What If Series Three: Wrong Phone Number...

Another bright morning with my crazy family once again. I was woken up by the four-alarm clocks inside the room. One, inside the drawer. Two, beneath Kotoko's pillow. Three, beside the cylindrical lampshade and lastly... the fourth one underneath our bed. I was going crazy in finding the last one... but before I could save my little self in slumber, I was put back in reality by my consciousness. And guess... there is a lot of stuff beneath our bed. Not to mention... Kotoko's bra... Kotoko's sandals... Kotoko's make-ups... and now I'm tired to see how many were there. I got up from the bed, uncovered my blanket, and looked at her, that's the first thing to do before going for work, and I won't forget that... saying that it's my way to start my day, upon looking at her, I got panic, saving that little innocent wife of mine from falling out of the bed. I have a bad idea there... if I have found a tie, I would tie her body to the bed to prevent her from falling but surely, I'm out of time.

I shook my head in disbelief and slapped myself. Naoki, you've got to straighten yourself up. You're now awake. I remind myself.

I opened the door and I saw Kotomi coming in. Her sleepy eyes have looked into mine, "Papa, you." she slowly said. "Hey, did you sleep late again? Kotomi, I told you... you should at least sleep eight hours a day. How can you grow tall if you keep on doing that? You're only five... it's not good for your development." I was trying to be nice to her but I think I should not spoil her much. She needs to grow up and be independent on her own. What if... ah... there goes the negative old me again.

"Papa, I only slept seven and a half hours. It's not that bad. I can't sleep last night thinking about physics and I was thinking about the oral recitation for this day and what should I and Itsuyo-chan do after our class. Can we play later, Papa?" she said.

"I told you, Kotomi. You shouldn't let yourself—"

"Papa, please... I want to visit Itsuyo-chan's house. Her father was amazing and she got a nice room too! I want to teach her how to play chess... please..." she pleaded... a weapon that would make my heart soft. I shifted my eyes instead. I shouldn't be tempted about it. They always use that to me whenever I want to stick from saying no. "Of course you can... but not today. No one's available to accompany you. I have to stick to my hospital duties until 8 pm and your mom is needed to assist an operation at 6 pm. After your class, you should be directly in my office to wait for us until we're done at work. Do you understand that, Kotomi? We have to go home together. I can't leave you in just any place. It's not that I don't trust Itsuyo-chan's father... but you're still five. You are under our guidance."

"But... Papa... I'm a big girl already. I can go there by myself and besides I can take care of myself. I already read about what to do in times that someone is in danger. You can trust a five-year-old like me." she reasoned out... and she has that kind of will that she won't be going to lose to me. I sighed. Kotomi is so persistent just like her mother.

"Kotomi... you can't use that reason to me. I won't change my mind." I told her and she frowned and before I knew it... tears started to form around her eyes, ready to fall. "I just made a friend and you won't let me go to her house." and with her bare hands, she wiped it off but it dirtied her face, guess she forgot to wash her hands last night after using pastel colors. "Hey... we can go to her house but not today, maybe tomorrow. I just want you to come to the hospital and wait at my office. That would be better, Kotomi. I can't trust the surroundings if you go alone. Look, you have broken our promise, I told you to sleep longer for you to grow tall and..."

"Hey, what is happening around her? So early in the morning, I sense a thick tension between you two." Kotoko appeared behind my back and she was still scratching her face... shoeing of the morning stars around her eyes but she still looked fine... not to mention that her body hasn't changed. She's still the same that I have met a more than a decade ago... but right now, her hair was really in mess.

"Mama!" Kotomi ran towards her, and she's still crying. "Oh, Mi-chan! Why are you crying? And who made you cry?" she asked after Kotomi ran to her arms, weeping on her chest. She answered, between her sobs, "Papa won't allow me to go to Itsuyo-chan's house." she said and before I could prepare from the strange and angry daggers in her eyes, she raised her tone, "Irie-kun!" that shocked the hell out of me, I felt a new kind of high voltage electricity cast in my veins, and she carried Kotomi when she came to face me. "Why won't you let her visit her friend? Remember, she just made a friend yesterday! You know that!" she pointed that matter to me. I want to console Kotomi but I won't change my mind. "I told her that I can't trust the surroundings if she will go alone." I tried to hush her back, "Kotomi, you have to understand your Papa. I am just doing this just to make sure you are safe. Can you do that?" but Kotoko never left me that kind of angry look that has already bled through my heart. "Why would she go alone?" she asked me, "We are free tonight," she added. I answered, "You are supposed to assist an operation at 6 pm right? And I need to talk to Dr. Makiato, I can't always say no to him. You know that he's the head doctor of Tonan hospital."

