No wonder the sound of the horn is still ringing when the hour after work is almost over. After all, it was only because grandma accidentally threw a baseball into the windshield of a driver's car that triggered the traffic jam this afternoon.
as usual, Joe was dabbling with his dry white bread sprinkled with sugar and his strong coffee. On a round white rattan table, and his father's old guitar, Joe began to sing wildly.
String by string he plucked. Recalling the tone that Solar taught yesterday afternoon at the back of the office while shaking. A mouth full of breadcrumbs mumbled softly, singing a few lines of a song he was still trying to remember.
Joe Echart, a single man in his nearly thirties who a month ago was promoted to assistant manager. good luck for a backbone like Joe who supports a special woman in an expensive metropolis like Australia. Since childhood, Joe had quite a lot of luck stock. That's why his father used to call him little lucky.
Dont go tonight~
stay here one more time
remind me what its like, oh~
and lets fall in love one more time
i need you now by my side
it tears me up when you turn me down~
"You just got rejected?"
"OH GOD! Mom surprised me! Since when did you come home?" Joe put down his weathered guitar carefully. He approached the woman he called Mother and kissed her forehead gently.
"Just now. When you got rejected."
"I'm not rejected, Mom. It's just a song."
Valen laughed softly. Seeing his son trying to dodge when he teased. Joe had the same look in his eyes. Like Joe at the age of 7 when his father teased him when he wet his bed in class. Or when Joe was in Junior High. When her cheeks turn red from being kissed by a classmate.
"Usually people will sing songs according to the situation they are in right?" Vallen giggled again.
"Ahh, stop this. I'm hungry. Are you going to cook?"
"Usually you cook yourself when you're hungry, right?"
Joe was so whiny. He clung to his mother's hand, pretending to massage him with a pitiful face.
"This time I want to eat Mom's cooking."
"Oh my little Joe Echart is really childish. Your coffee is cold. Go and finish it."
The long Queensland night made Joe uncomfortable. From the puff of smoke he smoked fifteen minutes ago that inspired Joe to take a night walk with his tiny dog. The streets are still busy with the noise of people passing by and the noise of city lights in buildings that are still lit.
A walk in the middle of the night rarely allowed Joe to meet anyone he knew. He was too lazy to put on a smile just to greet people who would talk behind his back. Especially when it comes to having fun.
Cigarette butts and two glasses of wine on weekends are enough to be friends.
There are some things that Joe loves in this world. First, his father who died silly because of the challenge of taking an ice bath in the bathtub. Second, of course because he is still single since four years ago. Although the world is not so gloomy because of the presence of Vallen and Wishky, the now barking little dog.
Joe slowed down as they started down the deserted street. He could faintly hear the sound of people muttering. Although very quiet, it was enough to catch Wishky and Joe's attention. The man then stepped carefully, trying to approach the source of the muttering of the girl who was looking up at the bus stop seat alone. The street light was still bright enough to make Joe feel sure that the girl didn't look dangerous.
"Do you need help, miss?" asked Joe carefully. Still trying to keep my distance.
The girl didn't answer. He even raised his eyebrows as if surprised by Joe's presence.
"Isn't your bus coming? Should I call a taxi?"
"Hey."
"Why are you laughing?" Joe steps back. Unlike the case with Wishky who lay quietly on the street. Joe was worried, starting to think that if this woman was a crazy bum then he had to run away with Wishky as soon as possible.
"This is the third time." the woman said.
Joe was made even more surprised. Ready to take a square off when the girl got up from her seat.
"HEH! DO NOT STAY UP?!!"
"What? weird." The girl's brows furrowed.
"I JUST WANT TO HELP YOU! IF YOU WANT TO HURT ME, WISHKY WILL BE ANGRY AND YOU WILL BIT YOUR NECK. WISHKY LIKES TO BITE YOUR NECK!!" pointed Joe at Wishky frantically. Wishky, who was pointed at, was annoyed. He barked at Joe whose attention was still on the woman.
"Tsk! First, I didn't mean to hurt you. Second, if your dog bites my neck, that's even better." he pointed with a smile. "Third, you asked me first. You're the weird one. Fourth, this is our third meeting and it's very unpleasant."
Then the girl just walked away. leaving a dumbfounded Joe stammering.
The summer wind was blowing hard. Made Wishky whine to go home. Lost Joe's steps while thinking, the third unpleasant encounter?
Then how many meetings will be fun? Weird girl!