Marrying The Guy I Hate

IX: Aishiteru Japan

What was that? What the f' have you been doing to me Japan!?

Clarence almost cringe at the stupidity of his own question. Blaming his only-God-knows-what-weird-reaction to a beautiful country. Feeling lamer as he could get, he wondered if he could have been intoxicated with some... radioactive substance? radioactive particles? ugh... Radioactive something. Radioactive whatever! Is Fukushima near Tokyo? Or is it in Tokyo? He wanted to punch himself out of this dumb state he's in.

Seriously Clarence? Radioactivity? And it's been what? Years since the tragedy happened. Japan had long recovered from the incident. That's it. Maybe he could give himself a nice slap on the face. Or not. Melody might think he's a real lunatic. Melody. Just like that his attention went back with a snap.

Melody. He looked at her with her now astonished expression. There were randomly scribbled words of 'what?' all over her face. Or maybe he was just imagining things.

"Could you repeat what you just said." She looked at him expectantly.

"Ugh... stop ignoring me?"

It sounded like a query rather than a statement. He sounded too lame now he wanted to kick himself. 'Get a grip dude!'

"No, no! Right after that! I mean repeat the whole statement!" Melody animatedly shook both her hands in front of her as if wiping a glass window.

"Oh... I said, let's have a deal. You stop ignoring me. I'll do whatever you want."

With that Melody flashed a Cheshire cat smile. It was too creepy for Clarence. And by then he wanted to take every word back. Melody's dark plot now anticipated, Clarence cringe. He should have known.

"First of... We're going shopping! But for now, I want chocolate truffles! Go buy me."

All emotions shifting, Melody said cheerfully in a childish tone.

In her head she thanked Clarence' way of trying to ease the tension before they go back home. She's been cracking her head for answers on how she'd be able to deal with their pretension while still having her tension at bay. Being the culprit himself, she had not expected that Clarence will be the one giving answer to her dilemma and make it easier for her. Not to mention it opened a door for her to make a little revenge. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

Burying all awkwardness inside an imaginary box labeled with 'Enough Of The Drama', she turned her head to look at Clarence who had just picked up his wallet.

"And oh, I just remember I love fresh strawberries together with truffles." She added yet again with her childish tone.

A snicker went out as she saw Clarence' disgruntled expression while he literally face-palmed. Right then and there she would have sworn she heard him mumble something about radioactivity and punching himself. Weirdo.

Just like that Clarence followed every request Melody threw onto him. Today saying 'no' is a vocabulary unknown to his option. And by the looks of it Melody's enjoying the whole set up, taking good advantage of it.

"Since when have you been writing? I mean, I know you were into books and all when we were teens but..."

He aimed to open a conversation as they walk out of yet another shop down Harajuku-Takeshita street with the cool breeze of the late afternoon. Both of them marveled at the beautiful chaos of the street full of shoppers, anime addicts in their cosplay glory, gothic lolitas and a whole bunch of teens in their own fashion statement. The pedestrian-only alley was lined up with shops from different fashion items, as well as boy band items and various souvenirs. His hands now carrying at least seven shopping bags each.