“Celeste,” Nava enters the dark kitchen, “you’re up early!”
“We have to set up for Valentine’s Day,” she responded, “All of your classes are cancelled today, right?”
“Yeah. Got nothing to do today.”
“An extra pair of hands at the maid cafe would be nice!”
“Only for decorating, right?”
“Of course.”
Celeste shoves four bagel slices into the toaster oven and heads into the living room with Nava. An adult cartoon is playing on the television.
“Have a special someone to spend time with?” Celeste asked.
“No,” Nava responded.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m not dating Gene!”
“Alright alright… How did you meet him?”
“How I met Gene?”
“Yeah, you never told me the full story!”
“Well two years ago…”
༶•┈┈✧༺♥༻∞┈♛˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥
A 19-year-old Nava enters a small classroom with long tables instead of individual desks to sit at. The room is half full with most of the students sitting at the tables at the back. She chooses an empty table at the front. The professor begins taking attendance once class starts. While the names are being called, a man that’s around the same age as Nava bursts into the room. His dark hair looks like it hasn’t been combed in a while and the loose fit of his clothes suggests that he doesn’t eat regularly.
“What’s your name?” the professor asked him.
“Gene,” he responded, taking a seat next to Nava.
The professor finished taking attendance and began reading out the information on the syllabus. Nava decided to glance at the boy sitting next to her while the boring information was being read out. His skin tone was darker than hers and he appeared taller than her sitting down. He didn’t look interested in what the professor was saying. It took up most of the class, so the students were let out with an introduction assignment to do.
“Hey!” a masculine voice called Nava.
Nava turned around to see the boy who sat next to her. “Uh, hi,” she responded.
“You were in that essay writing class, right?”
“Yeah, you were sitting next to me.”
“Name’s Gene!”
“Nava.”
“You know, I think you’re really cute! And I was wondering if we can study together or something.”
“I can’t right now. I need to get ready to move into a new apartment.”
“That’s fine! Maybe we can go to a park or something. I know a good one that’s a train ride away!”
“Maybe another day.”
“How about something to eat? You need energy to move into an apartment, right?”
“Listen, you’re nice and all, but I’m not interested at the moment!”
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■・❥・
“And he never stopped asking you out?” Celeste asked, stepping out in her maid uniform colored pink for the occasion.
“Pretty much,” Nava responded, attaching heart-shaped accessories onto her hair, “I got annoyed with each request and admitted that I want to get my degree before I date anyone.”
“Didn’t you tell me that he’s already getting a Bachelor’s by taking summer classes?” the two head to the subway, “Why is he taking the same classes as you?”
“I don’t know. He claims that he needs to get an ‘A’ in those classes to get a Master’s, but that sounds like bulls–t.”
“Eh, that’s boys.”
Nava feels her phone vibrate in her shirt pocket. She taps onto the Doscirt app, which has a notification.
Squashmysquish: My classes got cancelled. wanna hang?
Happyyellowgambler: I can’t. Helping celeste set up at the cafe
Squashmysquish: That’s fine!
“Who’s that?” Celeste asked, stepping into the train.
“It’s Gene,” Nava responded, “Still trying to date me.”
“Ha. Thought today was the perfect day.”
After a few stops, the two exit the subway and enter the cafe.
“What can I help you with?” Nava asked.
“We can start with the tablecloths,” Celeste answered, “They’re the pink and red ones in the storage closet.”
The two began setting up the tables by placing the colored tablecloths, swapping out the plain-looking vases with ones that have red heart designs, placing heart-shaped placemats, and placing rose gold utensils. While adding ribbons onto the chairs, a knocking sound is heard at the front door.
“I’ll get it!” Nava unlocks the door, “We’re not open yet, can you—huh?”
Standing in front of Nava is a familiar dark-haired, tan man that’s taller than her by a head. His wavy hair is clearly combed and his figure has bulked up in the past two years. His attire is neater than the hoodie and baggy pants he usually wears.
“Gene!” Nava exclaimed, “What are you doing here?”
“You were helping Celeste here,” he answered, “So I thought I could help!”
“I would very much like that!” Yanagi yelled from the kitchen, “I need help stocking the refrigerator!”
“I’ll be there!”
Gene enters the cafe and heads into the kitchen. Nava resumes on tying the ribbons around the chairs. Celeste begins attaching decorations onto the ceiling.
“After this,” Celeste starts, “the whole place will be finished!”
“That was fast,” Nava responded, “Why is there so much extra time?”
