Chapter 4/ Unfamiliar Family
Disclaimer: I don't own Citrus by Sabura Uta, or any mentioned references or names 3
[A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy this new chapter, I'm also sorry for the lateness of this as well. The aim is to have at least one chapter published each month, it's all a matter of finding free time between work. Sorry, but please enjoy!]
"Are you alright?" I asked as I patted Mei's dad's forehead with a damp cloth. He seemed to be gaining consciousness, as well as a black eye.
Mum is tearing the kitchen apart looking for a meal she can make us for dinner, while Mei locked herself in our bedroom ever since she K.O-ed her dad.
"Where's Mei?" Mei's dad said with one eye open, the good eye that is.
"She's just in our room," I said as I helped him sit up and gave him a glass of water. "but I mean you can change that…?" I said looking at him for some kind of sign of bravery to enter the battle zone of Mei. I tried to talk to her after she K.O-ed her dad but she didn't want to talk to me, but then mum tried and well as usual mum got her talking. It must be a mum thing.
"I don't want to risk another eye." He laughed, even though I feel that there was some truth in what he said.
"How about takeaway tonight," mum said as she walked towards us and sat down next to Mei's dad. "I seem to have forgotten to do the grocery shopping." She said laughing and smiling at Mei's dad who returned the smile.
They started to tease each other and act sort of childish in a way. I watched and smiled at them both. I don't think I have seen mum this happy in a while. It's different when you grow up with a single parent, you grow to know what each smile means, that knowledge can be used for good and sometimes bad, often when I was younger I was met with the 'I'm struggling, but I'll smile, so you don't have to worry' smile, but now she showed some other kind of smile, a smile that seemed to be sincerely cordial, in literature class terms. She was happy.
I walked to my bedroom door so that mum and well my new dad could have some alone time. I took a deep breath in before I entered my bedroom and then slowly opened the door. I found Mei already laying down in the bed, she looked like she was asleep or dead, she just lay there motionless.
"Mei?" I said quietly as I sat on my side of the bed. She didn't respond or move. "Mei?" I said again hoping that she would say something. So I decided to take advantage of her quietness.
"You know, I get that it's hard to see your father again after all this time," I began, feeling confident to where I would take this deep and meaningful conversation, "I mean at least you have a father who you can see physically." Yup, I lost my direction and headed straight for my morbid side. Who comforts people with death?
There was a knock on the door and Mei's dad's face appeared. "Hey, I'm going to go grab some food, wanna come?" He said as his eyes traveled from me to the motionless Mei.
I nodded and stood up, "I think Mei's sleeping." I said as I walked out with Mei's dad following after me quickly. As I was closing the door of our bedroom I could see Mei turn around, I could see her watery eyes looking at me, but I shut the door. Sometimes being left alone is better…
"Wait what? The traffic is that bad in Indonesia?" I said as I tried to make conversation with my new step dad.
"Yeah, like it should only take 30 minutes, but it takes three hours just to get into central Jakarta, and there are these road tolls that are fitted for each vehicle type," He said as he kicked a stone, which then lead me to kick it as well, "There would be separated lanes for big cars, small cars, cars with babies in them, cars with more than eight people, and check this, people pay people to get into their cars so that they can go into the express lanes which require eight people or more." He said as he happily told me about his travels.
He has seen so much, like I haven't even left this country! Maybe I'll travel after school, or I could magically get a letter from an owl saying that I have been accepted into Hogwarts… well I can dream.
"So are you going to go anywhere else?" I asked him, wondering when he would fly off again.
"Well I was actually going to travel south next week." He said as he continued walking on.
I stopped dead in my tracks. BISH WHET?! You have to be kidding me, he just arrived after two months from traveling, he has a daughter that is in dire need for his attention and hell I just met this guy for the first time, you'd think he'd get to know his new daughter. Can this guy actually be for real?
Apparently my thoughts had traveled down to my facial expressions, putting on a display of all the emotions I was feeling, and from the way he stepped away from me with an incredulous look on his face, I don't think I was giving off a good vibe.
