Chapter 12 - A Forgotten Past
The words 'everything will be fine' kept playing in her mind over the weeks. She wondered if things are really going to be all right although nothing did happen for the past three weeks. They have been attending school and each day in school kept her on her toes. She was worried that it might all be a dream and it wouldn't be long before it's shattered.
Tsukushi tossed on her bed and stared in the darkness at a sleeping Tsukasa on the floor. He had insisted on sleeping in the same room as her after Tsubaki's call some weeks' ago. He, like her, was not sure that everything was going to be all right. She remembered his words: "I'll stay in this room with you every night till I'm sure things are going to be all right. I don't want to wake up and find you missing."
His protectiveness was a comfort to Tsukushi - it was his way of expressing his love - but yet she did not want his protection because it made her weaker and vulnerable. She's a weed and she's supposed to be fighting for her survival. By accepting him back in her life, she has been wondering whether it's the right thing. She sighed quietly. "I'd better get some sleep now or I won't be able to concentrate in class," she muttered and turned away. Sleep soon engulfed her as her mind let go.
************
The Okawahara's party was like the ball Cinderella attended and like Cinderella she meets her prince. Yuki recalls the night of the party where she danced with Sojiro. The lights, the music and the grand ballroom made it such a romantic atmosphere that Yuki was sure that there were sparks between them. But then, reality sets in the moment she awoke the next morning.
"He could never fall in love with someone like me," she sighed, "He's super rich and handsome and..." Her hand slipped down the curtain and she dragged her feet towards her cupboard. "If Tsukushi was here, she could tell me what to do," she muttered, getting dressed for school.
She remembered the first time they met - it was at Shizuka's birthday party. Tsukushi had begged her to be her companion and they had met the F4 there. It was the first time Yuki was invited to a party so grand and elaborate - a person like her would never be invited to such an event if it had not been for her best friend. It was also the first time she has met Sojiro, though he didn't leave much of an impression then with his suggestive remark, which Tsukushi frowned upon.
But the night at Okawahara's party, he was different. Despite his status, he was kind and unassuming that night. Despite her background, he was patient when he taught her how to waltz. Yuki felt like a princess that night even though she was dressed simply. He was a gentleman and treated her like a lady.
Yuki stared into her full-length mirror and straighten her uniform. "Do you think he'll give me a chance?" she asked her image. Silence. "Well, I guess I'll never find out," she sighed, reaching out for her school bag.
************
Tsukasa stirred and opened his eyes. From the moonlight shining through the window, he could see Tsukushi's sleeping form. He sat up and stretched. "Another uneventful night," he whispered and got up to head for the bathroom. He would have taken flight if Tsukushi had not insisted that they stay on. He would have left everything and take Tsukushi to anywhere in the world if she had not insisted that they listened to his sister. "I should be able to trust Oneesan," he thought.
Before he returned to his sleeping bag, Tsukasa took a peep at the girl he loves. She was soundly asleep and looked so innocent. Tsukasa reached out to touch her face, sweeping her hair away from it. He looked intently at her as he stroked her cheek. "You have to be with me always," he mumbled softly, "Promise me that..." Tsukushi stirred and turned to face him. Her lips were a temptation and he gave in, planting a soft kiss on it. She stirred again but did not open her eyes.
Tsukasa stroked her cheek again before retreating back to floor. He sat on his sleeping bag and laid his head on her bed, staring at her.
************
"Would you like a drink, Ms Doumyoji?" asked the flight attendant. Tsubaki shook her head and replied, "No thanks." The attendant smiled and excused herself. Tsubaki laid her head back and closed her eyes. She is on her way to Boston to check on her brother and Tsukushi. It's been three weeks since they had last communicated and it had not been easy for her as well. She was on her guard most of the time. She was not sure that her mother was going to sidestep any plans of breaking the two up if she had found out that they are in Boston.
Her father had assured that nothing will happen but she didn't believe him then. Three weeks have passed and her mother had not made any move or took any action. She was still unconvinced till she overheard the conversation between her parents two nights' ago:
"Seiryo," said Kaede as she poured the coffee. Seiryo looked up from his book and gave her the attention he always had whenever Kaede wanted to speak her mind. "Do you think I've been too harsh?" she asked, handing him the cup and taking the seat opposite him. Seiryo made no reply. "I guess traditions are hard to break," she continued, "Like your mother, I wanted control in my household. I forgot what relationships mean..."
