Irrational Choices - chapter 2
Title: Irrational Choices - chapter 2
Pairing: Ryo, OC
Rating: pg-13
Disclaimer: I do not own any JE boys. This is my fictional fangirl mind at work.
Summary: After that fateful phone call that changed both their lives, what will happen next?
You can read Chapter 1 here
“That will be enough for today. Thank you everyone for your hard work.”
He let out a sigh. Finally the photo shoot was over. The lights were blinding him already, and he was tired of trying to smile and pose for the camera.
“Ryo. We need to get going. You have a radio interview at 5.” his manager of 4 years said to him. “Here. You look exhausted.” He said as he handed him a bottle of water.
Ro quickly gulped it down. “Thanks Kei.” He took his things from the table, put on his sunglasses and bolted towards the door.The quicker I can get out of here, the better, he thought to himself.
He could see through the corner of his eye that people were staring at him as he was walking. It no longer bothered him. He had gotten used to people gazing at him, stalking him even. He had understood all too well that it was a price for being a celebrity.
He opened the door to his red Ferrari and slumped down in the passenger seat. Kei would have to drive. I’m too tired to do anything now, he thought to himself. Kei soon stood by the Ferrari. Upon seeing that Ryo was at the passenger seat, he went to the driver seat and buckled himself in. He understood what Ryo meant.
“Daijoubu?” Kei asked in concern. Ryo simply nodded in reply. Kei looked at him for a moment, and once he was sure that his talent was indeed ok, fatigued but generally all right, they drove off towards the music station.
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“Would you be accepting it Ryo?” Kei asked him after he had read the contract.
There had been an offer to be the spokesperson for another clothing line. He was used to being courted by different companies, begging him to endorse their respective products. He accepted very few of them. Only those products that he himself had used or had tried out and liked. The others, though willing to pay millions, he shrugged away. He wouldn’t want to be acquainted with useless stuffs anyway. And it is with this principle that people had come to trust him, skyrocketing the sales of any of his product endorsements. The result was more and more companies are coming after him, offering enormous amounts in return.
“I’m thinking about it.” Ryo said. The brand this time is Russ-K. A Japanese brand that is now popular in the States. Aside from the fact that it’s Japanese owned, both he and Kei buys from there frequently.
“Then perhaps this would help you in deciding.” Kei said as he gave him another sheet of paper. “Look at the second to the last sentence of the last paragraph. Go on. Read it. “
Although confused, he followed Kei’s instructions. His eyes navigated the bottom half of the paper.
….Advertising campaign will be handled by Kuroi Shiroi Promotions…
Kuroi Shiroi… Kuroi Shiroi will be spearheading the Russ-K commercials. He looked at Kei, and grinning he said. “Thanks Kei. You know me too well. Let them know that I will do it.”
Kei chuckled at his reaction. “I wouldn’t be your manager 'til now if I don’t know your quirks. I knew that you will find it interesting. I’ll get going. I need to discuss the details of this one with their management. You’re welcome by the way.” he said as he patted the younger man’s shoulder.
Ryo smiled despite the teasing of his good friend. It’s the perfect opportunity after all. He gets to go to Japan, shoot the ad, and finally see his family and her.
He had been waiting for this moment for so long. Had she been able to forgive him? Had she kept her word to forget him? He cringed at the possibility that he could have been forgotten. No, he refuses to believe that she could do that to him. She had been by his side for so long, sticking with him through all his ordeals. They were complete opposites but the very best of friends. No matter how much she hates me, she couldn’t possibly forget me. It was the one thing he was confident of.
He let the memories engulf him again. He had always been the bully in school. Even though he was a small kid, his fist could make the big kids crumble to the ground. He was always in trouble. She had always been the nerd in their school. She was the honor student, the school pride. They only knew each other when they were both 12 years old.
He was on his way to school, fists bruised, lips swollen and uniform blood-stained. He had just gotten out of another fight. I’m in trouble again! He thought. But those kids were asking for it. They should have known better than to fight with him.
It was then that he saw her, pushed to the ground by another girl. “Give me your money four-eyes!” one of the 5 girls screamed. “But…but I don’t have any money…” the little girl with glasses replied. “Ha! You attend a private school and you’re telling us you have nothing? We are not that stupid, kid.” Another one replied. “Ano… I go there for free… I have a scholarship that’s why we don’t pay for anything.” The little girl replied, looking scared but determined to explain her situation to the other kids. The other girl didn’t seem to get whatever she was saying and started to check the kid’s bag. The kid tried to fight but 8 big hands stopped her. She was crying as the leader rummaged through her things.
