It certainly has potential. The first paragraph was a bit clumsy, but the story kept right on. I liked the way you illustrate the 2nd character by having him draw dirty pictures in the salt. Work on your dialog though, you have a few exchanges where the conversation goes back and forth between characters several times without specifying who said what:
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The Chinese restaurant was dark and empty. Instrumental incarnations of popular songs played from the ceiling. Neither Astrid nor Seth knew quite what to say beyond the occasional observation.

“Our waitress, she’s so cute, don’t you think, looks like she isn’t disillusioned to pop culture or cartoons.”

“Such a patronizing Asian identity. I’m sure there are plenty of jaded souls in Japan.”

“Chainsmoking, yes, writer boys with dark angry eyes who, who take themselves too seriously, you’re right, you’re right. And I’m sure they screw all those cute girls into the mattress, replete, replete with existentialism more like masturbation than making love.”

“Ah, the misogyny of alienation.”
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Like I said, it shows potential. Keep pounding out the text, your few flaws are nothing that 20-30k words worth of practice couldn't solve.