[Fanfic] A Beautiful Mess (Chapter Twenty Four)
I finally decided, this fic will end soon. :( Only two or three chapters more and it ends. But don't fret! I will continue to write and hopefully, it will be even better than this one. There's no other choice but to get better, right? :D
As always, this is unbeta-ed, so tell me if there are any mistakes or errors. Comments, reactions, suggestions and criticisms are welcomed. Happy reading! :D
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
It was already two in the morning, she sighed heavily as reads the time. It was only a little less than twenty-four hours since she got back to Tokyo from her quick vacation but she’s feeling like she’s been working non-stop. As soon as she got out of the airport, she immediately went straight home and began writing music for her upcoming album. It was one of those days when inspiration comes blasting to her mind and she can’t wait to write it all down at once, before she knew it, she’s been sitting on her working table for seventeen hours straight.
She dropped her aching back into her soft bed as she closed her eyes. Her stomach is grumbling with hunger but she’s too tired and lazy to prepare food for herself. She figured that she’ll just sleep, she badly needed one. She didn’t get to have any good sleep in Phuket at all. She spent the entire six nights at her room’s veranda, accompanied by the waves of the wide ocean, the swinging of the coconut trees and the cool tropical breeze with a notebook and a pen in hand.
She’s writing music. She doesn’t know what’s with this place that inspires her to write but it’s a good thing. For months she lost the touch to create a good music and everything on her files are crappy songs that wouldn’t reach her standards but now, after gaining an unknown inspiration from the ocean and the trees and the breeze, she’s more than happy with what she has done now.
She took a quick shower and changed into a sleeveless shirt and a boxer shorts and turns on the air conditioning into the coolest temperature. She was only gone for a week but it seems like summer has truly come, the heat is unbearable. She’s already preparing to doze off to dreamland when she suddenly heard a knock on her door. She knew exactly who might that person be.
Pulling her sore body from the comfy sheets, she drags herself into the door and she’s spot on, it was him.
“Seriously, Matsumoto Jun, it’s almost three in the morning.” Yana laughed as turns her back and went back to the bedroom, collapsing into the soft bed.
“I was calling you.” Jun followed her and sat on the edge of the bed. “Your phone’s off.”
“I was writing songs and you have to know that I turn off any communication devices when I write songs.” Yana answered. “Is that why you came here for? Because I’m out of reach?” she asked.
“Eri-chan told me you’re coming back today but you’re not answering… I want to see you.” Jun replied.
She chuckled and stares unto the ceiling. She wanted to say it back, that she wanted to see him too but she can’t bring herself to say it so she just remained silent.
“Is your mother here?” Jun wondered.
“No, she went back to the States.” She answered.
Jun noticed that she got a bit tanned and her cheeks are red from the heat of the sun but besides that, she looks really tired and lacks any proper sleep since dark circles are forming around her eyes.
“I thought you went for a vacation? Why do you look so exhausted?”
Yana sighed as she curls up on the bed to face him. “I was pressuring myself to write and all these ideas and thoughts came attacking my mind and I can’t stop, I need to write it all down.” She sighed again before she closes her eyes.
Jun laughs and she felt him collapsing into the empty space beside her and it suddenly hit her, she missed him. His laugh, his voice, his scent, his whole presence, she missed all of him.
“You force yourself too much, don’t you think?” she heard him say.
“I put twice… no, make that thrice effort in my music more than the dramas or the modeling. It’s what I love doing the most. I want everything to be perfect.” She softly mumbled, she’s about to doze off to sleep.
Jun slips his arm around her shoulders as she scoops her off towards her.
“I don’t want to have sex tonight, Matsumoto.” She playfully said, her eyes are still closed as she rests her head on his chest.
“Wow, this is a first. You denied me.” Jun responds wittily as Yana shoots open her eyes to slap him playfully on the cheek.
“Seriously, I’m not in the mood to play with you at three in the morning.” Yana said as she drops back her head on his chest and closes her eyes.
“No sex, let’s just cuddle.” Jun whispers, pulling the thick sheet into their bodies.
He hugs her closer, tighter and she doesn’t even bulge once. Her mind tells her to do so but her heart argues, she loves the warmth Jun gives her.
