"Thanks for all the reviewers, readers and anyone who willingly took your time to peek at this story and chose it to be your favorite one. It such a blessing when you said that you loved this messy writing. I was overwhelmed by the happy feeling to read all of your constructive comments, ideas or thought on each chapter. And I'm really-really-really sorry that I couldn't answer all the reviews. I know it was such a big disappointment for having me as the writer, I'm such an incurable bum for sure. I'm really-really sorry for making you waiting for the update. So, as the belated New Year gift, I present you my newest chapter. And just like last year's resolution, I'll say that I promise I'll do my best this year...! Huff-huff-huff…yeah!"
(Toyama-chan's speech in front of the mirror for the New Year resolution)
Disclaimer: none is mine!
"abcdefgh" = would be spoken originally in English.
Chapter 14
April. In Japan, the fourth month of the year was important because this was when most of their activities took their start point. The beginning of the new academic year for schools and universities, the starting date of the government financial budget, the first day for the new employees, as well as the perfect time for the cherry blossoms to bloom.
In this first day of this month, little kids with bright hats on, red and black leather bags hung at their backs, with mixed facial expressions between tension, anxiety and enthusiasm held their mother's hand tightly on their first day to school. The high school students walked through the gates with light steps, ready to create a lot of memorable experience to cherish. New college students with sunny faces were gathering for the orientation or entrance ceremony, expecting bright future. And the new employees invaded the trains and buses, imagining a sparkling career.
This year, Mai started her April earlier than most of the people. It felt like she had just closed her eyes when two intruders broke through her door, yelling and shaking her peaceful dream. Mai groaned as she reached for the alarm clock on the nightstand. She forced her eye to open; it was still four in the morning. She buried her face into the pillow, hoping that her two beloved cuties would let her sleep again. She had slept only for two hours, today was the first day of the cram school, and there would be tests to determine the ability of all the participants and of course Mai didn't want to be the dead last. So, last night she has become the slave in the name of higher education, eaten out all of her books till forgetting the time. Like a samurai warrior the day before their master's war.
"Okaa-saaannn...!" The two small bandits shouted again as they jumped onto the bed. Mai groaned when something heavy hit her back. "Okaa-saaannn... Good morning...!" One of them sat on her back, hugging her neck tightly.
Both twins had no nap yesterday, so last night they slept so very early. It was natural that they were now beating the chicken and birds on the morning wake contest. Mai turned around carefully so the little creature who dwelt on her back was slammed onto the mattress, and the other one laughed. She hugged them tightly, praying that she could lull them to sleep again. But today was not her day as her two devils escaped from her arms and rolled around the bed cheerfully.
"Okaa-saaannn, wake up!" They shouted as they showed how excited they were by hopping around on the mattress. They stopped only to kiss her cheeks by turns, again and again and again until Mai felt her cheeks were slopping wet, before continuing rocking her world.
"Please God, let me die in piece...," murmured Mai as she pulled her blanket up to cover her head.
As if to grant her request, both of the boys jumped down the bed and once again the peaceful was returned to her morning. Mai was almost drifting back to her deep slumber when suddenly a 'thud!' sound reached her ears.
Mai pulled the blanket slightly and peered over its edge. Both boys were sitting in front of the toilet table; a thick dictionary that had been lying there had not existed anymore. Only the falling dictionary, okay...it was still safe. Her room has been secured from any dangerous objects, just like all inches of the house, so she could continue her sleep in peace as long as they didn't think on climbing the cupboard. But the calming situation only made Mai felt unease, so she opened her eyes again lazily. Well, what a sight… Makoto seemed to think that her toilet table was less in beauty so now he poured her powder on to it and moved the powder puff along the entire surface. At the same time, his twin brother decided that his pajama was less in aesthetic so he redesigned it, his fingers applied the eyeshadow at the cotton material, making new patterns.
Mai groaned and stretched under her blanket, yawning widely. Makoto and Mamoru couldn't be expected to sleep or to let her slept again, so it was time to wake up. Mai slid out of the warm blanket and sat straight, rubbing the sleep off of her eyes. Enough already for a dream-free sleep, what a great way to start her day…
"What do you do with Okaa-san's make up?" Mai tried to make her voice sound more assertive.
The two brothers discontinued whatever they were doing and raced to jump onto her lap. They were chattering merrily, trying to tell something that was not clearly audible in Mai's ears. Mai shook her head, trying to reposition her brain cells into the right places. She tried to concentrate on listening to the twos.
"Ahh, so...Makoto was in school when there was a lion took you to walk him to the market? And Mamoru bought him carrots, but he said that he preferred a boiled egg. Well, what a weird lion. So he didn't want to eat you? Or were you the one who were hungry and wanted eggs for breakfast?" commented Mai, hugging them tightly. She sniffed the scents of baby powder on them, wondering to herself whether her sons had telepathic abilities. Why did they often dream the same thing?
Mai decided to talk about it with Naru later. Now it was the time to make breakfast and prepare their lunch-boxes, lots of things. Today Makoto and Mamoru would spend their day with Naru, in his apartment. Naru had asked her since two days ago; he said that currently there was no work to be taken care of.
Mai sat her two children in front of TV and gave them their bottles. The classic anime Astro Boy would keep them busy while Mai was working in the kitchen. And when Hamada-san woke up at six as usual, she could only stare in surprise at the breakfast that was already served at the table along with some lunch boxes. Makoto and Mamoru were eating their toast and bread with red bean paste while Mai washed the pots and pans.
Naru arrive to pick the children up precisely at eight as they had agreed. He stared at the two big bags that greeted him at the living room. Did Mai and Hamada-san decide to have vacation somewhere while Mamoru and Makoto were in his care? But Mai had told him that the cram school started today.
"Ah, I put everything in these two bags," said Mai as she pulled one of the bags. Naru could see the red eyes on the tired face that smiled at him. "Their milk, bottles, cups and their elephant plates, spoons and forks. Ah, in this flask is their carrot and tomato juice, just in case they ask for it. It's their lunch-boxes; the big one is for you. And the round boxes are the snack, so you don't have to buy them anything; after all, these are healthier."
Naru was stunned at the spot. He eyed the other bags warily.
