Disclaimer: Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise. Author owns nothing.
CHAPTER 10
NEW YORK CITY
"It feels good to be back." The raven haired young director smiled at the sight in front of her. Clad only in her plain light blue v-neck shirt and denim jeans matched with a pair of blue Chuck Taylor's, she started approaching her apartment's widely opened doorstep. She was still a few steps away from entering her apartment when a huge white Siberian husky leapt at her and started licking her face.
"Hey, boy." She said as she tried distancing her face from the dog that started its attack on her face. "Missed me?" She held the animal's head in her hands as she played with its fur therein. She wasn't disappointed when she heard the familiar bark that meant an agreement. "Well, I missed you, too." She ruffled the animal's head. "Come, let's get inside." She urged the animal that followed her with wagging tail.
"Good morning, Natsuki." An old woman whose hair was grayed with old age greeted her. The woman was standing behind kitchen islands with her hands busy fumbling with something.
"Good morning, too, Mrs. Madison." She greeted back the woman with a smile. She looked at the old woman's state of dress and her smile widened. "New apron?" She asked as she started approaching her small living room.
Her apartment's living room was composed of white sofas surrounding a small oak coffee table. On the far end of the wall was a 52' inch plasma television which was flashing early morning news.
"Yes, young lady. Your mother sent it." The old woman replied with a smile as she looked down at her kitchen wear. "How do I look?" She asked smiling at the young director who was now seated on the sofa while playing with her dog.
The old woman had been with her for more than six years since she left the comfort of her home. The former was one of the Kruger's housemaids and also her mother's attendant when the latter was still at a very young and delicate age. The old woman went with her without asking a single question when she decided to left her home.
"You look great as usual, Mrs. Madison." She smiled at her aid.
"You're a flatterer as usual, young lady." The old woman said before turning her attention back to what she was doing. As if remembering something, she spoke again. "Does your mother know that you are back?"
"No." She answered shortly, her hands paused playing with her dog's fur which earned her a curious look from the animal. "I need to go back to Japan in a week's time." she said looking at the face of a blonde woman flashed on the plasma television opposite her.
Flashed on the screen was a morning news.
"Good morning, America." The morning show anchor who was seated behind a white arc-shaped counter smiled at the camera. He was clad in a black suit with a slim tie on. "For our health and wellness tips today, we are lucky to be granted with the presence of our special guest." He said, glancing at his iPad in front of him. "Today's topic is about taking care of your heart. One of America's alarming problems today is the increase in the number of people who are having problems with their heart." He continued but was interrupted by the interjection of her co-host.
"I guess you really need to listen to our guest today, Josh." A beautiful young woman clad in an elegant cream colored dress said while facing the camera.
"I am not talking about heart breaks, Olivia." The male morning show anchor said, dismissing his co-host.
"So, the rumors about Josh being dumped are true." The female host said in mock mild surprise. "I am sorry about that, Josh." She said, looking at her co-host with false sympathy.
"I'm sure you are, Olivia." The male host said, not really believing before looking at the camera again. "Moving forward, our guest for today is none other than the famous cardiologist who had recently saved the life of Saudi Arabia's Prime Minister." He paused. "That was quite a feat." He commented before continuing. "Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome Doctor Alyssa Searrs of the American Institute of Cardiology Hospital." He finished as she gestured his right hand to the blonde woman who was seated beside him.
A blonde woman in her mid twenties was seating in the middle of the two morning news anchor. She was clad in a soft blue dress with her white hospital uniform on. The seal of the hospital was visible for everyone to see. "Good morning, Josh and Olivia." She said smiling at the two hosts before looking at the camera. "Good morning to all the audience watching this show. Wherever you are guys, always remember to grab an apple and an orange juice before starting your day. As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away." She winked at the camera.
"Alyssa..." The young director uttered as her emerald orbs stared at the face of the blonde woman flashed on the big screen. All her movements halted as she looked longingly at the face of the woman that she adored the most.
This did not go unnoticed by the old woman who was watching at her in the distance with sadness in her eyes. "When will you have the courage to see Miss Alyssa again, young lady?" She mused in her thought but was interrupted when the Siberian husky barked loudly at its owner before turning its head on the screen.