"I'll only be gone for a day.. or two, I just need to do some business." he said as he opened the door for the restaurant.
"…but you just got here?" I said quietly to myself. I knew he heard it by the way he opened his mouth to counter what I said, but he then closed it. Sometimes silence is the best answer.
"Can I get a double ristretto venti half-soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double-shot gingerbread frappuccino extra hot with foam whipped cream upside down double blended, one sweet'n low and one nutrasweet, and ice, please," Harumi looked at the Starbucks employee who stared at her in disbelief of her order. "As I was saying, those two put together are probably the most unwelcoming pairing since bitchy girls working in retail stores."
"Gosh, I hate those girls, they ain't helping the store nor themselves with that kind of attitude." I said as I waited for my not-so-insane order. Harumi was going on about her recent news from her gossip circle, which comprised of five gyaru's from five different schools in the area, apparently this is how she keeps up to date with everything.
"Truth be told,' Harumi said as she watched intently outside the window, "Do you think we'll get caught by one of the virtuous students?"
"Magniloquent language Harumi." I said as I raised my now ready pumpkin spice latte to her, and in turn she raised her ristretto venti half-soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double-shot gingerbread frappuccino extra hot with foam whipped cream upside down double blended, one sweet'n low and one nutrasweet, and ice to me.
"But seriously," Harumi said as we walked towards a table in the back corner of the cafe, "If we are found by any of the student council members at a place, with our uniforms on, before school hours, we'll be killed."
"Harumi before yesterday I would of taken you as a person that never wanted to be in trouble for anything, someone who would always avoid serious events," I said as I took a sip of my latte, "but after yesterday you have definitely changed my view on you, like you are a badass."
"No I'm not," Harumi shifted awkwardly in her seat, "I sent that boy a hamper this morning and I paid the boys off as well… apparently they know where I live, which is scary, but that's besides the point." She then took to looking for any signs of those killjoys that are called the student council.
"Well, you wouldn't believe what happened last night." I began while taking a deep breath ready to speed through my life story.
"Yeah, it was über surreal," I finished my long ass story about Mei's father and everything that went on as we took to our desks in our classroom.
"Geez… I know you don't really want to hear this, but that would make a good movie." Harumi said as she emptied out her bag so that it looked like she was going to do work.
"Probably like a graphic novel, you know, not many people like looking at words all day." I said as I to did the same as her.
"That's true, it's like when I found a Playboy magazine stash at my then boyfriends house, he said he bought them for the articles," Harumi said as she paused for a bit while I stared at her all confused, "My point is, people like pictures more."
I nodded on, even though I had completely forgotten what we were talking about as all my attention was put on Mei, who seemed to be edging closer to the two of us who obviously always sat in the back.
"I think Mei's coming towards us." I said to Harumi who quickly hid her phone back into her cleavage. She had made an incredible barrier of books to hide her phone from anyone who is seated in front of her, but nothing ever escapes the eyes of the student council.
"Do you think she found us this morning?" Harumi whispered to me, but little to our attention Himeko was standing behind us the whole time.
"Find you two doing what?" She said just waiting for us to slip up so that she could give us a real punishment. She reminds me of that principle in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
"Having sexual relations, Himeko." Harumi sarcastically said which led Himeko to frown in disgust and for Mei to stop dead in her tracks. She looked at me, to which I returned the look. A feeling of guilt as well as panic rushed over my body. WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME?!
"Mei?" Himeko gently nudged Mei's arm. Himeko had moved from behind us to comfortably stand beside Mei.
"Umm," She began break our eye contact and looking around for her reason for being there, "here, this is for you Taniguchi." Mei placed an envelope on Harumi's desk. The two walked off briskly, Mei avoiding my insisting gaze.
"What's the letter for?" I asked Harumi who was looking at it intently.
"What happens if I'm expelled, what if they found out what I really did yesterday, what if they saw me this morning at Starbucks and didn't see you, what if…" Harumi kept going on about the possibilities the letter could be, while I grabbed it slowly and then opened it for the both of us.
