by Jon Athan
The post brought a tear to Ethan's eye.
Ethan sniffled and said, “I know how you feel, darling. It's hard, isn't it? It's terrible, right? That feeling... That feeling that you're all alone. I don't live in a different country, my family is nearby, but I still feel homesick, you know? You're lucky, though. At least they like you, Emiko. I don't want you to worry about that anyway. You'll always have me.”
The author scrolled through her posts. He laughed and cried as he shared her life. He memorized the most insignificant memories – things she probably forgot. Again, he stopped on a picture. It was a picture of food, of course. However, the picture linked to Instagram. One thing led to another – that's how things worked.
He opened her Instagram page in a new window and found a trove of pictures. He opened her photo gallery on Facebook, too. He placed the windows side-by-side and searched through her pictures. The images mostly depicted her schoolwork, her dogs in Japan, and food. There were a few pictures of herself, though – simple selfies, outfit-of-the-day collages, and bikini shots.
He loudly swallowed as he leered at her bikini photos. On Instagram, he opened a picture of Emiko in a red, white, and blue bikini. Her chiseled face, slim figure, and perky breasts were perfect to him. On Facebook, he opened a picture of the waitress in a beautiful kimono in Japan. The pictures were different – one traditional, the other carefree – but he was equally aroused by both.
Drenched in sweat, he dropped his boxers and vigorously masturbated. A squelching sound echoed over his moans as he tugged as quickly as possible. He wasn't a professional bodybuilder, but the man had more stamina than a crack addict. When he wasn't having sex, he spent hours of his day masturbating. His forearms wouldn't be sore for at least an hour. That didn't mean he wouldn't prematurely ejaculate, though.
Before he could climax, Ethan stopped and held his hands up – as if the police had caught him red-handed. He didn't want to finish. He closed his eyes and performed complex mathematics in his mind to calm his nerves. He was still aroused, but he wouldn't finish early. He took a deep breath and shook his head.
He said, “No, no, no. This is... This is wrong. I can do better for you, princess. You deserve more than... than this. Just give me a minute, okay?”
He scrolled through Emiko's pictures, searching for the perfect image. He stopped upon spotting a picture of the waitress at a beach in Japan. The image only depicted her chest and her head. Her breasts were squeezed together, making them appear larger than usual. However, he was more aroused by her smile – a naughty smirk.
Tears of joy clinging to his eyelids, he whispered, “You're so beautiful. I... I don't know what else to say, but... this is the one. It's amazing.”
He wiped the tears from his eyes as he downloaded the picture from her Facebook account, then he printed it out at the highest quality possible. He moved his keyboard and mouse aside, then he placed the printed picture at the center of his desk. His legs wobbled as he stood from his seat. His excitement was difficult to contain.
Towering over the picture, he continued to masturbate. From above, his penis appeared puny – a bad angle. It didn't bother him, though. He was solely focused on Emiko's beauty. He stared at her lips, then he gazed into her eyes. He wasn't looking at an actual person, but he felt a connection to her – magic. The magic only made him tug faster.
His dick throbbing in his hand, his body convulsed as he ejaculated on the picture – a cum tribute, the first sign of love. His semen splattered on her face and chest, thick and slimy.
Out of breath, he murmured, “Oh, God. That was... That was too good.”
He fell into his seat and sighed. He wasn't a virgin, obviously, but masturbating to Emiko felt better than any sex he ever had before. It certainly felt better than sex with Karen. Love – true love – made everything feel better.
Nude and proud, Ethan returned his attention to Emiko's Facebook page. From her profile information, he could see she attended a community college near the diner. He occasionally prowled the campus to capture candid videos of students' asses on his cellphone. He just tapped record, then he held his phone under his belt with the lens aiming at the ass he wanted to capture – no one ever suspected a thing.
He stared at a selfie of Emiko at a bus stop. The image caught his attention.
