More practice for dialogue-central writing!
1. Job
" So I followed your advice..."
" And?"
" And I got the job."
" Which is...?"
" I'm a gigolo now."
She stared at him, bewildered, and in horror. She was not exactly the most faithful when it comes to praying, since Chabashira deems herself an athiest who doesn't believe in karma inflicted by the gods. However, at this very moment, she began praying simultaneous to all available religions in the world to make sure that this kid was joking.
" I'm kidding."
She sighs in relief, perhaps praying does actually work once in a while. She returns to smoking her Marlboro red with peace of mind.
" Though, I wonder how that'd go for me. Do you think I'll find success if I do end up becoming an older woman's escort?"
" No woman wants a brat a like you."
" Not even you, Sensei?"
There was a glint in his eyes.
" Especially not me."
" I'll have you know, that while I may not have any dating experience under my belt--"
" Ah, so you're a loser alongside being a virgin."
" Ouch! What the hell was that for, sensei? That one was taken too far..."
" I'm only speaking the truth."
" You know, you've gotten a lot crueler to me these days with your remarks, Sensei. And here I was thinking that we were finally getting closer as neighbors."
Chabashira exhales the smoke, not bothering to remark on that.
" You should really stop smoking, Sensei."
" No."
" It'll kill you!"
" Then so be it."
" But your dear neighbor will be sad. Won't you feel guilty when I shed my tears?"
" I doubt it. Your face is so apathetic that I doubt you are even capable of shedding them."
" This is verbal abuse. I should report you."
" Go ahead and try it."
Ayanokoji releases a hum, before sighing and pulling on the railings.
" Actually, I work as a barista for Pallet Cafe."
" The coffee shop in the mall district?"
" Yep."
" You know how to make coffee?"
" Sensei, I actually have plenty of skills that could suprise you. Like piano and--"
" Don't care."
She turns away, looking disinterested.
" Hey, now that's just rude."
" You were going to say calligraphy, weren't you?"
" Huh? How did you know--"
" The other night, I stumbled upon a report dedicated to you."
" Eh?"
" It was about your calligraphy skills. The writing was done flawlessly simple, but so beautiful that it held great meaning. "
"...."
" Is it true? That you were offered a career in that field?"
Ayanokoji sighs, scratching the back of his head.
" I suppose. It is true...I guess."
" ....Just so you know, that's all I wanted to say."
" Huh?"
" I won't pry into your private life. So long as you don't do to mine. That's basic human decency."
" ....All right, sensei."
Ayanokoji reached for the cigarette in Chabashira's mouth but the older woman grabbed his wrist and turned to him with an irritated look.
" What do you think you're doing?"
" I know you said not to pry too much in your life. But I'd still prefer you don't smoke, sensei."
~~~~~~
2. Rant
" Sensei, please kill me."
" What?"
" Work today was....so tiring."
" You get used to it, kid."
" No, no...you don't understand. Pallet Cafe is a horror!"
" What?"
" The amount of girls there....it's incredibly intimidating, sensei. They all eye me whenever I work and talk about me behind my back....and it scares me because I don't know what the hell they're talking about."
"..."
" What should I do, Sensei? What if they're plotting to assassinate me or something?"
" Kid, you said you've never had friends before, right?"
" Yes? But what does that have to do with it."
" And no dating experience? Or any meaningful interaction with a girl?"
" This is not the time to be mocking me, Sensei."
"...."
" Sensei?"
"....Figures."
She rolls her eyes. The older woman knew exactly why they were looking at him, it doesn't seem like Ayanokoji made a mistake. It's just that they've clearly taken an interest in him-- which kinda baffles her to even think.
" ' Figures'? What do you mean by that?"
" Don't mind it. Anyway, how did they treat you at work?"
" All of the tables full of girls kept ordering....pastries, coffee-- the entire menu! But they always ask for ME to make it and ME to give it. What's up with that? Is this how a job usually goes? You get bullied by customers?"
" I wouldn't know. Since I worked at a convenience store."
" You must've scared all the teenage troublemakers during your time."
" Whenever I was on shift, they wouldn't dare smoke, drink, or cause any sort of trouble in the store's vicinity."
" How ironic that you ended up doing the first. And probably the second, though I've never seen it."
" So what if I did? At least I'm doing it at legal age."
" You're irresponsible though. Your addiction to smoking is concerning."
" Then stop being concerned, kid."
" I can't let my favorite neighbour die now, could I?"
" No, I'd prefer if you did."
