This is a different take on the story. Tsuneo was a young man in need of help, he was in immigrant in America and met a guy named Eric who helped him out and gave him a place to stay. But Tsuneo betrayed him and now Eric is looking for revenge. Or is he?
It had been six months since Tsuneo and his new wife had moved. The voice had gone and he figured it had just been a fantasy, something to guide him through troubled times. They had just moved into their new place and things seemed perfect at first. Luckily, the woman who his boss had set him up with was called Gina was fluent in English, and that was a blessing. He figured he'd done the right thing for once. He thought about sending the money to him but couldn't really withdraw anything, as they had a joint spending account. Tsuneo did feel guilty everytime he went to sleep, but figured that he'd never see him again, so allowed himself to push it to the back of his mind, that is, until the past came to his doorstep.
Gina had popped out to the store warning that a guy was coming with custom made lighting for the house. Tsuneo did want store brought but knew it was best not to argue. He took a shower and got dressed in a T-shirt and shorts before sitting down to watch TV on the sofa. The doorbell rang and Tsuneo banged his foot on the table edge while going out. He limped over to the door opening it with one hand on his foot. The man looked at him in surprise. "I've got fittings for Mrs Michi" He told him. Tsuneo recognised the voice but didn't want to. He bowed his head down so he couldn't see his face. "Yes, I'll help you with that" He grabbed a box and the man followed him in. Tsuneo hoped that Eric had forgotten that past, but as Eric sat the box down on the floor, he realised he hadn't.
"Nice little place you've got here chuney, I'm impressed"
"Don't call me that" Tsuneo barked and Eric responded by flippantly sitting in one of the chairs like it own it. Tsuneo watched him with guarded eyes, the guilt turning into confusion and anger. "You can't stay" He told him, wishing that because they couldn't stand the sight of each other Eric would be gone as soon as possible, but Eric was beginning to like making him sweat.
"Buy this home sweet home with my money?" Eric asked.
"I'm gonna pay you back"
"When? It's been over a year" Eric said, folding his arms. Tsuneo only had one excuse right now. "I have a joint bank account, I can't take money out"
"Yes you can, you just have to lie, and you're great at that" Eric said with resentment.
"I can get it for you in two weeks"
"Not good enough, I want it by next week, or I'll have to tell wifey about what happened before she came along" Eric stood up and left while Tsuneo held his foot, even though it didn't hurt anymore. He was able to take out some money but when his wife started asking questions, he realised he couldn't take all of it out.
"How much do you need to take out?" She asked one night.
"About...five hundred" He told her.
"I'm sorry, but no, we barely have double that" Gina reminded him.
"I know, but it's important"
"What's it for?" She asked.
"I can't really say" Gina shook her head and he knew he'd have to go back to Eric whether he liked it or not. He got Eric's card from out of the box, rang his number and arranged to meet him. A few days later, when he told his wife he was working a late shift, he went Eric's new shop to tell him the bad news, that unbeknowst to him, Eric was expecting. He walked up to Eric inbetween the boxes and it gave Eric a flashback of what it used to be like when they worked and lived together. Eric looked at him in mock seriousness.
"Where is it?" He asked. Tsuneo looked at him defeated, he didn't have all of it and now Gina was going to know all about his dirty past. She'd divorce him, move out, and he'd have nothing. "I've only got half"
"Well then it looks like I'll have to call your significant other ...Gina isn't it? I'm sure I've got her number somewhere..." He turned around and Tsuneo walked up to him, and tried to convince him otherwise. "You can't tell her, I'll deny it"
"Unlike you, I don't have any reason to lie, now if you'll excuse me"
"Eric please, she can't know" Tsuneo said, his voice taking on an unhinged tone. "She'll leave, and I'll be alone" Eric smirked. "Welcome to my world" He teased.
"I'll work here part time like I used to, except I'll do it for free, I'll do any chore you ask of me, just don't ruin my marriage" Tsuneo asked him. Eric was pleased that he'd submitted so quickly, so that he could manipulate Tsuneo further.
"Look kid, I don't want to hurt you, but you owe me" Eric told him. Tsuneo nodded, and pulled himself up on the table. Eric was tempted to walk closer, but didn't.
"I know what I did to you was wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right"
"You're not wrong, but how are you going to fix this?" Eric asked.
"I'll help you out, whenever, just call me"
"Fine, Gina seems like a lovely woman, I'd hate to humiliate her" Tsuneo got off the table and Eric said that he'd call him to arrange work dates. Tsuneo had to agree but didn't realise Eric had a plan. One night Tsuneo came home from work to meet Gina laying three plates out on the table. He stared at her. "We're having a visitor, our first one" She told him. Tsuneo didn't think much of that, until he changed and came back downstairs heard a knock on the door and opened it. Eric was standing there, with a champagne bottle in his hand.
"Hey stranger" He said cheerily. "You going to let me in or shall I freeze to death?" Tsuneo really wanted to choose the latter option. Eric had no right cosying up to his wife, no doubt getting information from her.
"What are you doing here?" Tsuneo asked him, with a twich of his nose.
"Did I mention me and Gina have talked a lot about lights? I'am an expert after all"
"Go home" Tsuneo ordered. He could make up an excuse to explain to his wife later.
"No" Eric said coldly, trying not to shiver. "I'm glad we're going to get to see each other more often"
"What?" I'm working for you, for free...isn't that good enough for you?"
"No" Eric repeated, knowing he was going to sound like a idiot, but said it anyway. "I hate to admit it, but I've thought about you" Tsuneo recognised that tone, but choose to ignore it. Although if Eric was talking about what he thought he was talking about, Tsuneo could use his charm to his advantage and get out of this situation. Eric carried on. "I mean, even though you're a theiving, lying, double-crossing, ungrateful bastard who nearly ruined me, I'm pissed off at your sweet little Gina. She has you, that's not entirely fair is it?" Eric said as he stroked Tsuneo's arm and Tsuneo flinched and backed away, while his wife came out from the living room.
"Tsuneo, don't be so rude, let him in" She said, as Tsuneo walked back to the living room and Eric put the bottle in her face. "Eric aren't you sweet, champagne...just don't get me tipsy and take advantage of me" Gine squealed.
"I wouldn't dream of it" Eric said as he closed the door. "It's your husband I'm worried about, I don't think he likes me, he seems a little...uptight" Eric told her quietly.
"He's always like that, a stubborn stick in the mud" Gina joked.
"I could get him to loosen up, I'm sure he has a wild side" Eric told her with a smile.
"Well I'm glad he doesn't, he's married now, please go in and take a seat" Eric walked past her and rolled his eyes, hoping that now he'd made things clear, he could force Tsuneo into a corner and see how far he'd go to protect his secret.
