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Say Sorry.
Jiro looked left, and then right, gave a loud sigh, and opened the flap to his laptop. As soon as the flap opened to it’s maximum capacity, the Café manager, Alec Su rapped him on his head from behind with a menu.
“I’m on my break!”
“Stop hitting on girls online.” He commanded, watching over Paul opening the door to the café. When Paul successfully completed the task to Alec’s satisfaction, he turned around to face Jiro.
“Control freak.” Jiro muttered, and bent down to his laptop. “Besides, how else do you expect me to find the one? The only reason I took this job was to hit on girls remember?”
“A little subtlety wouldn’t go unappreciated. Besides what happened to ‘Headphone Girl’?” Alec asked, casually glancing towards the now open café doors. It would take a minute for the crowd to gather into the shops. It was still too early, at eight in the morning. He could see a woman walking, no marching towards the café, as they spoke. A satisfied smile touched his lips.
“Seriously, you have an obsessive nature. Go find yourself a girl! Like I did.” Jiro smirked, and winked as he said those last words. Alec leaned closer, and took a sniff, and then another.
“I don’t like that smell. Mischief. Not one of my favorite emotions. What did you do?”
“Oh nothing.” Jiro shrugged, and went back to his laptop. “Just invited ‘Headphone Girl’ over, to have a little conversation, see if I could finally find myself a girl and get out of this place.”
“Why? Why is ‘Headphone Girl’ coming over?” Alec turned to him, with his most stern expression. Working with Jiro for the past six months had built in Alec a sixth sense of sorts. He could sense trouble way before it was coming. It helped in his management skills, but he wished he had developed them some other way. Training lions to jump through hoops wouldn’t be as tedious as training Jiro to behave; he supposed he should consider a change in careers.
“I have some information on her she wouldn’t want revealed. And as she comes to talk about that, I would lure her with my natural charm and good looks.”
“Like you’ve been luring the dozens of women that come here everyday?” Alec teased. He looked out towards the doors again, and noticed the girl had reached the entrance now, and looked quite furious. In fact she looked just about ready to cut off the head of the first person that would greet her.
Watching Paul walking enthusiastically towards the woman, he did what he hadn’t done in a long time. He whistled, and grabbed hold of Paul’s sleeve pulling him aside. He turned to Jiro, but the man had already straightened his apron, and was walking towards the woman with a bright smile.
“Welcome to Bishounen Cafe.” He greeted, and led her to her seat.
___
“Welcome to Bishounen Cafe.” The man she had been waiting to meet for the past fifteen days, greeted her, and led her to a seat near the window. She followed his lead, and sat down, and was surprised to see the man, sit beside her, not across, but beside her, and give her a tight smile.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see a man dressed in a white ruffled shirt, and block bow tie, with black pants and apron frown disapprovingly. He was quite handsome, although clearly older. Probably the manager or something, she thought. He gazed towards the door, and shrugged and walked away, taking the other man with him.
She then glanced to the ‘closed’ sign facing her. Which probably meant the open sign was facing the outdoors, which confirmed her belief that this must be some run down, old café, people barely visited.
As soon as she thought that, three men dressed similarly to the man sitting next to her, walked in with a crowd of women walking behind them. All they lacked were they’re flutes. She frowned as she imagined every man dressed as a pied piper, like in the fairy tale.
“Ahem.” The man next to her cleared his throat. She shifted in her seat to glare at him. But before she could say a word, the older man, scooped up her partner’s collar with a finger, and muttered, “Get to work.”
“Welcome to Bishounen Cafe.” He said with a smile, when the older man left.
“You said that already. I already feel welcome. I suppose you know why I came here?” She demanded, then lowered her voice as she heard a nearby customer mumble none to gently to her friend, “Oh she’s so direct.”
Myra Ren, twenty three, working for a copyright company related to the Taiwan music industry, and still single, had the grace to blush. She knew what this café was famous for. She had Googled for it, suspecting to only find the address, but was surprised to find a whole page dedicated to that café. It was rated one of the best locations for women to ‘hang out’.
