Boy Meets Girl, Girl Meets Boy: A Love Story (Chapter 1 - 3)
Chapter One
Sometimes I wondered how did my life turned out to be like this.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I like my life. I just wondered sometimes how did I get so lucky in life.
I'm half-Japanese, although it’s not obvious. My mom died when I was little. I never really knew here, but from what I hear, she was kind and wonderful. She was an exchange student from The Philippines, earning her Masters in Education at Seisun University. She met my dad while studying and got married after she graduated. He was a financial manager of a large bank, she a teacher at a private high school. I have two siblings, a brother and a sister. We used to have a dog. Or so I was told.
I don't really remember much from my childhood. All I could remember was that, after my mom died, my dad started spiraling out of control. He sent us to live with my aunt, his sister. I thought that was just temporary but it wasn't. In the end, my aunt adopted and raised us. It wasn't the happiest situation but we tried to make the best out of it.
So I ended up living with my aunt and her husband, my uncle. They don't have any children because she's...infertile (she wouldn't tell me the details and I didn't prod because it's a sensitive issue to her) but she says she's grateful that she has us.
When I was 8 years old, I met this girl from my neighborhood named Emiko Hiroyuta. We became very good friends after she dropped her ice cream when another kid bumped into her. I gave her mine instead to make her stop crying and we became friends since. My aunt also "adopted" her after her parents died in a car accident. She and her brother lived with her grandparents but she couldn't get along with them (that's what she says) so she moved in with us when she was 11 years old.
My brother moved out after graduating from college. He now lives in Minato with his "fiancé". His room is now occupied by Emiko's brother, who also moved in with us after graduating from junior high and works part-time at the bakery shop that my family owns. My aunt and uncle own the bakery shop where we all live. The building has five floors, the first two floors below for the bakeshop and its offices while the next three for the living quarters. It started as a run-down building, which they brought from the government (including the deed) during the yearly public auction. Next to the building is a public park, which the government also acquired along with the building. Rumor has it, a yakuza family sold it to them after its leader got killed in an encounter with a former KGB operative.
My sister sometimes lives with us but mostly she lives in the family home. I alternate between my aunt's house and the family house as well. The house was an inheritance gift to my mom by a friend of hers. Turns out, my mom became very good friends with one of her professors during grad school. When her sensei died, he left one of his houses in her name (along with the deed). We used to live in the house when I was young, but moved out when she died. She left it to us in her will and since my dad wanted to honor her wish, he insisted we (the children) live in the house. A few months later, he left and never came back. We still live in the house though.
I'm now studying in my mom's Alma matter, Seisen University, majoring in History. My dad lives abroad but sends us money for school, living and miscellaneous expenses. Aside from the allowance he sends and the usual birthday money, he doesn't give us much money. So I took a job as a part-time photographer at a studio in Shibuya aside from helping out at the bakeshop. It hasn't been an easy life but still, in some ways, I am lucky.
Or so I thought.
(At least that's what I thought to myself...)
All throughout my teenage years, and up until now, I only had one motto in life - to go through it unnoticed and avoid attention as much as possible.
Little did I know my life would turn upside down...
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Chapter Two
There he was.
There he was again. In my dreams. Just like the last several ones. Just like every night, for the last several nights.
Oh, when will he ever get out of it and into reality??
Um...maybe never.
The dream starts out the same. There he was, wearing a tux, the kind a guy wears to a formal affair. I first saw him wear it when I first met him. Well...I didn't actually meet him, more like bumped into him....but I'm getting ahead of the story (I'll explain it later). So there he was, wearing a tux. And damn, did he look hot! He comes up to me and flashes me this really incredible smile. He holds out his hand and asks me to dance. Of course, the flattered I say yes. He leads me onto the dance floor, puts his hands around my waist and we dance to a slow song. As the lights get dimmer and dimmer, he leans his head down and his face is getting closer to mine. His eyes are on me as his lips are about a mere inch from mine and -
Kring! Kring! Kring! Kring! Kriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!
...the alarm clock goes off.
I open my eyes and suddenly sit up from the bed, which causes my head to hurt. What the hell...??
I slump back on the bed and cover my face with a pillow. Why can't this dream seem to stop? Every night, it's the same dream. And every night, it's the same character - me and my dream guy. Sometimes I wish this dream wasn't a dream but a reality.
A loud knock sounded on my door, interrupting my musings. "Hanari!! Hanari!! Wake up!!" The loud banging kept on. "Hanari Furimoto, you'd better be awake or else I'll drag you out of bed in five minutes!"
I grumbled and got up. "Alright, alright! Geez..." My aunt can be so demanding sometimes. She isn't like this, you know. She only gets like this whenever there's a problem at the bakeshop.
....which means, there's a problem downstairs. I quickly got up, slipped on my bathrobe and ran downstairs. Sure enough, there she was. She was fighting with a man. I went down to the first floor, near the back garage to hear what they were saying.
"What do you mean, you didn't bring it?!? How am I going to make my melon cakes when there are no melons??"
"I know but something happened on the way and - and the truck driver, he was in an altercation - there was an accident - " The man was shaking his head and getting flustered.
I stopped at the last step. "What's going on?"
She sighed and waved a hand in the air. "That's what I'd like to know." She pointed to the man with her eyes.
"Ah, sumimasen." he bowed several times as he repeated the apology. "A car crashed into the delivery truck on the way here. We're doing our best to remedy the situation. Please accept our sincerest apologies and we promise this won't happen again. " The man pleaded.
