| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
Heaving a deep sigh, I reached out for a sketch pad and charcoal instead then started to stroke out random lines. It has been years, since I last held the charcoal. Sketching was not my thing, but today… I really felt like drawing.
My mind was totally empty as my hand kept on stroking the pad in front of me, after a few minutes I suddenly noticed that I was forming something vaguely familiar. The profile of my random strokes was of a boy. It strangely reminded me of a high school kid… with glasses.
Oh god… even in my sub conscious thoughts TOMA was still in it! Why the hell did I remember his high school look? He was dorky, big nosed and so… so uncool back then.
Then I realized that I didn’t care what he really looked like when we were younger… if I would have opened my eyes earlier to what was in front of me… I still would have chosen him over anyone else. Even by seeing him butt naked and all during our pre-teens… I really don’t care.
I pouted as I looked at the light sketch, and then decided to continue it and darken the edges to emphasize Toma’s profile during his high school days. He was rather thin and small for his age, his nose was so big it didn’t give justice to his eyeglasses, but I still find it cute.
After sketching his profile, I continued with the details; how his eyes looked like behind his glasses, how he smiled goofily, the soft roundness of his cheeks and his eyebrows that has an uncanny way of raising while he smiles, the smoothness of his jaw since he never grew a facial hair during those times.
When I was finally done I looked at the sketch closely and gazed at the younger Toma in front of me.
“Yo… Toma-kun, what would have happened if we didn’t get to kiss like that? Would we still have this thing we call relationship?” I asked the drawing in front of me.
This whole thing was turning me into a psycho.
There was a sudden loud noise that came from my stomach, I was hungry. I shook my head and stood up to go to the kitchen when my cell phone suddenly rang. This made me walk to the den instead.
“Mosh mosh?” I asked not bothering to look at the caller Id.
“Inoue, we need you at the studio. Some of the magazine journalists want to talk to you.” Tamaki said on the other end of the line.
“Are you going to feed me first thing when I get there if I would be doing this interview?” I asked, my stomach grumbling loudly.
“Are you trying to cohort me?” Tamaki said casually.
“That’s taking money from someone sempai, all I’m asking is food. If you’re not going to feed me then I’m not coming.” I finally said.
“You are such a brat. I’ll feed you before the interview. Just make sure you answer the questions properly. You’ll be bringing my name with you too so you better be good.” He warned.
“Well your food better be good because my answers would depend on it.” I chided.
“Fine.” Tamaki said.
“Fine.” I echoed back then clicked my phone off.
What would they want to know about me anyway? My life has always been an open book.
I shrugged at myself while thinking and took my bag and left the apartment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After 30 minutes, I was in the gallery facing the journalist in front of me. A camera man was with her snapping pictures from every angle, making me a wee-bit self conscious. My eyes wondered at the woman in front of me as she took out a small recorder from her pocket and placed it on top of the table. The journalist looked young, probably younger than me but looked very professional.
When she has finally settled on her seat, she smiled confidently and started talking.
“My name’s Horikita Maki, I’m here to interview you for the KIE Magazine. Have you heard of us before?” Maki asked.
Of course! Who haven’t heard of the famous international magazine KIE??? KATEIGAHO International Edition is a richly illustrated magazine which focuses both on traditions and contemporary life, transcending mere words to generate international understanding and appreciation. Its main topic is about Japan’s art and culture.
“Yes I’ve heard of it.” I said nonchalantly, trying to act as if it’s not a big deal even though I am already feeling giddy in the inside.
“The magazine company has chosen you to be the feature article for this month, we’ve heard from a bunch of people about your artwork booming as one of the best in the country. According to my research on your profession, you are also a part time model. How does this affect your work as a professional artist?”
“It inspires me to work better, to clear my head off when the paintbrush becomes overbearing. You could say that it’s my other way of relaxing.” I said as I thought of how grueling modeling can be, but at the same time it does takes my mind off painting and gives me new perspectives.
“What made you focus more on sceneries rather than at solitary objects or people?”
“Sceneries took me in when I was still a child. I loved looking at my surroundings. The things around me inspire me the most and that’s what I wanted to focus on. I see solitary objects as boring and incapable of holding emotions, while people… I only draw people who are important in my life.” I suddenly remembered my sketch earlier before this interview.
“Speaking of important people in your life, have you ever painted someone important?”
“When it comes to people, I don’t usually paint… I sketch.” I answered with a dignified tone, choosing not to answer her question.
