LAUNDRY SERVICE:

~ Oh, my god! He is here again today. ~

I watch helplessly as he strolls into the crowded room. My hands tighten and tremble as it tries to continue its inane task of folding. My heart beats faster. My breath becomes ragged. My eyes seem to be transfixed on the unimaginable beauty that approaches the dull humming machines.

Everyone else fades. Everything vanishes. There is no one or no thing that stands between us. I am a helpless creature; loosing itself in the throes of undeniable need, want…lust. I lower my gaze as he strides past me.

~ Oh, Kami. Was that a smile for me? ~

I could be wrong. Yes, it is just my imagination. He couldn’t possibly have smiled at me. I am a nobody. Just another being crushed in the hustle and bustle of this smelly, hot room. The stench of hot, freshly pressed clothes, which had filled my nostrils, has now been replaced by the sharp, musky earthy smell of his cologne. Oh god, his scent. I could drown in it. My eyes close unconsciously. I long to inhale him all by myself. To feel his body pressed against mine. To roll around shamelessly with wanton abandon, like the drying clothes in these monstrous machines.

I growl as my thoughts are disturbed. I am pushed and shoved by an impatient customer. He wants his clothes; can I get out of his way? Why should I? He dared to disturb me in the middle of….what? I cannot believe this. My mind seems to have shut down. I can only stare at the handsome visage in front of me. He is speaking. I hear nothing. I can only watch the movements of that amazing mouth. He smiles again and my knees give way. I have to lean against the folding tables. I clutch my shirt to my chest. I must have replied, for he nodded his head and moved ….Nani? He is coming towards me….he is closer….so much closer…he is inches away. I am practically panting now. I feel so embarrassed. Could he want to…?

He has withdrawn….with something in his hands. My face flushes. He only wanted my washing detergent. I feel so foolish. I must have smiled…stupidly. He turns away, strolling towards those machines again.

It is the same thing every time. He sticks in his under wear first. Yes, I do notice. They are mainly boxers. Most of them white, except for that ridiculous polka dotted one. I shudder. Not very nice. He has a lot of white t-shirts too. I imagine him walking around with only those pieces of clothing on. Kami…I am hopeless. And then he does it…he takes the shirt off his back and my heart literally stops. He shoves the shirt into the machine, unconsciously displaying muscles that ripple with each movement. Am I the only one who seems to notice this? Apparently not. My head snaps around sharply as I notice the ogling girls. Grrr…he is mine. Huh? Where had that come from?

I am disturbed again. I nearly bite the person’s head off. He cringes at my reaction. He points to the blasted machine. My clothes are dry, he says. Could I take them out now? I hate the weekends. They are always so busy. So many people, so little time to really enjoy…Fine, I reply. I stalk over to the damn things and get the items out. These are the last batch. After all, I had been in here much longer.

He is leaning against the folding tables. No sitting on them, remember? He is reading a book…no, not a book…it is a….TV guide? I shrug. So what, he likes TV…no big deal. I try to concentrate on my clothes. I have to fold them in a specific way or they wrinkle and I hate wrinkled clothes. Some say I am a perfectionist. I guess I am. Hell, why shouldn’t I be? Especially when perfection is but a few feet away from me.

I am being too slow. I know I am, but I can’t help it. I don’t want to leave. Not yet anyway. I want to savor this moment. To watch him, while he is so oblivious. Or is he? We both come here every weekend. This is not the first time we have met. He must have noticed me enough by now….after all he smiled at me. Yeah, just like he is smiling at that stupid girl that is practically eating him with her eyes. Something snaps. I look down in horror….and shrug. I broke the handle of my laundry basket. No worries, I can always get another one.

I raise my head. His washing is done. He brings them out and starts looking for an empty dryer. Before I can stop myself, I walk up to him. He looks a bit confused. I blush, but hold my resolve. I lead him to an empty one, nodding stupidly as he thanks me. He frowns as he finds out that he doesn’t have enough change. I quickly give him the money I have left. He smiles again. Kami, it is like a beam of sunshine in a darkened room. I don’t know if I can take this any longer. I am turning into mush. He shoves in the clothes and turns the machine on.

He sticks out his hand, clasping my trembling ones in his strong grip. He introduces himself. He says his name is Goku. I must have replied for the next thing I heard was my name from those wonderful lips.

“Vegeta.”