Quick Stop Shop

Cyrus liked to think of himself as economical. He had been budgeting his father’s business since his fourth year of primary school. His father had encouraged him to learn more, so Cyrus got jobs that would teach him how to manage finance. And learning to maintain maximum funds with minimal work was working in a manager’s position and going cheap.

So, working at all times was a must, even on holidays. Not that he had friends to celebrate with. His co-workers, exhausted by the busy day, all retreated home. Cyrus was left to his own devices for the rest of Christmas evening, since he hadn’t left his office most of the day. And he was still hungry since he could never grab food from the kitchen with the restaurant so crowded.

He decided to get a small bite to eat and head to a nearby shopping center that still had the Christmas lights on. Cyrus exited Lawson’s with a piece of spicy karaage and a bottle of milk tea in hand.

“Cyrus?”

He looked up to see Linda out of uniform, with a bag of food in hand. He thought she was working today and would be at home sleeping once work was over.

“Linda? What are you doing out?”

“I wanted to take a look at the Christmas lights, plus my refrigerator was empty. What about you, I thought you had work?”

“I finished. And I forgot to stock my fridge.

Linda giggled, avoiding meeting his eyes. Cyrus looked down as well, remembering his food.

“Do you want to find someplace to sit, like the park. So, our food doesn’t switch temperatures heading home,” he offered, holding up his bag.

Linda looked up at him with the most hopefully look in her eye.

“I’d love to.”

Cyrus nodded, leading her away from Lawson’s and towards the park. The twinkling Christmas lights illuminated the area as they searched for a place to sit.

“We haven’t been to this park in ages,” sighed Linda.

Cyrus looked around. He hadn’t come to the park since he used to date Linda, but that was because he had found a job that didn’t give him much time outside. Plus, why would he go to a park by himself?

“I guess you’re right.”

“Remember the Christmas before we graduated? You took me to see the lights in the park because you accidentally set the reservation for December 26?”

“A little. I think we came to the park every time our Christmas dates didn’t go well.”

He gestured to a bench off the main path. He and Linda moved to sit on it. Linda looked up to admire the lights, while Cyrus started to eat his meal.

“If you don’t eat soon, your drink will be warm and the food cold.”

“Oh, I got two hot items, but you’re right, they might get cold.”

Linda pulled out a hot cup of milk tea with a steam bun.

“Maybe I should have gotten hot,” mused Cyrus, continuing to drink his milk tea.

“Would you like a sip,” offered Linda.

“I’m fine.”

Linda turned back to her food, both eating as they sat on the bench.

“How was your morning?”

“Wonderful! The kids loved the presents and Ramona and Miles were wonderful with the children. Miles impressed everyone the way he caught Ramona.”

“Of course, he would. “

“And Miles got her an adorable teddy bear necklace as a present.”

Cyrus panicked. Was this where she was leading? Did she have a present for him? Sure, they had been friends for years after dating, but after their breakup they had never got each other gifts. He looked in his bag to see nothing he could use as a gift. He looked down to see that he had on a scarf. Where he got it, he couldn’t remember.

“I see you still have the scarf I gave you.”

Well, there went that plan.

“Yeah, still keeping me warm,” he murmured, burrowing his face in the scarf.

“Oh, I bought some red bean taiyaki if you want it?” Linda reached into her bag to pull out one of the packaged desserts.

Dear lord, she was killing him; she knew he liked the red bean flavor.

“S-sure,” he said hesitantly and took one from her hand, opening the package and trying to not come off as too excited by the gift.

“Still your favorite?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You are more careful when you like something.”

She could still read him like a book. Cyrus continued opening the wrapper before eating the taiyaki. He then noticed that Linda wasn’t eating.

“You’re not eating?”

“Oh, I’ll save mine for later.”

Cyrus frowned as he finished chewing the rest of the dessert. He noticed her plastic bag was balled up and back in her purse. Probably no dessert in there since she had only bought one and gave it to him. And he still didn’t have a present for her. What could he even buy at this late hour? He looked around, struggling for an idea. He noticed people walking in the park, observing the Christmas lights.

He crumpled up his bag into his pocket and drank the last sip of his drink before shoving it into his other pocket.

“Come on,” he held out his hand for her.

“What?”

“Let’s go look at the Christmas lights,” he grumbled. Linda immediately lit up, taking his hand as he pulled her off the bench. He pulled her close to keep his hand warm since he couldn’t put it back in his pocket. It felt like old times as she admired all the lights, while he kept silent. Her reactions were enough for both of them.