Chapter 6

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Okayasu Family/Living Room

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The television was blaring an angry faded light across the room and the reporter on television was talking about a fish contamination in some fast food chain restaurant. Kiley flicked the television off as he made his way to the telephone, picking up the cordless phone instead of the one in the kitchen. " Hi." He said into the receiver.

" Kiley." Momo replied, almost surprised to hear his voice.

"Um…" Kiley raised his eyebrows and then waited in painful silence. Finally, he heard Yu put the phone down in the kitchen. He added: " Why so surprised?"

" It's just that we never talked by phone before." She admitted. " You sound a little different over the phone. More serious, because I know you're not going to do something goofy again."

" … Thanks…. I think." He picked up an apple from the wicker platter on the television set and tossed it around from one hand to the next, trying to busy his nervous hands. He had the phone wedged between his shoulder and ear.

" I just wanted to thank you. Toji told me all about it… I was wondering. Why didn't the security guards follow us into the room?"

" Privacy issues. A lot of the classier hotels don't let the guards just barge into each room to check where someone might be hiding. I think they were going to wait it out… see what happens." Kiley looked down at the floor. There was a huge dent where the remote control had fallen, and then two skid-like dents where the batteries shot across.

" Thank you." She said, again. " I… it really means a lot to me, to know you're looking out for me, you know?"

Kiley wanted to slam the apple across the room at the wall. Let's say the wall's Toji. Let's see how many facial features can be mangled by the first pitch… He kept the apple firmly grasped in his hand though. " Yeah." He murmured. I sound like an idiot. But what am I supposed to say? I don't want to sound like I'm bragging.

" I was thinking. Maybe I could treat you to lunch or something. Go bowling. I don't know." She sighed and the sound of the air hissing through the receiver said more then any words could.

" No, it's alright. Don't want to make Toji get the wrong idea or anything." Kiley replied.

" He'd be okay with it." She cleared her throat. " I mean, only if you want to. I guess the point of the lunch would be lost if I was forcing you to go." Momo added: " I feel really bad, okay? I need to do something."

Kiley's heart was pounding. His nails had dug into the skin of the apple in all nervousness. It reminded him of when Momo crushed an apple out of pure frustration when she went to visit Toji in the hospital. He released it and it fell onto the couch pillow and bounced a bit and settled in the nook of the pillow and armrest.

" Oh, come on, say something!" She said, laughing. " Don't tell me you're mute all of a sudden." She faked a manly voice and then added, in a dramatic tone: " Oh, the drama of the situation! It made me lose my voice!"

Kiley frowned slightly. " What can I say?" He replied. " Momo, I know you won't understand, but… it just feels wrong to have you pay me back… like this." His voice was tinged with frustration. " I don't feel like explaining."

" It's the 'just friends' thing, isn't it?" She exclaimed.

Blood rushed to his ears. " No, no, I have plenty of girls in mind. Uh, in fact, one of them is calling right now. Well, gotta go switch lines." He hung up immediately and then threw himself onto the couch, his body going limp like a corpse. He rolled his eyes upwards and stared at the ceiling.

Just then, it hit him.

I hung up on Momo Adachi. Momo…. He punched the pillow. Just friends. Just friends! The words echoed in his mind as a counter to his previous thoughts. This was your chance, Kiley! Your romantic chance to prove yourself! And you had to go blow it, you big baby! He was arguing with himself in his own mind. I'm really going off the deep end now.

" Uh, Kiley? What was that all about?" Yu asked.

" Meh." He replied. " Just a little conflict, no big deal."

" Why don't you tell me about it, for once?" Yu asked.

Kiley looked up at her. For once in a very long time, he felt like crying. She saw that look in his eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. " Kiley, you have to move on. Some girls are just not smart enough to notice a good guy when they see him."

" You don't understand." Kiley replied. " She has a boyfriend. He's perfect for her in every way. He's one of those smart, sensitive, and yet sporty guys. What am I?" He shouted. " An idiot! I'm failing school! And with my reputation with girls - -"

" Stop it!" Yu was shouting back at him. " What good will it do, to call yourself names and to hate yourself? Call her right now and tell her you want to talk to her, and get it all out! I don't want to see you so depressed anymore. You've really lost everything, you're nothing like your old self anymore."

He bit his lower lip slightly. I guess it's time I do. It's time for Kiley to finally get serious.

He picked up the phone and dialed quickly. Momo picked up. He spoke hurriedly: " Momo, I'm really sorry about … you know…"

" No, it's fine." Momo replied, tensely. " Are you… alright?"

" Listen, Momo, we need to talk in person. I have something important to tell you."

" Uh… okay."

" How about the park? It's just a few blocks from my house… uh, you know, the one that had a fire a few years back?"

" Yeah. I'll be there…"

" Now. I'm going out now."

" Now?!"

" Yes. Please, Momo. Bye."

The line went dead.