After the match I fought my way through the weak opponents, and came second place, winning a good load of money. For some reason, I wasn't so excited about the winnings and kept thinking about Goku. I needed to thank him, talk to him. Ask him to lunch or something. I owed him a lot, he sacrificed the win and his pride.
I searched the crowd for him, finding him at the buffet inside.
I tap him again, not wanting to say his name aloud, like a hormonal teenager. I know I'm young, but I'm not THAT young. He turned to me, his mouth full of cherry cake, crumbs spread over his cheeks like a toddler who got into the cookie jar.
"mm?" He looked down at me, and I stifled a laugh.
" I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for me.... and if you wanted to go out for lunch sometime, I owe you." My shyness was eased by his immature behaviour, which somehow made him endearing. He nodded and turned back to the table to finish his cake and wipe his mouth, when he turned back to me.
"We could go now if you like. I'm kinda hungry still, and I don't wanna end up eating all the contestants food..." He gingerly rubbed the back of his neck and gestured towards the exit.
I nodded and we began to leave, he offered me his arm and we started some small talk. He spoke about his home, his young son, and his... wife. I felt odd and annoyed at myself for thinking a catch like him would be single and up for grabs, even more irritated to myself for thinking he would like someone like me.
The small talk carried on through a sushi lunch, and he offered to walk me home. I politely declined, and he stopped walking and looked at me, tilting his head, his crazy hair waving in the evening breeze. "Why not?" he looked at me with those big black eyes, making me look away in shame.
"Well, your married and I wouldn't want to hurt that. Your wife is very lucky." I looked at the ground, slightly ashamed that id let it get this far.
He shook his head and begun to tell me how he hadn't been home in weeks after his wife had kicked him out, screaming insults at him, most of which he didn't understand. I looked at him and his face seemed to droop a little, as he mentioned how he hadn't seen his son in a long time.
"He's my son, and I don't even get to spend time with him, because she wants him to be a scholar." He looked on the verge of tears and I took up his arm again. I invited him to sleep on my couch until him and his wife worked something out, and he thanked me and that broad smile returned to his face.