"Our daughter is the most important for us... she's been lonely and you won't let her see her friend? She's not like you in your childhood days... I have made sure that she won't grow with a cold heart." and now she was bringing that past into this present again... that's the thing she would always do when we are arguing like this.

I don't want to start my day with this... I love it to be like yesterday, so happy and vivid. But I won't risk Kotomi's safety if I'm going to allow her.

"Whatever you say, Kotoko. You can't change my mind. That's final. You two, stop trying to do anything. I really won't change my decision. We can go to Itsuyo-chan's house at the weekend but not today."

"You promised that you will never have to overtime with work, Irie-kun. Now you are breaking it."

"And how about you? You'll take that 6 pm operation, you are also having an overtime."

"Fine! I will cancel that! I will go with Kotomi. At least I know how to prioritize my work and my family! Unlike you!"

"Hey... I told you I can't say no to Dr. Makiato..."

"You can always have a say to him! You are always minding about the position, the heck of that rank!"

"Why are you always spoiling our daughter? You know, she needs to understand and grow up! You've been spoiling her that much, now she lost how to be obedient!"

I hate that we are fighting what's best for our daughter. It's not like this...

"You think I'm a bad mom now? So are you, Irie-kun!" and she stomped her feet as she walked downstairs. I hissed at my self, why did it turn to be like this? I hate it!

Then Kotomi, stick her tongue out just to piss me more, meaning that I deserved to be treated this way by her mom. What the hell? This all mom's and dads' fault and Yuki too! They spoil her so much! I want to get revenge for them when they get back.

We are taking our breakfast with an awkward silence. Kotomi calmed down... and Kotoko has a straight face that whenever she caught me looking at her, she would roll her eyes and avoid me. I hate being in a position like this. I can't handle Kotoko... and what if there are two of them? That's a lot of work.

"Ne, Irie-kun. Haven't you changed your mind?" she broke the ice between us.

"No," I told her immediately.

"Okay..." and she put a burnt egg on my plate... and there's no coffee for me. What the heck?

"You are always prioritizing your work over your family. Last time, I remember... you promised us that we go to see the dolphin's show but the show got ended, you still not around. And there's more... when I asked you to go shopping with us, you canceled it at the last minute, reasoning that you have to finish your work... if I know, you are only saying that shopping with us bore the hell out of you..."

"That was already finished matters, why would you bring that up? We already talked about that, Kotoko!"

"Not coming with us tonight and prohibiting Kotomi to come to her friend's house makes me all remember what you did in the past."

"You are unpredictable."

"Why are you so workaholic? We're not going poor, right? Tell me that if we do, then I will start to budget our expenses every week. I could not afford to send you out to work just to overtime."

"You don't understand. I still have some things to accomplish. As a man, I want to buy a house, it's not good if we stay here for the rest of our lives."

"Why would you want us to move out? When in fact, we are fine here. Oka-san and Oto-sans already planned about it. They started to expand this house again. No one's gonna move out."

"I said... you don't understand. I need to get a higher position to loan a house. What would you want me to do? Ask money to my father? Then what I am doing here for our family? I'm also the head, Kotoko. You know that!"

"Then your father would be glad to borrow you some of his money. You helped him to get his company back to its feet and now Yuki is the acting director... that won't be bad..."

"I did that to prove myself that at least, I gave an effort to marry you."

"Was that so? I don't believe you."

"Mama... and Papa... stop fighting anymore. I won't go to Itsuyo-chan's anymore. Just stop fighting..." Kotomi spoke between our heated up conversations. I looked at her and it has calmed me down. It is not good to show her how me and Kotoko fights. It is not a good example. "I hate it when you two fight because of me. I'm sorry... Papa and Mama. I won't force you again." she said, and I noticed that she barely touches her food. I angrily looked at Kotoko and she was still fired up... and I bet, there are a lot of things she wants to slap to my face... and she will use that against me.

"I'm sorry too, Kotomi. We shouldn't be fighting over this... now don't mind us, just eat or else you are gonna be late for your class this morning." I told her and help her to touch her foods.

"No, Mi-chan!" Kotoko took the fork away from me, "We will go at Itsuyo-chan's house after your class. I know you've been so tired to stay at the library while waiting for us... and it's not good for your development. I haven't seen you playing with the other kids in school because you are still shy to express yourself. I don't want you to grow up being like your dad. Mama always wants you to have fun with friends and live normally... not just like to be the legendary five-year-old daughter who is the daughter of the tensai, Irie Naoki but the Irie Kotomi who I kept in my womb for nine months just to see the world with colors." she said.

