THE PASSING WIND
-TheSilentReader-
I always wonder why you never drew me naked before. I asked you once during a random all-nighter in the university library, and with your signature face of surprise, you looked up the ceiling and said, "Oh, yes, Sachiko. I never did, did I?" I thought you were innocent and very charming. In our private conversation, I asked you the reason you never drew me in nude, and you wondered too. Because of it, you insisted that I should be a model to one of your personal works, a masterpiece that you would never show to the public, or to any school exhibition.
You said that you wanted me partly robed with the traditional kimono. The season should be early autumn, imagining that you preferred its lighting to spring. You also insisted that the location should be in any traditional house. I said that Kyoto would be nice for our little experiment. My family had several properties in Kyoto; it would not be a problem.
When we were in the location, you immediately prepared your art materials. You demanded that you should sketch me first on the first day (a rough draft), and then paint me on the second. You said that you wanted it to be perfect. You situated me outside and I sat, rested my back on a paper slide door, the sun directly hitting me from the west. You instructed me of the pose that I should assume; of how my kimono should artistically drape only the slopes of my shoulders, accentuating also the kimono's different layers, as well as the frame of my body. The hems were sprawled and spread on the wooden floor. You also placed the obi to partially cover my groin. The rest of my body—my neck, collarbone, breasts, abdomen, and thighs—were exposed to the afternoon glaze of sunlight. You also told me face away from it, thus, covering a portion of my face. Then, you told me to look at you, and only you.
That night, you confessed to me that you couldn't take it anymore. You tried to be as objective and professional all afternoon, trying to extract my picturesque essence and implant it to your ground without touching me. That it drove you wild with adulterated thoughts. I felt the same, as well. That night, you made love to me in such a slower pace than before . . . touching and tasting as if memorizing every part of me all over again, like a sculptor furnishing a marble statue. Everything is smooth and soft to the senses, you said. You never gave me chance to reciprocate. That night, I was so spent just by feeling everything on my end.
It gave me a mystic glow, you commented once.
Thus, I became your model for two days. After you got the image that you wanted, you proceeded to complete it with the pigments. Afterwards you gave it to me as a gift. I noticed that you never signed it with your name, neither giving it a title; I insisted that you should brand it with your seal, but you declined.
You told me never to let anyone see this. Not until we could say freely that, we love each other. That I truly and deeply love you.
That moment, I want to show it to the world, to tell them my feelings. That I was that woman in the painting. And you, Fukuzawa Yumi, was its painter. I truly do.
—Ogasawara Sachiko (1993)
CHAPTER 10
It started after Yumi became the Rosa Chinensis. Graduation simply could not keep them apart, and as Yumi realized the distance between them, she felt that she had lost greatly with Sachiko's leaving. It was not as if she was not herself after Sachiko left Lillian High School behind—it was more of the pain that she felt whenever she and Sachiko would accidentally see each other. Sachiko was only at the other side of the fence, but as time went by, Yumi's desire to see her older sister grew.
It was not just a heightened and warped admiration for an older sister; it was beyond perverseness.
Yet, she kept her feelings for herself. She knew that time would surely put balm upon her unrequited love, and diminish its hold upon Yumi's heart. She wanted it that way, since she knew for herself that she was still stuck in the past. Maybe if Sachiko did not leave, if high school was a matter made for a lifetime, maybe, she would not feel much despair.
Until one time in winter, she accidentally saw Sachiko in front of the Lillian gates. It was the eve of Christmas, and it was already late. She was the last one left in the mansion—she insisted everyone to leave early after the party, with the excuse that she still had something to do. Even her little sister was not spared from her request, although Touko formidably opposed leaving her onee-sama alone. She only left the building when the security guards roaming around the campus noticed the light upon the second floor.
She found Sachiko waiting for the last bus to arrive. It was already late, almost three hours before midnight. When she saw her standing there by herself, her heart suddenly was heavy of the feelings she had been harboring two seasons since. "Onee-sama."
