Mukashi no Otoko
Chapter 2: Tender memories, unforgettable truths
" All right, it's a wrap!" Fuko took off her headphones and got up from her seat. " Great job everyone." She said as she walked out of the studio.
Upon getting back to her table, she took out her MD player and put on her headphones. The rock sounds of Japanese music blared through her ears. Fuko leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes.
But no matter how, she just couldn't relax. She kept thinking about what Tokiya had said to her the night before.
" It would be better if we pretended that we didn't know one another."
What the hell was Tokiya thinking? It wasn't as if it made her angry, but just thinking that Tokiya didn't want to acknowledge her just irked her a little. Just as she was thinking, her cell phone rang and she picked it up.
" Hello Fuko!" Yanagi's voice sounded over the earpiece.
" Hey Yanagi."
" Guess who I got a call from? Tokiya!"
" Oh really?" Fuko was surprised. She didn't really expect him to call.
" Guess what. He came back to Japan last month and is the director of a media company!
So Tokiya hadn't told Yanagi that he was managing her workplace. Fuko thought.
" Really? Which one?" She asked, just to see how Yanagi would answer.
" I don't know. Anyway, I asked him to dinner tomorrow night, so I'm calling everyone to turn up as well." Yanagi said.
" Sounds great. I'll be there. What time?" Briefly, Fuko scribbled down details and after chatting with Yanagi a while longer, she put down the phone.
She stared for a while at the piece of paper she held in her hand, and then she smiled and tucked it inside her pocket. What on earth could Tokiya be up to this time?
******************
" Hi Recca!" Fuko greeted him, as he opened the door to let her in. " I bought a bottle of wine for tonight!" She held the bottle of red wine, which she had purchased, earlier at the wine store.
" Gee, thanks! We'll have it later." Recca replied as he took the bottle from her.
" Is Tokiya here yet? It's been a long time hasn't it?" Fuko asked cheerfully as she stepped into the house.
" Nope, everyone else is here except him. They are all in the living room. My mom's in the kitchen helping Yanagi."
" Oh well, you know my cooking skills are hopeless compared to them, I might as well go into the living room!" Fuko replied and she and Recca laughed.
Upon entering the living room, Fuko saw Domon and Kaoru, who were watching a variety show on television.
" Hi Fuko!" Domon called out upon seeing her. He got up almost immediately to make space for her, while Kaoru pulled him back down on the floor again.
" There's a lot of space around Domon, don't worry." He said as he winked at Fuko, who winked back at him.
" But." Domon stuttered, but just then, the doorbell rang, and everyone turned, as they were expecting Tokiya to be at the door.
About ten seconds later, Tokiya came into the living room, followed by a girl, whom Fuko recognized to be Miss Miwa, the chairman's daughter. Recca was behind them, and he was holding a bottle of wine in his hands too. Upon seeing Fuko, he said to her.
" Hey Fuko, what a coincidence! Tokiya bought the same bottle of wine as you did!"
Fuko's head shot up to look at Tokiya, who displayed no reaction whatsoever. Just then, she was reminded of the time when she and Tokiya were dating five years ago and they used to go wine shopping together. That bottle had been their favourite wine.
" Oh.yeah it is." Fuko replied.
" Well Tokiya! It's nice to see you again! How have you been!" Domon spoke as he went forward to shake Tokiya's hand
" Yeah! I was beginning to think that you were dead!" Kaoru said
" Well, I'm back now right!" Tokiya replied with a smile. Then, he gestured to the girl by his side and said, " Everyone, I would like you to meet Miwa. She is my fiancé."
For the first second, everyone was stunned. Recca was the first to recover as he said " Oh my. Tokiya! That is so unexpected! But congratulations!"
" Yeah Tokiya!" Domon stuttered.
Kaoru said nothing but just stared at Tokiya. Tokiya looked at Fuko, and she smiled up at him and held out her hand to him.
