Chapter 9

It was now the day before our 25th anniversary. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous… but I would also be lying if I said I didn't have anything up my sleeve. In other words, I was ready. I mean, the plan might be simple, cliché, or even corny, but I still had something.

That morning, when I woke, up, I saw Asuka still sleeping beside me. I looked at the time. "Asuka! Asuka!" I called, shaking her shoulder, "Asuka, wake up!"

She groaned and struggled to open her eyes. "What is it?"

"You have to wake up! The house is about to explode!" I exclaimed.

"WHAT?" She got up almost immediately. "Is it because you lost your temper again?"

"Oh, haha, very funny." I said sarcastically.

"I was just riding along with you, sweetie." She said, kissing me on the cheek.

"How did you know I was kidding? It could've been real, you know." I said, frowning.

"If the house was really about to explode, I think you would've carried me to safety instead of wasting your time waking me up."

"Hm," I thought, "you're right."

She giggled. "So, what's up, Edo? What's with the whole wake up call?"

I presented her a golden ticket. She gasped indignantly. "Oh my gosh, a golden ticket!" she exclaimed, feigning shock and interest.

I pouted. "You have no idea what this is, do you?"

"Not a clue!" she said, still pretending to be utterly surprised.

I sighed. "It's a gift certificate to the spa right down the corner by the town square. You know, the one that just opened three days ago?"

This time, she gasped to express real shock. "Edo, don't tell me…"

"I got one so that they can pamper you the whole afternoon." I said.

"You mean, I get to be treated like a queen for the whole afternoon?" she exclaimed.

"That's what I just said."

She screamed. "Oh my god!" she continued screaming. I flinched. She threw her arms around me and squeezed me until I groaned in pain. "Oh my god! That is awesome! Edo! You're the best!"

"Well, the program starts in 20 minutes-"

"-You idiot!" she shouted, "why didn't you wake me up earlier?" she stood up and ran to the bathroom. "I've got to get there right away!" she exclaimed.

I smiled. "I'm glad you're happy." I followed her inside the bathroom. I watched her as she removed her clothes to take a quick shower. "Hey," I said, "I have a hypothetical question for you… if I asked you a whole bunch of favors, would you do it for me?"

She looked at me and stared at me with pure dislike. "Edo Phoenix, I thought you promised to love me unconditionally?"

"I do love you unconditionally!" I protested. "I was just asking."

"Hm," she began, "I guess I would do it; you're my hubby after all." she said her last sentence in a happy tone.

Asuka acted like she was on fast forward- and before I knew it, she had left the house. I watched her as she walked away, and smiled. "You're in for a big surprise, Asuka," I murmured, "a very big surprise."

I imagined how the day was going to unfold; she would arrive at the spa, and a person named Irene would immediately assist her with everything. She would then be taken to a private room and have a body treatment. This included a facial, a massage, aromatherapy, and many more. All I knew was that the last thing that Asuka would be doing was to relax at an onsen (Japanese hot springs). I made sure that while she was relaxing at the onsen, Irene would come in and give her a lovely bouquet of Purple Aster flowers, with a card attached to it. She would then accept the flowers and admire its beauty, probably smell it momentarily, then would notice the note attached. And of course, she would read it silently:

"Hey! Having fun, sweetheart? Hope you're enjoying yourself there. Listen, I'd like to play a little game with you. You'd like that, right? Of course you would!"

I imagined her giggling as she read that part. Then, she would continue:

"Okay, here are the rules: Follow all the instructions on the notes that you're going to receive throughout the day. Do not skip a part of the note or a gimmick the note is asking you. And remember, no cheating!

So, you ready? For your first task, I want you to stop by at our favorite restaurant after you finish your day spa. Now, I know what you're thinking. We have a lot of "favorite restaurants", which particular one is it? Well, that's the challenge- I'm just curious if we still think in the same wavelength. If we don't, then you'll be going to the wrong place, and you wouldn't be able to receive the next note. I'll give you a hint: once you get to the right place, a man named Landon will give you the next note, which will tell you what to do next. Hm… that's not really a good hint, is it? Well, I'll see you later, sweetheart! I love you! –Edo"

I laughed at myself, knowing for sure that Asuka would find this amusing. She knew that this whole "game" was kind of ridiculous, but I know she'll ride along with it. She was always the type who loved the thrill of an adventure.

If Asuka picked the right place, it would be none other than the fancy restaurant I took her during our first anniversary. She loved that place so much, especially when I requested for some sweet violin playing while we were eating. I remember her telling me that the food there was the most exquisite and the most wonderful in all Japan. I've never seen her so satisfied with food ever since.

Even if she did get this one wrong, she'd later on find out- because after three wrong guesses, I instructed the driver to take her the right place. Then, upon meeting Landon, she would receive a second note:

"Good job, sweetheart! You found the right place! Did it take long for you to guess this one right? Well, don't worry, because for this note, all you'll have to do is to enjoy the food here. Order anything you want- and it doesn't matter how expensive it is. You can even order the most expensive cuisine in the menu if you'd like. The next note will arrive after you eat. Instead of giving you the bill, Landon will give you the 3rd note. Well, bon appetit!

I love you… –Edo"

I imagined her order to be salad as an appetizer, then on to a main course, whatever it is, and finally, her favorite dessert, chocolate mud pie. As for drinks, I'm guessing she would enjoy a very good wine. I imagined her amusement as the violin players that I had requested would play our song as she was eating her main dish. The same song was played during our first anniversary. After she ate, Landon, the manager of the restaurant, would hand her the third note:

"Yum! I bet you ordered the mud pie for dessert. Gosh, now I'm all jealous! That's my favorite too. Now, it's time to burn all those calories you got from that dessert! Don't scowl on me like that, Asuka, I know you ordered the mud pie.

