This morning was strange.
Before I opened my eyes, I could clearly smell the mint which was probably the toothpaste — I'm definitely sure, someone was next to my face this morning.
Well after Uncle Chang came back, I went home right after Cindy fell asleep again.
I dragged my exhausted corpse to the sofa and turned myself offline while the files of the new project were left open.
But just when I opened my eyes, Yumeko jumped back as she saw me looking at her.
Me: おはよう...(Good morning)
Yumeko: お...おはよう.(G...Good morning)
Yeah, I almost asked 何やってんだの?(What are you doing?) while she quickly ran away.
...
While she was in her room, I prepared breakfast with some white radish cake and some fried dumplings.
After having breakfast, Yumeko went back to her room while I continued with my project.
Minutes later, I heard something.
It sounds like a piano but it doesn't seem to be coming from the next door, I followed the sound and came to Yumeko's room.
Through the gap of the room I noticed something — she's playing with a piano app.
She's playing "Canon" while it also sounded like "Memories" by Maroon 5.
It really surprised me that she can play piano.
It seems like there are still many things I don't know about her after a long time not seeing each other.
...
Yumeko: リン?どうしたの?(Rin? What happened?)
She took off her earphone and noticed me as I accidentally hit my toe to the edge of the door. 🥲
Me: あ,ごめん.ピアノは好きですか?(Oh, sorry. You like piano?)
Yumeko: ピアノ?ええええ!!!!(Piano? Ehhhhh!!!!!)
That's the moment she realized — the earphone cable is not plugged in.
That's why I heard it.
Yumeko: う...う...う...るさかった...ご...ごめんなさい!(I…I….I….I'm so…so…sorry for…bothering!)
Me: 大丈夫だ,好きですよ.(It's okay, I love it.)
Yumeko: す...好き?(Lo...love?)
Me: あ,好きです.あの歌,めちゃいいですよ.(Yeah, I love it. The song's amazing.)
...
Then she quickly covered herself in her blanket...for no reason.
After that I went back to the studio without hearing any sound coming from her room.
Is she angry? Sad?
AI: I already told you, stop using your broken Japanese.
What?
AI: 好き(SuKi) normally present the...that kind of love, you got it now?
Of course, I love how she played the song.
You wanna take a look? "Canon" is on my song list too.
AI: You're hopeless, really. 😒
So what now? Is she mad?
She's not playing anymore.
AI: Maybe she just replugged in the headphone plug, don't overthink.
...
Do you think I can get her a piano or keyboard?
AI: Well that's up to you, but why'd you think so? Suddenly grew a conscience? 😏
Sorry to let you down, I already have it.
It's just….other than TV there's no other entertainment left.
AI: Your cat. 🤣🤣🤣
Don't you dare materialize my cat. 🙄
I came to the outside of Yumeko's room, I hesitated for a few minutes thinking if I should tell her.
What if she rejects?
But before I knocked, I heard something….
It sounded like...voices….but….muffled voices?
But why did it sound like...weeping?
Did she just call my name? 🤔
AI: Um…Rin…I suggest you to….
I got it! She's angry at me. 💀💀💀
She must be too shy to cry out loud. 🙁
This is the moment I made up my mind to knock on the door.
She said something...
But what does it mean if someone finds out???
...
*KNOCK KNOCK—!*
Yumeko: あああー!(Ahhh—!)
What?
Me: 夢子,大丈夫?(Yumeko, are you okay?)
Yumeko: な...何?(Y…Yes?)
Me: えっと...外に出てみない?(Um…would you like to go out with me for a while?)
Yumeko: ど...どこへ行くの?(Wh…where're we going?)
Oh great, should I tell?
I was thinking of keeping this as a secret...or a surprise.
Me: 秘密です,行こう?(That's a secret, are you coming along?)
After I said that, she came out from the room and lowered her blushing face...but why?
AI: Trust me, you don't wanna know.