As he analyzed every detail of the picture, Ethan said, “I know that place. I know that bus stop. I can meet you there if you want.” He nodded as he stared at the picture, as if he were listening to someone. He said, “No, no. I don't mind waiting all day, Emiko. I'll give you a ride after school. Anything you want, okay? Anything.”
He downloaded another picture of Emiko. She smiled as she sat on a bench at her school. Her smile was heartwarming, gentle and reassuring. He taped the printout above his bookshelf, then he hopped into his bed. He had the perfect view of the love of his life. He cuddled with his pillow and stared at the photo, imagining himself with Emiko.
With a beautiful woman watching over him, Ethan fell asleep in comfort.
Chapter Five
Everyone Parties After School
“Where are you, Emiko?” Ethan whispered as he stared at the foyer of the community college. “I've been here since eight in the morning. Did you even have class today? You're not talking to other guys, are you? No, no, no. You wouldn't do that. No, you're a good girl...”
Ethan glanced at the clock on his radio – 12:23 PM – then he glanced around the area. From his parking space, he could see the administration building, the student store, and a few buildings filled with classrooms. He could also see the same bus stop from Emiko's picture across the street. He had the perfect vantage point of the area.
Emiko was nowhere in sight, though.
Ethan grabbed his tablet computer and leaned back in his seat. He flicked his finger across the screen and browsed Emiko's Facebook page. He searched for more hints about her schedule. Judging from her posts and pictures, he could see she went to school before dusk – she didn't take any night classes. The waitress appeared to work in the mornings on weekends and during the afternoons if she worked on weekdays.
Ethan said, “You have to be around here somewhere. I said I'd wait for you, so I'm going to wait. I just... I wish you'd give me a specific time. I have to work, too, you know? I'm not mad. No, I'm not mad. I'm just a little disappointed. I'll wait, though.”
Time passed at a snail's pace. He watched as students entered and exited the school. Students ran down the street and tried to wave down the buses. A few students walked past his car, but no one seemed to notice him – security was conveniently lax. He leered at some of the young women's asses, especially those who wore leggings as pants, but they didn't really arouse him. Sure, he was interested enough to take a look, but he didn't become aroused by watching them.
Ethan glanced at the clock – 2:07 PM. He leaned closer to the steering wheel and stared at a group of women near a building on top of a hill. With the eyes of a hawk, he could see Emiko was part of the group. The other girls were nothing but a blur to him – insignificant. Emiko's glowing beauty blinded him.
He said, “Monday. Two o'clock. I didn't see you get here, but I'll see it next time. I know when you leave, princess.” He held his hands over his mouth and laughed deliriously. He whispered, “I'll have your entire schedule soon. I promise, I'll memorize the whole thing, sweetie.”
His chest on the steering wheel, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and aimed the camera at the group of students. He zoomed in as close as the app would allow him without distorting the image. She wore a sleeveless gray dress, so he snapped pictures of her bare legs, arms, and chest. Someone made her laugh, so he captured an image of her gentle smile, too. He even tried to take a picture of her feet, but she was too far away to capture a clear image.
All smiles and giggles, Emiko was unaware of her stalker's presence. She accepted Ethan's hefty tip, but she tried to shrug off his outburst at the diner. She acted as if it didn't happen.
Ethan smiled and said, “Holy shit. She's alone. She's actually alone. Now's my chance.”
He checked his reflection on the rear-view mirror. He adjusted his button-up shirt and picked at his teeth, then he rubbed the stubble on his jaw. He couldn't do anything about his wild hair, so he only hoped she liked his style.
As he gazed at himself, he whispered, “It's now or never, buddy. You can do this.”
He pulled out of the parking space, then he slowly navigated the parking lot. He constantly glanced over his shoulder and checked on the bus stop – she was still alone. He drove to the other end of the parking lot, then he took a left onto the street. He cruised at a leisurely pace as his heart raced in his chest.