"You missed her, boy?" The young director patted her pet's head as her emerald orbs were still glued at the screen. The dog barked at her while wagging its tail and pointing its nuzzle on the screen. "I missed her, too." She whispered in a voice full of pain and hurt. "But I don't have the right to see her again. Not after what I did." She finished as she continued staring at the screen.
"Will that not affect your income, Doc?" The male anchor said playfully as he smiled at the doctor beside her.
"I love seeing my patients but not in my clinic or inside the operating room, Josh. I hate to be the messenger of bad news." The blonde doctor said truthfully before looking at the camera. "So, take good care of your health, everyone." She said as if her audience was present when in fact she was just facing the rectangular lenses of the cameras.
"That's why we have this segment, Doc. So, let's start giving them health tips to keep their heart at its best." The female anchor announced. "To our audience watching at their homes, offices or wherever you are guys, you can send us your questions via Instagram or Twitter and Doc Alyssa here will be answering them." She said gesturing at the doctor to her left. "Start tapping those gadgets and save yourselves from having trouble with your heart. Just use the #HealthyHeartTalkWithDocAlyssa. You can also visit us at our official Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram account found on the left side of your screen." She pointed at the said area. "There they are. They are flashed on your screen. So, let's begin with our segment…"
The show went on and the young director was unconsciously planted on her seat. Listening to every word uttered by the blonde cardiologist who laughed heartily at some points of the show when some of the senders asked unrelated personal questions instead of the topic on hand. She can't help herself from smiling upon the sight. She missed the sound of the doctor's genuine laughter and the latter's smile that always reached her beautiful blue eyes. But before she knew it, the show soon came to its end.
"Thank you for granting our invitation despite your tight schedule, Doc Alyssa. As much as we would like to invite you as our show's resident doctor, we don't think that's possible. We heard that you're part of United Nations' volunteers for a medical mission which will be held in rural India. You might want to advise your patients. This is your chance." The male anchor said smiling at the doctor.
"No problem, Josh. Anything for our audience. As for my patients, they are informed and some of our great and experienced doctors will still be around to attend to them." The blonde doctor replied, smiling at the two hosts.
The camera zoomed in the face of the female anchor. "That's it for our health and wellness tips today. I hope everyone got something from that. We'll proceed with today's headlines. Josh." She finished and the camera zoomed out. The blonde doctor no longer in sight but instead an empty space was presented to the audience. The camera zoomed in the face of the handsome male anchor once again.
"Breakfast is ready, young lady." The old woman announced, effectively catching the attention of her ward.
"Let's go, Duran." The young director stood up and went to the dining area which was adjacent to the kitchenette where the old woman was. "Come on, boy." She urged the dog that was still looking at the plasma television with the same longing that its master had a few moments ago. It took a last glance at the screen before following its master's command and leaping off the comfortable sofa.
8:00PM
The young director was inside a huge training room. She was all geared up for a friendly tennis tournament which she was currently playing against a woman with a fiery hair opposite the net. She was bathing in perspiration as her long legs sprinted towards the left side of the court in an attempt to intercept the tennis ball that went on that side of the playing area.
"Oh, fuck! Damn it!" She cursed when she missed the ball, making her lose the game while her opponent got the pleasure of being victorious. They have been playing for more than an hour thus, both women's state was not a surprise to the other sports enthusiasts present.
Mouth still gasping for much needed air, she started to get up from the ground. Running after the tennis ball like her life depended on it was the reason for her state. Her opponent on the other side of the court started approaching her.
"You look like you're out of it, kid." The fiery haired woman who was actually a freelance newscaster approached the young director. "Are you alright?" She asked upon noticing the young director's unusual behavior.
The friendly tennis match that had just finished was one of the things that they did together to keep in shape but she seldom saw the young director in this tensed state. The young woman seemed to be aggravated about something. Her strokes were unsure and imprecise which was very unlike her.
"Yeah. Nice game, Midori. Congratulations." She offered a hand for a handshake as a gesture of sportsmanship.
"Thanks. That's 304-297. Still in my favor. Not bad." The freelance newscaster announced with a grin as she played with the racket in her hands. Twirling its handle.
"Not for long, Midori. Wait 'til I beat you." She said as she started approaching the bench where their gym bags were.
"Always ready, kid. I've been waiting for like forever for that day to come." The freelance newscaster retorted before following the young director to the bench.
"Don't be too cocky, Midori." She said after throwing a bottle of Gatorade to the freelance newscaster who caught the object without difficulty.