And something strikes inside me, "Hey... did you mean that I prohibit our daughter to have friends? That it is my fault that she's like that? That being a genius is a bad trait? Then do you think being stupid is better than being a genius?" I told her those words in an accurate manner. I don't mean it... but it just came out of mouth due to my anger. And I didn't know but... it's too late now.

"So... you are discriminating me... all this time, you are thinking me just like that. Just a stupid woman who have used black magic for you to marry me," she said, eyes were unbelievable, but it gashed through my heart, I don't want to spend my mornings like this... all I want is to have a peaceful breakfast with them just like those in the past days... but why... have I done wrong? There are so many things I want to say but my mind was frozen like I don't know... it all just stopped when I saw Kotoko's hurt face, knowing that I was the cause of it.

"Fine, Irie-kun! Don't talk to me!" she said and turned her back on me. Kotomi looked at me, she didn't believe it too. Kotoko who has always been so fond of me, that will use all of her powers to chase me, has turned her back. I admit it hurts me. I don't want to see her hating me all she can like that... honestly, I was expecting a morning kiss from her but seemed like I won't get that now... or the next day...and the day after next.

"Papa... I'm sorry." Kotomi came to my side while I was still shocked at Kotoko's reaction, I hurt to see her like that. "If I obey your decision earlier then Mama would've not been going to be like that. I will talk to Mama," she said. And I was taken aback by my old self, "No... Mi-chan, it's fine. We tend to fight anyway. Every married couple fights, it's unpredictable and uncontrollable. Don't worry, we are going to be fine. We've been through with this, we should get over soon." I told her and gave her a fine smile. I want the best for Kotomi... her safety and happiness is all the matters to me.

She kissed me on my cheek, "I know you can't manage to get a kiss from Mama but... I am hoping that you will like this." she cutely said and I smiled at her thoughtfulness. "Don't worry, it's not your fault. Now, you should eat, or else you are going to be late."

While Kotomi was preparing her things, I knocked on the door where Kotoko was changing her clothes. I was hesitating to apologize to her but... I think I said some various words that triggered her to act like I'm very hateful.

"What do you want?" she said, still her voice was mad. I sighed... if she was still like that, I swear... the whole part of me was surrendering. I cleared my voice and gathered all the strength I need. "I need to get my necktie. I forgot to bring it with me." I told her but the real thing is... I purposely left it behind just to have a moment to get into the room where she was still in.

She opened the door, my eyes nailed at the sight of her, she was only wearing her inners and she had never done this before. "I thought you're done changing," I commented and looked at the side instead, at those picture frames papered on the wall... the picture of us in our wedding suits, the trip to Okinawa and our first family picture when Kotomi was still nine months old. "No, I'm still finding my phone," she said and looked around. "Where did you put it last night? I have seen you playing a dating game before you went to sleep." I recalled. She shook her head, "I thought it is on the bed but it isn't there. Dou kana..." she looked around. I want to say at least she has to change first before finding her phone. Even though she didn't have that kind of curvaceous body, but the fact that I love her... it affects me.

"I told you to clean our room regularly... things won't be misplaced if everything is kept organized," I told her making that sense... trying not to affect the temptation in front of me. "You are still like so cold, Irie-kun!" and she was mad at me again, "Didn't I teach a lesson earlier? Shimatta, it didn't change you a little bit." she said and got her robe to wear it. My bad, I should've taken a look at her properly before she covered it. Sighs. I'm gonna die because of the frustration soon. "I am stopping to play like a mad wife right now. We're going to be late and I need to find my phone."

Did what? What did she say? It was all an act? Goodness. It terrified me! I thought... it was the end of the world... she did it in purpose!

"It was all an act?" I asked her.

And she answered it with the truth, "Yes, Kotomi said that I should be mad at you to see your reaction... but your face was still the same, not a looking forward to. A cold and icy expression, that will do no good for me, Irie-kun. Now... where is my phone?" and she was now finding it in the drawers.

"Kotomi ga? You mean she planned this?" so they teamed up again just to make fun of me while I was blaming myself... thinking how to settle down the matters between us.

"Yes. Now would you help me to look for my phone? I don't want to lose it."

And I quickly carried her to the bed, toppled over her, looking at her like that. Now she certainly had stirred another beast inside of me.

