PART IV

 "Who is it?"

"Omi!"

"Oh, come in."

Omi slowly opened the door and poked his head. He found Alex's back to him, busy sorting out the shopping bags in front of her. Gingerly he entered, closing the door behind him; the soft click of the knob rang through the quite room.

"You all right, there?" He asked as his hands automatically reaching for a shopping bag. Alex looked up at him and smiled.

"Yup." She said. "And I would like to thank you for accompanying me and Manx, I just know shopping bores you guys to death." She chuckled.

"Oh no, no trouble at all." He quickly said. He wouldn't call it boring though since Alex provided him entertainment. Just remembering the shopping spree a while ago brought another smile on his lips.

It was really fun watching Alex try different outfits Manx chose for her, that is, with Alex grumbling and protesting in the side. She let the skirts, the blouses and the sandal strapped pumps to pass but settled on jeans, baby tees and leathers for herself. But in the end Manx won and since both of them were equally stubborn, she ended up buying two kinds of ensembles.

Well, Omi couldn't help but notice that Alex is rather boyish on the side but there was something in her that exudes this subtle femininity. She just doesn't know how cute and pretty she looks and how good she would look when she, for once, settle herself with the clothes Manx wanted her to wear. Yohji-kun once said, that after observing her with his good eye for women, Alex is just a girl who needs a man to make her realize her purpose as a woman. Of course they didn't miss the suggestive tone in his voice and it ended him receiving a clop on the head from Ken-kun and a baleful stare from Aya-kun.

"Well, I guess that wraps all of it." She finally said staring at the now clutter-free bed. "Thanks for helping me, Omi." Omi just smiled.

"That's nothing." He replied as they walked towards the door. Omi opened it and motioned for her to go first. Alex bit back a smile as she emerged from her room, Omi quickly following her.

"What are you guys up to?" Ken asked looking up from the newspaper he's been reading.

It was a fine Sunday afternoon, the Koneko no Sume Ie is closed for the weekend and the four good-looking florists can pretty much do whatever they wanted to do. Ken was busy reading the newspaper while Yohji's loud humming could be heard from the bathroom, no doubt getting ready for another date and Aya just sat on a corner, busying himself with a new novel.

"I don't know." Alex replied in slow Japanese. Then she turned to Omi. "How about you?"

Omi just shrugged, clearly thinking of something to do. Then Alex's eyes landed on Aya whom was too preoccupied to notice them.

"I didn't know Aya could read English alphabets." She said walking up to him. Aya looked up as she stood before him, her eyes intent on the book he was reading.

"I can read and understand but I can't speak well." He said. Alex nodded her head thoughtfully. Then she looked up at him.

"So, you into novels?" She asked.

Aya just nodded his head as his reply.

"I have the three latest novels of Sidney Sheldon with me." She began. "And a couple of Og Mandino's. I personally dig those authors."

At the mention of the two authors, Aya's ears perked up. Then he frowned at her with obvious confusion.

"Dig those authors?" He asked in slow English. Alex laughed and asked Omi to translate the English slang.

"She means that she personally likes the works of those two authors." Omi said. Then he turned to Alex frowning. "Don't tell me those were the only things you brought with you here."

"Hai! Just can't live without something to read." She replied. Then she turned to Aya. "If you are interested you can borrow them, they are just on the night table."

Again Aya just nodded. Alex then walked back to Omi who was contemplating at her daring behavior towards Aya. She was the first woman who attempted to have a normal conversation with him and… succeeded.

"Why don't we go out?" Omi asked Alex casually. "You know, hang out, show you around?"

"Yeah, and besides you'll be going to school tomorrow." Ken agreed. "Better not waste this fine afternoon."

Alex thought about the swell idea. Then she nodded her head.

"Yosh! Ikou!" She said pulling Omi with her.

"Whoa!" Omi cried out as Alex laughed. The two immediately walked towards the door, laughing.

"Watashi no nihonggo wa wakarimasu-ka?" She asked as she got her coat.

"No, it's terrible." Omi chuckled. Alex laughed as she gave him a playful poke in his ribs.

"Idiot!" She said as she stepped out.

"Hey, I know that!" Omi said as he stepped out after her.

Ken just had to laugh upon hearing the merry mirth of the two fading from his ears.

==========

"Here ya go, Alex-chan." Omi said as he handed her the plastic container with red, gooey stuff in it. Alex smiled as she took it from him.

"Arigato." She said. She then carefully spooned the sweet concoction and put it inside her mouth. She closed her eyes.

"Mm… this is good! What is this?" she asked looking at him. Omi looked up and pretended to think.

"Um… sweetened monkey brain with a bit of red food color in it." He replied. Alex frowned at him, her lips pursed. Again Omi saw the dimple surfacing on her right cheek and he thought she looked cute.

"Nice try, Omi-kun but it has strawberries in it." She said chuckling. "Stawberry-flavored monkey brain?"

"How did you know?" Omi asked laughing as he dug his spoon into his own ice cream.

"Oh I just know." she replied riding on with the jest. Then she turned serious. "How did you know that I like everything that has strawberries in it?"

"Well…" Omi began as he licked his lips. "I just noticed how you ate all the strawberries when we went for some cake."

"Oh…" She said taking off the spoon from her mouth. "I didn't know you were that observant."

Then a comfortable silence settled over them as they sat on the park bench, looking at the beautiful sunset. Alex bit back a smile as she remembered the day. First, the three of them, Manx, Omi, and she went shopping. Then she and Omi went to the arcade, then to the museums since she confessed that she has always been interested in Japanese art. Then Omi took her to the library, at her request, and settled for a membership card. And now, they find themselves sitting at the park with the beautiful sunset providing entertainment for them.

"How are you doing right now?"

She looked at Omi her eyes wide with question.

"Nani?"

"You were crying just the other day." He replied looking at her, concern all over his features. "How are you doing right now?"

"Oh, just fine, I guess…" She replied looking at the setting sun. "Well that is just like me, cheerful and the next moment crying then cheerful again… "

"Look, Alex if there is anything I can do for you… "

"Don't worry I'll be fine." She reassured him. "That crying the other day was just a way of releasing all of my emotions. I assure you I'm fine now."

Omi then fell silent, accepting her answer. She looked at him and smiled. Somehow, being with Omi made her feel safe, happy, and secure. She couldn't explain it but there is just something about him that draws her to him, something new to her.

Unconsciously, she felt her body limping, her back becoming stiff since the bench has nothing to let her back lean on. Omi sensed her discomfort as he turned to her, his face flushing furiously.

"D-do you want to head home now, Alex-chan?"

"No, the sunset is too beautiful." She replied looking at the pink sky. But her back is awfully hurting. "Do you?" She asked him.

"No." He replied since he too likes looking at the sunset. Then he turned to her, much to his surprise, his heart is hammering loudly inside his chest.

"D-do you want to- to lean on me?" He asked carefully. "Looks like your back couldn't take it anymore."

With that, Alex gave him a soft smile and without a word settled her body against his, her head resting on his shoulder. A small sigh escaped their lips as they sat there, the heat of their bodies providing a strange, warm comfort.

Later that night, when Alex was preparing her bed, a smile crossed her lips as she noticed her night table bare.