"Oh no," I said as Harumi stopped and she looked at me seriously, "I can't believe it."
"What is it? What happened? Tell me," Harumi started, "wait don't, no, no say what it is, wait no, say only the good things, wait no, if there are bad things, say the bad thing first and then the good thing so I finish happily and hopefully forget the bad thing." Harumi went on and on and on.
"They found out about the boy punching incident, the boy is thinking of taking you to court," I started and to my surprise Harumi seemed to give a genuine gasp, "The kid confessed everything to the gramps, he even got those three kids you hired in on it as well, that's a hard case Harumi." I said as I handed the letter back to her.
She looked like she was on the verge of tears which was really surprising, I wouldn't of thought she would have bought it, I guess she really does hate getting in trouble, but all her emotions seem to fade when she looked at the letter and realised I was lying, to which I got a deserved punch in the arm.
She started to read it and then looked at me bewildered, "I'm invited to that holiday program thing, the golden weeks scholarship program for the high achievers." She read the letter and then looked at me again.
"What? You're not going to go," I said with a nervous laugh, "Are you?" I then looked at her who then gave me a blank expression.
"Well if my grandma, or even worse my sister," She said with fear mixing into her face, "I'll probably h-have to go." She said, with the tears from before beginning to come back to her eyes again.
A chemistry practical test… and it's only the second day in for this next unit. Damn High School!
"Yuzu, I think we put this in." Harumi said as she lifted a test tube of blue liquid, but before she could put it in the main beaker where we were making some potion thing, our teacher quickly grabbed her arm lightly and told her to stop.
I think our chemistry teacher has had enough of us. He seems to get more and more irritated with us when we can't follow his instructions, but it's quite obvious that Harumi and I don't really want to be here. We didn't pick this subject.
"ugh we always end up like this," I said as I was hanging my science coat on the rack and returning my glasses, "the students who just sit out and watch the rest of the students make their.. stuff." I said as I watched one of the girls pour something that looked like water into a beaker to which foam started to pour out immediately.
"I know, it's as if we were the first kids out in dodgeball." Harumi said as she sat down at our now clear-from-anything-scientific desk.
"What are you doing after school?" I asked Harumi who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Rushing home and hoping that my Grandma or sister hasn't seen my letter, like I can't think of any subjects that I could have gotten high grades in," She began, "If make-up were a subject I know I would be the top of the class of that, but what actual subject did I do well in…?"
Before I could suggest any subjects the bell had rung, meaning the end of school… finally.
Harumi and I were walking towards our main classroom to collect our bags when an idea popped up in my mind. "Harumi, what if I get a letter as well?" I looked at her, hoping that she would catch on to what I was thinking.
"So you can be part of the golden week scholarship for students guaranteed a better life program as well?" Harumi looked at me with a look of disbelief on her face, "because I got a letter?"
"Well we both don't want lonely holidays do we." I said as I walked on ahead and quickly grabbed my bag. Harumi was still in the same place thinking over what I had said. It will hit her tomorrow.
I quickly made my way to Gramps. I had no idea what I was going to say to him. Maybe I could play the innocent grand daughter role and beg for an invitation… well he wouldn't fall for that, since he wouldn't think I was so innocent because of that Mei incident at his house… great I have no where to go with this.
I finally reached his office and stopped to catch my breath. I couldn't decide what to do, like do I tell him straight up that I want an invitation because I deserved it or do I just talk about my latest grades and hopefully he will get that I want to have an invitation. Sudden or subtle, what to do…
In one quick motion I quickly grabbed the door handle and walked into the room, eyes closed, because I didn't want to see his disapproving look, "I want an invitation to that golden week scholarship thing because I believe that I deserve since I have been studying hard and I have recently been getting higher marks!"
I slowly opened my eyes to find an empty seat. The seat where Gramps was permanently glued to for 5 to 8 hours of the day.
"Yuzu…" I heard from the corner of my eye and I found Mei who was setting up something on the huge schedule board that Gramps had, displaying everything that he had going on.