She greeted her with a smile. However, she saw that Sachiko was just forcing herself to do such, therefore, without thinking twice, she asked immediately, "Is something wrong?"
They sat at the bench situated at the bus stop. The last bus seemed to be taking long, which was not supposed to happen. Still, she was glad to see her onee-sama on Christmas Eve. She was still not answering the question. This did not matter to Yumi; she was eager to be the first one to break the silence by telling Sachiko the events that happened that day.
"Oh, Onee-sama, the bus is there! We can go home now," She reluctantly said, even though she still wanted to stay at the bus stop. She stood up to meet the vehicle, when she felt a tug upon her dark coat.
"I don't want to go home." Sachiko said.
The bus stopped before them. Yumi smiled, even though she did not understand what happened to her grande soeur. "Well then; where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere."
"Alright." She held Sachiko's hand, and it seemed more natural than all the skinship that they shared before. "Let's go, before the bus leaves us."
The bus was almost empty, which was very unlikely—last-shift buses should have been filled with people who took the last bus to get to their homes. Especially on Christmas Eve. But as some sort of unknown reason, Sachiko and Yumi had the chance to choose on which seats to take. They took the spot with least people surrounding them.
It took Yumi guts to ask her onee-sama about her problems, the fact that their nearness was beginning to create a strange heaviness upon her chest. For some reason, she wanted to get away from her, but to embrace her at the same time.
She knew that as time went by, her love for Ogasawara Sachiko was becoming heavier, with desire that she never felt before. Maybe she realized it after Sachiko left. Maybe she could not take it the moment she left for the university.
They were in the same campus, yet, she felt that she was halfway around the world.
Two seasons without hearing her voice made her incomplete, even with her friends and Touko around.
Sachiko's room in her heart became too big that she felt emptiness.
"Onee-sama," she gulped after muttering the manifestation of their established relationship, "Why don't you want to go home?"
Sachiko, who was looking outside the empty and dark scenery, looked at her with blank eyes. "I don't want to see him."
"Ogasawara-sama?"
Sachiko nodded. Yumi discerned; it was about her engagement. Whenever she mentioned her grandfather, the matter about him never changed. His grandfather had been very stubborn about selecting the proper man to be his grandson-in-law, and until now he was still selecting among hundreds of eligible bachelors. That was why Sachiko was worried; her fiance could be anyone with immeasurable influence, heaps of money, and old family history. Even though the general population of Japan, it comprises only a few percentage of the social pyramid, still—it could be anyone.
She was for the taking—by the highest bidder.
His grandfather had been very finicky about this matter, and after all the years of uncertainty, he brought it up again. As if to remind Sachiko that she should check her neglect to her responsibilities for the family, he thought that she was given too much freedom to forget them.
For that last part, it was true. Ever since she entered senior high school, she had been demanding her little taste of freedom.
"He's reminded me again last night. I could not even get away from his grasp even after I entered college."
Yumi could only ask her, "Do you really have no choice about your future?" She asked her bluntly, as if to tell herself that Sachiko's answer would determine whether to throw away her feelings for the senior, or to retain it in her heart, and wait. To wait until she's ready.
Sachiko looked at her, with pain in her eyes. "He knew my weakness. He knew that I'd always decide for the sake of the family rather than any other matter. He always exploits that. He lets me wander off, but whenever he commands for me, it felt that I'm returning to a very cramped cage."
Sachiko did not answer Yumi's silent question. Yumi tightened her hold onto her Onee-sama. "Where do you want to go?"
The university student rested her head upon Yumi's shoulder. "Whatever you have in mind."
They headed to a playground near Yumi's house. When they reached their destination, everything was quiet. At this time of the night, everyone was home; no one would even bother staying there.
It was cold too.
Sachiko went for the swing. They both sat, and when Yumi was about to swing her seat, she noticed that Sachiko was not doing the same. Sachiko breathed, "As a child, I only sit on swings; I never brace myself to push it. I thought at first, that this fear of scraping my knees because of accidents would grow on me, but until now, I fear on swinging it."
Yumi was surprised with the secret Sachiko was revealing. "What made you fear it?"