That was when he noticed that the little kid wore his school’s girls uniform. The five big bullies were from the nearby public school. On a different instance, it could have been him in the position of the bullies. Yet somehow, the image in front of him appalled him so. He rationalized it was because the girl went to the same school as him. But whatever it is, he must stop them.
“You! What do you think you’re doing?” he growled. The other girls were startled by his presence. He must have looked scary, if the disheveled look of his uniform and the bulged eyes of the bullies were any indication.
“Let her go this very minute or suffer the consequences.” He warned them. The girls took the hint, let go of the little kid and her bag; and fled away. He picked the bag from the sidewalk and gave it to the kid. “Here.” He said as he kneeled beside her. “Daijoubu?” he asked. She nodded timidly. “I don’t think they will be bothering you again. But if someone tried to pick on you again, don’t cry and face them.” He told her. He knew from experience that it was no fun to bully someone who knows how to fight back.
“Arigatou.” She managed to say in between sobs. He smiled feebly and helped her up.
“Let’s get you to the clinic.” He said. She doesn’t look like she had been beaten, but being in so many fights, he knew that not all blows equates to blood. “Hai.” She simply said.
They slowly walked in silence towards the school grounds. Only to be met by their head principal at the front gate. “Nishikido-san! What are you doing with her? What have you done to her? Who did you fight this time? Don’t tell me you are picking on girls now?!” the panic-stricken voice of their headmistress was heard across the school grounds. In an instant, she was kneeling on the floor examining the girl, looking for any sign of serious injuries. He tried to explain what happened but he was pre-empted by the little girl beside him. “Inoue-sensei, daijoubu desu. He fought the bullies who were trying to attack me. He saved me.” Both he and the principal were surprised at her statement. It was only half of the truth. He knew she knew that he got the injuries before helping her out. But it doesn’t seem to matter as the older woman enveloped him in a close hug and said, “Arigatou Nishikido-san. You have protected one of our school’s pride.” After she had let him go, she turned to the other kid and said “Yuri-chan, you don’t seem to be hurt. He must have protected you well. We must go now. The junior’s division for Math Olympiad will be starting soon. “ She nodded in agreement. She bade him goodbye as another teacher led him towards the school clinic.
Since that day, Ryo had been looked at as a hero rather than the bully. For the first time, he felt he was respected by other people. He was looked at with pride instead of dismay. His parents found out about it as well, after the school administration contacted them. He remembered getting his Sony Playstation and plenty of his other requested toys. He doesn’t really understand all the fuss they were making. Had he known that this treatment would have resulted by saving a girl form being bullied, he would have done it long ago.
When he asked their class president who was the girl he saved, he chuckled at his question. “Nishikido-san, Tomioka Yuri-chan is the golden girl of this school. She has an IQ of 200 and had topped national and international academic competitions. She doesn’t have a penny to her name but she is a genius.” That explains why she is being taken care of so well. She was a walking and living advertisement of their school.
They were only able to talk a month after that incident. “Nishikido-san, konnichiwa. How are you doing?” he heard someone greet him from behind. He turned and wasn’t surprised to see the little girl with glasses again. “I forgot to introduce myself… “
“No need, I already know who you are. Tomioka Yuri-chan.” He smiled at her. Even at a young age, he knew that this girl had saved him as well, giving him a chance to break free of his ‘trouble-kid’ typecast. He doesn’t know if she did it on purpose, but he is nevertheless grateful. “Then… can we be friends, Nishikido-san? You can call me Yuri.” She asked him. He smiled at her again, one of the rare moments he smiled twice at the same person on the same day, and replied “Only if you start calling me as Ryo… Ryo-sama…” He gave her one of his psycho grins.
From then on, they had become inseparable. Up until high school, they were a formidable duo. She was the intellectual, who loves to talk and befriend people. He was the jock and band guitarist, who rarely talks nor smile. She was everyone’s friend, he was an enemy to look out for. He was irrational, she was the careful thinker. He has the poison tongue, but Yuri can outwit his remarks anytime. She was not afraid of him nor feels threatened. She even infuriates him more by saying what a sweet guy he is! Sweet never equates to Ryo. They were two very different people but good friends nonetheless. When interviewed by the school magazine on their friendship, Yuri replied that it was a symbiotic relationship gone crazy. She helped out with his school works, he taught her how to play the guitar. They knew each other's family and would spend a lot of time in each other’s houses.