“Hey… I watched the first episode.” Yana mumbled.
“Of what?”
“Natsuniji.”
“Really?” Jun smiled. “How? As far as I know, it’s not being aired in Thailand.” He laughed.
“Baka!” She slaps him again on the chest and Jun held her hand and refuses to let go of it. “I recorded it and I watched it as soon as I got home.”
“How was it then?” He was curious.
“Let’s see…” She opens her eyes. “I like seeing your facial expressions…Your face… how do I say it…” she was giggling like crazy.
“Are you going to mock my face again?” Jun tickled her by the waist and she reacted loudly by screaming.
“It was funny!” She yelled in between fits of giggles as Jun continue to tickle her. “Stop it, Jun! I can’t breathe!” she hysterically pleads, trying to hold his wrist.
He finally retreated, as they both fell back to the bed. They remained quiet, their rapid breathing are the only sound they can hear.
“Have you ever heard this quote by Muhammad Ali? “When I become a champion, I’ll wear my worn-down pants, put on my dirtied hat, grow a beard and then… until I find a girl who will love me for me, I will continue walking this road.””
Yana remembers the first line that Taiga said on that pilot episode.
“I also hope for the same thing. I also wish to find a woman who will love me, who will love me for who I am. I’ve thought that all my life. And in the twenty-sixth summer of my life, I finally found…you.”
All of those words, especially that second line, hit her. How come this Taiga person say exactly what she feels?
“Someone told me that your twenty-sixth birthday is coming up.” Jun took her away from her silent thoughts.
“Let me guess… it was Eri-chan who told you.” She smiled, rising onto one elbow.
“What are your plans?” Jun asked, pulling her again closer to him.
“Nothing.” She flatly replied. “I made it a tradition to never celebrate my birthday even once and this year is no exception.”
“Are you kidding? Not even as a kid?” Jun asked and he was careless enough to touch on that sensitive topic about her past.
He saw the sudden change on her face. “You don’t have to answer that.” He hugged her closer and plants a soft kiss on the top of her forehead.
“My first memory of my birthday was during my fourth birthday. It was in LA… I can still remember our house then, it was by the beach and every morning the waves of the ocean and the gentle breeze would wake me up.” She smiled upon recollection of her earliest memories. “I remember I always play alone on the sand, no one would come and play with me because I look different…” she gently laughs but Jun can see the sadness on her eyes.
“Anyways… my birthday is on July and it was in the middle of a hot summer. When I woke up that day, I come down to the kitchen and saw this big, colorful cake. I still can’t read then but I saw the letters of my name written on the top of the cake. Being the impatient kid that I am, I run my fingers on the icing and started licking it. My mom saw me and she asked me to stop, she told me that I should behave well since it’s my birthday. Then she lighted up four candles and she began singing happy birthday by herself. I was so happy then, I asked her if my dad will come home and join us but she said that he’s working back in Japan. I felt a little sad about that but I was more excited that there’s a big cake in front of me and I can’t wait to start eating all of it by myself.” She paused.
“It was the only good memory of my birthday. Actually, thinking about it, it was the only time my mom celebrated my birthday… my father wasn’t even present once…” she looked up to him and tried to his her sadness with a smile, he smiled back, brushing the back of his hand on her red cheeks. “That’s why I never celebrated it as an adult, it only brings back sad memories of the past.”
He pulls her tighter, her face is buried on his chest. “You can always start new traditions, right? With new people...”
“It wouldn’t be a tradition if it’s new.” She mumbled.
Jun laughed softly. “There’s no harm trying new stuff you never once tried. Who knows, maybe it was even enjoyable that what you initially thought.”
She smiled faintly. “My birthday reminds me that my parents never wanted me in their lives… That I am the biggest mistake they ever made.” Her voice broke at the same time with his heart.
He wanted to hunt them down, her parents. Tell them that the biggest mistake they ever made was to make this beautiful girl’s life a horrible one, a life full of doubts and suffering that she didn’t even deserve.
“There are people out there who feel like the luckiest person in this world because you came in their lives.” Jun whispers, fixing the hair blocking her face. “I do…” he added and she looks up to meet his eyes.
She smiled beneath the tears filling up her eyes. “Thank you for everything you have done for me.” She puts her arm on his chest and rests her chin on it, looking up to his face.
