Chapter 2, Soulmates
Weeks later
Bernadette did not know who to pass the letter to. She didn't want her beloved paper scrutinized by others. And yet there was no sign of Tomo sempai. The girl stood at the steps, the very same place she had been when she first came face to face with the actor. Some guard with an even sterner expression barricaded her immediately. Bernadette smiled sweetly at him, but he scowled even more.
"Go away missy. You're a pest. Don't think if you're a girl I will show some mercy. Go home! The actors are too busy to see people!"
"PLEASE. Let me give this to Tomo-sempai. If you won't, then could you help pass this to him?" she replied earnestly. All right, if she couldn't do it personally she would just have to take the risk and hope it didn't fall into the wrong hands. "Onegai."
"Oi! Forget it, I'm Saito. I'll give your letter to Hirosaki san." This was quickly dissipated by a burly man with a moustache, graying hair. The girl tried to hold back tears of relief and let him hold the envelope. She made to leave when another figure approached them, lest she be interpreted as a pest once again.
"Hey, the very man himself. Happy chatting," Saito said touching the actor on the shoulder. The performer's intelligent gaze swept hers, together with a sincere smile. He did not look as tired as he had been. Tomo-sempai slipped the envelope into his pocket.
"Hi, Hirosaki-san. I er....." Tomo shook his head, his ponytail swinging from side to side catching the light and gestured backstage. He was asking her to follow! Bernadette was choked by sheer happiness. Truly she had never been so happy, ecstatic was the appropriate word. The crew were packing their stuff into trunks, all colorful shiny silvery material. The boxes came in all sizes, small for the cosmetics, large for the long trailing dresses. Today Tomo sempai was in a blue sleeved shirt and white trousers. They sat side by side on a bench outside.
"We had such a short chat previously. Thank you for your touching concern. I am getting much better. The week's leave has done me lots of good. Where do you live?"
"I live at Crestwood Jade Avenue 8." The handsome youth gasped and color flushed into his face. She realized why when he confided he lived in just the neighborhood right beside her. His hands fluttered excitedly in a quick gesture.
"I would love you to come visit me. It would be an honour," he told her happily, clasping both hands. "What is your name, Young lady? Can't keep addressing you as an invisible person right? Bernadette? That's a lovely name [he laughed heartily]. Bernadette how about today? Will your parents mind?"
"No. This is a great surprise." Inside she thought, how did you know I wanted to visit you? I only mentioned it in the letter and you haven't read it yet. This is a coincidence. Meanwhile the actor was staring at her with a serene blank expression. He looked white.
"Are you all right? Oh no! Tomo-sempai! Help!" The actor chewed his lip, sweat appearing on his brow and he gasped, a hand pressed to his side. That grip tightened. Bernadette cast about for someone. A few people stared. Tomo knelt on the grass, doubled over his stomach, gasping faster and faster. He felt very dizzy, barely conscious of people's arms hauling him firmly to a sitting position and fanning his hot face. Pain, terrible pain ate into his chest, burnt his stomach. Vaguely he remembered slipping in a sandwich this morning. How could he be feeling faint? A little girl's anxious face. Her small fingers laid on his breast. She was saying a lot of words but he couldn't hear her.
I have to lie down. Thankfully the folks understood without his having to utter a word and eased him back until he lay upon somebody's shoulder. Darkness. Voices were far off. Then the light focused hazily. Now Tomo- sempai's vision had sharpened. It was the guard, stroking his hair. "It's all right now, man. You're fine. You're doing fine. Relax. Hey hey no getting up. Lie down." Hirosaki sank back an ache throbbing in his temple.
"I'm okay now," he protested. Saito's form blocked the light. He rubbed oil onto his temples and his nose. The sharp choking smell made Hirosaki wake up.
"Can I see him please?" Everybody got out of the way. Her brown hair and eyes and skin. "Thank you God. He is going to be all right now." she clasped his hand firmly, tears filling up. Hirosaki touched her face, feeling the stickiness. She said she didn't want to bother him. He sat up, allowing the guard to support him.
"Don't go. Bernadette. Please. Come to my house," he said tiredly. She nodded. After a while, Hirosaki indicated he wanted to rise. Saito held him by the arm.