"Watching others having accidents because of swings, I suppose."
Yumi was confused; she also witnessed the situations similar to that, and even experienced it herself, but those were not barricades for her not to enjoy such childhood privilege. "Is that all?"
Sachiko chuckled. She clasped her hands tightly at the two thick chains supporting her seat, and said, "My grandfather told a story about swings that made me more afraid of it. That they break easily."
Yumi thought of the notion as ridiculous. "Onee-sama," she stood from her swing and walked until she was behind Sachiko. She put her hands upon her onee-sama's shoulders, and said cheerfully, "Look at the chains, and to which its ends are attached. You see? They are in perfect condition. Look how thick the chains are. Feel how sturdy your seat is. It's safe. And I'm behind you. Are the swing and I not that convincing?"
At some point, Yumi regretted that she submit to her impulse of getting too close to Sachiko. She felt that she was invading too much of Sachiko's personal space. Even though they're comfortable with each other, closing the distance between their faces, no matter what orientation or angle it may be, would cause less ease for Sachiko.
"Alright," Sachiko said, gripping the chains. "Push me."
And gently, Yumi did. It went in slow tempo, and as time passed by, she pushed harder. "I can feel the wind on my face. Why did I miss this Yumi? This simple joy? Why did I grow too stiff in at a very young age?" She laughed as Yumi pushed her repeatedly. "Yumi! Oh, what am I missing!" She cried out, amidst the silence of the park.
They laughed together, satisfied of the privacy of the empty playground.
When they were too tired to continue it, Sachiko requested Yumi to stop pushing her. Gradually, the swing stopped, with the aid of Sachiko's feet, breaking the momentum of the swing. "Hah, that was such a splendid experience." Sachiko muttered, as she huffed air in and out of her lungs. "Yumi, I could not imagine myself the happiest person without you."
Yumi stopped pushing her and she remained looking at her onee-sama's back. They were alone in the playground, yet as she felt their introverted situation among the rest of the population, she felt the desire to kiss her onee-sama.
Sachiko stood while panting. She about-faced and found Yumi looking at her, with her cheeks flushed and red. With three footsteps, Sachiko was able to get in front of Yumi, encircled her waist with one hand and clasped one of Yumi's hands with the other, and kissed her on the mouth.
Sachiko must have read her thoughts. Only that the uni student initiated it.
It was a simple touch of lips—Yumi tried not to open her mouth further, not asking more from her onee-sama. Amidst the building strata of snow falling from the skies, she never felt warmer. Their chests were pressing to each other, and Yumi wanted to pull Sachiko more to her body, to increase the heat, to feel the softness of her supple body. She wanted to press more of Sachiko's head to her, to retain the contact of their mouths, yet she only allowed herself to grasp for a sleeve of Sachiko's jacket. Sachiko tried to deepen the kiss—
Yumi felt that there was something wrong with it. She broke the contact. When she looked once more at Sachiko, she thought that she'd made the right decision; Sachiko was harboring the same sentiment and it was evident upon her face—that what they've done would not result to any bright future.
They were talking about Sachiko's engagement a while ago, now this. Yumi thought that this moment should be erased out of their memories, no matter how pleasurable she felt after experiencing it, no matter how desperate she was to keep it to her memory forever.
"I'm sorry," Yumi said.
Yumi expected Sachiko's next behavior; her onee-sama became cold and commandeering. "Yumi, I guess we need to go to your house. I need to call the mansion for the chauffeur to fetch me."
Calling the Ogasawara mansion for assistance was the clear indication of Sachiko's existence was confined to her family name.
Since then, Yumi was satisfied for them not to meet even though they were in the same campus. It was for security. She was afraid to confront her with her feelings; it's better to continue with her feelings hidden rather than pushing it upon Sachiko. She herself did not acknowledge it, although not directly. The mere fact that they did not even call each other to talk about it was tantamount to the decision to ignore what happened that night.
