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"Crying is good for ordinary women. Beautiful women do shopping."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5KlMc3GY4
- Oscar Wilde42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57idFMmAnG
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We reach the supermarket, where we can find a wide selection of boutiques. Cassie is full of enthusiasm and hurries through the aisles in search of the most colorful ones. She stops at the entrance to "Lolita". Brrr, the name sends shivers down my spine. She takes a quick look inside, and I take a deep breath before following her. She browses the shelves, where clothes in saturated shades of red, pink, green and orange are on display. Crop-tops, short skirts, bright little bags that can only hold a phone and lip gloss. How can people enjoy wearing this kind of clothing? It attracts far too much attention.
She throws several things at me, which I barely catch in the air. Now I'm a clothes-wearer. After a good fifteen minutes, my arms are beginning to feel like they can't hold the heavy rainbow pile any longer.
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- Cass, I think it's time you went for your fittings. I ask her as her head tilts from side to side, pondering whether to go for that little pink top.
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She lifts her head and stares intently at the rainbow colored pile I'm holding.
- Cass, I think it's time you went for your fittings. I ask her as her head tilts from side to side, pondering whether to go for that little pink top.
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She lifts her head and stares intently at the pile I'm holding.
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- Okay, follow me! she orders.
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I walk behind her, depositing the stuff in a cabin. I see her start to sort and she hands me a dress that's a little too tight for my taste, orange with lacing in the back. No, it's not for me, is it? I look at her, wide-eyed, surprised by this rather garish choice of clothing.
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- Oh, come on! I'm not forcing you to buy it, just try it on, I'd like to see how you look in it. Just put your leather jacket over it, I'm sure it would look fine.
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- I'm not convinced...
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- Think of the ravioli. she insists
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I swallow at the thought of swallowing as many Chinese ravioli as my stomach will allow. I enter the cabin next to Cassie. I take a long time undressing, having no desire to wear this thing. I can hear Cassie laughing and asking me if I've finished changing.
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- I'm not done yet. I stammer uncomfortably.
I quickly slip on the dress so I can move on to something else. The material is pleasant, the fine fabric glides over my skin, and the long sleeves mean I don't feel too bare. There's no low-cut necklikne, but my 95 D is a little cramped. I push back the curtain slightly to make sure no one in the store can see me in this carnival get-up. Cassie pulls back the curtain abruptly, taking me by surprise.
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- Oh. My. God.
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- Told ya. I say as I turn toward the booth, but she grabs my wrist and pulls me out.
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- No, I mean, whoa.
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She half-opens her mouth, ogling me up and down, spins me around and I feel her fingers on the bare skin of my back.
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- I don't know if it's the dress that's extraordinary or you. she says, running her slender fingers down my spine.
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Her eyes settle on my breasts and she loosens the laces at the back so I can be less compressed. So that's what they're used for!
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She pushes me towards the mirror as I stare at my reflection. I can hardly recognize myself, it's not my style. I lower my head, but her finger lifts my chin to keep me looking.
- You look wonderful. It suits you, look at how your body is highlighted!
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She grabs my leather jacket and puts it over my shoulders.
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- And it goes great with the leather jacket and boots. she agrees, snapping her fingers.
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I glance at the mirror again. Change, eh? Between the dress and my wavy hair, I felt like I'd seen myself as a teenager before... Before I changed.
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Cassie hands me a short-sleeved black top with a plunging neckline.
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- Try this on too! It'll make you feel better.
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I go into the stall, already tired. The sooner I try on what she gives me, the sooner I'll be done with this ambush.
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I come out now wearing the little black top. I stand in front of the mirror and Cassie exclaims, whistling at me.
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- What's your name, give me your number girl, I'll show you a good time. she coos and slaps my right buttock as I jump at the contact.
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- Cass!
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- What? That top looks great on you! Look how it envelops your breasts.
- The plunging neckline makes me want to plunge my fingers in. she hisses, moving her fingers towards my chest.
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- You really need to go see a doctor. I put my arms around my chest to hide as much as possible from this hungry wolfie.
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I rush back to the cabin to get dressed before this crazy shopper brings me more clothes. I leave the booth and sit on the bench, waiting for her to come out with her first outfit. We spend an inordinate amount of time in this store and Cassie is testing my patience.
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I nod when she looks good and shake my head to tell her to get changed. My stomach starts rumbling. What I wouldn't do for ravioli...
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After an eternity, Cassie comes out with half the pile in her arms and puts the rest of the clothes that don't fit on a rack. We're off to the checkout finally! She chats with the cashier and gives me sidelong glances while laughing. She pays for her items and goes back to the stall to change into one of her new outfits.
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She emerges wearing a pair of jeans, set with a chain belt from which dangle little silver stars, a short-sleeved, slightly sequined pink top with a white kitten, and a little denim jacket to cover up a little more in the middle of March.
