❝ Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to make it seem like I would want anything for this… ❞
( he answered; for a moment nervous that maybe he had come off stranger than he thought. watching her curiously when she spoke again, he found himself smiling again as she turned herself in circles before finding a place to sit. )
❝ We can do that, yes. ❞
( a nod of his head and he motioned for her to lead the way, half tempted to start picking at the bread already, finding himself hungrier than he had realized. )
[’ At his surprising agreeableness that contrasted against her original assumptions about the young man, she gave him a warm, unguarded smile that she was so used to at times that caused her to forget the dangers of being with a stranger. ]
[’ She skipped towards the secluded bench and sat down with the bag of bread at hand. Without pause, she immediately opened the package and took a bite down at the soft bread that immediately melted on her tongue. It was a familiar feeling she had expected yet it was a feeling that made her day all the better. She patted the seat next to her and grinned at him with bread crumbs stuck to the corner of her lips. ]
“So, what’s your name? I’m Tina, Tina Tamashiro” [’ She hoped she didn’t come off awkward. After all, she actually really wanted to know the stranger who had kindly bought bread for her. ]
( her reaction wasn’t what he’d been expecting. not in the slightest. the teary eyes threw him for a loop and for a split second he wondered if he’d done something wrong to upset her. the hug knocked that fear out of him mind though and he stood there in surprise, unable to even act upon it before she had let go of him and taken the bread finally. blinking, he cleared his throat a little and glanced away once more, his feet still shuffling on the ground. )
❝ You’re welcome. You.. uh.. don’t need to worry about it. Really. Its a gift. No need to pay me back or anything. ❞
( his accent thickened with his awkwardness and adam looked back up at the girl, smiling in a more relaxed manner now. )
Oh… are you sure? [’ Tina stared at him, feeling slightly bad that the young man had helped her, while she hadn’t done anything for him. After a slight pause, an idea emerged from that little head of hers ] Oh! I know, why don’t we eat bread together! Over… [’ Tina looked around, shuffled her feet around in circles and eventually found, and pointed at the tiny bench near a small park ] there! [’ She twirled herself around again to face him and gave him a smile ] That’s the least I can do for you, right? [’ She hadn’t mentioned it, but she had noticed the foreign, heavy accent in his pronunciation. Is he from America? Tina silently thought, but hadn’t dared ask since she was afraid that the question would be too personal ]
( continuing to watch the girl, he found her mannerisms oddly charming, the words she spoke giving him a thought. )
❝ Wait here. ❞
( his voice was matter of fact. a tone he usually only used with clients who thought they could screw him over into a lower price for all his hard work. the cigarette was crushed beneath his foot and he swept into the bakery, returning a minute or so later with two of the breads from the window, quickly catching up with the girl. a smile on his lips gave him a more childish appearance and he offered one of the small bags it had come in to the female. )
( all the firmness now gone, a hand reached up to rub the back of his neck, realizing he didn’t know what to say now. )
[’ When Tina began to walk away, marginally saddened that she was unable to buy the bread, she heard the other tell her to wait. She stopped in her tracks in surprise and turned around only to see the shadow of his back as he walked into the store, only to come out a few minutes later with the bread she had pinpointed with her eyes a few moments ago. Contrary to her previous thought about him, he offered her one of the bags that contained her favourite thing: mango chocolate bread and a smile that suddenly made his appearance all the more younger. She glanced at the bread that was in the other’s arm and then at the male as her eyes began to water with gratitude. Without much thought, she gave the male a big, tight hug and took the bag gratefully ]
Thank you so much cigarette butt sir !I promise i’ll give you back the money and everything… I just forgot my wallet today. Is there a way I can contact you? Perhaps your phone number? Or I can give you the address to my store?
[’ TIna stumbled through her questions and feelings of gratitude as she gave the other a teary eyed look. ]
( watching the girl, he did his best to not laugh at the subtle reactions she had when their gazes met, one corner of his mouth upturning into a casual smile at the tinted cheeks that seemed to compliment her complexion despite the embarrassment that caused it. )
❝ It’s pretty good looking bread. ❞
( he answered cooly, knowing his answer could have been taken for more than what it sounded like. part of why he said it, truthfully. )
[’ Her mouth formed into an ‘o’ shape at his reply before she gave her cheeks small pats to cool herself down and adjusted her round glasses, a habit formed during times of nervousness ] Yes, yes it is [’ she stuttered and chuckled slightly before returning her forlorn gaze at the bread that was so close yet so far away from her ] Unfortunately, I forgot to bring money this morning to afford any of those good looking bread [’ with a frown and sigh she decided it was best to head back for the day.] It was really nice to meet you cigarette butt sir [’ Perhaps it was the way he held his cigarette and the way the corner of his mouth upturned that formed a smile that was unbefitting his true age. She gave him a small, polite bow before she began walking away ]
(a wisp of smoke slips past the male’s lips as he stares at the front window of a bakery, narrowed eyes flickering back and forth with his restless attention span and hungry stomach, mind wondering how he was going to spend the day today. no work. nothing to search for. no school. what was he supposed to do? putting out the cigarette, he reached up and smoothed down his hair, a glance to his right finally noticing the person who had been looking right at him. )
[’ She slowly takes in the various shapes, sizes and colours displayed in front of the bakery store. The only thing preventing her from gobbling up the treats in front of her was the finger-thick glass currently pressed against her and her empty wallet. The familiar smell of cigarettes invaded her senses and thoughts only to turn around to find a young male standing besides her. When the male met her eyes adorned with her favourite round glasses, her cheeks tingled with warmth in embarrassment. ] Uh, I was just… [’ She didn’t want to seem as if she was only staring at him, but the way he looked at her absolutely made it seem that way ] admiring bread?
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