"Irie-kun? What's the matter?" she blinked innocently. Her hands were on my chest, gripping my shirt, trying to stop me from doing something that would make us come late at work. I had my hand got into her robe and I tickled her thereunder. She giggled... "Irie-kun... seriously, we're going to be late..." she said between her giggles. "Please stop... I am not still wearing my nurse uniform." and I tickled her more. That's the punishment of making me feel like I was a loser earlier. I didn't take it as a joke. I seriously thought that the problem was the worst. And now, I have the full right to take what should be mine earlier. I can't believe that I am fuckingly crazy for this woman in my cold-hearted way. I inclined more to her, feeling her scent, this hasn't changed to me. It is still so wonderful.

I kissed her tenderly. My spine went rigid, and it felt so natural, so right for me to be holding her. She wrapped her fingers around my arms, holding as tightly as she could while we share our first kiss in the morning. And now, believe me, this kind of moment will make me forget that we have to go to work and take Kotomi to her school. I was fumbling at her back trying to unlock something... unconsciously when...

"Mama! Papa! What are you guys doing?" Kotomi came in with her backpack on. I quickly rolled her body with the thick comforter good enough before Kotomi can get closer to us. "Now, I am late. My teacher would punish me again to sit in the air!"

"Your mom is still finding her phone." ...were the things I could say while it hasn't left me yet.

"Too bad, my phone is broken." she sighed heavily. I peeked at her expression, "The only solution is... you will buy a new one." I suggested.

"Mama... I think I don't want to go to my class today." Kotomi said while we're going to the train station, we were holding her hands while walking. I viewed my watch, she was one hour late, not a good start to start learning for the day. "Oh, how about we go shopping again, Kotomi?" she stopped and all her crazy ideas were now floating in the air. "Oy... you're teaching her to ditch her class?" I was pinpointing an important matter here. "Don't interrupt us, Irie-kun. It's your fault why she is going to school late!" she looked at me and shoed me off... away from those imaginations where Kotomi can only relate. "Oh... and we are going to eat sweets and... cakes! And pizza!" before I could stop it, Kotomi was now jumping off the excitement of the idea. "And we'll take photos and send it to your dad to make him change his mind that he shouldn't prioritize his work over us." and now both of them became powerful and unstoppable anymore. "Really? Then we can go to Itsuyo-chan's house!" Kotomi added. Kotoko just nodded and the whole thing was well-planned again. "Oh... we should buy a new phone now!"

At the phone store.

"Hey... how do you use it?" Kotoko certainly bought herself a new phone which was the exact opposite of her era... because of her stupidity, she didn't know how to use it. Her phone was the latest one... new kind of specs with the latest android os. But I was kind of happy... the color white matched mine. Kotomi, the clever that she is, opened the box to discover something while I was waiting for the saleslady to return my card. No... I didn't insist to pay it... Kotoko, the powerful woman she can be, made me. "This is definitely unlike mine," she said while browsing on the menus shown on the screen. And Kotomi, after reading the manual, "Mama, I know how to use it." she said and pulled my shirt, signaling that I should carry her up so that she can be leveled right to her mom. I did what she told me... I was like atoning for my sins when I was the one who caused me to be absent from her class today. "There... there's the camera and you can type easily your message here... and, you can also browse through these apps. Your phone is awesome, Mom!" she said and Kotoko looked through it. "Hey... Irie-kun!" she called me when I was obviously beside her. "What?" I glanced at her bright face. "Let's take a picture. A selfie? Marina always does this... and she will upload it in her blog! I want to fill my blog with our pictures so... I'm planning to take one every day!"

And she raised her arm after she changed the camera to the front. "There... I can't reach it."

I took the phone away from her and raised my arm instead. I smiled a bit and took three shots of us. Kotomi was smiling so wide... and I gave the phone back to her. "Here." and she gladly accepted it, "Wow... it is really good. I should wallpaper this one. Hey, Kotomi... where can you make this picture into a wallpaper of your screen?" she asked. Kotomi patiently instructed her mom and they both giggled when they successfully did it. "Look, your Papa smiled a bit. What do you think now, Kotomi? He's handsome, right? This was the same face I fell in love with when we were in high school. Every thought of it sounds so romantic." Kotomi was super duper excited, "Really, Mama? Ne, can you tell me how did you fall in love with Papa?" and I reminded her, "Oy... you shouldn't tell her things like that." but it turned out to be useless.

"Irie-kun like!" Kotoko suddenly made a high pitched voice when she saw my cousin, Senjou Samuel, stroking back his silky hair as he made a commercial entrance in the glass double doors... like he was shooting for an advertisement. On what earth did the wind had taken him to be here? I humbly asked myself. I still hate that she calls him 'Irie-kun like' when in fact, he was not like me.

"Hi. I didn't know you would be all here..." he said.

Luckily... he was assigned to another hospital because there was no vacant at that time when he applied.

