Romantic Love Story : Across the Blue Glow: When Dreams and Hearts Collide By - DRC Prince

Romantic Love Story :

Across the Blue Glow: When Dreams and Hearts Collide

By - DRC Prince

 All Copyright Reserved 2020

«Shopping mall».

«Ostukaresama.» He answered automatically. The greeting was repeated several times, until the office remained almost empty. That left her and three other colleagues. Nakamoto san was there too. She had been sharing overtime shifts with him for some time. It wasn't something that bothered her, he was always kind, and then he was the only one who knew a few words of Italian in there. Yet it seemed a little strange to her. He shook his head and tried to stretch. He needed to release the tension. Her gesture earned her some dirty looks from her colleagues, halfway between reproach and surprise. She didn't notice, she was used to this, she had been there for almost two years now. She had gotten used to many things, yet she often wanted to run away.

 

It was the Japanese company she worked for in Italy that sent her to its headquarters in Tokyo. His first thought had been to refuse. He loved Japan, which is why he had studied Japanese at university, but it was one thing to admire it from afar, or at most as a tourist, it was another to live there. However, accepting the transfer would also have brought her some advantages. And in the end she decided to accept, even though she had thought about requesting a transfer to Italy after a certain period. And he hadn't yet put that idea aside. But he hadn't even done anything to ask for the transfer. Why? There was nothing keeping her in Japan, but there was nothing pushing her to return to Italy either. Of course he had his family in Italy, and some, very few in truth, childhood friends,but her family still managed to hear from her regularly, and she knew that her parents cared a lot about her work, and at that moment she had good prospects for the future if she stayed in Japan. But it cost her an enormous effort.

 

So she remained suspended, carrying on day after day, without making a decision. Yes he stretched again. More dirty looks. She was tired of many things, and on top of that her mood was quite depressed. Christmas was approaching, but that year he had to work and had had to postpone his return to Italy to the New Year period. Christmas in Japan... here's something he would have done without. I'd love that. Christmas was lights, sounds and flavours, Christmas was the air of home. And in Japan he would not have found any of this. Of course there were lights and shows in Japan, Tokyo dressed up for Christmas, but it wasn't the Christmas it wanted. It was a one-day Christmas, with fried chicken, Stolen or strawberry pie, which resembled a Valentine's Day with lights. Single, far from home, in the family period,in a city that celebrated the love of a couple and on top of that he had to work. This latest news was actually almost positive, at least it would have prevented her from locking herself in her room and getting depressed. He returned to focusing on his computer and his work. If he wasted time he would only get extra work.

 

 

Finally finished. She was ready to say goodbye and leave. Miyajima san had approached his desk.

 

«Otsukaresama.»

 

«Otsukaresama.» She thought Myajima would move away, but instead she remained there. Why?

 

«Rando san… why don't you come and drink with us?» The churches, in Japanese. He wanted to refuse. She didn't like mixing work and private life, not that she had a private life. She didn't really want to make any connections, after all she would only be there temporarily. He smiled. The usual "chotto" that was on his lips, however, did not come out.

 

He found himself accepting the invitation. What had he done? Now he had no way to take back his word, so he put a smile on his lips, trying to seem normal.

 

 

