Revisit 20: Little Too Late
Posted by: babymichiru on: November 21, 2011
Without realising it, I actually ended the series (not in this post). I was like OMG! What have I done?
But fret not! The series continue. Only in smaller parts which I laughed everytime I wrote them down.
Not to divulge further ^^. Enjoy!
Revisit 20: Little Too Late
Jojo
“You have got to be joking?” I questioned, disbelief at his words.
He shook his head. “It’s not what you think,” he assured. “I’m giving you options to get out of this mess.”
“If you marry me, as the CEO of Takeneda Corp, it will make the reporters go away and you will never have to encounter what had happened a while ago. I can assure that your life will go on as normal as it usually would.”
“If in the end you feel that your life is better than staying married to me, I welcome a divorce. It will be a silent one and I won’t come up with excuses to ruin your reputation. It will be on good terms.”
He looked me in the eyes and held my hands which were clasped around the glass I was holding. “But have you ever thought of me as a man and not as your student?” he asked. I looked away, not knowing how to reply him. My action showed it all. I have only thought of him as a student and a conversation partner.
“I lied when I told you the reason I was taking lessons,” he admitted as he released his hold of my hands. He walked to the sliding windows which overlooked the city. He looked outside, at the view, unable to face me. “I remember seeing you and Hiro-kun at a playground. The both of you were playing happily and I envied the man behind those smiles. I always wondered if I will ever have such a good faith to have such a pretty wife and an adorable son.”
“I saw you again heading to the eikawa. I wasn’t sure where I caught you but I couldn’t resist but to follow you from behind. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a stalker. But there was something about you that caught my eye. What was it again? Yes, your smile.”
“I followed you to the eikawa and wondered what you were doing there. I thought you were a student, never a teacher. I thought it might be awkward if I joined the same class as you do, even thought I had no idea which class you were in. Then I asked the receptionist about the lady who had walked in earlier and was told that you were a teacher at the school. I was more curious. An Asian teaching English? I had my doubts.”
“Then we met. Remember then? It was awkward but that after smile took my breath away.”
Then he turned around. “You see, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you smile, even though you might have a husband and a child. I felt guilty for loving you for I won’t be able to obtain your heart. Then you told me that you weren’t married.”
*****
We kept quiet after that. I glanced at my watch and realised it was getting late. I stood up and excused myself to find Hiro. Yoshiro did not turn around to see me.
I found Hiro napping on the dining table. I woke him up gently. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and held out his hands to be carried. After all that had happened, both of us needed a hug.
“Let’s go to Qing Qing yee yee’s place tonight,’ I told him, hoping that there was room for us tonight. He nodded and we turned around to see Yoshiro leaning against the hallway.
“I’ll send you there,” he said.
“It’s fine. We have bothered you too much today.”
He knew it would be hard to argue after what he had said. “Just call me when you reach.”
*****
Hiro and I walked to the nearest train station and make our way back. Throughout the entire journey, we were both quiet. I did not know what to tell him either.
I switched on my mobile and see the number of miss calls and messages from Satoshi, all of them asking where Hiro and I were and to call him back. But I did not have the heart to. I felt tired. First of him and now this. I cannot imagine what will happen if I agreed to his proposal. Will I get a normal life?
It was getting dark and I held on to Hiro’s hand tightly. Emotions were stirring inside of me. I knocked on the familiar door and jie jie greeted me with a smile. Before I could say anything else, I felt tears clouding my vision. Jie jie took hold of Hiro’s hand and called out for Keiji-san and Yuuki-tan. They went to the convenient store while I sat on the couch beside jie jie, crying. Ah yee went on with her usual business and made dinner.
“It’s alright,” she assured me after I told her what had happened. “But have you thought about your own happiness? This Yoshiro-san seems to be a good man.”
“Sometimes, it’s good to have someone love you more than you love him.”
*****
Mama is crying and I know why. It is because of Satoshi-jisan. I wanted to hug mama like she always does when I cry but I could not. My hands were too small to. I can only hold on to her hand tightly as she cried in front of Qing Qing ah yee.
Qing Qing ah yee made me go to the convenient store with Keiji-jisan and Yuuki-neechan. I did not want to but Qing Qing ah yee gave me money to buy candy for mama. She said I was the only one who knew what candy mama liked.
I followed Keiji-jisan and Yuuki-neechan reluctantly. When we got to the store, I walked around, looking for things that will cheer mama up. There were her favourite ha-pi pan and ko-ra lollypops.
When I was going to pick up a chocolate bar from the lowest rack, I felt my pocket vibrate. It was the mobile mama got for me for emergencies. I saw the name on the display. It was Satoshi-jisan.
“Moshi moshi? Hiro-kun?” Satoshi-jisan’s voice called out from the other side. I kept quiet. There were so many things I wanted to say but could not.
“Hiro-kun?”
“Doushite?” I heard myself asking. “Why do you always make mama cry?”
Satoshi-jisan did not answer me.
“Gomen ne, Hiro-kun,” I heard him apologise in a small voice.
“Hiro-kun, kaeru yo!” called out Yuuki-neechan.
“Bye bye,” I told Satoshi-jisan but he did not hang up. I can still hear him calling out as I closed the lid.
“Hiro-kun? Ima wa doko? Mama wa?”
“Hai! Matte yo!” I called out to Yuuki-neechan, grabbing mama’s favourite chocolate bar with fruits and nuts.
Although I like Satoshi-jisan a lot, I cannot forgive him for making mama cried. Even if he was Hiro’s real papa.
*****
He did not expect to get through Hiro’s phone. He was on the verge of going crazy as Misheru did not reply him nor did he manage to get his calls through. He had gone to their apartment but when he saw a bunch of reporters waiting at the road side, he knew they were not there. He tried to figure out where they might be as he sat by the sidewalk. Hiro’s number was his last hope.
He really did not know how to reply to his question. “Doushite?”
All he could do was apologise. Like he always does. Back then and even now.
He asked himself if he can really give them the happiness they deserve. It seemed that all he can do was make Misheru cry and Hiro upset with him.
“Argh! Zakenna!” he cried out, startling passersby.
*****
Maya was watching from a distance. She had been following him since he left the agency and was waiting for the right time to comfort him. But she knew she could not after what she had done. She made that call that triggered all this.
“It was all her fault,” she muttered under her breath.
*****
“What do you think of Uncle Yoshiro?” I asked Hiro as I shampooed his hair.
“He looks a nice person,” he answered with his eyes closed.
“Would you like him as a papa?”
“Like Ed papa?”
“No, a real papa.”
“As long he doesn’t make mama cry.”
Hiro was sound asleep when I went downstairs. Yoshiro was standing by his car, about to light a cigarette.
“I didn’t know you smoked,” I said. He put away the cigarette, startled. “Sorry for calling you out so late.”
“I couldn’t sleep anyway,” he said.
“I’ll go straight to the point. I have given thought to your proposal and I just want you to know that Hiro will always be my priority. All I ask is that you treat him like your own son.”
“Are you saying ‘yes’?” he asked, with a glint of hope in his eyes. I nodded. He was about to embrace me when I put my hands out.
“I’m still unsure of my feelings now but give me time. I can learn to love you but just don’t rush me,” I said, feeling guilty. He nodded and ignored my hands, giving me a tight hug.
“I promise you that I will make you and Hiro-kun happy, if that’s all I have to do.”
*****
The next day, we went back home after Yoshiro told us that it was alright to. True, there were no reporters. The apartment manager was sweeping the front yard and was glad to see us both alright. He said that the reporters had waited all night long but were asked to leave by the police just an hour ago.
