Disclaimer:I do not own Slamdunk (and you know who does).

Caught in the Act

AYAKO

What could be worst than learning that there was a more serious, mind-boggling news besides my father's having another family?

My mom confessed to me today that she has had an affair with a married man! That she had been the reason why a happy family was broken. When I heard this coming from my Mom's mouth accompanied by sobs, I felt my life was hanging by a thread and only a few more statement from her, I might break down too.

I almost fainted when I learned that the 'married man' was none other than Mr. Rukawa. It was now making sense that my mom's out-of-town business trips had nothing to do with business at all. She was in fact, meeting secretly with him. Too expensive right? She endured the long travel to Tokyo just to be with him. That has to mean something serious.

What will I do? What will Kaede say about this? Will this end our long-time friendship?

A part of my being was ashamed of my mom's affair. I had never felt this ashamed of someone, besides my dad then.

I suddenly wished I hadn't known about it. The burden was too big to bear that I wanted to tell someone, to just get it all out without any care at all. But there's no one I can talk to about that. I had to take this on my own.

Speechless, I left my mother at the living room. It's obvious she regretted what she'd done. And it saddened me that I can't do anything but cry in my room right after.

It had been raining hard outside. Adding to the heavy weight I felt inside, as I cried my heart out. If only the unbearable pain I felt inside could kill, I'd be dead. My eyes were tired and my tears seemed to have run out. I fell asleep out of tiredness, the corner of my eyes and cheeks were still tear-stained.

I was awakened by the sunlight that peered through my window. If before, I would happily welcome another new day, today was an exception. I felt a certain kind of déjà vu. It was the second time that I felt like this, like there's no hope, like it's not going to be all right.

The first time was when dad left us. I was completely devastated. It's happened again. The last person I'm hoping to comfort me was also the same person who brought all this pain. One thing's for sure, I don't know how to face my mom after last night.

HISASHI

I want to play again.

Even though I didn't have the right to ask for a second chance after I left the team. It's been a long time since I last stepped in a basketball court and attempted a three-point shot.

I don't want to be like this, like a totally different person from what I was before but I have no choice. It's my only way of getting away from disappointment. I've been disappointed and betrayed before. By my father, who else?

When he left us without any explanation, I was so angry with him. He was the one who always told me that I should never give up. He inspired me to be a player that I've become when I was in junior high and inspired me even more to do better when I got in the Shohoku basketball team.

I never deemed that it was possible he'd be the one to give up on us, on me. He broke our family and he broke my trust. From then on, I found no sense in continuing the dream that we both built. I started living my life away from the path that he wanted me to live.

I quit basketball not only because of my knee injury, but because I want him to see I hated what he wanted me to become. The doctor said I could still play after some physical therapy. Still, I quit everything that made him so proud of me. It was my way of getting back at him. It was my way of showing him how much I hated him to the point that I didn't care about what I've become.

I went out with my friends almost every night, even on school days. They're 'friends' who are not actually the type that would do something good but they're not that bad. They're just different from the friends that a guy like me, if I were sane enough, would hang out with.

The only thing that I didn't do, and had no plan of sabotaging was my studies. I don't get that high grades but at least it got me through every year in high school. It got me through first and second year.

It gave me satisfaction to hear from my mom that my dad's so disappointed in me. Well, it might not even be close to how disappointed I was of him. Even though they've been divorced, my dad still calls mom to know how we were doing. That didn't make him any better. It didn't make the pain less bearable.

But the satisfaction that I've felt started to fade away when it became clear to me that in the process, in my attempt and obsession to get back at him, I was also hurting those who were around me, especially my mom and my sister.

I was so blinded that I didn't see how affected they were. I was so focused on getting revenge. But where was he? He's there, out there somewhere having fun while the ones who were here with me endured all my rebellious acts.

As much as I want to go back to my former life, I can't. I'm in too deep now that I felt going down to the pit of misery.

On my way to the hopeless pit, to giving up completely, I saw her. I didn't mean to bump hard on her. I didn't notice I was heading towards her direction. She was walking rather quickly, like she was running away from someone. She looked like she didn't get that much sleep. Her eyes were puffy. Despite that, she still looked pretty.

It was too late before I could save her from her fall. She fell hard on the pavement; she actually might have broken a bone. If there was someone I would want to bump into, it's not her. She's the last person I wanted to see right now.

But what made me stop and attempt to help her? Is it concern? I better face the war that's about to ensue. There was never a time that she won't back down whenever our paths crossed.

I looked at her pained face; her features didn't show any sign of fury or any indifference. I've been used to see fury in that beautiful face of hers. For a girl, she's too tough, too unfeminine, too not my type.

We've been like mortal enemies ever since she learned that I'm the bad guy who wants the basketball team disqualified. We've been exchanging menacing glances and harsh retorts despite the fact that I'm older than her and she's just a 'girl' for crying out loud. I hated her guts to practically overthrow my remarks to the point that I didn't know what to say. All I could do was walk away.

