Chapter 3: Revival of past emotions or forging of new ones?
" For me? Really?" Fuko asked, as she stared at I.D bracelet in the box that Tokiya had given to her.
" Of course it's for you, your name is on it isn't it?" Tokiya replied as he took the bracelet out of the box and put it around Fuko's wrist.
" Of course, but what made you decide to make it? You're not one for giving presents Tokiya." Fuko joked. " I believe that this is the one and only present that you have given me so far."
" It's not a present. It's an I.D bracelet. People like you are also getting lost in crowds, so I need to put a tag on you." Tokiya replied.
" Idiot. I can find my way around perfectly fine thank you." Fuko retorted, slapping Tokiya on the arm as she did so.
" Oh yeah, don't get lost later when we go and look for Kaoru's birthday present."
" I won't. I'll hold on to your arm forever."
********************
" Fuko. Fuko.. HEY Kirisawa! Wake up!" Fuko lifted her head up from the table and stared blankly at Miyuki.
" What?" She asked
" What you mean what. The show is starting in half an hour that's what. Everyone is wondering where are you. Are you all right?"
" Oh. I'm all right. I'll go to the studio now." Fuko replied as she rubbed her eyes and stood up. Taking a few seconds to straighten her clothes, she made her way as quickly as she could to the studio.
The studio was buzzing with noise as she entered it. Chiharu and Yutaro were already in their seats, making last minute changes to their appearance. Fuko noted with a quick eye that they were presentable and hurried on to where the cameras were
" Everything all right?" Fuko asked Shun, one of the cameramen.
" Oh Fuko, you're here. Everything's all right. Going as usual. By the way, I heard that the new director might be dropping by this morning."
Fuko stopped and starred at Shun, " Really? Oh. all right. Well, might as well, he has to come to see us sooner or later." She gave a nervous laugh.
" I suppose. To tell you the truth, I'm a bit nervous."
" Don't be. Just do your job properly and everything will be fine." Fuko patted him on the back and to take her seat at the back.
Focus Fuko Focus. You have a job to do.
***************
However, try as she might, Fuko couldn't stop thinking about the kiss in the bar. After Tokiya had kissed her and said those words to her, she had been stunned. However, she had made a joke out of it replying
" Yeah, hard to forget, after all we did have explosive fights. I remember I even threw a hairdryer at you once. Well, at least, you won't have that anymore."
Tokiya smiled in remembrance as she said that, " Yeah, we used to fight really big."
" Well anyway, it's good to see, you've found your soul mate. When are you planning on getting married?" Fuko asked chirpily, trying to make light of the situation.
" I've not thought about that. Not for a while, I guess." Tokiya replied, rather vaguely, as he glanced away.
Fuko laid a hand on his and he turned back to look at her.
" I'm really happy for you. I admit that it was a bit of a shock learning that she was your fiancé, but after that, I felt really happy for you." She said as sincerely as she could.
After that, Tokiya had not said a word, and she was starting to feel a bit uneasy around him, so she had mumbled some excuse about having to leave, and quickly made her way out of the pub as fast as she could.
And on top of that, she had to have that stupid dream about Tokiya and her. She still kept that I.D bracelet he had given her, and privately, Fuko wondered what had caused her to remember that particular memory. Nevertheless, she was determined to act as professional as she could, and like Tokiya said before, pretend not to know him.
*******************
" Fuko?"
Fuko turned around to face Miyuki, still wearing her headphones. She lifted her head towards Miyuki in question.
" He's here."
Fuko took off her headphones and looked behind her. True enough, she saw Tokiya standing at the back of the studio, surrounded by all his associates and secretary. She nodded in acknowledgement to Miyuki and got off her seat and made her way to where Tokiya was.
" Mr. Mikagami, what a surprise" Fuko spoke as she neared him, and bowed respectfully to him as she did so.
Tokiya turned towards her and returned the bow.
" It is a surprise to me too. You have an impressive show. I commend you on the good job that you have done."
" We try our best Mr. Mikagami. Thank you for the compliment. Now, if you may excuse me."
" Of course, don't let me interrupt you." Tokiya replied.
As Fuko turned to go back to her seat, she suddenly tripped on an unseen wire and was about to fall flat on her face, but Tokiya caught hold of her arm, and prevented her from doing so.
" Are you all right?"
" Er yes, sorry." Fuko replied, overly embarrassed as she made her way back to her seat. So much for acting professional. She ended up looking like a klutz, and why was she so bothered by his touch?