"Mei, Where's Gramps?" I asked her, to which she looked back at the board and started to fill in dates that had things happening.
"You shouldn't be in here." She said flatly consulting her notes and then at the calendar.
I walked over to where she was and looked at his schedule for today. "Meeting in staff room," I read aloud, "I'll go there instead."
"No you can't," Mei said in her usual non-character voice as she grabbed my hand and pulled it closer to her. "You're already embarrassing enough for the both of us." She says it as if her words don't hurt.
"Embarrassing." I said shortly followed with a laugh, thinking that Mei was about to spring one of those 'you're ungrateful' speeches.
"You are," She stared at me with her cold eyes, I felt this overwhelming feeling. It was as if a ghost had just passed through me, making me freeze in place… well that's what I think would happen if a ghost flew through me. "Don't you ever think about others." She walked over and placed her clipboard on the desk.
"Are you calling me selfish?" I asked, wondering where she was going with this and knowing Mei, she seemed to only speak when she knew something.
"I'm calling you beyond selfish," she turned around quickly to shut the door behind me. Her hair hitting my face as if they were tiny whips. "Honestly, do you ever think that your actions do cause consequences, and because you're not mature enough to handle them someone else has to stand up to take responsibility."
"umm, actions..?" I walked back slowly as she was walking towards me with rage. She kind of remind me of a bull getting ready to charge.
"You don't think you would be caught when you were grabbing your morning pick-up at Starbucks," I took a step back. How did she know? Geez you really can't hide anything from the student council.
"That you didn't complete your detention because you were off with the boy's school council," I took another step back. Yeahhhh Harumi and I are screwed now.
"And worst of all, y-you are a better daughter to my father than I'll ever be!"
"Wait.. what?" I tried to murmur out before she crushed her body against mind. She held on tightly to my neck as if she was going to fall if she let go. I had no idea what to do, she was now crying and I had no idea on how to comfort her. Like this ain't easy, like you could say the wrong thing and then bam, they will no longer like you.
In between Mei's sobbing, I could faintly make out the sound of footsteps and chatter coming towards us. I don't think I'm supposed to be in here, and I don't think Gramps will want to see Mei like this.
Before the door opened Mei and I were safely out of sight as we both hid inside the closet, which I thought was funny. I know I wasn't allowed to be in Gramp's office and with Mei knowing I was there, I know she would have told him straight away. I held Mei in my arms in hope I could comfort her and muffle her sobbing.
"You come all the way back just to tell me of your marriage that I already knew about?" Gramps walked into the office with a huff.
"Yes, but I think it would be much more better to renew our vows in front of our family." I could hear my step-dad's voice following in through the doorway of Gramp's office.
Mei seemed to sob even harder into my neck. Her tears trickling down my back as her lips were tightly shut by my neck. I think she was know trying to muffle her sobbing as well too.
"What does this have to do with me?" Gramps asked and from the way he said it, I think he was really frustrated.
"Well I want to have it at the family beach house," He said suddenly, "This weekend.." There was an awkward pause.
"This weekend," Gramps had slumped down in his chair, "why do you want to do this so suddenly?"
"I'm a guy who works on impulse, I thought you would know that father." Dad said with a short laugh after. You could feel that he was trying to lift the mood up.
"Oh I know, divorced your wife straight away after you realised that you were wasting your life as a teacher, re-married to a lady you hardly knew, and then vanished off to another country," Gramps said bitterly, "leaving behind your daughter, because you were too selfish to realise what was more important, than doing nothing around the world.". There was another awkward silence.
Mei calmed down a bit. She wasn't crying as hard, but she had now seemed to tune into the conversation, especially with the last thing Gramps said. Mei does deserve an answer to why he left her like this, why he abandoned her like he did…
"I know I haven't been a good father, but I'm only hoping that this will help us," Dad said, "This way she can see that I am committed to this relationship and everything that comes with it, that I am prepared to be a better father." He finished.
