Chapter 8- Unexpected Guest
I walked home, strolling briskly. I looked behind me, hoping that Yusuke wasn't following close behind. I needed to cool down. My God . . . What's wrong with me? A tear fell down my cheek. I love him so much . . . I want him so badly . . . My love . . . My Yusuke . . .Why did I have that dream . . .? Why did I ask him to kiss me . . .? Why did I let him kiss me . . .? I slowed down, nearing my home. My heart, finally, slowed down. I stopped at the door of the diner. I bent over to catch my breath, clutching onto my knees. I can't let my parents see me this way, I scolded myself.
I stood there paralyzed as I tried to clear my mind. Images from the dream zipped through it, reminding me of everything that my body could possibly want.
His movements . . . his heat . . . his passion . . . his love. . .
I was drifting between reality and fantasy. I'm fretting over something that didn't happen . . . a stupid dream, I told myself. I paused and then sighed as a shiver took over me. It was just a fantasy. . . A very . . . vivid . . . fantasy. I shook of the sudden shiver and blinked a few times in attempt to remove the images from my minde. Breathe . . . Keiko, I said to myself before standing straight up once more. I opened the door and saw my parents sitting at one of the tables. It just didn't happen, I told myself at last, finding some sad excuse for resolve as I made my way inside. My parents laughed upon my entry.
"Hey, what's so funny?" I asked, happy to hear their hardy laughter.
"Keiko, dear, you still have your apron on," my father said, glowing with glee. I looked down embarrassed by my mistake.
"Keiko," my mother said, recovering from laughter. "How did the Ramen Shop do today?"
"It was good business, Mama," I grinned. I walked over to my father and hugged him around the shoulders. I kissed him on the cheek.
"Was Yusuke at the Ramen Shop today?" my mother asked.
"Yeah. We just worked like we always do," I replied, a little uneasy with my answer.
"I hope you're hungry," my father said. "We have some more sushi and some leftovers." I smiled at my father. He always said the perfect thing.
"You must be tired. Why don't you go freshen up upstairs? We'll be there in a minute," my mother said while grinning. I told her, "That's a great idea! I'll be ready in a flash." I ran upstairs and got inside of the door as soon as possible. Breathe, Keiko, I silently ordered myself. I walked through the living room and down the hallway. I stepped inside of my room and closed the door behind me. My mind rushed with thoughts of Yusuke. All I wanted at that very moment. . . was to be with him. My body was beginning to heat up again.
Why do I feel this way? I asked myself, burning on the inside. I just want to touch him . . . hold him. I shouldn't be left alone with him. I might--
I shook off the thought. I need to take off this sweater. It's so hot in here, I thought. Desperately trying to cool off, I opened up the closet and found a small, white, sleeveless t-shirt. I pulled off my stupid apron, my sweater, and my bra and put on the t-shirt in their place. I walked to my mirror and looked at myself. I took my hair out of the bun. I stared at myself as my hair gently fell down onto my shoulders . I picked up a nearby brush and harshly ran it through a couple of times as if each stroke would erase my thoughts. Look at me . . . I said to myself. I'm an emotional wreck. I keep thinking about him. I . . . I can't even think straight!
I went back to my closet to find something else instead of a skirt. I just need to relax right now . . . I need to get him out of my head, I told myself. I pulled out some light blue, loose-fitting pants and slipped them on. I got down on my knees and reached under my bed. I pulled out my white slippers. I felt so much better . . . so much cooler. I left my room and I walked to the bathroom. I washed my face. The cool water ran down my skin, relieving me of the heat I still felt boiling inside of me.
"Keiko . . ." I heard my father call. "What's taking so long? Are you still alive?" I stepped out of the bathroom.
"Yeah, Daddy." I answered as I walked quickly down the hallway to the living room. "I feel so . . ." I stopped, interrupted by the sight I saw. I looked at my mother and father standing at the door. Behind them . . . I saw the face I had been trying to escape all day. " . . . much better . . ." I finished. I glared at Yusuke as he looked at me. Dammit! How long must you torment me with your . . . handsome . . . face?