‘Housing a beautiful décor, great menus offering every kind of Asian snack, and the workplace of some of the finest men in Asia, Bishounen Café is a safe bet for women with mediocre incomes looking for a fun place to hang out.’
She looked around the café, and wondered why there were no men around, besides the waiters of course. She glanced up at one waiter in particular, who was looking down at her with a big smile on his face. She wondered if he was sincere, or faking it for a good tip. She would bet on the latter. He was about to open his mouth when she raised a hand to stop him.
“Welcome to Bishounen Café, I know. I know. I would like a coffee with a sandwich please. And then I would like to have a chat with you.”
“You’re wish is my command Madame.” He said bowing gently, and then he walked away towards the counter to place the order.
The woman who passed the comment earlier, leaned over towards Myra and said with wide astonished eyes. “You teach me how to do that, and I’d let you have him, and pay for all you’re meals for the next week.”
Myra smiled politely, and shifted in her seat, practically leaning on the table for support. “You can keep him and you’re meals.” She replied, trying her best to sound polite, but in vain. The woman scoffed and turned to her friends in anger.
Myra then turned to observe her waiter without any disturbances. She was glad he didn’t notice her. Jiro Wang, if that was really his name, seemed quite at ease with the women in the café, as well as with his co-workers. He seemed to share a special bond, with the man, who she was now sure was a manager. Their exchange was brief, but she could see the depth of they’re friendship in that brief instant.
She wondered if the rumors were true. Did all these men really join to have a pick of their women? She heard men in high positions took a break from they’re work, just so they could work in these cafes, find the perfect woman, and resign.
Of course, she heard it was tough to get in as a waiter here. Apart from having the natural skill of waiting on people, and being charming and handsome, they had to be sincere about they’re approach, otherwise they wouldn’t be selected.
She had read in the website, about the café’s history, and for a moment actually thought it to be a joke. Yet, this chain of café’s had been a reality since the past five years. The men were being selected by the happily married couple, Ryo Nishikido and Ayumu Hamano, and their love story was every bit as interesting as the café’s history. As she had read the article on her computer, for a moment she had been completely mesmerized, and had almost forgotten about her reason for looking up the café. Almost.
Jiro Wang. She gritted her teeth automatically. The name made her want to bang her head against a wall. Who did he think he was? Making her private information public that way? Revealing her innermost hidden feelings for the entire virtual world to see. The thought still made her face red, from anger and embarrassment. The comments she’d received still ringing in her ears.
The day passed as she finished her sandwich and coffee and patiently waited for him to come and talk to her, but the manager kept pulling him away to tables with ‘actual business’, and kept staring at Myra as though she were some unwanted creature.
Towards the afternoon around two, when Myra gave up hope and was about to leave, Jiro came over to her, and grabbed her hand, to her utter horror. He pulled her towards what seemed like private quarters, and she looked frantically around the café hoping no one noticed, but the faint hope disappearing as every woman’s expression in the café was that of envy, and anger.
He led her through a door that separated the café from a small passageway, and took her to the end of the passageway, into a room, and closed the door behind him. She gulped as she noticed the interiors. There was a bed to one side of the room, and to the other, there was a small study table under a window. The room looked almost empty, because there was no other furniture. Then her gaze locked onto the bed. She mentally kicked herself for visiting a man she met on the internet, without having pepper spray ready.
She mustered up some courage, and turned to him in what she hoped was her most intimidating expression. “Why have you brought me here?”
“To talk. I can’t go out of the café, and you wanted privacy, so I decided to bring you to my room.” He smiled brightly.
“You live in the café?” She asked surprised. She hadn’t known there were sleeping quarters in the café. She tried to remember the passageway again. But there were only three doors, so who else lived in the café with him?
“Why is that so surprising?”
“Well, I th-thought that you joined the c-café just to meet women, b-but if you’re living here, then you probably are serious about your work, huh?”
“No, I actually am working in the café to meet women. That’s also the reason I joined twitter, where we met.” He winked. “But would you believe? After working six months in this café, I would find the girl of my dreams on twitter!”
“Oh? Who is that?” Myra asked stupidly.
