"Is that…clam?"
"Yeah…"
"It swims?"
We both looked at a clam, opened its shell and closed it while floating in the water until it moved away from our sight.
Me: Must be fresh for sweet and sour…
Clara: Huh?
Me: Huh?
She looked at me as if I said something wrong...I guess I did.
It's just early in the morning and I already did something wrong — twice.
AI: Yeah, glad that you know. First, you forgot the tickets which…
NO NO NO NO NO —!!!
DON'T TELL DON'T TELL — !!!😭😭😭
AI: And needed to go back to get it, you know you actually came early if it wasn't the ticket, haha. 😂😂😂
Stop reminding me that!!! 😭😭😭
AI: After you came back from home, she already waited for 30 minutes. 🤦♂️
And even though she didn't blame me for that....I still feel sorry. 🥲
...you should've reminded me of that. 😭😭😭
AI: And the next is….this. 🙂↔️
I didn't expect her to hear it. 😭😭😭
AI: She sees the clam, you see the food, hahaha…. 😂😂😂
Stop it, please. 😭😭😭
AI: You're really cooking here. 😂😂😂
Clara: By…the way, what's on the second floor?
I took a look at the catalogue...
Me: The dolphin show, you interested?
Clara: Yeah, why not?
She took a look at her watch and immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me to the escalator…
What—is—going—on—!!! —??? 💀💀💀
Did she just…grab my hand in public???
How can she pretend like nothing happened???
AI: Relax, buddy. You told her to be herself when she's with you, remember?
Of course I do, but….
AI: I guess this is her true self…
...
You sure?
AI: Who knows? Just…don't say anything, okay?
...okay.
To be honest, she looks different today.
She obviously dyed her hair brown recently, she's still wearing her crescent earrings and the contact lends today while she's in a grey one sided off-the-shoulder top and a sports short.
Until we arrived at the audience seats, she finally let go of my hand.
The show already started, I guess that's why she was in a hurry.
The dolphins passed the ball to each other.
One of them held the ball with the tip of their rostrum…..they could do that?
Clara: I can't believe you came.
Me: I can't believe you invited me.
Clara: Me too….I thought I wasted the tickets.
She leaned on the railing while keeping her eyes at the dolphins…
Clara: Thanks for coming.
Me: Thanks for inviting me, then.
Even though she didn't look at me, I can see her smiling from the side of her cheek.
Clara: Rin, do you…
Suddenly one of the dolphins bounced from the water and fell back into it, the water splashed up everywhere especially towards the audience.
Clara: Ahh–!!!
WHAT—THE—💀
Besides being shocked by the upcoming splashes, I was almost frozen by Clara's sudden action.
Clara immediately covered her face by burying them into my shoulder…
*FOOP—*
The water ended up splashed onto the umbrella I immediately opened.
Clara opened her eyes slowly and saw the transparent umbrella covered before us.
Clara: Wait, you brought it all along???
Me: Ye…ah….your books might get wet, so…
Clara: Wait, how'd you know…
Me: Well…lucky guess, haha.
She smiled at me for a while — this time, we looked into each other's eyes.
After a while, she turned back to enjoy the show.
For some reason, she covered her cheek with her hands for a few seconds and gently shook her head before continuing watching the show.
While me?
I'm the umbrella stand, holding the umbrella defending both of us from the next water splashes.
...
And you know what?
Even though she stood in front of me not touching me, I still can feel the warmth coming from the shoulder. 💀
AI: Trust me, buddy. She can feel your warmth too. 😏
DON'T MENTION IT!!!
HELP ME!!! 💀💀💀
WHEN WILL THIS SHOW END??? 😭
AI: Come on, look at her, is she smiling?
....
How'd you know that?
AI: The credit goes to you, buddy. 😌
...
What do you mean?
AI: You'll get it soon. 😌
...okay.
After a while, we came to a stall that sells takoyaki…
Are they taking the ingredients fresh from the aquarium?
AI: They're not you, buddy. 😒
True.
We bought a dozen of its special cheese topping and teriyaki topping mix, the bonito and nori flakes insanely covering the takoyakis.
She said to be fair, since I bought the takoyaki she bought us the chrysanthemum jasmine tea.
We sat at one of the benches and enjoyed our lunch.
And yes, as usual — we didn't talk to each other.
She's reading her novel while I'm scrolling on my phone.
...
Suddenly, someone patted my lap — it was a little boy.
He was holding a bucket of fresh rose, the fragrance could be smelled once he approached.
Little Boy: Big brother, is she your girlfriend.
