A Mothers Secret Chapter One: Introduction
A student with jet black hair and lavender eyes looks out of the car as it pulls into the parking lot. Her mother, whom it is said that she favors, put the car into park, then looks at her daughter of sixteen years and gives her a very slight, almost nonexistent smile.
"Now Neoko, make every effort to excel in everything you do here, you represent me as well as the Aihara School."
" I will mother" replied Neoko.
Neoko went to the entrance of the school after leaving the car and her mother at the parking lot of the school. She passed the bust statue of her great-grandfather that was beside the main entrance. There was a flurry of activity with students coming and going and new students getting lost trying to get to their perspective homerooms.
"There sure has been chaos since the Aihara Academy combined with that all-boys school near the harbor" A teacher is overheard saying, "been this way every year for seven years."
Neoko fought her way through a cluster of students and, as she was almost to her assigned locker, gets bumped and falls over with the contents of her bags splayed onto the floor.
"Hey sorry about that"
Neoko looks up and sees a tall young man bend over and offering his hand to her. She graciously accepts his help up and the subsequent pickup of her items off the floor. As he hands her the bag back He awkwardly bows and apologizes again.
" I'm sorry I'm new to the school, could you tell me where the administrative offices are?" He asked with an accent unknown to her.
She pointed silently down the hall. As if in a trance watches him go. She notices his height was greater than those around him and the rustic brown hair on his head. What gets her most was his unusual accent when he asked his question. But now she hurried on to the classroom before student council members start calling out names.
" Ok everyone settle down." the teacher shouted over the ruckus of students," we got a new student with us and he is from a different country so let us welcome him to our class."
Neoko looks over to see the new student was the same one who bumped her in the hallway. She saw clearly now his facial features and his green eyes.
"This is Ian McGregor from... where are from again Ian?" the teacher asked.
"Ireland near Dublin sir" replied the young man.
"Your grasp of our language is pretty good, may I asked who taught you?"
"My stepmother sir, she has been for the past six years."
"You may take your seat over there." gestured the teacher.
"Yes sir, thank you, sir."
Neoko watched him as he took his seat in the row next to hers and a few seats back.
"I need to go to Ireland if they got boys like that!" came a whisper from behind Neoko.
She turned around in shock to see her best friend, Fuma looking at Ian. Fuma returned her gaze and let show a sly smile.
"You should introduce yourself to him at lunch, and when I mean you I mean we!"
"We'll see" Neoko replied.
Lunchtime finds Ian sitting alone at a round table eating a meal he brought from home. He looks around, watching students and teachers go about their lunch routine. As he watches he takes notice of two female students approach him and bow slightly.
"Hello, I'm Neoko and the is my friend Fuma may we join you at your table?"
He rises from his chair and replies "Yes of course, please sit."
Ian first notices Neoko first. Her black long hair that sometimes covers her eyes. The eyes! He notices their lavender color that can look through to his soul if he let them. Fuma short bob cut seems to accentuate her head well as well as brown eyes the bely a sneaky playful side.
"What caused you come here all the way from Ireland?" asked Fuma.
"Well.. you see my Dad died in an accident, and with no family left on my dads' side, I decided to live with my stepmother who lived here and still has a family, though I have yet to meet any of them." Ian mused.
"Your mother went to Ireland and met your dad and stayed in Ireland?"
" Oh Aye she did sh- sorry sometimes the Irish still comes out. Yes, she did."
"So what does your stepmother do now?" inquired Neoko.
"She manages a chain of clothing stores in this city. She was offered the job here so she moved back, taking me with her." was Ian's reply.
"How do you like living here?"
"Still getting used to the customs and my Japanese is not up to standard at times, but with my mom's help, I'm getting better at speaking."
"I know!" Fuma exclaimed, " You should come with us to the mall this Saturday how about it? please say yes."
"Um, sure I guess I can, Mom is working that day so I will be free to do whatever," said Ian.
Saturday came with sunny skies and groups of teens bustling around the mall. One particular group consisted of Neoko, Ian, Fuma, and her brother Shiro. They wandered aimlessly, going from store to store, not looking for anything particular. Neoko seemed to take particular joy in explaining the ins and out of Japanese culture to Ian. While Shiro constantly picking on his sister Fuma, and Fuma slugging his arm to make him quit.
It was then Ian eyes widened and clasped a surprised Neoko's hand. "My mom is working at this location today! Want to meet her?" he asked.
"Um.. ok sure" was her reply.
He pulled her along to the store entrance and called out" Oi' Ma you here?!"
A woman hurried out from behind followed by store clerks. She smiles and tells the clerks its ok and that was her son. She walks quickly to him and gives him a hug and smiles. Neoko notices her chestnut color hair cascades down to her shoulders, her blueish/green eyes seemed to sparkle as she talked to Ian. Her smile seemed readily available to appear in a moments notice.
"How are you getting along Ian?" she asked.
"Fine Ma, I've got a friend here with me that I like you to meet." He replied.
"Oh? Where is she?"
He directed her attention to Neoko."Here," he turned to Neoko, "Neoko Id like you meet my mother."
"Hello Neoko, I'm Ian's mother, Yuzu McGregor"