Come junior year, puberty decided to visit him (he was a late-bloomer). Suddenly, girls noticed him more. He was receiving more and more chocolates and love letters; much to Yuri’s chagrin as she was always the one to deliver it to him. Yuri on the other hand still had glasses on, backpack in tow and hair in disarray. He reveled in the newfound attention but found that he did not take any of them seriously. How could he when a few years ago, they had brushed off his presence.
He noticed that even Yuri was acting strange. She now looks away when he stares blankly at her. She blushes when he would wipe the sauce from the sides of her mouth. She no longer piggy-backs on their way home. Somehow, he felt as though a part of Yuri he had known is now gone.
He confronted her one day, when his curiosity got the better of him. “Yuri-chan, what the heck is wrong? You have been acting really strange lately. If there is something or someone bothering you, you can always tell me. I will beat the crap out of them.” he said with a smirk.
Yuri was silent for awhile before she told him something that caught him by surprise. “Ryo, suki desu. I don’t know when it started, suddenly it’s just there. Please don’t be angry with me. I don’t want our friendship to change, I just feel like I need to tell you. It’s suffocating me not to be able to be honest with you.”
He was stunned to hear her confession. He wanted to joke about it, but the expression on her face stopped him. He knew that his best friend was serious. And so he answered her truthfully. “Yuri, you’re my best friend. You know that I care for you a lot. I don’t know if I feel the same way as you do. But I know that I would be really stupid to let go of a friend like you.” Yuri hugged him for the first time, saying that she was happy he didn’t hate her. He was not angry with her; in fact, it made him happy that his best friend liked him. What was unusual was that Yuri’s confession did not affect their relationship. They were still bickering as is, save for Yuri’s occasional blushes. Sometimes she would make remarks that her dream was to be first woman Prime Minister of Japan and be Ryo Nishikido’s wife. He told her that the former was more achievable. To which she would reply by throwing a piece of crumpled paper at his face.
But the summer vacation after their graduation (Yuri was the class valedictorian, no surprise there) changed a lot of things. He had met a Canadian foreigner named Leah Dizon when he came to visit his grandparents. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was staying at one of their family’s apartments in Osaka. She was shy and cute and she made his heart stop just by talking to her. Before he knew it, he fell for her. When he confessed to her he was surprised and happy to hear that she feels the same way. She was his first love. But the bliss didn’t last long, Leah had to go back. In such a short span of time he had experienced the joy of loving and the pain of breaking up. He was left heartbroken in Japan, having no one to confide to other than his best friend. He realizes now how much he has hurt her by doing so. Yet she stayed by his side, taking him to parks and concerts and even to trips to Chiba just to take his mind away from thinking about Leah.
Two weeks before the class semester begins was Yuri’s birthday. They always celebrate it by eating out, just the two of them, for dinner. It can be as simple as eating ramen or takoyaki, but that year they had decided on something more high-end. It was his treat for Yuri’s passing at Todai (he was going to Meiji). But the night before Yuri’s birthday, he received a phone call that will change his life.
“Hello?” he said in the mouthpiece.
“Ryo-chan….” A girl’s voice said on the other end. That voice. It had haunted his sleeping and waking moments.
“Le… Leah…leah-chan?” he asked almost choking in surprise. He was scared that he was dreaming all along.
“Yes its me.” The girl that broke his heart said.
“Why… why are you calling?” he was able to ask. He distinctly remembers that Leah said she doesn’t want any further communication with him.
“Well, I miss you Ryo… I just wanted to hear your voice.” She said. He couldn’t believe his ears. She said she missed him! Does that mean their relationship was more than a summer fling? Hope flickered from the depths of his broken heart.
“I… I miss you too… a lot…” he was able to say. His heart was pounding so fast, out of sheer excitement and bliss.