“Everything for you.” He replied, cupping her chin as they both smile to each other. He wanted to say those three words now but something’s stopping him. Instead, he leaned forward to kiss her, hoping that the kiss would make up for what he wanted to say.
“So on your birthday, will you celebrate it with me?” Jun asked after they separate from the kiss.
“Somehow, I think you just said those things to make me want to spend it with you.” She grinned mischievously.
“Of course not!” Jun retaliates. “I mean everything I say.” He seriously said.
“I’m just kidding.” She laughs.
“So?” Jun asked, still waiting for a clear answer from her.
“Okay.” She nodded without hesitation. “Just fill me in with what you have planned. No surprises.” She reminded him. “What are your plans, anyway?”
“How about the beach?” Jun suggested.
“I just came from the beach, look how tan I am.” She laughs, showing the bikini line on her shoulder.
“Let’s go to Chiba and do surfing. I heard you surf, right?” He asked. He did a little research on her and some reliable source from Johnny’s Entertainment said that she used to go surfing a lot but since she got famous and busier, she can’t go anymore.
“There’s this surfing spot that I go with Shun and our friends in Chiba, it wasn’t crowded and the waves are good.”
“Surfing is a nice idea but you might lose to me, Matsumoto. I am surfing freak. Remember, I grew up on the beach, I’ve been riding that surfboard since I was a baby!” She proudly said.
“But then again, your skills getting rusty… When is the last time you played with the waves?” Jun retorts back.
“Huh… let’s just see…” She smug in reply. “Wait, how did you knew this?” she wondered.
“I did my research.” He replied proudly. “You’re forgetting that your closest friends are my kouhai’s.”
“To that extent?” She was surprised. “Why are you putting so much effort on this?”
“Simple… because it’s the first time you celebrate your birthday, it should be memorable.” He said and she felt her heart thump with joy.
“How touching, Matsumoto Jun…” She said with a grin. “I’m excited.”
“I can’t wait either.” Jun sighed as she came closer to him, putting her head back to his chest.
He failed to say those three words today but he prays that he gain more courage on that special day to say it her, so that this suffering finally ends and he can start giving her the life she longed for so long, the life she most deserve to have.
As always, this is unbeta-ed, so tell me if there are any mistakes or errors. Comments, reactions, suggestions and criticisms are welcomed. Happy reading! :D
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
It was already two in the morning, she sighed heavily as reads the time. It was only a little less than twenty-four hours since she got back to Tokyo from her quick vacation but she’s feeling like she’s been working non-stop. As soon as she got out of the airport, she immediately went straight home and began writing music for her upcoming album. It was one of those days when inspiration comes blasting to her mind and she can’t wait to write it all down at once, before she knew it, she’s been sitting on her working table for seventeen hours straight.
She dropped her aching back into her soft bed as she closed her eyes. Her stomach is grumbling with hunger but she’s too tired and lazy to prepare food for herself. She figured that she’ll just sleep, she badly needed one. She didn’t get to have any good sleep in Phuket at all. She spent the entire six nights at her room’s veranda, accompanied by the waves of the wide ocean, the swinging of the coconut trees and the cool tropical breeze with a notebook and a pen in hand.
She’s writing music. She doesn’t know what’s with this place that inspires her to write but it’s a good thing. For months she lost the touch to create a good music and everything on her files are crappy songs that wouldn’t reach her standards but now, after gaining an unknown inspiration from the ocean and the trees and the breeze, she’s more than happy with what she has done now.
She took a quick shower and changed into a sleeveless shirt and a boxer shorts and turns on the air conditioning into the coolest temperature. She was only gone for a week but it seems like summer has truly come, the heat is unbearable. She’s already preparing to doze off to dreamland when she suddenly heard a knock on her door. She knew exactly who might that person be.
Pulling her sore body from the comfy sheets, she drags herself into the door and she’s spot on, it was him.
“Seriously, Matsumoto Jun, it’s almost three in the morning.” Yana laughed as turns her back and went back to the bedroom, collapsing into the soft bed.
“I was calling you.” Jun followed her and sat on the edge of the bed. “Your phone’s off.”