Now she found herself sitting in an izakaya, with three people staring at her. Myajima, Yamada and Nakamoto san. She felt uncomfortable and insecure. Why on earth had he agreed? But deep down she knew it well: she didn't want to spend yet another evening eating instant ramen locked in her room. The others had started drinking. The first toast, in which she pretended to participate, was accompanied by the usual "otsukaresama". Then he lost count of the glasses, those of the others. She still had the first glass in front of her, from which she occasionally pretended to drink. She liked to drink in company sometimes, but on that occasion she didn't really feel at ease. Maybe it was due to the fact that in those two years, he had built a wall with his colleagues or it was just melancholy. Spending the holidays in a place so different from home was difficult.Meanwhile, Myajima and Yamada had become louder, and seemed more interested in her than usual. They spoke quickly in Japanese, peppering her with questions, and staring at her curiously. Nakamoto san, on the other hand, seemed more silent. Why? He still had his business suit on, but he looked different. More relaxed. He was charming, but strangely she had never noticed him before. He seemed very confident, but he wasn't arrogant at all. At that moment, on that much more informal occasion than work, he seemed perfectly at ease. He wasn't handsome, Yamada san was much more handsome, but she didn't like him. Japanese men were very different from Italian men, but in those two years, although he hadn't looked for relationships or even dates,he had had the opportunity to observe men and above all the opportunity to watch some dramas and read magazines. If he had to judge Yamada san, he would have said that he looked like an actor. But it was too perfect for his tastes. Nakamoto san was less beautiful, but more interesting, more real. He shook his head. Where did those confused thoughts come from? Perhaps the tiredness, combined with that glass of beer, which was now finished, perhaps the stress he was feeling, as he tried to keep up with the conversation, which was now focused on sport, and forced himself to smile. Or more simply he was looking at his colleagues for the first time.but more interesting, more true. He shook his head. Where did those confused thoughts come from? Perhaps the tiredness, combined with that glass of beer, which was now finished, perhaps the stress he was feeling, as he tried to keep up with the conversation, which was now focused on sport, and forced himself to smile. Or more simply he was looking at his colleagues for the first time.but more interesting, more true. He shook his head. Where did those confused thoughts come from? Perhaps the tiredness, combined with that glass of beer, which was now finished, perhaps the stress he was feeling, as he tried to keep up with the conversation, which was now focused on sport, and forced himself to smile. Or more simply he was looking at his colleagues for the first time.

 

Myajima was the person who struggled the most to figure out. At work she was always quiet, yet seeing her now she seemed to get along very well with her colleagues, even with Nakamoto san. And he was trying very hard to get along with her too.

 

It wasn't an entirely unpleasant situation, but he couldn't call it a positive thing either. She was happy to spend a different evening, it wasn't bad talking to her colleagues and it seemed like they were trying to make her feel comfortable, but she felt a bit like a fish out of water.

 

Sometimes, she had found it difficult to answer, or absent-mindedly answered in Italian, and on a couple of occasions Nakamoto san had helped her out, translating for her or diverting the conversation. He had been kind. In reality, she always was, but she was still surprised by it. She didn't expect him to be like this outside of work. Or maybe he was behaving like this because after all it was an outing between colleagues? Almost an extension of working hours? But his doubts would not be answered and he knew it.

 

Yamada san, had drunk a lot, but still seemed full of energy, in fact he was the one who suggested going to karaoke. Karaoke? Sara's face turned pale, while Myajima said "iku iku" which means let's go in Japanese. Perhaps because of the beer, everyone seemed cheerful and unwilling to finish the evening, and she let herself be carried away by events.

 

The atmosphere at the karaoke was cheerful and lighter than what he expected. They had taken a room, and his colleagues had begun to perform. Myajima was sitting next to her. And every now and then he would make some comment on the song or on who was singing.

 

«Myajima san, I noticed that you look at Yamada san a lot, do you like him?»

 

Myajima stammered something about it, trying to deflect the conversation.

 

“Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you.”

 

«Okay, okay. He works a lot and is very serious in his work. And you Rando san, why do you like Nakamoto san?" Did you like Nakamoto? Maybe Myajima had really been drinking a lot.

 

«No, no, I don't like it in that sense. He is kind"

 

«Umm… I bet he only agreed to go out because Rando san was there too.»

 

“Huh?” She asked in amazement.

 

«Nakamoto san, he doesn't often go out with colleagues, he is very reserved and often keeps to himself.»

 

«It doesn't seem that way to me…» He let out, leaving the sentence hanging. She would have liked to add that he seemed very friendly and that he was always available to help her, but she didn't have the courage, she didn't want the other to misunderstand.

 

«I have been working with Nakamoto san for 5 years. It's changed since Rando san arrived. Maybe he likes you." She was quick to deny it. Then Yamada san asked Myajima to sing and she could breathe a sigh of relief. But the moment of calm did not last long.

 

“They get loud when they drink, don't they?” Nakamoto was sitting next to her. She looked at him briefly out of the corner of her eye. She had learned to observe those around her without doing so openly. He couldn't get Myajima's words out of his head.

 

“They are kind.”

 

«It's true, but they can be annoying sometimes. Rando san, will you work on Christmas Day?”

 

«Yes, I'm working on the 24th and 25th too.» Sigh.

 

“Sorry, but you seem a little sad.”

 

«In Italy, people don't work on the 25th, and few people work on the 24th. »

 

"Really? You seem to take Christmas very seriously.”