Mei stopped completely. I panicked thinking she had a heartache or something. As I looked down at her, her eyes started to pile up with water as she wore a blank expression on her face. I pulled her in closer and hugged her tighter, to which she continued with dampening my school shirt.
The two talked a bit more about what would happen on the weekend, while I stood there quietly waiting for them to leave. Mei was still crying and she didn't seem like she was going to quit any longer, which is good. As much as I hate seeing her like this, I feel like this serves her some good. She's been that strong person that everyone looks up to for so long, that now she can finally relieve some of her stress and bottled up feelings. She can let go.
Mei and I were walking down the front courtyard steps to find dad waiting for the two of us at the gate.
"Surprised to see me?" He said with a warm smile. Obviously both of us weren't showing any sign of being surprised since we had literally listened to him talk for almost hour.
"Hell yes! Mum's always working, it feels nice to have a parent pick us up for a change," I said bravely as I high fived Shõ's outstretched had. Since Mei wasn't saying anything and I don't think she will be saying anything for a while, I think it was best that I did the talking. "So what did you do today?" I asked him, expecting a lie.
"Well I booked my airplane ticket for Manila, Philippines today and well just lounged around the house today pretty much, took a walk," He paused as he looked at Mei who was on the other side of me, since I decided to walk in the middle of them both, "I'm just trying to get familiar to the old feelings of this place." He said as he looked ahead.
"The feeling of home?" I asked him, to which he nodded.
"Actually your mum and I have a special dinner for you guys." He said as he had a huge smile on his face as if he was a TV host and was waiting for the audience to cheer and clap after a lame joke.
We soon arrived at a fancy restaurant, which looked similar to the one Matsuri took me to. I followed in after dad, while Mei was hovering around the front door. We're both wearing our school uniforms and what is one of the rules the school council are anal about? Don't go to commercial areas in school uniform.
"Mei, you're allowed to break one rule just this once," I said as I gently tugged on her arm and lead her into the restaurant. Dad walked over to the table that he had reserved and tucked us both into our chairs, true gentleman. After I ate all the breadsticks, since the other two seemed to be on edge and quiet, mum arrived straight from work.
"Sorry I'm late, work went a bit overtime today." She said as she took her seat next to Mei who was sitting across from me.
The night progressed on and I got to eat Mei's plate as well, which was great, I'm like really full and I don't think I could eat anymore.
"How about dessert?" The waiter comes around and I have completely forgotten that I am full and order.
As I'm eating my dessert I'm waiting for dad or mum to say something about this wedding that is happening this weekend, which is in just a couple of days. I would like to know, cause I wanna do some dress shopping before, cause there is no doubt that I will be mums bridesmaid.
I look up at Mei and she seems to be thinking the same thing. She keeps looking nearish to their side of the table, just waiting for them to say something, but all they are doing is talking about their day and life pretty much.
Then before I knew it we were out of the restaurant and on the way home. Dad had walked their and mum left the car at home. I think it's better like this anyway, it seems much more family like.
Mum and dad walked ahead of us while I walked with Mei in the back watching the two of them.
"You know he loves you," I said as I kept on looking ahead at our parents, "and he always will, nothing can ever change that.". I waited for a response that I was pretty positive on never getting. I slowly slipped my arm to link hers with mine and brought her closer. She looked at me, to which I smiled at her. She moved her head in the other direction and from where I was you could see a blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks.
When I looked up at mum and dad I could see that they have stopped as if to wait for us. We stopped at the corner of our street and the main street.
"You're probably wondering why we stopped you guys, and why we have stopped here on the corner." Mum said as she then looked at dad for his turn to talk.
"Well this is the exact place your mother and I met, right here," He pointed to the ground beneath him and as he stepped back you could see a footprint outline made from an imprint when the cement was wet. "Here I had finally quit my job.." He paused and looked at Mei, "and well I was so angry with stuff that I umm just kept walking, with no clue of where to go, and well I stopped here after I realised I was lost, and as I was looking around, I was wondering why was I slowly shrinking." He finished and then looked at mum.