“I was writing songs and you have to know that I turn off any communication devices when I write songs.” Yana answered. “Is that why you came here for? Because I’m out of reach?” she asked.
“Eri-chan told me you’re coming back today but you’re not answering… I want to see you.” Jun replied.
She chuckled and stares unto the ceiling. She wanted to say it back, that she wanted to see him too but she can’t bring herself to say it so she just remained silent.
“Is your mother here?” Jun wondered.
“No, she went back to the States.” She answered.
Jun noticed that she got a bit tanned and her cheeks are red from the heat of the sun but besides that, she looks really tired and lacks any proper sleep since dark circles are forming around her eyes.
“I thought you went for a vacation? Why do you look so exhausted?”
Yana sighed as she curls up on the bed to face him. “I was pressuring myself to write and all these ideas and thoughts came attacking my mind and I can’t stop, I need to write it all down.” She sighed again before she closes her eyes.
Jun laughs and she felt him collapsing into the empty space beside her and it suddenly hit her, she missed him. His laugh, his voice, his scent, his whole presence, she missed all of him.
“You force yourself too much, don’t you think?” she heard him say.
“I put twice… no, make that thrice effort in my music more than the dramas or the modeling. It’s what I love doing the most. I want everything to be perfect.” She softly mumbled, she’s about to doze off to sleep.
Jun slips his arm around her shoulders as she scoops her off towards her.
“I don’t want to have sex tonight, Matsumoto.” She playfully said, her eyes are still closed as she rests her head on his chest.
“Wow, this is a first. You denied me.” Jun responds wittily as Yana shoots open her eyes to slap him playfully on the cheek.
“Seriously, I’m not in the mood to play with you at three in the morning.” Yana said as she drops back her head on his chest and closes her eyes.
“No sex, let’s just cuddle.” Jun whispers, pulling the thick sheet into their bodies.
He hugs her closer, tighter and she doesn’t even bulge once. Her mind tells her to do so but her heart argues, she loves the warmth Jun gives her.
“Hey… I watched the first episode.” Yana mumbled.
“Of what?”
“Natsuniji.”
“Really?” Jun smiled. “How? As far as I know, it’s not being aired in Thailand.” He laughed.
“Baka!” She slaps him again on the chest and Jun held her hand and refuses to let go of it. “I recorded it and I watched it as soon as I got home.”
“How was it then?” He was curious.
“Let’s see…” She opens her eyes. “I like seeing your facial expressions…Your face… how do I say it…” she was giggling like crazy.
“Are you going to mock my face again?” Jun tickled her by the waist and she reacted loudly by screaming.
“It was funny!” She yelled in between fits of giggles as Jun continue to tickle her. “Stop it, Jun! I can’t breathe!” she hysterically pleads, trying to hold his wrist.
He finally retreated, as they both fell back to the bed. They remained quiet, their rapid breathing are the only sound they can hear.
“Have you ever heard this quote by Muhammad Ali? “When I become a champion, I’ll wear my worn-down pants, put on my dirtied hat, grow a beard and then… until I find a girl who will love me for me, I will continue walking this road.””
Yana remembers the first line that Taiga said on that pilot episode.
“I also hope for the same thing. I also wish to find a woman who will love me, who will love me for who I am. I’ve thought that all my life. And in the twenty-sixth summer of my life, I finally found…you.”
All of those words, especially that second line, hit her. How come this Taiga person say exactly what she feels?
“Someone told me that your twenty-sixth birthday is coming up.” Jun took her away from her silent thoughts.
“Let me guess… it was Eri-chan who told you.” She smiled, rising onto one elbow.
“What are your plans?” Jun asked, pulling her again closer to him.
“Nothing.” She flatly replied. “I made it a tradition to never celebrate my birthday even once and this year is no exception.”
“Are you kidding? Not even as a kid?” Jun asked and he was careless enough to touch on that sensitive topic about her past.
He saw the sudden change on her face. “You don’t have to answer that.” He hugged her closer and plants a soft kiss on the top of her forehead.
“My first memory of my birthday was during my fourth birthday. It was in LA… I can still remember our house then, it was by the beach and every morning the waves of the ocean and the gentle breeze would wake me up.” She smiled upon recollection of her earliest memories. “I remember I always play alone on the sand, no one would come and play with me because I look different…” she gently laughs but Jun can see the sadness on her eyes.