“We have to prepare the food. Can you help me wash the vegetables?”
“Alright.”
The two enter the kitchen.
“You’ve been asking her out for two years?” Yanagi asked, “And lied about getting a Master’s degree?”
“Yeah,” Gene responded.
“You what?” Nava asked.
“Uh,” Yanagi responded, “He told me that he’s still taking classes to be with you.”
“I would be angry, but I sort of knew that Gene lied.”
“Listen,” Gene spoke up, “I just want one date! You don’t even consider me as a friend!”
“Maybe if you weren’t pestering me every hour, I would consider you as a friend!”
“You’re acting like an old married couple…” Celeste interrupted.
“Can we stop wasting time?” Yanagi added, “Less than half of the food was prepared!”
Celeste drags Nava to the sink where a bunch of vegetables are sitting. Celeste turns on the sink.
“You could use the moral support,” Celeste said, "Sitting in classrooms with students four years younger than you doesn't sound like a happy time. I would personally hate it!"
"Constantly being asked out totally supports me!" Nava retorts.
"You can just have a friendly discussion with him. Even an asexual like me thinks that some casual hangouts should occur before a date."
"Yeah," Yanagi says, "Quit asking for a date and just have a conversation!"
"You know," Gene replies, "even though you decline me all the time, I still think you like me."
"How?" Nava asks.
"Remember about a year ago…"
⋆⛧*┈┈┈┈﹤୨♡୧﹥ ┈┈┈┈*⛧⋆
There's nothing for five dollars? Gene thought, looking at the food in the convenience store, Maybe the bakery has something affordable.
Gene walks down the street and enters a small bakery with no seating. He walks up to the cashier.
"I only have five dollars," he tells the cashier, "Is there anything I can get?"
"You can have that cheese bread," the cashier points at a shelf with buns the size of a fist.
"Thank you so much."
He picks up one of the wrapped breads and leaves the bakery. He heads towards the subway nibbling on the bread. The station is mostly empty with a few homeless people laying around.
"Excuse me," a gruff voice greeted Gene, "are you still eating that?"
Gene turns around to see a homeless man pointing at his bread.
"Uh yeah," he responded.
"Are you sure?"
"I haven't had anything to eat for 18 hours."
"You can't spare anything?"
"I wish I could, but I can't!"
Gene feels a pain in his fingers as the man rips the bread out of his hands.
"Hey!" he yells, chasing the man climbing up the stairs, "That's mine!"
Gene falls to his knees already out of breath.
"Gene," a familiar voice calls out behind him, "is that you?"
He turns around to see the dark pigtailed girl with a healthier frame than him.
"Uh," he responded, "hey Nava."
"How come you haven't eaten for the last 18 hours?"
"I ran out of microwavables when tuition and rent was due."
"Are you still hungry? I can buy you something."
"It's fine. I'll just go to a soup kitchen tomorrow."
"I just earned a lot of money. I can buy you dinner for tonight."
"How?"
"I visited the casino and got a pretty good win. Where do you wanna eat?"
"You can go to a casino?"
"I can only use the slot machines. Do you want a burger?"
"It's fine!"
"Your stomach is still grumbling. Just let me get you one thing!"
"I guess there is a bakery that is open."
They exit the station and enter the same small bakery. Nava gives Gene a ham and cheese sandwich made with a croissant.
"Thank you so much!" Gene praised, "I have to repay you!"
"You don’t need to do that!" she responded.
"How about I take you to a date when I get my paycheck?"
"How about you eat your sandwich before I smack it on the ground?"
༶•┈┈✧༺♥༻∞┈♛˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥
"You actually did that?" Celeste asked Nava.
"I just felt bad that his meal was stolen!" she responded.
"Would you still do it if I was a stranger?" Gene asked.
"Maybe not something that was ten dollars, but I would still want to help a stranger!"
"Thanks for all the help!" Yanagi intervenes, "We have ten minutes to spare!"
"Hey Nava," Celeste states, "do you want to have an early lunch?"
"I left my wallet at home."
"How about I repay you now?" Gene asked.
"The train ride isn't long."
"C'mon Nava!" Celeste nagged, "It's just a kind deed, not a date!"
"Ugh. Fine."
"Great. Sit wherever you like!"
Gene and Nava exit the kitchen and sit at a table with pink roses in the vase. Celeste hands them the menus.
"Listen," Nava tells Gene while looking through the menu, "We can go on a date, but only once per month!"
"I can live with that," he responded, "How about we consider this as the first one?