With each passing second, Emiko grew larger – and his anxiety grew stronger. With his blinkers on, he stopped beside the bus stop. Head down, Emiko was focused on her phone – swiping and tapping. Ethan rolled the passenger seat window down, then he leaned over the center console.
Ethan said, “Hey, Emiko.”
Emiko disregarded the car and focused on her phone. If it wasn't the bus, it didn't matter to her.
Ethan coughed to clear his throat, then he shouted, “Hey! Emiko! It's me, Ethan! Ethan Miller!”
Emiko pulled the earbud out of her right ear and glanced up at the car. She furrowed her brow and leaned back on the bench, baffled by Ethan's sudden appearance at her school. She glanced to her left, then to her right. She was looking for her friends in hopes of discovering an elaborate prank. They weren't around, though.
She stared into the car and stuttered, “Wha–What are you doing here?”
“I was just driving by and I saw you waiting here by yourself. So, you know, I thought I'd stop by–”
“Are you following me?”
Rosy-cheeked, Ethan huffed and shook his head. He stammered, constantly restarting his sentences. He was being accused of stalking a woman. He was only trying to love her, though.
As he recomposed himself, Ethan said, “I'm... I'm not following you. Like I said, I was just driving around the city and I saw you here. It was just a coincidence. I don't know, maybe... maybe it's a sign, too.”
“A sign? A sign of what?”
“You know...”
Ethan's eyelids flickered and the side of his mouth twitched. He looked out the windshield as tears welled in his eyes. He could feel a lump in his throat, too – a lump of shame and embarrassment. Breathing deeply through his nose, he fought off the urge to cry.
Ethan said, “Listen, I... I know it sounds strange, but I just stopped because I saw you here alone. I wanted to ask if you needed a ride home or to work... or anywhere. It's really no trouble for me. I'm not in a hurry or anything.”
Emiko shook her head and said, “No. I'm fine. I don't need a ride. I'd really appreciate it if you left me alone. Thank you.”
“Are you sure?” Ethan asked. He chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair, anxious. He said, “It's really nothing to me. I can take you anywhere you want. There's plenty of room in here, too. It's better than taking some crowded bus full of bums and pervs. Come on. Get inside.”
“No. Please, stop bothering me before I have to–”
A blaring horn echoed through the street. Ethan glanced at his rear-view mirror and frowned. The bus had arrived.
As he rolled forward, reluctant, Ethan asked, “Are you sure? I can drive you. We can... We can look for a party or something. Come on, everyone parties after school. R–Right? Right?”
Emiko shoved the earbud into her ear and ignored her stalker. She waved at the bus driver, making sure he wouldn't leave her behind. Ethan was out of options. He took a right and parked at the corner of the neighboring street.
Disappointed, Ethan whispered, “I blew it. Why wouldn't she get in? I've... I've picked up girls before. What... What's wrong with her?”
Misty-eyed, he stared at his rear-view mirror. He could still hear the bus' coughing engine. He rubbed his eyes as the bus departed from the stop. He refused to quit his pursuit – it was out of the question. He glanced over his shoulder, then he did a u-turn. He returned to the street and followed the bus.
As he stared at the back of the bus, he whispered, “Bus 6. She takes Bus 6.”
Following two cars behind, Ethan trailed the bus and checked each bus stop. He wouldn't quit until he found Emiko's next destination.
Chapter Six
The Afternoon Shift
Ethan leaned forward in his seat, weaving and bobbing his head like a short person at a concert. The bus was parked at a stop near the diner. He could connect the pieces: a bus, a waitress, and a diner meant Emiko was taking public transportation to her job. He needed absolute certainty, though.
Ethan bit his bottom lip as the light turned green. The bus was still parked at the stop and he could not see who was getting off. He hopped in his seat as the driver behind him honked. He reluctantly cruised forward, his eyes locked on the bus stop.
As he peered through the bus windows, Ethan whispered, “Emiko, there you are...”