I made breakfast and we sat down to eat in silence. Then my mobile rang.
“Moshi moshi, Misheru desu,” I answered the unknown number.
“Misheru-sama? Matsushima desu. Takeneda-sama no kana desu,” said Matsushima-san. “I’m calling to check if everything’s alright.”
“Yes. We are both fine.”
“That’s great to know. I called to inform you that Koda-san will be picking you and Hiro-kun up around 2pm.”
“Eh?”
“Takeneda-sama is holding a press conference to announce your engagement. Congratulations.”
Revisit: Paparazzi
Posted by: babymichiru on: November 13, 2011
I could not think of the song to go with the chapter until hey, that song. Hahaha.
Anyway, I am trying to complete this to get started with peak and also my new project. I do not really know if I can even start the new project on time simply because I have bigger plans coming. Hahaha.
Enjoy!
Revisit 19: Paparazzi
Lady Gaga
“I can’t answer to that,” I told him, shaking my head.
“Why not?” he asked, stopping his steps.
“It doesn’t seem right. Not like this, not now.”
“But we have been making good progress,” he insisted. “Didn’t you miss me for the past few weeks?”
“What is there to miss?” I asked, with a pained expression on my face. “You left and only leave us messages occasionally. What is there to miss?”
“While I’m out there, working hard to protect you?” he retorted back, his voice raising. “You don’t know what I’m doing, for you, for Hiro.”
“Then tell me! I don’t know!” I cried back.
Just then, Hiro woke up. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked around. He saw tears at the corners of my eyes.
“Mama!” he cried out. “Let me down!” he struggled from Satoshi’s hold. Satoshi kneeled down on one knee to let him down and Hiro came rushing to my side.
“Doushite? Why are you always making mama cry?” asked Hiro with an angered tone.
“No, I didn’t mean to,” Satoshi defended himself.
“Mama, let’s go home,” said Hiro as he held my hand. I wiped the tears with my hands and nodded my head. The both of us walked and never looked back.
*****
“Sorry, Yoshiro. I’m not fit to conduct today’s lesson,” I said on the phone.
“Are you alright? You sound upset,” said Yoshiro.
“Nothing really. Just caught a cold.”
“Do take care. Don’t worry about the lesson. We’ll just reschedule it another day.”
“Thanks.”
I placed the phone down and stared into the ceiling. I sent Hiro to school this morning and took a day off from work. Lucky for me I only had one session with Yoshiro today.
“In the end, I just don’t know you,” I told myself.
Thinking about his promise and his words yesterday, it made me happy. At the same time, it made me afraid. I cannot say ‘yes’ so easily. I hardly knew him. I don’t even know what kind of father he would be to Hiro. I could tell Hiro was getting annoyed with him as well, although it was partially my fault.
My eyes became heavy and I fell asleep.
*****
“Mama!!” called out Hiro as he jumped onto my bed. Eh?
“Hiro, why? What?” I asked, sounding confused. I looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was already 2.45pm.
“Mama! You forgot to pick me up!” pouted Hiro. Oh no! What have I done?
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized as I hugged him. “But wait, how did you get home then?”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I picked him up from school for you,” said a familiar voice at my bedroom door. It was Yoshiro.
I sat up and pat my hair down. “Yoshiro, why? What are you doing here?”
“You sounded upset over the phone and I thought I had to see you somehow. I came over earlier and knocked but no one was in so I thought of going to Hiro’s school. You didn’t appear either and there was one kid, looking a bit lost.”
“Oh gosh! I am so, so sorry, Hiro,” I said as I hugged Hiro more.
“It’s ok,” Hiro said. “It’s Satoshi-jisan’s fault. He made you cry again.”
“Satoshi?” asked Yoshiro.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “Erm, would you like to have late lunch? My treat.”
*****
“Ah, Hiro-kun, hisashiburi!” called out the lady behind the counter.
“Ba-chan, ojama shimasu!” replied Hiro as he got up to sit at the counter.
We were at one of the local café nearby our apartment. I have been bringing Hiro here often because we liked the simple food served here.
“Tou-san, konnichiwa,” greeted the lady. I bowed my head slightly and smiled at her. Her eyes turned to Yoshiro and she called out ‘irashaimase’.
We sat in a cubicle behind where Hiro was sitting and ordered some pasta.
“Who is this Satoshi-san?” asked Yoshiro as he twirled his spaghetti.
“Hiro’s father,” I answered softly, making sure Hiro doesn’t hear it. Yoshiro didn’t look surprised.
“I should have known. Is he giving you a hard time?” he asked further.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a hard time,” I said. “It’s more like I’m the one being indecisive.”
“Why?”
“Because I said ‘no’ to his marriage proposal.”
*****
He wanted to chase after them but he couldn’t. He saw the anger in Hiro’s eyes. He knew that he had crossed the line.
“Argh! Satoshi! What have you done?” he asked himself as he kneeled on the ground with his head in his hands.
He asked himself, why wouldn’t she say yes. How did she see him in her eyes? Was he just a stranger to them?
He couldn’t put himself to tell them about Maya. She could be disappointed with him. He was already disappointed of himself.
He took out his mobile from his pocket and dialed a number he wouldn’t want to call.
“Maya-chan? Come out now,” he commanded.
*****
Maya could never be happier. Finally, all her efforts paid off. He called for her himself. He must have felt her sincerity.
She found him sitting alone at the bar, with a few empty shot glasses. He was downing one after another. She put on her best smile and pulled the seat next to him.
“Ohno-san, I’m here,” she said in a sweet smile. Ohno only grunted. She ignored him and asked for a cocktail. She sat next to him quietly as he downed a few more shots.
“Maya-chan, why wouldn’t she say ‘yes’?” he asked as he stared absent-mindedly at one of the empty shot glasses.
“Say ‘yes’ to what?” she asked, entertaining him.
“To my marriage proposal,” he said before plopping his head on the bar top, snoring soundly.
Maya didn’t know how to react. In her heart, she knew this was too good to be true and now he tells her that he asked for that Tou woman’s hand. She was angry and devastated at the same time.
“Why won’t you like me?” she asked him. He was too drunk to hear her. She took out her mobile phone, wanting to end all of this.
*****
“Thank you for lunch,” said Yoshiro as we walked back to my apartment.
“I should thank you for picking up Hiro for me,” I said. “And listening to my problems.”
“It’s alright. I think of you as a friend, not my teacher. At times, you just need someone to listen to you instead.”
I nodded and smiled. He was really a good student and friend.
We stopped at the junction near my apartment.
“You should get back to work, Yoshiro,” I said.
“Will you be fine on your own?” he asked. I nodded. I tugged at Hiro’s hand. “What should you say, Hiro?”
“Thank you and see you again!” Hiro said energetically.
Just then, there were flashes coming from the direction of my apartment. I turned around to see cameras flashing and some shouting from a group of people.
“Kono onna desu ka?”
“Eh? Kono hito wa Takaneda Corp no shachou jyanai?”
As they got nearer, more questions came flooding in. I had no time to think what was going on. It sounded like buzzing. Yoshiro grab hold of my shoulders and hurried to his car. He got Hiro and me into the back passenger seats. The reporters were tapping on the windows and I can hear their questions.
“Anata to Ohno Satoshi to Takaneda shachou donna no kankei?”
“Kono kodomo ga dare no?”
I hugged Hiro close to me and tried not to look outside. Yoshiro started the engine and honked to get the reporters away. Once there was a clearance, he drove away.
This was starting to be like the nightmare I thought would happen.