“I have to go Ryo. I just wanted to tell you that. Bye.” She said on the other end. The line went dead. He panicked. It was like being given a piece of heaven only to be taken away so quickly. He made a decision right there and then. He needed to see her, to be with her, to prove that he was the right guy for her. He was willing to sacrifice everything that he had, just to be with her once again. The next thing he knew, he was booking a plane to Canada. He was scheduled to leave the next day, on his best friend’s birthday. ..
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He took out his prized possession - a picture of him and Yuri - from his wallet. It was the last picture they had taken together. Yuri was teary-eyed, holding her acceptance letter, while he was standing on her left, one arm slung around her, and holding a peace sign with his left hand. He was laughing while she was crying. It was another photo of their contradiction. It was the day that their college acceptance letters were announced. He remembered being so happy that his genius of a best friend was going to University of Tokyo with full scholarship, only to find her crying because he was not accepted in Todai as well. He had laughed at her reaction.
“But I was so sure that you would be accepted! Perhaps there was some sort of error!” she said as tears flowed down her cheek. He wiped the tears away and said “Baka! There is no error. I know I’m a genius as well, but I am not suited to be at Todai. I can only handle so much nerdiness. My geek tolerance had already been tested by you.” He teased her. As much as he was sad that they can’t go to the same school, he was happy for her. She was destined for great things, he had always believed that.
So as part of the celebrations, they had an all night karaoke with their other friends. She was still sulking until he promised to treat her to a fancy dinner on her birthday - her face immediately lit up. He can read her too well.
He can’t help but smile at the bittersweet memories. He was anxious to finally be home and scared as to what awaits him. He had not gone home for half a decade; he would send cards to them during important occasions but he did not dare to set foot on his homeland.
After leaving all that he had for a girl 5years ago, only to find her engaged to be married to another guy, his manly ego had been crushed. He was enraged that the girl he loved had never taken him seriously and only called to see if she still had power over him. He was scared shitless because he was alone in a country whose language he knows not how to speak, even for a little. He hated himself for being stupid. But most of all, he was in pain because he had broken the heart of the person who was dear to him.
He only knew that he cannot go back, not now, when he was in pieces. His pride got the best of him. And so, he decided to stay, working different part-time jobs, busying himself so that he wouldn’t have to face the loneliness he felt. Until he met his now manager Keiichiro Koyama. Kei had heard him perform during one of his night gigs, where he was singing accompanied by his guitar. He convinced him to sign a record deal with him as his agent, and migrated to France where his music was appreciated. And the rest they say is history.
He was grateful for the unexpected turn-out of the events. The satisfaction he got from performing, the smiles of his fans, the deafening applause after each sold-out concerts, the music that was uniquely his that had reached countries worldwide.Who would have known that this kind of life would be his for the taking? And yet, despite all his success, he knew that he wasn’t entirely happy. His past haunted him. He needed to face his family, face their pain on seeing him go and ask for their forgiveness despite all he had done. But what scared him the most was having to face Yuri, the person who had been most precious to him all along but was left and discarded as trash. He would have to make amends.
From some of his of high school friends who attended his concerts, he found out that Yuri stayed in Todai for 3 years, and continued the last couple of years at Yale under a foreign studies program. She graduated as Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Business. That was the last that they had heard. She had been speculated to work at top companies, but which one specifically, no one really knew - until she was featured in People Magazine’s 10 Most Influential Women of the Year. It was then that he found out that she was now the President of Kuroi Shiroi Promotions, an Advertising and Public Relations firm that had taken the marketing world by storm.
Their creative insights raked in millions of sales and formidable brand recognition. It was a relatively new firm but was able to compete with industry giants. And she, she was the driving force behind it all.
He was ecstatic as he read the article. His heart welling up with pride at how much she had accomplished. She had made it big in her own way and in the process, she exceeded other people’s typical expectations of her future.
The opportunity to work with her and see her once again was too good to let go. He was going to face her. He had braced himself for her outburst, so long as she will see him again. He knew from the depths of his heart that his best friend would forgive him, despite his flaws and misdoings.
With a satisfied smile, he placed the picture back in his wallet and into his jean’s pocket. Wait for me, Yuri. I’m coming home, he thought as the plane took off the runway.
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A/N: Gomen. This is a rather long follow-up. This chapter was more of an explanation (and narration) of the events before and after THE phone call. I tried to bring out the jerk and sweet Ryo in this chap. Not sure if I succeeded though. *sigh*
My deepest gratitude to Myradel (sorry! I don't know how to link this) who betaed my fics.