"And well that's when I saw you looking confused as ever while standing in the middle of wet cement," her and dad shared a laugh, "If I had come later, I would't be surprised if that cement dried over." They continued laughing.
I couldn't help but smile at their happiness, they seemed so in love, I never want this to end.
"And why we are here, well we have something to tell you." Mum said as she looked at the both of us.
"I know you guys didn't get to come to our actual wedding, so we are going to have a small reception, at our family beach house… this weekend!" Dad finished doing that TV host thing and waiting for us to cheer, and thats where I come in.
"OH MY GOD REALLY?!" I said as I jumped up and hugged the both of them, "I'm so happy for you guys! Oh my gosh, I can't wait, I never knew we had a family beach house, I need a dress, wait we have a family beach house." I kept on rambling on which was my usual act of excitement. Maybe I should do acting..?
I grabbed dad and walked home with him asking him questions about the wedding and if it was possible for me to have parties at the beach house or to just live there sometimes, while mum and Mei walked behind us talking. Mei may never talk to me as much, and well to anyone, but mum has been the only person that has the power to make Mei talk, or probably Mei is just being polite, I don't know, but if mum asks her of something, Mei will talk. Then again theres a connection between the two, like an unsaid understanding…
"Look what I got!" Harumi said as she carried a watermelon over to where I was laying on the beach.
"Where the hell did you get that from?" Himeko said as she looked at the watermelon and the place she had entered the beach.
"Well do you want a piece?" Harumi looked at Himeko then the watermelon. Himeko then backed away and continued reading her book.
"I'd like some." I said as I turned to face her, then all of a sudden Harumi grabs a baseball bat out of nowhere and smashes the watermelon, causing watermelon to fly all around the place.
"Done." She said as she wiped some of the watermelon juice off her.
"What is wrong with you!" Himeko said as she stood up and we all saw that she was covered in watermelon bits. Harumi shrugged and then grabbed a smashed piece and handed it to me. As much as I just wanted a normal piece of watermelon, I just accepted it and moved on.
"You should have moved before I hit it." Harumi grabbed a piece and offered it to Himeko.
"I should have moved!? Me?! No no no no," Himeko stood up and grabbed Harumi's ear, "You are helping me clean this off." She said as she dragged Harumi towards the ocean.
I watched as the two walked off. Hopefully one doesn't drown the other, but then again I think they would miraculously drown each other at the same time.
"Yuzu." Mei came from behind me, silent as she always is. I turn to look at her and she's already kneeling behind me, then she places one of her hands on my back.
"Geez, you're really cold Mei, are you sick?" I said as I shuffled around so my body was facing hers. She was wearing a one piece, while I wore the cutest bikini that I could find on sale. Pink with white polka dots, who doesn't like polka dots?
"You're going to get burnt," Mei said as she pulled out some sunscreen and then started to apply it to my shoulders and back, meaning she had to lean in closer to me.
I sat still as she rubbed the sunscreen around my body. I know I could shuffle around so my back would be facing her to make it easier, but I didn't want to move from where I was. I don't think she realised how close our faces were together, until her nose touched mine.
I looked at her eyes and then moved down to her lips, then down to her hips where my hands seemed to have instinctively placed themselves.
"I see your two friends are having some fun over there." Dad had come down from the house which sat nicely on top of the cliff that hung over the sea.
I didn't know he was there until he spoke, I think I know where Mei get's her ninja like walking skills from. We slowly moved away from each other, both of us had our faces down, as if ashamed.
"Wait let me see your faces," Dad said as he grabbed the both of us from the chin to look at our faces, "you two are sunburnt real bad, you're both as red as tomato." He said with a laugh. Mei briskly waved her father's hand away from her chin while I gave an awkward smile to match my nervous laugh.
"Where's mum?" I said as I was trying to get dad's attention away from Mei's rejection.
"Umm yeah, she's in the house getting ready, and so should you all." He said as he looked at Harumi and Himeko which made me look at them. When he was saying having fun, it was the total opposite.. they were drowning each other.
