( ` he looks at her and wonders if he should continue. his empathy meter is rather abnormal. in the sense that he finds it rather difficult to ignore her emotional turmoil. but she seems rather adamant on keeping her distance so he allows her that space and tries to pretend as if sympathy is the last thing on his mind. he would’ve never been offered a position among the NIS if he weren’t able to switch his compassion into something cold and analytical. he’d done some things he didn’t really want to think about and he was sure he’d be asked to do even more if the situation were warranted. but the relatively small amount of experience is enough to shift his focus. her emotions at the moment had to become the least of his problems )
“ Shuffling noises? Is that all? Detail everything. Even the things you think are trivial. They could really help. “
( ` he doesn’t mean to sound so unimpressed, but a shuffling noise could be a rat in the wall or a really bad spider epidemic. she’d been murdered in unnatural circumstances. he was going to need more than that to work out what it was that killed her )
[’ To Tina, customers were more that just mere customers. Customers held a special spot in her heart, they were people who supported her throughout her long journey both in the history of the cafe, and her life. When her parents passed away, the customers all came to young Tina and helped her out in many ways. It was at that moment that Tina realised that her parents were truly amazing in what they did and she was determined to carry on her parent’s legacy with her. She twirled her thoughts around his words… trivial things? she continued to wonder the small things that the friend had talked to her about. She did hint about something related to her new boyfriend and that they had a serious argument that resulted in a purplish bruises hidden under the sweater that Tina hadn’t dared to ask about, since she was afraid that she would be overstepping her boundaries.
Tina stood up and searched along the walls where many couples posted their couple photos as a piece of memory. After a few moments, Tina spotted the photo, took it down, before seating herself back in her chair as she nudged the photo towards the officer. She really hoped the officer could find something from the photo. It’s after all, the only piece of trivial yet important information she had on her ’]
Well, here is a photo of her and her boyfriend. I think she had a serious argument with him, and she seemed to be hiding bruises and such. I’m sorry if this doesn’t really help…
( ` he feels terrible. truly awful and he’s a little angry with himself because he’d forgotten his handkerchief in another suit jacket pocket. but that’s probably for the best. it has something inhuman growing along it’s edges and one dab at her eyes and she’d probably lose half her face. instead he reaches over and gives his best comforting pat on the shoulder. it’s not much but it’s all that can be offered in way of physical intimacy short of reaching over the counter and forcing her into a hug ) I’m really truly sorry to have to be the one to bring you such news. I’ll make this brief. ( ` he sits himself down at the table, and he’s backing to eating his cereal, only because it helps him think ) Did she ever mention anything strange to you? Involved in cults? Hearing voices? Little gray men walking around her apartment in the middle of the night?
“No, no it’s fine. I didn’t cry okay?” [’ She took in another deep breath and gently backed away from his hug while she gave him a adamant stare, or tried to. Tina hated crying in front of people, especially people she didn’t know. Although it may seem stupidly impossible in the eyes of others, she wanted to appear strong. In a way, she was. After losing her parents, loss was something she was most familiar with, and this was not any different.]