But today, it's weird; I didn't receive any signs of the fury that I'm so sure she's about to shower me with. Her face looked troubled rather than furious. Why would she be troubled?

My rational mind got the better of me. If I were feeling moody, this girl will get it.

Here goes! Maybe she's preparing a better remark she could give me than the one she gave which lacks force.

"Sorry. Can't you be any careful?" I lend a hand to her so she could stand but she just looked at it as though it's strange.

I decided to ignore what she did. It's only natural for her to disregard my offer. Especially when it came from her least liked person. She got that point across from the day at the basketball court.

But I'm not one who would wait till she accept the help I'm extending her. She stood and ran off. Shrugging my shoulders, I can't really understand that girl. And I can't be mistaken by what I heard. She was sobbing.

Why would she be crying? I didn't do anything.

Did I?

AYAKO

I saw Kaede. He was eating with Hinori. Before they could see me, I ran off. I've wanted to sit with them and have a good laugh, at the same time I can't help but pity myself. Hinori and Kaede were getting along so well that I would think they're 'together' from were I'm standing.

As much as I want to greet them, I can't. Whenever I see him, I'll always be reminded of my mom's relationship, an unacceptable relationship.

Among the many reasons I've given myself as to why I should stop feeling whatever this feeling was towards Kaede. I'm not sure I even wanted to know how he would react to that.

I've never been this troubled in my whole life, after bumping to Hisashi, of all people, to have lost my catty remarks.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" That didn't come out right. It lacked strength.

I usually felt irritated whenever I see Hisashi. However, it's different because I knew deep down that I can't deal with him, with any other guy, and with Kaede to be exact.

I didn't mean to ignore Hisashi like that when he offered to help me. I have to run off before he could see the tears that were threatening to blow my tough cover. He shouldn't see me cry. That was my conviction that time.

I'm surprised that he's not that rude. Still I shouldn't believe what had just happened.

Guys have ways of fooling girls. They're so good. For instance, my mom was fooled. Or maybe, she let herself get fooled.

After that, I hope I won't see him any time soon. Why am I still thinking about him? It's Kaede I should be worried about. He's the one I should be avoiding.

Oh Mom, what have you gotten us into? Before I could get lost in this pool of thoughts which I knew won't even get me anywhere, but would only make me feel guilty and frustrated, I'd better get to work.

I hate feeling guilty for something that I didn't do. At least Kaede didn't know yet. But the secret will eventually be disclosed. I have to avoid running into him at school.

What a brilliant idea. It won't take me anywhere near the assurance that it will be alright. I must be prepared to face the possibility that sooner or later, I'll be damned. I wiped the tears on my dampened cheeks and composed myself when I reached the bar and restaurant which was only a few blocks away from school.

"Good afternoon!" I greeted the twenty or so year old woman behind the counter. Her name is Natsumi, a very friendly co-worker. I reminded myself to smile, but she seemed to have noticed. "What's with the strained smile?"

"Oh, the usual, money problems, school problems, and some guy problems too, I think." I said without elaborating.

"Funny you should say that. I don't see any guy around here waiting for you. Or your boyfriend for instance, I haven't seen him yet. Anyway, let's get started. Take care of the glasses over there. Just finished washing them," she said while disappearing behind the swinging door that led to the kitchen.

"Okay, but let me put these heavy things in the locker room and put on some make-up." I hope she heard.

"Sure," she the replied from the kitchen. I went to the back door where the staff's locker was and started applying a rather too-heavy make-up.

RUKAWA

Dad called. I wasn't surprised when he told me that he's seeing someone. I'm not interested to know who she is. It's been three years since my parents lived separate lives. My Mom went to the U.S. working as a chemical engineer. Dad on the other hand was working in Tokyo. So, I live alone in our big house with two maids and a gardener who comes twice a week.

I pity the woman my Dad was fooling around with now. She's in for a disappointment. My Dad had this habit of dating women and then getting rid of them in barely a few months.

So what if this current flavor of the month lasted for three months. That's a record but that didn't guarantee that their relationship will last.

AYAKO

In this bar, I worked as a waitress and sometimes a bartender. Can you believe it? A bartender! If someone from school saw me tonight, I'm in for an explanation.

Who cared anyway? It's not like they would even recognize me. I was wearing a heavy make-up which I did myself. And besides, I've been working here for months and no one has ever noticed.

How did I get in here? My mom knew the owner. She's friends with him. I told her maybe she could recommend me because we really needed the money. I worked Sundays thru Thursdays from six in the evening to nine while every Friday to Saturday from five to ten, sometimes eleven if I feel like not going home.

I've got a hectic schedule. And since it's a Friday, it meant I'll be working from five till eleven because I didn't feel like going home tonight. I know, it's only an hour but so what.

