| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
Who the hell could eat in a situation like this?
I didn’t speak, move or look at him. There was nothing coming out of my mouth though I had a million questions to ask. This is probably what it feels to have a cat catch their tongue, very uncomfortable that it sucks.
In between silence the sizzling of food in the pans kept us occupied. Erika stood gawking at us until she couldn’t take it anymore.
“If both of you don’t start talking I’m going to start slapping someone and it’s really going to hurt.” She said all the while glaring at me.
“Why are you giving me those kinds of looks when I’m not the one who left for Taiwan and didn’t even give a call for a whole week?” I said to Erika but trying to aim the question to Toma.
“For starters who was the first person who told me about trust and patience and maturity?” Toma said doing the same thing.
“Who went to search for his father and graciously accepted being a tycoon then doesn’t even have the guts to tell his fiancée?” I prodded on not even glancing at Toma’s direction.
“What kind of person is someone who tries to find their fiancé but ends up running away in the end?”
“Well what kind of a man proposes to his girl friend and doesn’t even have the decency to give her a ring?!?” I said angrily this time.
“Then why does the fiancée have to find an actor to be spending time with while professing on finding her other half?” This time Toma’s voice was accusing.
That does it! Here I thought he was going to apologize for the things that have happened for the past week. Then all I get to is hear this crap?
I finally threw Toma a glare. If looks could kill he would have dropped dead by now. I abruptly stood up from my seat and banged my hands on the kitchen counter all the while locking eyes with Toma.
“I’ve heard enough. I’m leaving.” I said specifically to Erika while staring at Toma furiously. As soon as I broke the eye contact, Toma grabbed my arm then pulled me to face him.
“You don’t get to run away this time.” Toma said angrily.
“Well what do you want me to do Toma? Accept you with open arms when I feel like punching you instead? Tell me. I might be able to consider it.” I told him acidly trying to shrug my arm off from his grip.
“What is wrong with you? I’ve been away for barely a week, you follow me, you run away and this is what I get? What the hell happened in Taiwan that I wasn’t even aware of?” He asked angrily as Erika silently gazed at the two of us.
“Nothing that would concern a tycoon’s son like you.” I pulled my arm more forcefully this time then bolted out of the kitchen and broke into a run, but not before seeing Toma’s face contorted in utter bewilderment and Erika’s staggered expression.
I sounded like a kid going on a tantrum, but I don’t care… I am pissed off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the middle of the busy street, I slowed down while huffing and puffing with aching feet due to wearing high heels. This is a big achievement, running with a pair of heels… but it’s not something to celebrate as I was reminded of what I had run away from, again.
Right now was the worst time for confrontation, maybe I was too shocked or even overwhelmed to know that Toma has finally arrived in Japan without even calling me first. How absurd… here I was waiting for him, when he was finally in front of me… I had to run away again. How much more lame can a girl be?
A nudge at my side suddenly awakened me from my reverie and reminded me where I was. I looked at my side suddenly irritated at whoever it was bothering me at a time like this, then a splash of familiarity washed over me as I settled my eyes on that person.
“Shiny guy?” I said out loud unintentionally.
“So that’s what you’ve been calling me in your mind all this time.” Mike He the Taiwanese actor said as he gave me one of his million dollar smile.
Why do actors have the habit to dazzle the people in front of them with their smiles?
“You caught me at a bad time.” I told him honestly, feeling more tired than I thought I was.
“Well I guess I just found you at the right time then. Join me in a cup of coffee? I’m waiting for someone and I need someone I know to talk with or else I might just die in boredom.” Mike said in his sweetest voice trying to lure me into his zone.
“Shiny… I mean Mike, I don’t think this is a…” I was about to give him a lot of reasons to decline but then the guy suddenly pouted at me, like I just did something bad and he’s about to cry because of it.
Eeeehhh???
“Please?” He said in a pleading tone.
Shit. It’s working. Maybe… meeting this shiny guy is a divine providence to clear my mind. It was definitely hard to say no with a face like that.
“Alright, but I will leave as soon as the person you are waiting for come alright?” I said grudgingly.
“Arigatou...” Mike bowed his head with a huge grin pasted on his face.
It took me several seconds to realize that I am being persuaded by an actor yet again. I can’t believe this is happening to me again. What if another die-hard fan is around and started blogging about me and this Taiwanese actor?
Sighing deeply, I led Mike to the nearest coffee shop I know and ordered a triple shot espresso latte. Mike looked at me weirdly as soon as our orders came in huge colorful mugs.
“What?” I asked him, feeling weary with the look he’s giving me as I took a sip from my coffee.
“I’m just wondering… how does that coffee taste?” Mike said worriedly peering at my cup of coffee.
“Pfft… And here I thought you were going to ask me something very serious.” I said with a laugh, almost spitting the coffee on him.
“I’m sorry. Today wasn’t really good for me… let’s just say I am having a very rough day. Your question is just the contrast of everything that has happened. You want to try my coffee?” I asked him in a lighter tone. Clearly, I’m not here to spend too much drama on.
Mike’s face crumpled and shook his head before answering.