[’ She took a seat opposite from him and began to recollect her memories ] Hmm… Not particularly. But she did mention that during the night shuffling noises disturbed her sleep. However, she only passed it off as a joke saying that it was probably from watching too many horror movies recently. [’ The question was as weird as the fact that he was holding around his cereal bowl, but she decided not to question him for the moment ]
( ` his bowl is sat on the counter as he pulls his wallet from his back pocket. he produces picture, a jagged line down the middle where it was ripped from the frame back in her apartment. he slides it across and waits with the kind of patience that comes from having this conversation one too many times. of course she’s dead. it’d be cruel to get his kicks by wandering around announcing the deaths of people others care about. she can’t know that, nor can she know what such a false confession could do to his career. instead his wallet is flipped open to reveal his badge )
” Special agent Choi. Unfortunately it’s not a prank. Discovered this morning. Autopsy hasn’t confirmed manner of death just yet but foul play has to be assumed. I’m sorry for your loss. Did you know her well? Would you have time to answer a few questions for me?“
[’ She holds onto the picture and stares at the familiar lady. Tina’s cropped hair covering her delicate features as tears fell from the tips of her bottom lashes like raindrops from a broken water tap. She takes in a deep breath and even though the young lady hasn’t visited for the past month, she remembers how the young lady would come visit Tina every time she frequented her store and chat with Tina like old friends. ]
[’ she gives a glance at his badge and nodded as she returned the photo to him ] Ah… no it’s fine, I’m sorry for lashing out on you… and sure, of course.[’ she mumbled without meeting his eyes. She signalled one of her workers to take her place and guides the young man to one of the empty tables ]
( ` there should be something odd about him standing in front of a cafe door with a bowl of cereal in hand. one does not typically take their own food to a place of business meant to feed. he pays little attention to the strangeness of it all and instead spoons more into his mouth, shouldering through the door. work has brought him here under strange circumstances and it’s with a grim face that he greets the person behind the counter )
” A young woman that used to frequent this establishment died last night. Jung Chaewon? Ring any bells? “
[’ Even before the customer came in, her carefully trimmed eyebrows perked up in confusion at his distinct… way of entering the cafe. The sudden question caught Tina off guard as she carefully scrutinised the suspicious tall male standing in front of her, not to mention, with a bowl of cereal in hand. Regardless, she pushed her side-thoughts to the side and drifted to the name Jung Chaewon. She half-wrapped her left arm around her thin waist and gently placed her right elbow atop of her left arm, cupping her chin with her hooked, petite index finger and thumb. After a moment, the image of the young lady returned to her and Tina’s features went from ponderous to despondency at the revelation of her death ]
Wait… How… she can’t be dead. [’ She stuttered and her gaze returned to the male’s indifferent eyes. Her eyes narrowed at him and her voice turned stoic, though her voice shook slightly from sheer desperation to discredit his words ] I hope you’re not playing a prank sir.
NAME: Tina Tamashiro
AGE: 20
PROFESSION: Owner of Cafe, Waiting, Love.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single
RELATIONSHIP PREFERENCE: Unsure…
HAIR COLOR: coffee brown
EYE COLOR: light brown under sunlight~
ACCESSORY: carries glasses around at all times.
❝不愉快です. // How unpleasant.
Tina watched the time pass bit by bit, customers come and go, and every story unfold. She remembered the strong, unwavering love her parents had for each other. She remembered their love as clear as the clear sky, but she couldn’t understand it. She couldn’t understand how they could love each other so much despite all their flaws. Tina had witnessed many unpleasant aspects of love; yet, when she recollected her memories, she remembered the laughters and innumerable stories that only her parents knew, like a shared secret between the both of them that Tina had no part of.
However, life wasn’t kind and laughters didn’t last long. When her parents passed away due to a unfortunate accident, they had left the cafe shop they had built together to her as a reminder that Tina would one day find someone, no matter how long she had to wait. Hence, the name: Café. Waiting. Love, was born. Of course, Tina didn’t believe in what her parents had said to her. However, they were words she took to heart. Tina’s mother was originally from an affluent family. However, her mother was chased out from her own family and removed from her family register due to her love for Tina’s father. If Tina could say so herself, it was the classic Romeo and Juliet. The only difference in the two stories was that a child was born. Tina was born out of love.
Tina was normal, regular and enjoyed chatting with customers while watching busy walkers take hurried steps to reach to their destinations as she sat by the window sill with her head leaned against the clean glass. Regardless of her past, Tina had witnessed the miracles of the cafe. It was as if her parent’s love had permeated and placed a special love charm on the people who walked into the cafe. She had witnessed first- time customers go from lonely singles into committed lovers in a coincidental meeting of another partner in the cafe. Ironically, she still had not met her faithful partner. Did it bother her? Not one bit, but she always found a indescribable joy when she was able to help a lonely person find an anchor, a support. After awhile, she noticed how the city is filled with isolation and empty dreams, Sometimes, instead of returning to her apartment, Tina would fall asleep in the cafe. It was just as if she lives in the cafe.
❝THE CAFE? — //
每一個人，都在等一個人. Everyone is waiting for that someone. This is what the cafe is about. It is for the people out there who are looking for that special someone. It is for those people out there who just needs a place to pass time, and fill in the emptiness they may feel from the coldness of society with a warm cup of coffee.
Café, Waiting, Love 。
NAME: Tina Tamashiro
