Disclaimer: I do not own Paradise Kiss. They are from Ai Yazawa of course… But I do wish that I own George Koizumi! Kyah!
CHAPTER 3:
Plates, Forks and Spoons
Who the hell is calling me in this very hour?
Yukari got awoken by her ringing cellphone that is placed on a bedside table on her left.
Who can this be? Is this George? But how did he get my number?
She forced her body to get up then reached for her cellphone on her left. Before pressing the accept button, she checked the screen to find out who is the caller. But she got disappointed when she read that it was just Miwako. She answered it. Before she could talk, Miwako's voice has filled her ear.
"GOOD MORNING CAROLINE! How's your first night with Hiro? Oops! Did I just happen to disturb the both of you? Are you all in lovey-dovey and in the middle of –"
"NO MIWAKO" she yelled. But then she started to feel guilt for Miwako for yelling at her. "I'm sorry if I had to yell that loud. It's just that… I was still… sleeping."
There was a moment of silence. But in the background she could here Arashi's voice arguing with Miwako about calling them very early.
"Oh! I am very sorry Caroline for disturbing your sleep. Miwako was just so excited and thrilled to know what happened to your honeymoon and… and… the play."
Again, there was a moment of pause. Yukari just can't seem to find the words on what to tell Miwako, and how and where to start. Again he could hear Arashi in the background saying, "Are they in the middle of lovey-dovey? Blimey! I told yah not to call." All she could do was smile.
"I'm sorry again Caroline! It's already 10am so at least I thought both of you have already woken up. I am very sorry Caroline! I'll call you again later! See yah!"
Afterwards, she heard the TOOT TOOT TOOT sound on the next line. Miwako didn't even give her a chance to say goodbye. She left out a sigh. She pulled the blankets to cover the three-fourths of her body, fixed the pillows and laid her head on top of it. Then closed her eyes.
In an instant, her mind went blank. But a shocking revelation made her open her eyes once more.
Wait. Did I just heard Miwako saying that it was already 10am?
Immediately, she got up only to realize that she was alone in the bed.
"Where is Hiro?" she muted.
"Hiro, where are you?" she said sounding desperate while holding her cellphone on her right ear.
"Good thing you're finally awake, Yukari. I'm sorry if I left you without saying a word or even leaving a note. I was in the middle of finding a Japanese Restaurant when I bumped into one of my old colleague, who is now, happens to work here in New York. We had a little chat in one of the cafes here. Sorry If I took so long. I'm already here in the elevator with the food. Are you okay?"
Before she could answer, she roamed her eyes inside the small living room, part of their suite that they're in. Then she noticed a tray, covered with round metal. Probably food. But why does Hiro still need to find a Japanese Restaurant?
"Yukari, are you okay?"
She had almost forgotten that she was talking to Hiro.
"I was worried I thought you… left me…" she said with a sigh.
"Why would I leave you? You sound strange since last night… or since after the play… Have you seen George?
Hiro's last sentence startled her. It was the that thought that she's been trying to avoid since last night. Since after the play. The thought that Hiro might ask him about George. Whether she saw George or not. Whether she met him after going to the bathroom or maybe… while inside the bathroom. Then what would she tell Hiro? Will she lie? Or tell him the truth? What if he ask the things that George told her? Will she tell him that he didn't say much but instead… kissed me?
"Okay… I guess we can talk as soon as I got there. I'm already in our floor."
Before she could even talk, she already heard the TOOT TOO TOOT sound. She left out a sign.
What am I supposed to do? What should I tell Hiro?
Then she heard the door opening. She quickly ran into it and saw Hiro carrying lots of plastic bags with Japanese calligraphy written on it. She grabbed them from Hiro's hands and smelled them. She suddenly felt how hungry she was…
"I'm starving…" she uttered.
"I'm sorry, did I take so long?" Hiro replied.
"Hmmm… Not really. I got woke up by Miwako's call"
"She called? What did she say?"
Before she answered, they walked towards the kitchen and Yukari placed the plastic bags on top of the table and took some utensils.
"She just asked how we're doing and clearly, checking up on us."
Hiro chuckled. And it was the first laugh she heard from Hiro after the play.
"So tell me, who was that colleague you ran into today?" Yukari asked while she's serving the food. Hiro watched her while she serve.
"Oh. He's Mr. Kusheiki. I've worked with him in one of the operations in the hospital. He was really good and very talented. But he thinks Japan was too small for him that's why he left and tried his career here. Luckily, he made it twice the fame he got in Japan. I envy him but I just can't leave my homeland."
"You're so faithful. And so patriotic. You're too old-fashioned."
"Why? Would you want for us to leave Japan? And stay here in New York?"
That made her think deeply. And her thoughts surprised her. Because she didn't think of her career, but instead she think of George. If they live in New York, how many are the chances that they would ran up into each other in the streets just like Hiro and Mr. Kusheiki?
"I don't… know." She muttered.
Hiro just stared at her while she stared at the food she was trying to serve. And silence fell over them. Yukari's mind was still lost in the thought of living in New York and running into George.
"Hey. Are you sure you're okay?" Hiro finally said, breaking the silence. Hiro's words brought her back to the kitchen where she's serving the food. Hiro looked at her intently trying to read her thoughts. But Yukari avoided Hiro's gaze and went to the sink to grab some plates.
"I'm fine." Was all she can say while grabbing some plates and some utensils. Then she placed it on the table. After fixing the plates and utensils, she then sit at the chair on the left side of Hiro. She slowly took some food and laid them on her plates and started to eat. But Hiro was still looking at her intently.
"Aren't you gonna eat? I wonder, why did you have to buy food outside when the hotel already gave us food?"
"I just thought you might missed Japanese food that's why I went out to find some." Hiro said finally turning his gaze away from Yukari and started to grab some food for himself. They both eat silently. Only the sounds of the plates and the spoons and forks clashing together were heard. Yukari felt very awkward. Until Hiro was the one who broke the silence and left Yukari's heartbeat run faster as it could.
Wah! Sorry guys if it took me, I guess a year to update. I think I lacked inspiration. Haha. But thanks for all the reviews. And to those who subscribed to my story, please let me know what you think. I hope this chapter won't bore you. I promise to publish chapter 4 sooner! Please. Please, leave a review, whether it's an awful one. I will gladly appreciate it . Thanks! Hope you had fun with this one!
Nikoru",)