Comments are loved.
Pairing: Ryo, OC
Rating: pg-13
Disclaimer: I do not own any JE boys. This is my fictional fangirl mind at work.
Summary: After that fateful phone call that changed both their lives, what will happen next?
You can read Chapter 1 here
“That will be enough for today. Thank you everyone for your hard work.”
He let out a sigh. Finally the photo shoot was over. The lights were blinding him already, and he was tired of trying to smile and pose for the camera.
“Ryo. We need to get going. You have a radio interview at 5.” his manager of 4 years said to him. “Here. You look exhausted.” He said as he handed him a bottle of water.
Ro quickly gulped it down. “Thanks Kei.” He took his things from the table, put on his sunglasses and bolted towards the door.The quicker I can get out of here, the better, he thought to himself.
He could see through the corner of his eye that people were staring at him as he was walking. It no longer bothered him. He had gotten used to people gazing at him, stalking him even. He had understood all too well that it was a price for being a celebrity.
He opened the door to his red Ferrari and slumped down in the passenger seat. Kei would have to drive. I’m too tired to do anything now, he thought to himself. Kei soon stood by the Ferrari. Upon seeing that Ryo was at the passenger seat, he went to the driver seat and buckled himself in. He understood what Ryo meant.
“Daijoubu?” Kei asked in concern. Ryo simply nodded in reply. Kei looked at him for a moment, and once he was sure that his talent was indeed ok, fatigued but generally all right, they drove off towards the music station.
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“Would you be accepting it Ryo?” Kei asked him after he had read the contract.
There had been an offer to be the spokesperson for another clothing line. He was used to being courted by different companies, begging him to endorse their respective products. He accepted very few of them. Only those products that he himself had used or had tried out and liked. The others, though willing to pay millions, he shrugged away. He wouldn’t want to be acquainted with useless stuffs anyway. And it is with this principle that people had come to trust him, skyrocketing the sales of any of his product endorsements. The result was more and more companies are coming after him, offering enormous amounts in return.
“I’m thinking about it.” Ryo said. The brand this time is Russ-K. A Japanese brand that is now popular in the States. Aside from the fact that it’s Japanese owned, both he and Kei buys from there frequently.
“Then perhaps this would help you in deciding.” Kei said as he gave him another sheet of paper. “Look at the second to the last sentence of the last paragraph. Go on. Read it. “
Although confused, he followed Kei’s instructions. His eyes navigated the bottom half of the paper.
….Advertising campaign will be handled by Kuroi Shiroi Promotions…
Kuroi Shiroi… Kuroi Shiroi will be spearheading the Russ-K commercials. He looked at Kei, and grinning he said. “Thanks Kei. You know me too well. Let them know that I will do it.”
Kei chuckled at his reaction. “I wouldn’t be your manager 'til now if I don’t know your quirks. I knew that you will find it interesting. I’ll get going. I need to discuss the details of this one with their management. You’re welcome by the way.” he said as he patted the younger man’s shoulder.
Ryo smiled despite the teasing of his good friend. It’s the perfect opportunity after all. He gets to go to Japan, shoot the ad, and finally see his family and her.
He had been waiting for this moment for so long. Had she been able to forgive him? Had she kept her word to forget him? He cringed at the possibility that he could have been forgotten. No, he refuses to believe that she could do that to him. She had been by his side for so long, sticking with him through all his ordeals. They were complete opposites but the very best of friends. No matter how much she hates me, she couldn’t possibly forget me. It was the one thing he was confident of.
He let the memories engulf him again. He had always been the bully in school. Even though he was a small kid, his fist could make the big kids crumble to the ground. He was always in trouble. She had always been the nerd in their school. She was the honor student, the school pride. They only knew each other when they were both 12 years old.
He was on his way to school, fists bruised, lips swollen and uniform blood-stained. He had just gotten out of another fight. I’m in trouble again! He thought. But those kids were asking for it. They should have known better than to fight with him.
It was then that he saw her, pushed to the ground by another girl. “Give me your money four-eyes!” one of the 5 girls screamed. “But…but I don’t have any money…” the little girl with glasses replied. “Ha! You attend a private school and you’re telling us you have nothing? We are not that stupid, kid.” Another one replied. “Ano… I go there for free… I have a scholarship that’s why we don’t pay for anything.” The little girl replied, looking scared but determined to explain her situation to the other kids. The other girl didn’t seem to get whatever she was saying and started to check the kid’s bag. The kid tried to fight but 8 big hands stopped her. She was crying as the leader rummaged through her things.
