A/N: Not so fast update, but it's a lot earlier than before :)
Chapter XIV
Lili
"Sebastian, I want you to schedule my travel to Nice for this weekend."
"Certainly Miss Lili. May I ask when I will send the jet to fetch you at Venice?"
I chuckle from my seat at the back of the limousine. "Sebastian, with any other person I would need that, but you know I never will with her."
Sebastian looked at me from the rear-view mirror. "Does Miss Asuka know you're going there?"
My eyebrows quirked. Miss Asuka huh? "Sebastian, you're making it sound like I can't go anywhere without Kazama's permission anymore."
"I didn't mean that Miss Lili. I only want to know how she felt when you told her about it."
I raise my shoulders, trying to act more listless than how I felt. "I wouldn't know. She didn't answer my call for me to discover."
"Miss Asuka is unaware of this?"
"Yes, Sebastian. And it doesn't matter. Now could you please scarce the talk? I want to sleep. I never get any inside the jet."
Sebastian reaches for a button at the control board. The lights inside the limousine dim into an almost black luminance. A slow, classical hymn starts to play in the background; a song he always played when I wanted to sleep and stay undisturbed. "Sweet dreams, Mademoiselle." Sebastian never fails to tell me before a black ascending wall separates us and leaves me to my slumber.
*Sour Grape*
After an indefinite time in the Limousine, I transferred to the jet plane at the hangar owned by my family at the Centraire Japan International Airport at Nagoya. The time it takes to travel from Japan to Italy, Venice would take more than twelve hours in an ordinary commercial plane, but since the Rochefort Jet boasts a speed of three-thousand kilometers/hour, I'll be there in approximately three hours, ten minutes, and six seconds.
Enough time for me to discard all the proof of joining the tournament.
First, I change to a long sleeve neck tied blouse, combined with a faux fur white vest, silver sequins skirt and a pearl colored suede high heels. I then put all my tournament clothing in a suitcase that Sebastian would later hide when the jet arrives tomorrow at the estate hangar in Monaco.
Second, I throw away all information about the tournament; flyers, announcements, emails, and website histories in all my gadgets.
Third, and lastly, I take out the international sim card I used this year, and like previously, I need to break it, clearing all that's happened in the tournament. What happens in Tekken, stays in Tekken.
I could not break it because I have enough phones to put it on, but it would risk the chance of Daddy finding out that I joined the tournament again. If I do break it, Asuka would never know how to contact me anymore, and I wouldn't know what her number was to contact her again.
Crack. Well, who knew bending this little flexi cards would break it so easily?
I wrap the divided sim card into a crumple of paper and disposed of it in a plastic that I will then dump to the first trash bin I see in Venice. I stash away the trash in my pocket and looked out the window.
Who are you kidding Emilie, you already know her number by heart. My eyebrows crunch in dismay. Even my own subconscious taunts me. And for the remainder of the ride I sat there, thinking. Debating, if I'd call Asuka when I arrive in Venice and tell her what's happening to me right now. Or, to know what's happening to her, why she ignored my last call. Or, to just, you know, hear her voice.
My father would not let me have the end of the day if he discovers that I joined the tournament again, but he wouldn't mind me having casual conversations with Asuka from Monaco. It's not like it will be the first time anyways.
And so, my thoughts went like that. It was a cycle of weighing possibilities and circumstances, but there was one more person I need a voice to in this mini-major decision. That person, quite frankly, is not the best person to talk this about, but I have no other candidates in lined. Sebastian is already giving the vibe that he would push anything for me to just go and gallop in Asuka's feet. Embrace the autonomy of my feelings and just be honest. The problem is, I was raised to be a liar.
*Sour Grape*
The tides at Venice are going higher than the last time I came here in the SS Rochefort. I've been to this country, particularly this city, for more times than any other place outside Monaco and France. I know by experience that this shift in nature is the cause of a foreboding rainy season that will fall incessantly throughout the ancient floating city. The red stone ground and the paved rock streets are damp with the moistness of the atmosphere, but it was still better than having them all submerged half feet by rain and sewer water.
A breezy, red hot convertible Mustang drives and stops in front of me. The leatherette roof folds into an accordion fashion down to its hood base, revealing an exotic beauty in the driver's seat.
"My new toy." The woman in a tight power suit of white blouse and gray pencil skirt said in my direction. Her eyes faintly glinting through the black tint of her Cartier Sunglasses. Her nails are trimmed to a perfection of oval, coated with a transparent polish. The way she always had them. Her bob hair creates a stunning effect with the play of long layers at the side and a flock of strayed hair above her eyebrows. This all together makes her all the same beautiful girl she always is.
"I noticed." I paused and acted like I was just now checking the car. "It's good."