The two sat silently, wiping the perspiration off their body as they watched other sports enthusiasts around them.
"She's bound for India later." The freelance newscaster said suddenly as she looked at the young director to her left.
"Yeah. I saw her morning interview." She answered as she kept wiping her exposed neck. Her raven mane was kept in a ponytail.
"Are you not going to see her? It's been so long since that day." The freelance newscaster said as she turned her attention towards a pair of teenagers who were practicing judo. "The medical mission will take at least six months. Give or take. It's United Nations project. You know how serious that organization is with their philanthropic works. They don't do half an ass job." She continued before looking at the young director who seemed surprised with the details.
"Doctor Helen is with her. She'll be fine." She replied before grabbing a bottle of Gatorade and drank half of its content. Wanting the uneasy feeling in her stomach to vanish.
"You really should stop blaming yourself, kid." The freelance newscaster thought sadly before speaking in her eager voice to get rid of the bad vibes that will surely come if they continued with their topic. "Yeah. You're right. Yohko will take care of her." she agreed before she leant her tired body on the backrest of the bench.
"Nothing much interesting happened to you lately?" She asked the newscaster, whose face was covered with a towel, beside her.
The newscaster was not like any ordinary one who loved staying in the comfort of studio rooms. The woman sitting beside her was definitely a peculiar one. Said woman loved putting her life on the line. She preferred covering news where there was 'adventure' as she called it. Said adventure involved wars between government and terrorists, natural calamities, human disasters, and anything where the word dangerous was attached to will be fine. She had literally traveled the world with the kind of job that she was in.
"The world is doing fine and being boring as hell." The newscaster replied dryly after discarding the towel from her face. She went on staring at the high ceiling above her instead. "You? Have you found something interesting in Japan?" She asked, catching the young director's reaction in her peripheral vision.
The face of the tawny haired superstar flashed on her mind but she preferred to ignore it. "Nothing really." She answered after a few seconds of delay which earned her a knowing smile from the newscaster beside her who just smirked.
"Oh. No beautiful and sexy Geisha in revealing robe or Kimono or Yukata or whatever they call it?" The newscaster arched an eyebrow at the young director beside her who instantly blushed at the word robe. "That's quite a colorful yes, kid." She thought before straightening up and setting aside the towel. She once again grabbed the Gatorade that she sat aside a couple of minutes ago and drank it.
"None, Midori." The young director said as she leant on the bench and covered her head with the towel to hide her flushed face from the woman beside her. Her attempt was too late though. "Damn. Stop thinking about Viola, Kruger. If there's one woman you should be giving a damn about now, that's only Alyssa." She thought as she smacked her right hand on her covered face.
"Oh, I don't think that is the case, kid." The newscaster taunted, trying her luck in making the young director spill some beans.
"That's the case, Midori." The young director replied with a sigh, looking at the white sheet that was covering her face. "I didn't meet anyone interesting there." She whispered to herself before closing her eyes and the face of a tawny haired superstar once again flashed in her memory.
"If you say so, kid." The newscaster gave up and just continued taking her much needed break. She was exhausted after all.
Their break was cut short when a sexy young woman with auburn hair sashayed her way towards the young director. She removed the towel from the director's face before bending her lithe body, exposing her cleavage for the director's eyes to feast on. The woman was wearing a sports bra on top matched with a micro short that exposed her flawless long slender legs.
"Hey, NK. You in for another fun round. I am free tonight." The woman looked at the director's emerald orbs as she seductively purred on the latter's face.
"Sorry, Alice. Just got beaten by Midori a couple of minutes ago." She replied without even looking at the woman's body. "Can't afford another lose." She said at the woman who was actually the 2016 Rio Olympic US representative for tennis, women's division.
"I can always let you beat me." The woman continued as she traced the young director's jaw line with her slim point finger, her eyes were focused on the director's lips.
"Maybe when your coach is not approaching here and looking like…" the young director stated as a matter of factly. Her emerald orbs looked passed the woman and to a figure behind her. "a mad minotaur." She finished when a bulky man in his mid fifties hastily strode to their direction with his face flushed.
"30-minute break is over, Alice." The man announced in his intimidating voice, halting behind the woman. "Time to get back to the court. Rio Olympic is just a few weeks away. No funny business until it is over." He finished as he looked at the unperturbed woman's back.
