Track 3

The Encounter

The camera lights are much brighter here in the hall, the paparazzi go crazy like piranhas in a pool of meat, I pull out my raybans "So far so good" I think as a I protect my eyes from the light. The meeting had been great, and the band is bursting with excitement. As we all walk in the hallway I feel my phone vibrate in my pant, I check who it is and pick up.

"Brother! How did the meeting go?"

I hear my little brother excited voice on the other end, I laugh to myself.

"Great" I smile.

"We signed and I'll start work soon" I inform him.

I start to pull away from my bandmates giving myself some private space for my conversation with TK. I did not want the paparazzi and reporters to catch anything. " I saw Mimi's new video" I quickly tell him, I lean against a wall to support myself and readjust the phone by placing in between my shoulder and cheek. I can feel my face start to brood and my arms automatically cross themselves against my chest.

I wait for his response and I can hear him readjust himself. As if he is preparing for some presidential speech or something. "you did, did you? " He gulps and I realize that he is hiding something from me.

"Spit it out TK" I inform him, I hate when people act like I'm some kind of battered child. "well" he drags on not getting to the point. "I'm listening dear little brother" I rise my voice to alarm him.

I can hear him whisper to someone and I'm certain it's Kari. Probably discussing the topic at hand. My patience was running low, but then again I never did have any patience to begin with. that is something I lost along with Mimi.

"Tk, get to the point" I bark.

"oh ok, well Kari and I were out with Mimi the other day, you know how she is, all bubbly and Mimi-like" he pauses for a second "and she did mention the video that was coming up" he finished speaking nervously.

I could tell that wasn't the point of the story, I know he wants to tell me much more than that. "and?" I question as I massage my temples from my stress level rising.

"ok this is just a speculation, you know just something Kari and I come up with on our free time, it might just be us over analysing it" I sigh in annoyances, and he knows my temper will reach its peak.

"what is it? I ask him.

"ok well We think Mimi and Tai might have something going on, and I mean more than just friendship Matt, I think Mimi might have a crush on Tai and Kari says she can practically confirm that Tai has a crush on Mimi, but this isn't like for sure or anything remember it's just us speculating here" I can hear Tk take one big breath after his speech but suddenly I blank out.

I blink once and the news starts processing in my head but it doesn't seem like I'm accepting it, I wasn't expecting this at all, I mean I always did know Mimi would eventually more on with her life find a nice guy get married and all that fairy tale stuff. She had always dreamed of that. She was a sucker for those "happily ever after life" On the other hand I shiver at the thought of marriage; my parents failed marriage and the outcome with Mimi left me a scar whenever the topic of love or settling came up. I couldn't shake the idea or the thought of the two together. It still wasn't settling in.

"Mimi and Tai? really I mean he's a good-looking guy and funny too, and he's a good person too, why not? I mean she, if I'm correct hasn't been with anyone since me" I answer Tk. I start to repeat their names in my head to try to make it believable.

"Tai and Mimi, Mimi and Tai" Somehow it didn't make sense in my head no matter how many times I repeat their names in my head or in which form I do it. But why not? that haunting question. It plausible. Plus Mimi deserve happiness, Tai can give her that. But yet I find myself still repeating their names in my head "Mimi and Tai. I begin to crouch down to the ground and ponder at the new idea of them being together and new questions start to form in my head like; when did it happen? how long have they liked each other? but it didn't matter because in the end Mimi and Tai have feelings for each other. I could feel my face turn grim.

"Matt?… MATT?" I hear Tk's worry voice over the phone. "huh what Tk?" I ask him trying to act normal. "you blanked out there, I got worried" I make sure to sound disinterest on the information.

"oh, don't worry about that if its true than I wish them the best" that was partly a lie, I am a sore loser after all and I guess it still isn't over for me.

"are you really ok if they do end up dating? i mean I know you still have a thing for her" he ask me ever so gently, as if I'm a child who had just gotten hurt or something.

"what? fine i mean i do care but I'm not in love with her anymore at least not how you think" that was a lie, but i guess at this stage i believe if i lie to myself and others i might finally believe the lies i say. Saying i don't love her leaves a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. i take i hold of the phone with my free hand and i can feel the stress pile up. With my other free hand i run my fingers through my hair.

"you don't have to lie to me Matt" he talks sweetly to me. "I'm not" i try to rebuttal but we both know that is a lost cause. i glare at the floor, angry at myself and at Tk for seeing right through me. When did he get so clever?

"i don't know who you are trying to lie to or convince but it isn't me" i sigh "whatever Tk, you shouldn't hold onto the past" i tell him, I'm clearly annoyed so he shouldn't push my buttons anymore and he knows it. "look at who is talking. " He pokes at the subject. My anger rising faster than before. "Matt this isn't like 100% certain! you can always go back to Mimi and win her back" i scoff "right Tk" i hang my head and look up at the ceiling. "I'm serious! Matt you can't lose hope! i know it still isn't over!" i can hear his hope building up, his eyes burning with passion, something i lack.

"I wish i had your hope, because maybe it would have made a difference" i stand straight and cross my legs as i once again lean in on the wall.