"Umm I'll get the girls," I said as I stood up and ran after the two maniacs. Hopefully by me leaving dad and Mei behind, they could probably have some father/ daughter time. "What the hell are you two doing?" I said as I looked at Himeko who was sitting on top of a seemingly floating Harumi.
"We're seeing who can hold their breath under water for the longest." Himeko said cooly as I looked at a struggling Harumi.
"I think she's winning." I lied to Himeko, who immediately stood up in response. Gotta love the sore losers.
"She was drowning me." Harumi said between deep breathes as she doggy paddled her way to me and used me as a lever to make her stand.
"You liar! I was only doing what you told me, 'don't let me come up for air, no matter what'." Himeko repeated what Harumi had said to her.
"I was joking!" Harumi said in a raspy voice. "Help me Yuzu."
"Umm well, we have to head back and get ready, family and stuff will be arriving soon." I said, looking back to Mei and dad. Dad seemed to be talking to Mei and Mei, well, she didn't look so reluctant to listen which was new when it came to her dad.
"Is this appropriate?" Harumi said as she wore a silk black dress that hugged her body with spaghetti straps.
"Wow, you look great!" I said as I joined her with the same dress, but in navy blue. We initially wanted to get Black and White matching dresses so Harumi could annoy Himeko with yin and yang jokes all night, but white is for the bride, and navy was the only colour they had left.
We both took to walking down the stairs, as we were supposed to be greeting our family and friends, but when it comes to looking on fleek, you have to give us a couple of hours. Well I was only expecting like gramps, some random uncles and aunties and thats it, but as we arrived in the dining room, well, the place was almost full and this dining hall was huge as if the architect for this place decided to put two concert halls into the house for fun or fear of small rooms.
"Mum I thought this was supposed to be family only?" I found mum who was nervously standing near the entrance.
"That's what I thought, but apparently this beach house serves as a hotel as well." She said through gritted teeth until a couple came up to mum and congratulated her.
"Are all these people staying here as well? And I thought we would get the V.I.P treatment," Harumi said as she crossed her arms dissatisfied. "Ohhh food!" Her mood changed drastically as she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the table, making sure not to bump into this unfamiliar family.
"Who are all these people?" I said as I looked around at them, most of them didn't seem to come from mums side, usually mum would introduce them first to me, but then again most of them didn't seem to resemble my new step dad's side either.
"I've come to a conclusion, they're paid actors." I realised that I had no clue who anyone here was and I was the bride's daughter!
"You really think so?" Harumi said as she looked at me, not even bothering to cover up her mouth full of food. "Like he looks familiar?" She pointed at a short stubby man.
"He looks like Danny Devito, that's why he looks familiar." I said as I barely glanced at the man, while Harumi gave a sigh of realisation.
"You look like you're having fun." Himeko said as she leaned on the table beside Harumi, watching her stuff all the food in her mouth.
"I am," Harumi said while swallowing her food, "I would ask you to join, but I don't want you to hog all the food at once little pig." Harumi lifted up Himeko's two pigtails, trying to make them ears.
"You look great." Mei startled me as I didn't realise she had come to the other side of me.
"Oh Mei!" I said as I calmed down and then looked at her, she was wearing a simple strapless black dress, which to me, made her look incredibly hot. "I didn't know you were there." I said as I felt a lump in my throat, growing.
"I always know if you're around," As Mei said that I found it hard to hide my blushes, "You're hair gives it away anyway." She finally said as she took a sip from her drink, and there goes the moment.
"Who are all these people? Are they staying with us overnight? Are they all your family?" I asked all these questions to Mei, hoping she would have an answer.
"To answer your questions, these people are relatives and friends of father, from what father told me, your mother didn't invite anyone, and they are all staying over tonight, which means we must sacrifice our rooms and share," Mei said as she looked me in the eye, "So you two will be joining Himeko and I in my room, that's what… father said." Mei said with a tinge of hesitance at the end. From where I was she seemed to be blushing at the word 'father' as well.
