JUST A CRASH - BUTTERFLY CROSSING
10. Shadow Girl
“Akemi-san want which shirt? Red or blue?” The orange faces the elderly in front of him who is sitting in a wheelchair. Two pieces of t-shirts in his hands. Because it is still the dry season and this house has a stable heating system, it is not a problem for the elderly wearing short clothes.
This morning before breakfast Orange is on duty to help his elderly clean and get dressed.
“I want a chocolate.”
“Brown... all right, that brown yeah. Let me find it first..” Orange put two clothes on the hanger. Without even looking at the orange already knew that his clothes were not brown because this was not the first time he asked. But he kept moving as if searching. Then exclaim, “Ah, the brown shirt is dirty. How, dong?”
“Brown, what is chocolate? I hate those color shirts. Want the blue.” Akemi grumbled in a wheelchair.
“Blue, alright.” Orange immediately pulled out a blue shirt from the hanger and helped put it on before Akemi changed her mind.
Once tidy, Orange pushed the wheelchair towards the dining room. There were many staff who accompanied the parents to eat. Some feed, some applaud, some eat in an orderly manner without wanting to be helped. The morning was as lively and full of smiles as ever.
Shift work today from half ten in the morning until six in the afternoon. Finished helping Akemi eat, Jingga took part in supervising while recreational activities took place. Only simple activities can make the elderly happy. Such as stacking plastic cups and the like, most of the activities focus on motor.
In contrast to taking care of children, although basically the elderly return to the phase of children, they have their own thoughts. Just a little orange or staff showed annoyance, the mood of the elderly will be immediately damaged. It does not end in a sudden frown; but it can get angry, go on hunger strike, break down the toilet, and more.
So starting in the morning, every staff prepare themselves carefully; every problem at home is thrown away during work. Because with the good mood of the elderly, the easier their work.
Jingga carried Akemi from wheelchair to mattress when nap time arrived. Some elderly who were one room with Akemi were also all shrouded in orange before she went out for the afternoon break.
Sometimes he wondered how his biological parents were far away; while he was here taking care of other people's parents.
Even though he had gone through that period of denial and found a path that he thought was right; often the thought slipped. Every time he saw parents who had difficulty moving, saw them sleeping, he would ask in his heart whether his parents also had difficulty? Healthy them? Is his sleep good?
It also made him more excited to work. Covering his intense longing, Orange worked wholeheartedly. He considers every parent he takes care of are the fathers of a child who also misses him.
Among the elderly managers in the nursing home, Orange is known as one of ‘angel’.
Not once has he ever been angry. Every other staff asked to be replaced because of emergency affairs, as long as he could, Orange was willing. If he is on the night shift, the elderly who are active in the morning always ask where he is.
Seven months more he worked here, Orange is already comfortable with his work environment. It worked hard, but he enjoyed it.
That afternoon Orange changed his clothes that were wet with pessing. Wrapping her in plastic and finished praying, she prepared to go home. Noticing his comrades, Jingga walked towards the stop, waiting for the bus to arrive.
Seeing the flickering lights in the shops around, Orange does not feel bored. While thinking about what cooking is today, Jingga exchanged messages with her sister in Country I until she boarded the bus.
Not funny: Brother for money
Orange: ask for money mulu
Ade not funny: later if you go home do not forget to bring Japanese products kt mama
Orange: ye gtw when to go home too
Not funny: yeah sometime
Not funny: hahaha!
Not funny: what mom said
Ade is not funny: he said if he could products brought by Japanese men
Orange: 🔪🔪🔪
Not funny: awkwkw
A smile was still on his face when he got off the bus. Being too focused on his phone, he accidentally bumped into someone, making him take a few steps back.
Orange immediately lowered his phone and immediately apologized.
The fat man in front of him stood still, unmoved. Its long bangs cover the eyes, only the nose down is visible. From this position, Orange can clearly see the acne stones that arise on both cheeks of the man.
That appearance made Orange think of Shuji's previous figure, ah, of course, not his 'appearance' but his aura.
He cautiously apologized once more before pulling over and walking back.
Orange rubbed his irritated nose with an unpleasant smell coming out of the man earlier.
Shuji does not smell, muttered Orange.
The brief incident was not deep thought. Turning to the supermarket and shopping, Orange met a familiar figure.
“Hei.” Orange greet. Shuji stands on the kitchen spice rack, focusing on choosing soy sauce. He was wearing pajamas wrapped in a mocha cardigan sweater without buttons. Hearing the greeting, Shuji turned his head and drew a small smile.
“New home?”
“Mm.” Orange felt a bit embarrassed to see Shuji who looked sparkling under the supermarket lights, while she went home to work. “I go there first.” He wants to hide.
“Oke.” After saying so, Shuji went back to reading the soy sauce composition seriously.