She paused for a long while, sipping on her coffee as she stared blankly. "I think..." she paused again. Seiryo gave her a quizzing look. "I should let go, isn't it?" she asked uncertainly. Seiryo nodded. His wife fell silent again. "But I don't want my son to be hurt if she decide that they're not meant for each other," she tried to reasoned.
"Then, you think he'll be happier with a person that you pick?" questioned Seiryo. Kaede paused again before slowly shaking her head. "We've sacrificed Tsubaki for our business and I don't want that to happen to Tsukasa," said Seiryo firmly, "Let him be and I believe the girl's good for him." Kaede sighed and laid her head back against the armchair. "Just like you were for me," said Seiryo in a softer tone.
Kaede forced a weak smile. "Let them be," cajoled Seiryo, "You'll see that they are good for each other." Kaede made no reply. "If Tsukasa hadn't met her," continued Seiryo, "I don't think this corporation will have a future." Kaede jerked her head up with eyes widen. "If Tsukasa was the person he was, Doumyoji Corporation will not survive for the next generation," he said, looking at his wife. This is the first time her husband has made such a remark about his own son. "Trust me on this one," he said, "I've been through it myself." Kaede nodded slowly.
The conversation Tsubaki has overheard convinced her that everything was really all right; that Tsukasa will marry the girl he loves; that Tsukushi no longer need to fear; that they will eventually make it. Her trip up to Boston today was to confirm the situation for them. However, she seriously doubts her brother would believe it given his hostility towards their mother. "Convincing Tsukasa would be harder than convincing Tsukushi," she sighed, opening her eyes just in time to watch her plane taxiing to the runway.
************
"Sojiro," called Akira, entering the lecture theatre. Sojiro gave a feeble wave and returned his attention to the book he was reading. "Hey, care to join me in the evening?" asked Akira, "There's a party down at the new pub, Maple." Sojiro shrugged. "Sure, why not," he replied nonchalantly. "Are you all right?" nudged Akira for he has never seen his best friend behaving like that before. Sojiro nodded disinterestedly. Akira wanted very much to probe but left it when the lecturer entered the room.
Although Sojiro looked as if he's studying the book on his table, the words on it are not clearly visible to his eyes. His mind was on the night of the Okawahara's party. Before Rui and Shizuka joined them that night, Akira and Sojiro were conversing with the daughters of Muragami Enterprise. The girls' interests were very much tuned towards having both boys as their partners, which of course, were not the boys' interests.
Sojiro was getting bored and his eyes wandered whereas Akira, out of politness, kept focus - that was when his eyes fell on Yuki. She looked so lost and helpless and it was out of sympathy that Sojiro approached her. He had excused himself from the conversation and approached Yuki. As he neared, her image reminded him of a past - a past that he had almost forgotten.
Sojiro sighed out aloud unintentionally. Akira turned and stared at him while the lecturer fell silent and looked at the F2 fearfully. The class fell silent and turned to their direction too. "Sojiro," hissed Akira, "Did the lecturer offend you?" It was then that Sojiro realised that everyone in the class was looking at him in anticipation, with the exception of Tomoya. He stood up quickly and was about to apologise when Akira tugged at his shirt. "What are you doing?!" asked Akira in a firm tone.
He had forgotten that he was one of the F4 and being one of them, there was never a need to apologise. He gestured to the lecturer, indicating it was all right to carry on while he gathered his books up. Akira gave him a baffled look before following suit. The duo exited the lecture theatre and Akira waited till they were out of the class' earshot before questioning him. "What's wrong with you today?" he asked.
Sojiro made no reply and kept walking straight ahead. Akira frowned and stopped him from taking another step. "What's wrong with you today?!" he asked firmly. Sojiro looked blankly at him before sighing again. "I'm going home now," he said finally, "Can't concentrate today. I'll see you tomorrow." A bewildered Akira could only watch him dragged his feet out of the school grounds.
