Loving my feral one

ch_7: Tanaka : "the crackhead on the road"

That knucklehead! Hiding behind the bush like a scaredy-cat, then strutting around like he owns the place the moment I show up. I can’t believe I just had to run into that ridiculous joker. Taking a swig of the cold water, I glance out the window. He’s about to dash into the convenience store where I’m standing. He opened the door, and I ducked behind a snack rack. Not that I’m hiding from him or anything. I stand up straight again.

Leaning ever so slightly against the rack so it doesn't topple over, I watch as he scratches his neck, his eyes darting around. Deciding between spaghetti and macaroni. I wonder how long his poor mom has been boiling water on the stove. She’s probably resigned herself to a night without him.

I lift my eyes off him and sneak a peek at the cashier. No wonder I felt that piercing gaze. He’s leaning on the counter, shamelessly staring. Gulping I duck my head once more. I feel as if I have been caught. Skating at night is normal. But I feel like… he saw me naked? Huh? Yeah! L-Like I have been discovered and now everything’s over! Over for me. No one else was aware of it! Chewing my lip I glare at him. My nostrils flaring. If only I didn’t go into that alley tonight! No one would have ever known then–

“Just go with the spaghetti, dude,” the cashier says in a greasy voice.
“Huh?” He throws his head back a little, looking at the packet with the long, clear sticks. Can he honestly not tell the difference between spaghetti and macaroni? My eyebrows knit unconsciously at the unbearable sight of him grinning as he clutches the packet and puts the other one back. Humming, he turns and struts to the soda machine in his orange pajamas and flip-flops. How have I never run into him before if he lives just around the corner?

Reaching the machine, he stops and spins around. “Tamasha! Coca-Cola or Pepsi?”

I jerk and hit the skateboard in my stomach. What the heck? I was hiding. Dashing over as the cashier eyes me, I reach him and hiss, “You are so loud! Be a little—”

“Huh? Why, Tamana?” he stares at me and I almost kick him again.

Gulping, I regret waiting for him in the first place. He runs a hand through his cocoa-brown hair and shrugs, asking me for an answer. “It’s not Tamasha or Tamana but Tanaka!!” tapping my fingers on my board “And none! I don’t like fizzy drinks.”

“Huh? You’re boring” he pouts and adds, “...okay.”

After getting a discount he places the eggs atop the floor, spaghetti, and other things. I close my slightly parted lips. So he has this much sense at least. Standing I stare at him, pack all his stuff peacefully as he hums. Hums. not laughs. Yells or guffaws.  Is he always like this without another knucklehead?
We both walk out of the store together. Realizing the situation, I halt so he can go ahead. How did I end up walking with him?

“Is your phone charged? I forgot to charge mine at the store,” he asks coming to a halt just beside me.
I roll my eyes, “Yeah, it’s charged. I’m not as forgetful as you”

“Okay. good.” Rolling his eyes he remarks.

My eyes linger on him as he walks some distance away from me and keeps glancing sideways. He turns his neck to check behind again. The corners of my lips curl up. Slowly walking I veered closer to him. He stopped glancing sideways.

“Oh,” looking at me he comments giving me a sad smile “You must be scared walking around at night”. Glaring I find he’s pupil jumping here and there. Behind me. Sideways. I gulp my scoff and step on the tiny rock lying on the road.

crackhead.