"Hey Keiko." Yusuke smiled at me.
" . . . Hi," I said. I walked toward my parents and kissed them each on the cheek. "I'm hungry," I said, smiling.
"We invited Yusuke up when he came here looking for you," my mother said, giggling. "He'll be staying for dinner if that's alright with you." I couldn't deny them. They were both smiling at me. Yusuke face was full of uncertainty and perhaps even. . .objection.
"He can stay. We've got so much food leftover anyway," I said as I looked at my parents and then at Yusuke. I was glad to see him . . . yet . . . I was angry he came. My parents led me and Yusuke to the table. My father bent down to sit in his usual place, at the head of the table, while Yusuke and I sat next to each other across from where my mother would sit. My mother went to the kitchen to go get the food. Yusuke and I were stuck in the stare of my father. I was kind of nervous. I was so ecstatic to be sitting next to him. But . . . why is he here? I wondered. He looked so pleasant sitting next to me. I looked at him in his black sweater. He's so attractive when his hair isn't slicked back. I guess either way, he's still. . . pretty cute, I cautiously reminded myself. He looks younger and a little more mature like this. Yusuke looked at me. I think he was trying to figure out why I was staring at him.
"Is something wrong, Keiko?" he asked. I shook my head and turned away quickly. My mother returned with a sushi plate in one hand and a stack of four empty plates in the other. She carefully placed the sushi plate in the middle of the table and then she put a plate in front of each of us, including her yet-to-filled place at the table. She smiled at Yusuke and said, "I'm so glad you could join us. We don't have company very often anymore."
"Thank you for allowing me . . . to . . . eat with you," said Yusuke, trying to search for the right words. There was an awkward silence. I had to do something before I went crazy.
"Mama, I'll help you," I promptly stood up and went to her. I walked away from the table still listening to the strange quiet that was unbearable. As we were in the kitchen, my mother started giggling to herself.
"What's so funny, Mama?" She looked at me, grinning.
"You looked so shocked to see him," she said to me. Then she sighed as she said, "I remember when I was that young. . ." I thought she was going to continue with some sort of story, but she didn't. She became nostalgic for a moment before returning to reality. Her eyes squinted as she smiled from ear. "Oh, Keiko. You two make such a cute couple . . ." I smiled nervously, hoping that my father or Yusuke couldn't hear her. "You two haven't been spending too much time together lately, have you?"
"We're getting older now. We've got more to do nowadays . . ." I answered quickly, trying to avoid any more awkward silences. "Well . . . let's hurry. I'm sure the boys are really hungry." My mother nodded to me and we left the kitchen carrying pot stickers, rice, and noodles.
"I hope you guys are good and hungry. We've got plenty," said my mother, still happy and beaming. I placed the bowl of rice on the table and returned to Yusuke's side. My mother, finally, sat down across from us. Yusuke looked kind of strange sitting there, well-behaved. I can't see him like this all of the time, I thought to myself. I want to be with him . . . alone. Scratch that thought, I said to myself. The last thing I need is to be alone with him. I allowed my thoughts to fade away for a moment into the silence that surrounded us. We all just sat there, motionless. I don't know what we were all waiting for.
"Yusuke . . . aren't you hungry?" my father asked, glaring.
"Yes . . . sir," Yusuke answered.
"Take something. Guests take first," my father said, still staring. Yusuke smiled and reached for some sushi. One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . "Not too many, boy," my father said. "The women are hungry too." My mother and I looked at each other. Okay . . . I thought to myself. Why is Daddy acting so strange? Daddy usually treats Yusuke so nicely. . . despite Yusuke's problems and sense of humor. I reached for some rice and a pot sticker. I looked over at Yusuke, who was half-way through his second piece of sushi. He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back this time. I turned to look at my father who was filling up his plate with pot stickers. I raised my chopsticks and ate some rice. My father placed a pot sticker in his mouth and chewed merrily.