"How are you?" I asked him, he was moving so smartly on like the press was flashing their cameras on him... like he was the new instant hot celebrity in the country.

"I am fine. Hey, Kotomi... I thought you are at school for this day. Are you sick?" he asked.

"No. She isn't sick. She was just absent for today because of Irie-kun. You look so handsome there, Irie-kun like! Don't know how you became so graciously handsome! I haven't seen you for months. Do you have a girlfriend now? If not, I would be glad to have another Irie-kun in my life. Hihihi." and she glanced at me, probably my face looked like the darkest side of the lion shison, uncontrollably shaking my anger. "I'm just kidding. Oh, what are you doing here? Would you also buy a new phone?" she withdrew it.

"No. I want to try a new pair of headphones. Mine was already broken." he answered smoothly.

"Soo ka." Kotoko just nodded and took out her phone once again, "Ah. By the way, I bought a new phone. Can I get your number please." And her eyes twinkled... no, she can't use that to anybody besides me... why am I acting this way? Shit. Samuel just looked at me for a second and it didn't occur to him to ask my permission, he typed his number as he pleased. What... I bought that new phone and... he was the first one to register his number there? It sounded unfair to me! Kotoko was so happy after getting it... and I peeked at her phone while she was putting a contact name and she even typed 'Irie-kun 2'.

"Oy just quit calling him 'Irie-kun like', he isn't like me!" I hissed in her ear but she just stuck her tongue out, giggling, "Oh... you can't make me." she chuckled and finally she turned to me, "Here. Put your number, Irie-kun. And your email too... so I can message you all the time." I quickly left my jealous old self and typed fast. "There. And since you got your new phone, don't call me when I'm at work... please." I can still remember that she used to when I was in Kobe. She never missed in second and, my telephone number was stacked of her voicemails... I got crazy in clearing that up every day.

I came to work in the hospital at ten am. Dr. Makiato wants to see me immediately, said the matters were urgent he was waiting patiently at me to come when in fact, I have planned to take a leave today. Kotoko and Kotomi insisted on me too but I can't do anything about it... I felt like this is a very important matter to be considered.

"So here are you now, Dr. Irie," he said, hands clasping as he leaned in his chair. I made a cursory glance at the awards and trophies heralded in his office when he finally decided to start talking about it. He waggled his eyebrows and finally, "So I have a special proposal for you, Dr. Irie. And you might like it."

I asked politely, "So... can I hear about it now?" and I glanced at my phone, Kotoko was so busy sending pictures onto my account. They looked so happy eating pizza and desserts. Eating unhealthy foods.

"The Tonan Hospital wants to promote you as the head doctor of the pediatrics department. You've done a great job, and you have very amazing skills. The hospital needs somebody like you, Dr. Irie. Someday we will send you abroad... having to connect with the foreign doctors. Since you are very good at English, I think the position fits you." he proposed and I was kind of happy hearing about it, at least my salary was doubled and surely, I can buy a house now, fits for the three of us in the meantime.

My phone rang. I canceled Kotoko's call.

"So upon talking about that, there is an invitation from the Russian government. I think you'll like it... it came from the children association of the government, an institution for the sick kids who are needed an extreme observation about their rare disease. Name it... I think you can use your skills there, Dr. Irie. And we have made a decision now, you are our representative, not just in Tonan... but in the whole hospitals in Nippon. It is all about providing a cure of extreme viruses affected the children today and as your assignment, you will conduct an observation... documents, and facts of how to act against it. You will be there for at least one week... and we would love to send you right away tonight."

Tonight?

Come to think of it... it's a great offer for me. I want to take it... especially it was much related to my field. I've been wanting to go out there and help many sick kids... that would Kotoko wants me to do... she wants me to help the sick children of the world... and protect them from all kinds of disease. I think it's a great privileged for me, like once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to grab it.

"So are you taking the offer? I don't want to sound like I'm forcing everything on you but I really think you are the best out there and besides... this is related to your chosen field. I don't think you would regret it." he added.

I gave him a nod, "I'm taking it." I decided confidentially.

"And Dr. Frederick Schvlwiak wants to meet you now. Do you have a second for another meeting?" he raised her brows but the happy face of him was very delighted to hear me say yes.

Hey, Kotoko. I got promoted. They will send me out to Russia as the representative in Japan. I will call you later. I will be out for one week and I hope you understand it.

I typed the message fast and sent it to her. After a while, there was no message from Kotoko... she has stopped sending me pictures too. I wonder if they got busy hanging around... playing in the amusement park but I know she will reply soon and I was hoping for her kind understanding since she was the sole reason why I chose this field. I put back the phone in my pockets... really enjoying the promotion that they gave to me.