One Day in California

I'm taking a week off to Santa Monica Pier, including a day spare to take a rest after my vacation.

The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, United States. It contains a small amusement park, concession stands, and areas for views and fishing. But I don't do fishing. I just want to enjoy the beach and the atmosphere, that's all. Plus there's a lot of food and beverages I want to try too. A mini amusement park, I know it looks pathetic if I ride the Ferris Wheel alone, but I'm fine, I even meet plenties of couple here. They can enjoy their time, so do I. I can see the city lights from up here. It's beautiful !

My phone beep when I finished the ride.

"for god's sake Steffi. You damn riding the Ferris alone? Do you need me there Steff? HAHAHAHAHAHA"

"HUH, you don't know how much fun I get. wkwkwk" I texted back.

"WKWKWKWKWK" she replied back.

Back then when I was in San Fransisco, I was group chatting on Wattpad with other Indonesians users, we are discussing about the novel Kiera creates.

Lily sat beside me looking at my laptop, I was typing "wkwkwk"

"what the hell is this?" she pointed at the words I typed.

"OH ! You must be curious then" I teased

"HA ! TELL ME ! TELL ME ! OR I'LL KILL YOU !!" Lily playfully chokes me.

"it's a HAHAHA in Indonesia. We have to spell it waka-waka-waka not wek-wek-wek. And you know what?"

"Oh. What?"

"it only happens in Indonesia" I lift my thumb and pointer on my chin, proud of having that uniqueness.

Since then, Lily likes to use wkwkwk while texting me, sometimes to confuse her facebook friends.

At night, I walk by the shops on my way home. An ice cream shop caught my attention, it was painted in tosca and when I push the door, it jingles a bell. I walk to the cashier, looking up to the menu section and pointed at a picture of strawberry cone ice cream with milk chocolate melting and a cherry at the top. Never lost my appetite for ice cream. As I got the ice cream on my hand and walk out the shop suddenly a tall man appeared. The same man I met in the café and the supermarket, the one that call me STALKER. He towered over me, street lamps shining upon him, his face is clean and bright but somehow we're close enough that I can see the freckles beneath his eyes. He was wearing skinny black jeans and a fitted lime green shirt that tights at his biceps, today he isn't in his hoodie. He narrowed his eyes on me, I walk backwards and bumped myself on the uneven wall. He stands closer and closer to me with both of his hands inside his jean's pockets, his eyes are on me. Somehow I feel so uncomfortable, the breezes goose –bumped me. This stranger will sue me to his attorney, I start assuming things. This is so bad, this is just so bad. I'm in worst luck. I look down, avoiding his eyes.

"Well, Miss Cashier" I startled, almost got a heart attack. I lean my head to the wall, my eyes are glancing at him, but his eyes are sharper than mine. He was glaring at me from the start, with a very critical looking on his face.

"My god" he snorted.

"You look like a mouse in a trap right now" he continued laughing.

I take a deep breath, felt irritated. I almost fainted but I'm off the hook, I guess. He crossed his arms and being judgy again. His eyes glaring at me.

"you are definitely spying on me. It's okay if you wanted my signature so bad, I'll give it to you as exchange for you to not follow me anymore"

"Who are you? I don't even know you" I ventured.

He widened his eyes, and laughed out loud again, his expressions are easily changed. What the hell is going on?

"Oh my god" he is still laughing, I froze in a place, waiting for him to stop. I have no idea, what's so funny?

"My dear Miss Cashier. I'm currently shooting a serial romance movie"

"You... are an..... actor ?" I lift my eyebrow, still don't believe it. But yes, he has the face of an actor. BUT IS THIS A COINCIDENCE? DOES LILY REALLY WISH ME LUCK UNTIL I MET THE REAL ACTOR FACE TO FACE? This is so f**k –in crazy. I was talking and bumping to an actor. But STEFFI, YOU DON'T CARE.

"Of course I am. Don't pretend you don't know me. Everyone in this world know me" he confidently stated, smiles widely as I can see his tidy white teeth exposed.

"Except me" I replied him, lifting my eyebrow. I can feel the ice cream starts melting in my hands, my heart broken into pieces. If he doesn't stop talking, the ice will melt until the cone is left alone.

"Whoa whoa whoa. You are so sarcastic, lady"

I was about to go, I turn my body and about to leave him but he grabs my arm, I tilt my head looking at him, his strong arm won't let me dodge.

"so you don't want my signature, huh?" he smirked.

"No, thankyou. Just let me go" I pull my arm hardly, he let go off me.

I walk quickly taking 4-5 steps per second, when I turn my head checking him he was still standing there see me leaving and still smiling. The second time I check him, he was still standing and he waves his hand at me. I ignored him and don't look back anymore.

"Weird actor. Thinks that he can act whatever he wants" I mumbled on my way home, my ice cream melted, the cone is the only left overs. I throw the cone to the trash, grasping my palm. What cause me so bad luck huh? I just want peace.

I arrive in the motel, I threw myself on the bed and close my eyes.

I will go back tomorrow and rest before I start working on the Wednesday. I lift my arm and looking at the silver watch.

It's 9 P.M.

I stand up and clean myself up before I went to sleep.

***

Back at Vier Café. The same routinities everyday, the bell jingles.

The same man I met from Santa Monica come over again, today he is in grey hoodie. I guess he has all shades of color hoodies, he comes with different hoodies everyday. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second, I have to remain calm.

Like everytime, he ordered the same Americano and left without saying anything, or even tips. He never gives me tips.

This time I got my urge to ask both Cara and Jane, when I saw them smiling at each other.

"Who is he ?"