“Well, you of course. I loved you from the moment I saw you’re picture. You’re so beautiful, and funny, and deep too.” He said grabbing her hand, and squeezing it gently as he massaged it.
“Me?!” Myra jerked her hand free, and willed her panic to subside to think rationally. “Look mister, I’ve only come here for you to give me my password, and for an apology. You have to say sorry for what you did. That’s all I’m here for. Not for a relationship of any sort!”
___
Jiro looked at the woman In front of him. So beautiful. She was perfect for him! He couldn’t believe his luck when she had sent him a mischievous tweet.
‘Hey gorgeous, if that is you’re picture on your profile, I am in love!’ She had said. He laughed of course, but didn’t reply. He knew she was joking, and passing time. But something made him visit her profile, and then he saw her picture.
She was, in fact, a very pretty girl. In the picture, her hair was pulled back, and neatly combed, and she wore a cute yellow sundress with white flowers on it. And she had caught each edge with her fingers, and had bent a little low, giving a sweet smile, and looking skywards.
He had laughed when he saw the picture. But what interested him the most was her tweets. She had tweeted what she tweeted him to many other guys, in different versions. At first he put her down to some desperate girl seeking attention. And then he noticed the replies she got to her tweets to these guys from one of her friends.
It was clear by their tweets that they were up to mischief. They tweeted guys, and flirted with them, in an outrageous fashion, to scare them away. And it had worked! Every guy first started out thanking her for the tweet and accepting her open invitation to flirt, and ended up asking her to leave them alone, or saying that they have a girlfriend. He had laughed some more reading these tweets.
Then, wanting to know more about the girl, he had visited her personal profile. She had given the link to her blog on live journal. But when he visited it, the pages were empty. At first he thought she was starting out, but then he realized she must have made her posts personal. She hadn’t added any friends, and even though there was a strong possibility she was starting out, he decided she must have hidden her posts.
As the owner of a small software company that was famous for its anti-hacking softwares and techniques, he hacked her live journal, it had taken him a few days, and was happy to find thirteen posts there, two of which had poems.
He spent an entire day reading her posts, and understanding her deeply. And the get her attention, he posted some of her work on her twitter page, inviting her friends, and strangers to comment and enjoy them.
He had also changed her password to her live journal account and after a few days of confusion for her, and rude messages from her friends, and her, he had tweeted her to meet him in the café, for a chat after which he may give her the password.
“Apology? We’re soul mates, what do we have to apologize to each other for?” He asked grinning.
He was in love! Plain and simple. He had been from the moment he read her posts. Such a simple woman, she was. She didn’t know how simple she was though, she believed herself to be complicated. But he knew one thing for sure. She needed a man to take care of her, to protect her, and he was just that man.
“Soul mates?” She spat out. “Are you out of your mind? I haven’t even spoken to you! I don’t even know you!”
“Well that could be easily solved now couldn’t it?” He asked with a big smile. “I am Jiro Wang, currently a waiter in Bishounen Café, owner of Wang Computer Companies, twenty four years old, single, with no family to speak of. I am currently living in Bishounen Café, but owner of an estate, about thirteen kilometres north from here. I have joined this café, to meet my soul mate, who I have found today: Headphone Girl aka Myra Ren. Please accept this proposal and go out with me Myra Ren.”
___
Myra stood in shock. Not because of the words the man in front of her just uttered, but because of the fact that she had wanted to say yes. All the fight was taken out of her, and she wanted to say yes, and grab him and hold him and give him all the love in the world.
“Are you mental?” She heard herself saying. No! I accept your proposal; I want to be your soul mate!
“No, but I am mental for you. And I guess you lied in your post, eh?” He said walking over to the desk, and pulling out something from in the drawer there. Myra stiffened. Could it be that he would murder her because she said no? She went closer to the door.
“What post?” She asked, keeping her eyes on his back. And what a gorgeous back that is!
“That if a guy proposed to you, and if it were sincere, you would say yes, and let fate guide you.” His back was still to her, and he seemed to be rummaging through things.
“You read that?” She asked surprised, and then hit her hand lightly and laughed. “Of course you did. You have access to my journal. You know I made a ‘live journal’ because I was afraid if I made a real one, someone would get their hands on it and read it? I guess you’re never safe on the internet, huh?”