That was when he noticed that the little kid wore his school’s girls uniform. The five big bullies were from the nearby public school. On a different instance, it could have been him in the position of the bullies. Yet somehow, the image in front of him appalled him so. He rationalized it was because the girl went to the same school as him. But whatever it is, he must stop them.
“You! What do you think you’re doing?” he growled. The other girls were startled by his presence. He must have looked scary, if the disheveled look of his uniform and the bulged eyes of the bullies were any indication.
“Let her go this very minute or suffer the consequences.” He warned them. The girls took the hint, let go of the little kid and her bag; and fled away. He picked the bag from the sidewalk and gave it to the kid. “Here.” He said as he kneeled beside her. “Daijoubu?” he asked. She nodded timidly. “I don’t think they will be bothering you again. But if someone tried to pick on you again, don’t cry and face them.” He told her. He knew from experience that it was no fun to bully someone who knows how to fight back.
“Arigatou.” She managed to say in between sobs. He smiled feebly and helped her up.
“Let’s get you to the clinic.” He said. She doesn’t look like she had been beaten, but being in so many fights, he knew that not all blows equates to blood. “Hai.” She simply said.
They slowly walked in silence towards the school grounds. Only to be met by their head principal at the front gate. “Nishikido-san! What are you doing with her? What have you done to her? Who did you fight this time? Don’t tell me you are picking on girls now?!” the panic-stricken voice of their headmistress was heard across the school grounds. In an instant, she was kneeling on the floor examining the girl, looking for any sign of serious injuries. He tried to explain what happened but he was pre-empted by the little girl beside him. “Inoue-sensei, daijoubu desu. He fought the bullies who were trying to attack me. He saved me.” Both he and the principal were surprised at her statement. It was only half of the truth. He knew she knew that he got the injuries before helping her out. But it doesn’t seem to matter as the older woman enveloped him in a close hug and said, “Arigatou Nishikido-san. You have protected one of our school’s pride.” After she had let him go, she turned to the other kid and said “Yuri-chan, you don’t seem to be hurt. He must have protected you well. We must go now. The junior’s division for Math Olympiad will be starting soon. “ She nodded in agreement. She bade him goodbye as another teacher led him towards the school clinic.
Since that day, Ryo had been looked at as a hero rather than the bully. For the first time, he felt he was respected by other people. He was looked at with pride instead of dismay. His parents found out about it as well, after the school administration contacted them. He remembered getting his Sony Playstation and plenty of his other requested toys. He doesn’t really understand all the fuss they were making. Had he known that this treatment would have resulted by saving a girl form being bullied, he would have done it long ago.
When he asked their class president who was the girl he saved, he chuckled at his question. “Nishikido-san, Tomioka Yuri-chan is the golden girl of this school. She has an IQ of 200 and had topped national and international academic competitions. She doesn’t have a penny to her name but she is a genius.” That explains why she is being taken care of so well. She was a walking and living advertisement of their school.
They were only able to talk a month after that incident. “Nishikido-san, konnichiwa. How are you doing?” he heard someone greet him from behind. He turned and wasn’t surprised to see the little girl with glasses again. “I forgot to introduce myself… “
“No need, I already know who you are. Tomioka Yuri-chan.” He smiled at her. Even at a young age, he knew that this girl had saved him as well, giving him a chance to break free of his ‘trouble-kid’ typecast. He doesn’t know if she did it on purpose, but he is nevertheless grateful. “Then… can we be friends, Nishikido-san? You can call me Yuri.” She asked him. He smiled at her again, one of the rare moments he smiled twice at the same person on the same day, and replied “Only if you start calling me as Ryo… Ryo-sama…” He gave her one of his psycho grins.
From then on, they had become inseparable. Up until high school, they were a formidable duo. She was the intellectual, who loves to talk and befriend people. He was the jock and band guitarist, who rarely talks nor smile. She was everyone’s friend, he was an enemy to look out for. He was irrational, she was the careful thinker. He has the poison tongue, but Yuri can outwit his remarks anytime. She was not afraid of him nor feels threatened. She even infuriates him more by saying what a sweet guy he is! Sweet never equates to Ryo. They were two very different people but good friends nonetheless. When interviewed by the school magazine on their friendship, Yuri replied that it was a symbiotic relationship gone crazy. She helped out with his school works, he taught her how to play the guitar. They knew each other's family and would spend a lot of time in each other’s houses.