***************
" Really? He really said that! Oh my god!" Chiharu squealed in delight at the lunch table as Fuko told the crew about what Tokiya had said that morning.
" I hope it means a raise." Yutaro spoke.
" I doubt it." Miyuki said.
" Why?" Yutaro asked
" From what I hear from the other secretaries, he's planning some cost cutting measures very soon."
" What's that supposed to mean?"
" At the very worst, retrenchment."
" No way! Fuko, that won't happen right?" Yutaro asked
" Huh? Oh I don't know. Just don't screw up and he'll leave you alone I think." Fuko mused.
" I think she means your late coming." Miyuki whispered and Yutaro turned red.
Everybody laughed including Fuko.
******************
" Miss Kirisawa?"
Fuko turned around as she heard her name being called, halfway in the process of putting on her earphones. When she saw that it was Miwa, she put them back into her bag.
" I thought it was you." Miwa exclaimed as she hurried over to Fuko.
Fuko smiled, " Looking for Tokiya?"
" Yes, we're going out for dinner later. Going home?"
" Er. yes." Fuko replied
" We should have dinner next time. I didn't get to talk to you much when we were at Yanagi's house!"
" Well. yes. all right." Fuko replied
" Wait. I'm having a piano recital this weekend, why don't you come then? There's a dinner and dance after that."
" I don't." Fuko began
" Please come. I would really love to get to know you better." Miwa replied, taking hold of Fuko's hand as she did so.
" But."
" Please?"
"Ok."
*********************
For the millionth time that night, Fuko wondered whatever possessed her to come to Miwa's recital. However, she had to admit one thing. Miwa could really play the piano very well. However the whole night had been so awkward for her, sitting next to Tokiya. Even though she had tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, Miwa insisted on introducing her to all of her friends as her 'very dear friend, Fuko'. It was pretty clear to her that Miwa, for some reason or another, was trying to become her friend, but Fuko just felt a little uncomfortable at the way Miwa was acting towards her. Thank god dinner was over, and the dance was going on now. She would make her way out as soon as she got the chance.
Quickly, she drowned her glass, handed it to a passing waiter and made her way towards the entrance of the room. However, before she knew it, she banged into someone.
" I'm so sorry." Fuko looked up and found herself staring at Tokiya.
Shit. She thought to herself. So much for the perfect getaway.
" Where were you going?" Tokiya asked
" Er. to the toilet." Fuko replied
" The toilet is not this way, it's on the other side."
" Oh. of course. thanks." Fuko replied and turned around
" You still can't find your way around can't you." Tokiya said from behind.
" Of course I can. I was." Fuko turned around to face Tokiya and stopped short. She couldn't very well tell him that she was planning to escape right?
Tokiya looked at her expectantly and Fuko scowled at him.
" All right. I wasn't going to the toilet. I was going to leave."
" Yep. I knew it."
" Ok. So you know it, I know it, may I go now?" Fuko snapped at him, suddenly feeling irritated that Tokiya had known what she was going to do all along.
" At least say goodbye to Miwa first. Its only courtesy."
" Look Tokiya, you wanted me to keep a distance from you, and I'm doing it right now. I didn't really want to come here tonight ok, but, ugh, never mind, it doesn't matter now, but I'm leaving and that's it."
" Why do you feel so uncomfortable around Miwa?" Tokiya asked suddenly.
Fuko took a deep breath as she said, " Well, for one, I'm willing to bet that she knows nothing about what happened between us before, and it wouldn't be nice if she found out. Like any other woman, she would start to feel insecure, and I wouldn't want to be the cause of that. She's your fiancée; I'm your ex-girlfriend. I'm history. What we are now are just friends working in the same building."
" What if." Tokiya began
" Look Tokiya, no more what ifs. You can't be thinking about that now. To me, you are just a friend; I don't have any feelings for you anymore. Besides, you have got a great girl there. She's smart, intelligent and elegant, classy, whatever."
There was a long silence then. Finally Tokiya spoke.
" Then how should we end it?"
"Er. we'll part here. You walk this way, and I'll walk that way." Fuko said.
Tokiya nodded in reply. However, for the next few seconds, neither of them moved. Finally Fuko took a step forward, and then she was walking past Tokiya and out the room.
She said nothing, not even a goodbye.
The tears started to flow as she as she stepped out of the room.
Author's note: Hee. Some of you might find this chapter irritating, like ' hurry up and bring them together.' Don't worry it's coming soon. You won't be disappointed.
