Let's create happy memories together (part 2)

"Play a happy scenario now." Ken says and Rebecca stops to think for a while.

"Any scenario you can think of is fine, it doesn't have to be too complicated." After his words, she begins to think more deeply.

"Do you want me to give you one?" She nods.

"Play an artist during her first solo exhibition with her family, friends and unfamiliar people congratulating her."

She nods and begins "Thank you all so much for coming. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the exhibition. Thank you so much." As she says these words, she show off a big smile, she even makes her eyes arch but Ken finds it very fake and forced.

"How did I go?" She asks him seeing him thoughtful.

"Try another scenario. Your crush just confessed their love to you."

She nods again "T-thank you! I like you too." Here’s the same fake smile again.

"Stop, stop. We're not there at all." He sighs.

"W-well...I've never been in love before..."

"That's not the problem. It almost seems like you don't know how to be happy. Let's try one last time, okay?"

"Am I such a hopeless case...?"

"No, I didn't mean that. Some people may find it more difficult to portray certain emotions."

"Okay, let me try one last time."

He pauses a bit thinking before asking her a question "When do you feel happy?"

She looks at him slightly confused "Do you want me to tell you the situations in which I feel happy?"

"Yes. Anything that comes to your mind."

"When I read... huh..."

"Perfect!" He takes one of her books off the desk and hands it to her. "To make you dive in to the fullest." He’s determined to help her the best he can.

"Imagine you've just finished reading your favorite book and its happy ending thrilled you."

She opens the book to the last page, visualizing and overlapping happy words over the existing ones in the book. She had to make up a happy ending from scratch because her favorite book is a tragedy, but she couldn't tell him and risk discouraging him further. Soon she closes the book.

He leans in further in anticipation, only to be shocked and confused when she looks at him with her usual forced smile and watery eyes.

"Wha- what happened?!" He stands up panicked.

"I'm sorry... I imagined something too happy...!" He points to a desk drawer and he rushes to get the tissues inside.

"Okay. This doesn't work." She blows her nose loudly as he speaks.

"D-don't give up on meee..."

"You're a crybaby."

"Huh-?!" She lets out a sound that's a mix of a confused exclamation and a sob and he bursts out laughing.

"Dry those tears and get rid of the hiccups." He strokes her cheek wiping away a tear with his thumb. Though her cheeks and eyes were rosy from crying, her skin is still cold to the touch.

"How about if I warm you up a little~?" He says teasingly with a grin evident on his face.

"What do you mean?" He lets it be noticing she didn't get his joke.

"Seing how your happy memories don't work, let's make new ones."

She nods. "How?"

"Do you like dancing?"

"Not particularly, why?" He takes his phone and puts it on the desk after pressing play on a romantic playlist.

"Let's dance." He approaches her again, bowing slightly and extending his hand.

"Oh! I know a little about victorian ballroom dancing."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Waltz tell you something?"

"Oh, that. Yeah."

"It's not necessarily just that but waltz is the most famous type of dance."

She finally stands up grabbing his hand; bows before him, bringing her right foot behind her left. He too, following her example, bows again. She approaches him and places her left hand on his shoulder and her right hand on his left.

"Since you seem so experienced I'll leave you the lead." He rests his empty hand on her hip.

"Don't step on my feet..."

"I won't, I'm a gentleman after all."

After that, Ken moves according to her movements. They dance softly as they move around the room. Ken is very forgetful.

"Follow my rhythm. And one, two... one, two..."

"From a theater class it became a dance class." He notices.

"It's true! We were doing theatre! I was so concentrated that I almost forgot about it."

"It's fine. We can always do it some other day."

"Are you having fun?" Rebecca looks up at his face, looking into his eyes, hoping for a positive response.

"It's relaxing."

"I see. I'm glad." She lowers her gaze again with a hint of a small smile.

Now Ken has his back facing the door and Rebecca is late in realizing the imminent danger.

"W-watch out for Mister!" She yells at him as she sees the cat named Mister walking dangerously close to Ken's feet.

"Who's-" He’s about to speak when she violently pulls him towards her, taking him out of Mister's way.

The big cat continues to walk, out of harm's way, while Ken's chest has slammed forcefully towards Rebecca's face. He turns his head to the side looking at his almost 'victim'.

"Where does this little rascal come from?" He scrutinizes the chubby cat with a cute blue bow around his neck, lying blissfully on the bunk behind the bed that Ken hadn't noticed before.

Rebecca looks at his confused expression and bursts out laughing. He looks at her, first confused and then letting out a smile.

The sound of her laughter is so sweet… He can't help but keep his gaze on her laughing face, admiring her smile; even feeling disappointed when she hides her still laughing face in his chest, not being able to see her beautiful laugh anymore.

"I'm sorry...Your expression when I pulled you was too..." She laughs.

"Fine, I'll give you that. After all, it's all this bad boy's fault." He says looking at the cat. She moves away from him, crouching next to Mister.

"Hey! He's a very good boy! Don't you dare call him that!" She takes Mister placing him on her lap caressing him under its chin, making it purr. He sits back on the bed before speaking.

"Is that your cat? I don't think I've seen him hanging around your house."

"Because he was wandering outside my apartment."

"Ohh, he likes to be free. I respect that." He immediately realizes the presence of another bunk right next to Mister's.

"Do you have another pet besides him?"

"Yes, another cat. It was under my bed the whole time." He bends over to look under the bed.

"Don't, you'll make him run away!"

"Is he shy?"

"His name's Oreo and he's a coward. He's afraid of strangers and never leaves the house. He's the exact opposite of Mister. He's really friendly."

"I see that." Right now he gets a phone call from his mom. "Sorry, I have to go. I told mom I'd be home before dinner and it's already quite late."

"I understand. Go ahead, I don't want your mom to worry." She escorts him to the door.

"Even if we weren't able to conclude much, I enjoyed it. Tomorrow we'll decide the next dates, okay?" He puts on his jacket while she opens the front door for him to leave.

"Received. See you tomorrow."

"Have a nice evening!"

"You too..." He turns around and goes down the stairs. She stays for a few seconds looking at him and then closes the door.

She goes to the kitchen where she had left the food Ken had brought. She takes her cutlery, sits down at the table and starts eating the pasta.

"I wish he'd stayed a little longer..." She thinks aloud going back to eating. The pasta was already cold but, in this moment, it seemed frozen to her.