"Save your promises." My aunt looked away and raised an eyebrow. "There better be a discount for the next delivery..." She muttered.
"Gomen na sai." I bowed to the man. "Please don't mind my aunt. She's just upset. Don't worry about the melons. I'll take care of it." I escorted him towards the door. "Please send my regards to the truck driver and your company. I hope he is okay."
The man smiled. "Doumo arigatou."
I closed the door after the man left hastily. I moved forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ano...would it be alright if I brought the melons instead? If you really need them, I know this place where I can get some..."
She glanced at me, her eyes growing big. "Hountou?" A big smile spread across her face. "Oh, that would be so wonderful!! How much do you need??...forget it! I'll give you more than enough. Just buy me those melons!!" She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out several bills. She then slapped said bills into my hands. "Thank you so much Hanari!! You're the most wonderful niece in the world!!" She threw her arms around me and gathered me into a really tight hug.
I waved an arm in the air. "Auntie...too tight...can't breathe..." I choked out.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry..." She let me go. "Just got a little excited there, that's all." She turned me around and tried to shove me up the stairs. "Better get upstairs, ne. You still have school!"
"Fine, fine..." I frowned and headed back upstairs.
School...Oh, yeah. How could I forget?
As I got dressed and ready for school, I made a mental note to myself to pass by Samuya organic farm on the other side of town to buy the melons.
Let's just hope I can remember it...
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Chapter Three
I was feeling lucky today. I didn't know what happened but somehow, a stroke of luck had fallen on me. Why? Well, for the following reasons: 1. My teacher was absent for my last class, which meant I could go home early today, 2. I thought I had lost my calculator and when I checked the lost and found, a person was kind enough to report it there, and 3. The organic farm had a sale today. Wow! Just my luck!!
Since the farm had a sale today, I went and splurged since I had some extra money. I bought the melons as well as some strawberries because I was planning to make a strawberry cake. I went and paid for my purchases and hung out for a bit to chat with the owners.
After leaving, I dropped off the fruits at home. I got out of the car, went inside the bake shop and stored it in the refrigerator.
"Hanari!" A huge voice bellowed out. "Off to work?"
"Santori-san!" I waved back at him. "Yep. Just dropped by to get my stuff. Ja ne!" I waved again and grabbed the large trolley case under the stairs.
I dragged it out and loaded it onto my car. As I drove away, I tried to remember how long had I known Santori-san. He's one of the older employees at the bake shop but to me, he's so much more.
I turned around the next corner and saw it. Ah, the public parking lot. I paid for a ticket and parked it to a space near the exit. After making sure to lock it, I brought out my case and walked across the street to the train station.
This is my usual routine every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. I take the JR train from Minato and get off at Shibuya. Then I walk a few blocks (two, to be exact) until I reach the studio.
I glance at my watch as I get off the Shibuya station. 2:30 pm. I tried to walk faster, dragging my case along. Mustn’t be late for work!
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I rubbed my eyes as I took the last shot. Taking pictures of kids can be fun but sometimes stressful. If you're not fond of kids, they can really test your patience.
The young boy smiled, one of his front teeth missing. After taking the shot, he then stuck his tongue out at me and ran off to his mother. I, in turn, just shook my head. Kids.
The mother just smiled back at me. I'd like to think that that was an apology as I gave her a weak smile. I moved to the back of the room and told my boss that I was going for a break. He nodded and went back to smoking.
I ran out of the building and across the street. I needed some caffeine to jolt me to wakefulness so I bought a hot coffee. I went back across the street again and started to walk around the street while sipping my coffee when something caught my eye.
I was looking at the people passing me by across the street when I saw this guy. He was talking to someone as I continued to walk. He looked oddly familiar and I just stared at him while walking, trying to remember who he was. Suddenly, it hit me.
Oh. My. God.
It's him!!!
I got a sudden fear of panic and started running. Oh God. What am I going to do? I hope he doesn't recognize me! I look like hell! Better hide. Run, Hanari, run. Run fast and hide.
I started running towards the building, checking back to see if he was looking my way. Suddenly, my body bumped into a hard wall and my very hot coffee splashed everywhere. I turned my head around to see that I bumped into a guy.
"Itai!!" He yelled. "My clothes!! What the hell?? Hey! Why don't you look where you're going??"
"What do you mean where should I look?? Why don't YOU look where you're going?? You're the one who bumped into me!!"
"Me?? Excuse me, but you were obviously looking at something else!" He pointed across the street. "And you spilled coffee all over me!!" He pulled at his clothes and made a disgusted face. "Ewwwwww!!"
"Well, you deserve it!! It's your fault, you know! Why were you walking in front of me, anyway?? If you saw me looking at somewhere else, then you should've avoided me!! You shouldn't have continued and walked into me!! Baka!!" I made a face at him and stormed off.
I heard him yell something after me but I ignored it. I threw my coffee cup hastily onto the nearest trash bin as I walked off. God, what a jerk!! The nerve of that guy!!
I slammed the door behind me as I came back into the studio. I hid myself in my boss' office, leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
Great, just great. I just made a fool of myself in front of my crush. Not only that but I also lost my coffee as well. Nice going, Hanari.
I slid down on the floor and closed my eyes. Things suddenly ran with bad luck.
Could my life go any worse??
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