"Someone please answer their phone!" Mr. Tachikawa called above his newspaper, his eyes wandering up to the ceiling.
Ring, Ring!
Mr. Tachikawa was about to yell again when his wife laid a hand on his shoulder to quiet him. She shook her head, "She is still upset about her little friend, dear, I don't think raising your voice will do her any better."
"She's still depressed about that boy? It's already been one month," He said and heaved a sigh, patting his wife's hand. "Alright, I guess you are right…I never knew Mimi could be so affected by this that she won't even get up anymore; not to hang out with her friends or talk to Shoji, it's just going straight to school and straight back home. I'm worried about her."
Ring, Ring!
"Be quiet!" Mimi shouted before proceeded to throw a pillow in attempts to silence the phone. Her effort failed as the pillow landed on the bookshelf instead and the ringing once again echoed around the bedroom. "Everyone just please leave me alone," she cried and buried her head into another huge pillow that was still damp from last night's tears. One month. It has only been that long after the dreading news of Ishida Yamato's tragic death, and with his death the heart of Tachikawa Mimi had seemed to have died also. Having stayed in her room, Mimi had painfully regretted not attending his funeral, though his parents were probably so devastated that they decided on a private funeral which made Mimi's heart ache even more, not even having the chance to have a proper farewell.
The ringing was followed by a beep and replaced with the familiar voice of Shoji…"Mimi-Chan! Mimi, please get out of bed I know you're there listening! Oh, Mimi-Chan, I know you are still upset about Yamato—"
Gasping in a series of sobs Mimi used the heel of her hand to rub her eyes and turned her head to the telephone, "Okay, fine, don't answer to me but please just listen—enough time has passed, Mimi, you have to move on! Stop sulking so much and be the Mimi that was my best friend! Mimi? Arrgh, a friend would never do this, Mimi, if you really are one then meet me at the school I might have some news that will cheer—"
Another pillow sent the whole answering machine crashing to the floor. Mimi ran and collapsed by her window, she didn't care what Shoji had wanted, she didn't care for anyone at this moment but the boy whom she had blindly loved and lost. She hugged her shoulders and bit her quavering lips. It's not fair, Matt. We were supposed to be together. Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't I say anything…?
"I'm so sorry," Mimi muttered and crawled into her blankets, covering herself up for a deep sleep. Far longer than forever, Yamato Ishida, I will love you no matter what happens…
Eight years later…
At her young age of 23 and fresh from her college studies, Mimi felt as if she was in her prime when it came to her career. After moving to Tokyo, she was finally fulfilling her dream by as a creative assistant in one of Japan's leading fashion companies. Her inner and outer beauty had not only stayed with her but have helped her transform into a strong, passionate, and spirited woman.
"Good morning, Tachikawa-san."
Mimi couldn't imagine enjoying her work place as much as she did if it weren't for Miyako Inoue and was always thankful for her fun spirit and friendship. Mimi dumped her work and sketches onto her desk and smiled sweetly, "Good morning, Miyako! Is Michael in yet? I have the new outlines for him to check out."
"Yes, he's in his office finishing up a meeting," Miyako replied then leaned over and grunted at the sight of her desk compared to Mimi's. "Do you always have to be a neat freak, Tachikawa? By the way, what happened to you last night?"
"Excuse me?"
Miyako tapped a pencil on her head, "Do you not remember making a certain promise to a certain best friend that you would meet her at the restaurant for…"
Her mouth froze open, "Oh no! Miyako, please forgive me! I was so busy with getting these sketches finished that I…" She pouted her lips and whimpered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"Alright, alright. I forgive you,"laughing, Miyako shrugged. "Well, I was only trying to get you to meet one of Ichijouji-kun's friends. I thought you two might have—"
"Don't even go there,"she raised a finger gave her a warning look. "Miyako, you know how I feel about being set up, besides I'm already content with my life, I've got everything I wanted: a good job, a great house—"
"And no one to share it all with!" Hearing those words, Mimi slowly dropped the papers in her hands and looked down onto the desktop. Her eyes wandering over to a snapshot of when she was still back in Hong Kong with everyone she had loved, but that seemed so long ago…and ancient history was never really one Mimi's strongest subjects.
