Reo and Me

Seventeen {Ju Nana}

Aisha's POV

Just as I was done with my chicken wings and waiting for the chocolate brownie, my phone rang. I took it out of my purse to see who it was. Unknown number. I picked the phone up and Kathy greeted me happily. "Hey there Aisha! Your projects are done drying, so you can come pick them up now." She hung up the phone immediately before giving me chance to reply.

I quickly ate my brownie and left the money and rushed to get my things. It was already closing time for the shop, only Kathy was waiting, the customers having already left. "Sorry Kathy! I was actually still having dinner." I apologized sheepishly. '

"It's  completely okay. Pick them up so that I can close up." She smiled. This woman had been constantly smiling all day, doesn't she get tired?

I went upstairs and saw that only my sculptures remained. I smiled contently as Kathy gave me a small paper bag to take them back home in.

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I hadn't yet unpacked from my Japan trip. I opened my suitcase and took out my clothes.

I threw some in the wash and looked at my spaghetti strapped top and the jeans- the outfit I wore when I met Reo.

I sighed and put them away. It was almost 9 now- I had tomorrow off too. Ugh, what am I gonna do?

I decided to work on my reports as I took out my laptop and plugged it into charge.

Ding dong! The bell to my front door rang.

I put on a hoodie over my skimpy t-shirt and went to open the door.

Sameer stood at the door, a huge smile on his face.

"Wow! What are you doing here?" I asked him, as I made way for him to get in. It was the first time he was visiting my place.

"Well I had a patient to see just nearby, so I decided to come meet you. Did I come at a wrong time?" He looked around at the messy place.

"Ugh no. Just a sec." I quickly cleared up the crap from the sofa. "Have a seat. Do you want something to drink?" I asked.

"Coffee?" He replied.

"Sure." I put in the powder and cream into the machine and waited for it to brew. I put the coffee in front of him.

"I'll be back in a second." I smiled as I rushed to my room.

I changed out of my shorts and t-shirt into black leggings and a black camisole. I went outside.

"You should have called me, I would have prepared stuff." I sat down opposite him.

"Surprise?" He looked at me.

I laughed. "What do you wanna do?" I asked, laying back.

"I don't know. Just talk? I made a very impulsive decision to come here." He grinned sheepishly.

"It's okay."

And talk we did. We talked till dinner.

"Won't you stay for dinner?" I asked, as we stood at the door.

"I should get going. It was great catching up with you Aisha. Let's meet soon." Sameer smiled.

I nodded and he started walking away. I shut the door and went back  to the living room. I picked up the cups and went over to the sink to wash them.

After the dishes, I was sitting on my sofa bored, when I turned on the TV. I changed the channel to the Japanese news channel and listened to what the anchor was saying.

"The robber who was stealing from the houses of Ginza has been caught and has been identified as Kinnousuke." The screen flashed an image of someone else.

"What?!" I almost yelled.

"Somehow, we had the wrong intel on the robber. Kinnousuke has admitted to commiting his crimes. Now for the next story-" I turned the televeision off.

That means he did not actually steal? Or was there something else here? I had no way to contact Reo again.

If only I had taken his phone number!

That's when I realised. I still had Momoe's number from when I was investigating Reo. Maybe she would have some clues.

I dialled it back. "Hello Momoe?" I said in Japanese.

"Yes."

"I am Sakura- the tenant?" I waited hopefully that she remembered me.

"Uhm, oh yes!"

"Yeah. I wanted to get the number of the estate agent and the young man you said who cleaned the house."

"Why?"

"It's an urgent matter."

"Okay." She dictated the number of the estate agent. "I'm sorry, I do not know the young man. But the agent might have some information on him." She replied.

"Okay, thank you." I hung up and looked at the number she had dictated. It looked like a foreign number.

I dialled it. It rang for about 4 times before someone answered.

"Hello?" A voice came.

"Hi- my name is Sakura Nakagawa. I am looking to rent Miss Momoe's flat?" I said.

There was shuffling on the other side before the voice came back.

"Yes please."

I mentally high fived myself. Regaining composure, I spoke. "Can I please know who takes care of the flat now that Momoe is not there?" I asked.

"It's me and my nephew."

The estate agent's nephew?

"Could I get his number? I have some questions regarding the flat."

"Please ask me- I am the agent for the house." He replied curtly.

"Sorry. But before I move in I really have to talk to everyone who is associated with the house. You see, when I went there to look, I could see weird cult things strewn around the place." I said in Japanese. Please note that this was entirely made up.

The man clearly believed my drama because when he spoke next, his tone was alarmed. "Cult things?"

"Yes. Cult things. Which is why, if you don't want me going to the police, let me talk to your nephew." I literally threatened him.

"Please don't go to the police! I shall give his number to you! Please write it down." He dictated the number to me.

"Thank you. I shall call you later if I want to rent the place or not." I hung up. So far so good. I had gotten his number.

All I needed was the courage to dial it and talk.