Untitled; It doesn't need a name to be famous.

Chapter 7 - Research and Rāmen

After about a week of avoiding talking about last Friday, I run into Yahui, whom I mistakenly confide in. His idea of helping me forget was to cram information he found online down my throat and see what his game was.

"Alright, you ready?" He questions, and sits me in the seat across from him. I simply shrug as he turns his computer towards me. "Hit me with it."

"Alright. His name; Kamyrin Hamashima. 21 years old. Moved here about a year ago." He switches tabs from Wikipedia to SoundCloud. He moves the mouse to play the first song on the page, but I stop him before he could click on it. I didn't wanna hear it again. I had already listened to it 5 five times and memorized all of it.  Kanagawa's genre of music was Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, he even released a gospel song about a month ago. How ironic.

"Anything about his love life?" I ask, which Yahui responds with shrugged shoulders. "Wait a second...." He goes back to the Wiki page and scrolls to the very bottom. "Yeah, on an interview about 2 months ago, he said he's now taken." 

"But does it say who it is?"

"No, he doesn't, I'm sorry." He started to open up a new tab, but I slap my hand over the screen, slamming it down before he could hit enter. "Yah know what? I don't wanna know." I pick up the bowl of rāmen sitting on the counter and don't even bother with a spoon. 

"You know they make utensils for that, sweetie." Dane giggles behind the counter, working a double shift. So, here's something about Satsuki you should know; when she drinks, she doesn't even drink hard. One sip and she's fucking annihilated. And then, she's hungover for the next 5 days and has to have someone to take care of her. Lucky for me though, Calueb doesn't have work until the week after next, so I've got freedom from her disgusting self!

"Alright." I tease and pick up a metal spoon to suck on. I walk over to Dane washing dishes and throw the spoon in the sink. "Too bad there wasn't a bigger one. Could probably stick it in your mouth." She gives me a look of disgust as I chug the broth left in the bowl and toss that in too.

"No, what I need is for you to spill the Kool-aid! You're telling me you're okay with this dude in a relationship? You don't feel the least bit played?" 

I laugh in self-defense, a bit too forced to be believable. "Heh, why should I be? He didn't flirt, I did. I know what he's doin', what his game is. I don't feel played 'cause there's nothin' to play with." My throat starts to swell again, and I cough to loosen it up. "I gotta go..." I don't even bother to ask Yahui for my paycheck. I grabbed my bag, helmet and threw the "Open" sign to "Close." 

Tossing myself against the side of the restaurant, I slowly slide down the wall, catching my breath, snatching my bike up and stuffed my bag in the back. Cranking up the bike was harder to do when I my eyes were filled with tears, and it wasn't Kamyrin but that damn leg!

I made it to my dorm, strip, and stride around the room naked in underwear. Should I take a shower? I sniff my clothes and armpits. Oh yeah, might as well. 

I never stand directly under the water, but for some reason, I love to stand under the rain. Sitting down in the tub, I resume to grab the soap and scrub the crease and crevices of my body. I thought I heard my door open, but I was probably just the dorm mail trying to drop off a package. As soon as the door knob stopped jingling, I start to sing, something I haven't done in the shower since my senior year of high school. I wouldn't say I have a heavenly voice, hell, I wouldn't even say I have my own voice. Listening to so many, I've ended up mimicking every voice I've ever heard. Hearing a song once or twice, I'm able to pick up a majority of the main vocals and copy it, much to my old music teacher's dismay. 

"No, no, no," they would tell me. "When you sing, you have to use the music you already have in you! You shouldn't be copying everything note from note!" I would shake my head and push them to the side. What do they know, they're just stupid adults. But, I've always been like that. I play by ear, and can't stand sheet music. 

I bet he probably loves it. I finish my shower and turn to my next task; that next chapter. Turning on my computer, I finally put the petal to the metal and start working on that next page. Usually I upload chapter by chapter, but I had left it on a cliffhanger, and knew exactly how to end it. I just didn't like any of the layouts I had chosen.  I settle on one of my previous drafts and upload it to my computer. 

After about an hour, I add the final tones to the page and email it to Calueb for any finial changes to be added. Thirty minutes later I get  an all clear and a text message.

Hey Ret, u alright?

yeah, I'm good, nothing's wrong.

Which usually means u thinkin bout something. What's on your mind ?

I sighed and sat on the bottom bunk, picking at the loose threads lacing the bed.

it's nothing! how's Satsuki?

Retro....

Calueb?

Fine, we'll play it your way. She's fine, not throwing up anymore.

that's good.

A few minutes passed.

Hey, you should get some rest, take it easy for a few days. U going home?

nah, my dad said that i could live with my cousin nicole here for christmas. don't worry, your presents are the first on my list.

She wants to know why her presents aren't your first.

cause! what do i get the girl that has everything?

She suggests you use the money you were gonna use on her gift and give it to her.

hahaha! alright, consider it done!

Time for bed anyway, I have a long day tomorrow. Had to pack, return some recording equipment, go shopping, actually get my paycheck, and call my family and tell em' 'Merry Christmas'.  Guess I'll start with Walmart, then head to the mall next. What the heck, Christmas is in a week, I've got time, I'll call my family then. 

Yeah...same thing I said with my midterms and look where that got me.