Both shocked, Cara and Jane rushed towards me and reply together, "You don't know him? Are you sure ??" they seem excited

"surprisingly no" I replied

"he is Noah Hoskins ! the male lead in The Sunshine Is You, the movie that goes worldwide from the bestselling novels. And now he is currently playing a serial romance movie called The Male Leads. I never missed an episode, Steff. You must watch his movies" Cara explained, Jane nodded in agreement.

"Girls. Enough. I think  I am much more handsome than him" James cut off our attentions, smiling greedily.

Cara and Jane moaned together "MY GOSH JAMES"

"guess you are not so interested with American's actors, do you? There's a lot of actors and actresses come over everyday" said James while shaking the bottle of milkshake.

"I watch Korean Drama a lot to be honest, my last American movie is about 20 years ago.." I replied

Cara and Jane gasped.

"How about the models or else ? like sometimes when you go to the shopping mall.. or other brand ambassadors from America like Nike, Adidas.." Jane asked.

"except for that.. I know severals from the poster" I implied

The bell jingles, and we all go back to work.

It's time to go home, I hang my tote-bag on my shoulder, James standing besides me. He walks me home almost everyday since the day I came back from Santa Monica, with or without topics.

"So you were from San Frans right ?" James asked

I tilt my head looking at him in confuse, how did he know?

"how do you know that?" I asked

"hmmmmm" he rubbed his chin, narrowing his green eyes. He is kinda cute sometimes.

"come on.." I tap his arm and he snorted by laughters.

"okay..okayy I'll tell you" he clears his throat

"do you remember the bar ?"

The bar ... hmmm I lift my chin, thinking. I remember the bar I visit with Lily last time, but barely remember the name.

"the bar in San Frans... to be honest I forgot its name" I lift my shoulder, I'm already curious.

"I know you were drunk that time. But do you remember the man that approached you and wanted to buy you drink so bad?"

The man...that wanted to buy me drink...

My brain is working so hard, a flashed of memory of a man with blue shirt whispers in my ear, his face was not clearly seen that time and the lightning was killing my eyes.

"AH ! the man on the dance floor. Wearing a blue shirt !" I lift my pointer, glad that I finally remembered.

"Yes!"

"But you rejected me, so bad...." he flared his nostrils, pouting his lips

"I'm sorry, I was drunk that time and I'm just not interested in hanging out with guys that time" I explained. It's a coincidence we are working at the same café right now.

"So you were in San Frans for ?" I asked in curiousity.

"I was taking a break to visit my mom, I was from San Frans. I mean I grow up in San Frans"

"To be honest I thought you were from Swedia"

"Yes I am Swedish, but grow up in San Frans. Mom and dad have a business there" he implied.

We arrive in front of my apartment's building.

"So you said you are not interested in hanging out with guys"

I tilt my head looking at him, "Yes I did"

"how about now?" he added.

I laugh, "I'd like to think about it then" I slap his arm softly. I wave goodbye at him, he waves back and left when I get inside the apartment building.

Tralalala

A short melody rang repeatedly, Lily's profile picture popping up on my laptop screen. When I click the green button. Lily's full face appeared

"HEY YOOO STEFFI !!" screaming excitedly.

"Hey Lily ! it's been a long time" yes, I miss Lily so much.

"that's the reason I choose Skype !" she lifted her pointer, pointing at me from the screen. "I still can't believe my Steffi ride the Ferris Wheel alone" she quipped. I rolled my eyes on her, she keeps on teasing me about the Ferris Wheel.

"So how's life going? You told me your barista James recently walk you home" she lifted her eyebrow, asking suspiciously.

"welllll..." I shrugged my shoulder

"HE HAS A CRUSH ON YOU" she raised her voice, sitting straight, her eyes widened. "AND YOU MET NOAH HOSKINS ALL THE TIME ! YOU ROCK STEFF ! GO SEDUCE NOAH !"

Yes, I told her about the Americano guy earlier when I found out he is actor and his name is Noah something I can't remember his name properly.

"Gosh Lily, I'm not gonna seduce that Americano guy" I moaned and rolled eyes on her

"WHAT?" she raises her voice even higher

"Steffi, you deserves a man in your life" she continues, here comes Lily...

"do you miss the ..."

"urghhhh Lily stop it" I cut her off and moaned, snorted and laugh out loud before she talks dirty.

"don't make me look like I want to have s** so bad. I'm not that thirsty though" I continued

"Just kidding, and hey where is your precious bolster you brought all the way from Indonesia ?"

I take my bolster and show it to her

"TADA !"

I remember the time when I bring my bolster all the way from Indonesia, she teased me. She told me that is her yoga property, and the KERUPUK UDANG I show her from the internet, while Indonesian's Youtuber starts crunching it,

"WHAT?? IS THAT OKAY WITH HIS TEETH?" Lily hysterically yelled. It's kinda funny when I show her some of my Indonesian habits, she will be either confuse and curious. She ever told me she wants to visit Indonesia so bad especially Bali. Maybe one day I can bring her there.

"BUTTT" she widened her eyes

"as your descriptions, he seems like a hot Swedish. Do you ask him he is really a Swedish? Or you just guessing til now ?" she assumed

"I've just asked him, yes he is Swedish and Lily do you know? He is the guy that wanted to buy me drink back then while we were at the bar"

Lily gasped "MY GOSH !"

"As I remember, he is so HOT" she continues

"Yes he is"

"so you like him?"

"nope" I replied, shaking my head

Lily pulls a long face

"why Steffi. Don't cover yourself ! Go find a boyfriend !" she moaned

In order to calm her and stops her from another non –sense

"Okay, okay alright I'll re –think about it" I replied her

"THAT'S MY GIRL !" her thumbs up.

"ops gotta go ! Stan is knocking my door" she stands up and push her face near the webcam about to end our conversation.

"okay Lily. See you soon byee ! loveyou !"

"Loveyou more !" and the call ended.