Chapter 3

Yuki dropped the bottle she had been using to spray her orchids.

"How's your interview?"

Aiko kissed her and took the glass of orange juice from the garden set table. "Can I drink this?"

"Oh, sure."

She took few swallows before she faced her mother excitedly. "Guess what? I got the job!"

"Why, that's good, darling!" Yuki smiled. "I am happy for you but I'm not sure about your grandmother." And she laughed.

"I'm expecting that Mom. But I can handle grandma." Aiko winked at her.

"She could call the company and tell them not to hire you, for sure."

"I wouldn't be surprised if grandma would do that." Despite her grandmother's overprotective manner towards her, her voice held fondness for her. She loved her grandmother so much and she believed her feelings were returned tenfold. Her Dad kept saying that she could cleverly control her grandmother. That Miranda Katsumoto Smith spoiled her rotten. And they would both laugh at that.

They all knew that Miranda was against her to get a job and kept on insisting that she doesn't need to work, as she would inherit her multi-millions trust fund when she reached her twenty-fifth birthday. She was speechless, even shocked when her grandmother handed her the trust fund documents on the night of her graduation. She knew they weren't poor but still she couldn't believe that she would be having that fortune.

But she wanted to earn her living. She wanted to experience being an employee.

"Why not put up your own business?" Her grandmother suggested. "A boutique. The trust fund can handle the capital." She was thinking about it but she made up her mind about practicing her degree first.

"And where's my dearest grandma, anyway? I want to tell her that starting Monday, I'm an official employee."

"Don't taunt your grandmother, sweetie." Yuki gently restrained her. "She only wants what is best for you. And if you continue to study and decide to be a doctor, she would be really glad, Aiko."

She sighed. She emptied her mother's juice. "I really want the job that I'm going to start on Monday, Mom. And if I'm going to pursue taking Medicine, there's nothing wrong. But I don't want to study as of the moment. And if I would, grandma wants me to study in US and with her. I don't want to leave you and Dad."

"I guess you're right." Yuki agreed. "But I don't know. She was so scared on letting you go alone in America. Not to mention, she believes in superstitions that made her, well, a little paranoid, especially when it comes to you."

She smiled. "For someone who had stayed in the West for so long, ah?"

Yuki laughed heartily. "You bet! But you couldn't blame her. She grew up in an environment where superstitions are part of their living."

"Mommy, this is computer age!"

"Tell that to your grandmother." Yuki smiled softly at her. "You know what Aiko, I'm a little surprised at this conversation."

She frowned. "Why so?"

"Before the illness, you indulged your grandmother. You always followed whatever she asked you to."

Aiko was stunned. She was sure she wouldn't agree with her grandmother for most of the time. But how could she dismiss it when even her mother was telling it? This was one of the times when her memory loss made her feel uncomfortable. She stood up.

"I'll go and see Dad."


She entered the house. Her parents' room was on the first floor. She stopped for a while beside the glass sliding door leading to the back garden. There he was, Akiro on his wheelchair. His eyes were closed. On the right side of his wheelchair was a mini-oxygen tank, in case he found it hard to breathe.

Her father was still good-looking despite the age and the failing health. He looked calm and serene but they all knew he was not. Her father refused to have bypass operation. The doctors in America couldn't assure them if her father could overcome the operation. Beside his heart condition, his aneurism was increasing.

The doctors were giving him twenty percent success. And Akiro wouldn't have that. He didn't want to go under the knife. He wanted to spend his remaining days with his family, having a complete and clear mind.

She looked at his father's nurse who was reading a paperback. She instructed her to leave them without speaking. Her father opened his eyes when he heard the sound of closing door.

"Hi, sweetheart." He greeted her when he saw her and reached for her hand.

Aiko walked towards him and kissed him, "Hello, Daddy. How are you feeling?"

Somehow, she really thought of continuing to study medicine for her father. But his father's doctors were all the best in America. And her grandmother, a doctor also, was looking at him personally. But then, her father might not able to wait for her to finish it. His illness was attacking more frequently these past few days.

Akiro managed a smile. "Why are you thinking of me, sweetheart? There will be no change on my condition. And I had already accepted that. You know any moment, I'll be leaving you and your mother—"

"Don't say that!" she said with a sob. She stood up and pulled a wicker stool beside her father's wheelchair. She rested her head on his father's shoulder. "It would be long before it happens, Dad. You'll still have to walk me down the aisle on my wedding and have to spoil my kids, your grandchildren."

Akiro softly touched her hair. "Let's face facts, Aiko." He said. "And I want you and your Mom to know, that the best years of my life were spent when I married your mother and when we have you. And had you died of that illness, I don't think I would have lived another week. I had been willing to trade my life for you. I prayed hard for that, sweetheart. What could I ask more when I already had received a miracle?"

She was fighting hard to control her sobs. She hated scenes like this and she didn't want her father to see her crying. But her father was brave and practical. Perhaps, Akiro had been in so much pain and that all he could do was to accept it.

"I love you Daddy… So much!" she almost whispered. "I want you to know that if I could do anything to extend your life, I would do."

"I know sweetheart… I know…" He again gently touched her hair. "So, tell me about your day," he vigorously changed the topic.

She wiped the tears on her cheek and smiled at her father. "They hired me, Daddy…"

"I never had any doubt on that." He smiled. "You are as smart as I am." They both laughed at that. She then snuggled on her father's arm. "And… Dad?"

Akiro arched his brows, waiting for what she was about to say.

"Today, I met the most gorgeous man in the world."

"Really?"

"He interviewed me. It was as if I met him before. I swear Dad, I only met him today. But I have a feeling that we had encountered each other before…"

Her father laughed heartily. "You sounded like your grandmother, sweetheart. Are you telling me you have previous life and that's where you met him?"

She pouted prettily. "You know I don't believe in that."

"So?"

She shrugged her shoulders as her fingers played with his collars. "I couldn't explain either Dad. It's just a feeling anyway." She stared at her father and her eyes sparkled. "But he was very attractive. And I have a feeling that meeting him would totally change my life."

Akiro laughed heartily again. "I can't wait to meet this man, sweetheart. I want to scrutinize him. Did he tell you if he's single?"

Aiko gaped. "I forgot to ask Dad!" As if she was able to ask him about it.

"Then find out. And if he's married, stay away from him as if he's got a plague."

She laughed, her father joined her. Those were special moments she would always treasure in her heart.