We leave the supermarket, heading for the cobblestone streets of the city center, lulled by the sound of footsteps and the laughter of the people around us. We enter the metro station Chimaera : a small district with many small exotic and Asian restaurants. I spot the Chinese restaurant sign and salivate in anticipation, walking faster and faster, a growing impatience deep inside me. Sitting at our usual table against the bay window, I order a dozen Chinese ravioli with a small bottle of sake (to start with, at least) while Cassie asks for salmon sushi.
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The order arrives and I pounce on the tender little balls. A slight groan leaves my mouth. What a beautiful creation!
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- So, it was worth it, wasn't it? she teases me, as I pop two in one go.
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- Hmmm. I reply with my mouth full.
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- What are you up to tonight?
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- Nothing.
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Damn, I can see it coming. She knows she can do whatever she wants with me when I've eaten well.
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- Would you like to go out with me? Let's have a drink together. I need new inspiration. When I see my paintings, I feel like I'm stagnating and always creating the same thing.
She seems preoccupied, between the exhibition, the blank canvas syndrome and this long shopping trip, there must be something behind it, and maybe I could be there for her tonight, as she's been there for me over the last few years.
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- I know a bar.
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- Sounds great! As long as there's hard liquor!
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I smile slightly at her before turning and recommending (again) ravioli, which I taste once more as if it were my first bite. After eating these wonders, I lean back, rubbing my full belly.
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- Can we go back to my place? That way, I can get ready, get a makeover! You never know if I'll meet my better half there.
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- Trust me, you won't find him in this bar, Cass.
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- SHHH! Don't jinx me.
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- Since we're heading to your place, let's grab a coffee.
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- Where you were offered a madeleine? Let's go! she rejoices.
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After crossing the town, we arrive at Leon's café. I go first, Cassie right behind me, and Leon calls out to me.
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- Xiona!
Cassie cocked her head to one side in surprise that someone other than her called me.
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- Hi, I'm Cassie. Xio's best friend. she says, shaking her hand in greeting.
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- Nice to meet you, Cassie. he says with a big smile. What would you like to drink?
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- A triple espresso
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- A caramel macchiato with extra whipped cream, please. She said
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- Right away, ladies, a triple espresso and a caramel macchiato with whipped cream. he summarizes.
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We pick up the order and settle down at a table. The café is painted in shades of beige and purple. The walls are decorated with colorful posters, while each window corner is adorned with light-catchers that create a play of colors changing with the weather. Small cactus and other plants are highlighted on the edges of the windows. The tables are round and the comfortable purple armchairs are laid out on small white shag rugs, reinforcing the warm character of this place from which soft music floats.
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Leon returns to us with a large slice of chocolate cake on a plate.
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- Thank you for introducing your friend to my coffee. It's on the house. He stares at me and flashes a smile before returning to the counter.
Cassie approaches me and whispers
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- You didn't mention that this sweet little guy was so appetizing!
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- He's a cutie. I reply without thinking anything of it.
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- And he seems to like you a lot. How come he knows your name?
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- My old apartment was the one directly above the café. I point to the ceiling.
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- What's going on with him? You keep so much secrets from me...
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- No, nothing happened with him. I'll leave him to you, you can have a bite. I suggested.
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- He doesn't seem interested in me. Look discreetly, but he's been staring at you ever since.
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I peer down at him and our eyes meet. He stops cleaning the cups and his cheeks turn red.
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- See ? You're messing him up, baby. she says, nudging me.
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- Cut the crap.
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I grab the fork and stick it in the fondant cake and engulf the cake in Cassie's mouth before she can say anything else. Her eyes sparkle.
- Whoa! What a delicious little taste of paradise! I'm going to come back here more often. she says, licking her lips like a dog in front of a bone.
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She turns to Leon and gives him a thumbs-up in satisfaction. He nods, pleased that we're enjoying the sweetness.
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We quietly finish our drinks and leave for Cassie's studio. There are a multitude of papers scattered on the floor, with patterns drawn on them. Some of them are shredded. She slips off to her room to change.
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- Xio, I need your help to validate my outfit!
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She slips on several outfits before I settle on the one with the least color and extravagance. A short white dress, a pair of brown ankle boots and a brown jacket.
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- Doesn't this make me more of a woman? she smiles, spinning around to make her dress fly like Marilyn Monroe.
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- You're still a kid.
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- Hey! she grumbles.
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I'm hit in the face by an orange shape. I take one look at what's just fallen on me: it's none other than the dress and little black top I tried on earlier.
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- I bought them for you, so you'd better wear them.
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- But...
- No buts, I'll take it easy on you so you can wear the little top tonight at the bar. Next time, though, we're going clubbing and you'd better be wearing that gorgeous dress.
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If I'd known then, what a simple change of clothes could entail, I'd never have agreed to this shopping trip, even for ravioli.
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