“Have you ever painted Matsumoto Jun? I heard that you have been recently dating him in exchange of your long time boyfriend now tycoon Ikuta Toma.” Maki said, sounding very sure of her information.
“Excuse me?” I gawked at her, shocked at what she just said.
“You are dating the famous actor of this generation aren’t you?” She asked, looking more confused than assured.
“Where have you heard about those things?” I asked very bewildered with the whole idea.
“We have some pictures of you from Taiwan, you with Matsumoto-san.” She showed me a couple of pictures from the time first time Jun and I met when I was lost, one when we were looking for Kennishiro’s building, another one with the two of us at the Ambassador’s hotel… and the last was the one I couldn’t take my eyes off. It was a picture of Jun carrying a totally drunk me into the hotel elevator.
I was stunned beyond belief. What was this all about?
“Where did you get this?” I asked shakily, alarmed by the pictures.
“We got it off from the internet. There were some fans who posted them so we assumed that you were with Matsumoto san during his vacation.” Maki answered.
“We… Matsumoto Jun and I are not together. I am not denying anything because I am saying the truth. This… this was a big misunderstanding.” I said my body turning cold from the sight of the pictures.
“But our sources even said you slept in the same room together, showed up at a party on your ex boyfriend’s debut as a son’s tycoon.” Maki said pretty much perplexed by my reaction.
My head was swirling as I heard her words, I didn’t know how to react. I was too dumbfounded to hear these things especially from a journalist.
Toma debuted as a son’s tycoon??? I have never heard of it, or from him. Why did I have to hear the news from an insignificant random person like a journalist?
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, it all seemed like a nightmare to me.
“I thought KIE was about arts and culture? Why did this thing turn into paparazzi?” I asked her accusingly to divert my emotions which were quickly turning to anger.
“Gome ne, Inoue-san… this was supposed to be about yourself… I was also about to ask about your samurai clan. I guess… this was all a misunderstanding about our facts. I will fix this and verify my sources again, and then I shall go back to you and clear these things out. I’m sorry for causing you such distress.” Maki apologized and took the recorder and pushed a button. She bowed low, and motioned for the photographer to follow her after saying her immediate goodbye.
When the journalist got out of the room, I felt all the strength within me draining out. My hunger doubled over; I was completely washed in shock with the things I’ve just heard. Something seared through my head giving me a splitting headache.
Damn internet!!! I shouldn’t have really gone to Taiwan in the first place.
I complained silently to myself and circled my palms on my temple trying to relieving the head ache that was pounding through my head. While doing this, there was a rasping sound on the door. I didn’t bother to answer the door, I just continuously sat there and massaged my temples.
The door opened and shut as I sat on my chair with a piercing head ache.
“Here, take this.” Tamaki sempai’s voice echoed in the room, as he handed a glass of water and a tablet of medicine to me. I took it grudgingly I drank the tablet then finished the glass of water before setting it on the table.
“You haven’t slept for days have you?” he asked.
“How did you know?” I asked.
Tamaki sempai wasn’t one who tried to empathize with me but he was pretty much observant. He sat at the opposite side of my chair, the same place that the journalist occupied awhile ago.
“I don’t have to be a doctor to know you haven’t slept for days. Why did you even agree to come when you’re not actually feeling well?” He asked again, subtly hiding the concern from his voice.
“Change of environment I guess.” I answered shortly.
Then I noticed that he was gazing at the table.
“Scandal?” His tone suddenly changed.
“Bad assumptions.” I said.
“Tell me.” He demanded.
Then the story began once again. Having to tell it the third time around was very tiring, but this was Tamaki sempai, a man who barely lets his emotion get the best of him and so after the long tale of this and that, all sempai did was nod his head at me then keep his silence.
“Aren’t you going to tell me anything, like a bitter scolding for being too irresponsible? Too childish… too… too immature?” I said expectantly.
“There’s no need to say it Mao, you’ve already beat yourself up with those thoughts. No need to add salt to the injury. What I am thinking right now is how to find a solution to fix this.” He answered thoughtfully.
“Fix this?” I said incredulously.
“You do want to fix this don’t you?” He asked.
“I…it’s… unfixable. There’s nothing to fix in the first place.” I answered defeated.
Tamaki sempai sat silently looking blankly at the empty space and seemed to be contemplating on something.
“What are you thinking?” I asked helplessly.