" For me? Really?" Fuko asked, as she stared at I.D bracelet in the box that Tokiya had given to her.
" Of course it's for you, your name is on it isn't it?" Tokiya replied as he took the bracelet out of the box and put it around Fuko's wrist.
" Of course, but what made you decide to make it? You're not one for giving presents Tokiya." Fuko joked. " I believe that this is the one and only present that you have given me so far."
" It's not a present. It's an I.D bracelet. People like you are also getting lost in crowds, so I need to put a tag on you." Tokiya replied.
" Idiot. I can find my way around perfectly fine thank you." Fuko retorted, slapping Tokiya on the arm as she did so.
" Oh yeah, don't get lost later when we go and look for Kaoru's birthday present."
" I won't. I'll hold on to your arm forever."
********************
" Fuko. Fuko.. HEY Kirisawa! Wake up!" Fuko lifted her head up from the table and stared blankly at Miyuki.
" What?" She asked
" What you mean what. The show is starting in half an hour that's what. Everyone is wondering where are you. Are you all right?"
" Oh. I'm all right. I'll go to the studio now." Fuko replied as she rubbed her eyes and stood up. Taking a few seconds to straighten her clothes, she made her way as quickly as she could to the studio.
The studio was buzzing with noise as she entered it. Chiharu and Yutaro were already in their seats, making last minute changes to their appearance. Fuko noted with a quick eye that they were presentable and hurried on to where the cameras were
" Everything all right?" Fuko asked Shun, one of the cameramen.
" Oh Fuko, you're here. Everything's all right. Going as usual. By the way, I heard that the new director might be dropping by this morning."
Fuko stopped and starred at Shun, " Really? Oh. all right. Well, might as well, he has to come to see us sooner or later." She gave a nervous laugh.
" I suppose. To tell you the truth, I'm a bit nervous."
" Don't be. Just do your job properly and everything will be fine." Fuko patted him on the back and to take her seat at the back.
Focus Fuko Focus. You have a job to do.
***************
However, try as she might, Fuko couldn't stop thinking about the kiss in the bar. After Tokiya had kissed her and said those words to her, she had been stunned. However, she had made a joke out of it replying
" Yeah, hard to forget, after all we did have explosive fights. I remember I even threw a hairdryer at you once. Well, at least, you won't have that anymore."
Tokiya smiled in remembrance as she said that, " Yeah, we used to fight really big."
" Well anyway, it's good to see, you've found your soul mate. When are you planning on getting married?" Fuko asked chirpily, trying to make light of the situation.
" I've not thought about that. Not for a while, I guess." Tokiya replied, rather vaguely, as he glanced away.
Fuko laid a hand on his and he turned back to look at her.
" I'm really happy for you. I admit that it was a bit of a shock learning that she was your fiancé, but after that, I felt really happy for you." She said as sincerely as she could.
After that, Tokiya had not said a word, and she was starting to feel a bit uneasy around him, so she had mumbled some excuse about having to leave, and quickly made her way out of the pub as fast as she could.
And on top of that, she had to have that stupid dream about Tokiya and her. She still kept that I.D bracelet he had given her, and privately, Fuko wondered what had caused her to remember that particular memory. Nevertheless, she was determined to act as professional as she could, and like Tokiya said before, pretend not to know him.
*******************
" Fuko?"
Fuko turned around to face Miyuki, still wearing her headphones. She lifted her head towards Miyuki in question.
" He's here."
Fuko took off her headphones and looked behind her. True enough, she saw Tokiya standing at the back of the studio, surrounded by all his associates and secretary. She nodded in acknowledgement to Miyuki and got off her seat and made her way to where Tokiya was.
" Mr. Mikagami, what a surprise" Fuko spoke as she neared him, and bowed respectfully to him as she did so.
Tokiya turned towards her and returned the bow.
" It is a surprise to me too. You have an impressive show. I commend you on the good job that you have done."
" We try our best Mr. Mikagami. Thank you for the compliment. Now, if you may excuse me."
" Of course, don't let me interrupt you." Tokiya replied.
As Fuko turned to go back to her seat, she suddenly tripped on an unseen wire and was about to fall flat on her face, but Tokiya caught hold of her arm, and prevented her from doing so.
" Are you all right?"
" Er yes, sorry." Fuko replied, overly embarrassed as she made her way back to her seat. So much for acting professional. She ended up looking like a klutz, and why was she so bothered by his touch?