Maybe this is the feeling his friend once said. Inferior when looking at a beautiful man.
Of course, Orange was not immediately aware of Shuji's appearance. Only when walking together he felt people passing by so often looked at them.
Early people did pay a lot of attention because of the clothes and the hood. Who wears long clothes in the summer? But slowly the neighbors around the area began to get used to it. Sometimes they ask questions that don't hurt. He often talks to neighbors around.
But as time goes by with Shuji, many women are glancing. From there the orange began to notice. Although he was still reminded of the gloomy figure who was always moody, slowly the impression was like being repainted together often they walked together.
*Hm, it is not easy to walk with ikemen. *Thus make a smile.
Finished choosing the groceries, Orange walked towards the counter.
“What cooking?” suddenly behind him came a low voice. The orange almost jumped in place in surprise. He turned his head and saw Shuji staring at the contents of the orange basket with a visibly curious face.
“I want to cook sop.” Reply Orange. Shuji's eyes changed from the basket to his orange face.
Sometimes when Shuji shows that expression, Jingga can't help her soft tone. Shuji's face as curious and curious as it looked like a child.
I must have gone crazy judging adults as children. Orange facepalm in the heart.
"The soup is not vegetable soup, but chicken soup. You know, right. whose chicken was boiled long ago...." Orange explained slowly.
"Ahh..," Shuji nodded in understanding.
The queue line moved and he immediately paid for his groceries once it was done on the scan.
Because their way home is the same, the orange waits until Shuji's groceries are finished.
“You only buy that?” Orange glances at the bottle in hand. Shuji did not bother to ask for a plastic bag and tote it straight away.
“Mm. Why indeed?” The night wind blew sweeping through Shuji's soft-looking bangs. Under the light of the lamp, her hair was beautifully shiny.
“No... you." The orange blinked before turning his eyes. "You shop long enough I thought I'd buy a lot.”
“Ah.” Shuji nodded twice, a sign of understanding. “I checked the composition,”
Buy soy sauce was thorough, orange murmuring. If he's long shopping because comparing prices.
Both of them walked side by side, exchanging small talk. Along the way, Orange thanked silently because of the dim lights around. At the very least, in this way he did not look too ugly while walking with Shuji.
The next morning, Jingga went to work as usual. Before heading to the stop he stopped by the barnyard booth. The seller that time was the son of the booth owner.
“Mau one.”
“Good.. One grilled yam.” The teenager lengthens the tone at the end while busying his hands.
“You're not in school?” ask the curious orange, while waiting for the yam to mature.
“Sedang school holiday. Nee-chan used to come here so I'll tell you. This afternoon I want to update. My mom asked me to take care of the booth if I wanted to earn extra money.” The teenager breathed a dramatic breath. Orange laughed when he heard it.
“Working device?” A low voice sounded suddenly from the side.
“Yups. Out of sport?”
“New start." Shuji turned to the booth guard. "Dik, want one.” Shuji.
Some yams have been burned half way, it does not take long both get their order sweet potatoes.
The two walk together and arrive at the park, Shuji pampits to continue the morning walk while Jingga leaves for the stop.
The orange tote the paper bag containing the grilled yam towards the stop. While passing through the alley at the side, Orange felt like he saw something. The woman frowned, sitting at the stop while eating yams; she finally remembered.
“Not it was a boy yesterday?” she's a jerk or what? Could he have stayed in that alley all night?
“...Where every day I pass here, again.” Fortunately, tomorrow he has a holiday and later his shift will change.
Maybe Orange won't see it again when leaving-or-returning later.
Only, Orange again passed by the man.
By accident? Although it had been days, it was difficult to erase the impression he had received the first time he met. And every time he saw the figure of the fat man, Orange always felt something crawling his skin, making him goosebumps.
That day he left in the afternoon and when he bought the yam, Orange saw the man standing not far from the booth. Is it just his feelings or is he staring at him?
Still with the same suit and style. Orange is well thought, maybe all the clothes of the person are the same type.
“Nona, be careful with this guy.” The booth seller that time was the usual mother of the seller.
“...I know.” Orange nodded. From the end of his eyes he saw the man as if he was about to approach. The orange wonders when the yam is ripe.
As the mother of the yam seller gave her order, Jingga exhaled a breath that she unconsciously held. Then immediately Jingga went to the stop.
He came home the night. Jingga walked to the side of the road, opposite the alley that he usually passed. Seeing that the place was empty, Orange immediately rubbed his chest. Only when he turned forward did his heart feel almost loose upon seeing the figure standing in front of the drinking machine.
The orange sped up his pace and immediately returned to his apartment. After making sure the door was locked, he was relieved.
“Mana tomorrow still work night again.” Orange wants to cry. As stupid as Orange, he had realized that the person seemed to be following him.