"In the bag over there is their spare clothes, towels, powder and socks, tooth brushes and the toothpaste and also the soap. All complete. I also put some of their toys, they chose them themselves," Mai was busy explaining everything. "Their books and favorite DVDs are in the front pocket. These are their favorite bear, their sleeping buddies. Don't forget to take them to nap. I've written how to make their milk, also their regular schedules. Anyway, everything is in here."
Mai shoved a notebook in Naru's hand; worry was visible in her eyes. That was understoodable, it was a common sense that Naru would be the last person in every mothers' minds in this world who want to find someone to be entrusted with their children; along with shark, alligator and polar bear in their list. Makoto and Mamoru showed up a moment later, and as usual they jumped and hugged each of their father's leg, hanging on his trousers. Sometimes Mai was wondering what was so endearing about adult's legs that made them so attached to them, did her sons had a kind of leg-fetish or only enjoyed to swing on them?
"Do I really have to take those bags?" Naru asked hesitantly.
"Of course, stupid. Do you want them crying for their toys?" said Mai as she laughed at Naru's expression. "Ah, I forgot. Is your apartment already safe? There are no harmful things, such as knives or scissors or screwdriver; have you secured all the sockets? What about your sensitive equipments and-"
"Mai, you may go and check it yourself. If even one thing doesn't meet your satisfactory, you can bring them home again."
"Ah, sorry..." Mai sighed quietly. "Well, this is the first time they spend their day at a new place all alone without me. You will bring them home before dinner, right?"
Hamada-san and Mai walked them to the car. Makoto and Mamoru walked happily, this was the first time they would ride on their otou-san's car. Mai secured them in the back seat while Naru put the bags inside the trunk. Mamoru and Makoto looked so confused when their mother didn't hopped into the car with them.
"Maybe you should come with us too. We'll take you to your cram school later...," said Naru behind the steering-wheel. He glanced at the children whose eyes started to watery.
"It's okay; they'll used to it eventually. But if they continue to fuss, just call me or Hamada-san."
And Naru kept wondering to himself whether bringing Mai with them would be a better decision. He repeatedly checked his sons via the rear-view mirror to make sure that they were okay. They were just like their mother, so noisy, so it was a kind of worrying to find them so quiet. And Naru had to admit that he was afraid if they would be screaming for their mother when they've reached his apartment. This was the first time he would be alone with little kids…his kids! Yes, they were his, so everything would be alright. Please God, let everything be alright… But would they hate him if somehow he made a mistake or disappointed them? No, he wouldn't let that, he wouldn't let his sons dislike him. But he also didn't dare to break Mai's rule, and he knew he shouldn't.
They arrived at Naru's apartment complex about forty-five minutes later and headed straight to the basement parking lot. Naru slung the straps of the bag on each of his shoulders, holding the tiny hands of his sons tightly. Luckily they didn't ask to be carried. Makoto and Mamoru clutched Naru's fingers as if afraid that their father would leave them alone in this new place. In the lift, when there were some strangers and they tried to say hallo to them, the twins hid themselves behind their father's long legs. But they would watch curiously at the kids around their age or older.
After entering their father's apartment, the two boys were just following him wherever Naru went; even they waited patiently when their father put the lunch-boxes on the table and some others in the fridge. In fact, they even still clutched his trouser when Naru made a call. This was a new place for them, so Naru showed them around, the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and the dining room, also a small balcony where a towel was hung.
"What do you usually do in the morning at school?" asked Naru while taking their jackets off. Makoto and Mamoru just looked at each other, shaking their heads. Naru took all the toys from the bag and put them on the carpet. He took the DVD and let them choose what they wanted to watch. And a moment later both twins felt more relaxed and got used to their new environment. The twins were already used to spend their days without Mai when she was working, including several days in a week at the daycare, so they adapted quite easily. It only took half an hour for his sons to feel homey, that his apartment was just like their own, and soon it was filled with shouting, cheering, laughing and screaming. But strangely, Naru didn't mind them at all…okay, maybe a little when he had to answer his phone. They were brave enough to explore the apartment, run around and touched everything that looked suspicious enough for them.
As Mai's instruction, Naru has secured his apartment. It took one day to do it, including the check and recheck to ensure all harmful objects have been hidden and locked securely. Naru was facing his laptop, checking the email and all the while his two sons were rolling around on the floor, checking the space under the dining table, pushing a high stool, swimming on his bed, checking the strength of the couch by jumping on it; they examined the entire space of the house.
Naru occasionally filled their plate with pumpkin chips. Mamoru and Makoto were showing their father on how to make their little trucks run when the bell rang promptly at ten just like he had expected. Naru stood up and opened the door.
"Ahh, it's very cold outside. But the sakura is beautiful..." A voice in foreign language filled the apartment as an adult couple stood at the entrance and took their shoes off. "Ah Noll, sometimes you also have to-" The sentence was cut off, and the woman who said it was stunned to see two little heads peeking out from behind Naru's legs.
"Hello..." said the woman, waving her hand, not really believing her eyes.
Makoto and Mamoru just smiled, clutching Naru's trouser tightly. They were staring at the guests like scientists who were staring at the new mutant species of toad. Two adult foreigners; blonde and dark hair, blue and brown eyes, grayish beard, and so not Asian faces. Sometimes they saw foreigners in town, but this was the first time they met them face to face.
Both peoples also seemed very surprised. They only knew that their son wasn't the type that could easily open up to others, especially close to children. So, seeing two little children whom were clinging to their son without fidgeting in fear was quite shocking, the feeling was equal to the situation when the Yard suddenly knocked on your door at three in the morning and announced that the Queen and Prince Charles would arrive in five minutes.
"This is Makoto and this one is Mamoru, they're twin," said Naru, pushing his two sons to step out from behind him. He leaned over and said, "Makoto, Mamoru, they are Martin and Luella."
Luella held out her hand but those two tiny cuties shook their heads shyly and hugged Naru's legs again, hiding their faces. Meanwhile, Martin stood still, thinking that maybe during his son's stay in Japan he was possessed by something not evil, maybe a poor fatherly soul. Naru sighed, gesturing her parents to wait at the living room. He led the twins to continue on playing, but apparently they did not want to leave their father's side.