 

«New Year's Eve is important for us, as it is for you. »

 

«Oh I see. It looks nice."

 

«Yes it is…not that Japan isn't…»

 

«Are you nostalgic for Italy?»

 

“Sometimes I think about moving again.”

 

"I understand."

 

Then Yamada and Myajima joined them and the conversation moved on to other topics.

 

Nakamoto was at his desk, his eyes glued to the monitor, his thoughts elsewhere. Two desks over, there was Lando San…Sara san, as he called her in his dreams. He had fallen in love with her almost two years ago, when she was sent there from Italy, but he had never declared himself. He had tried to help her, to be close to her, he had even started studying Italian again to be able to talk to her more, but he hadn't done anything else, he told himself that it was enough for him to be her friend, but now it wasn't enough for him anymore. In all that time he had always known that sooner or later she would return to his home, and he had prepared himself a thousand times for that moment. Last year she had come home for Christmas, and he had suffered for it, but he knew she would return to Japan, this year was different. She had confided in him that she was thinking of moving,and he suspected that he would make a decision while he was in Italy, during the New Year holidays. He was about to lose her and as much as he had mentally prepared himself, he now realized that he didn't want to lose her. Not like this, without telling her how he felt. He felt he had to at least give it a try. And that day, he would finally declare himself. He was a little worried and couldn't concentrate on his work. Every now and then, he peeked at her desk, being careful not to be noticed.He was a little worried and couldn't concentrate on his work. Every now and then, he peeked at her desk, being careful not to be noticed.He was a little worried and couldn't concentrate on his work. Every now and then, he peeked at her desk, being careful not to be noticed.

 

He had made a plan and wanted to follow it, but he knew that he could also fail, he was prepared but this last possibility scared him a little.

Sara looked at the computer, it was the third time she had checked the data. He just wanted this day to end soon. The evening she went out with her colleagues, they had exchanged Line contacts. Also because Myajima had wanted to create a group.

 

She had written little, it didn't seem appropriate to her. Nakamoto san and Yamada had also written little, the most active being Myajima san.

 

Then after two days Nakamoto surprised her. He sent her a photo of a Santa Claus with lights, writing that it made him think about their conversation. It wasn't exactly what she called "Christmas spirit," but she appreciated his attempt to cheer her up.

 

But he didn't want to think about that now. He just wanted to finish work and go home. It was Christmas Eve. He had written to his parents, and also to two friends in Italy. She still felt a little depressed. Maybe if he had something to do…but there was no point in thinking about it. She would focus on work, then go home, grab a quick bite to eat, and go to bed early. The next day she would work and then prepare to leave. On the 28th, she would take the plane and return home for New Year's Eve. Once home he would think about what to do.

 

He had to think about this and concentrate. Yet he couldn't. That day, in addition to her, there were 5 other colleagues working and one of these was Nakamoto.

 

He had thought a lot about Myajima's words in the last few days. And finally she had to admit that they were true: she liked Nakamoto. He was kind, he knew a little about Italy, but above all it was easy to talk to him, and he had already understood this two years ago. But in those two years he had done everything he could not to form ties with his colleagues. And now she realized that she had complicated her life. The evening at the izakaya hadn't been that terrible and Myajima's messages weren't either.

 

What was he supposed to do now? He didn't know. Or rather he knew, deep down he had a plan to follow, but he couldn't, because all his thoughts were tangled up, and in the end they always focused on the same question: did he want to return to Italy or stay in Japan? And every time she asked herself the question, Nakamoto's face popped into her mind.

 

She was really confused.

Finally the work was finished, he gathered his things and started to leave. He turned and saw Nakamoto san's face. He stood there in front of her, looking a little uncomfortable. Had something happened?

 

«Otsukaresama.» She told him automatically.

 

«Otsukaresama… well actually… I would like to invite you to dinner…» A dinner with colleagues? A date? But what was he thinking? It would certainly have been a dinner with colleagues. Maybe she should refuse, but after all she had nothing to do and she would have liked to spend some time with him.

 

«Thank you… I gladly accept». Nakamoto san smiled at her, relaxing as if he had been holding his breath until that moment, but he had certainly imagined it.

 

 

Nakamoto san had taken her to an Italian restaurant in Roppongi. The name was unlikely, but the food was good, more than he could have imagined.

 

«It's not Italy, and maybe it's not the Christmas you want, but I wanted to see you happy.»