*****
“It has happened!” shouted Johnny-san. “What have you been doing?” he asked manager-san, holding up some evening newspapers. Spreads across the headlines were “Ohno’s illegitimate child?” “Ohno’s unknown relationship?”
Manager-san didn’t say anything else. He hung his head low. He knew that there would be a day when all this will happen. He didn’t have any contingency plans.
“Where’s Ohno?” asked Johnny-san.
“At home,” answered manager-san in a low voice.
“Then get him here! I need to know what happened!”
“You don’t have to be harsh on manager-san,” said Ohno from the door. “I, I will take responsibility for what happened,” said Ohno.
“Do you think it’s going to be that easy?” asked Johnny-san. “Do you know who else is caught in this?” It shocked Ohno as he wasn’t really sure what Johnny-san was talking about. “Who else can there be?”
“The young Director of Takaneda Corp,” answered manager-san. “He was caught with Misheru-san and Hiro-kun this afternoon.”
“So?” questioned Ohno.
“And he was a step quicker than you. His publicist has announced that Takaneda-san is planning to propose to Misheru-san.”
“That can’t happen. I proposed to her earlier.”
“Do you even know where she is now? Do you even know who she was?” Ohno only gulped. He didn’t know where or who she was.
“We think she’s with Takaneda-san now as they were shot getting into his car. As for Misheru-san, did you know that she once worked in a well-known Marketing firm? Takaneda-san is not going to let her go so easily when she can be an asset to his growing business,” said Johnny-san.
“In the announcement, he is planning to make Hiro-kun bear his surname as well. They are planning to have a media conference tomorrow to explain it all.”
Ohno could not believe what Johnny-san and manager-san just said. This was all happening too fast. He walked out of the room, in a slight daze hearing Johnny-san’s and manager-san’s buzzing behind him. He took out his mobile and saw that he had a few messages.
From Maya: You made me do it.
From his band mates and colleagues: What happened? Are you alright?
Then he saw the one name that he wanted to hear from. From Misheru but it was a blank message. He tried calling the number but no one picked up. He left a message, asking her to call him back.
He had to find her but he had no idea where she was. He slumped against the wall, realizing how little he knew about her.
Please, please, call me back…
*****
“Mama, what just happened?” asked Hiro. I couldn’t answer him. It all happened to fast. I was still in shock.
“Hiro-kun, it’s going to be alright,” said Yoshiro as he drove. I didn’t know where we were heading.
We arrived at a mansion, which I assumed was Yoshiro’s place. We got out of the car and there was a lady named Matsushima-san who greeted us. She greeted Yoshiro as shachou which was CEO in Japanese. As we headed to Yoshiro’s mansion, Yoshiro spoke rapidly while Matsushima-san followed his pace and wrote down his words in her folio.
By the time we sat down on the sofa, Matsushima-san bade us goodbye to do her work. Yoshiro was taking off his jacket and tie as he slouched on a lounge chair. I took out my mobile and was wondering what to do. I need to inform the school and jie jie what had happened but my fingers would not move. Hiro was leaning against me, as we both tried to figure out what had happened.
Yoshiro’s hand grabbed my mobile and closed the lid shut. “It’s ok. I got Matsushima to contact the school,” he said with a soft voice. “I’ll get you a glass of water. Hiro-kun, would you like some juice or anything?” Hiro nodded and Yoshiro held out his hand. Hiro was hesitant but he grabbed it and went off with Yoshiro to the kitchen.
I buried my face into my hands. I wanted to cry and shout but could not. This was the same situation I expected myself to be in when I knew I was pregnant with Hiro, which was why I never told him. I wanted to ask him why he had to do this to me. Although I didn’t want to believe it but no one, other than him and Ed, knew about Hiro. My mobile was on the coffee table where Yoshiro had left it. I picked it up again and opened a new message. Before I could type anything, Yoshiro came back and I accidentally send out an empty message. I hastily placed my mobile on the coffee table and put on a smile.
“Thanks,” I said to Yoshiro as he placed the glass of water into my hands. I looked around and did not see Hiro anywhere near him.
“Oh, Hiro-kun is at the dining table having some cookies,” said Yoshiro as he noticed me looking for Hiro. “I hope you don’t mind.” I shook my head and took a sip of water.
“I hope you don’t mind but I need to ask you something,” he said as he sat himself beside me. “Who is Hiro’s father?”
I was reluctant to answer that question. I placed the glass on the coffee table and took a deep breath. “Would it make any difference? At a time like this?”
“It does,” he answered. “If he was just an ordinary man, then nothing would have happened. But he wasn’t.”
I smirked at his words. He was right. Satoshi was not any ordinary man. He was the Ohno Satoshi. The admirable leader of the popular boy band Arashi.
“Ohno Satoshi.”
“Of Arashi?” I nodded.
There was silence for a while. I reached for the glass on the coffee table and took another gulp. His elbows were perched on his thighs while his forehead was resting on the back of his overlapping hands. I could imagine what was playing in Yoshiro’s mind. How on Earth a woman from Malaysia had any connections with someone in Japan? How did she get to know him? How did she not know?
The silence was broken when he got up. He looked at me with a serious gaze before those words I did not want to hear again came out from his mouth.
“Marry me.”
DM: Ponytail
Posted by: babymichiru on: October 29, 2011
My hair is long and I do not have the heart to cut it. I do not really know why. Maybe because my ichi-ban likes long hair. Wahaha.
This came to me when I tied my hair yesterday for a meeting and sensei commented how ‘kakkoii’ (Japanese equivalent of cool) I looked. Hahahaha.
DM: Ponytail
She was standing at the hallway, tying her hair in front of the mirror. She was running late and hastened as she frantically combs her hair. Once she was ready, she put on her best heels and smoothen her hair and jacket in front of the mirror.
“Ah, kami mo nagakatta ne,” said the ossan, hiding himself behind the wall.
“So desu ne. Jikan ga amari nai node, mada kiru ne,” she answered him, not looking at him as she dab some balm on her lips. “Doushite? Nagai kami ga suki jyanai no?”
“Un. You know, your hair is like a whip,” he said, sounding suspicious.
“And?”
“I wonder what it feels like to be whipped by your hair.”
“Satoshi, my hair is not for your DoM imagination…” she said cooly as she opened the door to head out. “Itteikimasu.”
Revisit 18: Would you marry me? Mahou no kotoba
Posted by: babymichiru on: October 3, 2011
I have just finished watching Honey & Clover (drama series) and loved some phrases in the drama. I like Ayumi’s character because I can empathize with her. It’s really tough to love someone when they are in love with someone, ne?
Here’s Revisit 18 and it is one of my favourite songs from DAI.
Revisit 18: Would You Marry Me? Mahou no kotoba (Magical Words)
Do As Infinity
Manager-san was on the verge of explosion when he heard Ohno’s excuse. It was very unlike him at all.
Maya was beside manager-san when he made that call. She couldn’t hear the conversation well but figured it had something to do with that Tou-san. She knew Ohno had not been seeing her for the past few months. His time was either spent at work, at home or with her. She knew it down to the split second.
All because she had manager-san to thank for. She knew manager-san had a weakness for young things, especially since he had an old hag for a wife.
“Manager-san, do you think it has anything to do with the woman he was seeing?” she asked sweetly.
Manager-san broke into a sweat but maintained his composure. He had undergone tough training after all. “What woman?” he asked Maya.
“A lady with the family name ‘Tou’,” she asked, as if she wasn’t sure of anything.
In manager-san’s mind, the name ‘Tou’ brought unpleasant thoughts. Although he was not chased after by Ohno for keeping it a secret from him, he was practically thrown into the outskirts by Johnny-san until he felt it was safe to reappear.