Makoto and Mamoru sat silently next to Naru on the couch, now clutching each of his sleeves, still staring at the two strangers whom sat in front of them. Both Naru's parents also sat quietly, staring at them with curious expressions. Luella's face creased as a very-very confusing suspicion popped up in her mind. No one couldn't blame her, every mother had a natural tendency to worry their child no matter how old they were, and this out-of-behavior act of her son like a bad omen of their life.
"Noll, they are-"
"I'll explain later," Naru cut her sentence off. "Their mother is busy, so I look after them today." He lied. "I called you to help me taking care of them. I have planned on working at home but there's something very urgent in the office, so I have to go. Could you please help me with the kids?"
Martin looked at Luella and Luella looked at Martin and the twins looked at their father. The adults were so astonished that their son was willing to take care of two little children, what an amazing discovery since they only knew that the normal Naru used to think that kid was just a troublesome species. The kids were so astonished to find out that their father spoke in a foreign language, what an impressing father they had because he could communicate with those weird looking strangers easily.
"I don't mind. But Noll, they are-"
"I will not explain anything right now." Once again Luella couldn't finish her sentence. "I will tell you everything later. I'll be here until the four of you get familiar to each other. Now please remember these correctly, the one with blue shirt is Mamoru and the red polo shirt is Makoto. They're two and half years old and they're good kids, so I guess it won't be difficult to look after them."
Luella sighed and then took her jacket off. If her son had said so, now even if she tweaked his ears off, the boy would not say anything about the children. She tapped her husband's shoulder and helped him to take his jacket off before heading to the kitchen to make some tea.
Naru was making origami when Luella returned with three cups of tea and two glasses of juice which she found in the fridge. Makoto and Mamoru each held a giraffe-shaped paper in their hands. It was funny seeing her son was so serious in making a toy. Martin also tried to make one simple shape, a dog, by following the instruction from the book. One of the boys, Makoto, leaned his back on Naru's side as he made the giraffe paper moving along the couch. Mamoru stood up and hugged Naru's neck from behind while babbling something inaudibly. Luella bit her lip, if only she brought her camera. That scene was too valuable to be passed up just like this.
Luella could speak Japanese fluently, especially since there was a big possibility to have a Japanese daughter in law, she has learnt the language conscientiously. So naturally, she could get closer to those kids easily. She soon discovered that she was easily being attached to them. Although only understood one or two Japanese words, Martin had his own way. When he succeeded on making the dog, he shouted victoriously and the twins clapped their hands cheerfully. Mamoru pointed a peacock shape from the book, and Martin tapped his forehead. It was a very complicated shape, so he tried to bargain by pointing a whale which seemed very easy. Mamoru who was originally generous nodded approvingly.
An hour later after they had become friendlier, Naru prepared himself to leave. He explained everything to her mother, about their meals, how to make their milk, and what time they had to take a nap. Makoto and Mamoru refused to be left behind, so they clasped Naru's coat as he put his shoes on.
"Hey, otou-san is going to work. You two stay here and play with Luella and Martin. Otou-san will return soon. I'll buy you strawberry cream bread after you two have a nap," Naru persuade them gently.
Makoto and Mamoru started to cry that Luella had to intervene. She knelt between them, waving her hand at Naru and bid him goodbye in a cheerful tone. Makoto and Mamoru stopped crying, and then following her action by waving their hands. But when Naru opened the door, they cried again. Naru was about to approach them when Luella motioned him to just go away and led the children back into the living room, singing a simple child songs she had memorized. Naru closed the door behind him, and his sons' expressions were carved deep in his mind; the looks that accused him as the evil that left them to be eaten by two giant demons. He shook his hand and sighed; he had too much imagination since he got closed to his sons.
Makoto and Mamoru were sulking; they sat crouched in front of the bookcase, sniffling harmoniously and clutching their animal papers tightly which now seemed to have become amorphous crumpling papers. They were still sobbing and in the meantime ignoring two adults from the far away land in front of them. Martin didn't really know how to handle this situation, so he let his wife to find the solution. Patiently, she offered them the toys that lay scattered around them, even bribed them with chocolate which she brought for Naru.
It didn't need that long of a time to sidetrack both of the twins' attention. Luella smiled at the two whom have started to calm down and now were doodling on paper with crayons. She couldn't believe that they were able to write some letters and numbers both in Japanese characters and in roman, and they haven't reached their third years yet! It was still a little messy, but at least those were still letters and numbers and characters.
Martin chose to read a book on the couch while Luella was playing with the children. The physical similarities between the kids and her son didn't escape Luella's observation, or how Naru interacted with them, as well as the way they called him. Otou-san meant father in Japanese, right? Under normal circumstances, if they didn't have special relationship, Naru got familiar with little children was an indicating that the end of the world was just a couple meters away. And how he looked at them…that was what made Luella felt restless at most. And she was afraid, what if they were really Naru's sons just like she had thought before? What really happened here? She tried to talk about it with her husband, but he just shrugged and said "we'd better wait for Noll to explain it himself. Just guessing really is useless." But Luella could also see thousands of questions in both his eyes.
Naru was sitting in his office after his tiring practice session with Lin when his cell phone rang. It was Mai.
"Hey Naru, ah...I just want to call. How are you guys? No fighting, eh? They are not troubling you?"
"No, they're just fine, no trouble at all," replied Naru calmly.
"They do not damage anything, right? Maybe they make your apartment a mess..."
"They're still kids, I think it's normal for them to make a mess."
"Ah, well. I guess, you guys are just fine. Eh, who's that?" Naru sighed quietly, Yasuhara was laughing loudly while talking on his phone. Mai spoke again, hesitating. "Uhh, that sounds like Yasuhara. Do you work in your apartment?"
Naru took a deep breath, better to say it right now. Mai would know about it as well, though he should prepare himself for her reaction. "I'm in the office."
"EEEHHHHHH...?"
Right?
"You take them to the office? Won't they troubling your work?"
Really, that was unimportant worry. Even if they were taken to the office and made a fuss, it was not Mai's responsibility but his. Naru sighed again, "No, they are still in my apartment."
