"What would you like to order?"
"just my regular" i said as i sit around on the stool. Today's quiet, like always. i have always enjoyed going here as it is so... peaceful. no one ever comes to this cafe when it is late making it great. cafe yukino isn't popular but decent amount of costumers come here keeping the business going
It didn't even take the maid 5 minutes before coming out of the back holding some food. the maid gently one by one take the food from the tray to his table
"please enjoy!" the maid said before leaving him be
i was eating my food quietly. after i finished, i paid my meal and left. i guess you could say that i am a regular here in this cafe, to i always come to this cafe since last year, but there was sometimes a day that i cannot come here due to some business that i am taking care of
this go on for a week. i order, i get my food,i eat, i pay and leave. that was my routine ever since until...
"what would you like to order?"
"my regular order, please"
"of course! but we ran out of ingredients and we ordered some from the local market but fortunately it will take 10 minutes to come, if you'd like to change your order it will be fine or if you'd like your regular it will take 15 minutes until i can give it to you, are you alright with that?" the maid asked me
"My regular will be fine, I'm fine with waiting"
"really?! a-ah once again we apologize for making you wait" the maid bows her head apologizing to me with a saddened face
"it's alright" I'm being considerate right now
the maid went to the back. they usually serve my meal exactly 2 minutes the moment the maid go in the back. so while i am waiting, my eyes took the time look around the cafe. i turned my head to the side, resting my head on my palm and saw something or someone i didn't expect to see
someone is actually in the cafe other than me. the fact that I didn't notice them made me suspicious of its identity. just because the person was sitting at the far back of the cafe doesn't mean i can't detect them so why? why couldn't i noticed the person right away?
i continue to stare at the person. long black hair, dark eyes, wearing a white blouse and short skirt. it seems like that person is a girl, though she looks young, probably the same age as me. she seems to be distracted and didn't notice me staring at her. i was in deep thoughts as i continue to stare at her, i didn't realize that 10 minutes have already passed
"here's your order," i snapped back and saw the maid Infront of me holding a tray with food. while she transfer my food to my table i asked her
"Jasmine, who's that person in the back? i never saw her before"
i saw her turn her head to the side as i observed her react. her face immediately brightens up as she saw the person
"Ah! you're talking about Rose" she said cheerfully
"Rose?"
"yes, she is another regular here. however, she used to come here late morning or sometimes in the noon that's why you and her never meet" she explained
"that explains it, so this is the only time she came here this late 1 hours before closing time" i sounded like i was question jasmine
"no, not really, she used to come here early but for the last week she came here late"
"huh? she have been sitting there on the exact spot for one week and i didn't notice it?" i muttered but she slightly heard some words that i said
"yes, she have been a quiet child you see, no wonder why you didn't notice her since last week"
I didn't get what she said earlier but my eyes way slightly widen in shock. i didn't notice her for one whole week. how is that possible, i know who come here and the fact that I did notice her for one whole week straight left me wondering what her identity is
no one ever went in the same room as me undetected so why? how?
"tell me about her," i suddenly asked her
"well... from what i know about her is that she is a quiet 12 year old child as you can see, her names Rose and she lives alone. she doesn't go to school and works a part time job in order to survive. that's all i know about her"
well that was disappointing but i guess that's better than nothing, at least i know her name, age and what she does
"i must ask.... why did she suddenly come here this afternoon and not in the morning anymore?"
"ah! she disappeared last last week ago but turns out she got hurt and had to stay in her friends house. she said that she will be coming here late, later than usual because she will be working early from now on"
we both heard a bell ring indicating that someone open the door and seeing that no one entered that means someone left the cafe
"oh," the maid covered covered her mouth
"i guess Rose left already"
How...did she snuck pass me undetectable. i couldn't even sense her presence earlier... my eyes darken as i wonder who that mysterious person might be
~~~~
after a day since i saw her, i did some research on her
"huh? that's strange, i couldn't find anything about her other than where she live, where she works and the information that Jasmine gave me yesterday" my suspicion sky rocket to who the heck is she
but, there's nothing suspicious other than her being a normal citizen. however, it's still weird that no other information about her is found. no birth certificate and no last name. if only i can know her last name i can maybe able to find out her true identity
no hospital in Yokohama said that they have delivered a baby named Rose 12 years ago who matched her appearance... i hummed, is her real name actually Rose...? it's possible that she have a different name so....