“I like you’re laugh.” He said closing the drawer. She noticed he had something in his hand when he turned, and it didn’t look the least bit like a weapon. She sighed in relief.
“Give me my password, so I could leave.” She said looking straight into his eyes. For a moment she was mesmerised. He was so handsome, and light shone from his eyes, like he was really in…
“Here, this is for you.” The bright mischievous smile returned to his face. She gave a little smile of her own, in spite of herself. Reluctantly, she reached out for it and took the little velvet box. She knew what was in there, but she was still surprised when she opened the box.
A plain round small gold ring lay in the box. It was a simple ring, and she loved it all the more. But she looked up at him and shoved the ring back in his hands.
“I can’t take that.” She said simply. His smile grew wider, and he shoved it back in her hands.
“Yes you can. I’m glad you liked it. I’ll shower you with more gifts once we’re engaged.”
“That’s an engagement ring?” She asked bewildered. “Are you mental?”
“That’s you’re favourite sentence isn’t it?” He grinned. “Are you mental? Yes I’m mental, and I’m asking you to be mental with me. And no, that’s not an engagement ring, silly. An engagement ring would be a diamond. ”
“Oh.” She said looking at the ring that was shoved back into her hand. Then she looked up and realised what he said. “You will give me an engagement ring after this?!”
“Of course. Unless you don’t want one. But I would want you to wear my ring.”
“That’s it! I don’t need the bloody password. You keep it. I’m leaving. You are…”
“Mental, I know.” He laughed. She ignored him and walked out the door, but stopped when he spoke.
“You may leave, but that means you’re giving me permission to use all the data in you’re site, to my liking.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, all that you’ve put in your journal, I can do whatever I want with it. Like for example…” He looked her up and down. “Send the picture you have in there, with the poems you write to the newspaper.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” She challenged, looking in his eyes for a trace of uncertainty. But all she found was a challenge, the same in her eyes, flashing back in his.
“Oh wouldn’t I?” He asked. Then he grabbed her by the hand and led her to the café. He stood in front of the counter with her, and then climbed the counter clapping his hand for attention.
“Ladies!” He called. Every woman turned in his direction, and nobody spoke. The noisy café suddenly became very quiet. “I as a man, would never understand your pain, but I recently came across a poem written by this lovely lady here, which helped me understand every woman’s search for a man a little better. And I would like to recite it to all of you today, if you give me the permission.”
Every woman looked at Myra, and then at Jiro, and finally encouraged him to continue. Myra stood rooted to her spot in shock.
“’The guy’, it is called.” He said, then looked down at Myra, and recited every word looking straight in her eyes.
‘He was that guy.
The guy who cared more about himself than you.
The guy who said he got a compliment, than giving you one himself.
The guy who spoke about his passions, but never cared about yours.
He was that guy.
The guy you wished would look up and say,
"You're so beautiful, I am so lucky to have you."
But instead said,
"I'm a genius, I'm so brilliant."
He was that guy.
The guy you're eternally waiting for,
Just one reply to my message.
Just one sign that you like me.
And when you pull away...
It finally comes,
He says you're wonderful.
And then you're pulled back into it, and it all starts again.
There's no escape.
Unless he doesn't care,
Unless he says, if you want to go, go.
And the next day, he has replaced you.
She's brighter, and funnier, and much better.
And she's the exception.
"Why don't you tell him?"
___
He was that guy.
The guy who always picked up when you called.
The guy who was never busy.
The guy who told you how he felt.
The guy who was always there for you.
He was that guy.
The guy who teased you everyday.
The guy who noticed every change.
The guy who listened to every word.
The guy who said, "I don't ever want to lose you."
He was that guy.
The guy you cast aside.
The guy you could never picture yourself with.
The guy you had no problem walking all over on.
The guy who had a tissue and an ear ready, when you were sad.
The guy you called at 2 in the morning.
"Why won't he tell you?"’
He finished and bowed. All the girls clapped, as Jiro got down from the counter, and smiled at her sweetly.
