Quantum Leap - Vol. 3 I Will Wait For You On The Other Side

C013 Sunday Morning The Rain Is Falling

Sunday, 14th May 1995

6:03 am

*RING*

*BUZZ*

*TEET TEET TEET*

The bloody alarm clocks and my phone all sounded the notifications all at the same time and I had to shut them off unless I want to get hammered by my buddies next door who happened to be from the nearby public schools. 

There was no way I could schedule those alarms from going off on a Sunday and its a bloody long Sunday for me since I do not set any plans to go anywhere or attend to any services et cetera. Besides, Akira did not message me of her plans for the day since we left school after celebrating our victory over the Championships at Inuzawa Futsal Stadium last night.

Futsal is rather a strenuous sport because not only you need to use your legs to make bursts sprints, but also your arms and basically speaking your whole freaking body. Oh Ma Gaa...! I wished I shouldn't have stayed up much too late last night and have to be awake to shut off the damn alarm at 6 am.

"Speak of the devil...!" Akira had just sent me an SMS shortly after I had checked my phone of any incoming mesages from her. 

[Akira] Meet me at Ozone Station at 5pm, yes? I want to look at more books to add to my collection.

[Me] Alright, then. No problem. Will transfer the winnings over to you shortly.

[Akira] Thank you. Hehehe. :)

[Me] Don't go and spend all on books, alright? See you then.

[Akira] Alright

Seems that I have a date later in the evening and by then I would be able to wire her the winnings first and then collect it originally from Ayumi, our President of the Sports Committee. Besides, I do have some savings left inside my bank account and I think it would suffice to last me till the end of the month.

"Well, 5 pm is still a long way to go. Could I just laze around the house abit? If I a hungry, I could get the landlord to cook up some instant noodles for me. HHUURRAAGGHH... I do not feel like from moving out from my bed today..." I thought to myself as I stretched lazily on the bed. I wondered if the landlord serves instant ramen or else I would have to find my other sources of food elsewhere. All I want to do today and right now is stay in bed a little while longer.

It was close to 1 pm when I stirred from my bed after I lay back and decided to cover myself with all the pillows that I had on bed. Once I had woken up for the second time of the day, I decided to take a short cold shower and hunt for some food as my stomach had started to protest and demand for some intake. I wondered if I had taken any dinner or supper last night but I did remembered that I had taken something light in the school's canteen as the teachers had ordered some kind of celebratory snacks and not feast for last night's victory. I guess real food would be arranged in time to come. Sheesh... Back in my time, I'd just pop into the nearest 7-11 for a short pick-me-up hot sandwich or burger. Maybe I would just do that for today.

Right after my cold shower, I quickly changed into a pair of shorts that I had picked from the laundry basket. After taking a quick whiff and ensuring it does not have any stains or whatsoever, I paired the used shorts along with a used tshirt and wore only my Japanese slippers also known as flipflops in the Western world. I snatched my phone, my wallet and keys and headed downstairs where the sun was already greeting me with its afternoon sun.

There was a 7-11 convenience store nearby here right across the Kachigawa Kita Hospital so I walked gingerly there which was just a few minutes stroll. I walked over to the indoor atm counter near the bank and I had gotten Akira's bank account number last night. I then transferred the promised amount to her bank account as she would be notified through her mobile phone of the amount that I had transfered.

So, after draining so much funds from the original Shiro's account, I still have quite a considerable amount to last me till end of the month since the remuneration package from the President of Sports Committee would take some days to be finalised and the amount be transferred to my account and to the rest of the team members.

Akira mentioned to me before that she would be going to some bookstores nearby such as BOOKOFF's as well GEO's to look for used paperback novels like she did in the past. Even though the books were preloved, but the condition of the books was very well-thumbed and the covers seemed immaculate unlike some used books sold at the roadside vendor.

Although the prices were hundreds of yen off from the likes of Kinokuniya's, there would be a gem hidden sometimes among the piles of dirt so one has to patiently browse through thousand of paperbacks as they were not categorised under the particular section. Just books and books galore. Who would have the time to categorised them like the ones in the upscale bookstores or the library?

After I had rabbed a turkey sandwich and a sushi platter from the 7-11 store, I walked down the street munching them away as I walked. It was so un-Japanese of me to do so since there was some tables set aside to stand and dine within the store itself. However, I find it as a convenience to eat and munch as I absorb the sights that was before me.

It's a Sunday so basically, a lot of families were out and about with their little families to go to parks, historical places and restaurant-hopping for those couples and singles like me... *ahem* that's what I am right now, single and unattached.

So right now I was doing something like the latter, restaurant-hopping as I munched on the last part of my sandwich and smacked my lips and licked my fingers as I noticed an announcement banner of a Singaporean Restaurant that had recently opened within the Ozone District.