"Good?" She said in disbelief. "Em, I gave half my fortune for this car." Her hand rubbed on the steering wheel, touching it like it was made of precious brittle gold. Em. She is honestly the only one who calls me that. "Untrue. You could have easily bought the whole company if it was half your fortune."
Her lips curled into a half frown. "Well, I can now clearly see the fruits of joining that tournament. You have definitely been losing more of your humor ever since you started going there."
"It's not like it was a lot to start with." I bit back at her. She chuckled and nodded. "Well played, Em. You do still have it. Now ride with me and feel the magic of this hot wheels."
"You're so lame." I sighed and took the seat next to her. She leaves the roof open as she maneuvers the car out the bigger roads, going to the city extent of Venice.
"So, how was the tournament?" She asked in a childish, silly voice.
"I lost. Again." Silence. She kept her focus on the road and said nothing. "Are you not going to say anything? Perhaps mock me for foolishly going back there every time and still win nothing?"
Her eyebrows raise and she regards me with a questionable look. "I know how much you don't like it when people play at your lost. Besides, I always believe you'll win, even if it's not the first time. You always will win."
"Not winning the first time is not winning at all. It's pathetic repeat and I'm unfortunately stuck in the loop this time."
She whistled and smiled at me. "Wise words, you should write that in a book." I gave her a sharp scowl. "Or not. We can just keep it to ourselves. I like it when we keep things to ourselves."
I didn't answer, sensing an underlying meaning at her words. She seems to feel my floating unease and clears her throat. "Sorry, inappropriate Ex-talk." And she would always do that. It sounds hard to believe when she says it. There was a time in our lives that those combinations of words would be the farthest thing either one of us could have said, but now…now it's almost present in every exchange we have.
"Is that a hobby now?" I asked with a constricted heart.
"Uh, no. of course not." She laughed nervously. "You know how slippery I get with words. So, slippery, that's how I confessed to you back then, right?" I give her an incredulous look. "Oh yeah, inappropriate Ex-talk off."
She winced her head back to the roads, traversing us to just one of the many renowned, and prominent fine diners in the area of Venice. "It would be much more pleasant if you would stop saying that catchphrase of yours."
"I agree. And to apologize for that, I will treat you to the current outrageous restaurant in town." The car goes to a stop, parking at the side of a modern style, black wood and white steel building. Windows of tint dark blue extrudes in the front and side walls. The entrance to the restaurant is designed with a zen garden and a touch of contemporary lighting. The door is opened by two men in tuxedos, one of them eagerly passes us a goblet of sour wine and honey root.
"Reservations for Alexa Caltagirone and Emilie De Rochefort?" The elder of the two men asked with a digital mini tablet in hand.
"Yes, that's us." Alexa points her thumb at me. The acting waiter/butler smiled and gave us a slight nod before stepping aside the two-paneled door. "Please, come in and we will guide you to your table."
*Sour Grape*
The seat that Alexa has reserved for us was a private arrangement near the indoor waterfall. The table arrangement was filled with gold and silver utensils. A vase of flowers sat at the center of the circular table. The chairs were bulky and big with cushions of deep royal red colors. The waiters that followed us pulled out each of the chair for me and Alexa to seat on. We gladly accepted the expected gesture and sat down into a comfortable place before one of the butlers gave us both the menu.
"We'll call you when we decide on our order." Alexa says to the two waiters. They nod a little again and leave the area on a distance that they may not hear what we are talking about, but they can be accessible if called urgently.
"I can't stay as long as I did last time." I said promptly. "I know it took us a week to finish all the fake evidence last time, but I need to be home for the mid-year luncheon that my mother hosts every year."
"The fake evidence that you spend the whole three months and a half with me here in Venice. Having the time of our lives. I wish that that's what actually happened." Alexa peeked at me from above the humongous menu in her face.
"It's hurts me to lie about this to Daddy, but it will hurt him more if he discovers that not only did I fabricate where I was spending my vacations, but I've been joining Tekken without relent, even after the first time that he ultimately forbid me not to."
"Why don't you try to give your father a chance Em?" Alexa lay down the menu on the table and proceeds to put her elbows there. An act that was forbidden to do in the dining table, but one that she never ever followed. "I didn't initially like this whole idea of you being a street fighter, but now I'm cool with it. Maybe he too will turn around."
I shook my head in total disagreement. "I can't test waters with my father Alexa. He is my stone. I can't risk making him feel bad about this. He already has problems with my Mother. I simply cannot add more stress for him."
"Your mother is a cold woman, Em. She's called the Ice Queen for a reason. Remember that time when she said that you can't date me because that would be against the whole reason why she even bothered to have a child? It's because she needed an heir, and you forcibly need to produce one yourself. With a man of high standing, I may quote."
