The Debt
It was the first day of the semester, but many of the students get themselves prepared by buying the notes and even textbooks and references from college cooperation stationery. Dean is not excluded. She was looking around the books section for few times. She picked a 1033 pages hard-cover book in 2 inches thickness, entitled ”Philosophy of Economy”, opened the book and take a quick look at the contents before she turns the book to its back. After seeing the price, she utters a sigh before returns it back to its origin. After ensuring all the things she needed were sorted in the basket, she walked straight to the cashier without knowing her movement was observed by someone.
J walked into the rack where Dean has been moments earlier. Without any hesitation he grabbed the book that was picked by Dean just now. It’s too easy to find it out since it was slightly moved from others. J ran fast to chase her in the crowds lining up waiting for the payments. He managed to be lined up right at Dean’s back, and secretly put in the book into her basket.
Dean was shocked to see the book, but she could do nothing as the woman at the cashier already took her basket. While J pretends to be busy checking his wallet and knew nothing about what is going on to the girl in front of him.
“It’s 25,000 yen in total miss” said the cashier woman.
Dean began to sweat. Her face turned pale and her hands shivered a little as she was afraid of something.
“How could it be? I don’t have that much now” Dean thought herself.
“Ano…can I cancel the purchase of that book?” Dean said in her very low, drowned in the voices of complaining can be heard from the back as the line getting longer and longer.
“Uhm?” with a bit shocked expression of her face, the cashier woman replied.
“Chotto shitsurei.. Can I pay for her?” suddenly J bulked into the situation. He hands out 30,000 yen cash to the cashier and let Dean has the change, while he walked fast leaving the stationery.
“Anata! Chotto matte kudasai!” Dean shouted from few meters at the back, trying to chase him.
“Yes? You’re referring it to me, miss?” J replied.
“Sumimasen. But I can’t receive this” Dean ends her words handing him the change of 5000 yen. “And I don’t know what was actually happening, but I knew it’s you who put this in my basket” and now she handing the book. “I can’t receive them both. Sumimasen” lowered her head a little, she left J which already took back the change & book.
“Matte yo!” J shouted without even raise his face neither change his position before he continues,
“Isn’t that what you did to me 2 years ago?”
“Ehh? What are you talking about mister?”
“Heh. I don’t think I’ve mistaken you to a girl that saved me on the train on a fine morning… 2 years ago. That girl and you which standing before me now, is totally alike.”
“Ah. Souka..But..”
“I waited 2 years to pay my debt. I’m glad finally the day came, ..today. You left before I didn’t even thank you. Baka me! I knew I can’t thank you though. But just take it that way. Accept it ok?” J smiled a bit. He slipped the 5000 yen note into the book and hands it back to Dean, before he gets into the car which was waiting for him since a while ago.
“Demo…” Dean can’t say anything as the car driven away and disappears from her eyes in the moments. All that she can do is just to see the mysterious boy that suddenly appeared today leaving with thousand questions unanswered.
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Ano… = Uhm…(excuse me)
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Chotto shitsurei = I’m sorry/Excuse me…
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Anata = You
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Chotto matte kudasai! = Please wait a minute!
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Sumimasen = I am sorry
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Matte yo! = Wait!
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Ah. Souka = Oh. Really?
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Baka = Fool/Stupid
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Demo… = But…