His theory was correct: Emiko walked to the diner to begin her afternoon shift. The young author took another u-turn, then he entered the parking lot across the street. The parking lot was used by the neighboring department store and small shops, but it was empty – business was slow. He parked at the edge of the lot with the perfect view of the diner across the street.
He sighed in relief, then he said, “I'm lucky, Emiko. We're lucky. I didn't lose you.” He held his hand over his face and broke down into tears. He mumbled, “I thought... I thought I lost you. I thought you were trying to get away from me. You just can't be seen with me yet, right? You want me to watch you, right?”
He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his nose. He tried to compose himself. A grown-man crying in the parking lot of a 99-cents store was never a good sign. He tightly closed his eyes with each blink as he tried to focus his vision. He leaned on the steering wheel and stared at the diner. Thanks to the large windows, he could see most of the eatery. He couldn't see the kitchen, but he could see the dining area.
Emiko pranced from table-to-table, genial and helpful. She had changed from her dress and tossed on her generic uniform. Unlike her experience with Ethan, she didn't seem bothered by any of her customers. She kept a genuine smile on her face – and Ethan loved it. Her uniform, conservative and generic, was outshined by her smile.
The author grabbed his phone and aimed the camera at the diner. He had to hold his phone over his head to take pictures over the passing cars. He had a steady hand, though. All of those years of excessive masturbation and voyeuristic photography conditioned his arms. He snapped pictures of Emiko from afar. The quality wasn't the best, but he could make-do. He flicked his finger across the screen and examined the photos.
He whispered, “Emiko, Emiko... You're so damn beautiful. I mean, I... I don't know what to say. I'm a writer, right? I should know how to tell you how beautiful you are, but I can't. You're too beautiful for English words. Maybe something in Japanese can accurately explain your beauty. I'll find out soon.”
He glanced up at the diner. He watched as Emiko chattered with a family. He knew she was a nice person, he could see it in her eyes, but he couldn't tell if she was playing a role for higher tips. It didn't bother him, he just didn't want her to suffer. He could only imagine the hardships she went through working at a diner. Miserable, he thought, she must be absolutely miserable.
Ethan said, “When we're together, you won't have to work like... like this. You won't have to serve people like some sort of slave. I'll take you away from the working class. You understand me, sweetie? You won't have to work for tips
like some... some stripper. No, you won't have to work at all. You can just take care of our family while I bring us up to the upper-class. Does that sound good to you, Emiko? Yes, it's perfect, isn't it?”
The sensitive man sighed and rubbed his eyes. He placed his chin on the steering wheel and stared at Emiko from afar. Her beauty caused him to whimper. How could someone be so perfect?–he thought. He stared down at his pants and chuckled. He had an erection. The love of his life wasn't even trying to titillate him, but he was still aroused.
“Do it,” a soft female voice said at the back of his mind.
Ethan stared at Emiko and responded, “Now?”
“Now.”
“Okay, okay. I've never done this before, but I'll do it. I'll do it for you, okay?”
Ethan's fingers trembled as he unbuckled his pants, tears dripping from his eyes with each blink. His dick, stiff like a flag pole, popped out of his fly. He leaned on his door with his left arm over the window while he stroked himself with his right hand. He spent most of his time watching Emiko. However, he couldn't help but glance around every once in a while.
A man crying at a 99-cents store parking lot was one thing. A man masturbating in a 99-cents store parking lot... Well, that was a whole 'nother story.
As if the woman could hear him, Ethan whispered, “Emiko, it feels so good.” He moaned and shuddered, overwhelmed by the feeling of ecstasy. His breath breaking with each pant, he said, “I'm going to... to cum.”
He held the handkerchief over his penis and ejaculated. He caught the gooey streams in his hanky. He took a minute to catch his breath, then he shoved his penis back into his pants and the handkerchief back into his pocket.
Ethan said, “Thank you, Emiko. Thank you for everything.”
Satisfied, he leaned back in his seat and stared at the diner. He was prepared to wait until Emiko's shift ended to continue following her.