"EEEHHHHHH...?"
Well, what else did you expect...
Mai sounded panicked, "How come? Do they sleep? You leave them alone?"
Naru still answered her calmly, "Mai, I probably am someone with many impressive characters that some you don't agree with, but of course leaving the two-years old children alone in my apartment isn't among the list." Naru paused, knowing if the next sentence would make Mai panic. "They're with my parents."
"EEEHHHHHH…?"
See…?
"Your parents?" Mai was trying so hard to keep her voice under control. "I remember Masako said they will come. But-but... what they…what will they say? Oh God, why didn't you tell me that you will make them meet your parents? Do you actually plan to deceive me by introducing them without telling me?"
"Because I know you will disagree, for whatever reason I don't understand. They're my sons too, so it wouldn't hurt for them to meet their grandparents. Actually, I've planned to tell you later when taking them home." Naru could imagine her with flared nostrils.
"But, it is your parents, Naru. You should tell me, I could have prepared them. You're always like this, do things without asking my agreement, opinion or consideration!"
Naru sighed again for the umpteenth time today. "You're going to prepare them for what? Do you want to make them perform something in front of my parents? Anyway, I didn't tell you because I thought that was exactly what you were going to say. So Mai, tell me the truth, if I notified you that I would take the kids to meet my parents, what would you say? Would you just let me or create any creative excuses to let them not?"
"Ah-oh...of course I'll say yes…uh, okay…maybe I'll say let's just wait for the perfect moment…umm, I don't know..." Mai stammered.
"It's alright, Mai. I know you're just worry and afraid of what my parents would say about you and about the kids. I'll assure you, everything will be fine. Sooner or later they must meet as well, so why not sooner…"
"Would they get angry, Naru?"
"Angry? Why should they be? They won't get angry to you. I'll face their wrath if they are."
Mai was silent for a moment, seemed to be thinking. The loud sounds were getting louder in the background; she must have in the train station. "Well, if you say so. It just that…maybe they'll think that Makoto and Mamoru shouldn't exist in this world, ruining or delaying your perfect plan or anything."
Naru slammed his back into the back of his chair. "Don't think of something that strange. Relax, I can handle it all. I will try my best for us all."
"Ah, my train has arrived." There was a loud rumbling sound. "Ungg...alright. We'd better talk later."
And Mai ended her call. Naru sighed. Now he had to call his mother to make sure the kids have eaten their lunch. He hoped all was fine in his apartment.
"Ah Noll, how is work?" asked Luella when Naru finally returned to his apartment.
"Just alright. Where are Makoto and Mamoru?"
"They're still sleeping. Do you know Noll, they are really cute, and smart, and adorable... Ah, even they taught your father some Japanese songs. I do really not mind to look after them during my stay."
Naru looked at his watch, "They're still asleep? If they take a nap too long, they would sleep over late tonight."
"Yes... yes...but they look so cute while sleeping. I had already tried to wake them, but I didn't have a heart to..."
Naru walked into his room. Martin was asleep on the couch, with a book in his lap. Carefully, Naru approached the bed. Makoto was sleeping on his back with legs and arms stretched wide, the weird looking stuffed that Naru couldn't tell what kind of animal was it, was tucked beside his head. Mamoru slept curled up, hugging the same thing, his position was a bit strange. It seemed that he has already awoken and sat, but decided to prolong his sleep a little longer. His mother was right, they looked very peaceful.
Luella was peeking from behind the door when Naru shook Mamoru softly as he whispered something. Naru did it exactly like the way he had seen Mai waked them. He carried him carefully and put him in on the couch in the living room. He did the same thing on Makoto. Now both children winked their eyes sleepily, looking around confusedly. Not the room they had ever known.
Mamoru started to weep, followed by his brother. Naru immediately approached them. Makoto reached his hands out, asked to be picked up. And Naru sighed when Mamoru also did the same. With some difficulty he cradled them carefully. If Mai could do it, so was he!
"Hey, it's otou-san's apartment. You played here today, right? With otou-san, and then with Luella and Martin…," muttered Naru trying to get rid of their confusion. "See? That's your toys…"
The twins rested their cheeks on their father's shoulder, rubbing the sleep from their eyes while rearranging their memory back. Luella poked her husband's waist, trying to make him awake. This was a once in a lifetime moment that was very-very valuable. Martin gasped in surprise and sat up, looking around. Luella pointed her chin toward their son.
"Did you play anything with Martin and Luella? Were you playing with the cars or the robots? So, did Ultraman save a miner when otou-san left?" Naru tried to direct their thoughts on things they've already known. Makoto nodded, pointing at his Ultraman doll which lay helplessly on the carpet. Naru lower them on the floor, and Makoto took the toy and handed it to Naru. Naru turned on the TV, usually there was some kids show on television. Mamoru was still clinging onto Naru's chest as he stared at the screen hazily.
The only thing that Luella could do was staring in awe when Naru led the children into the kitchen and gave them the juice to refresh themselves, and then ushered them into the bathroom to wash their faces. She helped Naru to change their clothes, which he looked already got used on doing it. If she didn't see it by her own eyes, if there was someone telling her that her son was actually so skilled in taking care children, she would sue that someone for allegedly spreading deceiving news.
Naru' phone rang when Makoto and Mamoru ran into the living room. As he talked to Lin in front of the bathroom, Luella made a storytelling show, using the twins' toys and the now a little crumpled origami animals as the puppet performer, creating her own story. The two children watched in amusement, laughing occasionally. Luella had to admit that those kids had captivated her heart, and somehow her anxiety lessened. She stroked Mamoru's hair who sat on her lap, eating his chocolate. She didn't mind with the chocolate crumbs that dirtied her dress.
And Luella felt a little lost when it came the time for the twins to go home. She tried to persuade Naru to let her drove with them, but Naru refused. The boy knew that his mother was very-very curious and suspicious, and that his reluctance to explain even just a little seemed to have sparked her curiosity.
"So, how? Is everything okay?" asked Mai with a tensed face. She was waiting at the entrance of her apartment building. Mamoru and Makoto looked very happy, they started to make a conversation with their mother, telling all their stories with their cute distinctive speaking style. Because Mai seemed more interested into their father, the twins pulled their mother's skirt and raised their voices. Mai ignored her chat with Naru and listened to her sons as they walked to their apartment. Naru, who carried the bags, was following in silent.
