Anything in italics is a flashback
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"May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays." – Anonyms
Walking down the snow-covered sidewalks of New York city on a Monday morning was like trying to push past a crowd of paparazzi once they spotted a celebrity- it just doesn't happen. Well, it does just not gracefully. Living in the city these last 2 years has taught me some lessons. One: watch out for people with cell phones. Sometimes they don't pay attention to their surroundings and run into you or step on your foot. So just move out of the way when you see one of these jerks.
Two: never, and I mean NEVER carry anything of value in your pockets, where it can be easily stolen. When someone accidentally 'bumps' into you and puts an arm out to help you like a good citizen should- these people are usually pickpocketers.
AND finally and most importantly number three: never wear high heels if you're running through the crowds because you're late for a business meeting and there's snow on the ground. Because let's face it- the odds of you getting there on time without falling at least once are NOT GOOD.
As I ran as fast as I could with four inch high heels on, the only thought that was in my mind was 'why did I pick today to wear really tall high heels?'
I have to get to my meeting on time today. Keiko and I are meeting with my dad and a few other investors who might be interested in going in on Keiko and I's designing company, "Perfect Fit". My alarm went off a half an hour late today and it barely gave me enough time to get ready. As it is, I had to skip breakfast and I'm starving!
Oh no here comes early morning jogger, Ok slide to the left to get out of the way. As I easily avoided the jogger I grinned to myself, I've become a 'people traffic dodger' expert.
I started walking again, still smiling about me good dodge. I could see the building where I'm suppose to give the sales pitch today, so I picked up my speed. I only have about three minutes till the meeting is supposed to start.
"OOF!" Something suddenly knocked into me causing me to lose my balance and slide on a piece of ice.
"AHHHHH!" I screamed as I feel down onto the cold, hard cement pavement.
"Oh god, I got to call you back man. I just ran into to someone and made her fall."
Oh I see. So I ran into some random cell phone talking jerk who wasn't watching where he was going. I think I just might tell him off.
"Hey are you okay?"
"I'm fine no thanks to you!" I said in a curt tone.
"I'm so sorry I thought you saw me coming but, apparently not." He said while smiling.
"Excuse me? I didn't see you coming? You ran into me!"
"No I didn't. I saw you and shifted so we wouldn't run into each other but, you didn't shift… so we ran into each other anyway." He said while chuckling.
I realized I was still lying down on the ice. I attempted to get up bringing all my bags with me but once I tried to stand I only slipped again. Gosh this is embarrassing. Especially with him watching my every move.
"Do you need some help getting up?" He asked.
"No, I'm fine so if you could just leave that would be great." I stated while still trying to get up on my own and failing miserably. Man it's slippery.
He ignored me and used one of his arms to steady me and the other arm to pull me up. My bags lay on the ground, scattered around looking like a garbage bag ripped and the contents were on the cement. Man I had a lot of crap. The guy picked up my bags in one easy scoop and handed them to me with a smile. The nerve of him!
"Thanks." I said with a hint of sarcasm.
Apparently he didn't pick up on my sarcastic tone and instead said "No problem, look I'm really sorry about all of this."
"Uh huh" was my short response.
"My name is Ryan by the way." He said with a smile.
"Well, Ryan, I've got to go."
"Wait; let me help you carry those bags. Where are you headed?" He asked curiously.
"I don't need your help, I'm fine. I'm just headed to the building right there." I said while pointing to my destination.
"Oh" Ryan said while sounding defeated. All of the sudden his facial features brighten and he says "Well I've got to make it up to you for making you fall. Maybe we can go out for coffee sometime?"
Oh man I really don't want to go out with this guy. So I say the first thing that pops into my mind.
"I don't think my boyfriend would like that very much," I say while forcing a light laugh, "He's kind of the jealous type."
"Well let me just give you my number and if this jealous boyfriend of yours ever gives you any trouble call me." Ryan says while giving me a suggestive wink.
He pulls out a pen and paper from his pocket and starts to write down his number. I take the time to actually look at him.
He's not bad looking; actually he's kind of cute. He has shaggy light brown hair, that's tossed just the right amount so it doesn't look like he gave it to much attention. His skin is tan, but you can tell it's natural and not some spray tan junk. He's wearing a pair of black dress pants combined with a white button down shirt and a black Northface jacket.
When he looks up again, he's done writing his number down and says with a smile "Here's my cell and house number call anytime."
Oh, he has gorgeous light brown eyes. And his smile is breath taking.
"Thanks." Wow that's all I can think to say how lame.
"Well I better get going" I say.
I start to walk away when I hear him call out to me.
"Hey Wait!"
I turn around and say "Yes?"
"I never caught your name." He says this as a statement but I can see the question in it.
"Kimiko, Kimiko Tohomiko" I say with a smile.
He smiles back at me and says "Well Kimiko Tohomiko, see you around."
I just smile and start walking to the building. I let myself take one peek back to see him. He's still standing where I last saw him; smiling at my retreating form.
Oh man! My little 'encounter' with Ryan made me ten minutes late for my business meeting. It made me look so unprofessional. But, what can you do? I gave it my all while delivering are goals and plans for 'Perfect Fit' and I think the investors were impressed. Keiko certainly wasn't though.