***********************
Such a soft gentle material. How could he be here, he was on the grass near the stage........ then he remembered. It had been too fast. Of course!
"Hi, feeling better huh? You scared the living daylights out of us." Bernadette at the foot of his bed said. She leaned closer. Their hands connected. "You slept for the afternoon."
"So long? Sorry, it really wasn't your fault. I've been very ill recently. [smiles sadly] These days anyway. Your hands, your very touch calmed me down. I couldn't hear anything...... If not my agony usually continues for a period of two to three hours," Tomo sempai remarked, sitting up and leaning on the pillows. "Thank you."
"It wasn't me. It was a miracle from God. I felt so scared I prayed and prayed." So those were prayers, the muttering he had heard. Tomo scratched his head, tugging dreamily at his silvery strands then brushing them behind. He must look a mess. He shifted on his side, poised for pain but it wasn't a lot and faced her. She was red. He looked on the floor.
"Did you see my friend Kennex? Tell her I'm famished kay?" he smiled in thanks. The woman was a fantastic chef! She could actually go on tv but she wouldn't. Food flavor wafted in. A middle-aged lady with plaits hanging down her shoulders, long-legged, complete with an apron at her waist knelt down, setting the tray on the desk. He sat up straighter. Kennex propped up the pillows, wiped his sweaty back, rested a hand on his shoulder. Tomo scooped the soup, not caring it burnt his tongue.
"Oi, who asked you to rush? You'll choke you naughty boy." Kennex scolded, slapping his lap gently. "You worried us by blacking out. I hate you."
"Kenni," in between mouthfuls "I feel all right now. This is so Good! My friends were around me, nothing bad will happen to me when they are." He wiped his mouth with the tissue, smiling childishly. Kennex was like a sister to him, a younger girl but he had to admit he always needed more care than she ever did from him. He could cook, but barely. Kennex always cooked for him. Bernadette was seated in a corner, head still down. Tomo beckoned to her.
"Come here, sit with me. How old are you?"
"I'm twelve."
"Such a maturing age. Let's be friends, though we already are. Sugoi." He kissed her hand. The girl laughed. "You can call me Tomo chan or sempai if you still want to." The man sighed, lying back on the pillows. He thought the child was just like his little sister. How he wished he could have offspring. How anguished he had been when he learnt of the cancer. The doctor told him he was afraid that if he did have offspring he might likely give it to the baby with his genes.
Hirosaki's heart ached with longing. It didn't matter if people laughed at him for being homosexual. At least homosexuals could have families if they wanted to, whereas he wanted a family, but wasn't able to. He soon fell asleep.
Kennex offered the girl something to eat. Bernadette..... maybe she held some divine powers. She watched her eat, untying her apron. Childlike and yet an adult. There was something there. Tomo sempai didn't immediately strike up a friendship this close. He was friendly yes, nevertheless kept a distance from even family.
"Will he be ok? I am glad you're such a good caretaker of Tomo. If not I don't think he could manage it." Kennex gathered up the bowls and spoons.
"Yeah he wouldn't. A careless and clumsy boy. Clumsy not on stage but outside. I always have to remind him to take his medicine." Kennex recalled how her best friend was the survivor of two previous battles with the deadly illness. It hurt! How cruel Fate was treating Hirosaki, an outstanding performer. He slept now, exhausted, a chain with a cross and a man sticking to it. Bare-chested except for the short sleeved white shirt, unbuttoned at the top.
"Missy are you a religious person?" Kennex said after a while, looking at her bowls and spoons, arranging them into a line on the table top.
"Yeah, I go to Sunday school, um that kind of stuff...... you mean to pray for Tomo-sempai! Yes I do always, everyday. I hope he will be recovered, permanently."
"Thank you. I don't have much faith in God when I see my friend suffering. Why must God hurt him? He's so tender hearted. He has always been civil, honest and kind. Don't they tell you why in the class?" The girl's eyes felt like welling up. the answer was, God would let his followers suffer even more, so the good would be moulded into his image. People like Tomo-kun who was so nice and merciful Had to accept his illness and be more faithful. But at the resentment in the woman's features, Bernadette didn't wish to upset her further.