Yumeko: いいよ.(Okay.)
...
O…Okay.
....
We were taking the bus to the shopping mall while she kept looking away every time we had eye contact during the trip.
She's still mad at me?
AI: Don't overthink, she's just feeling embarrassed.
For what?
AI: Recall this, muffled sounds plus calling your name when she was alone in the bedroom, what does it mean?
Cursing me?
AI: ...
What?
AI: Yeah, I bet she was in Jujutsu Highschool in Japan. You're right.
Huh? Is that school real?
AI: Yeah, file closed. 😒
After a while, we arrived at the mall.
For some reason…I think it's cold, she kept holding her arms.
Until I turned my head to take a look.
...Shit! 💀
I quickly took off my coat and threw it on her and pulled the zip.
Trust me, I don't even believe my eyes…..I mean I might need to wash them after this.
Yumeko: え?(Eh?)
Me: 夢ちゃん,女の子は自分を守って.(Yume-chan, girls must protect themselves.)
Yumeko: しょうがないよ,あの...まだ乾いてないよ... (I have no choice, my…it's still wet….)
I bet it was the rain last night, I forgot to bring the laundry in — yeah, my bad.🥲
Her eyes turned red and was about to cry.
Me: 泣かないで,今から買って.
I dried up her eyes with my finger and quickly took her to a lingerie store near by,
This is the first time I wished for Cindy's here. 😭😭😭
AI: You can just stay outside, buddy.
Yeah I wish I could but what if there's something she can't ask?
Suddenly Yumeko knocked from the fitting room.
Yumeko: ね,もっと小さい...ありますか?
See? 😭😭😭
Me: Um, sorry, she asked if there were any smaller…
Yeah, I'm the one translating for her so that the staff knows what to do.
Without waiting for me to complete, the staff already knew what to do so I stopped talking. 🥲🥲🥲
...
The staff is right next to me while I'm surrounded by ladies'...clothes.
The vibe is awkward!!! 😭😭😭
AI: Regretted it now?
A little.
AI: Maybe try to get some topic to break the ice?
No! 😭
AI: Relax, just ask something the customer should know.
...
Okay.
Me: Um…ex…excuse me, I…I…would like to know if it's tt…too early for her to we…we…wear the….I mean….is there any….recommendation for….her….
For your information, I'm crying from the inside. 🥲
I covered my face so that the staff wouldn't see my blushing face.
...
AND WHY'S SHE STUNNING!!!! 😭😭😭
SAY SOMETHING!!! 😭😭😭
AI: I'll be frozen as well if I heard that.😏
She's laughing at me!!!! So unprofessional!!! 😭😭😭
Staff: Try the cotton cami, it's more comfortable and suitable for her.
Me: O…Okay.
I think I'm basically dying. 💀
I know this conversation is absolutely awkward. 😭😭😭
No, I'm dead. 💀
AI: I bet she's now questioning her whole life right now.
Well me too. 😐
AI: You're the only male customer who's brave enough to STAY IN THERE and ASKED THAT KIND OF QUESTION, haha…🤣🤣🤣
You scammed me!!!
AI: I didn't expect you'll ask that. 🤣
Just settle this and I'm leaving!!!
AI: Piano, remember?
Yeah.
After a while, Yumeko came out from the fitting room.
Yumeko: こ.....これでいい...(Th...this will do.)
I took a look at the price tag, it's not expensive but it seemed to be the refunded product as there were several scratches and flaws.
I don't understand why she would choose such a rough and non-breathable material.
Me: Ple...Please get me the one you recommended with the same size and style, tha…thank you.
I passed it to the staff while Yumeko almost stopped me.
Yumeko: どうしたの?(What's wrong?)
Me: コットンの方がいいよ.(Cotton is better.)
Yumeko: でも...(But....)
Me: Just pick the best, else it's just waste of money
Yumeko: わ...わかった.(O…Okay.)
