Between Him and Her

The Quiet of Night

Liya stood outside to cool down and air herself from the cloud of cigarette smoke she was immersed in for the last thirty minutes. Even though the English rock music had sounded more cacophony of made up noise, the music was right on the spot. The bass guitar had tugged low in her stomach. Involuntarily she had to hold herself from moaning a lot of the times. Music did that to her. If she heard a man with a deep voice would immediately raise a reaction in her body - raising of small hair, icy shiver, gooseflesh, pebbled breasts or (in extreme cases) wet panties. But Matsumoto's bass guitar brought her to shaking body. That was beyond a 10. She sighed and leaned against the building wall.

The city didn't cast huge impactful light pollution. She saw some of the stars twinkling in the night star, and there was a full moon. How about that? She liked nights compared to days. Nights had this scent and the insatiable sound of silence that sometimes that she could hear faint music.

The door opened suddenly. Marlene poured out with Ken's hand draped over her shoulders laughing. Upon seeing Liya, she called out, "There you are. I have been looking for you."

Liya smiled in reply. She spied Matsumoto-san walking out behind them. But she returned her gaze to the happy couple.

Marlene buzzed in excitement. "We are going for some okonomiyaki. What do you think?"

Liya smiled and nodded, "That sounds like awesome."

Marlene whispered to Ken, and he shook his head. He turned his head back to look at his band member. "Matsumoto-san, isshyoni ikimasenka?"

Liya understood slightly that Ken was asking Matsumoto-san to come along? She tilted her head and shifted her eyes to where Matsumoto-san stood. Their eyes met each other. He nodded in agreement.

Marlene laughed and said, "Good."

Ken turned to Liya, "You can.. " he stopped a while to think of the word, "Drive with Matsumoto-san?"

Ken quickly went on a rampant Japanese with Marlene. She smiled and turned again to Liya.

"Shuu-kun tells me that his car is filled with band equipment. So there is no space for a third passenger. Matsumoto-san can drive you there. Since both of you live in the same town, he could even drop you off."

Liya's mouth opened slightly, "What..?"

Matsumoto-san was having a conversation with Ken on the side as Marlene pulled Liya away to walk into the parking space. Marlene had effectively brought her straight to a grey Volkswagen Golf hatchback.

Matsumoto-san looked as dazed as she was when the happy couple chirped along to another car. Then they looked at each other. He unlocked the car and nodded for her to get in the car. Liya opened the side passenger door to get in murmuring, "Shiitsureishimasu." A common phrase used while getting into someone's house or space.

He turned to look at her. "Your Japanese is good." He said in his native language. Liya understood enough Japanese to know that he was complimenting her. She bowed her head in acknowledgment but didn't say anything.

Ryuuhei gave her side glances all the while he drove. She didn't say anything. Liya, that was her name. What a surprise! He thought. Who would have thought she would show here? He remembered the instances that she had sent messages to his phone and he stopped replying. Her messages had stopped as a result. Now here he was driving with a foreigner he didn't expect to see at all.

The entire drive Liya's head was turned to the window and watching the passing streets. Her phone buzzed, and it was her sister. She answered silently.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey, Sis! How are you?" came the chirping voice of Stella.

"I'm good. How are you?" She listened mindlessly as her sister went on and on about her work. Taking a deep breath, Stella asked her, "Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to have dinner with friends."

"Yea." Her one-word answer made Stella pause a while, and she asked, "Are you alone?"

"No," Liya answered and switched easily into Malayalam mindful that Matsumoto-san can understand English. "I went to a concert with my friend Marlene. I am with that person."

Stella shrieked a little, "That person? Do you mean that train operator? He was there?"

Liya hummed a yes and continued, "He was playing for a band."

"And now you are with him going to dinner. But didn't you say that he stopped messaging you."

"Yes, and yes he did stop messaging me. That has nothing to do with how I am with him right now. Pure coincidence." Liya gave a bitter laugh.

"Liya.." Stella started.

Liya stopped her by saying in English, "It's okay. I'm good." At this point she knew, she wouldn't be able to contain herself to have a conversation in Malayalam. When she was upset or emotional in any way, Liya could only communicate in English. So she decided to end the call quickly.

"I must go. We are here. I will talk to you later?" Liya caused listening to what Stella said, "Love you." Liya whispered and hung up.

In truth, they hadn't reached the restaurant at all. But Ryuuhei who somewhat understood that Liya had ended her conversation with the loud female on the other end quickly by lying to her.

The last thing that she said was "Love you," meant her family, friend or is it something else?

Ryuuhei felt the wall going up and up. He was the one to blame anyway for this unnatural quietness.