" Congratulations Tokiya."
Tokiya took her hand. His touch was hard and yet so familiar, it just seemed yesterday that she had held this hand walking down the streets of Tokyo.
Then, she realized that he was holding it for far too long. Quickly, she took her hand away and stared down at the floor. Just then, Miwa spoke.
" You are Fuko Kirisawa right! Anchor person of our morning talk show? I saw you at the dinner."
" Oh yes. I am." Fuko replied and bowed slightly to her. " It's a pleasure meeting you."
" No, the pleasure is all mine. I'm so happy to know that you're Tokiya's friend. He didn't even tell me that he knew you!" She looked up Tokiya with a look of slight rebuke.
It wasn't only her. Everyone else looking at her and Tokiya with confusion. Up till now, no one knew that she and Tokiya were working in the same company. Or rather, she was working in his company.
Fortunately, Yanagi came into the room then, and she exclaimed, " Tokiya! You're here!" And she rushed forward to hug him. Then, she noticed Miwa and sprang back. "This is?"
" This is my fiancé Miwa." Tokiya replied, as Miwa came forward and greeted Yanagi.
" Oh." Yanagi looked at Fuko and then back at Tokiya. " Right."
" Yanagi, is dinner ready?" Recca asked, and Yanagi replied. " Oh yes! I just came out to ask everyone to go to the table. The food will be out very soon!"
" All right, everyone to the table!" Domon said
********************
All in all, it was quite an uncomfortable evening for Fuko. During dinner, She sat opposite Tokiya, so it was hard not to look at him. At first, the mood at the table had been rather tense as everyone except Miwa knew of Tokiya's past relationship with Fuko. However, as dinner progress, the mood got better as everyone asked Tokiya about his life in America and while they updated one another on their lives.
After dinner, Miwa had to leave early, so Tokiya went down with her, while everyone lounged in Recca's living room. Fuko and Recca went out into his balcony, where they sipped the wine that she had brought.
" Was it a shock?" Recca asked, as he drank from his wine glass.
Fuko smiled. It was so like Recca to come straight to the point.
" Not as bad as I thought it would be. I think I already suspected it when I saw them at the dinner."
" That's good."
" Recca, I'm all right. I'm over it already. After all, it's been five years, and I was the one who gave him up. It's good that he has someone now. We are not young anymore. We can't remain single forever."
" What about you Fuko? As far as I know, you haven't had another relationship since Tokiya."
" I've been busy, and the perfect guy just hasn't shown up yet, I suppose." Fuko laughed
" It's good to see that you're all right. After all, you'll be working in the same building. I was a bit worried that you wouldn't be able to deal with it."
Fuko punched him playfully on the shoulder. " Recca! Can't you give me a bit more credit than that!"
Recca laughed, " All right!"
Just then, Tokiya came back into the house. Fuko said to Recca, " I think that I'll make a move now. I have to get up early tomorrow."
" All right. I'll walk you down." Recca offered.
"No, it's all right." Fuko said. Upon entering the living room, she told everyone, " Um, I'm going off now. Thanks for dinner Yanagi!"
" You're going off! So soon!" Yanagi groaned.
" Actually Yanagi, I have to go off too. I just came up here to say goodbye." Tokiya spoke.
" Really? Oh dear, you will have to visit us again all right!" Yanagi sighed as she went to get their coats.
******************
There was a silence as Fuko and Tokiya took the lift down from Recca's apartment. When they stepped out of the building, Fuko said to Tokiya, " I guess that I'll see you in the office then. Goodnight."
She turned around, but Tokiya caught hold of her arm and she turned around to face him again.
" Shall we talk? It's been a long time." Tokiya said.
Fuko stared at his arm, then she looked up at him. " All right." She heard herself reply.
They went to 'Gate', a pub that they used to frequent when they were together.
" Do you still go here?" Tokiya asked as they sat down at the bartender's corner.