Another incidental happening
Saito folded the costume in its proper place and laid it into the box. Touga was a good performer, albeit inexperienced. If he sang a wrong tune they had to increase the volume of the music. They had had no choice, since Tomo was exhausted and feeling ill the replacement was essential. Saito felt resentment towards the young man, why didn't he Get picked anyway? All because Hirosaki favored the strange youth who appeared to have potential. Touga san was showing off to his fans, who had already forgotten the original jing role and now switched loyalties.
The big man slammed a sword onto the makeup desk. Eyes stared, some interested, some shocked. "You! Stop this at once. You didn't do So well! We had to cover up for all your stupid imperfections. Don't think you will stay like this for good!"
"Ne if I am not good, I wouldn't be chosen to play Hirosaki-sama's role. I get to do it right away. Unlike some foolish dogs, thinking they got the senior ranking," Touga replied calmly, stripping his white shirt, to some girls screaming and looking with ogling eyes. He was a slight figure suitable for the female roles as well and didn't have to do the customary clown Chou role to be promoted due to the advantage. How catlike slimy he was getting. Saito clenched his fist.
"He wouldn't have if he had seen your Un worthiness!" Saito stepped forward and shoved him so the youth slammed into the wall, then got him by both muscled hands onto the slender throat. Touga gasped, paling, going weaker and weaker. Some men held back the angry man, girls helped the victim. Touga coughed and coughed for a bit. An act! An act! Saito thought furiously, huffing from the exertion. "Let me go!"
He strode outside.
"How is Touga-san? Are you guys bullying him when I'm not there?" the troupe leader asked, propped up by pillows. He held the receiver nodding at the yakking on the other end. The amber pupils were calm, serene. His body was bare some tubes ran from his stomach to a machine beeping steadily. Bernadette's letter was overleafed by another colorful pad, clamped by a large black book. "He will be humble. It is all right, he's young, perhaps he needs to be confident in himself. What's the use of violence?"
"I know. It is tough for you..... anou, I don't know how well I will be tomorrow. Come home for dinner, Kennex cooked a lot excess. See you." He sighed, trying to lie on his side, the tubes hurt. And he felt very cold. But because of the tubes Tomo had to be bare-chested. One more hour. He resumed writing again, did it look legible? The performer squinted, hoping it was. It looked shaky, otherwise it was ok. He really did not have to strength to rewrite his copy, Even if it wasn't tidy. He sank back when he had done half the page, closing his eyes.
Bernadette knelt on the pew and murmured to herself. Candles flickered alongside. "Please God, let Tomo suffer less pain. He has been a good person. Please, on that account, help him. If it is your Will May I be an instrument of healing. Amen."
Tomo-sempai was too sick to leave his bed. Yesterday they had a phone conversation, which he sounded so faraway. He sounded sleepy, dozing off when she spoke.
"Hi, Hirosaki Tomo speaking," he said candidly, picking up on the fourth ring.
"Hi Tomo sama, it's me Bern. [he wanted to call her this] how are you feeling now? Are you still having a fever?"
"Swell. Just Tomo will do. But so bored. When can you come? Then I won't be sleeping so much." He gave a happy laugh, the breath coming out on the phone.
"I'm sorry, not free. What about tomorrow? Um afternoon?"
"Cool. Can't go out, I'm still a bit weak. Do come please. I want to see you, tell you something...."
"How about now? You might forget."
"Forget? [incredulous] My memory isn't that rotten. [both of them chuckled at this] It's something, you hafta come." Tomo coughed for a while and returned to the phone again "Don't disappoint me."
"What do you mean by...... All right, want me to get you a present? No no it isn't expensive, it's a handmade one. I'll bring it over. Bye get well soon!"
********************
She swung the paper bag now, walking to the house. Tomo sempai insisted on waiting at the gate, he'd said he would be seated. It was her first time. Scary, and shy. How would he look?
She pictured a pale gaunt guy introducing himself. His clothes would be thin, loose about his figure. C'mon! he wouldn't look so bad. "Here, Bern." The young man waved cheerfully when she almost walked past the house.
His left wrist was taped, had a transparent tube linked behind. No wonder he was so tired, all the treatment. Tomo smiled radiantly, holding her hand. "A present! Thank you." He folded the bag and sat it on his lap. The nails on his fingers were polished, kept long for the acting.