“It’s none of your business. If you have given up… well. I really don’t care. It’s your life not mine, you can suit yourself with all you want. I’m not the one with a tarnished profile. Although… this would also affect my work…” He suddenly muttered in rushed words as he stood up and left me all alone in that small room.
Damn you sempai!!! Here I thought you were going to help me out with my ordeal.
I grumbled to myself as I stood up frustrated, noticing at the same time that my headache was completely gone. Then as if the conversation with the journalist and sempai was not enough, my phone blared with a rolling stones ringtone after I have paced the room for a good have an hour thinking of solutions for this damn problem.
“Mosh mosh…?” I asked irritated, the number was not registered so I had no idea who was calling me at a bad time.
“Is this Inoue Mao?” It was a man’s voice I was very familiar with.
“Matsumoto Jun?” I exclaimed pretty surprised that he got hold of my number.
“How the hell did you get my number?” I asked.
“Your manager was good enough to call about the internet pictures. I’m doing all that I could to remove the pictures on net, but it would probably seem impossible. We both just have to verify the stories we are going to say.” He answered calmly.
“Why the fuck are you so calm when I’m having bitch fits here.” I complained for the unjust sides of our world.
“Because I am already used to these things… you are now a woman of limelight Mao, no matter what you say the spot lights would always be pointed at you starting the day you have boomed in the industry. You have to at least bear it for a little while, don’t worry it would pass.” He said soothingly.
Not working.
“THIS IS ALL YOUR FUCKING FAULT!!! I went to Taiwan trying to find my fiancé all by myself and then you came, sticking at my side like a piece of gum stuck on my hair.” I retorted at him through the phone.
I heard him exhale a deep breath and was about to say something when I interrupted him before he could start speaking.
“It is your entire fault Matsumoto Jun. Why the hell did you have to be so damn… damn… nice to me. You could have just left me alone on the road, for all I know I could have survived it.” I muttered more quietly this time.
There was a short silence between us.
“I don’t know either…” Jun’s voice trailed off.
I stood there in the middle of the room with the silence between us hanging on the air when suddenly my phone beeped for call waiting.
“Jun, I have another call. I already told the reporter it was all a misunderstanding. We’re not together and all that. I’m hanging up now, let’s talk about this later. Ja.”
Before switching the phone to the other line, I heard Jun say inaudible sounds something like; I wish or something… I didn’t understand so I lightly let it go.
“Erika?” I answered the other line.
“Daijoubou? Are you ok Mao? I heard about the news.” She suddenly said.
“Where did you hear about it???” I asked pretty much perplexed for this second call.
“Tamaki sempai called and told me about it. Did something really happen? I checked out the net and one moment there were pictures then the next it’s gone. So I don’t know if this is true or not.” Her voice was full of concern I didn’t entirely deserve.
Why on earth did God bestow me such a good friend? Except for the pinching part of course… wait a second. Tamaki sempai called her and Jun? Where did the I-don’t-care-statement go? How fast does he give out information???
“Mao? MAO?!? Are you dead?” Erika’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Nope. Still alive and…” My stomach suddenly grumbled.
“Hungry.” We both said at the same time. My stomach was loud enough for Erika to even hear through the phone.
“I’ll be at your place in 10. Make sure you have a huge lunch waiting for me. Ja.” I flipped my phone off and took my stuff.
Tamaki sempai always does things underground, without me being aware of it until it’s there… visible. Thank god I had a manager/friend who can be as reliable as him in times of need.
Outside the room I looked around to see if Tamaki sempai was still around, but instead of seeing him, a man stood in the middle of empty gallery area waiting for me. My heart leaped, raced and ached at the site of him. Only a week has passed from the last time I have seen him and yet it felt like years. Indeed a lot of things could really happen in a week.
“Tadaima...” Toma called out to me announcing he’s back. He stood tall, wearing casual clothes with his hands tucked into his pockets and small smile pasted in his face.
I stood there, shocked.
The feelings I had during the past week were way worse than seeing him kiss another woman. Right now, I could see the man I thought I was ready to give the rest of my life with. My ringless finger tingled with the promise he gave, which now felt as empty as my heart had felt while he was gone.
Does saying okaeri make me a better person for running away? Will a welcome back word be enough to erase all those horrible rumors that have been circulating around? Can this sudden appearance remove the jealousy, anxiety and insecurity that I have felt for a whole week?
I don’t think so…
~To be continued~
This is purely a fan-fiction.
------------------notes------------------
So many conversations in my head… so little time.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!!