" Err. no.I stopped coming since." Fuko didn't finish halfway. She still found it quite to say when 'When we broke off.'
" Do you want something to drink?" Tokiya asked, acting as if he had heard nothing.
" The usual." Fuko said. Then, just as she wondered whether Tokiya still remembered, Tokiya gave the order for two martinis, with lime.
" I'm surprised, you still remembered." She said, as the waiter left their table.
" It's hard to forget." Tokiya replied. " It was such a weird preference, but surprisingly, I quite enjoyed it too."
Fuko laughed. " I still remember when I first ordered it. You thought I was mad."
" I still think you are. I never thought you would become an anchorwoman."
" Neither did I think that you would become my boss. How did you get to know her?" Fuko asked.
" I worked in the American branch when I was living in America. Mr. Tatsan asked me to go to her piano recital, so that's how I got to know her."
Just then, their drinks came, and Fuko drank from it. She stared vaguely at the row of bottles in front of her, not really knowing what to say.
" She is very pretty." She managed at last. " I'm sure that you will be happy with her."
" Really? What makes you think so?"
" I don't know, well the fact, that you were willing to let yourself be tied down says a lot right? Five years ago, the idea of getting hitched never even crossed your mind. but then again, five years is a long time." Fuko laughed nervously " It was enough time to get over me and start a new relationship."
She paused and turned to look at Tokiya. He was staring at her too, as if he had been a bit surprised at what she said.
She could drown in those eyes.. Fuko thought. It was too intoxicating for her.
She made a move to get down from her seat, as she said, " It's late, I have to go."
However, Tokiya caught hold of her hand and pulled back and kissed her. He kissed her hard and long, and a familiar shiver ran through Fuko as she closed her eyes and surrendered to the kiss. However, she remembered at the same second that he was engaged and she pulled back, putting a hand to her mouth as she did so. Tokiya remained sitting on his seat, observing the flow of emotions that were showing on her face. Finally he spoke.
" It was very hard to forget. Fuko."
" All right, it's a wrap!" Fuko took off her headphones and got up from her seat. " Great job everyone." She said as she walked out of the studio.
Upon getting back to her table, she took out her MD player and put on her headphones. The rock sounds of Japanese music blared through her ears. Fuko leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes.
But no matter how, she just couldn't relax. She kept thinking about what Tokiya had said to her the night before.
" It would be better if we pretended that we didn't know one another."
What the hell was Tokiya thinking? It wasn't as if it made her angry, but just thinking that Tokiya didn't want to acknowledge her just irked her a little. Just as she was thinking, her cell phone rang and she picked it up.
" Hello Fuko!" Yanagi's voice sounded over the earpiece.
" Hey Yanagi."
" Guess who I got a call from? Tokiya!"
" Oh really?" Fuko was surprised. She didn't really expect him to call.
" Guess what. He came back to Japan last month and is the director of a media company!
So Tokiya hadn't told Yanagi that he was managing her workplace. Fuko thought.
" Really? Which one?" She asked, just to see how Yanagi would answer.
" I don't know. Anyway, I asked him to dinner tomorrow night, so I'm calling everyone to turn up as well." Yanagi said.
" Sounds great. I'll be there. What time?" Briefly, Fuko scribbled down details and after chatting with Yanagi a while longer, she put down the phone.
She stared for a while at the piece of paper she held in her hand, and then she smiled and tucked it inside her pocket. What on earth could Tokiya be up to this time?
******************
" Hi Recca!" Fuko greeted him, as he opened the door to let her in. " I bought a bottle of wine for tonight!" She held the bottle of red wine, which she had purchased, earlier at the wine store.
" Gee, thanks! We'll have it later." Recca replied as he took the bottle from her.
" Is Tokiya here yet? It's been a long time hasn't it?" Fuko asked cheerfully as she stepped into the house.
" Nope, everyone else is here except him. They are all in the living room. My mom's in the kitchen helping Yanagi."
