Cupid’s Strings

Two vocalists don’t want to be here. But here they were. Isao glanced over at Mai. She wouldn’t look at him. It didn’t help that he had nothing to say.

“Um…” he said. She glanced over at him. Isao closed his mouth. Oh…

The waiter came back with their wine. The vocalists were going to need it. Isao poured himself a glass. Red wine to be exact. He got a quick drink.

“I don’t really like you,” Mai spoke up. Isao raised his eyebrow.

“Okay…” he said. They weren’t breaking new ground here. She had a cold look in her eye.

“I don’t see why we’re doing this,” she said.

“Neither do I,” he said. Again, nothing new here. Was it going to be like this all night?

“Listen, I am just trying to humor them here,” Isao said. “Can you at least work with me here?” Mai didn’t respond. Isao pressed his lips together. Did the room just get colder?

“Okay,” he said. Isao looked at the wall painting. How long was this going to take? The waiter returned to their table.

“Are you ready to order?” he asked. Isao looked up.

“Spring rolls, please,” he said.

“Same,” Mai said. The waiter wrote down their orders.

“Okay,” he said. “I will be back with your orders.” Isao waved at the waiter as he walked away. The vocalist rubbed his forehead. Three courses with this woman were too much. Could they even survive each other? So far, it was uncomfortable.

“Do you want to get our food to go?” Isao asked. Mai looked at him but said nothing. She picked up her glass and took a drink.

“Okay, I guess not…” he said. Isao looked out the doorway. He’s trying so hard here. She’s giving him nothing. Mai polished off her glass. She poured herself another one. Still, she was really hot in that dress. If things were different and they met in another way, maybe they could hit off.

Maybe…

Isao smiled as he took another drink. He noticed her staring at him with a sneer.

“What?!” she asked. Isao just shook his head. He finished off his glass. The vocalist needed another one. So Isao poured himself another glass. The waiter came back with the spring rolls.