She was afraid to see her again. Not when her feelings were almost spilling to the brim, yet the person she needed to drink it was not there. It was such a useless effort to feel like she's bursting because of love, but without her most important person to witness it.
She felt despair as a consequence of filling her heart with love.
Until the day of Yumi's graduation. Everything changed ever since Yumi's graduation.
They were in the same university. They ate together during their vacant time; they rode the same buses even though one of them had their classes earlier than the other did. They belonged to different departments, yet this matter was nothing to them. They lied to their parents just to spend a weekend together and out of Tokyo, and they've done it repeatedly. Whenever something went not according to plan, they were patient; they compromised.
For three years, those belonged to the routine that they gladly accepted and enjoyed.
Yet, no one knew of the relationship. Every lie has been calculated for them not to be discovered. Truths were mixed with lies thus keeping their relationship secret from those who would not accept them.
And that includes Sachiko's grandfather.
"Why are we keeping this from everyone?" Yumi asked during one of the nights that they left for Kyoto for their love affair.
"Touko knows. Rei knows."
"My family—"
"Please—"
Yumi flipped Sachiko to her back and fastened the latter with her body. Yumi clasped her hands on Sachiko's and pinned them above the latter's shoulders. "I want to tell my family how much I love you. I want them to support us, and I yearn for that. I want everyone to know; I want us to be open about our relationship. I want to see that there's a bright future ahead of us. You promised years ago, that we'll fight for this, yet all this time, all we do is hiding!"
"Do you think I don't want that?" She looked at Yumi, who was now up. Her torso was not even covered with blanket. Sachiko sat up and tightly put her arms around her lover. "Just give me time, Yumi, please. Just give me time to tell my family."
She knew, at the back of her mind, that this would always be their problem. Yumi whispered. "Is he still bugging you about marriage?"
"No, but—"
Yumi embraced her back, while burying her head to Sachiko's neck. She whispered as she tried not to cry in the other's shoulder. "Sachiko, I don't want to lie anymore. I love you so much and I want to say it freely. As many times as I want to."
"I know. In time, Yumi. I promise."
Until Sachiko's graduation came.
They never lied to each other. They knew how to put on their innocent faces in front of other people; they were honest with each other, and they could not practice that outside their relationship. But there was one thing that Sachiko was not telling Yumi for almost a year.
"I'm engaged."
Yumi could not even breathe as Sachiko muttered the words out. They were in the same playground, at the same time of the night. Sachiko called her to meet her without even knowing the reason. Yumi just complied with everything and anytime Sachiko called for her. And now, she could not fathom what she was hearing.
"Yumi—"
She fought the impulse of growling that she felt her jaws becoming numb. "Do not come any closer. For you to tell me this now; what's happening here? Tell me."
"My grandfather knows about us all along."
Her confusion and anger was mixing up her throat she could not even control the words coming out of her mouth. "So? Isn't now the time to tell them formally about us? He saved us the effort of revealing ourselves to him. Is that why you're engaged?"
"I can't refuse him."
Yumi took a step to Sachiko, yet the latter flinched and moved away from her. "A year ago, he told me that he would introduce me to a man . . . a man of great influence . . . and until few months ago, meetings with that man were arranged by my grandfather. He clearly told me that he chose him as my future husband. Both families had agreed about the arrangement."
"Why didn't you tell that to me before? About that man?" Yumi demanded.
Sachiko bit her lip.
Yumi knew what was going to happen, therefore, she herself would stop whatever Sachiko would say. "No, Sachiko. I will fight for you! I'll wait for you until we convince them. I'll talk to him; I'll convince him too—"
Yet, Yumi saw Sachiko's eyes—they were the same the moment after their first kiss. They were blank, clearly hiding her true feelings. This would not deter Yumi, and with desperation, she reached out for Sachiko and embraced her tightly. "Sachiko, please, do not be cold—do not reject me . . . please, let us talk this through. We could devise a plan, anything! We could run away! After your graduation, we can run away! Somewhere they can't find us!"
"I could not refuse him. He's dying, Yumi." She told her in between sobs.
Yumi stiffened. How could she fight against a dying man's wishes?