" Oh well, you know my cooking skills are hopeless compared to them, I might as well go into the living room!" Fuko replied and she and Recca laughed.
Upon entering the living room, Fuko saw Domon and Kaoru, who were watching a variety show on television.
" Hi Fuko!" Domon called out upon seeing her. He got up almost immediately to make space for her, while Kaoru pulled him back down on the floor again.
" There's a lot of space around Domon, don't worry." He said as he winked at Fuko, who winked back at him.
" But." Domon stuttered, but just then, the doorbell rang, and everyone turned, as they were expecting Tokiya to be at the door.
About ten seconds later, Tokiya came into the living room, followed by a girl, whom Fuko recognized to be Miss Miwa, the chairman's daughter. Recca was behind them, and he was holding a bottle of wine in his hands too. Upon seeing Fuko, he said to her.
" Hey Fuko, what a coincidence! Tokiya bought the same bottle of wine as you did!"
Fuko's head shot up to look at Tokiya, who displayed no reaction whatsoever. Just then, she was reminded of the time when she and Tokiya were dating five years ago and they used to go wine shopping together. That bottle had been their favourite wine.
" Oh.yeah it is." Fuko replied.
" Well Tokiya! It's nice to see you again! How have you been!" Domon spoke as he went forward to shake Tokiya's hand
" Yeah! I was beginning to think that you were dead!" Kaoru said
" Well, I'm back now right!" Tokiya replied with a smile. Then, he gestured to the girl by his side and said, " Everyone, I would like you to meet Miwa. She is my fiancé."
For the first second, everyone was stunned. Recca was the first to recover as he said " Oh my. Tokiya! That is so unexpected! But congratulations!"
" Yeah Tokiya!" Domon stuttered.
Kaoru said nothing but just stared at Tokiya. Tokiya looked at Fuko, and she smiled up at him and held out her hand to him.
" Congratulations Tokiya."
Tokiya took her hand. His touch was hard and yet so familiar, it just seemed yesterday that she had held this hand walking down the streets of Tokyo.
Then, she realized that he was holding it for far too long. Quickly, she took her hand away and stared down at the floor. Just then, Miwa spoke.
" You are Fuko Kirisawa right! Anchor person of our morning talk show? I saw you at the dinner."
" Oh yes. I am." Fuko replied and bowed slightly to her. " It's a pleasure meeting you."
" No, the pleasure is all mine. I'm so happy to know that you're Tokiya's friend. He didn't even tell me that he knew you!" She looked up Tokiya with a look of slight rebuke.
It wasn't only her. Everyone else looking at her and Tokiya with confusion. Up till now, no one knew that she and Tokiya were working in the same company. Or rather, she was working in his company.
Fortunately, Yanagi came into the room then, and she exclaimed, " Tokiya! You're here!" And she rushed forward to hug him. Then, she noticed Miwa and sprang back. "This is?"
" This is my fiancé Miwa." Tokiya replied, as Miwa came forward and greeted Yanagi.
" Oh." Yanagi looked at Fuko and then back at Tokiya. " Right."
" Yanagi, is dinner ready?" Recca asked, and Yanagi replied. " Oh yes! I just came out to ask everyone to go to the table. The food will be out very soon!"
" All right, everyone to the table!" Domon said
********************
All in all, it was quite an uncomfortable evening for Fuko. During dinner, She sat opposite Tokiya, so it was hard not to look at him. At first, the mood at the table had been rather tense as everyone except Miwa knew of Tokiya's past relationship with Fuko. However, as dinner progress, the mood got better as everyone asked Tokiya about his life in America and while they updated one another on their lives.
After dinner, Miwa had to leave early, so Tokiya went down with her, while everyone lounged in Recca's living room. Fuko and Recca went out into his balcony, where they sipped the wine that she had brought.
" Was it a shock?" Recca asked, as he drank from his wine glass.