 

«Nakamoto san, I'm happy. The place is very nice and the food is good.»

 

“Yokatta.” "That's better!" He said, and once again he looked relieved. Sara was confused. She was happy that he had done a nice gesture for her... but she couldn't explain why it seemed completely different from the usual kindness he reserved for her every day. Was Myajima right? Did Nakamoto san like her too? But he didn't dare hope for it and then that would have made everything more difficult, or maybe not?

 

 

After dinner, she expected that they would say goodbye, but instead he surprised her again.

 

«The evening isn't over yet, shall we walk a bit?»

 

«Of course…» She replied, a little happy, a little hopeful, a little confused.

 

He took her to see the Christmas lights, the whole street was full of lights that looked blue, it looked like a fairy forest. They weren't exactly the Christmas lights she wanted, but at that moment they seemed beautiful, perhaps thanks to the company.

 

As they walked they talked as always, but a little more and he seemed much more interested in Italy and her than usual.

 

 

Nakamoto was agitated. Up to that point his program had gone well, everything had gone smoothly, even though he was very emotional. But Now? Now came the hard part. And now he was scared. What if things went wrong? But deep down he knew, he had always known, that he could also fail, he had already taken it into account, but repeating it to himself didn't help him calm down. He looked for a place where they could sit. If he waited any longer he would never have found the courage to declare himself. He indicated the place to Lando san.

 

«Rando san, can you wait here a moment? I have to get something."

 

"Yes, certainly ". She was smiling, but she looked a little confused and he couldn't tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing, it definitely increased his anxiety. There was a pastry shop nearby and he had ordered a Christmas cake. He just hoped he had made the right choice.

Sara was sitting, people passed around her, and the lights were fascinating, but she didn't understand why Nakamoto san had walked away and left her alone. She had a thousand doubts crowding her mind. Yet up until that moment the evening had been perfect, more than he had dared to hope for. He tried not to think about negative things, surely there was an explanation, and it wasn't related to anything he had said or done, or at least he hoped so. Then she saw him arrive with a package in his hand and let go of the breath she had unconsciously held, while her heart began to beat normally again... or almost.

 

«Christmas cake!» Nakamoto san exclaimed, in Italian. He had also tried very hard to speak Italian during dinner and the walk, and knowing that he had done it exclusively for her, she was happy about it.

 

«How beautiful!» he exclaimed when he saw her. It was a cream and strawberry cake with a Merry Christmas message, in English, and a sugar Santa Claus. Then he lit the candles, which came with the cake. It was a surreal scene, them sitting on the street, with a lit cake, while people looked at them in amazement as they quickly passed by.

 

Many people seemed disconcerted, but they paid no attention, busy smiling at each other as they blew out the candles.

 

Sara had just bitten into a slice of cake when he said

 

«To be honest, Rando san, I like you. I wish you were my girlfriend. » Sara almost suffocated. Everything was expected except such a statement. She was happy about it, she liked him too and a lot, she understood it by now, but what would happen if she would say yes?

 

«Nakamoto san, I like you too but...»

 

«But you're about to return to Italy, I know. And I know you're thinking about moving too. But I'm serious. »

 

"Really? And aren't you scared of distance?"

 

«No, distance scares me, a lot. For this reason, if you say yes to me, I will come with you. »

 

«Will you come with me? In what sense?" she was confused and he tried to explain himself.

 

«If you were my girlfriend, I would come with you to New Year's Eve in Italy. And if you decide to move, then I would also ask for a transfer to Italy."

 

“What if I told you no?”

 

“I would like us to remain friends.”

 

Sara closed her eyes. He needed to think. It was true that she enjoyed Nakamoto's friendship, but it was also true that that evening she had made it clear that she wanted more.

 

«I don't want us to be just friends… I would like to be your girlfriend too.»

 

«Ah. .. I am happy!" they looked into each other's eyes, then exchanged a fleeting kiss, while people looked at them in amazement, some just shook their heads, others gave them dirty looks, others were just curious. But they only cared about their happiness.

 

 Copyright © 2020 Debopam Rai Chaudhuri

All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or stored in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other method, without the express written consent of the author. This includes, but is not limited to, publishing in any format (print or digital), translation into any language, adaptation, or any other form of distribution.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or adaptation of this work will be pursued to the fullest extent permitted by law