Day Two

Day Two.

Evening arrived, unbidden as ever. Class was dismissed right on schedule.

I had just stepped out of the classroom when Tanaka shoved me from behind.

Her sudden, unprecedented action, left everyone rooted to their spot. While they wore expressions of utter confusion, my chest tightened with anxiety. I had never been stared down by dozens of eyes from every corner like that before. I could hear the hushed whispers of my bewildered classmates; the atmosphere was thick with awkwardness.

Tanaka, however, couldn't have cared less. As if oblivious to the chaos she’d deliberately just caused, she dragged me along behind her like a kite.

"There’s this famous aesthetic cafe downtown. They’re serving a new menu today. I want a taste of it!"

Her voice was so clear and very close to my ear. It stripped me of any strength to refuse. In the end, just like yesterday, I let her have her way.

***

We headed to the place Tanaka had in mind—a European styled cafe. There weren't many customers that afternoon, so plenty of tables were available.

Tanaka jogged toward a window seat on the second floor, which gave us a clear view of the ocean.

"Aren’t you going to order something? Their menu is amazing," she said, pointing at the pastries in the booklet.

"No, I'm good."

"Oh, really? Suit yourself, then."

Without a hint of self-consciousness, Tanaka ordered a slice of chocolate cake—the kind that would surely double the numbers on her scale.

She devoured the cake with pure delight. And I, as before, could only watch her in silence while sipping on my bitter coffee.

"Are you sure you don't want a bite? I’ll give you a spoonful. It’s seriously good," she offered, her mouth still full.

"I appreciate the gesture. But unfortunately I don't have a sweet tooth," I answered, sincerely.

Besides, there was no way I was taking a bite from that spoon, right? I mean, that would be beyond embarrassing.

"Oh, what a waste. You're missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures," she tossed that comment my way with a wry smile. Then, she went back to chewing, while humming a cheerful tune.

She was eating with such gusto. Was the cake really that good? Or was her appetite just that massive?

Watching Tanaka like this made me recalling our encounter from yesterday. Tanaka said she wanted to kill herself.

But, why...?

Her life seemed perfectly fine. Just look at how joyful she savored that chocolate cake. That's the kind of person who enjoyed life to it's fullest.

Why on earth did I agree to throw my money away just to feed someone who wanted to die, anyway?

The whole situation was so mind-boggling that I felt like I was becoming a different person entirely. Was I got hypnotized by those gleaming pretty eyes? That would be impossible, right?

***