"Getting a life doesn't hurt, coach." The woman said without moving from her current position.
"Get back to the court, Alice." The coach said, emphasizing each word. "Now." He finished, pointing to the tennis court where an athlete was waiting.
"Get your ass back here, Alice. We don't have forever." The athlete who was waiting on the tennis court shouted, a little bit irritated as she waved her tennis racket in the air.
"Fine." The woman said before straightening up. "Let's play when I get back from the Olympic, NK. It will be fun." She said before grabbing the young director's sport drink and emptying its content. "I can guarantee you that." She finished, winking at the young director who just looked at her with mild interest.
The woman, trailed by her coach, left the young director to her much needed privacy. This made said director released a sigh.
"Trying to live a celibate life, kid?" The freelance newscaster said after being silent during the entire interaction. "What causes the change in heart?" she asked before correcting herself. "I mean who causes the change in heart?" she finished, looking at the young director with curious and interested eyes.
Right then, the image of a certain superstar with tawny mane flashed to the young director's memory making her slapped her face with the towel again. "No one, Midori." She said as she closed her eyes. "I'm just tired and not really in the mood for anything at all."
The freelance newscaster did not inquire further after hearing the young director's response. "That's odd. Natsuki not flirting back." She thought before turning her attention away from the young director. She settled with watching the other sports enthusiasts around instead.
The young director found herself visiting the part of her apartment that she had locked away for many years. It was a small room adjacent to her studies. A small corner that was full of memories. Memories that she was afraid to recount but her heart still had not learned to let go for some reasons that only her knew.
Switching the lights on, her emerald orbs roamed around the four corner room. The room was still well kept. Pictures of her and a certain blonde girl made the left side of the wall almost impossible to see. It was as if there was no wall in there but instead collage of pictures taken during different periods and seasons dominated the said area. She continued her strides and felt like she was walking in memory lane as memories with a certain someone who was special to her started to play like film in her mind. Starting from their younger days when they were still free to do whatever they wished. Her fingers touched every single picture therein and halted on the last one. It was a stolen picture of hers opening a present during Christmas Eve. A ghost smile graced her feature as she remembered the memory behind it.
Proceeding, she went to the far end side of the room where a flat screen television was installed on the wall. Below it was a camera. She decided to settle herself on the lone sofa which was placed a few meters away from the television. She opened the device and played the lone video that was still saved in it. It was a video taken five years ago during the same Christmas Eve that the picture of hers opening a present was taken.
A sixteen year old Natsuki appeared on the screen of the camera with mirth and joy apparent on her feature as she held the camera away and held a blonde woman closer to her. "Come on, Alyssa. Let's try your present. Say Merry Christmas, everyone!" She said at the camera while wrapping her right arm around the woman beside her.
"Merry Christmas, everyone!" The blonde woman flashed her genuine smile to the camera. A surprise expression was shown to the camera when Natsuki suddenly kissed the woman's left cheek. Soon, the sound of a man clearing his voice was heard and the camera's focus shifted to the doorway where a man can be seen standing with a small luggage beside him.
"Merry Christmas, Dad. I am glad you made it." The blonde girl hugged a tall blonde man who resembled her in so many ways.
"I have time for my lovely daughter." The man replied in his deep voice as he kissed the top of his daughter's head and engulfed her in a warm embrace. "I love you, honey." He said after releasing his daughter from the tight hug.
"I love you, too Dad." The blonde woman replied after planting a kiss on her father's cheek. "Natsuki likes the camera we bought." She announced before turning her attention to Natsuki who was still holding the camera and focusing it on the interaction before her.
"Yeah. I love it. Thanks, Director Alex." Natsuki replied while slowly tilting the camera up and down. Making it appeared like it was nodding.
"Well, anything for my apprentice and soon-to-be Director Natsuki Kruger." The man flashed a warm smile towards the camera. "So, were you able to complete your first mission, kid?" he asked as he started approaching Natsuki who was now standing.
"No chance, Director Alex." Natsuki said, tilting the camera left and right. Making it appear like it was saying no. "Alyssa already made up her mind. She will push through with her medical career."
"Dad! That's not fair." The blond woman protested as she sat down beside her father. "You shouldn't be using Natsuki. Besides you don't need a singer. What you need is a doctor who will take care of your heart." She said while poking her father's chest.
