by Lara Yokoshima

Chapter Five - La Rose Blanche

Eiji finished adjusting the white necktie around his neck and nodded with satisfaction at his reflection in the mirror.

“Another day,” he mumbled tiredly as he walked to the other side of the restaurant’s small changing room, “of endless work.” There were times when he truly despised his job as a waiter at the La Rose Blanche, but Eiji still felt he was fortunate to have the job.

He actually felt somewhat guilty for not using his stay at the hospital as an excuse to take the day off work and spend some time with his brother. But Eiji felt that he really had no choice and did take some comfort in the fact that Kamuro had found a new friend to spend his free time with.

He sat down next to his duffle bag, letting out a soft sigh as the persistent dull pain in his side once again made itself known. Eiji clutched at his sore side, fighting back another grunt as he once again considered the possibility that perhaps he had left the hospital too soon. It seemed unlikely that his body would be up to the task of beginning his karate lessons with Kenji tonight. In the back of his mind however, Eiji knew that reason alone would not be enough to keep him away from his new karate instructor for long.

The pain in his side suddenly intensified as he thought about the blonde martial artist, and within moments Eiji’s body buckles over as he desperately fights the urge to cry out. The dim, golden light of the changing room seems to become paler and quickly intensifies until it nearly burns his retinas. Eiji stumbles around the room, his teeth sinking into his lower lip as he does everything he can to contain his agony.

Eiji tore open his duffle bag and began to search for the one thing that he knew would ease his torment. Finally, his fingers closed around a thin, plastic syringe. In desperation, Eiji presses the small needle against his forearm and prepares to inject himself with the golden liquid contained in the small vial.

Just as he is about to force the mysterious liquid into his bloodstream, the sound of the nearby door opening startles him. The nearly unbearable pain burning in Eiji’s body quickly melts away as beams of warm, natural sunlight flood into the changing room from the open doorway.

“Eiji?” the surprised blonde young man standing the doorway muttered, “I did not expect you to work today. Your brother called us this morning and told us that were had been admitted to the hospital.”

Eiji quickly zipped his duffel bag shut in order to hide his drug-filled syringe. The last thing he wanted was for someone to discover his terrible secret. “Koji,” he addressed his coworker softly, trying to put him at ease, “I feel fine. There is no need for concern.”

“Besides,” Eiji added a moment later, forcing himself to grin, “you guys will need the extra help today.” He feels a slight sting of guilt for lying to Koji, but he felt he had no alternative.

“Alright,” Koji relented, “but I still say you don’t look like you are at 100% today. It’s still not too late to change your mind…”

Eiji shook his head in denial before Koji could finish. “Thanks,” he said, brushing past Koji as he stepped through the door, “but I will be fine. I promise.”

Koji forced himself to smile as Eiji walked off towards the kitchen. “Okay,” Koji said, turning to face Eiji so that the bouquet of flowers behind his back would not be discovered, “see you out there.” His eyes filled with sorrow as he stared down at the white daisies that had been meant for Eiji bedside at the hospital.

The dining room of the La Rose Blanche was filled with the usual sounds of customers conversing and tables being set. The faint aroma of fine food lingered in the air, comforting the diners and teasing their appetites.

But the novelty of the pleasant atmosphere had worn off for Eiji long ago. Every day he worked tirelessly to serve the restaurant’s guest, and it seemed that with each passing day his job became harder. The days blended together in his mind, and Eiji had trouble telling them apart. Each day at work seemed to present a new hurdle for him to clear, and at times he felt that no amount of pay was worth all the bickering and stress that he had to endure.

“Hey!” a voice suddenly called out from behind him in a playful tone, “are you awake?”

Eiji’s daydreaming was brought to an abrupt halt when he felt a hand smacking the back of his head. Startled and completely caught off guard by the action, Eiji quickly spun around to face whoever it was that had decided to bother him.

“Latka,” he mumbled menacingly when his eyes fell on the unmistakable face of his coworker, “Yes, I’m awake.”

Latka took a step back, and smiled wickedly when he was not greeted in a pleasant manner. He pushed away a few stubborn strands of his dyed, white hair from his view to better admire Eiji’s irritated expression. “Eiji, I am beginning to wonder if you were born without a sense of humor.”