This bar's a combination of serving coffee, wine, whiskies any drinks and delicacies to pair with. There are only a few of us here who's on duty, including my friend Natsumi.

Wearing my uniform, a white fitted button-down blouse and a mini-skirt, black stockings and black boots with a black apron on top, I got a pen and paper always by my apron's pocket.

Tonight, the bar was packed. I'm sweating not because of the lack of air condition. There's plenty of it. It was suffocating. I wondered why I even accepted this job. I've been working here for almost half a year now and I'm still not used to the smoke and the noise and there were some drunken customers on the dark corners.

I was assigned at the bar. The growing number of customers was not a relief.

With no one looking at me, I poured myself a drink. I wanted to taste it, to know why these people were hooked on it. Hiding behind the bar, I downed the half-full glass. The unfamiliar sour taste of it made me cough so hard. I did it again, being careful this time. The liquid flowed smoothly in my throat down to my empty stomach. It gave me relief and pride to be able to drink without coughing again.

I stopped pouring myself another drink when the wine bottle was half-empty. Looking around again, I spotted Natsumi at the other end of the bar, busy taking orders from customers.

I was chewing a gum so she wouldn't smell a hint of alcohol from my breath. "Natsumi, I'll just go outside for a minute to get some fresh air." It was already past ten and I could go home if I want to, but not yet. Not till I drank the last drop of the wine or whisky, whatever, as long as it'll take my mind off my problems. It will do for now.

"Okay, but don't take too long." She was my superior, been on this job for two years. I wonder why she lasted that long. How can she even endure it?

I slipped outside through the back door, with the bottle in hand, feeling a little dizzy but I ignored it.

HISASHI

What does she think she's doing? Does she want to get drunk? I was sitting at the far end of the long bar. I saw what Ayako did. It's crazy. She's crazy. Does she want to get fired?

I was with my 'friends'. A friend told me that this was a cool bar, with sexy waitresses, so we decided to check it out. We have fake IDs. We show it at bars around town who want evidence that we're of drinking age. Guess the security was not that tight here and the other few bars around town.

But at this bar, there's no need to do so because a friend of mine knew the owner, used his influence to let us get in and order alcoholic drinks with the condition that we shouldn't get drunk.

Who would have thought that I'd find her here, almost drunk maybe? She didn't see me yet. And I would love to see her reaction once she saw me. I want to see that look on her face; the 'oh-no!-I'm-caught-in-the-act' look. That would be priceless.

I didn't know she was a rebel too, a rebel without a cause. I was looking at her closely, taking in her body, her swept up hair and her flushed cheeks which I assumed was caused by the alcohol she just downed a little while ago. She looked different tonight, attractive maybe. She looked far from when she's wearing the school uniform. Her skirt was shorter and her blouse was tight-fitting. I didn't know she was sexy. And for goodness' sake, since when did she learn to wear that much make-up. I almost didn't recognize her. She looked older.

Hey, I'm no pervert. I just can't help but admire a girl when I saw one. I admit that she's one to be admired - except the drinking.

She walked out of the bar; maybe she hid the half-empty bottle on her apron. I think she's planning to continue the celebration outside where no one can see. Before she could drown herself in drunkenness, I followed her outside.

Sure enough, she was drinking from the bottle like there's no tomorrow. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I said.

She stood rooted on the ground, not turning around to face me.

I went in front of her, "How long have you been drinking?" I asked.

"Stop interrogating me. Just get lost, will you." She replied stubbornly. But she didn't move from where she was standing.

"You're drunk! And what you're doing is illegal. Give me that bottle."

"Look who's talking. Haven't you done this too?" she said knowingly and maybe to get on my nerves. It hit me right on the spot but I didn't show her she got me.

"It's none of your business!" I drawled. I don't have to ask why she knew. Hinori told her or maybe she's just bluffing. Whatever. This is about her, not me.

"Well, what I'm doing is none of your business too! Just leave me alone!" She stomped on her heels, away from me, still holding the bottle.

I ran after her. "When you get drunk, believe me, you'll get a hang-over tomorrow and it's not worth it. You would wish you didn't even taste that stuff. Didn't you're mom ever tell you that's bad?"

"You don't know anything, so stop acting like you do." Then she suddenly cried. No, sobbing was the proper word. And I didn't know what to do. What am I supposed to do? Her mascara was dripping down her cheeks. I was not able to control myself. I took out my handkerchief and wiped her cheeks dry.

"Ayako…what's wrong? Come on, you can tell me," I told her gently. It's so unlike me, it's been so long since I've used a gentle tone. Maybe I might get her to speak if I'd be gentle. Her mouth opened to speak, but before the words could come out, she fainted.

This is what you get Hisashi for minding other's business. Now, what am I going to do?

to be continued...