i guess the only way to find out is to get close to her
~~~~
the next day in the afternoon. i came inside the same time i went inside yesterday and saw her sitting in her usual spot. for now, i shall observe her actions so i can come up in an effective way to meet her
(A/N: do you usually stalk a stranger and try to find a way to talk to them or......?)
for the past 7 days i observed her like a hawk, every single movement and every single breathe she takes. i know her usual order after seeing her here for more than a week now but i still tried to find some information about her in my free time but i can't, not a single new information
another week past. i always see her going in her job working at the local library near her apartment, i always (stalk) see her when she goes to the cafe, i always see her go back in her apartment and i always see her whenever she goes out, everyone she meets and everywhere she goes
and after that one week i think I'm ready to meet her at the cafe. i came inside 5 minutes before she comes in. i waited for her for 20 minutes but none. no one came inside. i didn't check for her anymore now that i am ready to go talk to her but the moment i did she is gone?
i tried waiting for her for another 30 minutes but still, nothing. 50 minutes have already passed and 10 more minutes until closing time. i still waited for her until closing time but i left the store disappointed. i guess today's not the day huh?
I'll try tomorrow
the next day the same exact thing happened. i waited for her and none. i tried the next day, none. tried and tried and tried but still none. 1 week have passed and i begun to wonder where the heck she is. i came to the library and she isn't there. a thought made me want to (break in) go to her apartment and check if she is there, laying sick or something. i can't let someone this suspicious just disappear from me. i still need information
i left the cafe early today wanting to check her apartment incase something happened to her. outside is dark and cold and the cafe closes late this time for some reason. while i was walking on the side way, i managed to bump into someone but i couldn't be bothered to spare them a glance but i stopped when i heard the persons voice
"i-i'm sorry" the person apologize bowing its head
that voice sounds so familiar that i stopped and turned my head to view the person i bumped into. when the person lifted their head i immediately recognize who this person is. black long hair, dark eyes, wearing a white blouse, and a short skirt. i realized that it's Rose
"it's alright," i said "what's your name?" i asked her
(A/N: who tf ask someone's name out of the blue)
"a-ah, my names Rose, it's nice to meet you" i saw her extending her arms waiting for a handshake
"My names Dazai, Dazai Osamu, nice to meet you too, Rosé" i gave her a friendly smile shaking her hand
"where are you going? it looks like you were in a hurry" i asked her with a curious face
"oh, i wasn't Really in a hurry, i was heading to cafe Yukino over there" she pointed out the cafe "but...i guess i was a little too late and they probably closed already. so I'm heading back to my apartment"
"i am also headed this way, so, if you don't mind can i escort you back, Rosé?" i said it in a charming way to grab her attention and get close to her
i heard her giggling afterwards and responded "you really do know how to get someone's attention. But, sure" she walk passed me elegantly. "what are you starring at, c'mon"
"sure, sure, coming" we both walk together and made some small talks along the way. we were both lost with each others voice and didn't even realize that we are already at the front building of her apartment
"it was fun talking to you right now Dazai-kun," i saw her waving her hand at me "indeed, Tonight was fun, goodbye Rosé, i hope to see you soon" i also waved her goodbye before seeing her get inside the building safely
~~~~
i heard the bell rang and i turned my head to the side "Good afternoon, Rosé" i greeted the guest. "Dazai-kun?" i was amused seeing her confused face
"yeah! you remembered!"
"of course, how could i forget the person who would always stare at me in this cafe"
my face was shocked when i heard her say those words. I didn't expect her to notice but she did notice it but I can't notice her?
"H-how did you know?"
"I didn't notice it at first you know. i couldn't careless as long as you're not harming nor doing something bad to me"
i was surprised indeed but i must not let the past get in the way in the present
"ah, don't worry i won't do it again- and besides let's eat, I'm starving" i went to her usual spot and sat there waiting for her. i hear her sigh from behind me as she sits Infront of me. Jasmine came and saw that the two of us are sitting together, she quickly went in the back and served us our usual order and gave us a couple of foods
"the extras is on me so don't worry, just enjoy~" the moment she gave us our food she quickly left
================================
Dazai was saying Rosé with the little hat above the é
it is pronounced as Row - say or Rosé
Word cound 2078