During those times, he underwent the training from hell, to strengthen his inner self. He meditated underneath a waterfall till he felt numb from the water and cold. He also sustained the beatings of the monks whenever he fell asleep during meditation.
It was a tough training but he endured it and came back a better man. A man with the will of a steel wall.
Then again, everything went on as if nothing had happened in the first place. That was because he had no idea what had happened after he ran out of the office that day.
“They are in contact?” he asked Maya. He quickly dialed Johnny-san’s number to report what he had heard. “Maya-chan, you have to tell me everything.”
Maya smiled. If Johnny-san was to interfere, then bye bye this Tou woman.
*****
I woke up when the sun began to shine into the room. I stretched my arms out and wanted to stretch my legs too but I couldn’t feel them. His head was still on my lap, facing an awkward direction. I shook him on his shoulders. He didn’t seem like he would wake up. I shook him a little more and he only muttered ‘mo sukoshi’. He looked like a baby and I wanted to tease him further.
I blew into his ear and whispered his name. A weird smile appeared on his face. So, he wasn’t really asleep!
With a little strength, I pushed him at the shoulders and he woke up, startled and rolled off the bed. I laughed at him as I stretched and massaged my legs. He got up, like a lost frantic puppy, looking left and right wondering what had happened. He saw me laughing and he just grinned like an idiot.
“Had a good sleep?” I asked him. He nodded. Obviously.
“I’m surprised how you can still fit into that dress,” he said, still sitting on the floor.
“Are you implying I got fat?” I asked. “I made sure I maintain a good figure, just in case.”
“In case of what?”
“In case I have a date to attend,” I teased.
In a split second, he got up the bed and pinned me down. He stared into my eyes with those dreamy eyes of his.
“With me?” he muttered as his lips got nearer.
“Mama!” I heard Hiro calling from the door. Satoshi pushed himself back up and I sighed, glad that Hiro woke up. Hiro jumped on to the bed and hug me, landing a kiss on my cheek.
“Mama! You are dirty!” he said, as my make up was still on and I was still in yesterday’s dress.
“Then shall we take a shower together?” I asked, since we both needed one. The both of us turned to look at Satoshi, who was still on top of my legs.
“Mama, I don’t think I want Satoshi-jisan to shower with me,” said Hiro.
“I don’t too. So Satoshi-jisan, onegaishimasu,” I said. Satoshi pouted at the both of us and crossed his arms, as if saying, why can’t he.
I pushed myself up, trying not to move my legs that much because the position they are in. He didn’t take the hint. Instead, he pounced on the both of us since Hiro was lying on top of my stomach.
“I want to shower with everyone too!” he yelled as he hugged the both of us. The both of us were wriggling in his hold and kept saying ‘yada’. He took advantage of the situation and pursed his lips near my face. Without thinking, I gave him a peck and he released his hold.
I was blushing red and so was he.
I got my shower that morning, without Hiro and him.
*****
I didn’t mean it to happen. It was a spur of the moment thing.
Next thing I know he’s still sitting in the living room with Hiro, watching Sunday morning cartoons while I’m in the kitchen making brunch. Because I took too long in the shower, trying to slap myself awake for kissing him.
It was not a kiss, I reminded myself. It was just harmless little peck.
But that look in his eyes.
“Mama, the pancakes!” Hiro called out. They were burning!
I turn the stove off and scraped the burnt thing off the pan. The both of them rushed over to see if I was ok. I smiled apologetically and wiped the pan again to start afresh. My hand touched the sides of the pan which were still hot. I gave out a scream and waved my hand frantically, dropping the wipe cloth as I did. Hiro called out to me but the pain was intense to hear what he was saying.
Satoshi turn on the water and grabbed my hand towards it.
“It looks alright,” he said as the water cooled my hand. “Maybe we should see a doctor to be sure.”
“It’s alright. I have some cream in the first aid kid,” I told him, my heart beating fast as he was so near me. “Hiro, can you get the first aid kit in my closet?” Hiro nodded and went to fetch the kit.
When no swelling appeared, he turned the water off and took a towel to dry my hand up.
“You have to be careful while cooking, not daydreaming,” he said. His hands were big and his fingers long, as compared to mine. If he ever did hold my hand, it would be covered completely. After it was dried, he took it to lips and gave it a kiss.
“Now it will be better soon,” he said as he patted it more with his hands.
“Thanks,” I said as I watched him hold on to my hand. I wanted to pull back but the way he was holding on to it was comforting.
“You know,” he said, looking at my face,”you made me very happy this morning.”
“What was that again?” I asked, hoping that he will not bring it up.
“This,” he said, before lunging forward and giving me a peck on the lips.
“Satoshi-jisan!” yelled Hiro. “Why are you kissing mama again?”
“I can’t help it,” he chuckled as I was left feeling red. “Your mama is just too cute.”
*****
“I don’t think you should be tagging along,’ I told him as we walked to jie jie’s and ah yee’s house. “Ah yee will nag and nag and nag…”
“You are nagging and I’m fine with it,” he said. “So let it be.”
I give up. In the end, he spent his day in our house before he decided that he wanted to tag along for dinner at jie jie’s and ah yee’s house. I wonder how many free days he really has.
“Satoshi-jisan,” called out Hiro. He was walking between us, holding both our hands. “Why do you keep following mama and I?”
“Why Hiro-kun? Don’t you like me around?”
“Hmmm…maybe if you don’t kiss mama too much I will.”
“Then I should kiss her more so that you’ll get used to it.” I blushed at that comment.
“I didn’t ask to be kissed, you know.” He pursed his lips at me, which I showed my tongue back at him.
*****
“Wo men dao la,” I called out from the door.
“Okaeri!” shouted everyone else from inside.
We walked into the house and it smelled of ah yee’s Shanghai dishes. I missed having Chinese dishes ever since I left Malaysia.
“Eh? Wei she me na ge nan de ye zai zhe? Mei Mei ah, ni men liang ge you she me guan xi ya?” asked ah yee as she scooped some dumplings into a serving bowl.
“Shuan le ba,” I told her as I took my coat off.
“Mei Mei, nan dao ni gen zhe ge nan zai jiao wang ma?” asked jie jie, giggling like a little girl. Ah yee shot at her a look of disapproval. She had wanted me to be her daughter-in-law but I rejected her kind offer because I was too young back then. Besides, her son was the loner type and I’m sure he wouldn’t want a career minded me back then as a wife.
Satoshi just sat in the living room, staring at the TV. Then, he saw something familiar next to the TV, a Wii console. Hiro noticed he was staring at it and asked Satoshi if he wanted to play.
Next thing I know, the both of them couldn’t hear us when we called them to sit at the table for dinner.
“Hiro! Satoshi! It’s dinner time!” I shouted from the dining table. The both of them still couldn’t hear me as they were struggling to out win each other. I walked to the front of the TV, with my hands crossed in front, tapping my foot. The both of them stared at me, as if I was interrupting their game. I gave them a stern look and the both of them placed the consoles down and obediently walked to the dining table. I apologized to the English couple that was around that night. They only smiled at me while I blushed embarrassingly.
“John here was just the same back in his younger days,” said Selma as she picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks.
“I do not!” said John, her husband. He was seated next to Satoshi and in comparison of size, he could have easily squashed Satoshi flat.
“But it’s good to see that father and son having a good relationship,” Selma continued.
“But Satoshi-jisan’s not my papa!” Hiro cried out suddenly, with a grain of rice stuck on his face. Everyone gave me a confused look.