Come junior year, puberty decided to visit him (he was a late-bloomer). Suddenly, girls noticed him more. He was receiving more and more chocolates and love letters; much to Yuri’s chagrin as she was always the one to deliver it to him. Yuri on the other hand still had glasses on, backpack in tow and hair in disarray. He reveled in the newfound attention but found that he did not take any of them seriously. How could he when a few years ago, they had brushed off his presence.
He noticed that even Yuri was acting strange. She now looks away when he stares blankly at her. She blushes when he would wipe the sauce from the sides of her mouth. She no longer piggy-backs on their way home. Somehow, he felt as though a part of Yuri he had known is now gone.
He confronted her one day, when his curiosity got the better of him. “Yuri-chan, what the heck is wrong? You have been acting really strange lately. If there is something or someone bothering you, you can always tell me. I will beat the crap out of them.” he said with a smirk.
Yuri was silent for awhile before she told him something that caught him by surprise. “Ryo, suki desu. I don’t know when it started, suddenly it’s just there. Please don’t be angry with me. I don’t want our friendship to change, I just feel like I need to tell you. It’s suffocating me not to be able to be honest with you.”
He was stunned to hear her confession. He wanted to joke about it, but the expression on her face stopped him. He knew that his best friend was serious. And so he answered her truthfully. “Yuri, you’re my best friend. You know that I care for you a lot. I don’t know if I feel the same way as you do. But I know that I would be really stupid to let go of a friend like you.” Yuri hugged him for the first time, saying that she was happy he didn’t hate her. He was not angry with her; in fact, it made him happy that his best friend liked him. What was unusual was that Yuri’s confession did not affect their relationship. They were still bickering as is, save for Yuri’s occasional blushes. Sometimes she would make remarks that her dream was to be first woman Prime Minister of Japan and be Ryo Nishikido’s wife. He told her that the former was more achievable. To which she would reply by throwing a piece of crumpled paper at his face.
But the summer vacation after their graduation (Yuri was the class valedictorian, no surprise there) changed a lot of things. He had met a Canadian foreigner named Leah Dizon when he came to visit his grandparents. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was staying at one of their family’s apartments in Osaka. She was shy and cute and she made his heart stop just by talking to her. Before he knew it, he fell for her. When he confessed to her he was surprised and happy to hear that she feels the same way. She was his first love. But the bliss didn’t last long, Leah had to go back. In such a short span of time he had experienced the joy of loving and the pain of breaking up. He was left heartbroken in Japan, having no one to confide to other than his best friend. He realizes now how much he has hurt her by doing so. Yet she stayed by his side, taking him to parks and concerts and even to trips to Chiba just to take his mind away from thinking about Leah.
Two weeks before the class semester begins was Yuri’s birthday. They always celebrate it by eating out, just the two of them, for dinner. It can be as simple as eating ramen or takoyaki, but that year they had decided on something more high-end. It was his treat for Yuri’s passing at Todai (he was going to Meiji). But the night before Yuri’s birthday, he received a phone call that will change his life.
“Hello?” he said in the mouthpiece.
“Ryo-chan….” A girl’s voice said on the other end. That voice. It had haunted his sleeping and waking moments.
“Le… Leah…leah-chan?” he asked almost choking in surprise. He was scared that he was dreaming all along.
“Yes its me.” The girl that broke his heart said.
“Why… why are you calling?” he was able to ask. He distinctly remembers that Leah said she doesn’t want any further communication with him.
“Well, I miss you Ryo… I just wanted to hear your voice.” She said. He couldn’t believe his ears. She said she missed him! Does that mean their relationship was more than a summer fling? Hope flickered from the depths of his broken heart.
“I… I miss you too… a lot…” he was able to say. His heart was pounding so fast, out of sheer excitement and bliss.
“I have to go Ryo. I just wanted to tell you that. Bye.” She said on the other end. The line went dead. He panicked. It was like being given a piece of heaven only to be taken away so quickly. He made a decision right there and then. He needed to see her, to be with her, to prove that he was the right guy for her. He was willing to sacrifice everything that he had, just to be with her once again. The next thing he knew, he was booking a plane to Canada. He was scheduled to leave the next day, on his best friend’s birthday. ..
