" Where are you off to?" Tsuyoshi asks in surprise when Shingo shot out of his room and head for the door hurriedly.
" Out. ima has a craving for raw fish."
" It's already past ten! All the restaurants are closed." Joyce adds.
" I know. That's why I can't order by phone. I'll go and search around." Shingo said in pale resignation and left quickly. Tsuyoshi turned and face his wife squarely and for the next few moments they stare at each other in silence.
" What was all that about?" He asks at last.
" Pregnancy cravings." She giggles.
" But ima don't take raw stuff before."
" That's what it's all about. It will cause the pregnant mother to crave for things she never wanted before, and at relly odd hours."
" Will you be like that too?"
" Most probably." Joyce replies seriously. " So be forewarned!"
" Takuya isn't back yet?" Goro asks me as he joins me before the tv. I shook my head absently as I concentrates on what the tv reporter is saying.
" He has to close shop tonight." I replied just as the phone rang so Goro picked it up.
" Hello?" He said but soon he began to frown. " Hello? Who is that? Who do you want to speak to?"
" Prank call?" I ask when he puts the phone back into its cradle. He nodded in silence just as the phone rang again. " I'll get it.
" Hello? Speak up!" I yelled into the silent phone but all I got was a speedy click. " @#$%^&*" I curse loudly while Goro burst into laughter over my colorful language just as cj steps out of the room.
" What's up?" She asks curiously but then the phone rang again. Neither of us want to answer it again so cj pick up the phone naturally. " Hello?" Both of us looked on as she listens in silence but the color are rushing off her face fast. " No, I don't want to meet you. I say no, I will not meet you. Please stop bothering me!"
I flash my brother a questioning look but he could only shrug. cj bit her lip thoughtfully as she continues to listen. " Fine, I'll meet you this once. After this, you will stop bothering me? Ok."
" You don't look so good." I remarked when the call ended.
" Who's that bothering you?" Goro asks.
" Just an old classmate. I don't really want to see her right now." cj replies nervously.
" Are you feeling ok?"
" I'm fine. I think I'll go get my report writing started." She said poorly and went back into the room.
" Wonder what was that." I wonder aloud.
" Like she said. An old classmate she don't care to meet." He replies determindedly.
Takuya concentrates on sweeping up the wood shreds scattered all over the floor. He had flipped the "Open" sign around a while ago and now he has to clean up before locking up and going home. He was growing accustomed to the silence when the door opens and the bell rang. He jumped rather ungracefully.
" We are ~" He started to say but was stopped what he saw. A ravishing middle aged lady is standing in the middle of the floor looking around. In fact she had been in the shop everyday for the past 3 weeks. He has wondered about how her dogs could finish the ton of food she had bought from her.
" I am so sorry, are you closed?" She ask looking geniunely troubled.
" It's ok. What can I do for you?" He grinned sheepishly.
" My dog has ticks. I need to buy some shampoo for him." The frown on her face made her look all the more vulnerable and brought out the chivalrism in him, despite the lamest excuse he just heard.
" That's too bad ~ let me help you get it." He offers profusely as he grabs a bottle off the racks for her. " Will this brand do? It's the best selling one in the shop."
" Yes, thank you. How much do I owe you?" She flashes him the sweetest smile he ever seen.
" Er ~ no need ~ " He caught himself before he did any damages to his own pockets. " I mean, let me wrap it up for you."
As she reached forward to put the dollar notes on the counter top, he is busy wrapping the bottle up. She stretched forward close so that he could smell her overwhelming perfume and feel her breath tickling his earlobe.
" I want to eat you up~" She growls lowly into his ear. His eyes widen to the size of walnuts and he froze in surprise. She straightens and took the bag from his hand before leaving. Even after the door closed behind her and he is once again alone in the empty shop, he could not recover his senses. All he could hear is her words ringing in his eardrum.
The mysterious seductress must be half a mile away from the shop before he could will himself to come out of the trance. " Eh?!" He utters in confusion.
" Do you think I'll look good in this gown?" Pam asks ima, showing her the magazine she is reading. ima peers at it and nodded.
" Yes, but isn't the train a little too long?" She asks.
" I like a long train for my wedding gown ~" Pam said dreamily.
" What did Nakai say when he knows you aren't pregnant after all? Did he tries to get out of the proposal?" ima asks curiously.
" No, he did not!" Pam protests with a matyred glare at ima who is giggling. " He went " Don't forget your passport, we are going to cityhall tomorow morning!". Set the alarm clock so we can set off early." Pam giggles as she recalls how she was trembling at having to tell Nakai the truth.
" What are you gonna name the baby?" Pam asks abruptly.
" Reeanne ~"
" Interesting name. Where did you derive it from?"
" Shingo thought it up."
The door burst open just then and Shingo march in proudly holding up a package for them to see. " I found it!" He announces happily. ima gave a loud happy cheer and snatched it over. Pam is shocked at how savagely she strips the box of the bag and is eating in a flash.
" How did you managed to get it at such an hour?' Pam asks in amazement.