"I would like to see you open it."
"Okay, let's see......" she had given him seeds, stones and pebbles of many colors, carefully dried and polished. They were linked by a string. "It's so special, exotic. I won't wear it but I'll put it up. Arigatou."
Bern hugged him tightly. He felt cold, poor thing! He sneezed. His back dripped sweat. The skin was fair, he always stayed indoors, otherwise covered by paint. "I wanted to tell you this. We're soulmates. I read this book about vampires. They only have one male or female partner. I think it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be boyfriend or girlfriend relationship. We are soulmates! Right, Bern? I hadn't met you often before. I have this feeling we have some other life though. Don't you think?"
He smiled warmly, clasping both hands together. Actually she didn't think the same way, how could a fiction story be true? To what extent was it proven? Still he looked so excited and cheered up that she let it pass. "I suppose so."
He coughed painfully, not seeming to have heard her answer. Then they spoke of other things, his new script, the letter, school happenings. Tomo hadn't gone to much school, he was too poor to do that, he dropped out when his mom passed away. He had to lead. "Were you very sad at that? I'm sorry."
He cast about, swallowing. Bern poured him a glass. He sipped. "Um, yeah I was, but we weren't that close. I've always been outside and she was so strict. It was more like, a sadness that I had not got a chance to truly say goodbye. It was okay, coz I had Kenni and Saito my cousin. What of your folks?" he continued, shaking his bangs to the side. So cute!!! Bern shrugged.
"They're both alive and well. My mom's easy going. My dad, I hardly see him coz he's always so busy. Shall we go indoors? It's So hot." The Asian shook his head, patting the swing seat next to him.
"It's nice sun. You could get Vitamin D. Thank you for your kindness in coming here. If not I'll be sleeping again. Can you stay for dinner? I won't be tired. Kenni! Do you have enough? Great, you can stay then." He seemed eager to entertain her, didn't want to appear bored, though the wheezing was more frequent. Bernadette nodded. At last he laid his head back and rested. She held his hand. He did the same, squeezing as if to say ' I'm all right, relax '
Weeks later
Bernadette did not know who to pass the letter to. She didn't want her beloved paper scrutinized by others. And yet there was no sign of Tomo sempai. The girl stood at the steps, the very same place she had been when she first came face to face with the actor. Some guard with an even sterner expression barricaded her immediately. Bernadette smiled sweetly at him, but he scowled even more.
"Go away missy. You're a pest. Don't think if you're a girl I will show some mercy. Go home! The actors are too busy to see people!"
"PLEASE. Let me give this to Tomo-sempai. If you won't, then could you help pass this to him?" she replied earnestly. All right, if she couldn't do it personally she would just have to take the risk and hope it didn't fall into the wrong hands. "Onegai."
"Oi! Forget it, I'm Saito. I'll give your letter to Hirosaki san." This was quickly dissipated by a burly man with a moustache, graying hair. The girl tried to hold back tears of relief and let him hold the envelope. She made to leave when another figure approached them, lest she be interpreted as a pest once again.
"Hey, the very man himself. Happy chatting," Saito said touching the actor on the shoulder. The performer's intelligent gaze swept hers, together with a sincere smile. He did not look as tired as he had been. Tomo-sempai slipped the envelope into his pocket.
"Hi, Hirosaki-san. I er....." Tomo shook his head, his ponytail swinging from side to side catching the light and gestured backstage. He was asking her to follow! Bernadette was choked by sheer happiness. Truly she had never been so happy, ecstatic was the appropriate word. The crew were packing their stuff into trunks, all colorful shiny silvery material. The boxes came in all sizes, small for the cosmetics, large for the long trailing dresses. Today Tomo sempai was in a blue sleeved shirt and white trousers. They sat side by side on a bench outside.
"We had such a short chat previously. Thank you for your touching concern. I am getting much better. The week's leave has done me lots of good. Where do you live?"
"I live at Crestwood Jade Avenue 8." The handsome youth gasped and color flushed into his face. She realized why when he confided he lived in just the neighborhood right beside her. His hands fluttered excitedly in a quick gesture.