I SWEAR I ALMOST SPIT THE TEA AND CHOKE MYSELF ON IT!!! 😭😭😭
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS LITTLE KID??? 💀💀💀
Clara: Uh no no no no, it's not what you think!!!
Little Boy: But…you guys are dating right?
…..
Me: Um…what can we help you with?
Little Boy: Would you like to buy a rose from us? We're gathering money for our school's sports hall.
...
Now what?
I wish I could help but...this is wrong. 😭😭😭
AI: Just buy one, it doesn't mean anything special. 😌
Dude, there's a "To My Love" written on the paper slip attached to it!!!
It's attached to it!!! 💀
Clara: Alright, I'll buy.
Me: Uh?
Clara: D…Don't get me wrong, I…I just wan…want to help.
After she said that, she paid for the flower with her e-wallet which made the little boy now target me as his next customer. 🥲
...
Fine…😑
I scanned the QR code as well and the money successfully transferred….
Little Boy: What's your name?
Clara: I'm Clara, C–L–A–...
As she spells her name, the little boy is writing….
Wait, he's writing her name onto the slip!!! 💀💀💀
Little Boy: Here you go.
The little boy passed the flower to me with the most innocent smile while doing the most evil thing than Satan. 💀💀💀
Little Boy: What's your name?
Me: Uh….Is that necessary?
Little Boy: The teacher said so.
Arghh—!!! He's showing that smile again!!! 😭😭😭
Me: Fine…I'm Rin, R–I–N–
After spelling my name, he wrote my name onto the slip and passed the flower to Clara.
He waved at us with thanks, leaving us with his innocent smile….
That kiddo must be Satan reincarnated, I swear!!! 😭😭😭
What do I do now?
Throw it away???
No, it looks like I'm throwing her name into the garbage can...what am I even thinking!!! 😭😭😭
I CAN'T FEEL MY BRAIN!!! 💀💀💀
Clara: It's…it's not that…that meaning…right?
Me: Ye…Yeah, true…
Clara: We're just helping the school, that's…that's it.
Me: Yeah, nothing special…
...
Clara: I'll keep it, don't worry.
Me: Huh? But…
Clara: Well…love can be variously defined…well…FRIENDS!!! Yes! Friends can give flowers too…right???
Me: Yeah, best friends would do that.
Clara: So…this is friendship love, don't overthink about it.
Me: O…kay.
After visiting the rest of the spots, we left and came to the train station afterward.
...
On the train, we didn't talk to each other as well.
We both held the rose sitting next to each other.
What now?
Did I just receive a flower from a girl today?
No, I'm holding the one I paid for, right?
Tell me it's true.
AI: Well…technically you both paid the same price, but basically you both are holding each other's flowers…
Even though she emphasized it's all about friendship, but...it's still bizarre to me you know?
AI: Relax, you're not the one overthinking here.
What?
AI: She won't emphasize that if she didn't overthink about the flower.
So…I just pretend like nothing happened???
"Ouch—!"
Suddenly her voice grabbed my attention, I slightly peek at her to see what happened.
The first apparent color in my sight is red, I saw her finger being stabbed by the thorn on the rose.
It's bleeding.
Clara: Ah…
Me: Don't move.
I stopped her when she was about to suck it and took out the band aid from my backpack and stuck it onto her finger.
After that I put my attention back onto my phone… 🫥
Clara: Hey.
Me: Yes?
Clara: Thank you…
Me: Oh, it's not a big deal…
Clara: No, I mean…for...
She suddenly stopped talking which made me take a look at her — she was looking at me. 💀
Again, we both had eye contact for a few minutes and she immediately looked away.
Me: My turn, thank you too.
Clara: ?
Me: For the ticket, it's my first time coming to the ocean park.
Clara: It is?
Me: Yeah, my parents never took me anywhere, they're busy at work all the time.
Clara: Oh…
...
Clara: Hey.
Me: Hm?
Clara: Can we have some music before I drop off at the next stop?
Me: ...why not?
As usual, we took one of the earphone pieces and connected it to her device.
...
It's the same music like the last time again.
Then, she continued reading her novel while I continued scrolling on my phone.
...
What do you expect?
When two introverts sit together — this is what'll happen.
Minutes later, the train stopped and she returned me the earphone piece by putting it back to my ear…
Clara: See ya.
I can't hear her clearly but I bet that's what she said, she ran off the train after waving at me...with a smile?
...
I don't know why I care — Is this truly her true self?
Or is she just pretending?
AI: You think?
I don't know.
Based on my experience, socializing is putting on masks...
Is that her mask or her real face?
I can't differentiate.
...
I guess...
...
I don't know, maybe?