"I have Doctor Helen for that, honey. You shouldn't give up your dream just because of me." The man replied, looking at her daughter. "You can be a great singer with the voice that you have and Natsuki can be your director. Right, kid?" He said looking at Natsuki who just tilted the camera up and down to show her agreement.
"I already made up my mind, Dad. I can still sing for the two persons that matter most to me." The woman replied as she flashed a loving smile to the person who was holding the camera.
"What I would do to change your mind, honey?" The man said dejectedly.
"You can take it easy on your taping, Dad. Don't tire yourself too much. That would really help." The blonde woman said, concerned of her father's well being.
"I can't promise you that, honey. You know how things go in our line of work." The man replied to her daughter as he took off his jacket and let it drape on the backrest of the sofa which was opposite where Natsuki was seating.
"Don't worry, Alyssa. I'll keep an eye on him. I won't let him near any alcohol." Natsuki interjected.
"Hey, whose side are you really in, kid?" The man barked playfully at Natsuki.
"Of course, she's on my side, Dad." The blonde woman replied as she started approaching Natsuki and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Marriage first before babies, kid. That's my rule." The man said while sternly looking at the camera.
"Don't worry, Dad. We always keep it safe." The blonde woman interjected before Natsuki could even utter a word.
"Alyssa!" Natsuki barked in mild surprise, dropping the camera in the process. "It's not what you think, Director." She flustered. "Alyssa and I haven't…" she continued explaining but was interrupted by a boisterous laughter of a man followed by a mirth soft laughter beside her.
"Dad was just messing with you, Natsuki." The woman said when her laughter died down. "You're so cute when you blush." She continued before standing and retrieving the camera that ended up on the floor. She focused the camera on Natsuki who was still blushing furiously before shifting it to her father and finally shutting the device closed thus, ending the video.
The young director turned off the device and returned it to its confinement. She took a deep breath before once again scanning the room with her emerald orbs. Deciding that she needed more time and courage before she can look at the other items in the room, she went to the door's direction and once again locked it. Not knowing when she will be able to muster the courage to enter the place that haunt her like a nightmare and yet make her reminisce what genuine happiness felt like. One of her life's ironies.
The young director was about to retire for the night when her phone suddenly rang.
"Who in the world would call me in this ungodly hour?" She said after glancing at the clock that blinked 2:31AM. She answered the phone without looking at the number registered.
"Good morning, young lady." The woman spoke in fluent French accent. "I hope I did not interrupt your beauty sleep." She continued.
"No, Madam. I was yet to retire to bed when you called." She answered in her fluent French accent, recognizing the voice on the other line.
"I am glad, young lady. Well, I will get to the point. I want you in my next collection. I heard from Ms. Tokiha that you have a week off and my sources say that you are in New York right now." The woman said, leaving no room for negotiation. "If my memory serves me right, we made a deal last time we met in…" She paused before continuing. "… let' just say the most unfortunate event."
The young director cringed at the thought as she remembered how she got tangled with one of the woman's models. Of all the people who could catch her in her wasted state, it happened to be the highly acclaimed editor-in-chief and owner of a famous fashion magazine in France.
"Oh, great. Of course how can I forget such thing after just being reminded?" She thought sarcastically before remembering that she was also talking to the woman who for no reason offered to be her fashion designer, free of charge, whenever she had important events to attend to. It goes on without saying that the woman was her wardrobe sponsor.
"Of course, Madam. I haven't forgotten our deal." She replied in French.
"Excellent, young lady!" The woman on the other side of the line chirped. "I will be meeting you the day after tomorrow. Your lift will be there first thing in the morning. Don't worry about your beauty sleep. I made sure that your accommodation during your flight here will still allow you to rest well. " She said before taking a pause in order for the person she was speaking with to absorb the details.
"Thank you, Madam." She said shortly, having not much to say.
"I should be thanking you, young lady." The person on the other line said genuinely. "Before I forgot, I want you to know that you will be working with my granddaughter on this collection. You will meet her when you get here." She paused before continuing. "I won't hold you for long. I will hung up now, young lady." The woman on the other line said without cutting the line.
"Yeah." She said and right on cue the line went dead.
"Her granddaughter…" She mused out loud, looking at her phone's screen. "I don't remember her mentioning about her granddaughter." She continued before a yawn had escaped her. Deciding sleep will sooner claimed her; she hit the bed and in a few seconds she succumbed to deep slumber.