"No one can ever have more purpose in life than me." I said, in an attempt to thaw that disturbing day and that sad truth of a confession by my mother.
"Ok, I get it, we can't tell Mr. R. It just feels awful whenever he comes up to me and mentions the photos and the gifts from Venice that we so purposely simulate to delude him."
The words hit my core in a fusion of resent and guilt. How am I able do that? Am I really so selfish that I have been going to lengths in deluding my father? Am I so desperate to even use my former girlfriend as an escape plan? I might have been looking down at the silver platter for far too long, and had my eyebrows bent in that sad fashion, because Alexa took my chin into her hand and raised my head up, forcing me to go eye on eye with her. With her sunglasses taken off, the natural gold color of her eyes looked right through me.
"I'm sorry for mentioning that. I know that this hobby of yours is the one true thing that you enjoy, and I'm a louse for making you feel mortified about it."
I lift my chin away from her hold and relax my back on the chair support. "Well, it is true. So, I just have to live with my egocentric, awful self." Alexa bit back a laugh and seemed to have taken it as a joke. She re-holds the menu in her hands and searches with eager eyes, seemingly ready to end the conversation and start eating.
"Alexa?" I call out her name in a nervous tone. She quickly puts all attention on me. One thing that I found so endearing about her since before. She would have a room full of important people but she would always put me first and foremost.
"Have you dated anyone recently?" Alexa's reaction is a deer- in-headlights, taken by surprise in my sudden question of interest.
"I have recently been involved with someone." I said, for lack of a better term. Alexa's eyes blink and shifts to that ever obvious upset expression.
"Wow," She says indignantly. "After so long, there's finally someone new."
"It's actually been going on for a year almost."
"Who is it? You can be transparent with me, Em." I unconsciously exhale an accumulated agitation. "Is it alright for me to talk about this with you?"
Alexa giggled with incredulity. "There's only so many women who like women in the world, Em. And your Ex-girlfriend would be one of the very few options you have as an ear to talk with. Besides, I want to know the kind of woman you're replacing me with."
"You are making all the girlfriends in the world sound like floor rags. And, since you have given me your consent, then listen to me with an open mind, Alexa."
"That sounds like a warning that I won't like the next things you're going to tell me."
"It can go in different ways. Let's start with the fact that she lives in Japan."
Alexa's eyes go wide open. "What?" She exclaims a tad loudly that the waiters in waiting looked at our table and gave me an alarmed look. I wave my hand to signal them not to worry and refrain to standing and not doing anything at all. Alexa pulls my hand and looks at me with a mad person's face. "We hardly survived being one sea apart Em, and this girl is three oceans away."
"And it's not important for the moment, because like I mentioned, Alexa. We're just getting involved. It's nothing serious yet like what we had."
"Who is she? Tell me Em. I don't remember any elite woman in our circle that lives in that country."
"I doubt that you would know her, but, to supply your question, her name is Asuka Kazama. It should also be said, that she is not part of any elite circle because she would be too barbaric to get accepted by one."
"Kazama? Isn't that the name of the current CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu?"
"How did you know that?" I asked in complete astonishment that she happened to have an idea at all.
Alexa propped her hand up in the air. "The Caltagirone is the tightest European business partner of Rochefort Enterprises. In my study to succeed the company, I had to learn all about our partners Em. And I put extra attention on your family, because of you." Alexa paused. "I remember reading it in the portfolio that the Mishima Zaibatsu is the Rochefort Enterprises biggest tie in Asia. It's always been ruled by a reigning Mishima, but the recent leader with a new name caught my attention, so I had to go and check it some time ago."
"You're a mongrel for details."
"God is in the details Em, that's what my patron, Mies Van Der Rohe always said." Alexa shook her head. "Back to the topic, so, she's a family of the Mishima Zaibatsu?"
"Yes, but by a second degree. The Zaibatsu belongs only to the first degree, and only to the Mishima's."
"To put it simply, she's not from money." Alexa said flatly.
"No, she's just average." Alexa looked at me with a new perspective in her eyes. "Who are you and where did you take Emilie? She would never settle for an average."
My shoulders raise in an effort to express my lost. "Perhaps. However, Lili does." And that was all that went wrong in our relationship. Just that one, simple thing. Alexa never understood the difference between Emilie and Lili. The girl she fell in love with and had the best two years of her life was Emilie, was Em. There was no Lili that lived under that girl's surface. There was none of that spoiled brat who wanted to go out and revel in fighting and forget about the responsibilities of an heir. She didn't want to accept that Lili exists and that Lili is a whole other person from the girl she came to know.