"I would love you to come visit me. It would be an honour," he told her happily, clasping both hands. "What is your name, Young lady? Can't keep addressing you as an invisible person right? Bernadette? That's a lovely name [he laughed heartily]. Bernadette how about today? Will your parents mind?"
"No. This is a great surprise." Inside she thought, how did you know I wanted to visit you? I only mentioned it in the letter and you haven't read it yet. This is a coincidence. Meanwhile the actor was staring at her with a serene blank expression. He looked white.
"Are you all right? Oh no! Tomo-sempai! Help!" The actor chewed his lip, sweat appearing on his brow and he gasped, a hand pressed to his side. That grip tightened. Bernadette cast about for someone. A few people stared. Tomo knelt on the grass, doubled over his stomach, gasping faster and faster. He felt very dizzy, barely conscious of people's arms hauling him firmly to a sitting position and fanning his hot face. Pain, terrible pain ate into his chest, burnt his stomach. Vaguely he remembered slipping in a sandwich this morning. How could he be feeling faint? A little girl's anxious face. Her small fingers laid on his breast. She was saying a lot of words but he couldn't hear her.
I have to lie down. Thankfully the folks understood without his having to utter a word and eased him back until he lay upon somebody's shoulder. Darkness. Voices were far off. Then the light focused hazily. Now Tomo- sempai's vision had sharpened. It was the guard, stroking his hair. "It's all right now, man. You're fine. You're doing fine. Relax. Hey hey no getting up. Lie down." Hirosaki sank back an ache throbbing in his temple.
"I'm okay now," he protested. Saito's form blocked the light. He rubbed oil onto his temples and his nose. The sharp choking smell made Hirosaki wake up.
"Can I see him please?" Everybody got out of the way. Her brown hair and eyes and skin. "Thank you God. He is going to be all right now." she clasped his hand firmly, tears filling up. Hirosaki touched her face, feeling the stickiness. She said she didn't want to bother him. He sat up, allowing the guard to support him.
"Don't go. Bernadette. Please. Come to my house," he said tiredly. She nodded. After a while, Hirosaki indicated he wanted to rise. Saito held him by the arm.
***********************
Such a soft gentle material. How could he be here, he was on the grass near the stage........ then he remembered. It had been too fast. Of course!
"Hi, feeling better huh? You scared the living daylights out of us." Bernadette at the foot of his bed said. She leaned closer. Their hands connected. "You slept for the afternoon."
"So long? Sorry, it really wasn't your fault. I've been very ill recently. [smiles sadly] These days anyway. Your hands, your very touch calmed me down. I couldn't hear anything...... If not my agony usually continues for a period of two to three hours," Tomo sempai remarked, sitting up and leaning on the pillows. "Thank you."
"It wasn't me. It was a miracle from God. I felt so scared I prayed and prayed." So those were prayers, the muttering he had heard. Tomo scratched his head, tugging dreamily at his silvery strands then brushing them behind. He must look a mess. He shifted on his side, poised for pain but it wasn't a lot and faced her. She was red. He looked on the floor.
"Did you see my friend Kennex? Tell her I'm famished kay?" he smiled in thanks. The woman was a fantastic chef! She could actually go on tv but she wouldn't. Food flavor wafted in. A middle-aged lady with plaits hanging down her shoulders, long-legged, complete with an apron at her waist knelt down, setting the tray on the desk. He sat up straighter. Kennex propped up the pillows, wiped his sweaty back, rested a hand on his shoulder. Tomo scooped the soup, not caring it burnt his tongue.
"Oi, who asked you to rush? You'll choke you naughty boy." Kennex scolded, slapping his lap gently. "You worried us by blacking out. I hate you."
"Kenni," in between mouthfuls "I feel all right now. This is so Good! My friends were around me, nothing bad will happen to me when they are." He wiped his mouth with the tissue, smiling childishly. Kennex was like a sister to him, a younger girl but he had to admit he always needed more care than she ever did from him. He could cook, but barely. Kennex always cooked for him. Bernadette was seated in a corner, head still down. Tomo beckoned to her.
"Come here, sit with me. How old are you?"
"I'm twelve."