The banner was well weathered and the edges seemed to have frayed a bit. V-shaped cuts were made on the banner to let the wind through it. If it flapped about too much in the wind without those V shaped cuts, it might literally tear the banner into pieces in those heavy winds.

"Hmm, I love anything Singaporean especially the food. There's so many flavours and fusion of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Thai and Western in their menus as stated in their announcement banner. Wouldn't hurt my pocket much to try some of the dishes there... Yummy... "

I looked up the address and locked in memory as I boarded the train from Kachigawa and heads down to Ozone Station which was only 2 stops away. Actually I did not plan to go too far in my smelly shorts and tshirt but what the hell...I am the author in this series and I can let the MC wear anything he likes and go anywhere he deserves too. Mua haa haa...!!!

Ahhh... Living in urban Japan is really a convenience especially the transportation system. You could go anywhere in minutes with their connecting transportation and it is rather timely too.I sent an SMS to Akira and asking how she was doing and I can't help reminiscing last night on what happened at the Inazawa Futsal Stadium when I caught her in my arms and kissed her fully on her lips before swinging her around like a kid.

She was wide-eyed in shock at first but soon dug her fingers into the back of my head and back as both our lips melted together as one and I could feel the quivering pleasure of her lips pressed to mine.

I soon reached Ozone Station and walked over to the Singaporean Restaurant named "Merlion". The building was of colonial design and was pristinely painted in white and the restaurant name "MERLION" was etched on the top archway of its entrance in glittering black background and gold lettering. Half expecting a statue of the legendary lion head and mermaid's tail anywhere but I was a bit disappointed to find none.

I guessed they hadn't gotten the copyright to produce a statuette of the famous Singaporean icon and planted it on the sidewalk or adorn it right before the restaurant's entrance. I walked in and was ushered by a female concierge who was wearing the Singapore Girl dress that was made of extricating designs of batik and some mythical creatures drawing. The uniform looked good on the girl as it shaped the person wearing shaped like a T or in this case, it fitted her like an hourglass. Hehehe...

I took a seat near a window that was meant for two and if anyone passes by, they might be thinking that I had a broken heart and decided to dine alone in my crumpled tshirt and stinky shorts. Hahaha...! Do I seemed to be waiting for someone as there was a fresh red rose that was placed on the table in a very small and exquisite vase? Definitely not in my stinky clothes, right? Besides I had the perfect look of a NEET or an Otaku and it was perfectly fine. I observed the vase that was set on the table and saw that it was able to hold a single rose at the time.

I glanced at the menu and  discovered that it was quite extensive from a single platter right to a full course for two or more persons. I observed every single mouthwatering pictures that depict its so-called Singaporean exquisite taste and then I finally settled for a noodle-based menu. What do you expect? I happen to be in a typical Japanese body so noodles was the only way to go right now. Hahaha...!

It was called Laksa, served with fat Udon noodles with dried tofu, boiled eggs, some cockles, a few thick slices of fishcakes with a dollop of X.O chilli and some green garnishing on it. It is served with a rich coconut gravy that's sprinkled with those tiny prawns called "hebi". Yeah, you can drop by at Katong area if you are in SIngapore to get one serving as well. Did I managed to whet your appetite today?

Laksa was an all-rounder meal and could be taken as breakfast, brunch or dinner as well as somewhere in between. And the Laksa that I was relishing it somewhat in the middle of everything especially in my stinky shorts and my crumpled tshirt. Alright, enough describing what I wear on a typical lazy Sunday mid afternoon, alright?

Well, that's about everything I could have for the moment right now since I wished to quieten down my stomach from grumbling too much. The bowl of Laksa was an explosive mixture of taste-buds tingling Gastronomical experience especially the cockles that were half cooked and just right with the right concoction of spicy and creamy coconut gravy.

(Writers Note: I guess you get worked out after I mention about the Laksa and all. Google it and you may find what's it all about. A few variations are the Penang Laksa which differs in both taste and presentability)

It was close to 3 pm when I finally stepped out from Merlion Restaurant and headed home so that I could dress up properly to meet my darling later at 5 om at the bus stop underneath the Ozone Station that Akira had earlier SMS me that she'd be waiting for me there. 

I guess she had wanted me to accompany her and maybe settle for a late-night supper. I got home as soon as I could and got changed as I went into another shower to freshen up after my meal at Merlion Restaurant. Frankly I could say that it was worth my trip and I intend to bring Akira along with me there to let her experience the same gastronomical trip that I  had. Besides, it would be a good experience to her and also an avenue to spend her money that I had transfered to her.

I was basically treating her more like a wife rather than a girlfriend at this moment when I think back that I had wired her some money which was actually meant for me to save or something like that. Well...in this series, splurge on someone else would be the next best thing, I suppose.