Opening her workplace chat group, she sent a message about whether there were still rooms available for the dormitory that were answered negatively.
The next day, Jingga looked around, after confirming there was no fat man, she walked towards the yam booth. Who would have thought that when he arrived, that person immediately appeared, exiting the rental store next to the booth.
“!!” Orange almost ran away but he was afraid that if he showed that he was aware of the person's whereabouts.
The selling mother who realized it looks ready to throw a seal in her hand at the fat man if you dare to mess around. It was just that the person just stood still. Attacking people who stand still for no reason is impossible. The orange can only hold back.
Just then someone was standing next to Orange so close. I don't know how many times he's been shocked lately. But when he saw the person beside him, Orange immediately calmed down.
“You want to buy too?” throwing his fear away, Orange opened the conversation to distract him.
“Mau one.” Shuji and the mother selling the yam looked at each other like exchanging messages. The orange that stood between the two was confused, but in Shuji's company, he felt safe. The orange hopes the yam ripens along with Shuji's.
While at the stop, Jingga finds Shuji walking beside her.
He wanted to ask, ‘hei, did you see that guy?’
‘Could that person follow me?’
But he said nothing, looking at Shuji's bad mood.
Maybe I was overthinking, thought Orange. When the first orange meets Shuji, he is just as depressed but ordinary. It's just that Jingga still hopes to not meet that person again.
Shuji's presence makes him feel safe. The orange mind that had been afraid of being distracted, accompanied by Shuji who was now staring at the board at the stop.
The orange does not interfere and sits obediently until the bus comes.
-
“You're okay?” ask one of his co-workers during the break that night. Orange who yesterday made some mistakes while working, nodded in embarrassment.
“Good then.” The two exchange chats and Orange returns to her job.
Orange knows the cause yesterday he was much wrong, usual—overthinking. But he was still confused as to why he was okay today.
Only when on the way home, Orange remembers the incident yesterday. It felt like he didn't want to go down.., but it was impossible.
Slowly he walked. Peering from the end of his eyes, Orange passed through the alley, empty. He let out a long breath, hoping that when he passed in front later, that person did not exist at all.
But when the drink machine appeared in his vision, what he caught was not a fat figure but Shuji. Standing behind the drink machine, staring at the street was like thinking of life. Occasionally put a can of drink in his hand.
As he approached, Orange noticed eye bags under Shuji's face.
He doesn't remember how he came back to his apartment. Only after that night did he no longer see the suspicious fat man around the area.
Upon hearing the news that the police had arrested a stalker, Orange's mind inevitably fell on the man.
From the gossip he heard, the contents were too ridiculous and excessive.
But the orange is grateful in the heart.
**
[Shuji pov]
It was a holiday. Not for Shuji, but for Orange. While he was, of course, he had a day off. Not leaving for office work and being able to manage time as you please (especially to pay attention to Orange) is best for Shuji.
He glazed over the side of the small pot that was wet when watered.
After his mini-cam order arrived, Shuji directly modified the vase, but due to his carelessness, the vase he bought broke.
Finally he chose a pot with a peace lily plant. Of the many indoor plants he found, only this had flowers, while the others were only leaves. Surely with flowers will be more colorful, right?
Shuji tucked the camera and mini microphone into a hidden rod. Among the green flower stems, only this one is fake. Shuji placed it in the middle to make it more hidden.
He estimated the possibility of these plants being stored somewhere other than in a shoe rack cabinet. Although Shuji could not control that, hm, he was still self-conscious. So he painted ‘Welcome’ on the pot body. It's obvious this is to be kept near the entrance, right?
Insisting on being installed near the entrance is not because Shuji does not want this pot stored inside. Actually Shuji is a little afraid, if for example found out—ahem, he still has a chance to be forgiven.
From the beginning of ordering a mini camera until it was finished modifying, Shuji did not feel strange at all with his attitude.
Although just yesterday he harassed a stalker..
Shuji put on the apron and looked at the mirror; sliding his mischievous little bangs to the edge. He looks like a hard man. Of the many personas, Shuji wanted to show as much as possible. Although this was not her true self, she could learn. He's good at everything, all types, and Shuji hopes that this way the Orange won't have to consider long when his 'time' arrives.
With the bear in his apron, Shuji's theme this time is gap moe!
Shuji takes the flower pot out and presses the doorbell of the next apartment.
The door opened slowly, featuring an orange wearing a long-sleeved blouse and a long skirt expanding, each pale pink in color. Shuji stared long ago and raised his gaze to the commonly worn scarf.
That time the model was different from the other scarves.
There were beads pinned to the edge; the scarf color was white and Shuji noticed a slight red hue on the orange cheeks.
Shuji is like hearing the background of the song ‘Perfect’ accompanied by flying cherry blossoms.
How could she feel that the orange was dressing up to meet her?
So perfect.
Shuji is in love.
