" What do you think of that beige pullover?" Goro asks the person standing next to him before the shop window. The latter peered in and studies the object seriously.
" It would look nice on you." Takuya agrees.
" Let's go in and have a look!"
Leading the way, Goro pushed open the glass door and enters the quaint shop with Takuya at his heels.
" Welcome!" A salesgirl called out the moment the bell signalling visitors rang. " What can I do for you today?" She asks beaming.
" Can I have a look at that beige pullover in the window?" Goro asks politely.
" Let me get it for you." The girl offers and rushed off to get one for this potential customer. Meanwhile Takuya has found a chair infront of the row of dressing rooms and sat down to wait while Goro took a quick look at the other racks.
" Takuya! Come look!" With a sigh Takuya heaved himself out of his cozy chair and went to Goro's side. " Look! Isn't this something you would like?"
Takuya's eyes widened when he saw the black tee Goro is holding up. On it is imprinted with a skull and crossbones wearing a pirate bandana.
" Oh yes!" His eyes shone excitedly.
" I think this range is similarly designed. Have a look!" Goro replies as he pushes apart some clothings to show his friend what he meant. True enough, the whole range of casual tees carried emblems and designs of similar themes. Like a kid in a candy store, Takuya is spoilt for choice and wanted every one he saw. Flinging his choices into Goro's arms, he only stopped when he reached the end of the rack and when he turned to survey the damages, he found Goro almost caving under the pile in his arms.
" Oops!" He exclaimed with a quick sticking out of his tongue as he relieved the weight off Goro's hands.
" Thanks!" Goro said gratefully. " You gonna buy all that?"
" I'll consider." Takuya laughed when he caught sight of the salesgirl waiting with the beige pullover in her hand. " Why don't you go try the pullover on while I do that?"
Obediently Goro took the pullover and went into the dressing room to try it on. When he exit to flash it for Takuya, he nearly choked. Takuya is sitting in the armchair half buried in tees. The scene struck him as real funny and he stood rooted unable to stop laughing while Takuya pulls a tee before his chest and asked him for his opinion. After a series of nods and shakes from Goro, the choices had narrowed down to just over 5.
" I'll take these!" Takuya grinned at the salesgirl who is looking troubled indeed at the pile of discarded ones in the amrchair next to him.
" We'll put it back for you!" Goro offers when he understood the look on her face.
" No! No! Please don't trouble yourself!" She cried hurriedly but she has no way of preventing the two male customers from putting everything back before they paid for their purchases. They were almost like a whirlwind in action and were done before she could object again.
" Is this ok?" Goro asks Takuya, ignoring the now exasperated look on the girl. Takuya took a look while he turn this way and that flaunting the pullover on him.
" Very you."
" I'll take it then." Goro smiled at the salesgirl who can only smile back weakly.
" I think we are blacklisted in that shop." Goro said in unnecessarily low tones after they left with their purchases.
" We are?"
" Yes. First we messed up the place then we tidied it." Goro chuckles.
" And that's bad?" Takuya laughs.
" Sorta like a taboo in sales." Goro reminds.
" Well, we are blacklisted almost everywhere we go." Takuya sighed in resignation. "I am thirsty. Let's find a place to get a drink." He suggests instead.
" Sure." Goro replies as he follows Takuya down a short alley way that will lead to the next street filled with cafes and restaurants.
" Maybe we shouldn't choose al faesco." Goro said as he eyes the passerbys wearily. For the past ten minutes, all the girls wlking by took a look at the both of them and went away giggling. He turned to Takuya who is sitting slump against the back of his iron wrought chair with the ease of someone sunbathing in his own private yard. " Something on my face?"
" Don't be silly." Takuya snaps good-naturedly as he turns his sun shaded eyes skywards.
" Then what is so funny about me?" Goro asks in a frustrated voice.
" Don't be dense! Surely you don't think the ladies are going to pass by without noticing us two handsome fellas sitting here?"
" Eh?" Goro utters in surprise just as their coffees came.
" You are pretty quiet today. What's wrong?" Goro asks after enduring a long period of silence so unbecoming of Takuya.
" I ~"
" You want to tell me something?" Goro asks deciphering the look of helplessness in his face. " I remembered you wanted to tell me something the other day but I fell asleep. Is the same thing you wanna say?"
Takuya nod dumbly and stirs his coffee even more vigorously. " What is it?" Goro prodded gently.
" It's ~ it's about your sister." Goro is startled to see Takuya paled and assumed that he is going to make a complaint to him against his sister.
" Is she bothering you? You know she meant no harm." Takuya decided to ignore Goro and continue what he wanted to say before he lose his nerves again. So he shook his head vigorously till Goro stopped talking.
" Well, her razor tongue scares me alot." Takuya admits sheepishly. " But she really is a great guy ~ er...I mean girl ~
" It gets to me that the more I try to look less a fool before her, the more I failed."
" Does it matter ~" Goro starts to ask the he stopped abruptly. " You are interested in my sister?!!!" Takuya stared unblinkingly for a few moments before he nod reluctantly.
" When? When did you start taking an interest in her?" Goro asks coldly.
" I don't really know. One fine day I woke up and I see her at the breakfast table and I told myself that is what I want to see every morning for the rest of my life."
" I see." Goro's voice is cold enough to freeze water in summer.
" You ~ you don't agree?" Takuya asks timidly when he realised the vast negative change in Goro's attitude. Long hard silence follows as they stare unflinchingly at each other. Goro narrowed his eyes thoughtfully after observing determination in Takuya's eyes. Suddenly he burst out laughing.
" Gotcha!" Goro guffawed.
" You son of a ~"
" I will be more than happy if this works out for the both of you. Frankly, I was worried that no man will want to tackle my sister's tongue. Still, I am her brother so I gotta warn you, don't hurt her or I'll hurt you double."
" You got me so worried there! Almost thought I have to play Romeo and Juliet with her!" Takuya chuckles in relief.
Following that is a long period of awkward silence. Both men have no idea what to say to each other and neither feel like talking about the weather. Yet, Takuya feels that Goro is stirring his coffee with too much concentration and fervour.