"So . . . Yusuke," my mother said. "How have you been? We haven't seen you in a while."
"I'm doing fine. I actually moved into my own apartment just a few weeks ago," Yusuke replied. I felt a little relieved to hear his voice. He seemed a little more relaxed now.
"It's about time he did something right . . .!" said my father under his breath. Yusuke looked briefly at my father. I couldn't tell if he had said it loud enough for Yusuke to hear. I laughed quietly at my father's words, trying to brush them off. There was another awkward silence.
"I've been wondering what his place looks like . . ." I lied, trying to break the silence. I've already seen it, I thought to myself, remembering my surprise visit there on my birthday. Yusuke looked at me, puzzled by what I had just told my parents. I reached for some sushi and I popped it into my mouth. "We probably should start spending more time together . . . don't you think, Yusuke?" Yusuke, still puzzled, nodded with rice in his mouth.
"Why didn't you visit on Keiko's birthday?" my mother asked. "You're welcome to come here if you're hungry." Yusuke smiled at her question as he reached for some pot stickers.
"I'm sorry. Something came up yesterday. I had to take care of it first. If I had come over, it would have been at an unreasonable hour." Good answer . . . I thought to myself. My father looked at him suspiciously. I couldn't help but wonder why my father was acting so strangely, his eyes searing holes into the side of Yusuke's face. I looked at the two men as one talked to my mother and the other glared skeptically. My mother nodded as Yusuke continued to talk. My mother started talking about what I had gotten on my birthday. This is so boring . . . I thought. I didn't really hear what Yusuke was saying, but it sounded like polite conversation. My father looked as if he were boiling on the inside.
"In speaking of presents . . . Keiko?" my mother said. "Did you ever show your father that pretty pendant you got from your friends?" I thought about her question. I hadn't showed it to him yet so I shook my head, answering her question.
"I'll go get it," I responded. I stood up and quickly went off to my room to get it. Just a few seconds later, I was in my room. I walked to my dresser to grab my pendant. It wasn't there. Where did I put it? I walked over to my mirror and looked there. It wasn't there either. I got down on my knees and looked under my bed. It . . . wasn't there! I went to the laundry room and looked through the clothes I had worn on my birthday. The pendant wasn't there either. Did I misplace it? How could I lose such a precious thing? I tried to think of where I could have put it. The bathroom . . . no. The kitchen . . . no. The Ramen Shop . . . I didn't even have it on today. Oh well . . .
A little out of breath, I returned to the dining room. Discouraged by my luck, I sat down next to Yusuke once more. "I couldn't find it. It's laying around here somewhere . . ." My voice trailed as I tried to think about where my pendant had gone. I looked at my parents. I felt really sad now that I couldn't find my pendant. They were talking amongst themselves. My friends gave me that pretty little thing . . . and now I've lost it. Where did I put it?
Suddenly, my hand was taken over by total warmth. A familiar hand was on mine underneath the table. My heart started pounding as the strong hand held on to my own. Yusuke was holding my hand, my palm upward. I felt something in my hand as his hand gently closed mine before pulling away. So quickly the action took place that I had no time to guess why had done what he did. What did he do? I asked myself, wondering what he had given me. I stared at my closed hand, confused. . . and a bit curious. I slowly opened my hand . . . and there sat my friends . . . in a shiny, silver oval. It was. . . my pendant! I stopped myself from gasping as I stared at it. My pendant, I said myself. How did he get this . . .?
"I'm sorry that you couldn't find it. It was such a cute little thing too!" My mother said, dispirited by my news. I looked at her and I got an idea.
"Wait a minute . . ." I said as I dug into one of my pockets, pretending as if the pendant had been there all along. I pulled it out and displayed it. "It was in my pocket!" I laughed. "How clumsy of me . . ." My father leaned in to look at it more closely.
"It's pretty," he said. I smiled and I placed it around my neck. I was so glad to have it back in my possession. I looked at Yusuke and mouthed 'Thank you' to him. He nodded and he continued to eat his dinner.