***************
" Really? He really said that! Oh my god!" Chiharu squealed in delight at the lunch table as Fuko told the crew about what Tokiya had said that morning.
" I hope it means a raise." Yutaro spoke.
" I doubt it." Miyuki said.
" Why?" Yutaro asked
" From what I hear from the other secretaries, he's planning some cost cutting measures very soon."
" What's that supposed to mean?"
" At the very worst, retrenchment."
" No way! Fuko, that won't happen right?" Yutaro asked
" Huh? Oh I don't know. Just don't screw up and he'll leave you alone I think." Fuko mused.
" I think she means your late coming." Miyuki whispered and Yutaro turned red.
Everybody laughed including Fuko.
******************
" Miss Kirisawa?"
Fuko turned around as she heard her name being called, halfway in the process of putting on her earphones. When she saw that it was Miwa, she put them back into her bag.
" I thought it was you." Miwa exclaimed as she hurried over to Fuko.
Fuko smiled, " Looking for Tokiya?"
" Yes, we're going out for dinner later. Going home?"
" Er. yes." Fuko replied
" We should have dinner next time. I didn't get to talk to you much when we were at Yanagi's house!"
" Well. yes. all right." Fuko replied
" Wait. I'm having a piano recital this weekend, why don't you come then? There's a dinner and dance after that."
" I don't." Fuko began
" Please come. I would really love to get to know you better." Miwa replied, taking hold of Fuko's hand as she did so.
" But."
" Please?"
"Ok."
*********************
For the millionth time that night, Fuko wondered whatever possessed her to come to Miwa's recital. However, she had to admit one thing. Miwa could really play the piano very well. However the whole night had been so awkward for her, sitting next to Tokiya. Even though she had tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, Miwa insisted on introducing her to all of her friends as her 'very dear friend, Fuko'. It was pretty clear to her that Miwa, for some reason or another, was trying to become her friend, but Fuko just felt a little uncomfortable at the way Miwa was acting towards her. Thank god dinner was over, and the dance was going on now. She would make her way out as soon as she got the chance.
Quickly, she drowned her glass, handed it to a passing waiter and made her way towards the entrance of the room. However, before she knew it, she banged into someone.
" I'm so sorry." Fuko looked up and found herself staring at Tokiya.
Shit. She thought to herself. So much for the perfect getaway.
" Where were you going?" Tokiya asked
" Er. to the toilet." Fuko replied
" The toilet is not this way, it's on the other side."
" Oh. of course. thanks." Fuko replied and turned around
" You still can't find your way around can't you." Tokiya said from behind.
" Of course I can. I was." Fuko turned around to face Tokiya and stopped short. She couldn't very well tell him that she was planning to escape right?
Tokiya looked at her expectantly and Fuko scowled at him.
" All right. I wasn't going to the toilet. I was going to leave."
" Yep. I knew it."
" Ok. So you know it, I know it, may I go now?" Fuko snapped at him, suddenly feeling irritated that Tokiya had known what she was going to do all along.
" At least say goodbye to Miwa first. Its only courtesy."
" Look Tokiya, you wanted me to keep a distance from you, and I'm doing it right now. I didn't really want to come here tonight ok, but, ugh, never mind, it doesn't matter now, but I'm leaving and that's it."
" Why do you feel so uncomfortable around Miwa?" Tokiya asked suddenly.
Fuko took a deep breath as she said, " Well, for one, I'm willing to bet that she knows nothing about what happened between us before, and it wouldn't be nice if she found out. Like any other woman, she would start to feel insecure, and I wouldn't want to be the cause of that. She's your fiancée; I'm your ex-girlfriend. I'm history. What we are now are just friends working in the same building."
" What if." Tokiya began
" Look Tokiya, no more what ifs. You can't be thinking about that now. To me, you are just a friend; I don't have any feelings for you anymore. Besides, you have got a great girl there. She's smart, intelligent and elegant, classy, whatever."
There was a long silence then. Finally Tokiya spoke.
" Then how should we end it?"
"Er. we'll part here. You walk this way, and I'll walk that way." Fuko said.
Tokiya nodded in reply. However, for the next few seconds, neither of them moved. Finally Fuko took a step forward, and then she was walking past Tokiya and out the room.
She said nothing, not even a goodbye.
The tears started to flow as she as she stepped out of the room.
Author's note: Hee. Some of you might find this chapter irritating, like ' hurry up and bring them together.' Don't worry it's coming soon. You won't be disappointed.