"I haven't explained anything to them," said Naru to Mai in front of the door. He refused to stay longer, he only got inside to greet Hamada-san.
"Eh? They didn't question you?" Mai looked at him in surprise. That was so impossible; she knew Naru's parents would be so very-very surprise to find their son with little kids.
"Of course they did. I'll do it after I get back."
"And then?" asked Mai in worry. "What do you think their reaction will be? They're your parents, you'll know their reaction."
Naru just shrugged. Honestly, he did not know. "On some cases, human's reaction is unpredictable no matter how long you know this person or how close you are to them. We'll consider about that later. You get inside and have some rest, you look tired. Don't think about it too much. Now I have to go, my parents are already waiting for me."
And Naru was greeted by the hopeful expression of his parents as soon as he stepped his feet on his apartment. He and his parents sat facing each other with a cup of tea in front of everyone. Luella and Martin sat side by side, a little impatient for the explanation that has been promised.
"So, Naru?" said Luella after for a while only met a silent answer.
Naru took a deep breath before starting to open his mouth. "Mamoru and Makoto are my sons," said Naru blatantly.
And no reply. Naru waited calmly. Martin's face looked so grim while Luella sighed and looked away, apparently her suspicion was right. Naru stared at them closely, to see some responds; it seemed that that kind of thought was already embedded in their minds since at the beginning, which would explain why they didn't look too surprised.
"How could this happen?" asked Martin, somewhat in a hardened tone. "Who is their mother?"
"You still remember Mai. She worked for me as an assistant and investigator..."
"Mai Taniyama, who used to be your girlfriend?" Luella shook her head in disbelief. "Why not telling us? Why did you wait till now? If we aren't coming to Japan, do you plan on keeping them from us forever? What kind of parents do you think we are? What about Hara? Did you break up with Taniyama because she was pregnant?" She scolded her son severely. "This is ridiculous, Noll! We never teach you to run from the war! We never raise you to be an irresponsible being!"
Naru leaned back wearily; peeling your bandage to show your own abscess was definitely hurtful. "You've planned to come to Japan since long time ago; I believed that this kind of information should be told directly." He looked at his teacup, avoiding his parents' glare. "As for Mai, we broke up before she knew that she was pregnant. And she never told me, she just disappeared. I only knew about this a few months ago, Mai tried to hide them from me."
"And why's that? Did she have bad intentions to retain and hide them from you?" Martin fired another question.
Naru shook his head. "Mai is not like that, she wouldn't do something like that. Well, you could say we had a fracas before we broke up. There was something I've said that made her thinking that I despised her. And Mai didn't tell me about her pregnancy because she feared that I would hurt her even more, especially that I could hurt her sons."
"Oh Noll...," Luella sighed and rubbed her forehead desperately. "There's really something wrong with your tongue. Then what would you do? What about Hara?"
"Everything will be fine, I can promise you that. Masako also already knew about this, she said that she understood the circumstance. She and Mai has been friend since long ago."
"Noll, I still don't understand," muttered Martin after he sipped the tea to calm his nerves. "Are you still continuing your engagement with Hara? And what about Taniyama and your sons?"
"Mamoru and Makoto know that I'm their father, and I'll do my best so I won't loose them."
Luella put her hands on her cheeks as she closed her eyes; that still didn't explain everything. "This is unbelievable. I come to Japan also to talk about your wedding with Hara's family, at least that was what we thought. You, at your age, already had a plan to marry someone was quite a shocking for us. And now this! I can not believe how something like this could happen to you."
Naru was silent.
"You are very careful and thoughtful in everything," said Luella again. "So this is surely out from our estimation. How about Taniyama? I only ever met her once and spoke by phone several times. I always thought she's a good girl."
"She is a good girl…," defended Naru, staring at her mother coldly. "We can not and should not blame her. For one thing, she thought that I would hate the kids. She ran away so I wouldn't tell her to abort them, well…maybe that was what she was thinking about me. She gave up her university seat and spent every yen of her saving only to give birth and raise them. She had tried very hard to get into Tokyo University, I can say till her last drop of blood. She believed that I would deny the kids, so she hid them to protect our sons from any hurt feeling..."
"Are you saying that all is your fault, Noll?" urged Martin.
"Yes," answered Naru without a doubt or hesitation.
"You do not say these things out of some guilt blindness? Maybe she has other reasons for keeping them away from you."
"Please don't insult her. If you've met and known Mai, you surely wouldn't say the same thing. And that's the truth. Even until now she never asked me to take my responsibility, she always refused the money I gave her, and she never demands my fathering role."
"You're right, it seems that we do have to meet this Mai Taniyama," stated Martin. He sighed and put his hand on his chin, deep in thought. You couldn't blame him, they came from far away to Japan for a wonderful vacation and to celebrate their son's engagement, and while they were in this country, to talk about his wedding date. And suddenly you were told that you were a grandfather of two years old twins! And the mother of the grandchildren wasn't the girl whose family they were about to meet, too! Thank God he didn't get a heart attack.
Naru used the opportunity to retreat to the kitchen. He opened the boxes of sushi that he had bought for dinner and put them on the plates. Luella slipped in to the kitchen and helped him to wash the glasses left in the sink.
"You're hurt too…," whispered Luella suddenly, slicing the silence. "Don't tell me that you don't, because I can see it in your eyes. It was backfired, whatever that you've done that made Taniyama ran away. And that wasn't only hurt her, it hurt you too."
Naru looked up to her. He took a deep breath and rested his hands on the countertop; his mother was so perceptive, he knew he couldn't hide anything from her. Luella glanced at her son and smiled.
"You didn't tell us what was really happening. Can't you see the question marks around my head?" Luella rinsed the glasses. "Can't you tell your mother? Or you don't believe this old woman anymore?"
