Open Your Heart - Chapter Four
Kei Inoo was unable to hide a little skip in his step as he walked the two blocks it took to get home. He felt an unusual sort of happiness overwhelm him as he recounted the events that had occurred in the past couple hours he had spent with
Kota. The feeling was so odd and eccentric that he decided to call up Yuto so they could bask in his “happiness” together.
“Sure! I’ll be over in fifteen minutes,” Yuto had replied when Kei called him to ask if he was free in the afternoon. Fifteen minutes is a pretty long time, Kei speculated. Hmm…maybe I’ll stop by the bank to cash the check in; I don’t want to be carrying around that much money on my person.
~~~
Kei sighed in contentment as he threw away the now-empty carton of ice cream he had just shared with Yuto. The younger boy had left just minutes ago, but Kei was already beginning to miss the resonating sound of his laughter.
The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.
“Hello?” he asked into the receiver.
“Hello, Kei, dear, this is mom,” he heard an all-too-familiar voice say.
“Hey, mom. You okay? You sound a little flustered,” Kei lied, biting his lip. His mom sounded perfectly fine, but ever since she divorced his dad, back when Kei was only a mere 10 years old, his mom had moved to the other side of the world, and Kei knew the only reason why she would ever bother to call.
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” she lied back. “But truth is,” his mom continued slowly.
Kei knew what was coming.
“I need to, ahem, borrow some money again. I, um, lost my job and I can’t seem to find a stable income in these tough economic times…” he voice trailed off. “Point is, honey,” she stated firmly. “I need you to send me some cash again, got it?”
Kei took a deep breath. “How much do you need?”
Listening as his mother read off the number, anger flashed dangerously in Kei’s eyes. She always forgets that the money I constantly send her is supposed to be used for paying for my college tuition, not for her to splurge with her new boyfriend of the month. Sighing again, Kei suddenly remembered. Wait, I just received that paycheck from Kota, and it’s just about enough to cover my mom.
Kei smiled. He’s practically saved my life three times now, he laughed inwardly. Once, with the falling, twice, with the job, and now this. “I understand mom, I’m off to the bank now!” Kei hung up the phone before his mom could add any more to the amount she had already requested from him. Although he had technically just lost his first paycheck, he still had enough money saved up to last him for the week, until he received his next one.
~~~
The next morning, Kei Inoo awoke early, with a bright smile on his face. Today’s my first day at work. I don’t want to be late! Practically jumping out of bed, Kei took a quick shower, made a simple breakfast, making sure to leave some for his dad who would wake up later, and was out his door and on his way over to work by 7:45.
As he rang the doorbell, he wondered what his first day would be like, but of course, he had no idea what was actually in store for him.
“Kei! You’re here early! That’s great! Come on in!” Kei heard Kota Yabu’s voice ring happily through the speaker. Timidly walking up to the front door of the mansion, Kei realized that the mere size of the place still intimidated him. Before he was able to knock, however, Kota opened the door and ushered him inside and to the kitchen, where they were met by a petite, slightly elderly lady, who looked around fifty to sixty years old.
She had wrinkles surrounding her eyes, from what seemed to be years of smiling, but her lips were pursed, indicating she wasn’t exactly in a joyous mood at the moment. She wore a simple grey suit jacket and skirt, paired with black heels that were tall enough to elegance to her outfit, yet short enough to allow her to work a whole day without worrying about sore feet. Overall, she gave off a strict aura of tidiness and efficiency as she held her hands behind her back, circling around Kei, her eyes surveying him carefully.
Kei had no idea who this lady was, or why she was staring at him, but his wonderings were soon dispelled as she extended her hand and greeted, “Hello, I am Miss Mai, head housekeeper here, at the Yabu residence.”
He smiled, hoping to not offend her in any way, as he shook her outstretched hand and replied politely, “Hi, I’m Kei Inoo, the newest member of the staff here, please think well of me.”
“So what do you think, Miss Mai? Will he pass?” Kei heard Kota ask from behind him, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Miss Mai squinted her eyes at him. “I’ve never had to deal with someone like this before, Kota. I have no idea what you were thinking-”
Kota cut her off by placing a finger to his lips, as if he was preventing her from revealing some forbidden secret. “I’m sure it’ll be fine, you always like to worry too much,” Kota grinned.
Miss Mai scowled and muttered, “I have good reason to…” Sighing heavily, she cleared her throat. “But still,” she continued. “I am quite impressed, I must agree, this boy might actually pass,” she smiled slightly, deepening those wrinkles around her eyes, which sparkled with youthful mischief.
Kei was completely lost. “Wait, pass what?” he inquired suspiciously. “I thought you said there was no interview, Kota.” Kei turned to look at him with a questioning look on his face.
Miss Mai sighed once more. “Here we go…” she mumbled. Taking a deep breath, she began reciting, “Rule Number One: You must always refer to the homeowners as ‘Master’ and ‘Mistress’, or ‘Young Master’ in Kota’s case.” Kei began to protest, but she stopped him.
“Rule Number Two: You must always be dressed and ready to report to your station by 8am every weekday morning.”
“Dressed?” Kei interrupted, managing to squeeze a word in. “What do you mean by that? Do you expect me to come here naked-?”
Miss Mai cut him off. “You have been assigned to serve specifically under Young Master Kota, and as such, your designated station to report to every morning will be right outside our Young Master’s bedroom.”
Kei was now silent, his mind spinning; everything was happening too fast, he could barely digest Miss Mai’s words.
“Rule Number Three: You must always do as you’re told, and you are not allowed to complain,” she paused and shot a rather disapproving look at Kota.
“And just for you,” she continued, jutting a bony finger at Kei’s chest. “I’m adding one additional rule. Rule Number Four: It is forbidden for you to let anyone, and I mean ANYONE other than Kota and me, to know of your true identity. From this day forth, in this household, you will be known as Keiko Inoo, personal maid to Young Master Kota.”