I want you to walk to the Sakura Garden that's just right around the corner. Don't worry, it's only a few blocks away from where you are now. A girl named Olivia will give you the fourth note. Hang in there, darling… the best is yet to come.

I love you,

-Edo"

Upon arriving to the Sakura Garden, Olivia would appear and offer her a glass of water. Then, Olivia would give her three pink balloons, each shaped like a cherry blossom flower. The first one will have an "I" imprinted on it, the second will have a heart on it, and the third will have a "U" on it. Attached to the three balloons was the fourth letter.

"Hi Asuka,

I hope you're not getting tired of receiving all these silly letters. For this task, I want you to just relax and appreciate nature. Apart from purple aster, I know you love cherry blossoms too. I want you to enjoy the beauty of that garden. Pretty soon, you'll stop by a rest house. Take a rest and have some tea if you feel like it. Love ya! –Edo"

I knew that Asuka loved cherry blossoms, and I asked Olivia to provide her a camera in case she wanted to take pictures. If she didn't, that was fine too. She would just wander around the garden, hopefully appreciating the view and the cherry blossoms. When she would stop by the rest house, a guy named Vince would give her some tea and a small parcel with the fifth note attached to it. Vince would then tell her to read the note first before opening the parcel.

"So what do you think this parcel contains? Do you think it's some fancy jewelry? A nice pendant, perhaps? Well, don't open it until one of the other notes tell you to. Can you promise me that? I trust you on this, Asuka. No peeking!

Alright, for the next task, you have to mingle a little. There are a lot of people in that rest house. Look for a girl named Eleanor.

A last reminder regarding the parcel: Remember… curiosity killed the cat. Love ya, kitty-cat. –Edo"

I chuckled as I imagined Asuka eyeing at the parcel. I knew she would shake it and examine it, but I knew for sure that she wouldn't hear anything even though she shook it. I also knew that she would be curious on how exceptionally light the parcel was. She would arch her eyebrow, sigh, and would finally decide to find Eleanor.

When Asuka does find Eleanor, she would take her to a nearby parlor. On the way to the parlor, she would explain to Asuka about the manicure, pedicure, and hair-makeover I had planned beforehand for my "beloved wife". I knew that Asuka would scream in excitement upon hearing this, and she would momentarily forget her curiosity on the small parcel.

After all of those were done, Eleanor would give Asuka the next note:

"Honey! Did you do something with your hair? It looks wonderful. And your nails… they're beautiful! Gosh, I'm so lucky to have you as my wife.

How are you, sexy girl? Doing alright? Guess what? That girl sitting beside you on the right, wearing the blue shirt? That's a girl named Yolie. Talk to her. Say hi.

PS: Guess who I love?(hint: she's blonde, beautiful, and the wife of a lucky guy named Edo Phoenix…)

Hm… I wonder who that is…

–Edo"

Asuka would smile, probably even laugh, and then go on to talk to Yolie. After a little bit of girl talk, Yolie would give Asuka a classy red dress that's been hidden in the parlor. Asuka would freak out upon seeing the dress. Yolie would ask Asuka if she wanted to try it on. Asuka would say yes, take the red dress, and proceed to the bathroom. In the bathroom, there would be an envelope stuck in the mirror, with "For Asuka" written in italics. She would take it, open it and read it:

"Hope you like the dress I picked out for you. I want you to wear that now, alright? Once you get out of the bathroom, Yolie would hand you a pair of red high heels that would match that dress. Once you wear those heels, Yolie would take you to the jewelry shop right next door. Pick the accessories that would match your outfit, and tell the store clerk your name. Oliver, the store clerk, would then give it to you… for free! I'll see you soon, my darling. I love you. –Edo"

Asuka would do as she was told. Upon arriving at the jewelry shop with Yolie, she would look around and be fascinated with all the accessories. Finally, once she picked her accessories, Oliver would then give her the next note:

"Wow… you've had a long day, huh? Well, I've got one last task for you. Once you've finished reading this note, Oliver will call his brother, Uria, from the back of the shop. Now, remember that small parcel that I gave you? Well, Uria is going to tell you to open that parcel - if and only if you solve the puzzle that I have provided for you. If you solved the puzzle, Uria would know, because he knows the correct answer. And no, he's not going to tell you. Alright, here's the puzzle:

Form a phrase from the names of the people who helped you throughout your day. You can only use one letter from each name that is provided for you. Don't worry, honey. This is a fairly easy puzzle. It isn't as hard as it looks. And in case you forgot their names, I'll remind you:

Irene was the woman who helped you out at the spa, Landon was the guy who gave you the second note at your favorite restaurant, Olivia was that nice woman in the Sakura Garden who gave you those balloons, Vince was the man at the rest house who gave you some tea, Eleanor was the girl who gave you a makeover at the parlor, Yolie was the one who gave you the red dress, Oliver was the one who gave you your jewelry for free, and finally, Uria is now the person who will tell you to open that small parcel once you figure out this puzzle.

Do you need a hint, sweetheart? I'll give you one: The phrase is written in all of the notes that I gave you, except this one. The phrase may have been rephrased for each note to make it sound unique and original, but all phrases tell you the same message.

Good luck! –Edo"

I smiled mischievously, wondering how long it would take her to solve the puzzle.