Chapter 9 – Past and Mysterious

So Nina went down the stairs and was about to out the door when Rio suddenly called her.

"Nina! Nina-chan!" Rio shouted

"What is it? I'm in a hurry Rio." Nina said

"Just come over here to living room." Rio said

"Why? I'm gonna be late." Nina said

"Just come! I want to show you something." Rio said

"I have no time for games Rio. I'll just look at it later, okay?" Nina said

"Mom! Mom! Nina-chan won't come to the living room. I want to show her something!" Rio shouted

So Nina's mom went down to see what the noise was all about.

"What's going on here?" Nina's mom said

"Mom! Nina-chan won't come to the living room. I really want her to see something!" Rio said pouting

"But I really have to go Rio. I promise you, when I come back later we'll play a game." Nina said

"Just go to the living room, Nina. I'm sure Rio has something good to show you that's why he wanted you to see it so bad." Nina's mom said

"Oh, alright. But after this, can I go already?" Nina asked

"Sure!" Rio said cheerfully with a very big smile on his face.

"So? What's here? It still looks like our living room." Nina said

"Don't you see anything new?" Rio asked

"No." Nina said

"Look closely." Rio said

"Nope. Nada. Nothing. Zilch!" Nina said

"Mom, can I just show it to her? She can't seem to find it." Rio said

"Okay, but you know that it was supposed to be a surprise." Nina's mom said

"Surprise? What are you guys up to?" Nina asked getting confused and curious

Rio went to the table which was full of their family photos. He took the picture frame which has little heart designs and gave it to Nina.

"Wow. A cute picture frame. Thanks Rio! But to tell you the truth, you could've given it to me later." Nina said

"Baka! Open it!" Rio said

"What did you just say?" Nina shouted

"Now, now. Rio, you shouldn't have called your sister an idiot. After all, she is older than you." Nina's mom said

"Gomen ne okaasan. Gomen ne Nina-chan. But can you just open it already!" Rio said getting impatient.

"Okay, okay." Nina said while opening the back part of the picture frame.

She saw a picture. Not just any picture. It was a picture of her with a boy.

"Mom… isn't this? I mean, this picture was taken… 11 years ago right? But, how did you find it? And this boy I'm with, I never got to know his name." Nina said looking surprised

"We surprised her after all mom!" Rio said smiling

"Want to know that boy's name?" Nina's mom asked

"Ofcourse. I mean, we had a lot of fun when we were both in London. It would be so nice to see him again." Nina said

"Okay. Go to the curtain near the piano and open it. You'll find some answers there." Nina's mom said

"To the curtain? You guys are asking me to do some silly things but okay." Nina said looking confused.

So Nina went to the curtain and nervously opened it. She screamed so loud when someone popped right out of the curtains.

"Hey, easy. It's me. Nina? Nina!" Tsujiai said while holding her hand.

"Tsujiai? What are you doing behind our curtains? " Nina said while taking a seat on the couch.

"Well, there's the answer you're looking for." Nina's mom said

"Huh? What do you mean? Don't tell me that Tsujiai is the boy from 11 years ago?" Nina said

"Yeah, he is. But I won't tell the story. Tsujiai's mom will take care of that." Nina's mom said smiling.

"You're kidding, right?" Nina said

"No. Why would we go through all this trouble just to surprise you if I was just kidding around?" Nina's mom said

"Yeah, you have a point. Anyway, you already know the story Tsujiai?" Nina said

"Yeah, my mom just told me yesterday." Tsujiai said

"I can't believe it! I think I'm gonna faint." Nina said

"You better believe it and don't faint. Mom will tell you everything later after our lunch date." Tsujiai said

"Lunch date? Oh yeah. I almost forgot all about that. Anyway, thanks for the surprise mom! I really am surprised and not to mention confused but I'm okay. Well, we have to go now. See you later." Nina said while giving her mom a kiss on the cheek.

"Let's play scrabble later okay Nina-chan?" Rio said

"Sure! See you!" Nina said

So Nina and Tsujiai went outside and she saw that there was a car waiting.

"Is that your car?" Nina asked

"No. That's our family car. Let's go." Tsujiai said while opening the door of the car.

At Tsujiai's house…

Dingdong!

"Welcome back sir." A maid said while opening the door

"Please tell mom that we have arrived. Oh and also tell Mina to prepare the food on the table. Thanks a lot." Tsujiai said

And so Tsujiai led Nina to the living room and they talked for a while. They went to the dining room when the food was already prepared and saw that Tsujiai's mom was already waiting.

"Sorry for waiting mom. Anyway, this is Nina Sakura." Tsujiai said

"Konnichiwa." Nina said while taking a bow

"Nice meeting you. Dozo okake kudasai." Tsujiai's mom said

They started eating and in the middle of their meal, Tsujiai's mom asked Nina if she already knows the story about Tsujiai and her 11 years ago.