"Matt you make it seem like she's married with children" i feel him pouting on the other end of the line."she deserve a chance to be happy" i sincerely answer him. its something i have always want for her. whether it be it with me or not. It doesn't matter.

"so do you! why can't you both be happy? why not together?" it keeps fighting for a battle already lost. "because Tk i fucked up, remember?" i hate speaking about this topic, or even remembering it. It always ruins my mood.

"so? that was years ago! why not try again? what do you have to lose?" i push myself off the wall "my pride?" i answer him. It was the only thing have left. My image. I have to protect.

"seriously? and how is that pride doing for you? keeping you good company? i hear the sarcasm in his voice which is rare for him, especially towards me.

"Tk she doesn't want me what don't you understand? if Kari cheated on you with your best friend would you forgive her? would you forgive them?" i waited for his answer but he is left speechless. I'm not surprise, i except silence.

"you know right away i wouldn't and i know neither did Mimi but i know i love Kari and it would be stupid for me to even bother wasting my time and someone else's time on attempting to love that person if it isn't Kari, so to your answer yes, believe it or not i would and so would Mimi, she's a sucker for all this romantic stuff and tragic lover story, you know she is" He was right Mimi is a sucker for all that but she isn't stupid either. God! his hope and logic were getting to me. Not good. I readjust my phone back to my shoulder and cheek. i look down to my hands and think about it and i try to fight the hope that has been ignited within me but i try to toss away the thought. "I don't think so, i just regret this whole mess"

"what happen to i living a life without regret?" he ask me dryly.

"ha" i chuckle "i regret teaching her how to write songs" he chuckles his mood drifting back to old sweet Tk. "right, look you have a chance i mean it won't be easy probably the hardest thing you will ever do in your life, you will have to lose your man pride and all your glory but I'm certain if you just make her doubt herself, even for a second into believing you, I'm telling you Matt you have a chance " he makes it sound so easy and he feeds me hope and its man worse enemy. I look at reflection of the window close by, at that instant being hit by reality.

"i'll talk to you later, Take care you two and thanks" he sighs and can see him pout in my head. "ok, goodbye Matt, remember you still have a chance" i nod but not actually believing him.

"bye Tk" i hang up quickly and on the idea of Mimi and decide to text the model from yesterday. I had to eliminate that idea, it was like a virus to my body.

I continue walking not taking notice of my surrounding and keeping my pace slow. Letting everything Tk said settle in. I see from the corner of my eyes an object, a blur coming at the speed of light. I take no interest in it. i scoff. Stupid girl, she's probably late at that speed. I shake the thought out of my head. I decide to text the model from last night and BOOM.

My phone flies out of my hand towards the floor, my forehead hits her's and my body collides with the girl sending her small body flying the same direction of my phone. "aww awww awwww" i hear the girl moan in pain. "shit" i curse. "look where your going" I growl at her as i look up to her. My body freezes as she massages her forehead. "what did you say" she questions me. "Mimi?" i ask her. My hands beginning to get sweaty. A thick layer of awkwardness enters the building. She looks at me and her eyes widen and she manages to blink a few time. "Yamato" she doesn't question me because its clear who we are. Suddenly she drops to the floor, i rush to her side to see her pass out on the ground. "Shit! seriously Mimi?" i sigh "Still as dramatic as ever i see" a small and quick chuckle escapes me and bring myself to pick her up from the floor and to a room to lay her somewhere comfortable.

"Tai?" she calls him out a mid her sub-conscious. this triggers my jealousy slightly. I glare down at her. in conscious state she stares at me blankly. "ahhhhhh" she yells "Rape, kidnap, fire! Someone help me!" "someone please help me!" i jump at her shirk and immediately manage to cover her mouth with my hands, dangerously close to one another only inches away from our faces. "shhhh" i look back at he door and windows to see any movement. "Shut up Mimi! are you crazy?" i sigh in relief, and i am able to breathe properly except for the fact of her perfume gets caught in my nose. she pushes my hand off her lips. Great i could feel lip gloss all over my hands. "not as crazy as you! gosh Yamato i knew you were crazy but not a freaking kidnapper!" she yells once again. "shut up! you should be thankful i saved you"i yell back not helping the situation. She glares at me cocking her eyebrow at me "sure you did from what?"she finally lowers her voice. i freeze at the sudden question, i really didn't know what to say, i look around and call out the first thing that catches my eye. "the floor" I look at her and hopefully she falls for it. "you see! you're a liar!" she didn't fall for it, i sigh. She isn't as naïve as she use to be i guess, i assume life teaches harsh lessons. "you out there there are paparazzi and reporters" i jerk my fingers to the door. She gasp placing her gentle hand on her chest. "oh-no! did they see anything?" she looks at me all concern. "i don't think so" i avoid her doe-like eyes.

This all seems way to natural and oddly familiar as if nothing between us ever happen, or if we were friends in the past and just reunited, and it made me feel like shit to know everything was still the same. I felt like nothing talk or arguing with her. I felt like it was high school all over again with her, when I still hadn't grown the balls to man up ask her to be my girlfriend or at least confess to her. Great I was 16 all over again. Except for the teenage hormones but I'm certain Mimi is capable of bring back the hormones . She was, is always the only person who can take me out of my comfort zone.