Even at his deathbed, he did not allow Yumi to see Sachiko ever since their last meeting at the playground. Added to Sachiko's entourage were two bodyguards who watched her every move. There was never a time Yumi could catch a moment with Sachiko. She devised plans for them to talk without her guards. Yet, Sachiko herself was not cooperating. She avoided her. If it were not because she only had few weeks before her graduation, she would have transfer to different university. Her guards were enough to keep them apart.
Yumi tried to visit the mansion, yet a restraining order appeared before her. Even Touko, who was close to the family, was not allowed to be with the family for the time being.
She never gave up. She tried to talk to Youko-sama, yet, even with the intimidation of annulling their relationship as soeurs, Sachiko did not budge from her decision. No common friend was allowed to see the Ogasawara heir.
Yumi's mission was only to talk to Sachiko. Her only desire was to talk to the old, dying man, and convince him for the first and last time. If he still rejected Yumi after their talk, then she would respect the Ogasawara family's sentiment. Yet, with all her pleading, she was not given the chance. She did not even see him.
Until the time that Sachiko called again to meet with her. On the same place, the night she was about to depart to Kyoto. Yumi was at the usual playground, sitting on the swing as she waited for Sachiko. At the exact time of the meeting, a black sedan appeared at the gate of the playground—it's front light almost blinding Yumi's vision. She saw the chauffeur opening the passenger's seat, revealing Sachiko. She rejoiced at the sight of her lover, and when Sachiko was near the swing, Yumi bolted out to embrace her. Yet, she was stopped with a swing of a hand.
"You will not come closer. I came here to settle things between us."
"Sachiko—"
The Ogasawara heiress did not want to hear her voice. "What is your price?"
"What the you—?"
"How much is the worth for not bothering me again?"
Hearing no response from the art student, she continued. "You should have not bothered my family when we broke up. I told you that he's dying, what explanation should I give you? Isn't it enough that we had three years together? I am needed by my family. I held the responsibility of keeping that tradition. You should have not force yourself on anyone's doorstep."
"I DON'T EVER WANT YOUR MONEY!"
Yumi's chest could not handle Sachiko's words. She held her ground bravely, digesting everything she said. When she finished, Yumi cried. "I just want to convince him that there's always another option. That he'll consider your feelings. If you broke up with me because you're tired of me and your don't love me anymore, I could not stand a chance and fight, and accept defeat. But it's not the case! We're separated by things that doesn't concern us!"
"He's dying; it's his wish that I should be married."
"Is there no other way?" Yumi pleaded.
"Like I said, is three years not enough for you?"
She struck those words to her, leaving Yumi incredulous of Sachiko's words. She was never this stern, this cruel. She always thought otherwise. Sachiko, even at her worst mood, always feels like a calming wind. Then she understood, despite her reluctance to recognize this realization:
"You just—you used me. As a temporary escape from yourself and your family, you used me."
Yumi began to envelop herself deep in her own thoughts, her vision suddenly becoming blur. Sachiko's face began to blur too, as she her thoughts ran wild with conclusions after conclusions. "Is that it? You used me . . . I trusted you . . . I love you with all my heart, yet . . . ."
Then, her thoughts were interrupted by Sachiko's call and the flash of the sedan's light.
"How much will it take you to leave me and my family alone?"
In her building rage, the painter stepped closer to Sachiko and used her dominant hand, her left hand that used to carress her, to convey her undying love for her, to slap a cheek forcefully, ringing a violent sound to the silent playground in the dead of the night.
When she realized what she had done, she looked at Sachiko, involuntarily apologized to her as she put both her hands to her mouth. She chanted repeatedly in agony, "I'm sorry, Sachiko! I'm sorry . . ."
Sachiko's right cheek was almost blood red, and a very tiny streak of blood trickled from her the right side of her lips to her chin. She held no expression as she said, "It has to be this way." and proceeded to the sedan, leaving Yumi on her knees, crying.
Snow. It was Christmas Eve.