"How can you say that?"she replied, tucking away loose papers. "What about Michael?"
"Mimi-san!"A gentle voice called from the nearby open office doors; Mimi picked up her head and flashed him a smile. "I hear you have some sketches for me?"
Gathering her things, she nodded and hurriedly paced to his office leaving. She was beaming at the charming young man as she entered and took her place in front of his desk. "Here," she laid the papers on the desk, "I am having a bit of trouble with the blouses though—Michael, it is the middle of winter, who in their right mind would wear these shirts outside in the freezing snow?"
Michael chuckled at her sarcasm remark, "Well, my dear Mimi, I do agree with you on that but—make the tops look outstandingly beautiful and people will just have to buy it but then have no choice but to buy our matching, trendy coat with it as well!" he stood up and placed his hands on the desk top.
Mimi pondered, "But the coat template you've designed is a bit well…the color, I mean—it's just the sleeves are a little—"
"Alright, I get it, I have bashed the winter style," Michael laughed. "So, what have you got, Ms. Tachikawa?"
Grinning, Mimi quickly took over the paperwork and started drawing, "Okay. If you just cut this off—make the sleeves be hangovers and then—you wouldn't have to have a separate coat…viola!" Michael looked over her work and chuckled softly.
"I can see why you're my top agent, Tachikawa-san, you're a born natural," he praised and Mimi couldn't help but blush.
Miyako shrieked, "He asked you to have dinner at his parents' house! Aiee, Tachikawa-san, do realize how lucky you are?" she said as they walked into the local bakery after work. Mimi shook her head at her friend.
"Oh, Miyako," she said while looking over the selection of pastries, "I've known Michael for over six years now and we've only been dating for at least two years, so I can only think of this date as nothing more than a... a date just like any other. Excuse me, what is this?" she said and pointed underneath the glass covers.
Looking over his shoulder, the clerk hunched over them, "My, you sure know your bread, ma'am, that's my homemade-super-deluxe apple cinnamon mystery rolls. You'll never guess what's in them! A surprise in every bite."
"Wow, sounds delicious indeed!" Mimi exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Mystery rolls, I wonder what's in them. Miya-chan, how about giving these a try?"
"What?" Miyako stared at her. "Mimi, what are you talking about? They are apple cinnamon rolls—now can we please get back to you and Michael?"
"Oh, Miyako, how could you possibly know what's in them if you haven't tasted it?" Mimi smiled and stuffed one in her friends' mouth. "Well, what does it taste like?"
"You can never tell until you really bite in," the clerk grinned proudly. "Well now, what filling did you get, Miss?"
Are these two nuts or something? Miyako chewed in frustration, "…apple, cinnamon…they taste like apple cinnamon, like what they're called?"
Mimi slapped her back and caused her to choke a bit, "Miyako, you can't really say what they're all flavored—it's a mystery, haven't you gotten that yet?" she giggled.
"A surprise in every bite, mmhm," the clerk said.
Home at last, Mimi quietly unlocked the door to her cozy apartment home where she had lived in for quite some time now, alone. Placing her keys by the door she slowly made her way to the kitchen, arms hugging two brown bags that she dumped onto the clean counter.
"Okay, now. Cereal here, canned and bottled jars over there," Mimi recited. "And the—oh, hey there, sweets," she said, bending down to pick up a small, white tabby. "What have you been up to this afternoon? Are you hungry?"
Mimi suddenly busied herself with the kitten, fixing up its food and laying it down to watch her it, "Here you go, eat up. Now, since you've bunked with me for a few weeks now don't you think I ought to give you a name by now?" The feline gave her one look that seemed to have been a shrugging gesture.
