Destined

Subway and Gossip

"I heard you playing the piano... The night I moved in."

"Wait, you're the new neighbour?"

"You didn't know?" Oh gosh, how daft this girl can be. I've been her neighbour for the past five days and she hasn't noticed me yet.

"Oh." She simply says, finishing up the bandage. She rummages in her pack again.

"You're really good at the piano."

"Thanks." She awkwardly replies.

The tension is high and we are in a thick fog of awkwardness until she clips my bandage and pats it.

"There, all done." She smiles, her eyes twinkling again.

She stands up, getting ready to leave with her bag.

"Wait, what's your name?" I suddenly call out.

"Koharu Yamada," she grins, turning back.

"You're Japanese?" I call awkwardly.

"What makes you think I'm not?" She replies once again in fluent Japanese, and I see a wisp of her black hair as she leaves, the small brown fox still dangling.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"You good?" Javi asks, patting my shoulder.

"Oh, yeah..." I reply, fumbling with my sandwich.

"I told them extra spicy chili sauce but they refused! Are they underestimating me? I can handle spicy! I am spicy!" Nam grumbled, exasperated as he settles in the seat next to me.

We laugh at Nam's frustration, only to receive glares from him. He tried so hard to glare at us, if he continued to glare at both of us at the same time, he might get cock-eyed.

"Subway's sandwiches are really getting smaller and smaller. We are hungry men and we need real food, let's go sign a petition for bigger sandwich, and more spicy--"

"You mean men and a boy, Nam," Javi interrupts, sending us into another bout of laughter.

"Whatever, Spanish tomato. Hey Yu! How's your hand? I heard you and Ko had some private time in the changing room...Spill the beans my friend!" Nam said, pointing his ham sandwich at me.

He's been obsessed with calling me Yu, and the Hey Yu (you) joke. Ugh.

"My name... Yuzuru. Call me Yuzu." I grumble.

"Amigo cut the crap just tell us what happened" Javi complained, taking another bite of his tuna sandwich.

"She... Japanese good. Very good medical student..." I stutter, scolding myself on the inside for talking while eating. Mother would not approve.

"Sigh, I thought there was juicy gossip bro," Nam sighed.

I didn't mention that Ko's full name was Koharu. Somehow, I wanted to keep that piece of information to myself.