The words 'everything will be fine' kept playing in her mind over the weeks. She wondered if things are really going to be all right although nothing did happen for the past three weeks. They have been attending school and each day in school kept her on her toes. She was worried that it might all be a dream and it wouldn't be long before it's shattered.
Tsukushi tossed on her bed and stared in the darkness at a sleeping Tsukasa on the floor. He had insisted on sleeping in the same room as her after Tsubaki's call some weeks' ago. He, like her, was not sure that everything was going to be all right. She remembered his words: "I'll stay in this room with you every night till I'm sure things are going to be all right. I don't want to wake up and find you missing."
His protectiveness was a comfort to Tsukushi - it was his way of expressing his love - but yet she did not want his protection because it made her weaker and vulnerable. She's a weed and she's supposed to be fighting for her survival. By accepting him back in her life, she has been wondering whether it's the right thing. She sighed quietly. "I'd better get some sleep now or I won't be able to concentrate in class," she muttered and turned away. Sleep soon engulfed her as her mind let go.
************
The Okawahara's party was like the ball Cinderella attended and like Cinderella she meets her prince. Yuki recalls the night of the party where she danced with Sojiro. The lights, the music and the grand ballroom made it such a romantic atmosphere that Yuki was sure that there were sparks between them. But then, reality sets in the moment she awoke the next morning.
"He could never fall in love with someone like me," she sighed, "He's super rich and handsome and..." Her hand slipped down the curtain and she dragged her feet towards her cupboard. "If Tsukushi was here, she could tell me what to do," she muttered, getting dressed for school.
She remembered the first time they met - it was at Shizuka's birthday party. Tsukushi had begged her to be her companion and they had met the F4 there. It was the first time Yuki was invited to a party so grand and elaborate - a person like her would never be invited to such an event if it had not been for her best friend. It was also the first time she has met Sojiro, though he didn't leave much of an impression then with his suggestive remark, which Tsukushi frowned upon.
But the night at Okawahara's party, he was different. Despite his status, he was kind and unassuming that night. Despite her background, he was patient when he taught her how to waltz. Yuki felt like a princess that night even though she was dressed simply. He was a gentleman and treated her like a lady.
Yuki stared into her full-length mirror and straighten her uniform. "Do you think he'll give me a chance?" she asked her image. Silence. "Well, I guess I'll never find out," she sighed, reaching out for her school bag.
************
Tsukasa stirred and opened his eyes. From the moonlight shining through the window, he could see Tsukushi's sleeping form. He sat up and stretched. "Another uneventful night," he whispered and got up to head for the bathroom. He would have taken flight if Tsukushi had not insisted that they stay on. He would have left everything and take Tsukushi to anywhere in the world if she had not insisted that they listened to his sister. "I should be able to trust Oneesan," he thought.
Before he returned to his sleeping bag, Tsukasa took a peep at the girl he loves. She was soundly asleep and looked so innocent. Tsukasa reached out to touch her face, sweeping her hair away from it. He looked intently at her as he stroked her cheek. "You have to be with me always," he mumbled softly, "Promise me that..." Tsukushi stirred and turned to face him. Her lips were a temptation and he gave in, planting a soft kiss on it. She stirred again but did not open her eyes.
Tsukasa stroked her cheek again before retreating back to floor. He sat on his sleeping bag and laid his head on her bed, staring at her.
************
"Would you like a drink, Ms Doumyoji?" asked the flight attendant. Tsubaki shook her head and replied, "No thanks." The attendant smiled and excused herself. Tsubaki laid her head back and closed her eyes. She is on her way to Boston to check on her brother and Tsukushi. It's been three weeks since they had last communicated and it had not been easy for her as well. She was on her guard most of the time. She was not sure that her mother was going to sidestep any plans of breaking the two up if she had found out that they are in Boston.
Her father had assured that nothing will happen but she didn't believe him then. Three weeks have passed and her mother had not made any move or took any action. She was still unconvinced till she overheard the conversation between her parents two nights' ago:
"Seiryo," said Kaede as she poured the coffee. Seiryo looked up from his book and gave her the attention he always had whenever Kaede wanted to speak her mind. "Do you think I've been too harsh?" she asked, handing him the cup and taking the seat opposite him. Seiryo made no reply. "I guess traditions are hard to break," she continued, "Like your mother, I wanted control in my household. I forgot what relationships mean..."
