Shiori's morning started like all the others. She wanted to dress in blue. So, she put on her blue suit, a pair of blue sandals to complete it and went out after having had breakfast as usual. She headed towards the subway, immersed in the crowd, she even heard the thousand thoughts for work and daily worries. But then on the train she saw Delinda, barefoot in the middle of the subway; her heart leapt and started its race. Her barefoot presence left Shiori speechless, and approached close enough, but not too close to be recognized. Delinda wasn't wearing flip-flops, or even low sandals with thin straps. She was without shoes. She imagined him getting up to get closer to her and whispering in her ear:
"I'm not barefoot to feel free... I'm barefoot to feel me dirty!"
But then a new stop brought her back to reality.
Shiori began to develop feelings for her from that chance meeting in the parking lot, but never had the courage to express them.
Delinda was on the phone and didn't bother her with their Japanese lessons. A game that Delinda played with Shiori every now and then. Delinda often asked Shiori personal things that she didn't stop commenting on, always in Japanese.
Shiori pretended nothing had happened, if she had started talking to her, she could have answered her. But she didn't stop talking or writing on the phone. They weren't feet used to comfortable shoes. Her feet are sharp and intense. That walked both in and out of shoes. Through woods and on streets. Every now and then Shiori would glance at her feet, she wanted them to remain immersed in her eyes. She wanted to be able to imagine them at any moment, so she looked at hers. Her nails painted in a pale and pearly tone closer to orange, that with the blue sandals gave a little flash. She could afford a girl who came to change her color whenever she wanted...
When the two girls left the subway and entered the Wayland's building she didn't pretend anything had happened. She passed her on the subway stairs and then let her see how much the subway had "darkened" her feet.
"Hurry up Shiori, we have a meeting soon!"
During the meeting, Shiori made her observations about the Japanese financial market that she had followed that same night. She had managed to get 5 hours of sleep before dinner and followed the Japanese market during the night, then she slept the other two before waking up at 4 and following the entire closing. At that moment Delinda took care to record all the words that Shiori said. She even took notes immediately afterward. With a look of hers she approved all her words, adding details that Shiori immediately wrote down. With this short exchange she felt a wave of joy. It was as if his voice had given her a strong resonance. Then Darius added:
ยซPay attention to what Shiori says. She is smart! ยป
If her day had ended then, she would have gone home happy. But it was only 9:50...
The 11 o'clock break was another surprise for Shiori. She had finished her tea bags, when Delinda, kind as always, offered her one of hers.
"Wait. I made this tea bag. Try it..."
So, she took a new cup and put in her cup the tea bag. "There's a gram of cane sugar. You don't have to add any more sugar..."