#15.
—-———————————
Dear Miss Cordelia Grey,
I was quite rude last time.
I would like to see the book again. Can we meet this weekend?
I found something incredible that I think you will love.
6.13. Mark Laughlin.
—-————————————
06-13-THU-12:20
From: Juliet ([email protected])
To: Cordelia ([email protected])
You lucky girl. When is Mark going to show you?
The scent of roses is wafting over here!
P.S.: Why did you change your email address? I got a delivery failure notice and thought you quit without telling me.
* * *
06-13-THU-12:22
From: Cordelia ([email protected])
To: Juliet ([email protected])
Juliet,
No way.
Put aside your vulgar curiosity about Mark and have lunch with me. Garrett is acting as if we broke up or something. All day! I need to escape this atmosphere, at least during lunch. Okay?
P.S.: And I haven’t agreed to meet Mark. We’ve just exchanged an email. Have you forgotten about Liam?
* * *
06-13-THU-12:24
From: Juliet ([email protected])
To: Cordelia ([email protected])
Cordelia,
Liam didn’t send any flowers, did he?
Did he email or call you at all?
I prefer the man who sends a dozen baskets of roses.
Besides, he’s a TV personality. How does Mark look in person? Is he handsome?
Let’s talk about it at lunch. No talking about Mark or Liam (or both) before bed. I won’t burn lunch with talk of men we haven’t slept with.
How about the new sandwich place?
* * *
06-13-THU-12:30
From: Cordelia ([email protected])
To: Juliet ([email protected])
Alright, see you later.
* * *
—-———————————
To Cordelia,
It’s a first edition of *Lolita* with Nabokov’s signature.
This is the item I thought you would love to see.
Now you understand how much I want to apologize?
So make time for me this weekend. I have a place I want to take you.
6.14. Fri. Mark Laughlin.
—-————————————
06-14–FRI-15:00
From: Juliet ([email protected])
To: Cordelia ([email protected])
Mark Laughlin is something else. I didn’t realize he was this bold from seeing him on TV.
I think he’s sent over two hundred roses just today and yesterday.
I’m starting to think his real job is running a flower shop.
Can I really take the leftover roses? Are you not going to reply, Cordelia?
* * *
06-14-FRI-15:40
From: Cordelia ([email protected])
To: Juliet ([email protected])
Juliet, there’s this thing called royal strategy, and it emphasizes the importance of the push and pull…
Never mind, let’s grab a beer after work. I’ll explain then.
* * *
Cordelia,
Are you there?
-The fourteenth day of the pale green moon, Archie Albert
* * *
Prince Archibald,
Yes, as always, I am here.
Do you want to see me? I miss you, my Prince.
How wonderful it would be if our magic box could hand over a cup to share?
It’s drizzling here now. It’s the kind of rain that feels like too little, but before you know it, you’re soaked if you keep walking. I like this rain. How nice it would be to get soaked with you.
P.S.: I had a drink with Juliet and got a bit tipsy. Forgive my messy writing.
* * *
The theory that writing and appearance are opposites makes me believe in Coco,
Rest assured about your handwriting. It was always hard to recognize, even when you weren’t drunk.
Anyway, something I discovered today (actually, just now) is that our book repository functions even if the location changes. I wrote to you to confirm this. Oh, there’s one more thing I want to confirm. Cordelia, do you have long hair? What color is it? And your eyes? What exactly does your face look like?
– The adventurous Archie Albert.
P.S. What happened to all those men of yours? Tell them I’m curious.
P.S.2: If it’s still drizzling, don’t forget to lock the window to prevent your narrow room from flooding.
* * *
Fearless Archie,
What were you thinking, moving the book repository? What if we can never exchange letters again?
I was so exhausted yesterday that I fell asleep immediately and didn’t see your letter. It’s a shame I missed the opportunity to grumble in a timely manner.
At times like this, you seem so different from me. I can’t even move the magic box from my desk to my bed, fearing that changing its position might prevent our correspondence.
Do I seem too timid? But I like you that much. I enjoy writing letters to you like this.
I’m glad, though. Now I can rearrange the furniture as I like (though my bed will still be next to the desk), and I can move or travel without worry. Speaking of which, I might go on a trip soon.
Something unexpected happened in my love life that you were curious about. Briefly, a man named Mark has been filling my workplace and home with roses for several days. My interest lies with Liam, but I couldn’t refuse Mark’s invitation to visit a defunct rare book dealer in Edinburgh this weekend. There will be first editions of novels I like.
Maybe Mark is a better match for me than the mirage-like Liam. Liam still hasn’t contacted me. It’s understandable, though. He doesn’t even know my email or phone number.