3. Falling in love
( a month later..)
" Sensei, have you ever fallen in love with someone before?"
Ayanokoji asked that during their nightly talks under the beautiful glow of the moon. Chabashira takes out the cigarette from her mouth and exhales the poisonous smoke.
" I have."
" Wait, seriously? I didn't expect an actual honest answer from that..."
" Why do you ask, kid? Catching feelings for a girl?"
" She's not a girl. She's a woman."
" A ' woman'? Just be sure that the age gap isn't too huge of a hurdle, kid. Those are troublesome."
" Is an 8 year difference that big of a gap?"
" Doesn't that make her the same age as me. 27? And yes, it is that big of a gap. Considering she's well on her way to a pre-midlife crisis once 3 more years pass."
" I believe she's going through one right now."
" Prayers to her then."
Ayanokoji couldn't believe the woman was this dense. Or maybe she knew, but couldn't bring herself to call him out for it.
" Then I suppose I have to win her heart within 3 years, huh."
" Good luck with that. Older women are usually tough to crack when they've not turned 40 yet and still single."
No kidding....Ayanokoji thought.
" Did you have a boyfriend before, Sensei?"
" I had."
" What happened?"
" I thought I told you not to pry into my private life, while I reciprocate to refrain from doing so to yours."
" Maybe a trade of information could be allowed once in a while, no?"
She raises a brow at that. Why is he being so pushy all of a sudden? She wondered.
" Why are you so curious, kid?"
" Just because."
Chabashira sighs. Really, she had no reason to humor him on this, but perhaps it was the calm environment along with the fact she's gotten somewhat comfortable in talking to this strange boy. That she decided to hell with it.
" Well, we only dated for a few months. Till' I discovered that he'd cheated on me with my best friend."
" Outrageous. I find it hard to believe that any man would do such a thing when you have those majestic sizes of yours."
She glares at him, and he raises his hands up.
" That was a joke. I'm sorry for your loss."
" I was still 24, and an intern at my job at the time."
" Did you ever get revenge?"
" Getting revenge over a trashy ex is a stupid idea. And I don't like being a petty woman, nor do I want to give my ex the satisfaction thinking I needed him in my life."
" That's a shame."
" Hm?"
" Sensei, if I dated you. I wouldn't cheat."
" You never know until you get into a relationship--"
" Then how about I do just that? Will you go out with me, Sensei?"
She drops her cigarette, turning to face him with a shocked look. She was in utter disbelief from hearing such an out-of-nowhere proposal.
"...What?"
" The woman I was talking about this whole time; it was you, Sensei."
"..."
" Japan's legal age of consensual dating or sexual relations start from 16. I am 19. I don't have any parents, therefore their consent to this is unnecessary. The only consent required is from you and me."
"..."
" So what do you say?"
".....When.....and how...did you..."
" Your big boobs surely appealed to me, Sensei--"
She gives him an icy glare.
" ....Sorry, another bad joke."
" You have 5 seconds to convince me."
" 5 seconds? That's a little-"
" 5."
" Wait, let me gather my thoughts--"
"4."
" Sensei! I can't just spill out an entire essay in so little ti--"
"3."
" Sensei--"
"2."
" Oh for fucks sake--"
" 1."
" I like older women."
She stared him in the eye after he said that. searching for any lie. But there wasn't. It was the truth, a very horrible one at that in her standards....
He fumbled.
".....That's not what I wanted to say. I....uh...."
Chabashira also wasn't comfortable in dating such a younger man, he's still in college for god's sake. He has his whole life ahead of him to search for a more age-suitable partner, and besides, she only sees him as a little kid. A student. It's wrong for a teacher to...take the chance despite knowing that fact.
"...Is there any other reason why you'd want to date me? "
He pauses, staring at her in silence for a moment. Before coughing to clear his throat and then offering a sly grin.
" Of course."
" And that is?"
" I want to be able to stop your smoking addiction, Sensei."
~~~ End ~~~
Practice #2 is finished
Hmm...while writing this, I've been thinking.
I have another secretary Ayanokoji ( part 4 ) draft in this oneshot book. I never picked up on it and I just realized I have half of it written...
I should publish it if somehow by a small miracle that I feel like finishing it.
Maybe I will, considering my brain is still in the recovery process from writing the longest chapter I've got in my Bocchi the Rock fic. So this could be my rehab before I start grinding on it again...
Well, who knows how it'll go!
See ya~
KawaiiLumine, out~