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He took out his prized possession - a picture of him and Yuri - from his wallet. It was the last picture they had taken together. Yuri was teary-eyed, holding her acceptance letter, while he was standing on her left, one arm slung around her, and holding a peace sign with his left hand. He was laughing while she was crying. It was another photo of their contradiction. It was the day that their college acceptance letters were announced. He remembered being so happy that his genius of a best friend was going to University of Tokyo with full scholarship, only to find her crying because he was not accepted in Todai as well. He had laughed at her reaction.
“But I was so sure that you would be accepted! Perhaps there was some sort of error!” she said as tears flowed down her cheek. He wiped the tears away and said “Baka! There is no error. I know I’m a genius as well, but I am not suited to be at Todai. I can only handle so much nerdiness. My geek tolerance had already been tested by you.” He teased her. As much as he was sad that they can’t go to the same school, he was happy for her. She was destined for great things, he had always believed that.
So as part of the celebrations, they had an all night karaoke with their other friends. She was still sulking until he promised to treat her to a fancy dinner on her birthday - her face immediately lit up. He can read her too well.
He can’t help but smile at the bittersweet memories. He was anxious to finally be home and scared as to what awaits him. He had not gone home for half a decade; he would send cards to them during important occasions but he did not dare to set foot on his homeland.
After leaving all that he had for a girl 5years ago, only to find her engaged to be married to another guy, his manly ego had been crushed. He was enraged that the girl he loved had never taken him seriously and only called to see if she still had power over him. He was scared shitless because he was alone in a country whose language he knows not how to speak, even for a little. He hated himself for being stupid. But most of all, he was in pain because he had broken the heart of the person who was dear to him.
He only knew that he cannot go back, not now, when he was in pieces. His pride got the best of him. And so, he decided to stay, working different part-time jobs, busying himself so that he wouldn’t have to face the loneliness he felt. Until he met his now manager Keiichiro Koyama. Kei had heard him perform during one of his night gigs, where he was singing accompanied by his guitar. He convinced him to sign a record deal with him as his agent, and migrated to France where his music was appreciated. And the rest they say is history.
He was grateful for the unexpected turn-out of the events. The satisfaction he got from performing, the smiles of his fans, the deafening applause after each sold-out concerts, the music that was uniquely his that had reached countries worldwide.Who would have known that this kind of life would be his for the taking? And yet, despite all his success, he knew that he wasn’t entirely happy. His past haunted him. He needed to face his family, face their pain on seeing him go and ask for their forgiveness despite all he had done. But what scared him the most was having to face Yuri, the person who had been most precious to him all along but was left and discarded as trash. He would have to make amends.
From some of his of high school friends who attended his concerts, he found out that Yuri stayed in Todai for 3 years, and continued the last couple of years at Yale under a foreign studies program. She graduated as Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Business. That was the last that they had heard. She had been speculated to work at top companies, but which one specifically, no one really knew - until she was featured in People Magazine’s 10 Most Influential Women of the Year. It was then that he found out that she was now the President of Kuroi Shiroi Promotions, an Advertising and Public Relations firm that had taken the marketing world by storm.
Their creative insights raked in millions of sales and formidable brand recognition. It was a relatively new firm but was able to compete with industry giants. And she, she was the driving force behind it all.
He was ecstatic as he read the article. His heart welling up with pride at how much she had accomplished. She had made it big in her own way and in the process, she exceeded other people’s typical expectations of her future.
The opportunity to work with her and see her once again was too good to let go. He was going to face her. He had braced himself for her outburst, so long as she will see him again. He knew from the depths of his heart that his best friend would forgive him, despite his flaws and misdoings.
With a satisfied smile, he placed the picture back in his wallet and into his jean’s pocket. Wait for me, Yuri. I’m coming home, he thought as the plane took off the runway.
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A/N: Gomen. This is a rather long follow-up. This chapter was more of an explanation (and narration) of the events before and after THE phone call. I tried to bring out the jerk and sweet Ryo in this chap. Not sure if I succeeded though. *sigh*
My deepest gratitude to Myradel (sorry! I don't know how to link this) who betaed my fics.
Comments are loved.