Eiji rolled his eyes, becoming even more annoyed after hearing Latka’s comment. “Just because I take my job seriously doesn’t mean I have no sense of humor.” He winced at the sound of his own voice, immediately wishing he had spoken in a less venomous tone. After all, without Latka and his practical jokes, his job would be even duller. At times the other young waiter’s sense of humor was all that kept the restaurant crew from snapping.

“Alright, alright,” Latka relented, “lighten up. I just came to tell you that you can take your break now.”

After Latka excused himself, Eiji slumped against the nearby wall. I should have stayed home today, what was I thinking?

Eiji winced slightly as he delivered his last order and headed for the break room. He could almost feel the stare of his last, rude customer on his ass as he made his way out of the dining area. Even though he knew he had been hired mainly for his good looks, just as the other waiters were, some days he still felt insecure about being watched so closely.

The scent of fresh coffee stung his nostrils as he entered the poorly lit and unkept break room. Eiji made his way to the refrigerator and rummaged through its contents until he found his box of instant noodles. After spending a few moments at the sink and filling the prepackaged meal with water, he carelessly threw it into the microwave and sat down at the cluttered lunch table across from Latka who was already there eating his lunch.

“You know,” Latka said from the other side of the table, “you seem like a nice guy, but you take everything too seriously around here. You could lighten up a little bit…”

Eiji looked up and noticed that the Norwegian waiter’s trademark grin and usually lively expression had been replaced by a look of great fatigue. As he looked at Latka’s face he wondered how much of the other waiter’s playful enthusiasm is put on just to fit in or to get attention.

The door of the break room suddenly opened before he could offer a reply to Latka’s suggestion, and Koji stepped into the room holding a lovely bouquet of white daisies.

Koji stood in the doorway, unsure of himself or what to do next. His hazel eyes were transfixed to Eiji’s face, desperately trying to gauge his coworker’s reaction.

Latka was quick to move however, and before Koji could object, the Norwegian waiter was reaching for the small greeting tag on top of the bouquet. “Go away Latka,” he protested, “these are not for you!”

“Oh come on!” Latka snickered, “what’s the big secret? Maybe you got yourself a new girlfriend… Let me see!” Koji turned away from his curious coworker and shielded the bouquet against his chest. But with a sneaky dart of his hand, Latka was able to snatch the tag by reaching over Koji’s shoulder.

“To Eiji,” Latka read out loud with a wide grin, “From Koji. Please get well soon.”

Koji began to blush, embarrassed when the card was read out loud. “In case you did not notice,” he said as he pried the card from Latka’s fingers, “it says ‘to Eiji’”

“I am sorry,” Koji apologized, “I meant to give these to you in the hospital today, after work. I thought that you would be staying there longer after I talked to your brother on the phone earlier, but…”

The blonde stopped speaking, and simply held the bouquet out towards Eiji. He did his best to appear calm and at ease but on the inside he was anxious and half afraid that his simple gift would not be warmly received.

Eiji squirmed a bit when he became the object of both Koji and Latka’s attention. Eager to be out of the spotlight, he took the flowers from Koji’s hands and carefully set them on the table in front of him.

Koji could not help but to flinch when Eiji’s fingertips lightly touched the back of his hands during the brief exchange. A pleasant shiver ran down his spine after the short contact and he could feel goose bumps forming on the flesh beneath his shirt.

“Thank you,” Eiji finally said in the most sincere voice he could muster, “Thanks for thinking of me Koji.” The blonde waiter visibly relaxed, and a small smile slowly curved the corners of his lips.

“You are welcome, I hope you can find a place for them at home”, Koji answered pleased.

Latka rolled his eyes, truly irritated, but quickly forced himself to smile again. “Alright guys,” he said with a soft chuckle as he turned to the door, “I have already been on break too long. I’ll see you out there.”

“Damn it!” Lakta cursed through his clenched teeth. After making certain that he was not visible to his coworkers or the restaurant’s guest, he slumped against the wall at the end of the hallway that led to the restroom.

It seemed that his attempts to draw Koji’s attention or interest were futile now. Frustrated and mentally unhinged, Latka slammed his fist into the wall next to him, later feeling a sudden pain on his hurt knuckles, but trying to ignore it. “Damn,” he whispered as he slowly slid his back down the wall to sit on the floor, all the time I’ve been trying to make him notice me… and now this.

Latka sighed deeply, as he repeatedly thought of his secret crush’s name: Koji.