Alexa rubbed her stomach gently and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Can we eat first and talk more about this with a full stomach?"
"If you must, then go ahead." Alexa snapped her fingers and immediately the two men in tuxedo's turns and rounds our table.
"Aside from your taste in women, has anything else change in your palate?" Alexa asked with humor.
"Apparently none. You know what I like." I said, giving her the permission to order what she knows I would enjoy.
*Sour Grape*
The next day begins with Alexa turning up at the lobby of the hotel I stayed in. I come down and greet her, a bag of Yves Saint Laurent in her hand.
"Attire no. 1." She handed me the tall rectangular packaging. When I leave for the tournament, my Daddy expects me to bring my credit card because he thinks I will be using it to shop in Venice. For that reason, I always leave my credit card to Alexa, who will then randomly use it to purchase clothes and accessories throughout the three months and a half. The things she would buy will be the things I will use in our make-up excursion for a week or less. The credit card will have a legal history of being used within said timeline, and I will have the apparels needed to make it look like I spent days here by using a different clothing in every line of photos. All the purchases I make at the tournament are done by cash and no way for my father to track when and where the money was used.
"So, you said in your itinerary that you told Mr. R we had a romantic gondola ride." Alexa's eyebrows wiggle in teasing way. "Is it, holding hands romantic? Embracing in the boat romantic? Leaning on each other's shoulder –
I cleared my throat before she goes on a list that I know she can easily lengthen.
"Oh, yeah, my bad. Inappropriate –
"Alexa." I held my hands to stop her. "Just a photo, sitting in the gondola would do well."
Alexa raised her shoulders and smiled cheekily at me. "I know. I'm just trying to put you in the edge."
"And why so would you want me in that position?" By now, I was following her out of the hotel and into her car. Alexa had the hobby for buying cars and estates. A thing she inherited from her father who was an Engineer and, fortunately, monopolized Italy's construction industry. Their Company, Caltagirone, penned after the family name, has business spanning in all kinds of energy and building. Their construction process is one of the fastest and most expensive in the world, using refined oil to power machines and engines that work wonders in the field. And their major oil source would be the stock that my family provides them. Alexa's wealth would be a miniscule amount lower than mine, and let's just conclude that she puts most of her allowance in new models of cars that come out every other week. Today, she had her blue chrome metallic LaFerarri. Another convertible, two capacity car that has all the edge and splendor of the Italian brand.
"Because you put me on the edge yesterday, and I'm just trying to make things fair." She explains and opens the door for me before going to the driver's seat and moving the car. "I've been thinking about everything you shared to me about this new girl you're involved with. And I know, I'm going to sound like the inappropriate Ex again, but...I don't think you should continue it, Emilie."
She called me, Emilie. It was always the sign that Alexa was being serious because she had a hard time with that if she were to relay only in the words she uses. Nonetheless, I can tell how she went with that decision. Everything I told her was pathetic even in my ears, and eyes, but I just have more wishful thinking than she had for me.
"That's not a decision for you to make, Alexa." I answered, looking straight ahead.
Alexa's finger taps on the steering wheel as she expertly rotates it. "Em, she's just after your money."
And my head starts to do a throbbing that for the first time, I felt truly mad at her. "You don't know her." I say with a firm voice.
"And do you?" She asks so plainly, it sounded more insulting than she could have imagined. Because it was true. "What can you honestly tell me about her Emilie? You make out one night and the next day she's ignoring your call. She first does everything to get away from you, and now she's like; hey, let's do some open relationship experiment. Let me have all your money while I date who I want, and you can't complain because it's all part of the rules." The harsh, and debasing tone that Alexa conveyed made all the words stuck out more. I did have reservations about all this arrangement but having to hear everything from someone's complete storytelling made it sound even worse. It sensed so convincing, so possible, that I felt so stupid and empty and chagrinned.
"I'm sorry Em, but people like us can't give out ourselves so easily to anyone. Most of the time, they're always just in it for the money."
"I have been doing nothing but that, for my whole life. Putting distance between every person. Sebastian is the closest thing I have as a friend."
"And God knows, Em, I'm the same. Why do you think we keep coming back to each other? Why try being friends after our relationship didn't work out? It's because we have no one else. We grew up together in this lonesome, guarded life." Alexa's eyes roll up. "I'm always going to care about you, Emilie. I'm not going to stop you from looking for someone new, because no one, especially you, deserves to go on in this living hell alone."
"It just can't be her." I said, my voice scratchy because of the overwhelming need to cry in that very instant.
"I imagined someone better for you. Because you were the best for me."
"Stop that." My head didn't like the confusion of sadness and disappointment. "I believe in her Alexa. I have to be honest with you, but I love her, and I want to believe in her. You left me to traverse this path. Now let me pass it."
