The restaurant lights flickered gently, casting a golden hue across the tiled floor as Anaya stepped in. The soft clinking of dishes, the faint aroma of spices, and the low murmur of customers brought with them a strange sense of comfort. A home she hadn't expected.
From behind the counter, the owner looked up and smiled. "Ah, Anaya! You're here," he said warmly, coming forward with a ring of keys.
He handed her a small brass key with a faded tag tied to it. "This is for your room. It's upstairs. you'll need to take the back stairs through that side door. That's the only way up. You can lock the gate after you return each day. Okay?"
Anaya nodded politely. "Okay, boss."
"If you need anything," he added, "don't hesitate to ask me."
A small smile spread across her face. "Thank you… thank you so much, boss. For giving me this place. If there's ever anything you need help with… I'll do it willingly."
He raised an eyebrow with a teasing smirk. "Hmm… sweet talker."
Anaya blinked, taken aback. Sweet talker? Me? She looked down, unsure. Maybe…
She carried her small suitcase and bag up the narrow staircase. The metal railings were cool to the touch. The path was dim, but when she reached the top, she found a modest room with a single window, a bed, a shelf, and a small fan humming in the corner. Simple. Quiet. Enough.
"woah! looks like the room has been cleaned up. I'm really happy that there are some people other than my grandma for me. I've to thank him properly." Anaya whispered herself.
Then, she placed her things down gently, unpacking them in slow, thoughtful movements. Her books were stacked neatly, her clothes folded with care. A small peacock-feather bookmark peeked out from a novel she hadn't touched in months.
Once she had settled in, she tied her hair back and headed downstairs, ready to help with the evening shift. But as soon as the owner saw her, he waved his hand dismissively.
"No, no. You don't have to work today. You just moved in. I know you've had a long day classes, library, packing, saying goodbye. You should rest after dinner." the owner said.
"But..." Anaya began, but he interrupted.
"I know, I know. You don't like taking anything for free. But this isn't charity. From today, I'll provide meals for you as well. It's part of the arrangement."
She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised a finger. "And don't worry, it's not for free. I'll deduct it from your pay. Fair and square."
Anaya gave a small laugh and nodded. "Okay, boss."
That night, after finished her dinner. she sat alone by the window of her new room, a soft breeze brushing against her cheeks. The stars above blinked quietly, as if watching over her. then, she slowly fell asleep.
as this, days passed..
She kept to herself. Her interactions with her college friend group slowly faded. She wasn't angry or upset. but, its just… it felt distant now. Like a chapter that had already been read. like how she used to be live her life with herself only herself. but, now she got a company of a little whale.
In the quiet moments, when loneliness wrapped around her like a shawl, she'd pull out her tiny plush whale. the one and only of Anaya's friend, when she had gifted to herself.
She held it gently in her palms and whispered to it like a secret friend. Sometimes she spoke of her day, sometimes of nothing at all. It never spoke back, but its presence soothed her.
The world outside moved fast. Everyone seemed to be obsessed with Korean and Chinese dramas. Cafés played K-pop, students giggled over the latest actors, and Instagram reels were full of dreamy slow-motion edits.
Anaya watched them too. Not seriously, but, just when she had nothing else to do.
But in truth, a part of her longed for something deeper. She wanted to feel love. To feel warmth. But the idea of being hurt again, of being touched, of being seen too closely. it still scared her.
So, one evening, as the room glowed with the soft yellow of her bedside lamp, she made a quiet decision.
If I can't fall in love in real life… maybe I can fall in love safely. With someone far away. Someone who won't hurt me. Someone I'll never meet.
She searched the internet. Actor profiles, drama recommendations. Chinese… Korean… Japanese…
She went down a rabbit hole of thumbnails and fan edits. None of them clicked.
as this, days passed like blink of an eye...
then, weeks blurred in themselves...
then, months passed...
She is already in her summer holidays, now. but, she decided not to go to home and lived here. she can only make phone calls to talk with her grandma.
Until one day, it turns out May 22, 2022.
It was a Sunday.
She had the day off. The restaurant was quiet. The city outside buzzed with summer heat. She lay on her bed, lazily scrolling through video thumbnails when her finger suddenly stopped.
There it was.
A face. Familiar, but she couldn't place it.
She stared.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Where did I seen him before? he really looks familiar.. where..? where...?" Anaya whispered herself.
A few minutes passed. Then, like lightning striking her chest, she remembered.
Him… Yes… it's really him!
She opened the video. The drama started. The name appeared on the screen:
"Yu Chen."
Anaya whispered it aloud. The name felt strange and beautiful on her tongue.
"Yu Chen," she said again, with a small smile.
Then, almost in a whisper, as if making a vow to her heart, she added,
"oh! I remembered, it's you, it's really you. the one who looks like a.. hmm! well, pretty bad. but, in drama you were looking like a damn innocent. good acting Man!.." Anaya whispered with the thumbnail on her screen.
then, suddenly a small voice came up from her brain. "Choose him.., choose him..., look he looks pretty innocent and introvert just like you. and he got a natural face. what i mean to say is, he is good looking. why don't you just choose him."
"Yu Chen.., Yu Chen..."Anaya whispered herself.
she continued, "Okay..! Then I'll choose you.."