When we last left our hero, Salami B had accidentally crashed into a young girl that went by the name of Sunset Shimmer, the very first student he met on his first day at Canterlot High, where Sunset had then showed him around the school, pointing out where what was where, and which ones were the more important ones to remember.
But, due to our hero's somewhat poor memory, he somehow managed to forget the young student's name and facial features after only about a week or so studying at Canterlot High. So, it wasn't a total surprise when Salami had a hard time remembering who she was when they bumped into each other on their way to school that fateful Tuesday morning.
But, thanks to that crash, our hero's fate in this story will soon change. It was because of that crash, that our hero will soon find his life slowly being sewn together with Sunset Shimmer's. It was because of that crash, that our hero will soon be involved in something he once never thought would happen. It was because of that crash, Salami will soon begin to understand the meaning of love.
Love, the greatest emotion of all. Besides fear, of course. Wasn't there a saying by the great H.P. Lovecraft? “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of th---
"Dora? I'm home!" Salami said as he opened the front door, stepping aside to let Sunset enter before him. Sunset gave him a quick nod of thanks before stepping in, removing her boots as she does so; Salami had told Sunset just moments ago that Dora has a strict rule of no one being allowed to wear any form of footwear in the house; Dora believed that going barefoot is the best way to connect with your home.
"Connect with your home?" Sunset had asked, an eyebrow raised, during their walk back to Salami's house; they had agreed to meet up after school so that Sunset could get a look at the rooms that were up for rent.
Salami nodded. "She said that it helps the house read our feelings and emotions, and to also suck out any negativity that we have bottled up inside us." He gave Sunset a shrug when he saw her reaction. "Dora can be a bit weird sometimes, but she's really nice." he assured her.
"R-right." Sunset said, staring at the ground, searching her next words. "She sounds...er...wonderful?"
"That's one way of putting it." Salami chuckled. "Quite lightly, though."
"Is she family?" Sunset asked, looking at Salami.
"A close family friend." Salami corrected. "My Mom and Dad and Dora were childhood friends way back when they were younger. Spent almost most of their time together. But, just a year after my parents got married, they moved out of Canterlot City --- due to work." Salami scratched his chin. "That was like... a long time ago."
"So you aren't from around here?" Sunset asked.
"Never really came here before --- until last month." Salami said, smiling sheepishly. "Anyway, even after leaving Canterlot, my parents did paid Dora the occasional visit whenever they get the chance, of course. But, as the years went by our family began to grow, and so did the gap between them and Dora --- what with my parents being so busy with family life, work, and all that." Salami looked up at the sky. "But they do care for her deeply."
Sunset nodded her head. "I see. But surely Dora has family of her own? What about her own children?"
"I'm not sure." Salami said, shrugging his shoulders. "My parents never really spoke much about Dora's family to me. The only thing they did made clear to me was that to always listen to what Dora has to say, and to also take good care of her for as long as I'm here."
"So the reason you moving here at this time of the year is because..."
Salami nodded. "I don't really know why, but my parents want me to keep Dora company, and to make sure that she's doing alright in my parents's stead." he said. "At least, 'till I graduate, I think." he scratched his chin. "Which will probably be around---"
"I'm in the kitchen, dearie!" came the reply. The sound of something softly sizzling away can be heard coming from the kitchen. "I hope you're hungry, 'cause I'm making us some nice pancakes!"
"Pancakes?" Salami asked as he closed the front door, kicking off his white sneakers. "It's almost four-thirty in the afternoon! Shouldn't we be preparing dinner?" Salami rolled his eyes at Sunset, who chuckled. "And isn't this a weird time to be having pancakes?"
"Nonsense, child. Pancakes are meant to be had at any time of the day, everyday." Dora replied. "Now come in here and help me this instant. Or are you going to let a poor old woman do all the work?"
"Yes ma'am." Salami sighed. "She's a huge fan of pancakes." Salami said to Sunset. "Luckily she doesn't make them by the dozen, or I'll be one really round guy."
"Does she make them everyday?" Sunset asked, following Salami as he led her into the living room.
"God, no." Salami said quickly. "I don't think I can stand eating pancakes everyday." he motioned at a light-brown coloured, leather single-couch. "Why don't you have a seat? I'll be back in a moment with Dora."