The car stops abruptly, parking in an empty street where I have no knowledge about.
"Don't call her then." Alexa said with full resolve and eyes fixated on me. "Let her prove herself. You're the singular hone heir of a multi-billion property and assets Emilie. You've done enough chasing for your standing. Give her the baton this time."
I curse the way she chose her words because they make me feel more doleful than I made-up. "But…what if she doesn't?" I said, my full resolve melting into a toxin of reality. The end of the world would be more probable to happen in the next year than Asuka stepping up and contacting me by her own volition.
Alexa's hand stretches to caress my cheek and squeeze it gently. "You did it once. You can do it again." She paused. "Move on."
*Sour Grape*
Four days after and I arrived home at Monaco. My father, and Sebastian, gladly waiting for me as the Caltagirone Helicopters lands at the Helipad on top our estate. Daddy exchanged pleasantries with Alexa, whom he always considered a second daughter and approved quickly as my girlfriend years back.
Alexa comes to me and embraces me tight, her height being evidently taller than me by three centimeters. Her lips brush on my ear when she whispered something before leaving. "Remember not to call her."
The helicopter then heads off and is soon far from sight.
The next day, I had to travel to Nice, France to attend my mother's luncheon. My father was with her the whole meeting, while I sat at the chair between them, silently wishing heavens to erase the number in my head that I keep repeating. I have no memory of what transpired in that event. A vague recollection of dances with blank faces in my head seem to have registered, but nothing else.
"Emilie, stop being absent-minded all the time. I don't want you acting like that when we have our conference meetings with the board." My mother scolds me as she continuously signs a literal mountain of checks and documents. Now, she's another person who won't shed a light on Lili. All she knows is Emilie.
"That reminds me of the luncheon last week. You were very down for a party that day Princess. Is something wrong?" My father asks from my left.
Basically, my family would do this one-day signing schedule. We would all sit in a large, C-shape table with all sorts of transcripts, receipts, reports, and other legal documents for reviewing and signing. The left side would be my fathers, the right would be my mothers and the middle was always mine. Being an heir in training, I had the less amount of work, and just as soon as I finished my load, I started going back to that barren wasteland of hope. A hope for a call that is quite close to never happening.
"Definitely nothing Mommy, Daddy. I'm only being exhausted with work and classes resuming."
"I've studied the last report I asked you to analyze and I'm very proud at how you presented solutions for the company's shortcomings. You're exactly shaping up to the job of running this company. Emilie." My mother stated in her old fashion of straight and static sentiment. Her tone brought nothing of the weight that her words should express. They always sound bland, and insincere to my ears.
"I do my best." I answered with a forced smile. My mother didn't look at me and went back to her workload.
She's a tall woman, standing at a height of six-feet-two-inches. She had long flowing blonde hair and eyes of violet-blue that were big and expressive yet shut-out of emotions. Her skin glowed white as a pearl with the crème colored blouse that she wore. My mother is a beautiful woman, with a figure that is paralleled with models and a skin that is made from pampered beauty products of the best quality. She is the dominant of the family, taking charge over my father in the house and in business. The Rochefort Enterprises may be named all to my father, but all the feats it's accomplished in the last years were all exuberantly done and sold by my mother. It is absurd, but it's true that my mother cares more about the company than my father and me combined. This does not mean that my mother is a bad person. She means good, and she works hard for everything and needs to control all of that in order for her world to go round.
"My two favorite women, both beautiful and intelligent. What more can I ask for?"
Maybe more resolution against Mommy? I said to myself. It is funny and derisive that my father is utterly under the finger of my mother.
"A faster hand to finish all that paper, Emile." My mother banters.
"I'm on it, my Queen." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. This should sound sweet for me, but I find it rather chocking to be in that time and see this unfold. My father loves mother so much, he is willing to make a fool of himself, time and time again. And Mommy wouldn't care to notice it. She never spoke those three words to Daddy my whole life, and I wonder if she ever felt that way for him, or anybody else. Because the first woman I expect to say "I love you" to me, never did so either.
*Sour Grape*
Three weeks after the tournament and I've done everything to put myself at ease. It was horrible to expect something every day and expect it to not happen also. School and proper company heir work keep me busy and relieve me out of that bazaar compendium, but I need more distractions than ever.
I roll to the edge of my bed and lift the wireless handheld from its dock. I dial the number 53. Sebastian's personal phone service. And the punctuality of its answer makes me smile. Sebastian is always fast with service.
"Yes, Miss Lili?"
"Sebastian, I need to go out. I want to buy something from the game store."
"The Maybach Exelero will be waiting for you whenever you are ready, Miss Lili."
