Mirrors, the Girl and the Smoke

Chapter 1: The Girl

I hurriedly ran from my part-time work because it's already late, and I don't want dogs lurking on me in these streets. Well, it's Kyoto, Japan- and the cold breeze makes my knitted scarf so useless. Winter is near, you can feel it on the atmosphere's humidity. 
As I arrived on my cheap 2 storey complex apartment, I saw a girl standing next to the next door apartment. Waiting for someone or somebody to open the door. Why is a girl carrying heavy luggages and infront of mrs. Nagasaki's apartment ?

I know she's new here, you can see the look in her face like she's worried, uncomfortable or something. I had a face just like that when I first arrived to Kyoto. Then, that's when I realized that she looked different. She has these Gypsy eyes that western country people have, her little nose that quivers against the cold weather and her skin, it's not pale white like what we Japanese have, it's not dark like the blacks- but it's somewhere in between- like a Mexican maybe? Her face glistens as the lamp on our street shines over her face. Even if it's dark, even if there's just one lamp post across the street that serves our only light— I know that she's breathtakingly beautiful.
But before I can engage a conversation, she looked at me intently on those big brown eyes, flustered- as she realized some weird man is staring at her in the middle of the night.

As I gather my courage and English knowledge that I kept in my little head, "Hello, I am—-

"Astrid! You've arrived! I'm so glad to see you!" someone opened the door in the apartment complex she's standing, and it was mrs. Nagasaki. I realized that she's a professor from the big university here in Kyoto, (can't afford it there sooo ) and she might be welcoming an exchange student in her home.

Oh that's why. A foreigner.

She smiled at mrs. Nagasaki and gave me a short glance before entering the house. Mrs. Nagasaki called me, "Is that you Taki-chan? Dear, do you want to go inside?"

" Nah, I was just picking up some garbage. Thank you mrs Nagasaki." And I smiled and bowed as a sign of respect, and entered my apartment using a spare key.

You might wonder that I'm the type who lives alone in a big old apartment but I'm not, I am living with my aunt whose age is a mystery to everyone. She doesn't have a family, so she took me in while I study in the university here since I can't afford the dorm and at the same time I keep her company.

"Takeshi-kunnn!" she welcomes me, and I can smell the food she's cooking. Hmmm, eggs. I know that she already ate but she wants to cook for me even if it's 11:00 pm in the night. She likes to think that I'm her own son, and that's fine. I love how she makes eggs too and she smells like home.

"Tadaimaa" I said, and took off my dirty boots and went to the kitchen. I washed my hands as I began to eat, pulled some of those disposable wooden chopsticks that you get free from my workplace, namely, the convenience store.
(Transl. Tadaima means 'welcome home' in Japan)
"So, hows school?" she asked, as she poured water to my cup. The omurice's aroma is all over the room and my stomach gave out this uncontrollable growl, wow im this hungry huh

I think she heard it, so she placed it in front of me after she poured a big amount of ketchup. She knows I love ketchup. "School's fine." No it's not, I don't know why but I have been struggling to study. Not because of my part time work, sometimes It's hard catching up with these lessons- and it's kinda frustrating.

I mean, it's the only thing why I do these multiple part time jobs to start off. What do you expect? My dad died on a plane crash and my mom died because of heartbreak. I was the only one who suffered since I was their only child that time— I was 10 that time, and have been livin with my relatives since.

Living with them is very unpleasant. Some might not welcome you, some might talk bad things at your back, the possibilities are endless and are always present. I have no problem with Aunt Hanako, since I like the way I live here. I have the isolation and privacy on my own room and Aunt Hanako is such a sweetheart. The past ones that I have lived, let us say, are just living hell.

After I finished my meal, I washed the plates and thank aunt Hanako for the meal. She just sat there and watched me while I eat, at first it was creepy because we didnt engage a lot of conversation since shes old and forgetful sometimes. But then I realized that shes just happy to watch me.  And then it hit me, she has been lonely for years and that kinda saddens me. So, im used eating and an old lady stares at me, so what?

Maybe someday ill also be alone till I get old, I always think of things like that sometimes. Its not like I dont like anyone, sometimes I just dont have the privilege to experience leisure things with a girl. She'll be demanding af, she'll want things that I cant afford- its just too complicated.

Ive never been with a girl before, but my curiosity doesnt push me to do reckless things- or so I thought.