Chasing The Light: V

On my table I had a few small boxes. Nice and pink, wrapped with a ribbon. Inside were the cookies I had made. Papa had tried some already, and he said he loved them. One was for Mari and one for Yuri, they would get these tomorrow when we next met up. Another was for Kaede, who would get hers at school next week. The last…

I stared at my phone. I just had to ask her if she was free, or when she would be free.

Just do it.

I opened the message app and found our conversation.

Hello. I was just wondering if you would 
be free today. I have something I wish

I deleted the message. Too formal.

Heyyy, you free? I wanna

Deleted. Too casual.

Hi. Are you free?

And send. Now to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

I sent the text at 09:31. Ten o'clock came, no reply. Noon, no reply. I tried to study to take my mind off my phone. Mother brought a sandwich to my room at around one, and there still had been no reply. No read receipt either. Perhaps Alyx was practicing with her band. Or maybe she could have been studying really hard.

I should be studying too.

I redoubled my efforts. Our English teacher had given us the task of writing a diary entry. it was annoying, but I made short work of it. As the clock hit thre, I decided to take a small break and watch some videos. Just then, my phone buzzed. Could it have been…

Sorry was working. 
free now yea, why?

It was her. Alyx. And she was working? Well, it wasn't unusual for a university student to have a job to earn some spending money, or even to pay for their living expenses. But what should I send now?

You live near Yokohama, right? 
I have something I want to
 give you. Can I come over?

This time a reply was almost instant.

I told you I didn't need 
your money. It's fine.

Pushback, as expected.

It's not money. I made some cookies. 
They're good. Please?

This seemed to work. Her next message was a pin on the map. Her current location, probably her apartment. I checked the distance from my house and it would take about an hour to get there, factoring in the time to walk to and from the stations.

Be there in an hour, okay?

No reply this time. Just a thumbs-up reaction.

***

I informed Papa and Mama that I was to meet a friend, and gave Papa a kiss goodbye. I felt a little deceptive simply stating I was meeting 'a friend' and not giving them a name, but they did not say anything. As I left it was a little sunny, but by the time I arrived at Alyx's station the sky had turned grey, the wind had picked up, and I regretted not wearing a jacket. Alyx's apartment was not too far from the station, about a five minute walk or so, so it was not too much of an issue. As for the way back, I could always call Papa to pick me up at the station if it was still cool.

Before long I arrived at the address she gave me. It was a pretty standard apartment building, five stories tall with a few units on each floor. The building seemed old and there was no elevator, so I had to drag myself up the four flights of stairs before arriving at Apartment 403. Taking a deep breath, I rang the doorbell. Moments later, she as there in front of me. She was in what I could only assume were her pyjamas. Some baggy grey shorts and and a baggy faded-pink tee. Not knowing that to do with myself, I held out the box of cookies in a deep bow.

"Please accept my gift."

"… Thanks."

She received the gift and then we both stood there in silence for a moment. I wanted to be invited in, but it would be inappropriate to ask. We hardly knew each other, after all. But then, I came all this way. It would be a waste to just turn around and go home.

"Um—"

"I suppose I should invite you in for a cup of tea, huh?"

Yes please.

"Um, if that wouldn't be imposing on you."

"You came all this way, right. It's the least I can do."

I stepped inside and slipped off my shoes, arranging them neatly in the entranceway. This apartment was… Clean. Cleaner than expected. The outside had shown signs of age, and I for some reason expected Alyx to be somewhat messy, but that was not the case. There was even a pleasant smell from a diffuser on the table by the door.

"Head on through, I'll make the tea."

There only seemed to be two rooms in the apartment; the kitchen and the living room. You had to enter the living room through the well-appointed kitchen. It was small tatami room, a little bit smaller than my bedroom. In the corner was a futon that had been folded away. Opposite that was a sofa that was showing signs of its age, and in the middle of the room was a table with a floor pillow beside it. Next to the cupboard stood two guitars, one electric and one acoustic, and there was also a guitar that had been hand on the wall as an ornament. I did not know much about guitars, but this last one struck me as the cheapest, one you could probably grab for a young teenager who is interested in playing, but not yet dedicated.