"Perfect." I replace the phone and quickly change in my incognito outfit.
A travel of three hours later, I arrive with Sebastian at the front of the biggest game store in Nice, France. Sebastian waits in the car while I enter the store. Clad in simple jeans and gray hoodie, I scanned the shelves of games with my sunshades on. It did not take long for me to find the D-section and drop all the Digimon games into my basket.
It's an odd and rather humiliating addiction that I picked up, generally, from going back and forth to Japan and experiencing to play it and enjoy it.
Down at the counter, the guy in the cashier checks-out everything, totaling to less than two thousand dollars. I'm acutely aware of how he has been sneaking looks at me ever since I entered the store, and now he's been desperately giving me those endearing smiles that I would guess to make most of the women swoon for him. Fortunately, I'm not one of them.
"Here you go." He hands me a big plastic bag filled with the games I bought. I was about to swipe my credit card into their machine when I noticed the piece of paper that was on top of my games.
"What is this?" I asked him, holding out the paper that I know has his number in it.
"My number, beautiful." He said, and winked at me. Well, he is overly confident about his outdated charms. It is men like this that I enjoy most to tease.
"Why would you give me your number?" I innocently asked and leaned closer to him.
He smiled wide, feeling very proud because he thinks he's got me. "A lot of reasons, anything you like, just call me."
"Anything?" I said, trying to sound very excited by the prospect.
"Anything." He said, leaning closer to me as well. I didn't move, letting him enjoy this more. Out of my peripheral, I notice him click on the keyboard. A bling sound happens and a receipt slides out the printer. He takes it and holds it out to my face. "Oh, and the bills on me. I can't take seeing a pretty gamer pay for entertainment."
"Wow. You are handier than I assumed." I took the receipt and folded it in my hoodie pocket. "Now, tell me again. I can call you about anything?"
"Anything at all." He nodded all fired up and proud.
"Go to my house at the middle of the night?" I asked.
The guy smiles even wider like he can't believe he is scoring the biggest catch of his life right now. "A risker, I like that." He tried to act cool.
"Take me to a Hotel?"
"If you want it there, I'm game anywhere you want."
"Tips about dating women?"
"Oh ye….what?" right then and there, I knew that the shock in his face would be the highlight of my day.
"No? Too bad, and I thought your number would actually be of some use." I leaned away from the counter and left the paper with his number at the side of the computer.
"I do appreciate you paying for my games. A pleasure to make business with you. Au revoir." I left the store in exhilarated hurry, and by the time that he was out the store, he had no idea where to find me. Not that he can see me inside the car now.
"I believe we will be meeting a new employee in the store next time around, Miss Lili?" Sebastian took my attention away from the sad guy who kept looking over the area for the girl in a hoodie.
"Yes, well they deserve it, Sebastian. I can pay for my own games, and I don't do anything to encourage their flirting whatsoever. They should learn to refrain from doing that to their customers."
"Notably said, Miss Lili." Sebastian nodded in agreement. "I assume you would be busy finishing your games then."
"As always Sebastian. I will make these games my babies."
"Would that not interfere with your calls with Miss Asuka?"
"Sebastian, I haven't been on speaking terms with that cocky buffoon since after we left the tournament."
"Are you mad at her, Miss Lili?" That was something new.
"No. It's just, we don't have much to talk about…why do you ask that, Sebastian?"
"Because you've stopped calling her names, Miss Lili, and now you're back to that again. I just presumed it must be because you're mad at her."
"It's…" I paused, considering how much I can share to Sebastian, but that was silly to stop and think about. Sebastian has been my loyal confidant for years, and he would be the wisest enough to understand anything I share. "We won't work this out. Might, never will. We live too far apart, and Mother would stand in the way as soon as she hears words of this." I said like a robot with a practiced script.
"Do you share the same idea, Miss Lili?"
"What? That was my idea, Sebastian. Have you been listening correctly?"
Sebastian nodded and smiled. "Yes, and the Miss Lili that I grew old with would never give up without trying. She loves to take risks, and she's afraid of failure and lose, but she knows how to stand up again and repeat everything until she wins."
My heart squeezed in affection for what Sebastian sees in me. All this time, I thought I was nothing but the glorious child he needed to take care of. Paid to acquaint with. It was nice to know that he saw me as that strong person, I did not even saw myself for.
"Thank you, Sebastian." I said, genuinely, and with all my heart.
"You're welcome, Miss Lili. Now, shall you speak with Miss Asuka again?" I smiled in his attempt.
"No. Not yet, Sebastian. This time, I need to wait." Because as haunting as it was, Alexa was right. If I'm going to be willing to go through a lot of real life hell again in this new relationship, I need to see that I'm not the only player.