But he knows my home address. If he really had feelings for me, shouldn’t he show some gesture like Mark, even if not as grand as hundreds of flowers? Juliet says a man doesn’t confuse a woman he likes!
But I can’t fully trust Juliet. Ever since she read “He’s Just Not That Into You,” she keeps saying, ‘That’s a sign he’s not into you, dump him!’
Moreover, when I told her about my trip with Mark next week, she already started fussing about buying me underwear. I subtly hinted to Mark that I’d return the same day, but Juliet insists that if I don’t stay overnight, Mark is a stone and I’m a fool. What do you think?
No, don’t answer. I’m sure you’d be as excited as Juliet. I don’t need a prince to choose my underwear.
Anyway, I drank so much yesterday because I was discussing these things with Juliet. Even though I was drunk, it would have been nice if our magic box allowed us to shake hands or something. Sometimes, talking face-to-face with a living person is needed.
But Archie, don’t be too jealous. I still prefer chatting with you over endless chatter with Juliet.
So tell me, where did you take our magic box, you reckless prince?
– June 14th evening, Timid Cordelia.
P.S. Are you only now curious about how I look?
* * *
Drunken Cordelia,
How did you think I’d be jealous of Juliet? If I’m jealous, it would be of Mark. Anyway, rest assured that I have no intention of choosing your underwear. Today’s letter seems even more alcohol-scented than yesterday’s. But I like the excitement that shows in your hurried writing.
But Mark seems a bit too aggressive, doesn’t he? I don’t particularly like him. (The jealousy comment was a joke. Honestly, objectively, I don’t like him.)
Even during the last kiss, it was the same. I didn’t say more then… but who kisses without asking?
But I agree with Juliet that a man doesn’t confuse a woman he likes. Emotions are hard to hide. You can tell someone truly likes you just by looking into their eyes.
However, if I were Liam, I wouldn’t send a mountain of flowers or show up at your doorstep without any information. Love should be confessed in whispers, in a soft voice.
Of course, some prefer to shout their love in public (people like Mark, I guess). But I’d rather slowly get to know you.
Did Mark ask what your favorite food is? What about your favorite book? Does he know you like the drizzling rain?
I believe that the feeling of love is wanting to know everything from one to ten. I love the days when, even after talking all night, there are still things left to say, and I fall asleep with that excitement. After ripening like that, finally confessing love as if confessing a secret, I love such moments. The countless flowers come afterward. Therefore, I am against Mark!
…Just kidding, Cordelia. I just wanted to pretend to be your big brother.
– Archibald Albert William Rendike, pretending to be an expert with Juliet again today.
P.S.: I need to know what you look like… It’s for something important. Hurry up and tell me, in as much detail as possible.
– Your desperate big brother, Archie –
* * *
Dear Prince.
If you must know so much about me to confess, then Archie, no one else but you will ever have a chance to confess to me.
Anyway, I will gladly take your bold love advice. Seeing how you look most lively when talking about love, I think perhaps the best job for you might be a love counselor.
You were so excited pretending to be my big brother that you forgot what I asked.
So, where are you now? Foolish Archie.
I imagined for a moment…
Prince, are you perhaps spending summer vacation at a country villa with Daphne and Eloise?
Daphne grabbed you and asked where you’ve been going so late every night, right? You laughed cheerfully and started bragging about writing letters to a certain lady these days.
Daphne must have asked with her alluring lips,
‘Who is stealing so much of your time, Prince? Is she prettier than me, Archie?’
And there, you realized in horror. You don’t even know what I look like! So, you are finally asking me belatedly. Quickly, say yes. Imagining this is too much fun.
– Cordelia, the love triangle enthusiast.
P.S.: Am I jealous of Daphne? Of course, I am. Jealousy is the most fun emotion in the world, I think.
* * *
To Miss Cordelia, who is spreading the wings of imagination.
I’m sorry to break your expectations, but
I swear it is not true.
I’m a classicist in love.
I need to know what you like best before sending a bouquet,
And I need to ask for permission before kissing.
So, I won’t be chattering about what you look like in front of other women.
In front of me is only a small, scary girl named Noel glaring at me. So, if you’re going to be jealous, be jealous of Noel, whose face I can barely remember.
– Your faithful friend, Archie Albert
P.S.: I’m under almost a life-threatening situation.
———= Postscript =———
To the readers who enjoyed it.
Yes, Garrett’s email failure was not because Cordelia teleported, but simply because she changed her email address. …I’m sorry if this disappointed you. But well, they’ll meet someday. The keyword is romance, right..?
P.S.: Thank you for the recommendation! It might seem mechanical, but every time I write it, I look up at the sky, feel grateful, and get teary-eyed.
<– –>
(Continuous update 5/9)
Leave a Reply