“Look Hiro, you have rice on your face,” I said calmly as I picked up the rice from Hiro’s face. I smiled and continued eating.
*****
“Mei Mei, ni you dong xi xiang gen wo men shuo ma?” asked jie jie as I helped with the dishes. Everyone else was watching some movie on the television. Jie jie and ah yee were sitting at the dining table, cutting up fruits.
“Shuo shen me la?” I asked.
“Wo men zhi dao ni mei jia chu qu you you le Hiro. Wo men zhi mei wen ba le,” she said.
“Nan dao na ge nan de shi ta de baba?” asked ah yee.
I kept silent.
”Mei Mei, ni bu xiang shuo wo men bu hui bi ni ke shi you mei you xiang guo yao zhao ge baba gei Hiro ne?” jie jie pushed further.
*****
“Please, Satoshi,” I said when we were walking back to our apartment. Although jie jie had offered to drive us, I wanted to take the opportunity to tell him. He was piggybacking Hiro.
“Un, nani?”
“Can you go home tonight?”
“Eh? Doushite?”
“I can’t take it anymore.”
“Take what anymore?”
“You! Appearing as you like and make people around me misunderstand. I can’t go on living like this.”
He kept silent.
“Say something.”
“I can’t. It hurts when the person you love tells you that they are being a nuisance in their life.”
“I didn’t mean that way…”
“Isn’t that what you are trying to say?”
“I don’t know where we stand. What are we to you? You disappear for a few weeks and reappear. After tonight, we don’t even know when we’ll see you again.”
“We made a promise didn’t we? I’m back for that answer. So, tell me, please.”
“It’s not going to be that easy.”
“Yes, it is. Kekkonshimashou?” he asked, with a wide grin on his face.
Revisit 17: Tadaima
Posted by: babymichiru on: September 9, 2011
I am rather annoyed right now. After painstakingly trying to maintain (and reduce) my weight from x0kg to now thx4kg (which I’m supposed to lose another 5kg), it has gone up a kg back. I’m like, what happened? Why now?
I blame it on the long week last week (yes yes, Raya holidays + Merdeka) which I ended up rolling at home a lot (rolling meaning stuck on to the floor and watching nothing but TV all day long). I really should do something about it. All my juniors have been going to gym but unless it is the treadmill, I don’t want to be doing other things.
Back to more important things. Tadaima is one of my favourite Japanese phrases. Back when I was in Japan, I enjoyed saying that word because someone from inside the house would say okaeri back to me. It was wonderful. It makes you feel back home.
I’m hoping it will not end soon but it will need to.
Revisit 17: Tadaima (I’m Home)
Do As Infinity
“Ne, Hiro, let’s do something,” said Ohno as he watched TV with Hiro.
“Mama said we can’t make a mess in the house,” said Hiro.
“Why don’t we go find mama?” Ohno asked.
“Mama said it’s full of old people talking and I don’t want to be an old person.”
Ohno couldn’t help laughing at that phrase. Really, what was Misheru teaching Hiro?
Seeing her again for the first time after so many months made him realized how much he really wanted to be in her life. It was a selfish thought.
It was more selfish after what he had done behind her back. With Maya.
That night, Hiro had snapped a picture of Misheru all dressed up and forwarded it to him. Ohno had no idea why Hiro did so but it could be because Hiro only knew a few people. She looked ravishing in that dress. The dress of blue with a silver ribbon. How could someone be in her early 30’s still look so good in something that was meant for a younger heart?
Time did stop back then. It stopped for the both of them.
He looked at the message attached. Mama’s going to a dinner with Uncle Yoshiro.
Who was this Yoshiro? He had to get to her, as soon as possible. He felt as if a rival had arrived. Although he had said that if there was someone else who would appear as his rival, he would let go.
But not her. He promised her.
*****
“I have another present for you,” said Yoshiro as we both drove to the dinner.
“That would be too much. I can’t accept it,” I declined even before knowing what it was. The daisies were sitting on my lap, with a faint smell. They were pretty in white.
“Please, accept it. It’s in the glove compartment,” he persisted, pointing to where the present was. I opened it and see a box of dark blue velvet. I opened it and see a necklace with a pendant shaped like a daisy, with a diamond in the middle.
“Why, it’s beautiful but I can’t accept it. It must be expensive!” I said, closing the box immediately.
“Please, don’t make me repeat myself, Michelle,” he insisted. “You are wearing a beautiful dress and there’s not one bit of jewellery on you.”
I touched my neck. It was bare.
We pulled into a mansion and got off the car. I deliberately left the blue velvet box on my seat. I walked to his side and there it was in his hands.
“Hold on,” he said as he pulled the necklace out and unclasped it. Although I declined with my eyes, he shook his head. Obediently, I lifted the hair off my back to let him place it on.
“There, now you are complete,” he said and offered his arm out to me.
*****
I was introduced to Jessica, who was the wife of Hirota-san. The both of them lived in New York and were back in Tokyo for some personal matters. Jessica had the privilege of not learning how to speak in Japanese as Hirota-san’s business was based in New York.
“What a lovely necklace,” she complimented. “It looks familiar though.”
“Thank you. I got this just a while ago,” I told her honestly. “Yoshiro gave it to me.”
“Oh, that necklace!” she exclaimed. “My husband owns a jeweler in New York and he showed me this before we left. No wonder it looked familiar.”
“Really? It’s beautiful,” I commented.
“Sorry for being rude but are the both of you have something going on? It’s rare that Yoshiro requests for something to be specially made for someone,” she asked, with a curious smile. I blushed and shook my head.
Just then, Yoshiro came over and escorted us to the dining area. He was very gentlemanly as he extended his left arm for me to hold on to.
“I hope Jessica is not giving you a hard time,” he said in Japanese.
“She’s friendly,” I replied in Japanese.
“Why, you have a good command of the language as well,” he complimented and I blushed even more.
“I don’t. I just have a child who’s good in picking up the language,” I told him.
“I would love to meet this child of yours someday,” he suggested as he pulled out the chair for me.
“Maybe someday.”
*****
“What do you mean you don’t know where you are?” screamed manager-san over the phone. Manager-san was finally back from his emergency leave. Apparently, throughout his leave, he went for some meditation training, which involved sitting underneath a waterfall, the works.
“I told you, I got on the taxi and fell asleep. Next thing I know the driver told me to get off and I don’t know where am I,” lied Ohno.
“Then take a taxi back here!’ yelled manager-san more. It was also known that when he came back, he was stricter and not easy to be ordered around.
“I don’t have any cash and oops, my battery’s going dead…” lied Ohno further. He then ended the call and pulled out the battery.
Hiro was sleeping on the floor and Ohno knew that Misheru would be mad if she saw where Hiro was now. He carried him up and brought to him to his room. He tucked him in and kissed his forehead.
He plopped back on the sofa, waiting for her to come back. It was getting late and he was sleepy.
A weird thought came into his head.
He went to her room and sat on the bed. He pulled one of the pillows and laid his head on it. It smelled like her, a mixture of cherry blossoms and dewberry.
He felt like pervert doing what he was doing.
He snuggled onto the pillow more. Slowly, he drifted into dreamland.
*****
“Satoshi! Satoshi!” called out a female voice. He opened his eyes dreamily and saw Misheru kneeling beside him, still wearing that dress she went out in. Subconsciously, he grabbed her around the waist and heaved his head on to her lap. He snuggled on the cool material that was covering her lap.
“Okaeri,” he wished her, his eyes still closed.