The meal dragged on. My father seemed so oddly uncomfortable. My mother seemed extremely cheerful to see me and Yusuke together. Yusuke and my parents continued to talk on . . . Sometimes there were strange pauses but somehow we got through it. It was a really awkward meal. Finally dinner came to a close. As we finished, my mother and I put the empty plates into the sink. Shortly after, we returned and I sat down.
"Would anyone like some cake?' my mother asked. My father nodded while Yusuke and I refused the offer for extra food.
"I couldn't eat another bite," Yusuke said. "The food was really good." My mother smiled at his polite remark. My mother left to get a slice of cake for my father. While she was gone and even when she returned, there was another awkward silence. My father smiled at the plate sitting in front of him and he started shoveling it into his face. Daddy looks really funny when he stuffs himself, I thought. He ate the poor cake in a matter of moments. My mother got back up again and returned with tea. She offered some to me and Yusuke; we both turned her down.
"Well . . . let's go close down the diner," my mother said to my father. He looked at us uncomfortably. He nodded. . . but was quite hesitant in leaving us.
"We'll be back in about fifteen minutes," my father said as they were half-way out of the door. My mother was practically dragging my father out.
"Do you want our help?" I asked.
"If you guys started soaking the dishes up here, that would be fine," my mother smiled. I nodded to her and she disappeared with my father shutting the door behind them. I looked at Yusuke and he looked at me. I stood up quickly and went to the kitchen. I stopped at the sink and turned on the water. Such an uneasy feeling came over me as I ran my fingers through the flowing water to check the temperature. My body was frozen in front of the sink as the fact began to sink in. I was alone with Yusuke. . . and just as I thought this, I felt Yusuke walk up behind me.
"That was pleasant," he said. I listened to the sound of his voice behind me. I wanted him to leave . . . but . . . I wanted him to stay. I put soap in the water and waited for the sink to fill up. While I waited, I turned around to see what Yusuke was doing. He was right behind me. I looked up at him as he looked down at me, just inches of space between usl. . .
"Why . . . did you come here?" I asked him. So many images were flashing in my mind following my question. I wanted so badly to touch his naked chest . . . to be pressed up against the wall by his body. . . to run my fingers through his wet hair. I removed myself from my brief moment of dazing. We're not in the shower, I reminded myself.
"I needed to return your pendant. You left it at my place . . . the day you came," he told me awkwardly, his cheeks glowing pink a bit as he said it. I shook all over as I recalled all that had happened. That all happened . . . just yesterday, didn't it . . .? I asked myself. My birthday . . . my dream. My God . . . what a day that was! I watched as placed his hand on my shoulder. "Why didn't you tell them about coming over to see me?"
"They would . . . get the wrong idea. Especially Daddy. . ." I said quietly. "I couldn't bring myself to tell them. So . . . I . . ."
"I understand," said Yusuke. He didn't seem angry with me about not telling my parents about us. "So they think we've been apart, huh?" I nodded. He looked as though he was tossing an idea around in his head. I looked at him. For some reason, I felt so uncomfortable being so close to him. Did they leave me alone with him on purpose? His face. . . his body. . . was so close to me.
Kiss me . . . you fool, I said to him in my mind. What am I saying?! I shook off the sudden thought.
I removed his hand from my shoulder and turned around. I turned off the water and walked out of the kitchen. I went to the living room with Yusuke close behind me, his steps in sync with mine in some sort of soft rhythm along the floor. I sat down on the couch and turned on the T.V. Yusuke sat down on the other side of the couch. Why didn't he sit next to me? I turned the channel not knowing what to look at. I looked at my watch; it read 6:22. Looking over, I saw Yusuke gazing at me. What is he doing? I asked myself. He looked as if he were thinking about something. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"What is it?" I asked; I wasn't really sure I wanted to know. "Why are you staring at me?"