Alyx brought me a cup of tea and set it down on the small table next to the sofa, before she herself sat herself under the table with her cup. She had also placed some of the cookies onto a small plate. We didn't say anything, but I watched as she took her first bite of the cookie. I saw her eyebrows raise, and she started nodding.

"'s good. You made these?"

"Yes. Myself and Ma— My mother. I'm glad you like them."

She nodded again.

"No, these are seriously good. Something from a shop good."

I blushed and looked away.

"Thanks…"

"So… Why are you in my apartment right now?"

Huh.

It was a good question. Why was I here? I suppose it was because I wanted to see her. That wasn't a good answer.

"My mother impressed on me the need to repay your kindness in turn."

"No. If you wanted to just hand me some cookies you could have asked to meet somewhere easy for the both of us. No need to come an hour out of your way to drop off something and be on your merry way."

I shifted in my seat. She continued.

"Same with the gig last week. You went all the way out your way. So why is it?"

Why? Why, why, why?

"It's because you are interesting, Alyx. I find you interesting and…"

Silence.

"And I'd like to be your friend."

That was the truth. At least it was as far as I could tell.

"Interesting? I hope that's a good thing."

She laughed it off, eating another biscuit.

"I don't mean anything negative by it. You just… Um… Look really cool on stage."

"So ya wanna be my friend for some street cred or something?"

Again she laughed it off, sipping her tea.

"No! I just… I think I want to learn more about… About music! And stuff."

She raised an eyebrow at this. I sipped my own cup, before mumbling out something else.

"And about you."

I sat and stared into my teacup. There was a rumbling outside, the sound of a thunderstorm. Soon there was an ambient noise of rain pattering against the window to the balcony.

"What'd ya want to know?"

I looked to the window, the rain coming down heavy now.

"You said you were working today. What kind of job do you do?"

"Not much, just please older women for cash, that sort of thing."

I choked on my tea, nearly spitting it out in surprise.

'Please older women for cash'? Compensated dating? But dating other girls?

Trying to remain composed, I responded simply.

"O-Oh. I see."

"Hehe, cute reaction. No, I work at the convenience store. You probably passed it on the way here. It's dull, but its pretty flexible."

Right. Of course. A joke. Everyone likes to joke around with me, apparently.

Another crack of thunder, and this time it was preceded by a flash of sheet lightning.

"It's getting pretty bad out there, huh."

I nodded in agreement as I opened a weather app.

"It seems as though it will last for quite some time."

Alyx stood up and turned on a lamp before she drew the curtains. She then collected my now empty cup and walked into the kitchen.

"Want another? You can hang around here until it lessens up, you didn't bring an umbrella, did ya?"

"Oh, yes please. And no, I was a fool and didn't check the forecast."

We chatted for a while. Mostly just filling in gaps in our knowledge. She was from 'the sticks'. Quite some way away from here. Half-American, though she did not seem to want to talk to much about her parents. She discovered 'real music' at Junior High and dedicated herself to her music ever since. As we were talking my phone started buzzing. A phone call. From Papa. He wanted to know where I was.

"Oh, I'm in Seya ward, I think. Hm… Okay…"

There were cancellations on the network. Everywhere. Something or other on the railline had fallen over or stopped working or both. Engineers had been called into work, but there was no timeline on if they could reesume regular service today. Papa wanted to know if he should come and pick me up. I relayed all of this information as I got it to Alyx.

"Y'know… I have a spare futon. If ya want. Trains should be fixed by the morning right? Can't imagine its too safe to be driving out there."

She was right. By now the wind was howling. It was like just my imagination, but I could swear I felt the building sway, too.

"Papa, my friend said it was alright if I stay over. Who is she? She's… A student. She is tutoring me."

Another lie. Interesting.

"Yes, yes. She has a spare futon and some clothes. I shall be back tomorrow morning. No, no, you don't have to come and pick me up, it sounds awful out there. Yes, love you too."

Alyx was looking at me weirdly.

"I'm your tutor now?"

"It is just easier to say it like that, isn't it?"

I did not enjoy lying, but it was for an easy life. Much better for him to think I was with a responsible university student than some roguish band member. Alyx stood up and stretched.

"I guess I should check to see what food we have. It's not often I gotta cook for two."

"You don't have visitors often?"

"Most of my visitors don't stay for dinner."