"Iie. Not yet. But my mom did show me the picture. Is it really Tsujiai?" Nina asked politely

"Yes. I'll explain it now. Your mother and I have been friends for quite a long time now. And then, I remember your mother told me that your father will be working in London for a few months. What she didn't know was that Tsujiai and my husband was in London for a business trip. Your father met my husband in a company and then they eventually became good friends. Your father learned that my husband brought Tsujiai with him and then they decided to let you two meet. Funny story isn't it?" Tsujiai's mom said giggling

"Yes, but why was Tsujiai with his father? I didn't know that kids were allowed to come on business trips. And also, wasn't Tsujiai a bit hard to control? I mean, he is so stubborn." Nina said

"Hey! I'm not stubborn." Tsujiai said

"Yes you are!" Nina said

"No I'm not!" Tsujiai said

"Yes you are!" Nina said

"No I'm not!" Tsujiai said

"Ahem, ahem! Anyway, I was sick that time and nobody was able to babysit Tsujiai so we decided to let him come on the business trip. And ofcourse, his dad had a few problems with him because as you said he was very stubborn." Tsujiai's mom stated

"See? You are stubborn! Bleh!" Nina teased

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Tsujiai said

"You two look so cute together! Seeing you two makes me so happy." Tsujiai's mom said smiling

They finished eating and then Nina gave the cookies that she and her mother made.

"Thanks for inviting me over." Nina said

"No problem. Anytime." Tsujiai said

"You should come over more often. Anyway, thanks for the cookies." Tsujiai's mom said

"I'll walk you home." Tsujiai said

"Nah, it's okay. I still have to go to Ayu's." Nina's said

"I insist. Come on" Tsujiai said as he held Nina's hand

They slowly walked their way to Ayu's place. They were such a happy couple.

"You know, I could have drive you to Ayu's place but I decided not to. You know why?" Tsujiai asked

"I think I know but I want to hear it from you. So why didn't you drive me then?" Nina asked with a smile on her face

"Well, I just want to save gas and torture you by letting you walk for quite a long time. You need a long walk so that all the food you ate awhile ago will be easily digested. Besides, you need the exercise. Frankly, you're getting fat." Tsujiai said

"Mou! That is so mean! We're here now anyway. So you can just leave me and go home." Nina said frowning

"I was only kiddin'! You wanna know the real reason?" Tsujiai said as he hugged her

"No. Just save it." Nina said

"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. The reason that I didn't drive you is that I wanted to be with you a little longer. Being with you just makes me feel so happy." Tsujiai said sincerely

"I was also kidding. I wouldn't gey mad that easy.." Nina said as she kissed him lightly on the lips

"Can we just go to the park and maybe you can talk to Ayu tomorrow?" Tsujiai asked

"No can do! I'll talk to Ayu today and then we'll go to the park tomorrow. Okay?" Nina said

"Oh okay. I better go home now. Talk to you later." Tsujiai said

So Tsujiai went home and Nina rang the doorbell at Ayu's house.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Tateishi. Is Ayu home?" Nina asked politely

"Yes she is. Come on in. you can just go straight to her room." Ayu's mom said

"Okay. Thanks." Nina said

"Oh and Nina, can you please talk to her? She's been awfully quiet since she came home from Kaji's house. I feel that there's something wrong but she just wouldn't tell me." Ayu's mom said

And so, Nina went upstairs. She was confused on what Ayu's mom just said. She knocked on Ayu's bedroom door but there was no response. She knocked for the second time but still, there was no response.

"Ayu! Hey, are you there? I'm gonna come in." Nina said as she opened the door.

Ayu was lying on her bed. She didn't even noticed that Nina had already come in. it's like she has a big problem. Nina sat beside her but she still didn't notice that her bestfriend was worrying and that she was right beside her.

"Hi ayu! Anything wrong?" Nina said

Ayu didn't say anything. She was still staring blankly at the ceiling. Nina was about to say something when Ayu sat upright. She was just staring at Nina when tears suddenly started falling from her eyes. She suddenly hugged Nina.

"Nina! Oh Nina!" Ayu said crying

"What's wrong? What happened?" Nina asked

"I shouldn't have come there! Why did I believe that it was all true?" Ayu said while crying very hard

"Calm down. Tell me what happened. It'll make you feel better. Come on. Please stop crying." Nina said while trying to comfort her best friend.


There! End of chapter 9. Are you guys wondering why Ayu was crying? Just read the next chapter to find out. And thank you to those who's been reading my story and sending reviews. Domo Arigatou gozaimas. :)