Naru looked away and stared at the sushi before him. "It's killing me…," he answered dishearteningly. "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I can't. You know that sometimes there's something you shouldn't tell to others. You said that once. Beside, I'm still working on my plan. Maybe, someday, I'll tell…"
Luella smiled again. Unlike Gene, it was so difficult to have a heart to heart conversation with Naru. If you wanted to get an answer for some personal matters, you had to use the most powerful pump to pull them out of Naru's head. And even you couldn't always succeed. Just like a trained soldier, just a mere interrogation wouldn't make you get the information.
"You love them, your sons." She didn't question him, it was a statement. Naru didn't say anything, but Luella was used to this. If he didn't deny it, it meant yes. "But, what's Taniyama position in your heart? Do you still love her?"
Naru sighed and once again busy with the sushi in the boxes. This time Luella couldn't understand the meaning of that sigh. Was that a 'yes' or just an 'annoyed expression' because she talked too much? The problem about conversing with Naru in a matter of feeling was that you had to guess, a lot of guessing. And mostly, 8 out of 10, you were wrong.
"It's a common case, that kids presence could wake up the old feeling, even strengthen it. So, which one are you in love with, Naru? Is it Taniyama or Hara?"
"I've made a terrible mistake. I'll fix everything. Maybe there will be some resistance, a horrific battle, we wouldn't know. But I'll try to put the negative effect in a minimal level. It's time to make amends."
This time, it was Luella's turn to sigh. No, she didn't understand what he said at all. Sometimes she really wished to have a normal, average intelligence son. "I ever heard that Taniyama is an orphan. I guess…"
"Yeah, an orphan just likes me and Gene. Is that matter?" interrupted Naru in a stern voice. "You and Martin adopted us since we were little, and she has no foster family because she was too old to be adopted when her mother died. But unlike us, she knows who her mother and father are. I don't know which one between us is the luckier, the one which get a family or the one who knew her family." His tone was bitter.
"You got me wrong, Noll," replied Luella quickly. "It's not about whether she's orphan or not. I just wanted to say that I guess it's a kind of hard to raise children alone in such a very young age. How old was she when she had the babies? Eighteen? Nineteen?"
"Don't worry, she has someone she can count on."
Luella arranged the glasses in the cabinet as Naru put the last sushi on the plate. He filled the kettle to make tea.
"I'm sorry," said Naru again in sudden. Luella raised her brows. "I do really sorry. You've trusted me to live my life the way I want to and I'm only troubling you."
Luella patted his back and took two of the plates. "As long as you realize your own mistake and solve it. That's a parent's duty and fate, to be troubled by their kid. It's also a way to reach the mature stage, I think. But really Noll, to have kids at your age, in such situation…" She shook her head. "But I forgive you. So is Martin, I guess. Parents will always forgive their child. Since you've became a daddy now, you'll understand that. And you have cute adorable babies, there. Just make sure you don't make this kind of surprise again."
A week later…
Mai stood in front of her apartment building in anxiety. Today she had an appointment with Naru; yesterday he had asked her to go with him, without the kids. She couldn't wait for Naru in her apartment or else Makoto and Mamoru would know that their mother and father would go without them, and there would be a series of pleading and whining and crying. So this was where she was now, in a sunny but bone piercing cold Sunday morning, while her sons were running around in the warm apartment with Hamada-san.
Mai shuddered when the chilly wind blew. She still had five minutes until Naru arrived. What would Naru want? Mai thought to herself. Was this a kind of dating? Awwww...Mai pressed her cheeks and shook her head, trying to eliminate the tempting idea from her mind. No, you should not... Her time to expect such a thing from Naru was already over. Maybe his parents wanted to meet her again?
This week Mai has been living the life of a sock inside a washing machine, turning upside down-inside out until she didn't know what to think anymore. Since Naru took their sons to meet his parents, Mai has forgotten what a peaceful mind was anymore. Naru's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, asked her to meet them at a cafe. They were friendly and kind enough although she still felt like she has been interrogated; about the children, about her pregnancy, about her decision to hide them from the world, about her daily life, about her goal in life, anything about her. In the end, Mrs. Davis hugged her tightly and whispered some apologies that she didn't raise Naru properly that had made her suffering.
Since then, her life seemed like always connected to them. Phone calls, dinner or lunch invitation, shopping to the mall, they even offered her to look after the twins. Mai asked Hamada-san about it, and she said that that was surely okay since they were Makoto and Mamoru's grandparents. But she couldn't ignore the feeling that they were observing her, or…weren't they? She wasn't sure. And Naru didn't help at all. Mai was so curious about what his parents' thinking about her and he only said that everything was alright, that she shouldn't worry about that thing. She told him that she forgot that she had asked Mister heartless, and in return Naru called her Miss worryguts.
The peak of her anxiety was two days ago when suddenly Naru informed her that his parents wanted to visit her apartment. And the flood of stress engulfed her, she felt like the wave had swept her away to the open sea. She hasn't shopped yet, so they had nothing decent to be served up with the tea and she had to run straight to the wagashi store, to the restaurant to order the decent lunch, and to the store to buy the decent wine. And she couldn't do much with the twins' toys that scattered around the apartment, Mamoru insisted that the dinosaur's place was under the table, and Makoto had commanded his trucks and tanks to guard the couch. Really, those kids…
The Davis couple arrived with one big strawberry cake, and Mai had to leave them for her cram school. She knew only from Hamada-san's stories, that Naru's parents really were kind and pleasant and smart and all the nice characters in her dictionary. And the kids already called them grandma and grandpa. It was a kind of relief for Mai, though in real she was still very worry about what Naru's parents opinion about them.
It wasn't that she didn't like them, it just that they were Naru's parents. And she had Naru's sons, illegitimately. She didn't care much if other people looked at her accusingly, Naru's parents were a different case; they meant a lot, everything. And this had made her restless. Well, at least her peaceful didn't leave her for too long; she wouldn't meet the Davis couple for a while, they had a tour. Like, meeting with some professors and university researchers, visiting some museums, seminars; that was the vacation ala genius people.
