The Box Of Chocolate (Chapter 2) Fuji's Chocolates
"Tadaima", Fuji said as he opened the door. He bent down to untie the laces of his shoes, then carefully removed them. He decided to put them on the corner like he always did. He was greeted by his sister who was wearing an apron with a big apple design on the center.
"Where's mom and dad?" Fuji asked his sister after noticing that their parents were not home.
"Shusuke, don't you remember? It's mom and dad's 25th wedding anniversary." She was a bit annoyed. How come his brother forget.
"Yeah, I know but they usually celebrate at home , with us." That explained it. It's not that he forgot, it's just that this time their parents decided to celebrate it differently from what they're used to. She was somehow relieved. I'll scold him if he forgot.
"It was special because it's their 25th years together. They need sometime alone to celebrate it."
Fuji is often seen with a calm and content expression on his face, with his eyes seemingly closed from lightly smiling. Yumiko knew his brother so well. But something was so strange about him today. She could sense it the moment Fuji arrived home from school. He still wore his signature 'smiling face with eyes close' look but there's something different. That she can't figure out. Yes, he's the same only this time he looked much happier.
He looked at Fuji again, still smiling. He was carrying a big paper bag on his left hand while his right hand carry a small red box wrapped with a cute little blue ribbon.
"So, it's the same as last year" Yumiko said, commenting on what Fuji was carrying. She didn't bother to ask what's inside that paper bag. She would probably have guessed it right.
"Yeah but this year I received more." So I was right. It was the same as last year. That bag contained chocolates from his fan girls. Every year , during this particular day of the month, their home became a host for ants for a week because of Fuji's chocolates. There were chocolates everywhere: inside the fridge, the kitchen cabinet, his room, everywhere. There came a point in Yumiko's life that she got so sick of them. Fuji still received chocolate every now and then for no reason at all, even if there's no special occasions. Her brother must be very popular and those chocolates proved it. Her attention was taken by the box his brother hold on his left hand. Could it be that it was special he decided to show it off? Or could it be that the bag was full and could no longer made room for another one?
Fuji was about to leave for his room when he was interrupted by his sister.
"Fuji . . . ", his sister was looking at him and the box he was holding.
". . .", he was waiting for his sister to say something.
"Never mind . . . Dinner will be ready by seven." She now headed to kitchen to continue her cooking. He was on the third step of the ladder when an idea strike him. He looked at his sister. An evil aura was surrounding him. Fuji was nice but sometimes he can be as sadist and naughty as he can be. It was usually hid by his calm face. Behind those closed eyes were his plans that he could execute any time soon. Fuji was very surprising person, one time he was an angel next thing you knew he was already a devil. No one knew exactly what was playing inside the tensai's playful mind. Poor Yumiko. She was about to taste Fuji's capricious escapades and 'sweet curse'. You should not let your guard down!
"Onee-san, would you like to try some?", offering her sister the chocolates inside the red box he hold on his right hand. He placed the bag on the first step of the ladder so he could hold the box with both hands. He hold it this way so her sister could have a better looked on what's inside.
"Naah, it's OK." Yumiko said as she waved his hands to indicate that she was not interested in trying those chocolates. But my! They looked so tasty. For a moment she was tempted but thinking about the fats those sweets contained, she backed off right away. She shook her head left to right so she could get her mind off those mouth watering chocolates.
"Come on. It was good. I promised." Fuji was teasing her more. No. She must not gave in to his request. But the more she resisted the more he insisted. She was becoming more suspicious of his actions. It's like he was into something. It was confirmed when she saw him grinned evilly. But something made her change her mind. It's the look on her brother's face. Her other half kept on convincing her to stop. Yumiko, aren't you aware of what he was capable of? why there's a sudden change?
It's because it's Shusuke. The reason is that simple. And no one in the family can resist his charm even their parents especially when he's into something (or on playful mode). He won't give up unless you did it first. She was wondering how his brother got that convincing power, or rather that persistent power. Of all the people in the world, why did Kami-sama chose my brother to received this gift which is too much to our displeased. Why had my brother been blessed with so much? He's not dangerous but more often than not his actions were nothing but childish which caused chaos that has traumatizing effect on the victims.
"OK but just one. Let me see . . . " She lost again to Fuji. Why can't I resist him? She studied the content of the box. There were what she believed chocolate doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies in cacti and tennis racquet shapes, and the center of attraction was a small chocolate mousse cake topped with chocolate chips crumbs, all arranged properly, in a way they would looked more alluring. Nice packaging. The way they were arranged made them more appealing.
She decided to have the chocolate chip that was placed in the middle of the mousse cake for some added effect. She picked it up using her index finger and thumb, in a very girly and fashionable way. It looked so cute. Since it was so small it won't do her much or any harm at all. Just a piece of it won't made her gain weight. She carefully studied it first, looking for any trace of flaws. Perfect. She opened her mouth and slowly dropped the chip on her mouth.
She was munching the chocolate chip when something made her tongue uncomfortable. It was hot at first then it became a suffocating heat that burn her throat and pass through her esophagus then down to her stomach. Now she could feel the heat on her face and it moved up to her head so fast. She could feel the hair on her skin stood up as if something creepy and spooky was lurking inside the room. Thick smoke was coming out of his nose and ears. It was like there was a forest fire inside her body. She dare not to speak afraid that fire would come out if she did, enough to burn the whole house down. She tried to shot him a death glare but her eyes were hot as well and she can't help but to cry which caused stray tears to somewhat soaked her eyes that lessen the impact of the glare. I won't let you get away this time. She was paralyzed. She was shouting in her mind. I SWEAR YOU"LL HAVE MY REVENGE! Her face was as red as blood, triggered more by the wrath against her brother. She opened her eyes but the scorching heat made it a painful task. The next words Fuji uttered shocked her.
"Ah, before I forgot Onee-san, all of these were made of wasabi, coated or dipped in chocolate". He has a weird taste bud, everyone knows that but didn't he forgot that she has high intolerance to spicy stuff? He was satisfying himself with those chocolate-coated wasabi while his sister was suffering. Then before his one-san could do anything, he hurriedly went upstairs where he met Yuuta. Another victim. Before he could even asked him, he had already eaten the largest cactus cookie. Like him, Yuuta has a soft spot for sweets but not this kind of sweets. And the same thing happened. Just re-read the above paragraph. Fuji, playing innocent again, went down to see how it was going between the two of them. He loved what he was seeing.
"Maybe I was a slept by the time mom and dad arrived. Please say my greetings for them. Don't worry I'll greet them first thing in the morning then hand them my gift personally. And . . . OH, I'd really love to eat your cooking Onee-san but I'm not hungry. Thanks ". He almost stumble himself down as he run. Good thing his tennis skills really paid off. His flexibility always came in handy whenever he needed it. Once inside the room, he remembered the bag of chocolates he left. It's OK. As long as I have this specially made chocolates. He was indulging himself when his mind drifted off to the person who gave him this sweets. He forgot to thanked her. So ashamed. I have plenty of times tomorrow to thank her. Then he burped. It was so cute to see him burped. How come it's so cute when it's Fuji while it's so gross and disgusting when it's done by a different person. He was already highly intoxicated with chocolates when he dozed off. He had fallen a slept while eating. Sweet dreams, Fuji and good luck tomorrow. He was unaware, clueless of what awaits him. He had to be prepared and hope his skills would save him.
END OF CHAPTER TWO