"Mei, Himeko," Gramps came along with a young looking Jonathan Brandis. Gramps gave Harumi and I a quick glance, that means he acknowledges our presence, "This is John, one of my closest friends son, I invited him here along with his family, please make him welcome." Himeko and Mei nodded towards Gramps, while Harumi and I were nodding towards John, checking him out in other words.
"So where you from?" Harumi said as she elegantly glided next to his side, but before he could answer, Himeko took his arm and dragged him away from the both of us.
"John, why don't we show you around." Himeko said as she took Mei and John away from us, glancing back to rub in the power she has.
"One day that girl will get what's coming to her." Harumi said as she then leaned back on the table with me.
"One day." I said as I looked at the exasperated face of the catering staff as they saw all the dishes around Harumi were empty.
We have just finished dinner and listened to the speeches from supposed family members and mum and dad. Mum being hella nervous, I stepped in to help her speech, which Gramps didn't approve of, while Dad was surprisingly confident with his. Now Harumi and I have to move our stuff into Mei's room who she's sharing with Himeko.
"I got so excited when you asked me to come with you to your parents wedding, like I planned out everything, we were going to watch a scary movie, eat some fat foods and then instantly regret it and then to finish it off we could do some bad magazine quizzes." Harumi said all that in one breath, while heaving her two full suitcases.
"Harumi you did realise that we were only going to be here for the weekend," I said noting that her bags seemed to be quite full, "Like you could of just brought one bag." I finished with showing her the one suitcase I brought.
"What? Are you kidding?" Harumi said as she hauled the bags up the stairs, "I brought like ten dresses, with ten pairs of shoes, and ten kinds of jewellery, just in case I'm not feeling like wearing the one I brought initially."
There's ingenious Harumi again, but as mums bridesmaid and ultimately her maid of honour, I have to wear what mum picked out, which was a nice beige strapless dress.
We reached Mei's room and as we opened the door we were surprised to find a wild Himeko, in her underwear and bra.
"Wow Himeko you can really rock hello kitty underwear." Harumi said immediately as we both hung around in the doorway, I awkwardly standing there, while Harumi seems to find an opportunity for revenge. I don't get what's the matter with the two of them.
"DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK?!" Himeko yelled as she found another piece of clothing to cover up her body.
"Calm down, we're all girls here." Harumi took a moment to look Himeko up and down, which caused Himeko to grab her clothes quickly and run to the bathroom.
"Hey Himeko!" I yelled through the bathroom door, "Where's Mei?" I realised that there was something missing in Mei's bedroom..Mei.
"Umm I'm not sure, she's probably talking to your father." Himeko said through the door.
Why would she be talking to dad? I mean I get it's her father and all, but like a couple days ago she punched the guy, are they finally getting along again..? That would be great! Like how exciting will that be!
"..Let's play truth or dare now, we can roll around in our underwear how, every silly kitty should be…" Harumi was singing one of Avril's songs as she made her self comfortable in Mei's room.
"Can you stop!" Himeko yelled through the door.
"Nope! Oh my god, I didn't know you were a c-cup!" Harumi was now going through her things, to which I gave her a questioning.
"Stop going through my things!" Himeko yet again yelled through the door.
"Oh my gosh, look I drew you as a super hero!" Harumi had now found a piece of paper and started to draw what was supposed to look like Himeko in a Hello Kitty super suit. She slid the paper underneath the door.
"Really Harumi?" Himeko said with a fed up voice.
"Imagine it! By day she's Hello Kitty, by night she drops the o." Harumi finally finished her little thing that she called revenge.
[A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Because I had fun writing it as well... if only sarcasm could work through a computer, if there are any suggestions for where the story takes or on anything, they are more than welcome! Also if I did something wrong or something that should be tweaked or fixed ,writing wise or anything...wise, please let me know, as I am still learning. I don't bite, unless you have food, so message away! Also please review or fav or sub or anything 3 because anything that comes from the readers is always treasured]