“How was it everyone?” He asked, and the women responded with more claps. Some murmured encouraging words, but Myra was deaf to all of them. She was too busy staring at jiro with her eyes wide, and her mouth slightly open. Jiro came close to her and leaned in. “Think twice before challenging me.” He whispered almost seductively. She could feel her ears twitch, because of his warm breathe that touched her ears. “Unless of course you say yes, then you would win hands down no matter what the situation. I am ready to be putty in you’re hands.”
He pulled back and gave her a warm smile. But she was more occupied with his eyes. The same sincerity shone from them. She remembered her own words in her blog. If someone proposed to her sincerely she would never refuse him. She thought about why she was refusing Jiro. It was obvious he liked her. It was obvious he was sincere. People could fool others with their words, but not with their eyes. The eyes always spoke the truth, and Jiro’s eyes were giving her an open view into his heart.
“I…”
___
“I…” Myra said. Jiro knew she was going to say the words he was waiting for. I accept you’re proposal. Or something more romantic. But she stopped and looked behind him. He turned to see Alec approaching them with a frown on his face.
“That’s enough for today.” Alec warned, and pulled him by his collar, and pushed him away to a table. Jiro swore if Alec wasn’t his good friend, and boss, he would be lying dead at this very moment.
“I’ll come back tomorrow.” Myra said quickly and walked away. When she reached the door, she turned around and said, “Please don’t publish my work just yet.” And then she left.
Jiro gritted his teeth and smiled the woman at the nearest table. “Welcome to Bishounen Café.”
After work was over and the last of the patrons and waiters left, he locked the café up and turned to Alec and Paul, who lived in the café with him. Alec smiled at him, shrugged and turned.
Wrong move, pal.
Jiro jumped at Alec with a growl, and they both fell to the floor with Alec below Jiro. Alec managed to turn around and face Jiro, who was punching and kicking him with a wild force.
“What the heck are you doing! Ow!” Alec wailed as Jiro punched him on his abdomen.
“She was about to say yes! She was about to agree to date!”
“I know.” Alec replied with a wicked grin, which only agitated Jiro more, making him reach for Alec’s hair. Alec used all his force to push Jiro off himself. Poor Paul, stood there afraid to move, lest Jiro jump on him next.
“You pig!” Jiro yelled. Alec simply stood and dusted his shoulders in a gesture of nonchalance, and extended a hand forward to Jiro who was still on the ground. Jiro took it, and stood up.
“What’s the fun in romance if you’ve already fallen in love the first day you’ve met? Wouldn’t it be fun if you kept pursuing her?”
“Wouldn’t it be fun, if she and me were on a date just this minute, and maybe I get a kiss form her when I drop her home?”
“Yeah, that would be fun. But you could have my kind of fun, and you’re kind of fun. The only thing is you’d have to wait for you’re kind of fun.” Alec gave a small shrug, and backed away at the thunderous look on Jiro’s face.
“Alec, I wish I could kill you. The whole point of today was to pressure her into saying yes, not giving her a chance to think. Now she’s off somewhere thinking! She must be thinking of what a terrible idea this was, about alternatives, about ways to get out. My plan wasn’t exactly fool proof you know!”
“I don’t even know you’re plan. But whatever it was, rest assured, you will have the girl. If you don’t you have plenty to choose from.”
“I only want her.” Jiro growled. Alec smiled, patted his back and led him into the sleeping quarters. After five minutes, Paul deemed it safe, and went into his room to rest.
___
Myra walked into the café at eleven. She had debated going to the café earlier, but work kept her away. She went to her office instead, did some pending work, and drove back to the café fifteen minutes ago. Being the head of her department had it’s benefits.
She walked in and looked around. Jiro’s back was to her, and he was serving another customer, who looked at him with dreamy eyes. Myra felt a pang of jealousy and wondered why. She sat at a table near the window and waited.
A man dressed similarly to Jiro in a white shirt, black pants, bowtie, and apron, walked up to her and smiled.
“Welcome to Bishounen Café.” He greeted.