Later, the engagement was announced at Sachiko's graduation party, and the marriage was set a month after. She was in Kyoto, hopeful that her absence would make her beloved change her mind. She never believed anything that she said. She hoped that Sachiko would reject the marriage even when she heard the news once more from Sei, and even when she saw the invitation delivered by Yuuki.
Still, April came, and so was the news of their marriage. Yumi's heart died.
She lied.
He was not dying, and still held his position in the Ogasawara empire. Like evil weeds, men like him live longer. The common knowledge among Yumi's friends that he was near death was spread and circulated by Sachiko herself. She was so used to falsehood that she could even lie to her closest friends and to Youko, her onee-sama.
She was at Kyoto as an exchange student even at her final year in university. She knew of the news from Sei-sama, who happened to see her when the former was visiting an old art museum where Yumi was working part-time.
Since the marriage, everything about the Ogasawara group and Sachiko was shut out of Yumi's life, because she decided to move on. It was not out of bitterness, and it was sufficient for her not to break apart. Somehow, she understood Sachiko's reasons for breaking up with her. But hearing about Sachiko's lies—she felt that she was once again at the starting line. Before, she felt only the loneliness of losing Sachiko, but in her heart, she accepted her defeat. Sachiko's love for her family could not be denied, and Yumi accepted it. But hearing that she lied—she reverted back to the starting line.
One thing changed—her anger was seeping through her bones, galvanizing and cementing itself into the pores and crevices. She felt wrath, as if she could kill Sachiko with her bare hands. She wanted to avenge her pride.
Yet, with all her weaknesses, she cried all night in Sei's arms once more.
Sachiko was now holding one of the top managerial positions of the Ogasawara group. Her husband was CEO of another company, albeit smaller than his wife's. By the end of the year, the companies merged.
Yumi, who was working very hard to recover her heart from their failed relationship, was once again shattered to shreds after she knew what Sachiko had done.
She learned her lesson. It took her a long time to know it but at least she learned. The reason why she accepted the offer at Kyoto was to get away from Musashino, from Tokyo. Somehow, even with the small distance away from the other city, it worked. At first, it was hard to ignore what happened in the last months, but she made it through. Her anger was her motivation and inspiration.
At that time, she vowed stupidly to herself never to see her again. And that includes forgiving her.
Present Day
She woke up from a very vivid dream.
(That painting. Sachiko.)
I want to show it to the world, to tell them my feelings . . . that I truly and deeply love you.
Yumi felt the coldness of the air conditioner upon her naked shoulders. When she moved, the blanket slipped down to her back. She felt clammy on her mouth, therefore adjusted her hands to wipe it. She saw the dim yellow light of a lamp on the other side of the bed, she tried to regain the fullness of her vision, and when she did, she saw a wide window, showing a panorama of the city lights on a dark background. Then, she saw a couch, facing that panorama, and a thin line of smoke emanating from a hand.
She shot up, and realized that she was naked. She covered herself frantically, and demanded in a low growl to the person smoking, "Kashiwagi? Where am I?"
A puff rose. "You're in one of my hotels."
She covered herself more with the blanket. She hesitated at first, but: "What did you do to me? Did you . . . ?"
"Fuck you? No." He replied flatly. Then, he puffed another smoke to the air. "Didn't you remember? You collapsed in the middle of the rain. I had no choice but to take care of you. I even took the liberty of drying your hair." Then, he added, "It's very uncomfortable to sleep with it being soaked."
Then, he rose up fro his seat, went to her, and sat on the opposite side of the bed, intently looking at her. She realized that he was wearing a set of pajama, although the only the bottom two buttons of his shirt was fastened.
He continued, "It's very hard to sleep on the couch, much more in this very uncomfortable pajama. The cigarette did not even alleviate my discomfort. Not when there's a big, soft bed with a lady in the nude."
She gripped on the blanket, as she felt hot on her cheeks. "Fucking pervert." She heard a chuckle.
Then, she lied down again, wondering why she was not at all afraid of Kashiwagi. She felt suspicious about herself, trusting the man the moment he denied that he had his way with her. If she were being taken advantage of, she would have felt it. She was a light sleeper after all.