"I assure you ladies and gentle man that Kimiko will be here momentarily. I'm so sorry that you've had to wait this long."
I burst through the doors just as I heard Keiko saying an apology.
"Hello everyone!" I say in a cheerful mood. "I'm so sorry for making you wait. Let me just set up my laptop for the presentation while Keiko hands you this pamphlet with some of the charts and graphs in it."
As I looked up from the spot I was setting up my laptop, I caught Keiko's eyes. She studied mine for a moment then shot me a questioning look. She can obviously tell something was up and wanted the details, but this was no time to explain to her about Ryan. So I shot her one of my 'I'll tell you about it later' glances. She nodded her head quickly so only I could see and then sat down.
I opened up my presentation and began "Ladies and Gentlemen, I can assure you that Perfect Fit is not only about creating a look that's stylish and comfortable, it's also about price. Let's face the facts that the economy is in trouble. No one is going to buy a 100 dollar shirt right now. So if you could open your pamphlet to page 2 and look at graph number 4…. (A/N: I'll spare you the details of Kim's long presentation lol)
Keiko is definitely not going to forget to ask me about why I was so late. So right now, I'm waiting for her to burst into my apartment, unannounced, demanding to hear what's up. I got up from the couch I was sitting on to go make some popcorn. After it was done popping I headed for the couch, sat down, and turned on the TV. 25 most unbelievable survivor stories is on, so I decided to watch it.
When it was done to number 13, which was about some guy who was skydiving and his parachute didn't work, Keiko burst through my front door.
"Well are you going to explain why you were like 15 minutes late for our meeting??" she asked impatiently.
"Um I was only TEN minutes late." I said smugly, while trying to distract her.
"Oh whatever, don't try to change the subject. Why were you so late? I saw the look in your eyes. You weren't just late because you woke up later. Something happened in between the time you left the house and got to the meeting…. But what?"
Keiko had this look of vagueness and deep concentration on her face like she was trying to solve some kind of murder mystery. And it looked so ridiculous that I burst out laughing.
Keiko scowled and said "What are you laughing at?"
"The look on you.. Your f-f-face, haha it's priceless." I said while holding my sides because they hurt from laughing so much.
Keiko just scoffed and said "Well I'm glad I could make you laugh."
After another three minutes went by my laughter died down and Keiko jumped at the chance to talk.
"Kim! I CAN'T FIGUIRE OUT WHY YOU HAD THAT LOOK! JUST PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!"
I sighed and said "Alright, fine, just calm down."
She gave a little squeal of joy and obliged to my requirement. She sat down on the couch, hands folded in her lap, and a deadpan expression was pasted on her face. She wasn't fooling me though. I knew her well enough that even though she had no expression on her face, there was a bundle of questions going around in her mind.
"Alright," I started, "I was walking, no running, down the sidewalk this morning to get to the meeting; and it was really crowded."
"Well Duh! It's always crowded in the morning!"
"Hey! No interruptions!"
"Sorry…. Continue please."
"I was going over my rules of how to 'successfully dodge people who might run into you' in my head." She snorted at this because personally she thought my rules were bogus. But, they've never let me down! (Well not until today.)
I gave her a look and continued "There was a jogger coming my way, so I moved and then while I was moving a guy on a cell phone bumped into me!"
"Then what happened?" She asked.
(A/N: Kim is just going to repeat every single detail of what I wrote earlier to Keiko, so to save time, I'm going to skip rewriting it. But if you forgot what happened just scroll back up. Thanks for understanding!)
Keiko just sat there after I was done telling her what happened. I gave her a few seconds to let it sink in then I counted down till she was going to start asking questions. 5…4…3…2…1…
"So why exactly did you lie to Ryan about having a jealous boyfriend?"
"Because I don't want to go out with him." I stated simply with a shrug.
"Why? You said he was good looking!"
"I just don't! Ok?" I said getting a little annoyed.
Keiko's facial expression changed from one of curiosity to concern.
"Kim.. You haven't gone out with a guy in 2 years. He hasn't been in touch with you. He hasn't tried to call, or email, or even send a letter. I think it's time you forget about him."
"I..I.." Dang Keiko caught me off guard.
"Kim I know you care about him.. A lot, but it's been two years."
" I..I… know but what if he contacts me.. and I'm in another relationship… I just want to wait a little longer for him."
"Kimiko, if he hasn't contacted you yet… do you think he ever will?"
I was silent. What did she expect me to say? 'Okay Keiko I'll give up on Raimundo, the love of my life, for a guy I don't even know!' Um I don't think so.
"I'm sorry Kim, but it's time you move on. You've got to live each day like its last, and live life to its fullest. And waiting for him to come to you.. It's not living life." Keiko said with sympathy. "I've got to go now, but just think about going out with Ryan."
Keiko walked over to me and gave me a hug. Then she turned around, walked to the door, and with one last look, left.
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Alright! So I know I said this is going to be a Rai/Kim story… and I promise you it will be one! Raimundo is just not going to be there for the first 1 or 2 chapters.
Each new chapter will have a quote about love or life. So if you have a favorite love/life quote that you want to be in the beginning of a chapter leave a review or Private Message me it.
So thanks for reading the first chapter and I hoped you liked it!
Review and tell me your thoughts!