*Sour Grape*
A wonderful week of games and winnings and the sadness of having lost contact with Asuka felt a wee bit better. And as the first month sets today, it is like the judgment that leads to the end. Done. Finished. Today is the day that settles it all. A valid reason for me to stay inside my playroom until morning when this horrible faithful day is over.
"Miss Lili, you're breakfast is ready." Sebastian announces through the intercom inside my playroom.
"Bring it up here, Sebastian. I refuse to leave this room for the next 24 hours."
"You have been doing so for the past three days, Miss Lili. It is not good for a young lady to trap herself in games for so long."
"How dare you, Sebastian. Do you not know how many slaves worship my avatar in the Digimon world? Nothing is a game when it means being the ruler."
"If you consider so Miss Lili. I will bring your food for you."
"Thank you, and don't forget my desserts, Sebastian. I want all the chocolate nachos up here!"
The telecom turns off and I am left to play the game I started five hours ago. My eyes are starting to sting and my fingers are getting numb. I have lost comprehension on which buttons I' am clicking on at the black console in my hands. A minute passes and I blink in pain when the lights to my playroom open. The pink curtains and the white walls reflected intense brightness that made my eyes sore.
"Sebastian, turn off the lights!" I yelled, covering my eyes with my forearm.
"Forgive me, Miss Lili. It was hard to take the cart inside if I don't see where I' am walking."
"Leave the cart there, and turn off the lights on your way out." Sebastian pushes the cart closer to my entertainment station.
"I will wait for you to finish, Miss Lili." He said and deliberately stood behind me.
"You can go now, Sebastian. I will call when I'm done."
"Will nothing entice you to go out, Miss Lili?"
"None, Sebastian. Leave."
"Perhaps, a call for you will." My fingers stopped moving.
"Who called?"
"I will tell you when you're done, Miss Lili. I need to leave you for now."
"What?" I turned around and found Sebastian walking fast towards the door. "Sebastian, stop right there!" The old butler had the nerve to ignore my order. "Sebastian!" I yelled again, but he continued to trek away. My eyes bulge, and my hands moved swiftly, taking in large amounts of the food taken to me.
I ate, and swallowed it without a stop, not even knowing what I consumed without chewing. "Sebastian! I'm done, come back right this instant!" In a few seconds, Sebastian reappeared with a glass of water.
"That was very quick of you, Miss Lili." He handed me the glass. I took it but did not drink. "Did Asuka call?" I asked with my heart filled with so much hoping.
"I believe she would if you call her first, Miss Lili." All my hopes got stepped on and I wanted to pour all the water in that glass on myself. It was stupid of me to be so wishful.
"I' am warning you, Sebastian. Do not disturb me again." I said and snapped my fingers for his cue to exit. The lights go off again and I continue to play with my chocolate nachos as a heartbreak stapler.
I expected to have the whole day without any more disruption, however, by near evening, Sebastian knocked excitedly at my door and spoke without waiting for me to permit him.
"Miss Lili, Miss Asuka is very mad at the phone with you right now, and I think it is best that you speak with her immediately." The sentence sent chills to my whole body that I couldn't understand, but at the same time, it sounded all unlikely.
"It's a shame that I can't do that right now, Sebastian. I am quite engaged with my games for the moment, and I wish that you would stop pestering me and let me play in peace." Sebastian's presence soon disappears and a damper of disappointment lunges within me.
"Miss Lili, Miss Asuka would like to speak to you." Sebastian said by the intercom. For him to go this far was a fit of its own, and I don't understand why he is doing it.
"Your trick is not going to work for a second time, Sebastian, I will finish this level today!" I exclaimed with pride and crossness.
"You might want to reschedule that considering that we have a lot to talk about." And my whole body came undone when I heard that ever familiar voice. It was mad, and it was infuriated, but it was what I longed to hear for so long.
I drop the console I was holding and stood up from the soft cushions of my game chair.
"Sebastian, hand me your phone!" I shouted and Sebastian was right there, outside of my room, holding his phone for me to take.
"And uh, it's just about something you forgot in the tournament, nothing special."
Asuka said, and it didn't matter. What mattered in the world right now was that she called.
I took the phone inside my room and leaned my back on the wall, gingerly coming down to sit on the floor. With another day or chance, I would not have let myself be scattered with discarded wrappers of chips and chocolates in the floor, but I needed the support of the wall because my knees have gotten too weak for me to stand on and take another step. The euphoria takes me and leads me to forget that I haven't said anything, prompting Asuka to speak again.
"Huh, if you don't have the time to talk with me, then fine. I'll just go to the mix-up my classmates invited me to—"
"No. I have time." I cut her off. "I always have time for you." I said, and I meant it more than anything else.