After she heard me saying that —she stunned and ran away.
Perhaps she's blushing, like me right now. 🥲
I want to run away as well, other than that reason….
Look, I can't just tell her that "Oh, it's for your own health", okay? 😭😭😭
AI: Phhh—! 😏
Shut Up!!! 😭😭😭
Staff: Card or cash, sir?
Me: Ca…cash, ple…please.
I'm at the counter paying, while the cashier was looking at me smiling while the other was laughing quietly behind her.
The rest are also looking at me, please stop!!! 😭😭😭
Staff: Is that your girl…..
Me: Ka💀…Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀….Ka💀.....
Staff: Cousin?
Me: Ye…Yes.
What was that?
WHAT WAS THAT???? 😭😭😭
KAKAKA??? 😭😭😭
After hearing me stammering, the staff behind the cashier laughed out louder than just now.
While I was there, I quickly ran away with Yumeko.
...
If Isekai is real— I'm moving there. 🥲
....
After a while of cooling down, we arrived at the musical instrument zone.
Yumeko was excited when she saw the violins and pianos as she rushed to try them out.
Sorry, I'm not.
I'm the one holding the bag from the lingerie store with something that doesn't belong to me in it. 🥲
And now Yumeko is now playing "Symphony" by Clean Bandits, it's obviously the instrumental part….clean track without vocals? I don't know what it is called.
To fulfill the masterpiece of Clean Bandit, I put the bag down at the side and synced with the vocal parts.
I can see Yumeko's face looking at me surprised when I dropped my fingers on the A Major keys — luckily I didn't miss it. 🥲
But she continued playing without saying anything until we completed the song.
...
Yumeko: すごいねー!(That was awesome!)
Me: え?(What?)
Yumeko: いつ覚えたの?(When'd you learn that?)
Me: 習ったことないよ...キーはわかるけど,アマです.(I never … I only memorize the key, I'm an amature.)
Yumeko: もう一回?(Again?)
She sat down and was ready to play another song.
Me: あの,どっちにする?(Um...which one do you like?)
Yumeko: え?(Huh?)
Me: もう決めた,ピアノは買ってあげます.(I've decided to buy a piano.)
Yumeko: え?何で?(Uh? Why?)
Me: 何でもないよ.(Well, nothing.)
She looked at me without saying anything.
I can see questions in her eyes which I don't have answers yet.
Me: じゃ,早く決めて.(Well, please decide it earlier.)
Yumeko: 何ですか?何でやさ.... (But why? Why're you being….)
Me: 知らないよ.(I don't know.)
Yumeko: え?(Huh?)
Me: 思い出したらいうね.じゃ,早く決めてください.(I'll let you know once I have the answer. So, please pick one.)
I walked away so that she wouldn't ask me things I don't know to answer again.
But just when I was about to leave, she grabbed my arm.
Yumeko: わかりました,これでいいよ.(Alright, then. This will do.)
She was not looking at me but her finger was pointing at a Yamaha keyboard.
I took a look at the signboard, it was the model released years ago.
After pointing at what she wanted, she quickly ran away to the entrance.
And I don't know why she hid herself behind a pillar — stupid, I still can see her.
I took a look at the design and the audio quality, it was good.
The best part was the key textures are the same as the traditional piano.
After paying for the bill, I walked out of the store while she was shocked when I tapped on her shoulder to tell her we're leaving.
She quickly set up the keyboard...I mean I set the keyboard up for her as she can't wait to try it out.
AI: You really have no idea why you did all of these?
...so that she won't complain that she's boring here? Maybe?
AI: .....😑
What? That's to ensure my life stays better than usual.
Imagine my aunt spamming my chat everyday just to complain that her daughter didn't get good room service.
AI: Perhaps that's one of the reasons.
Perhaps that's the only reason.
AI: Perhaps you're getting used to something you didn't even realize.
Perhaps I'm getting used to my tragic babysitting life.
....
Perhaps.