She paused for a long while, sipping on her coffee as she stared blankly. "I think..." she paused again. Seiryo gave her a quizzing look. "I should let go, isn't it?" she asked uncertainly. Seiryo nodded. His wife fell silent again. "But I don't want my son to be hurt if she decide that they're not meant for each other," she tried to reasoned.
"Then, you think he'll be happier with a person that you pick?" questioned Seiryo. Kaede paused again before slowly shaking her head. "We've sacrificed Tsubaki for our business and I don't want that to happen to Tsukasa," said Seiryo firmly, "Let him be and I believe the girl's good for him." Kaede sighed and laid her head back against the armchair. "Just like you were for me," said Seiryo in a softer tone.
Kaede forced a weak smile. "Let them be," cajoled Seiryo, "You'll see that they are good for each other." Kaede made no reply. "If Tsukasa hadn't met her," continued Seiryo, "I don't think this corporation will have a future." Kaede jerked her head up with eyes widen. "If Tsukasa was the person he was, Doumyoji Corporation will not survive for the next generation," he said, looking at his wife. This is the first time her husband has made such a remark about his own son. "Trust me on this one," he said, "I've been through it myself." Kaede nodded slowly.
The conversation Tsubaki has overheard convinced her that everything was really all right; that Tsukasa will marry the girl he loves; that Tsukushi no longer need to fear; that they will eventually make it. Her trip up to Boston today was to confirm the situation for them. However, she seriously doubts her brother would believe it given his hostility towards their mother. "Convincing Tsukasa would be harder than convincing Tsukushi," she sighed, opening her eyes just in time to watch her plane taxiing to the runway.
************
"Sojiro," called Akira, entering the lecture theatre. Sojiro gave a feeble wave and returned his attention to the book he was reading. "Hey, care to join me in the evening?" asked Akira, "There's a party down at the new pub, Maple." Sojiro shrugged. "Sure, why not," he replied nonchalantly. "Are you all right?" nudged Akira for he has never seen his best friend behaving like that before. Sojiro nodded disinterestedly. Akira wanted very much to probe but left it when the lecturer entered the room.
Although Sojiro looked as if he's studying the book on his table, the words on it are not clearly visible to his eyes. His mind was on the night of the Okawahara's party. Before Rui and Shizuka joined them that night, Akira and Sojiro were conversing with the daughters of Muragami Enterprise. The girls' interests were very much tuned towards having both boys as their partners, which of course, were not the boys' interests.
Sojiro was getting bored and his eyes wandered whereas Akira, out of politness, kept focus - that was when his eyes fell on Yuki. She looked so lost and helpless and it was out of sympathy that Sojiro approached her. He had excused himself from the conversation and approached Yuki. As he neared, her image reminded him of a past - a past that he had almost forgotten.
Sojiro sighed out aloud unintentionally. Akira turned and stared at him while the lecturer fell silent and looked at the F2 fearfully. The class fell silent and turned to their direction too. "Sojiro," hissed Akira, "Did the lecturer offend you?" It was then that Sojiro realised that everyone in the class was looking at him in anticipation, with the exception of Tomoya. He stood up quickly and was about to apologise when Akira tugged at his shirt. "What are you doing?!" asked Akira in a firm tone.
He had forgotten that he was one of the F4 and being one of them, there was never a need to apologise. He gestured to the lecturer, indicating it was all right to carry on while he gathered his books up. Akira gave him a baffled look before following suit. The duo exited the lecture theatre and Akira waited till they were out of the class' earshot before questioning him. "What's wrong with you today?" he asked.
Sojiro made no reply and kept walking straight ahead. Akira frowned and stopped him from taking another step. "What's wrong with you today?!" he asked firmly. Sojiro looked blankly at him before sighing again. "I'm going home now," he said finally, "Can't concentrate today. I'll see you tomorrow." A bewildered Akira could only watch him dragged his feet out of the school grounds.