*****
I had an enjoyable time at the dinner, exchanging conversations with different people. It had been a long time since I been to such social gatherings, especially ones involving business partners. It was like the times before I had Hiro when I hated such gatherings. Although there were awkward moments when my business philosophies were outdated, Yoshiro’s acquaintances didn’t laugh at me. Instead, they were taken aback by my arguments.
When Yoshiro sent me home, I wanted to return the necklace to him, keeping in mind Jessica’s words.
“Please, no. It’s for you,” he refused. “I wouldn’t be able to wear it anyway.”
I knew it would be bad to refuse further. “Thank you then. I had an enjoyable night,” I said as he pulled up in front of my apartment.
“Me too,” he said and he came closer staring into my eyes. I knew where it was leading too and before he can reach my lips, I turned to one side. I felt a peck on my cheeks instead.
I hastily reach for the handle of the door and got out. I bowed and waved goodbye to him. He had a slight disappointed look on his face but it’s for the better. At how things were going now, I cannot afford another misunderstanding.
As I opened the door (which was unlocked by the way. What were the both of them thinking?), I wondered if he was still around. He was, as his shoes were arranged at the entrance. But there was no sight of him in the living room or Hiro’s room. Hiro was sleeping soundly in his bed. I planted a kiss on his forehead. He shifted a little but didn’t wake up.
I wondered where he was. Then I heard a soft snore from my room and there he was, on my bed, snuggling on one of my pillows. I thought he was a pervert when I saw him sleeping on my bed. Of all places, my bed! He could fall asleep on the sofa, for all I care!
I got on the bed and tried to wake him up. He opened his eyes for a while but he grabbed me around my waist and snuggled onto my lap. I wanted to kick him off but his head was weighing my legs down. And the way he was snuggling was a tad embarrassing!
Then he said one word which allowed him to continue sleeping.
“Okaeri.”
“Tadaima,” I wished him back.
DM: Hiro’s bento
Posted by: babymichiru on: August 28, 2011
- In: Dreamy Moments | Revisit
- 1 Comment
“I’m so sorry,” I said to Hiro as I lay in my bed with the thermometer in my hand. It was showing 37.4 Celsius degrees. Hiro was on on his fours beside me with a disappointed look on his face.
“But mama, today is bento day and you promised me you will make me cute one!” he whimpered.
“Can you settle for some cute sandwiches instead? That’s all I can do now,” I reasoned with him. He nodded.
As I pushed myself up, I hear the door opening.
“Tadaima!” a familiar voice called out. “Are? Minasan wa doko?”
“Mama no heya!” shouted Hiro as he ran out to greet the ossan. “Ohaiyou, Satoshi-jisan!”
“Mo -jisan jyaneyo. Papa dayo!” Satoshi corrected him. Hiro just grinned. “As long as you are not married to mama, you are still Satoshi-jisan.”
It was Hiro’s way to show his love to him.
And yes, Satoshi and I are only getting married in a few weeks’ time.
“Mama wa doko?” the ossan asked. I slumped at my room door, trying hard to smile at him. Although I hated to show my messy hair and pale face, it would be rude not to greet my husband-to-be properly.
“Eh? Doushita no?” he asked.
I explained to him that I got caught in the rain last night and now I was awake to make Hiro’s bento.
“You go back and rest,” he ordered. “I will make Hiro his bento,” he said, flashing not so assuring grin. I tried to reason with him but he grabbed me around the shoulders and forced me back onto my bed. He gave me a peck on my forehead as he pulled the blanket over me.
“Rest well because tonight will be tiring night for the both of us,” he grinned weirdly. Don’t tell me…I couldn’t think anymore. I had to sleep.
I woke up around 11 am and measure my temperature again. It was about 36.8 Celsius and I felt a lot more better.
“Satoshi?” I called out since he should be around. It was his day off. He was nowhere to be found. He must have gone out to pick something.
Just then, the phone rang.
“Hello, Ms Michelle? This is Nancy from Hiro-kun’s school. I heard you had a fever. Are you feeling better?”
“I am. Is there anything wrong? Is Hiro alright?”
“Oh, he is fine. However, we would like to let you know that next time, can you make Hiro-kun normal bentos?”
“Eh?”
“Your fiance is now outside the school creating a commotion.”
“Eh?”
I apologised and said I will do something about it. As soon as Nancy put down the phone, I called Satoshi on his mobile.
“Moshi moshi? Is your fever better?” he asked cheerily and I could hear people screaming at the background.
“Can you explain what’s going on?”
“Oh. I tried to make Hiro his bento but I couldn’t find anything to make in the kitchen. So I told him I will send it to him during lunch time. I thought of making him chahan but you know the only chahan I could make is ankake chahan. So…”
“Wait. You are cooking ankake chahan in front of the school?“
“Yes! You could switch on the TV now. They are doing a live on it. Gotta go! Love ya!”
I switched on the television and tuned it to the channel he was talking about. There he was, in an apron and cooking on a makeshift kitchen. He was grinning as he stirred the work, with the camera zooming into him.
“Ohno-san, what are you doing?” asked the reporter.
“Oh, I am cooking ankake chahan for my son. He’s studying in this school. My wife’s not feeling well today, you see.”
“Wouldn’t your son be embarrassed with you here?”
“Nah, I’m his father! What is there to be embarrassed about?” he winked at the camera.
And I slumped on my couch, wishing I had married to a normal person, instead of an idol.
Revisit 16: Hold It Against Me
Posted by: babymichiru on: July 18, 2011
Hohoho. I’ve not been updating it like I thought I would. It so happens that I have not been able to write a proper continuation after Revisit 19 (for some reason, it has become conversation styles).
This is a short one, from Maya’s point of view. I have to do the girl justice. She needs a parter of her own.
Revisit 16: Hold It Against Me
Britney Spears
I promised her, he kept reminding himself.
After that morning, he bade both Misheru and Hiro goodbye. The words that Hiro told him made him upset. To Hiro, his mama had never cried, at least not in front of him. To Hiro, Ohno was on the verge of being a bad person.
Misheru only smiled at him as he walked to the main road. He wanted to embed that image of her in his mind but he couldn’t. Her crying face was more vivid.
I promised her, he reminded himself again as he waited for Maya to appear at a coffee joint. He sat by the sidewalk, walking people pass by.
A woman, dressed in a short mini skirt and tight top, one hand holding a cup of coffee while the other a jacket and handbag, slid on to the seat next to him. It was Maya.
She looked different away from her everyday working clothes of t-shirts and jeans. She smiled at him as she adjusted her skirt and crossed her long legs. For a second, he couldn’t detach his eyes from her but snap back out when he remembered his promise. She only smiled coyly.
“I’m here. Tell me what you want from me,” he told her, without a hint of warmth in his voice.
“Now, now, Ohno-san. Don’t get upset at me,” she persuaded him. “I’m just a woman looking for companionship, not hostility.”
“How did you find out about her?” he asked, getting impatient.
“Who?”
“That woman with the little boy,” he said, being mindful not to spill her name out.
“Oh, I have my sources all around,” she said in a matter-of-fact manner as she took another sip of her coffee. “So, what do you want to do today?”
“Huh?”
“The idea of seeing me, isn’t it enough to be a date?” she asked.
“You have got to be joking,” he said, not believing what she had just said.
“I’m not, Ohno-san. Really, we can do anything you want today,” she said, still sipping on her coffee.
They just sat there because Ohno was being silent. Maya was smart, being patient and sipped on her coffee as she surveyed the coffeehouse. There were a few guys staring at her and she smiled back. There was no harm in smiling. It is one of her best assets and she might as well use it to the fullest.