Letting out a small laugh Mimi began to stroke its ears, "Aw. Now, what should I call you? Moshi? Kimiko? What do you—"she was cut off when the phone suddenly rang. Mimi got up and ran to answer it. "Hello?"
"Tachikawa-san!"
Mimi stifled a laugh, "Miyako, give it a rest, already!"
"But I have to know!" Miyako exclaimed. "And you never told me anything, all you talked the whole way about were those mystery apple cinnamon rolls that taste just like apple cinnamon rolls!" She grunted when she heard Mimi's hysteric laughter from the other end, "Fine, fine, I'll leave you alone, for now. Details tomorrow, woman, or you are buying me lunch!"
"Yes, Miyako. Oh, before I forget, Michael has put me ahead to start on the spring fashion line so I'm going to be busy with paperwork for a while and so I was wondering…"
"If I would take over your other work for you."
"Oh, you would! Oh, I love you! Thank you, Miya-chan!"
"I have to get to work, kitty, so stay home and be good!" Mimi smiled as she ran out the door. Juggling her coffee, phone, and magazine stack, Mimi silently cursed at her tardiness as she slid through the crowd. Oh no, I completely forgot that I'm suppose to have dinner with Michael and his parents tonight! Mimi scolded herself, how is he expecting me to finish these—oh, wow… Mimi quickly stopped and began to admire a wedding dress hung upon the racks in front of the mall window.
"How beautiful," Mimi whispered. "Oh, how I'd love to wear that…someday," Mimi's eyes wandered onto the inside of the store and almost dropped her things when she saw someone familiar, or thought she saw someone familiar. "That can't be! Wait," pushing her face closer to the glass, Mimi looked around for the familiar figure she had seen a few seconds ago. Where, where did they go? Mimi looked frantically around when she got nudged in the back.
"Oh. What am I thinking? That was too long ago and I'm a bit stressed with work. You're just hallucinating, Mimi, no time to let my mind wander now…" She chanted as she walked away.
Giggling, Mimi was carefully led out of the car by Michael, "Michael, where are you taking me?" She asked as he took his hands over her eyes. "You know I really have to finish the spring—"
"Don't you ever stop thinking of work? I told you there is already an agent coming tomorrow to help you," Michael laughed softly and held her close. "Now, could you please just relax and trust me?"
Mimi sighed in defeat, "Yes, I understand. Where exactly are we going?"
"Having dinner at my parents' house was just a starter for our evening, My Mimi, my parents have been dying to meet you after what I told them so now we're doing what I want," Michael replied and sighed. "They really adore you, Mimi-Chan, just like I do."
Confused as ever, Mimi asked, "W-what are you saying?" Michael suddenly took his hands off her eyes and Mimi gasped in astonishment. "Oh, Michael…," Breathless, Mimi found herself standing among a park's winter wonderland. Michael had shoveled around the snow, making outrageous designs on the grounds and scattered rose petals everywhere, and decorated a huge tree with glistening lights and under where he prepared a small picnic for them.
Putting his hands into his pockets, Michael rocked onto his heels and admired his work, "Nice, huh? Mimi-Chan, I have something—too—"suddenly he was engulfed and tackled by Mimi's grateful arms, and they fell onto the ground laughing, "To think that I have known you for so long and I still forget how you react to presents and proposals."
Mimi softly laughed as she sat her head on the palm of her hand and stared at him, when his words occurred to her. "Wait…P-proposal?"
Michael grinned and gently leaned in towards her, kissing her softly. He whispered, "Mimi, I've known you for almost six years now and not a day passes that I don't think of how lucky I am to have you. After…after you moved here and told me about how scared you were—about what happened to that guy you—" Mimi quickly looked away and he sighed. "Wow, this is not going as I rehearsed…"
Seeing his downcast face, Mimi's lips curled into a tiny smile, "And what exactly did you rehearse?"
"Mimi," Michael said, "would you please, marry me?"