“Um, my waiter is someone else.” Myra said giving him a weak smile. He took a closer look at her, then his eyes widened in realisation and he backed away, hands raised, muttering sorry. Myra looked at him in confusion, and then looked up to find Jiro approaching her with a broad grin.
“Welcome to Bishounen Café, Myra Ren.”
___
Jiro felt his heart burst into a million pieces and fly in every direction. He was so happy to see Myra. He was afraid she wouldn’t come. But one hurdle was passed, now he would know why she came. To accept his proposal or to tell him flat that his plans wouldn’t work.
“I’d like a coffee, some scrambled eggs and a chat with you please.” She whispered, then looked around and gave a sigh of relief. He didn’t really know why, but she seemed happy to note that the people in the next table were not looking in their direction.
“Of course.” Jiro smiled, and went to get her order. At two, during his lunch break, he walked her silently to his room. “Yes?” he asked cautiously once inside.
“I have decided to agree to your proposal.” She said. He felt his body leap with joy, but stood still. She raised her hand to stop him from interrupting, which he didn’t plan to do. “I am only agreeing to date you, not to become you’re fiancé. There are two reasons for this. One, because I want my password back. And two, because, like I said in my journal, I would say yes to the man that was sincere to his feelings for me. I find that sincerity in you, and don’t want to loose the chance of getting to know a nice man, because of my anger. Although I don’t agree to you’re ways of handling things, I will agree to date you.” She finished.
Jiro simply smiled in response, liking her honesty and feeling proud that he picked her. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her in for a hug before she could say anything.
The next month that followed went by in a blur of happiness for Jiro. Myra and he began to date, going everywhere from the movies, to restaurants. To the outside eye they seemed like a normal couple, but the reality was, that there was still a little distance between them.
Jiro didn’t get too close because he knew at some level, that Myra wasn’t ready to completely accept him. And he was afraid to give all of himself away. If Myra walked out on him someday, saying she had no feelings for him, and demanded the password, according to their deal, he would be too heart broken to continue.
Myra, on the other hand, he knew, couldn’t trust him, and he didn’t blame her. If some girl walked up to him and told him she loved him, no conditions applied, he would doubt that girl too. Myra was human after all. But he hoped that Myra would come to him someday, and tell him her true feelings. He hoped they could make the transformation to a real couple.
It was a month since they began dating. Jiro was making plans to celebrate their ‘monthsary’ with Myra, when she walked into the café.
“Hey.” He said smiling at her. Ever since they agreed to date, Myra hadn’t come into the café, there was no need to. They met outside, and then he dropped her home.
She ignored him and walked ahead to the counter, and climbed up on it, clapping her hands and calling out for attention. “Ladies!”
Alec quickly hurried towards them, with his mouth wide open. “What is she doing?” He demanded of Jiro. Jiro didn’t answer, because he didn’t know either. The two of them looked up at her, mouth slightly open.
“As you all know, Bishounen Café is famous for its handsome waiters, and also as you all know, most of them come here looking for love. One such waiter is Jiro Wang. He approached me a month ago, and demanded that I date him. I agreed, and we began dating. Today is our one month anniversary, and all of you know, it is a tradition to gift your partner something on anniversaries.” She paused long enough to climb down. Every eye followed her movements, including Jiro’s.
“Here is my gift.” She smiled, and leaned forward to kiss him on the lips. A few moments later, she pulled back, fished for something in her pocket, and pulled it out. It was the ring Jiro had given her on the first day they had met. She wore it, smiled and pulled out a similar ring from the other pocket. Then she took his hand, and put it on his finger. “Perfect.” She said, then gave him another kiss, not letting go of his hand. “And now ladies,” She continued turning to the customers looking at her in awe. “I declare that I, Myra Ren, have claimed Jiro Wang.”
Jiro and Alec and all the women in the café, and the waiters, all seemed to recover at the same moment from their shock.
Jiro grabbed Myra and kissed her deeply.
Alec patted Jiro on his back, as he was kissing Myra and murmured “Good riddance.”
Paul and the other waiters whooped with joy, as all the lady customers looked on with envy, hope, and happiness.
It took Jiro only one minutes to quit, and walk out of Bishounen Café with the woman of his dreams.
