Just Sh*t: A New York City Story

Chapter 14: Tiki Bar Talk

One night in Honolulu, after a few rounds of drinks with the guys, Alex felt emboldened and ready to try his luck with some of the local women. As they wandered through a bustling area filled with shops and restaurants, he spotted a small group of Japanese women laughing and enjoying the night.

"Hey, I'm gonna go say hi," Alex announced, much to the amusement of his friends, who watched with a mix of anticipation and concern.

"Good luck, man!" Judah called out, grinning.

As Alex approached the women, he took a deep breath, trying to appear confident despite the slight sway in his steps from the drinks. "Konnichiwa!" he greeted, waving awkwardly.

The women looked at him, a bit surprised but smiling back. They replied with polite giggles and a soft "Konnichiwa!" in return.

"Um, so... I like your, uh, style?" Alex stammered, gesturing vaguely at their outfits, hoping his charm would shine through despite the language barrier.

One of the women tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face. "What...?" she asked, her English hesitant.

"Your clothes! They're really cool!" Alex said, struggling to find the right words. He pointed at her colorful kimono, trying to convey his admiration.

"Ah! Arigato!" she said, nodding enthusiastically.

Feeling a burst of confidence, Alex continued, "So, do you want to, um, have fun? Like, go get food or something?" He was aware he might be miscommunicating but pressed on, gesturing toward a nearby food stall.

The women exchanged glances, clearly confused but still smiling. One of them piped up, "Food? What food?"

"Uh, like... Hawaiian food! Spam musubi! Poke!" Alex replied, mixing English with excited hand motions. He felt like he was trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces.

The group laughed, and one of the women said, "We don't understand much... but we like... Hawaiian food!"

"Perfect! Let's go eat!" Alex exclaimed, relieved they had found some common ground. He turned back to his friends, who were watching with amusement.

"Dude, you might be onto something!" Ryan laughed, raising his drink in support.

As they all headed toward the food stall, Alex felt a mix of triumph and embarrassment. It wasn't the smoothest interaction, but he was having fun, and that was what mattered. Plus, he thought, at least he was trying something new—even if it didn't come out quite as planned.

At the dinner table, Alex sat across from the Japanese woman, whose name he had just learned was Aiko. The restaurant was vibrant, filled with the sounds of laughter and sizzling dishes, but the atmosphere felt slightly tense for Alex's friends.

Jamie fidgeted in his seat, glancing around the room, unsure of how to contribute to the conversation. The language barrier made it challenging to engage, and he felt like an awkward third wheel. Jackson, sitting next to him, stared blankly at his plate, occasionally checking his phone for distractions.

Judah, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. He leaned in, genuinely interested in Aiko and her friends, asking them about their lives in Japan and sharing funny anecdotes from his own experiences. "So, what's the strangest food you've ever tried?" he asked, grinning.

As Aiko started to explain something in her limited English, Alex could see Jamie and Jackson's eyes glazing over. Jamie whispered, "This is kind of... painful, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Jackson replied, tapping at his phone. "I'm just waiting for the food."

Alex felt a pang of guilt as he watched his friends struggle with the awkwardness. "Hey, guys, I appreciate you coming out tonight. I know it's a bit challenging," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Judah shrugged it off with a smile. "It's all good, man! I'm just here for the food. And it's a unique experience, right?"

Alex chuckled, grateful for Judah's support but still concerned about Jamie and Jackson. "You guys can bail if you want. I'll be fine," he offered, but they both shook their heads.

"Nah, we're in this together," Jamie said, forcing a smile.

As the food finally arrived, the conversation turned to discussing the dishes. Aiko pointed out some of the items, excitedly describing them, though her English was often lost in translation. Judah took the opportunity to engage her more, while Alex tried to decipher the conversation, feeling increasingly aware of how out of place Jamie and Jackson seemed.

Eventually, Alex decided to make a bold move. "Okay, how about we play a game?" he suggested. "Everyone can share their favorite foods and maybe a funny story about it!"

The suggestion seemed to spark some energy, and the group started to share, with Judah leading the charge. As Aiko shared her story about trying sushi for the first time, the laughter began to break through the awkwardness. Jamie and Jackson relaxed a bit, leaning in to listen.

Alex felt a surge of relief, realizing that even if the conversation was tricky, they could still find common ground through humor and food. And as the evening progressed, he was grateful for his friends' willingness to support him, even in the most challenging of circumstances.