"Such a maturing age. Let's be friends, though we already are. Sugoi." He kissed her hand. The girl laughed. "You can call me Tomo chan or sempai if you still want to." The man sighed, lying back on the pillows. He thought the child was just like his little sister. How he wished he could have offspring. How anguished he had been when he learnt of the cancer. The doctor told him he was afraid that if he did have offspring he might likely give it to the baby with his genes.
Hirosaki's heart ached with longing. It didn't matter if people laughed at him for being homosexual. At least homosexuals could have families if they wanted to, whereas he wanted a family, but wasn't able to. He soon fell asleep.
Kennex offered the girl something to eat. Bernadette..... maybe she held some divine powers. She watched her eat, untying her apron. Childlike and yet an adult. There was something there. Tomo sempai didn't immediately strike up a friendship this close. He was friendly yes, nevertheless kept a distance from even family.
"Will he be ok? I am glad you're such a good caretaker of Tomo. If not I don't think he could manage it." Kennex gathered up the bowls and spoons.
"Yeah he wouldn't. A careless and clumsy boy. Clumsy not on stage but outside. I always have to remind him to take his medicine." Kennex recalled how her best friend was the survivor of two previous battles with the deadly illness. It hurt! How cruel Fate was treating Hirosaki, an outstanding performer. He slept now, exhausted, a chain with a cross and a man sticking to it. Bare-chested except for the short sleeved white shirt, unbuttoned at the top.
"Missy are you a religious person?" Kennex said after a while, looking at her bowls and spoons, arranging them into a line on the table top.
"Yeah, I go to Sunday school, um that kind of stuff...... you mean to pray for Tomo-sempai! Yes I do always, everyday. I hope he will be recovered, permanently."
"Thank you. I don't have much faith in God when I see my friend suffering. Why must God hurt him? He's so tender hearted. He has always been civil, honest and kind. Don't they tell you why in the class?" The girl's eyes felt like welling up. the answer was, God would let his followers suffer even more, so the good would be moulded into his image. People like Tomo-kun who was so nice and merciful Had to accept his illness and be more faithful. But at the resentment in the woman's features, Bernadette didn't wish to upset her further.
Another incidental happening
Saito folded the costume in its proper place and laid it into the box. Touga was a good performer, albeit inexperienced. If he sang a wrong tune they had to increase the volume of the music. They had had no choice, since Tomo was exhausted and feeling ill the replacement was essential. Saito felt resentment towards the young man, why didn't he Get picked anyway? All because Hirosaki favored the strange youth who appeared to have potential. Touga san was showing off to his fans, who had already forgotten the original jing role and now switched loyalties.
The big man slammed a sword onto the makeup desk. Eyes stared, some interested, some shocked. "You! Stop this at once. You didn't do So well! We had to cover up for all your stupid imperfections. Don't think you will stay like this for good!"
"Ne if I am not good, I wouldn't be chosen to play Hirosaki-sama's role. I get to do it right away. Unlike some foolish dogs, thinking they got the senior ranking," Touga replied calmly, stripping his white shirt, to some girls screaming and looking with ogling eyes. He was a slight figure suitable for the female roles as well and didn't have to do the customary clown Chou role to be promoted due to the advantage. How catlike slimy he was getting. Saito clenched his fist.
"He wouldn't have if he had seen your Un worthiness!" Saito stepped forward and shoved him so the youth slammed into the wall, then got him by both muscled hands onto the slender throat. Touga gasped, paling, going weaker and weaker. Some men held back the angry man, girls helped the victim. Touga coughed and coughed for a bit. An act! An act! Saito thought furiously, huffing from the exertion. "Let me go!"
He strode outside.
"How is Touga-san? Are you guys bullying him when I'm not there?" the troupe leader asked, propped up by pillows. He held the receiver nodding at the yakking on the other end. The amber pupils were calm, serene. His body was bare some tubes ran from his stomach to a machine beeping steadily. Bernadette's letter was overleafed by another colorful pad, clamped by a large black book. "He will be humble. It is all right, he's young, perhaps he needs to be confident in himself. What's the use of violence?"