“Anyways… my birthday is on July and it was in the middle of a hot summer. When I woke up that day, I come down to the kitchen and saw this big, colorful cake. I still can’t read then but I saw the letters of my name written on the top of the cake. Being the impatient kid that I am, I run my fingers on the icing and started licking it. My mom saw me and she asked me to stop, she told me that I should behave well since it’s my birthday. Then she lighted up four candles and she began singing happy birthday by herself. I was so happy then, I asked her if my dad will come home and join us but she said that he’s working back in Japan. I felt a little sad about that but I was more excited that there’s a big cake in front of me and I can’t wait to start eating all of it by myself.” She paused.
“It was the only good memory of my birthday. Actually, thinking about it, it was the only time my mom celebrated my birthday… my father wasn’t even present once…” she looked up to him and tried to his her sadness with a smile, he smiled back, brushing the back of his hand on her red cheeks. “That’s why I never celebrated it as an adult, it only brings back sad memories of the past.”
He pulls her tighter, her face is buried on his chest. “You can always start new traditions, right? With new people...”
“It wouldn’t be a tradition if it’s new.” She mumbled.
Jun laughed softly. “There’s no harm trying new stuff you never once tried. Who knows, maybe it was even enjoyable that what you initially thought.”
She smiled faintly. “My birthday reminds me that my parents never wanted me in their lives… That I am the biggest mistake they ever made.” Her voice broke at the same time with his heart.
He wanted to hunt them down, her parents. Tell them that the biggest mistake they ever made was to make this beautiful girl’s life a horrible one, a life full of doubts and suffering that she didn’t even deserve.
“There are people out there who feel like the luckiest person in this world because you came in their lives.” Jun whispers, fixing the hair blocking her face. “I do…” he added and she looks up to meet his eyes.
She smiled beneath the tears filling up her eyes. “Thank you for everything you have done for me.” She puts her arm on his chest and rests her chin on it, looking up to his face.
“Everything for you.” He replied, cupping her chin as they both smile to each other. He wanted to say those three words now but something’s stopping him. Instead, he leaned forward to kiss her, hoping that the kiss would make up for what he wanted to say.
“So on your birthday, will you celebrate it with me?” Jun asked after they separate from the kiss.
“Somehow, I think you just said those things to make me want to spend it with you.” She grinned mischievously.
“Of course not!” Jun retaliates. “I mean everything I say.” He seriously said.
“I’m just kidding.” She laughs.
“So?” Jun asked, still waiting for a clear answer from her.
“Okay.” She nodded without hesitation. “Just fill me in with what you have planned. No surprises.” She reminded him. “What are your plans, anyway?”
“How about the beach?” Jun suggested.
“I just came from the beach, look how tan I am.” She laughs, showing the bikini line on her shoulder.
“Let’s go to Chiba and do surfing. I heard you surf, right?” He asked. He did a little research on her and some reliable source from Johnny’s Entertainment said that she used to go surfing a lot but since she got famous and busier, she can’t go anymore.
“There’s this surfing spot that I go with Shun and our friends in Chiba, it wasn’t crowded and the waves are good.”
“Surfing is a nice idea but you might lose to me, Matsumoto. I am surfing freak. Remember, I grew up on the beach, I’ve been riding that surfboard since I was a baby!” She proudly said.
“But then again, your skills getting rusty… When is the last time you played with the waves?” Jun retorts back.
“Huh… let’s just see…” She smug in reply. “Wait, how did you knew this?” she wondered.
“I did my research.” He replied proudly. “You’re forgetting that your closest friends are my kouhai’s.”
“To that extent?” She was surprised. “Why are you putting so much effort on this?”
“Simple… because it’s the first time you celebrate your birthday, it should be memorable.” He said and she felt her heart thump with joy.
“How touching, Matsumoto Jun…” She said with a grin. “I’m excited.”
“I can’t wait either.” Jun sighed as she came closer to him, putting her head back to his chest.
He failed to say those three words today but he prays that he gain more courage on that special day to say it her, so that this suffering finally ends and he can start giving her the life she longed for so long, the life she most deserve to have.