Mai looked up to the bright sky and sniffed the fresh air. Warmth hasn't come to their spring, but the flowers and green grasses have begun their struggle against the frozen soil bravely. She closed her eyes, enjoying the cold wind caressing her rosy cheeks and nose. She had so much to thank for, and she hoped she could live like this forever. The Davis didn't mad at her nor hate her sons, so everything was alright. But why there was this nagging feeling that wouldn't let her worry to rest? That everything was too easy; there was no way everything would run this smoothly. This unsettling feeling; like a calm day before the ragging storm. She had been through the violent weather, would there be another? Maybe right now she was in the eye of the cyclone, and she should prepare herself for the following hurricane.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and blew the air out of her lungs through her mouth. Her eyes caught a familiar figure ahead. That was Naru, leaned onto his car at the entrance of this apartment yard. How long has he been standing there? Why didn't he call or give her a sign that he had arrived? Mai walked across the not so big yard as Naru opened the passenger door and moved to his side. Mai hopped in thankfully for the radiating heater in the car.
"Where will you take me? To meet your parents again?" asked Mai as she loosened her shawl.
"No. I want to ask your opinion about something," said Naru, driving the car out of the complex building.
They've been driving for an hour and finally, Naru parked his car under the shade of an old tree. "We're here," murmured Naru.
Mai looked around, she wasn't sure where this place was. They were in a residential area. Were they going to visit someone? Mai followed Naru out of the car. They parked in front of a certain house. Judging from the condition and the shape of its fence and gate, it was a quite old big house. Whose house was this? And why were they here for? Mai searched for a name plaque of the owners which usually placed under the house number, but it wasn't there.
Naru opened the gate easily. Walking passed the gate, Mai realized that the house was empty, uninhabited. The garden that once must have been beautiful, now was growing out of shape. However, two cherry trees still stood upright with their flowers greeted them beautifully. A small fountain had lost its flowing water, dry and broken.
"Ne, Naru…why are we here? Whose house it is?"
"I want to know what you think about this house."
Ah! Mai nodded, understood. She bit her lip in disappointment. A familiar pang pierced her heart. So, Naru wanted to buy this house. Perhaps a surprise for Masako; therefore, of course he took Mai for her opinion as to whether the house was suitable enough for Masako's liking. She forgot that Naru's parents came to Japan also to talk about their son and Masako's wedding day. Their wedding, oh God, thousand of needles pricked her heart; she was officially devastated.
Naru opened the front door with his key and they entered the house without taking their shoes off because the inside was dirty and covered with dust. Mai put her hurtful feeling aside and fulfilled her duty as a good friend. The house was in traditional type and Mai wasn't sure that the girl would love this kind of house. Despite Masako's hobby to wear traditional clothes, she was so modern in every single way; modern apartment, modern utensils, modern devices, and others modern things. And Mai didn't understand. From a little information that she could grasp from Masako, she thought that Naru and Masako would live their life in UK. So, after they married and Masako graduated, Naru would bring her back to his country.
They checked all corner of the building. The house was quite spacious, living room, dining room, three bedrooms, the kitchen even still have the earth floor part and also a wood-fired earthen stove. Out of their estimation, the two bathrooms had been modernized. Mai squeaked to find a space beside the room for receiving the guests that had an irori, a sunken hearth. She saw it only in old samurai movies. Naru was watching her closely, analyzing every reaction.
They left the main house, walking along the corridor. With an old Momiji tree at the stretched little garden at the side of the house, it was promising a beautiful sight in autumn when the leaves were bright red. Mai made a comment that Naru could grill the fish in summer here which Naru only grimaced distastefully.
"The house is beautiful, Naru. This is that house if you want to start a family. You want to buy it?" said Mai as she sat on a boulder. Wild grasses swayed sweeping her sneaker.
"The previous owner is the friend of my acquaintance. He went bankrupt and sold the house in a quite generous price. I contacted the owner and the bank, and paid the down payment. So, you could say I own half of the house."
"Ah, you're very lucky," muttered Mai, picking a wild flower at her feet. 'So is Masako,' she thought bitterly. "The front garden is stunning; you may treat the guests with the beautiful scenery if you don't have tea and food." She was grinning widely.
"You read too many haiku. Doesn't suit you," replied Naru.
"If you and Masako have children, you will have an accommodative playground. And the location of the kitchen and the living room will enable you to watch your kids outside..."
"Do you think so? It's perfect, then? Even for kids?"
"Yeah…" answered Mai weakly. Oh, Naru didn't know how she had to force herself to say those words. The cold wind blew her hair up to the air. Sometimes she didn't understand how could Naru did this to her. He had came to her and asked whether she still loved him or not. But even after he already knew the answer, he still dragged her around to show off his lovey-dovey relationship with Masako. How inconsiderate of him. That only made one wondered whether blood really running through his heart or not.
Naru turned his head away and said dreamingly, "That's good, that the kids can play freely here. So, do you think I can buy Makoto and Mamoru the bike now? The tricycle, of course."
Mai looked at him, wide-eyed. "Eh? What?"
Naru raised his eyebrows, staring at her eyes closely. "You think I bought this house for Masako?"
Mai stared back at him, didn't understand his facial expressions. "You do not? Then why do you buy this house?"
Naru smirked. "You are still that dumb, huh? This house is for you. Makoto and Mamoru can play freely here. Hamada-san loves gardening; she might use the garden for practicing…"
"For me...?" Mai nearly shouted in disbelief. "But..."
Naru walked toward a bamboo gate that adjacent this little garden to another at the front and opened it. Mai followed him slowly, her mind was still in shock.
"Naru, wait! Why do you buy this house for me? I never asked you!"
The sakura trees swayed slightly, and some of the cherry petals fell to the ground. Naru examined the bamboo fence and shook it slightly, checking its strength. "Because I want to do something for you, Mai. You've been through a lot and sacrificed so much. Actually, I want to pay your college tuition" - he quickly added when Mai began to open her mouth to protest - "I know you used your saving for the cost of labor and living. That should be my responsibility and I want to compensate it. I know you will refuse it if I give the money directly to you, so I contacted Hamada-san to ask for your bank account. But it turned out that she insisted to finance your education."
"Hamada-san?"
Naru turned his back and focused on Mai. "I will also send the money every month now that I've already have your bank account."
"You don't have to do that!" Mai's eyes twitched angrily.
