I Wanna Love You Forever

CHAPTER 02: Stuttering

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 - Stuttering -

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“Gomen~” I whispered as I bow down passing through the counter.

“So how was the fanfic this time?” Mariko joked while cleaning the counter top with a cloth looking at me with a wide smile.

“I wasn’t able to read one last night.” I answered back as I put my things into the locker beneath the bread racks.

“Oh?! That’s new.” I noticed her stop her wiping and felt her walk towards the cabinet and start arranging the cans of coffee. “What’s keeping you late lately then?”

“Nothing much.” I replied shrugging my shoulders.

“Hmm?” she scoots next to me and felt her lips close to my ear. “Maybe the question shouldn’t be what but rather who’s keeping you late?” she whispered stressing the ‘who’ underneath a giggle.

“I guess you right.” I sighed placing a can of coffee inside a cabinet above my head. Preparing for the next one to be placed beside it, I noticed her stop what she’s doing and felt her stare piercing onto me. “What?”

“What ‘what’?!” her looks on me are overflowing with curiosity. I know what it means. It’s so intense that it suffocates me to even reply a look.

“Okay okay~” I surrendered. “I gained a friend at the bar last week. We’re kinda…. Getting to know each other.” I heard a giggle from her as she continued stacking the cans of coffee on the counter top for display. As if she was like holding a laugh that’s about to burst is the sound that she’s making. I felt a little confused as to why.

“Uhmm~ Nyayo, have you… had a boyfriend?” she asked me casually.

“None yet.” My answer was plain and monotonous.

“Seriously?” she halted again from stacking. “You’re already twenty five isn’t it?” her voice was full of shock and curiosity, and that I clearly understand.

“Yup! Since birth.” I said proudly. Although I must say that I am not really proud of it. I just don’t like it being such a big deal but I admit that I sometimes wish I had even just one.

“That’s… surprising.” She commented in a gentle manner while moving onto the next box of coffee cans for further stacking. “Considering how you look, I thought you’ve had at least three of four serious relationships already.”

“What?!” I can’t help but squeal a reply of shock.

“I mean, look at you. You’re not that bad. You’re beautiful in many ways, especially on the outside.”

“On the outside?” my eyebrows cringe a frown.

“You’re pretty. You’re tall. Complexion wise, you’re skin is white and can easily tell that it’s smooth even without touching. You have a very nice face which can charm every man along with a beautiful set of teeth. You can even audition as an idol and I tell you, you’ll pass, although you’re really on the retiree age already. I mean, c’mon Nyaro, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“No I’m not.” I whispered a reply. All her praises warms me, though a part of it makes me feel even worse on not having a boyfriend. If she sees me as that pretty, then I don’t know what’s wrong with me on not having one.

“Well… maybe it’s the attitude.” She laughs. “You’re quite a boring talker, honestly.” She said while giving off a hearty laugh. I already know about that truth about me so it’s not quite surprising. The only reason I get annoyed a little is that associating it with the reason of not having a boyfriend. “So… what’s he like?”