Then, she put her hands behind her head, adjusting herself in the comforts of the bed. "Jesus. I could go to hell with this one."
"Come on, say it." He too, lied down on the bed, with his hands beneath his head.
She sighed, as she watched the ceiling. "You're weird. Not taking advantage of a naked woman on your bed? That's like, not what a normal asshole usually does."
She saw him rolled his eyes. "I'm not a normal asshole."
"Nobility, then, is still alive in you, Prince?"
He refused to answer properly. "I have thought about it, while removing your clothes. Your figure is not bad. But I guess you won't be happy about it."
She huffed irritatedly. "Then why didn't you put some clothes on me? Another piece of that pajama or something."
"I thought of taunting you about it. But I did not execute my plan the last minute because I decided I don't want bad blood between us. Or, do you want to?" He uttered the last line very slowly, in the most provocative yet gentlemanly manner.
She heedlessly admitted, as she looked away. "No. Not at the moment." Then, she grinned at her honesty. "I judge potential mates by their skull structure."
"Do I pass?"
"You're not half bad."
He was unnaturally talkative and open.
(Maybe because he had not slept yet, as he claimed?)
Then, natural light from outside crept though the room. She had not realized that she woke up earlier than expected. She was surprised that even with the events that happened yesterday, she was calmer and relaxed. That made her worry—why was she feeling like this? On scenarios such as this usually come with a torrent of problems the moment she wakes up. She would have been expecting some sort of an incident that she'd regret for days and days. Yet, why was she feeling so at ease now?
(Maybe because she was thankful she did not have sex with his employer. That's it, she supposed.)
"Thanks."
He said while closing his eyes. "It's nothing."
"Do you have a T-shirt? Towel? Pants? I don't want to use the gown."
He replied lazily, obvious that he had lack of sleep. "Closet."
"Oh. Okay. I'll borrow. Can I use your bathroom?"
He murmured. "Sure."
"Thanks."
She removed herself from the bed, not bothering to cover herself with the blanket that was beneath Kashiwagi. She found towels, a black T-shirt and jeans inside a spacious closet. She also noticed that her gown, including her undergarments, was already placed in a hanger, already washed and ready to wear. She took the undergarments at the laundry box instead, scowling at the gown. Then, she head off for a shower.
Afterwards, she called for room service and asked for breakfast. She asked everything that she wanted to eat, for she was much starved. After all, it will all just go into Kashiwagi's tab. When room service was about to leave, Kashiwagi stirred awake and pulled himself out of the bed. He went out of the bedroom. He asked Yumi, "Did you get something for me too?" motioning at the food.
"Yeah. I'm hungry. Are you?"
He looked sluggishly at the food that will be ravished by Yumi. "This is too much."
"I'm hungry. Itadakimasu."
He shrugged and dug on to his morning treat. Neither of the two said anything, and just consumed everything that was laid at the table. Yumi was beginning to loose her table manners, but she noticed that he did not mind. He too was a little messy from his usual table discipline. Afterwards, they sat in satisfaction.
"Are you sure you'd go out in my clothes?" He suddenly questioned with embarrassment on his face.
"It's okay, I don't fucking care. I'm an artist." She reasoned. "And besides, I don't want to wear that gown."
He smirked.
Then, she thought, she couldn't remember what her dream was. That dream, what was it?
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: What do you think? People, let me say, it's just have to be Kashiwagi. He's playing prince. I know that he was a big moment killer, but I can't help it. It will make sense later on.
But seriously, TELL ME if this chapter is overtly . . . over-the-top dramatic . . . as if while reading you can't help but roll your eyes (as if watching a crappy soap), because,if you felt that way, I would think of better approach on my narration just so I could not repeat that kind of scene again. Honestly, I was not comfortable writing Yumi and Sachiko's gravest moments together. With all the shouting and Sachiko, it was just so . . . frustrating. Ugh. Just so to justify why Yumi was like that.
Please review!