Asuka chuckled. "Oh yeah? Did you just come up with that now? Because it's been one month, and I don't remember you shedding me that time of yours. In fact, it's a good thing I called, or else, you'd be making up excuses why you were AWOL all of a sudden. Heck, Digimon games? That's what you've been up to this whole time? At least the past people I dated remembered to call their girlfriend even when they were playing games at home."
I smiled and shook my head. No one, never ever confronted me the way she is capably doing it, and I would have definitely gotten fuming and defensive, but I found it adoring to have her complain about me. I might just forgive anything she says the whole night because I still can't believe that she called me. Asuka called me by her own volition and she is scolding me for not calling her. Is this really happening?
I bit on my lower lip to help myself from crying.
"I missed you." I let the words go and all the heavyness in me were miraculously lifted. Asuka went silent and took long to say something. "Well, that's your fault for not staying in contact." I hear the faint exhale of Asuka's breathe. "About that last call I missed from you. I was talking that time with Xiaoyu, and well, you know how that mind of her works, so I couldn't risk it. We were chatting about the closing party that time, and I had to go and keep a watch on Aunt Jun the whole night. I jumped every time she mentioned forest, rabbits or deer's."
I giggled and imagined it. "That would have been a good sight to look at you."
"Yeah, whatever. I just had to say that because I'm afraid that airy head of yours would decide that I'm a snob who happens to be an expert with ignoring people."
"Splendid of you to have deducted that, Asuka Kazama. And here I thought all that brain of yours knew was to fight."
"Don't push it, Princess and that's just stupid of you to get upset about."
"I'm going to act like I agree with you. But, yes, I thought you didn't want anything to do with me anymore, hence, the not calling." I lied.
"Oh so it's my fault now?" Asuka laughed. "I can't believe I called you for this."
"I'm happy that you did call." I said with my heart warming.
"This is going to cost me a lot. So, I need to end this soon. Let's just exchange emails, it's cheaper there than with this long distance stuff."
"I can pay for the calls."
"No way. Internet calling is almost free with a line here, and I'm not gonna let you pay for all those senseless expenses. I know you got a fortune to make that possible, but it's worthless, and your just gonna waste money." With such a sparing mind-set, it's very hard to ever envision Asuka turning into a money magnet. A trait I will always be proud about her.
"If it will make you happy, then we will go with it." Because you've made me happy beyond your belief.
"Well that was easy." Asuka paused. "I need to go now. I'll leave a message here at Sebastian's phone to let you know my email. You can just contact me anytime. And don't dare make it to a month again."
"I will try." To not call you every day.
"Ok, I'm hanging up now."
"Wait, Asuka…?"
"What?"
"Are you still going to that mix-up?"
"Mix-up?...…Ah, I'm too lazy to go there now. I'll maybe try it next time." Or never. Not if I can control it.
"I will talk to you soon then. Asuka Kazama."
"As soon as you're done with your games?"
"As soon as you end this call." Asuka paused. "Oh." I heard her exhale. "Yeah. I'll just go now."
"Good bye, Asuka."
"Bye." The call ends. I sat there, looking at the contact information she sent to the phone. I took my phone from the chair I used in gaming and quickly clicked three on my speed dial.
Two rings and the call gets answered. Before she could have anything to say, I started speaking. "She called."
"That's good news,Em. I'm now very excited to meet her."
FNAFFRENZYCAT: Thanks! :D
Mhuki: It'll be a crime to take away the kid in Lili, because that's part of her charm ;) Hehe, of course, Asuka won :D Thanks! but I like writing and I write updates as much as I can, even when I can't finish it in one sitting, I do it little by little ^_^
D3M0NK1TSUN3: Yes, she had to do it sooner or later ;) oh, well, now we know why...
sneeringflame : Yeah, sorry bout the lateness, too much real life going on XD thanks, and haha, well, I just couldn't help but mention it XD
Nutellaholic: I miss you too! and thanks for worrying about me. I'm doing fine here, and peeps here are really nice as you said ^_^ I'm happy to make you proud of me, this kind of style takes longer to write, but I'm glad to do it for quality's sake, and everyone's enjoyment :D I think so too (kaboom!) I will! always :D It totally will, but Aunt Jun is gonna show up more in the future, so maybe we'll get to experience that next time around XD. No, it's kind of worse XD
Romak 1997: Sorry! I had so much stuff to do and fix. And it's my oath to never abandon my readers, or stories, no matter what! CONGRATULATIONS! Good luck there, and do your best in Uni ;) That's heartwarming to hear :) thank you very much, I'm doing my best :D Well, the end is an important part, but the journey there is still the best, so buckle up and feel it until the last ;)