"I know. It is tough for you..... anou, I don't know how well I will be tomorrow. Come home for dinner, Kennex cooked a lot excess. See you." He sighed, trying to lie on his side, the tubes hurt. And he felt very cold. But because of the tubes Tomo had to be bare-chested. One more hour. He resumed writing again, did it look legible? The performer squinted, hoping it was. It looked shaky, otherwise it was ok. He really did not have to strength to rewrite his copy, Even if it wasn't tidy. He sank back when he had done half the page, closing his eyes.
Bernadette knelt on the pew and murmured to herself. Candles flickered alongside. "Please God, let Tomo suffer less pain. He has been a good person. Please, on that account, help him. If it is your Will May I be an instrument of healing. Amen."
Tomo-sempai was too sick to leave his bed. Yesterday they had a phone conversation, which he sounded so faraway. He sounded sleepy, dozing off when she spoke.
"Hi, Hirosaki Tomo speaking," he said candidly, picking up on the fourth ring.
"Hi Tomo sama, it's me Bern. [he wanted to call her this] how are you feeling now? Are you still having a fever?"
"Swell. Just Tomo will do. But so bored. When can you come? Then I won't be sleeping so much." He gave a happy laugh, the breath coming out on the phone.
"I'm sorry, not free. What about tomorrow? Um afternoon?"
"Cool. Can't go out, I'm still a bit weak. Do come please. I want to see you, tell you something...."
"How about now? You might forget."
"Forget? [incredulous] My memory isn't that rotten. [both of them chuckled at this] It's something, you hafta come." Tomo coughed for a while and returned to the phone again "Don't disappoint me."
"What do you mean by...... All right, want me to get you a present? No no it isn't expensive, it's a handmade one. I'll bring it over. Bye get well soon!"
********************
She swung the paper bag now, walking to the house. Tomo sempai insisted on waiting at the gate, he'd said he would be seated. It was her first time. Scary, and shy. How would he look?
She pictured a pale gaunt guy introducing himself. His clothes would be thin, loose about his figure. C'mon! he wouldn't look so bad. "Here, Bern." The young man waved cheerfully when she almost walked past the house.
His left wrist was taped, had a transparent tube linked behind. No wonder he was so tired, all the treatment. Tomo smiled radiantly, holding her hand. "A present! Thank you." He folded the bag and sat it on his lap. The nails on his fingers were polished, kept long for the acting.
"I would like to see you open it."
"Okay, let's see......" she had given him seeds, stones and pebbles of many colors, carefully dried and polished. They were linked by a string. "It's so special, exotic. I won't wear it but I'll put it up. Arigatou."
Bern hugged him tightly. He felt cold, poor thing! He sneezed. His back dripped sweat. The skin was fair, he always stayed indoors, otherwise covered by paint. "I wanted to tell you this. We're soulmates. I read this book about vampires. They only have one male or female partner. I think it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be boyfriend or girlfriend relationship. We are soulmates! Right, Bern? I hadn't met you often before. I have this feeling we have some other life though. Don't you think?"
He smiled warmly, clasping both hands together. Actually she didn't think the same way, how could a fiction story be true? To what extent was it proven? Still he looked so excited and cheered up that she let it pass. "I suppose so."
He coughed painfully, not seeming to have heard her answer. Then they spoke of other things, his new script, the letter, school happenings. Tomo hadn't gone to much school, he was too poor to do that, he dropped out when his mom passed away. He had to lead. "Were you very sad at that? I'm sorry."
He cast about, swallowing. Bern poured him a glass. He sipped. "Um, yeah I was, but we weren't that close. I've always been outside and she was so strict. It was more like, a sadness that I had not got a chance to truly say goodbye. It was okay, coz I had Kenni and Saito my cousin. What of your folks?" he continued, shaking his bangs to the side. So cute!!! Bern shrugged.
"They're both alive and well. My mom's easy going. My dad, I hardly see him coz he's always so busy. Shall we go indoors? It's So hot." The Asian shook his head, patting the swing seat next to him.
"It's nice sun. You could get Vitamin D. Thank you for your kindness in coming here. If not I'll be sleeping again. Can you stay for dinner? I won't be tired. Kenni! Do you have enough? Great, you can stay then." He seemed eager to entertain her, didn't want to appear bored, though the wheezing was more frequent. Bernadette nodded. At last he laid his head back and rested. She held his hand. He did the same, squeezing as if to say ' I'm all right, relax '