Fuko smiled. It was so like Recca to come straight to the point.
" Not as bad as I thought it would be. I think I already suspected it when I saw them at the dinner."
" That's good."
" Recca, I'm all right. I'm over it already. After all, it's been five years, and I was the one who gave him up. It's good that he has someone now. We are not young anymore. We can't remain single forever."
" What about you Fuko? As far as I know, you haven't had another relationship since Tokiya."
" I've been busy, and the perfect guy just hasn't shown up yet, I suppose." Fuko laughed
" It's good to see that you're all right. After all, you'll be working in the same building. I was a bit worried that you wouldn't be able to deal with it."
Fuko punched him playfully on the shoulder. " Recca! Can't you give me a bit more credit than that!"
Recca laughed, " All right!"
Just then, Tokiya came back into the house. Fuko said to Recca, " I think that I'll make a move now. I have to get up early tomorrow."
" All right. I'll walk you down." Recca offered.
"No, it's all right." Fuko said. Upon entering the living room, she told everyone, " Um, I'm going off now. Thanks for dinner Yanagi!"
" You're going off! So soon!" Yanagi groaned.
" Actually Yanagi, I have to go off too. I just came up here to say goodbye." Tokiya spoke.
" Really? Oh dear, you will have to visit us again all right!" Yanagi sighed as she went to get their coats.
******************
There was a silence as Fuko and Tokiya took the lift down from Recca's apartment. When they stepped out of the building, Fuko said to Tokiya, " I guess that I'll see you in the office then. Goodnight."
She turned around, but Tokiya caught hold of her arm and she turned around to face him again.
" Shall we talk? It's been a long time." Tokiya said.
Fuko stared at his arm, then she looked up at him. " All right." She heard herself reply.
They went to 'Gate', a pub that they used to frequent when they were together.
" Do you still go here?" Tokiya asked as they sat down at the bartender's corner.
" Err. no.I stopped coming since." Fuko didn't finish halfway. She still found it quite to say when 'When we broke off.'
" Do you want something to drink?" Tokiya asked, acting as if he had heard nothing.
" The usual." Fuko said. Then, just as she wondered whether Tokiya still remembered, Tokiya gave the order for two martinis, with lime.
" I'm surprised, you still remembered." She said, as the waiter left their table.
" It's hard to forget." Tokiya replied. " It was such a weird preference, but surprisingly, I quite enjoyed it too."
Fuko laughed. " I still remember when I first ordered it. You thought I was mad."
" I still think you are. I never thought you would become an anchorwoman."
" Neither did I think that you would become my boss. How did you get to know her?" Fuko asked.
" I worked in the American branch when I was living in America. Mr. Tatsan asked me to go to her piano recital, so that's how I got to know her."
Just then, their drinks came, and Fuko drank from it. She stared vaguely at the row of bottles in front of her, not really knowing what to say.
" She is very pretty." She managed at last. " I'm sure that you will be happy with her."
" Really? What makes you think so?"
" I don't know, well the fact, that you were willing to let yourself be tied down says a lot right? Five years ago, the idea of getting hitched never even crossed your mind. but then again, five years is a long time." Fuko laughed nervously " It was enough time to get over me and start a new relationship."
She paused and turned to look at Tokiya. He was staring at her too, as if he had been a bit surprised at what she said.
She could drown in those eyes.. Fuko thought. It was too intoxicating for her.
She made a move to get down from her seat, as she said, " It's late, I have to go."
However, Tokiya caught hold of her hand and pulled back and kissed her. He kissed her hard and long, and a familiar shiver ran through Fuko as she closed her eyes and surrendered to the kiss. However, she remembered at the same second that he was engaged and she pulled back, putting a hand to her mouth as she did so. Tokiya remained sitting on his seat, observing the flow of emotions that were showing on her face. Finally he spoke.
" It was very hard to forget. Fuko."