Ohno stood up without saying anything. He walked away but Maya was still cool. Maya knew that he was angry but it wasn’t an excuse to put the blame on her. She had warned him earlier.
She stood up after him and hastened her steps to follow him. He was a slow walker in a daze mode, with his hands in his pockets. She caught up with him fairly quickly and latched her arms onto his left arm. He turned around and glared at her, as if she was someone he didn’t know. She only smiled and told him it was rude of him to leave her behind like that. He decided to ignore her and continued his stroll.
After a while, she grew a little impatient. He basically ignored her, only stopping to see things he wanted to see. He wouldn’t say anything to her either. She stopped her steps, pulling him along as she was still holding on to his arm. He stopped and stared at her. “What?” he asked.
“I’m bored. Let’s do something fun,” she said, acting like a spoilt brat. She looked around and saw something that caught her eye. It was a building of white with pink illumination all around it. With one glance, Ohno knew that it was a love hotel. She smiled coyly, closing herself into him and whispered into his ear, “Let’s continue what we started the other day.”
*****
Reluctantly, Ohno followed her to the hotel. She was all excited, like some girl who was going to an amusement park for a date. In his mind, he was thinking of only 2 things: how to protect Misheru and Hiro and how to make Maya shut up.
They were guided by one of the attendants and Ohno was careful to cover his face from the security cameras. Maya was smiling, not expecting such obedience from Ohno.
Once they got into the room, she pranced to the bed, leaving Ohno standing at the door. She sat on the bed, waiting for Ohno to walk over but he didn’t. He stared at the floor, in an absent minded gaze. She then got up and walked towards him, taking off her jacket and throwing it onto one of the single seaters in the room. She held his wrists and walk backwards to the bed. He only followed her like a lost puppy but in his eyes was filled with unease.
She helped him removed his jacket and belt, before moving on to his shirt. He stood like a doll, still quiet with no reaction. She turned him around, his back facing the bed and pushed him down. He landed with a thud. She took off her own top and skirt, this time revealing a set of red lingerie. She got on top of him and whispered into his ears.
“If you can’t satisfy me tonight, I’ll make that call to make you regret even further.”
*****
For the next few months, it had been like that. It was not often but she had him on call at least once a week. There were times when she would ignore him and there were times she would be sweet to him. He wasn’t bothered about it. He had no idea how to stop her but the mention of Misheru and Hiro made him weak.
She hadn’t seen them for a while, ever since he bade them farewell that day. The boys had new projects, which specials in between. He barely had time to breath. At times like this, he was thankful to Maya for giving him time to just rest, although he hated her for it as well.
Spring has arrived and very soon sakuras were going to bloom. He had wanted to go hanami with Misheru and Hiro. He would eat Misheru’s home cooked bentos and comment how delicious it was although it might not be. Still, he was sure it would be delicious. He will then paint a picture of them. The thought of being with them made him smile.
“Why are you smiling?’ asked Maya, who was resting beside him. She cuddled up to him but he acted like it was nothing.
“Nothing,” he said.
“It’s them, isn’t it?” she said, sounding a little hurt.
He ignored her and closed his eyes to rest.
*****
She didn’t want it to be that way. All she wanted was his attention.
After he helped her out on the first day of her job when she screwed up some of the props. The props that were to be used were mixed up with props for another show. Her senior scolded her then, making her cry.
Ohno came over to see what was wrong. The senior explained that the props could not be used as they didn’t match the theme for the day. Instead of slashing another at Maya, he told her to call up the other show to see if they can have those delivered over in time. At the same time, Ohno told the members what had happened and they tried to stall the time a little, waiting for the correct props to arrive.
At the end of the day, Maya thanked Ohno for the help and promised that she will not repeat the same mistake again. Ohno told her not to be bothered about her senior and work hard for the show instead. He smiled at her as he said so.
Maya found herself falling for him.
She was extra careful around him, assisting him as much as she didn’t need to. Even the slightest ‘thank you’ made her happy.
Her happiest moment was when she bought him curry for lunch one day and he told her “Maya-chan daisuki ne!” with a big smile on his face. She wanted to believe that he only liked her for the curry but it was too late. She was already in love with him.
When Maya’s advances were rejected, she had this sense of unfairness in her heart. She had done everything to make him happy so why was he rejecting her? She didn’t know.
Then a call from her sister in Chiba came. Her daughter was in the same school with some lady surnamed Tou and she saw someone who looked like Ohno with her one morning. Her sister called to see if Maya knew anything about Ohno’s appearance, of all places, in Kashiwa. Of course, Maya can’t be sure for her sister was a known gossiper. She managed to get details like who this Tou woman was. She was a gaijin who was going to teach in a nearby eikawa and was moving to a new home soon. She didn’t know where the new home was but she could find out from her niece later.
She didn’t know that using that Tou woman and her child could be such an effective threat. She enjoyed his company every now and then and on her demand on that.
But there was one thing she missed out.
She didn’t obtain his smile. The smile that made her fall in love.
DM: Who says? – Am-chan’s bday gift
Posted by: babymichiru on: June 13, 2011
This is a birthday present for my beloved Am-chan. Otanjoubi omedetou!! You have to collect your bday pressie or I’m gonna put it under my pillow and it will risk getting slobbered!!
Who Says?
Selena Gomez and The Scene
She was waiting under the sweltering sun, trying hard to hide the traces of sweat on her face with a handkerchief in one hand and a portable fan in another. Of all places, he had to choose a place with the least shelter and on top of that, to come later than their arranged time. He was never this late before and she was getting worried, on top of her current plight.
She took her phone out to check if there were any messages. None. He never replies his messages during work but he was not the type to make people worry either. Did he forget about today? She was getting annoyed with the heat and his lateness.
Just then, he came running from nowhere, drenched in sweat. She stood up to greet him but he stopped his tracks in front of her, hands resting on his knees, huffing and puffing as drops of sweat drips on to the floor.
“Daijoubu?” she asked. Still looking downwards, he shook his head. She handed over another handkerchief from her bag as he tried to catch his breath. He took it with thanks and sat himself down. She offered to get him a drink since he looked he needed one. He accepted the offer and apologized for being a bother to her.
As she stood in front of the vending machine looking at the selection of cool drinks for summer, she asked herself why of all people he had chosen her. She was the ordinary kind. Someone who you will pass by on the streets and not take notice the second time again. But she had something special in her. She had flair of creativity that made people smile whenever she showed it off.
How she met him was a miracle on its own. If she was not at that shop by mistake, she would never have met him. She thought it was an arts supplies shop but the owner changed a few weeks before and now it was selling household items. Since she was there, she decided to see if there was anything to get for her apartment.
“Eh, that’s a nice scarf. Where did you get it from?” he asked, pointing to the scarf she made herself.
“I made it myself,” she answered, blushing with a toilet brush in her hands that she had randomly picked up. It was not often that she had a stranger walking up to her and starts asking questions. And to make things worse, he was good looking. Really good looking.
“Ah, that’s too bad. I would want one for myself,” he said, smiling. She felt an arrow shoot into her heart. She opened her mouth to say something but no words could come out. He was going to walk away and she told herself to pull herself together.
“I can make one for you if you want one!” she heard herself saying out loud. He was caught by surprised and she was feeling hot for her sudden outburst.
“Jya, thanks in advance. How do I contact you?”
And everything was perfect since then.
The only thing she did not expect that he was an idol. A super-popular-almost-perfect-and-unexpectedly-smart idol in this case.
He was almost perfect in the sense that he had the perfect body worth lusting for. His kissable lips that make girls swoon when he utters something smart which they cannot comprehend either. Maybe his chipmunk like teeth was a flaw but she never thought of it as a bother when those lips were pressed against hers.