Sunset sat down on the squishy couch as Salami disappeared into the kitchen. The living room she was in, though small, was very clean and tidy; there was another couch almost identical to the one Sunset was sitting on just right beside her, except it was meant for two people; an old small television set can be found resting quietly on top of an equally aged wooden table; a tall wooden bookshelf stood rigidly just next to the stairway that led to the upper floor --- possibly and hopefully to her soon-to-be new room.
Her soon-to-be new room. Sunset couldn't help but smile to herself. Soon, she shall be free from that apartment of hers: Free from the never-ending invasion of pests. Free from the unbearably horrifying living conditions. Free from that homeless guy who'd always stopped Sunset in her tracks to ask for spare change (which she gave, most of the time, out of kindness).
Yes. Sunset Shimmer will soon be free. Free from it all, at last. The mere thought of it filled her with excitement. She broke into a grin.
And with that sudden excitement rushing and gushing into her veins and brain, the young girl quickly stood up from her creaking leather seat, and paced around the room, wanting to calm herself down before anyone sees her --- it would be quite unladylike, as Rarity would've put it. And Sunset wanted to make a good first impression.
The pancakes does smell heavenly, though. And Sunset's stomach couldn't help but agree more. One whiff was more than enough to start the growling.
* * * * * *
"There you are, Salami." Dora gave Salami a wrinkly smile as he stepped inside the kitchen. "I'm almost done with the pancakes, dearie." she pointed at a pink dinner plate that already has a few pancakes resting comfortably on top of each other. "Could you get those to the dining room?"
Salami stared at the small stack of pancakes. "You do realize that dinner time is approaching soon, right?" he let out a sigh as he picked up the plate. "I've only been here a month, and already I feel like I've eaten ten years worth of pancakes."
"Don't be silly. There is no such thing as having too much pancakes." Dora said, turning around. "Pancakes are one of the best things to have ever been invented in this world." she pointed the spatula in her hand at Salami, as if challenging him to counter her statement. "Don't forget the syrup on your way out." she added with a smile, focusing her attention back on her cooking.
Salami shook his head in silence. Dora's obsession with pancakes can already be considered creepy on so many levels. Yet out hero does not dare to wound the old frail lady's heart. It wouldn't be right. It would be rude. If Dora loves to make pancakes then, by Jove, our hero should just shut up and support her on that! It's what a man woul---no--- should do, no?
"Oh, by the way---" Salami stopped in his tracks, turning around. "---we have a guest waiting outside in the living room."
"A guest?"
"Yeah. She's here to check out the rooms." Salami said, picking up the bottle of maple syrup from the countertop. "Speaking of rooms, there was something really odd with the pape---"
But before our slow hero could finish his sentence, Dora swooshed pass him like a tornado on drugs, nearly bumping into him and the pancakes.
"D-Dora?"
* * * * * *
The sudden appearance of Dora was sudden. Before Sunset could even blink, she found herself suddenly caught in a tender, but extremely tight embrace --- strength that was surprisingly surprising, coming from an old woman such as Dora.
"Welcome!" Dora said, tightening her already tight hug on Sunset. "Welcome to our home, dearie!"
"Erm...h-hi?" Sunset said, wondering to herself whether or not she should hug the old woman back. "T-Thanks?" she said, gently patting Dora on the back.
Dora released Sunset from her grip, a wide smile spread across Dora's face. "So, when is the wedding?" she asked.
That question, obviously, caught Sunset by surprise. Sunset blinked, staring at Dora, who was still smiling like a kid with an endless supply of candy.
"W-What?"
"The wedding, dearie! The wedding!" Dora said, grabbing Sunset's shoulders and giving her a shake. "You're Salami's fiancée are you not?"
Sunset blinked once more. Then, it hit her.
"Wha-What-Whaaaat!?" What was this old lady talking about? What was this talk about weddings and fiancées? All Sunset wanted to do today, was to have a look at the rooms available in this house. Not talk about marriage! She needs help! She needs to be saved! Where is that boy, Salami B, when you need him?
