Ellie-chan (COMPLETED)

Ten - Lucky Number 9

As I listened to Hiromi-sensei's desperation to find a man to marry, I thought about my own situation, too. I am 29 and will be 30 soon, yet I haven't experienced having a boyfriend in my life. Well, Dodong, my special friend when I was in high school, cannot be considered as my boyfriend. We just had a mutual understanding but it was far from a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

I felt sorry for my colleague so I agreed to accompany her to Sakura Matchmaking Company located at the ninth floor of Meiji Building in Senri Chuo. Here in Japan, when a girl reaches her twenty fifth birthday and still has no serious boyfriend, parents usually seek the help of a matchmaking company to find her a suitable partner. In Hiromi-sensei's case, she was the one who seek the help of a matchmaker. Well, if I were her, I would be pretty worried too. She is turning thirty six next month.

Since Sakura Matchmaking Company is the sole occupant of the last floor of the building, when you ride an elevator and you press the ninth floor, everybody knows that you're heading towards that company.

Dressed in our impeccable suits, the two of us went to Meiji Building. When we got there, we saw so many people waiting for the elevator. I forgot to say that Meiji Building is home to nice restaurants and shops. On the first and second floor, various stores selling women's clothes abound. On the third and fourth floor, one could find the finest flower shops in Senri Chuo. The fifth and sixth floors are devoted to cozy coffee shops and ice cream parlors while the seventh and eight teemed with elegant restaurants. Yes, indeed Sakura Matchmaking Company is in a strategic location.

I could sensed Hiromi-sensei's discomfort when she pressed number 9 on the side of the elevator where the floor buttons are located. Who wouldn't? People stared at her as soon as she pressed that lucky number 9. I guess they felt a bit sorry. Although, matchmaking companies are pretty common in Japan, people still think that when you ask for their assistance to find somebody to marry you are a loser.

It seemed like ages to get to the ninth floor. When we reached our destination, we were welcomed by a pretty receptionist. She escorted Hiromi-sensei to the vacant cubicle and asked her to wait for the staff that would attend to her needs. I waited for her in the reception area while she talked with one of the staff. The receptionist asked me if I, too, need their services. I vehemently said 'no' while shaking my head... The girl smiled at me. Was I too defensive?

After a few minutes, Hiromi-sensei came out happy. She told me she now has a lot of prospects. She will be looking at their profile carefully when she get home. Good for her, I thought. At least, the trip was all worth it.

We were both smiling when we headed to the elevator. As soon as I stepped inside, I prayed that it will go straight to the first floor so that we don't need to bear with people's weird glances. But, it stopped on the eight floor. Oh well! As I was about to turn my back to the elevator's entrance, I saw Hayato! He looked surprised to see me. I was about to pretend I didn't see him but he smiled at me and said, "Hi." He had that weird smile on his face! He assumed I went to the matchmaking company to find a lover! Shit! He didn't seem to notice Hiromi-sensei. My friend had to wave her hand in front of him and introduce herself to get his attention. He apologized for not noticing her right away and he moved to the other side of the elevator. I saw him took his keitai (cellphone), typed something, and put it inside his trouser pocket. He had that knowing smile on his face. I felt like strangling him!

Author's Note: Senri-chuo is a real place in Osaka but Meiji building is just a product of my imagination, just like Sakura Matchmaking Company.... :)