Chapter 9

Jun was busy in her room getting ready for the party and she was still deciding what to wear…dress or jeans…mmm maybe dress pant's and blouse, what would he like best???

The dilemma was stressing out. But when she looked at the objects and the line up of small cards on her dresser it bought a smile to her face and sense of excitement about her birthday.

Ken had not spoken to her all week; in fact no one had seen him. Joe had run into for a few minutes in city but couldn't seem to get much sense out of him or so he said. She had figured he would avoid her for a while after that night, but not everyone else. The last week had been interesting though and her mind went back over the events that had occurred over the course of the week.

It all started the next day after the exhibit opening night; it was late in the afternoon and she was cleaning the counter top at the bar when she heard a young boy's polite voice.

"Excuse me miss, are you Jun? "She turned to find a dark hair boy with brown eyes and big cheeky smile on his face. He looked to be about 9 or 10 years old. In his hand he was holding small white box and a small envelope. "Yes" she replied "and who might you be?" He handed her the parcel and headed for the door, gave her a cheeky grin and ran out. "Hey wait" she called after him from the door way but he was already gone.

She ran down the street after him but he was gone.

Jun went back inside to the counter where she had left the box and looked at it for a moment before opening it. Inside were two Frangipani flowers. Curious she looked at the envelope and opened it. Inside was a plain card with writing inside;

I was walking past a tree in full flower today and the beautiful scent of the flowers reminded me of your perfume …..And I thought of you….

The card was not signed.

Jun sat for a moment as the lovely scent of the flower reached her nose. It had a similar scent to the perfume she wore last night…her favorite Beyond Paradise. Could Anthony be trying to apologize to her she thought…not likely, she sat up a little more could it be Ken??

Noooo he wouldn't think to do something like this would he?? Jun stood up and went up to her room and placed the box open on her dresser the scent filling her room. Still it was romantic…

The next day at about the same time Jinpei called her to come down stairs and there was the same boy again waiting for her. "Good afternoon Jun" He greeted her with a big smile. In his hand he held one long stemmed creamy white rose and in the other a card. Again he handed them to her and ran out the door. Jinpei was looking at her with his eyebrows raised. "What's this all about sis?" Jun looked at the rose and the card "You tell me Jin and we'll both know." She placed the rose gently on the counter and opened the card;

I saw this beautiful creamy white rose today and it reminded me of your beautiful soft skin and that I only wish to be worthy….and I thought only of you….

The next day at the same time Jun made sure she was downstairs, this time it was not the boy but a young girl. She acted the same as the boy did. Asked for her, smiled and handed her a small white box. Inside the box was a very smooth shiny ebony black stone. Jun ran her hands over the simple beauty of it. I seamed to almost have a green undertone to colour when the light fell on it. She opened the card heart pounding as to what it might say;

I was walking by a river today and this beautiful black stone caught my eye. When I looked at it the smoothness and ebony black colour remained me of your hair and how I would love to run my fingers through it, and I thought of you….

"Ohhhh" Jun sighed that is so beautiful. It had to be Ken, she thought as she headed upstairs to put it on her dresser. Jun found herself looking forward to the next day. Where was he she wondered?

The following day Jun was not disappointed. Joe and Ryu were at the bar when the young girl arrived and Jinpei was in the kitchen. As soon as Jinpei heard the young girl asking for Jun he was out in the bar area in a flash.

She was holding in her hand a pale pink long stemmed rose and of course a small envelope. "One day you're going to tell me your name" She said smiling to the little girl who giggled and ran out of the J.

By this time Joe had a curious grin on his face and Jinpei was hanging over her shoulder to see what was written on the card. "Jinpei its private" She told him and walked a little away from him. "Awww onechan have you worked out who it's from yet" She opened the card and looked up at him again" I have my suspicions, but until he show's up here himself and tells me I'm not saying anything."

Joe couldn't resist at that comment "So Jun" he teased"You have a secret admirer huh I'm so jealous does that mean we're over?" She looked at him "What do you mean by that, there is no "us" dream on" and she gave him a small smile and headed upstairs as Joe gave back a mock hurt look. She opened the card and it said;

I was walking through a park today and saw this beautiful rose, it made me think of your soft and beautiful smile so I send this to you with a kiss…. and I thought of you….

Jun fell back on her bed remembering the kiss that gave her and the wonderful dreams she had of him since, she picked up the rose and touched it to her lips as if accepting the kiss he sent her. Over the next few days other items arrived and with a card for each of them. On her dresser she had a beautiful small hand made porcelain swan, a sunflower and a teddy bear; each note contained a message about her and ended in;

I thought of you…..

It was now the day before her birthday and Jun found herself waiting to see what would come next. She was starting to feel disappointment as the time got later than when the children had been arriving when the door opened and in stepped both of them.

One was holding a small Goldfish aquarium containing two goldfish with small stones on the bottom and small decorations. The boy was trying very hard to keep it steady and the young girl had a paper bag and the card in her hand. Jun took the fish bowl out of his hands much to the boy's relief and placed it on the counter.

The young girl looked at her with a more serious expression on her face. "Now" She said"You only need to feed them once a day. There is an air filter in here and some other things you will need to care for them…ohh and you have to give them names too." Then she handed Jun the bag and the envelope.

" Will you at least tell me your names then so I have choices?" The two looked at each other shook their heads and gave her devilish grins and ran out if the Snack J. Jun wondered if those two children were playing some kind of game with her by not telling her their names. Jinpei looked out from the kitchen and gave an excited grin. "Cooollll" he cried as he looked at the goldfish, "you never let me have any pet's sis" She looked at him and gave a small smile at that comment" Your idea of pets have always been bug's Jinpei or weird zoo animals, besides our lifestyle has never allowed for the traditional type." She opened the card and looked at the goldfish and her face broke into a broad grin. It had to be Ken she thought read the card;

I was walking past an aquarium today and the remembered how your whole face lights up at the beauty of the creatures of the deep blue sea and how it not nearly as beautiful as you are…..and I thought of only of you…..

Jun's thought came back to the present;

No parcels had arrived that day and she was wondering what he was up to, her party was to start in an hour she'd better hurry up and decided what to wear. Jinpei had made her stay upstairs until he was ready for her to come down.

She couldn't wait to see Ken, she did not know what they would say to each other but she had forgiven him for punching out Anthony (Jerk) she thought. The anticipation was almost toooo much!