One Evening on the Way Home

#PatekCup

During my university days, I lived in a boarding house near campus.
An old apartment for 50,000 yen a month.

Although I could have commuted from my parents' home,
I had a desire to try living on my own.
In exchange, my parents' condition was that I would receive no financial support.

Because of that, I worked full-time on weekends.
At an electronics retail store near my parents' home.
The high hourly wage was the deciding factor.

She was at that part-time job.
She was on the shorter side, with long black hair tied back, and big eyes.
She was the kind of girl who reminded me of a small animal.

Was it her appearance, her aura, or her smile?
I found myself naturally following her with my eyes.

How could I get close to her when we had no contact outside of work?
For me as a college student, that was a major problem.

Greeting her when we met in the morning.
Asking her to teach me things I didn't understand at work.
Helping her in return if she was having trouble.
Greeting her when we left for the day.

During breaks at work, we also had trivial conversations.
I learned she lived near the workplace.
That her university was in a different prefecture, just like mine.
And that she was also a science major.

The more I realized we had in common,
the more I was drawn to her.
I didn't understand it at the time, but that's what I think now.

...

One day, when I went to the break room during my shift, she was there.
She was alone.
In the cramped break room, the population density was very high.
The seat next to her was empty.

I sat down next to her smoothly.

If only I could have written that, how wonderful it would have been.

While I was hesitating, the seat was taken.

...

On my way home from my part-time job, there she was.
She was heading in the same direction as me.
If I don't talk to her now...

Um, excuse me, are you heading this way by any chance?

Yes, I am.

I'm going this way too. Would you mind if I walked with you for a bit?

Sure, that's fine.

I don't remember what we talked about then.
But my smartphone remembered her LINE contact information.

...

Exchanging messages on LINE.
Conversations at our part-time job.
The days went by.

I found myself wanting to spend more time together.

I'm pretty good at making okonomiyaki.
If you'd like, would you want to come over and eat sometime?

Sure.

I had invited her.
Even though I was the one who asked,
I was incredibly nervous.

It was the first time I had ever invited a woman to my apartment.

...

That day came sooner than I had expected.

Actually, it's delicious if you add grated yam and melted butter to the batter!

The special okonomiyaki was complete.

We sat side-by-side in the kotatsu and ate the okonomiyaki together. She ate it all, looking like she enjoyed it.

Time passed slowly, but surely.

I didn't want to just let her go home like this. Pushed by the passage of time, I sat behind her. I wrapped my arms around her neck from behind and hugged her.

I love you.

There were no words of denial from her. There were no words of affirmation either.

Time just continued to pass like that.

I wonder how many minutes had passed. The sun had begun to set.

It was already time for her to go home.

"I'll walk you to the station."

"Thank you."

Stepping outside, I felt a slight chill.

She was walking slowly.
I matched my pace to hers.

As we walked, she reached out her left hand slightly toward me.
I naturally took her hand.
Our fingers intertwined.

That day, she became my 'girlfriend'.

#Essay #LoveEssay #CollegeDays #LivingAlone #Memories #PatekCup

⏬️Patek-san'sarticle

Huh!? A love essay all of a sudden??

I imagine some of you might be thinking that😳??

I love Patek-san's love essays, and I heard that they are hosting the "Patek Cup" this time!!

*For details,⏫️please see the article

I want to participate too!!
Thinking that, I sat down to write this piece.

I would be very happy if you enjoyed it ☺️

Strawberry dog 🐶