She does get annoyed occasionally with his smarty-pants-remarks. She was not bothered to read the news since it always made her sad but he was well informed because of his job. There are times when she just doesn’t understand his conversations because they are just too politically correct.
She chose a bottle of cooling tea for him and orange juice for herself and made her way back to him. She saw a small crowd of people nearby where he was sitting. It seemed awkward as he posed himself as if he was in some sort of photo shoot. His body was stretched to show off his long limbs, his hands at his sides to support his posture. His eyes were closed; face facing the sky as if he was enjoying the morning sun.
“Isn’t that guy just hot?”
“He looks like an idol, doesn’t he?”
“I wonder if we can approach him.”
She never liked how the situation was going. He was too attention grabbing, being the idol he is. She could imagine the things those girls will say once they see her next to him.
“Is that his girlfriend? You have got to be joking!”
“He could do so much better.”
There were times the words just hurt her.
But she knew better than to let those words hurt her.
She remembered the first time she heard those words. It stung her heart and she did not understand why.
She had thought of giving up and was about to break up with him after a date.
“I can’t see you anymore,” she said to him, with a straight face.
“Why? Things were going so well,” he asked.
“We just don’t fit each other,” she said, trying hard not to recall those words which made her decide so.
“Who says?”
“They.”
“Who are they?” She kept silent. She did not know how to answer that. Who are ‘they’?
“I don’t know who told you what but you shouldn’t listen to them. You are perfect just the way you are.”
“What is it with me that made you like me?”
“Hmm…that scarf.”
“Eh?”
“That scarf you had on was so warm looking. If you had bought it, I would just go and buy it and that’s it. But you made it yourself didn’t you? I guess that what made it so warm looking.”
He grabbed her hands and placed them against his chest. “You put love in making that scarf for me didn’t you? Although it’s getting warmer but whenever I see or touch it, it gives me warmth I can’t explain.”
“So, don’t listen to what some random person said. Just listen to me. You are perfect just the way you are.”
“And I wouldn’t change anything about you. Even when you look dumb listening to my smart conversations, you actually look cute.”
She confidently strutted over with the drinks in her hands. She sat beside him and passed him his tea, which he took with thanks. The buzzing was louder than before but she knew better to listen to them.
She was perfect in his eyes.
“So, why were you late?” she questioned him as he took a gulp of his tea.
“Oh, that. I had to pick up something on my way here.”
“You could have come out earlier.”
“I didn’t expect reporters to swarm around me the moment I got out of the shop. I was running like mad to tail them off!”
“Why would they do so?”
“Because I picked this up.”
He took out a small box covered with black velvet and opened it to reveal a simple diamond ring. He bent down on one knee, looking at her.
“Happy birthday and for your birthday gift, please marry me.”
DM: Gentlemanly kiss
Posted by: babymichiru on: June 12, 2011
Maybe because of Sho’s upbringing, he always gives me a gentleman feel. Not in the sense that he knows how to treat people well but he knows his manners (which I find is similar to mine 
). So, whenever I think about Sho and post date kisses (i.e. kisses after you send the girl home, which i think he will send right up to her door step), this pops into my head.
*****
Gentlemanly Kiss
First date
They say its bad to kiss on the first date because it will give the girl a bad impression that you are after other things rather than herself. So he decided that he will wait, maybe until the second or third date, when she knows her well enough to leave an impression on her lips.
But her lips were too delectable. He found himself staring at them as she bade him goodbye.
“Is it alright that I kiss you?”
She blushed and shook her head.
He went home feeling like an idiot.
*****
Second date
Today was a good date. He took her out for a movie and a nice dinner. Not the fancy stuff but at family restaurant where there was chatter all around. It was great to see her laugh at his lame jokes.
Maybe today is a good day, he told himself and decided that he will kiss her today.
“I know I asked this the last time but I can give you a kiss today?” he spewed out unconsciously as she smiled to thank him for the night. His treat as usual.
She blushed like she did the last time and shook her head again.
He went home thinking that she must be thinking that he is desperate to get into bed with her.
*****
Third date
It was his original plan today to kiss her. He brought her to Yokohama for a day trip like he always wanted to. Although he hated it, they got on the famous ferris wheel. Her excitement calmed him down.
She kept looking out of the gondola for the view while he tried not to show his nervousness. When they were at the top of the wheel, she turned to face him and saw him smile awkwardly at her.
“It’s wonderful isn’t it?” she asked him. He can only nod back to her as his voice was trapped in his throat.
“Are you alright?” she asked. He nodded the shook and then nodded and shook his head again. He was definitely not going to be alright until he gets back on the ground. It’s a wonder how he can travel on air planes!
In a moment, she shifted herself next to him. The gondola rocked and it caught him by surprise. Just then, her right hand guided his face to face her and she planted a kiss on his lips. He was mesmerised by the soft lips that he forgot about being high up in the air.
When she pulled away, she asked if it made him any better. He just gave an awkward nod and blushed as she shifted back to her seat, while holding his hands.
“Sho-san, sometimes being too gentlemanly will get you nowhere,” she teased him.
*****
Date 8
“Can I kiss you now?” he asked impatiently while she was busy looking for her keys in her bag. He was rushing to another location but just had to make sure she got into her apartment.
“Sho, you really have bad timing you know?”
“Can’t help it. Rushing off.”
And ignoring her annoyed face, he pulls her in for a kiss. Sometimes, being gentlemanly does get you nowhere.
DM: Confession
Posted by: babymichiru on: June 6, 2011
It popped in my head while I was showering last night. Don’t ask me why then. It just did.
*****
The both of them left the cinema, discussing what they had just watched. Today, he picked a romantic comedy. It was not always his type but there was something he wanted to ask today and he knew that that movie would have instilled some mood into her.
He had been seeing for the past few weeks. Just as friends since they were able to conversate well. She only had Sundays off because of her work so he would play around his schedule to match hers.
They stopped at a cafe and then continued their discussion over a pot of tea. She felt that the movie was not realistic as how the guy was practically chasing the girl to the ends of the world just because she forgot to reply to his confession.
“Will you?” she asked as she poked at her cake.
“Maybe,” he answered, sipping his tea. If it was you.
“Then you are pretty silly too,” she laughed at him.
“Then what would you have done?”
“As the guy?” He nodded.
“I would just get someone new. It is not as if she’s the only girl in the world.” He was surprised at her answer.
“But I would grab the opportunity when it is available. I wouldn’t have waited for that long to realised it’s gone.”
“So, does that mean you have someone you like?” he asked, sweating as he anticipated her answer. The fork was resting on her lips and she looked cute in thought.
“I guess so,” she answered nonchalantly.
He had split thoughts on this. If she was to say ‘yes’, it could be him and he would confess. If she said ‘no’, he may proceed to confess anyway. But her doubtful answer was confusing.
“Sou desu ka? What kind of person is he?” he asked, trying not to sound disappointed.
“Sou desu ne. I don’t really know though,” she answered, looking inquisitively at him.
“Eh?“
“Yup. Because everytime we go out, we only talk about the movies we watched,” she said, blushing slightly. He thought about it for a while. Besides him, she wasn’t seeing anyone else…
“Eh? Me?” he asked bluntly. She blushed even more but he was blushing too.
“Please close your mouth because I can see cake in there.”
Emo bunny with large earphones
Konnichiwa! Hajimemashite. Michiru desu. Douzo yoroshiku ne.
Yup. Michiru here and welcome to my world where imagination runs wilder than reality in life.
