for him. I grabbed a plate and a paper lace doily. The mille feuille was presented on this, and he was so pleased with it. As I watched him go, it made me wonder about Gyeong-Wan. 

With him buying the chocolates last night at the movie theater, it made me know. He must like chocolate a lot. Maybe it wasn't just my chocolate he liked. However, I could appeal to him. Maybe, if I saved a chocolate mille feuille for him, he'd be happy-

"Did you take payment?" Nikki asked, going past me again, his eyebrows raised.

My hand smacked my forehead. "Oh crap," I sighed. 

"Are you okay?" He chuckled, putting the coffee server on the counter. The back of his hand went to my forehead, which was probably red now from my smack. "Hmm. You aren't warm. Did you get much sleep?" He leaned in a little closer, more intimate. "Do you want to go home and sleep when Yash gets here? It's okay. He'll be here for four hours. You can take a nap. I've been concerned about your sleep lately. You've been looking tired."

As soon as he said that, I had a different and better idea. I nodded to him, accepting his offer. 

"Okay. He'll be here in about an hour."

I made an about-face. I really was tired, but I was determined, and I had to wait an hour to do it. 

"I'll go clean the bathroom," I announced, making to go there and waste time.

Nikki stamped his foot and crossed his arms. "You will not. You handle food all day. How gross. I'll go do it."

I started laughing. He was so refreshing, momentarily taking me away from my thoughts. "What the hell do you do all day, too?"