"You look bored . . ." Yusuke replied. What in the world is he talking about? I motioned for him to sit closer. He got up and sat down right next to me. I laid my head on his shoulder while he took up my hand and lightly kissed it and I couldn't help but smile at his charming gesture. He leaned toward me. I guess he was trying to kiss me. His lips were so tempting as I watched them come closer and closer to my own. I wanted to toy with him, so I leaned in the opposite direction. With my hand still in his grasp, he pulled me back toward him and kissed me. I let him too. I couldn't deny myself. His lips gently pressed in to mine as his hand pulled me closer. I closed my eyes as I put my hand on his face. His arms wrapped around me as I caressed the skin of his cheek. I wanted to be in his embrace; it was so comfortable . . . so warm . . . so safe. After a moment, our tongues met each other and quarreled. I melted in his arms, hoping my parents wouldn't walk in and see us so close. Yusuke pulled away from me, still squeezing me in his powerful arms. "Let's go somewhere," he said. Somewhere? To bed? No . . . no! I shook all over, trying to rid myself of my strange thoughts.
"Where would we go . . .? What would we do . . .?" I asked, waiting for a good suggestion. "Well . . ." He slowly came closer and kissed me lightly. " . . .we could . . ." He kissed me again. ". . . spend time . . ." He kissed me once more. " . . . together." I smiled at him. He's trying to be romantic, I giggled to myself, my insides tingling. He's so cute . . .
"You're . . . too . . . vague," I said, making fun of the timing in his voice. His smile only grew larger. That smile, I thought. It's so beautiful, yet . . . so bad. I pushed him off of me and went to the closet. I pulled out a light blue jacket and I slipped on my shoes that were sitting near the door. I turned around and waited for him to come over to the door. Yusuke stood up and walked to me. He grabbed my waist and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, treasuring every moment his arms embraced me. I pulled away from him, laying my head on his chest. I just wanted him to hold me in his safe arms. We stood there, holding each other in silence. Yusuke . . . how I've missed you this last month. Holding you . . . seeing you . . . I even missed how you annoy me. . . and how we argue. Yusuke's arms tightened around me, almost as if responding to the thoughts I was having. I smiled at his sudden hug.
"I . . . love you," Yusuke said, breaking the silence. I gasped at the three words escaping Yusuke's lips. I was so shocked to hear him say those words. How long I have waited to hear him say it . . . I couldn't breathe for a moment. I could feel my eyes watering. I held him tighter as I began to I blush.
"I love you too . . ." I whispered back. His body relaxed as his arms squeezed me. I was melting in his powerful embrace. Silence surrounded us as we stood there, holding each other in our newfound love for one another. You love me . . . and I love you. That is how it will stay, I said to myself, floating away in my blissful thoughts. Please . . . hold me . . . forever, I said in my mind. But after a moment of floating away, I caught myself and came back to reality. We don't have forever, I said to myself, thinking of my parents downstairs. We walked out of the door and walked down to the closing diner. "Mama . . . Daddy?" My parents were sitting at one of the tables. They were giggling quietly amongst themselves.
"What is it, Keiko?" My mother looked up at us.
"Me and Yusuke are going out for a while . . . Is that okay?"
" . . . Yes," my mother answered after a short pause to think about my question. She turned around and looked at my father who was now standing as he looked at us. He's up to something . . .
"Come here . . . Yusuke." Yusuke looked at me and then he walked to my father. My mother and I looked at each other as we watched Yusuke walk to the chopping block. My father leaned over to Yusuke's ear and whispered something to him. Yusuke smiled nervously and nodded. My father straightened up and smacked Yusuke on the back. "Have her back home by 9:00!" my father roared. I looked at my father, partially laughing but wondering what he'd told Yusuke. My father can be kind of odd sometimes. Yusuke smiled; I could tell that he was talking to himself. Then he looked over at me.
"Well . . . shall we go, Keiko?" Yusuke offered his hand to me and I walked over to him. I nodded to both of my parents and Yusuke just simply smiled at them. We walked toward the door as Yusuke suddenly turned around. "I'll have her home on time. Don't worry."