Tales of the Bittersweet

A Bittersweet Look

      "H-hey...i made it.." I wheeze, raising a weak and numb arm in victory. Honestly this restaurant needs f*cking police, I swear.

     "Yo, what's gooddd," CJ asks, extending a fist. I bump it in response.

     "Dude, this restaurant is going to kill someone, just you wait, they're gonna suffocate or break a couple of ribs. I already bruised mine." I complain, as someone pulls up a seat from another table. I mutter my thanks.

     "So, everyone here better give me an introduction. You already know me, and I know CJ and Erin."

     "John, viet like you," the guy to the far end of the table says.

     "Why do all vietnamese people have the same names? I mean, come on, I have Arthur, that's an uncommon viet-english name" I complain, and he just shrugs.

     "John's not a bad name, I honestly wouldn't change it if I had the chance," he grins. I just sigh.

     "Well, my name's Riza, and you can just call my Riz. Also, working hard is super easy and fun to me." the girl with blond hair points at herself, a huge confident grin on her face.

    "She's super confident that she's gonna win EFIN III, so just expect her to ramble about her 'award-winning project,'" John blurts, and she immediately throws the glass of water laying next to him onto him. He immediately responds with his own throw, and pretty soon, they're yelling at each other for getting each other sopping wet.

     "HEY, YOU STARTED IT FIRST"

     "YOU SHOULD'VE JUST KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT"

     This goes on for 2 more minutes until the waiters force them to shut up and sit down. I debate on whether or not to keep the introductions going, but Erin does it for me.

     "Sooo, how about we continue this, uhhh, I'll start it, name's Erin, you know that, and I like reading anything that strikes my fancy!" She points at the girl with her head down across from her, who's wearing a plaid shirt, with rolled up sleeves and glasses. Her hair is tied up in a bun and she looks up, a glazed look in her eyes, as if she were just sleeping and looks up at Erin.

     "Huh...what's happening? How long was I asleep for, and where are we? Did we get kidnapped again?" the girls asks, before looking around. Her eyes light up briefly, but then they become foggy again. "Oh, we're at Lucky Machine, right?"

     "Ding ding ding! That's right, as usual! You never cease to amaze me! You genius!" she cheers, getting up abruptly from her chair and going all the way around the eight person table just to grab her around the neck.

     "Huh..thanks I guess?" she utters quietly, while Erin gives her a noogie, grinning.

     "Honestly how do you do it-" she says, before the sound around me begins to get quieter and quieter. My focus is not on my inability to hear sound, but the girl in front of me. Her hair, tied up into a pony-tale, complete with a hair clip. Somehow, the beating in my chest gets faster and faster, and I feel my face getting hot. The more I stare, the hotter it gets.

     "Uhh, King, you alright?" a distant voice asks. "Whoa," is the answer I give in response. "Dude, seriously, is something up, you've been staring over there for awhile, plus your phone just rang." CJ says, a concerned look in his eyes.

     "Yeah, I'm fine, uh, you don't have to look that concerned."

     "Oh, no. I'm just wondering whether or not I'm friends with someone with who's completely strange. Don't want that, now do I," he jokes, playfully punching me on the shoulder. Rubbing the spot on my shoulder, I smile.