But wait! Sunset paused, holding back her voice with hesitation. What if this was all but a plot? A sick wicked plot of sorts? A concoction so evil, so brilliantly evil, that only a certain someone could think of? Was she tricked by our hero, perhaps? Is our hero not the average boy Sunset thought him to be, but instead is a villainous villain in villainy disguise? Was this all but a---
Sunset shook her head. She really needs to stop reading those detective crime novels --- she's already starting to doubt and deduce everything around her. Books are interesting, books are fun, but books can also mess up your mind, sometimes.
"I-I think you're m-mistaken, m-ma'am" Sunset said, trying to maintain a calm composure. "I'm only here to look at the rooms."
Dora laughed. "But of course you are!" Dora stood up, beckoning to Sunset to do the same. "Salami's room is a bit small, mind you. You'll definitely need a bigger room if the two of you are going to start living together."
"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Sunset cried, standing up. "I'm just here to rent a room from you!"
"There's no need to be shy, dearie." Dora said. "Why, you're practically already part of the family now!" Dora let out a laugh. "Ohhh, I can't wait to share the news with Pepper and Chorizo."
"B-But I'm not marr---"
"I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad won't be as giddy as you are, Dora" Salami said, appearing from the kitchen with two plates full of pancakes in both his hands. "You forgot to turn off the heat, and there was still plenty of batter left, you know." he added, giving Dora an unamused look.
"But, Salami." Dora said, looking at Salami. "You didn't tell me you were bringing a girl back!" Dora smiled at Sunset. "And such a cute one, too." she added.
"I did." Salami replied, setting the plates down on the dining table. "But, as a potential resident, not as my fiancée." Salami sighed. "Would you please stop messing with Sunset Shimmer? You're freaking her out."
* * * * * *
"...and that's how I found out about your place, Miss Explo---"
"Please, Sunset. Just call me Dora. There's no need to be so formal."
"O-okay. D-Dora." Sunset said, smiling softly. "Erm...anyway, that's why I'm here today --- I wish to have a look at the rooms you currently have available for renting."
"I don't see why that is a problem, dearie." Dora pushed the plate of pancakes towards Sunset's direction. "But, let's leave that discussion for later. For now, eat!"
"O-Oh! That's very kind of you, D-Dora." Sunset shifted in her seat. "But, I-I think I have quite enough pancakes for one day."
"Nonsense! You only had a few! I'm sure you can eat some more, right?"
"B-but---"
"You gave her six pancakes, Dora." Salami said, cutting his piece of pancake into squares. "Six. That's plenty already."
"Hmph! I suppose you're suggesting we throw the rest of these out then?" Dora asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. Just leave those pancakes to me, okay?"
"Why? Are you going to eat all of them?" Dora pressed.
"What? No! That's a lot of pancakes, you know." Salami said, his eyes widening. "But, rest assured that these pancakes are going to rest in someone's stomach, not the trash, so don't worry about it."
Dora nodded. "Good. We must never waste food." she turned her attention back on Sunset. "Isn't he a nice young man?" she whispered, but not quietly enough. "He always helps me with the house's chores, and he knows how to cook pancakes." Salami rolled his eyes.
Sunset nodded, giggling. "It's certainly nice to have someone who is both helpful and responsible."
"Has he asked you out yet?"
"No, he ha---w-what?" Sunset stared at Dora. "What are you talking about?"
"He likes you, can't you tell, dearie?"
It took nearly two seconds for Sunset to understand that Dora was being serious. She quickly glanced at Salami, who was still eating his pancakes, acting as if nothing was wrong. Salami looked up, sensing a pair of eyeballs staring at him, and their eyes met for a second, and then two...three...four...five seconds more.
Our hero stared at Sunset Shimmer, an eyebrow raised, a piece of pancake halfway down his throat. Why was he being looked at? Was it his hair? He swallowed the rest of his pancake down.
"What?" he asked Sunset. "Is something wrong?"
"D-Dora said that y-you like me." Dora nodded her head, smiling at the both of them. "I-Is it true?"
Salami stared at Dora, then to Sunset. He let out a sigh, scratching the back of his head.
"No." came the reply from Salami. The answer was short, emotionless, expressionless, and cold. "I do not like you one bit."