"This is not just a matter of must or mustn't, Mai. I want to do it. Mamoru and Makoto are my responsibilities. They are my flesh and blood too." Naru tilted his head up slightly and sighed. He crossed his hands on his chest, frowning. "The Tokyo University is not far away from this place, maybe some of your neighbors are the Todai's lecturers. One of my professors resides in this neighborhood."
Mai looked away. She wanted to scream that all of those didn't matter, because she didn't need his money. She didn't need this house. If there was one wish she hoped for right now was for Naru to love her, to stay by her side. But that wasn't possible, right?
"You certainly know that I would also refuse this house..." Mai stared at the sakura trees, wondering to herself what it felt like if she became one of those many beautiful flowers. Surely she would not have to feel anything like this. "Moreover, even if you got it below the market price, this house is still expensive. I can not accept it..."
"Mai," Naru put his fingers on her chin and cheek, forcing her to look at him. "The house is already yours. My parents insisted to help with the payment. The owner demanded for a full payment, so I applied for loan. But because I couldn't get it from the bank here in Japan, they help me. I can not go home any time soon, so Martin and Luella will apply the loan under their name as soon as they go home. I pay them every month." He held her face firmly, but he was also unbelievably gently.
"Naru..."
"You may say that they are so pleased to have grandchildren. Do you also want to disappoint them, Mai?" Naru drew his face closer to Mai's. His stare was so intense that Mai felt like she was hypnotized and unable to peel her eyes off of his. His finger was icy on her skin, but the trails they left were so warm as he moved them slightly.
"You can not blackmail me with thing like that," Mai whispered, looking at Naru's black and serious eyes. Was this only the trick of her mind, or Naru's face was really getting closer? Their noses were almost touching.
"I do not blackmail you, I beg you..." And suddenly, his lips were on hers.
Surprised, Mai closed her eyes tightly. His lips moved slowly on hers, cold but it felt like burning on hers. Her knees buckled as Naru nibbled her lower lip, his tongue swept her teeth dangerously. A moment later, Naru let her go abruptly as if he was surprised by his action. Mai opened her eyes slowly and met a pair of shocked onyx eyes. She couldn't fathom his expression nor knew what to say or react. Naru retracted his hand and kept it safe inside his pocket, stood straight awkwardly.
"I'm sorry...," said Naru quickly in a strangled voice. Both were turning away from each other, not knowing how to handle the situation.
Mai stood facing the grass that grew uncontrollably, trying to calm her heart that beat erratically. Her face flushed, not daring to look at the man beside her. She put her fingers on her lips, and she didn't even know why she did that. Naru stood upright, his hands deep in his pocket, glared at tiny cracks in the brick fence that bordered the house with the neighbor.
Naru cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I'll lock all the doors. You go back to the car and keep yourself warm." And then he gave her the key and walked passed the bamboo gate, slamming it.
Mai looked at the closed gate. What would happen next? Guilt rammed her consciousness; she had betrayed Masako. But it wasn't her who initiated the kiss, Naru did. And why-oh-why did he suddenly kissed her like that? And why she just let him? Mai forced her feet to move, crossing the gravel path toward the main gate and looked around, hoping no one had caught them. A pickup that loaded unused paper and carton boxes passed her through slowly, and Mai felt that the driver was looking at her accusingly. She quickly jumped inside the car.
"Stupid Mai, calm yourself!" Mai snapped herself. She patted her cheeks in fury, chanting herself in whisper, "It was an accident. Naru definitely want to buy the house for Masako, and he must have been imagining inspecting the house with Masako and accidentally kiss me. She wanted to kiss her; temperature was so low that it disturbed his mind, so he was thinking that I was Masako. The house was for Masako, but because I and my children are so poor, so he hands it to me instead..."
Naru really took his time. Mai remembered that they practically didn't move or touch anything in the house. Locking the doors would not take this long. Mai rapped her forehead; of course, Naru was grieving over himself for kissing her. With a shaky hand, Mai turned on the radio. The cool voice of the broadcaster who reported the traffic conditions calmed her heart a bit.
Mai startled when the driver's door opened and Naru took his seat behind the wheel. He glanced at her briefly before he drove the car down the street toward the main road. He was back on his default expression, looked like the incident had no effect on him. Mai bit the inside of her cheek embarrassedly.
"We'll find a place for lunch," muttered Naru while concentrating into the traffic. "And I hope you accept the house. Inevitably, you have to accept it. Or else I and my parents will keep bothering you for the rest of your life."
Mai sighed dejectedly as she looked out the window. She didn't know why she felt so defeated. And also, she felt like having no more energy to argue. She glued her focus onto the crowded street. Okay, maybe she should accept it. It was reasonable for her to take the house, considering that so far she has spent all of her money. Under normal circumstance in the sense of they were still together, it must have been Naru who paid it all. And surely in that normal circumstance, a kiss must have been nothing odd or sinful. Mai felt like banging her head into the dashboard because it seemed that that kissing image wouldn't disappear from her mind.
to be continued…
_ooOoo_
I don't familiar with the Western tradition, but I ever read that the wedding date is decided by the couples themselves. But in Asia, mostly, there will be a meeting between two families and they'll choose the perfect date. Sometimes there will be a complicated calculation because we have the good day and bad day, and its different for each people. So, that was why when Naru's parents came to Japan, Masako's family used the opportunity to talk about the date, too.
Before someone yell at me that Naru was so OOC and no way in hell he would act like that to his sons… Well, the novel didn't reach the stage of Naru in that age. So, Naru at 22 years old was up to our imagination, right? I have a neighbor. He just like Naru when he was younger, even worse, I swear! When I was still in elementary, even when he was smiling I was still scared of him. He had a chilling aura, you know. But now after he has married and has a son and two daughters, everyone says he's the best father in the world. He really treats his kids amazingly. My oh my, who could predict that? But now I am still trembling fearfully whenever stay too close to him…nawww, that's a lie. We're good friend now since I became his son's tutor on reading. Khe khe khe…
Well, starting from this point, the tension will rise to the highest level. Time for Mai to explode, eh? No, patience has its own limit, and Mai was just a normal human being, not a saint. And, we'll reach the end of the story, slow but sure. I won't expand the story into more than twenty chapters, maybe about four chapters more. So please bear with me, thank you...