Someone Like You
by Yamakissu
Chapter 7
Moving on
Before both men could reach the living room where Maki was waiting, Mr Yamashita decided to warn Yamapi “Son, do not make this harder than it already is especially for Maki. I know her for a very long time, she is like a daughter to me. So please…” But Yamapi cut him off. “Dad, I know, I promise I will take good care of her, of this whole,…” He paused, unable to find the right words. “…once and for all.”
As both of them entered the living room, Mr Yamashita apologized to Maki for having her wait that long. “I’ll leave the two of you here to talk. I’ll be in my study if you need me” Maki nodded and Yamapi’s father exited the room. Inside his study, Mr Yamashita was trying to get some work done. He seemed to have misplaced a very important document, he rummaged through his files and just as he found what he was looking for, something caught his attention. It was an old family photo he tucked away a very long time ago. He picked it up, wondering how it came there. Yamapi must have visited his study and found it. He ran his fingers on their faces and remembers the happy days of his life. At the back of the photo graph, it read “To my beautiful wife and adorable sons, Tomo and Pi. Happy Birthday! Love Dad. His reminisce didn’t take long as he rushed out to check what was going on in the living room
“Nooooooo...” Maki's scream echoed throughout the room and Mr Yamashita saw his son being slapped hard on his face. "Don't you come near me again!" She hurriedly grabbed her bag and slammed the door behind her.
Yamapi unable to stand, sank himself on the sofa. His left cheek hurt, a lot but then his chest hurt more. He knew she would react this way, it was just that he never saw a completely distraught person much less a girl in his whole life. His heart tells him to go after her and fill in the void she has been carrying. Damn it, he wanted her in his arms, to comfort her, to apologize to her.
"Pi" Yamapi felt his father's hand on his shoulder. "Listen son, Maki is in great pain. Everything about you reminds her of Tomo and you are not him. If you want to help her get through this, it's better to stay away."
"I know Dad, I just wish there was a better way of telling her" Yamapi said
"Ah me too, I almost forgot how the two of you two are so much alike." Mr Yamashita handed Pi the old, family photo.
"Mom told me even she couldn't tell us apart."
"And I told your mother, it was your smile, it was little bit crook and it's almost unnoticeable." Yamapi stared at their happy faces.
Mr Yamashita sighed "I miss you Yamapi, I have never been a father to you in a long time. Tomo..." He paused before continuing "Tomo has always been Tomo. You're brother has never change, always care about others before himself and he'll always will. I think I have come to accept that now. I couldn't be happier now that I have you.
"Dad..." Yamapi didn't know how to begin. "We'll get through this" Mr Yamashita tapped Pi's shoulder one more time before leaving him. He knew Yamapi too needed sometime to be alone.*********************
"OMG! They are so disgusting! I couldn't believe such adult women could parade so much over one guy. Who does he think he is? Kimutaku?" Erika Toda was mumbling over lunch period with her usual, carefree self.
"Close but not, he's Yamapi. I have the same class with him, he's not only cute I also heard he has a 120 IQ and I agree those women are embarrassing our specie , " Aya gladly joined Erika and put her tray on the table.
“I mean he is not the only one guy in camp… Aya stopped Erika immediately as soon as she saw Maki approaching their table.
“Can I please eat with you? Oh, I’m so starving. I haven’t eaten anything and my professor is already killing me with deadlines.” Maki pulled a chair, unhooked her sling bag from her shoulder to find her bento. Aya and Erika just stared at each other. “So is this a bad time or what?” Maki just noticed their blank faces.
“Of course not, Maki. You know this is the only time and place in this huge institution wherein we can verbally expressed what we truly feel.” Aya kicked Erika’s foot underneath.
“I know, I know I haven’t been the most talkative person about it.” Maki resigned her case to these two girlfriends she have, who have been nothing but support her for this past few weeks.
“How are you holding up honey?” Aya was the first one to ask.
“Good, pretty good. You know me, I’m trying…” Maki pasted a fake smile rather to convince herself.
“You know you can always count on us right? You don’t have to force yourself & go through it alone.”
“Oh why don’t we meet here after all of our classes? Aya asked
“Hey, I thought you will meet Ryo?” Erika remembered Ryo approached her earlier today just to check on Aya. Apparently, these two have issues and she intend to hear Aya’s side of the story first before helping Ryo.
“I can’t” Maki blurted “I have to finish unpacking my stuff.”
“Huh?” Both girls said it chorus
“Oh, I didn’t tell you guys? I got my own place. It’s not quiet far from here, if you want you can come over. “
“Really? “ Erika was still surprised
“Sure, I’d love to have some company”
“When did you exactly move to this new apartment of yours?” Aya got curious
“Last Sunday, a new friend of mine got some free space for rent so I thought it’ll be good for me to move in, you know to see new things, get some better perspective in life.”
Erika’s phone rang
“Ah Maki, that was my mother. She asked me to buy some ingredients for her. Can I just catch up with you guys?
“Yeah, sure.”
“Yeah, I’m planning to stay for the night anyway, you don’t mind do you?” Aya asked Maki
“No, not at all.”
“So where is this apartment of yours?” Erika almost forgot.
“It is five blocks from here, the first wine shop you’ll see, the third floor”