“No. I think I’ll pass on that one. I would still want to sleep tonight.”
“Suit yourself.” I said indifferently as I took another sip from my cup and Mike gave another look of dislike which made me smile involuntarily.
“You like sweet stuff don’t you?” I said, after observing that he had put a lot of sugar in his coffee.
“Yes. I noticed you like caffeine too much.” He nodded knowingly.
“Well, just on my coffee. I’m also the sweet tooth kind of person.” I smiled at him enjoying the thought that at least this shiny guy and I have something in common.
“So what brought you here?” I asked curiously.
“Ah… work and well… you could say… ummm… love life.” Mike said with a sudden blush creeping on his face.
I find this funny as he tried to hide his face by drinking from his cup.
“So actors do have real love lives then.” I said teasingly then.
“Of course! Truth is… the first time we met I kissed her without even knowing her name. Then told myself that this is the girl I’ll be steady with for the rest of my life.” He said with a really serious look on his face.
“You’re joking right?” I said utterly surprised hearing such a thing from an actor. Kissing someone isn’t new, but making an oath to yourself at that very moment was not very common.
“No. I wish I was… but no. I’m not kidding. We are having a real conversation right now. My acting skills are just used for business associates, on screen production and of course… parties where you get to meet a lot of phony people.” Mike said in a knowing tone.
“You don’t find me phony at all when we met at the party?” I asked with a brow raised.
“Hmmm… Inoue Mao. Does the name sound phony to you at all?” Mike asked as he stressed on my name.
“Well… no. Since it is my name and I am indeed a biased person.” I told him while shrugging.
“I figured that out as well.” Mike grinned.
This guy… I knew he would be someone who’s easy to talk to. At least this conversation has nothing to do with what happened in Taiwan, or about my own love life.
I was in the middle of my thought when I heard a click from my side. My head suddenly swung at whoever took the picture. Sudden photo shoots are giving me a traumatizing effect.
The moment I recognized the photographer, I was in shock the second time around that day.
“What are you doing here?” I asked not hiding the surprise in my voice.
“Meeting my boyfriend, what else.” Rainie answered casually with a huge smile on her face while holding her camera with both of her hands.
“Toma?” I muttered stupidly at her.
“What does Toma have to do with this conversation? Isn’t he YOUR fiancé? I’m done facing fantasy Mao, I’m facing reality right here.” She motioned at Mike as she sat beside him.
I was suddenly confused.
“I thought… you… Mike? Eh?” I muttered idiotically in front of them.
“Inoue-san? Did you assume that Toma and I was an item back in Taiwan?” Rainie said her face looking pretty amused.
“Well…” I bit my lip from my unreasonable thoughts.
Of course they knew each other, that’s why she would approach him in the first place. Rainie was with Mike during the party right? I should have thought better than to burst out of that party without thinking twice.
I wanted to kick myself for being so impulsive! Me and my stupid insecurities just had to get in the way.
“He chased after you during the party, didn’t you know? As soon as I told him you were there at the party he looked after you. Tried to get your hotel location but was too late, you were already back in Japan. The moment he heard you were back, he took the next flight home.” She said while looking at Mike with reassurance.
“Yeah, Toma and I have been hanging out a lot during his time in Taiwan. He seemed to be arranging a lot of things during his stay. He’s too quiet about it though. The guy just calls for me to relax I guess.” Mike shrugged.
Toma has been really busy? All that time? But why didn’t he even have the decency to call me?
Then I remembered it was partly my fault. No phone calls during his stay in Taiwan… I was just the impatient girl friend who couldn’t wait.
Shit.
“Inoue-san? Are you alright?” Rainie gently held my arm with a look of concern.
“I… there was bit of misunderstanding.” I mumbled not sure of what to say.
Mike sat straighter on his sit as he looked between me and his girl friend. This was definitely a huge stupidity in my part. Facing both of them, I forced a smile on my face and proceeded to stand up and leave.
“Thank you for clearing some things up Rainie. I just hope some things would never happen again in the future.” I smiled genuinely this time and nodded at both of them. Rainie grinned at me with complete assurance.
“Hai.” She nodded her head.
I walked out of the coffee shop leaving the two with their own little world, while I on the other hand have to fix things as soon as possible before things get out of hand due to my recklessness. There I was back into the streets walking back to my apartment, thinking of ways on how to confront Toma when my phone suddenly rang.
It was Tamaki Sempai.
“Mosh mosh?”
“Meet me at the subarro street, where a new building has just been constructed. You’ll know that it’s the building since it’s the tallest one in that area.” He said hurriedly then clicked off the phone.
What the heck was that about? What’s in that building that he needed me for? We don’t have any gallery shows to do for these 3 months… there couldn’t be any possible projects except for photo shoots. Maybe another modeling job?
My head titled sideways trying to guess what this was all about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Whoa…” I exclaimed out loudly as I looked at the tall building in that district.
Tamaki sempai definitely wasn’t exaggerating when he said that I wouldn’t miss the new building. The building wasn’t open for the public so I had to present my identification to the security guard to be led inside. As I looked around, the place wasn’t furnished yet, nor were there any displays to make the lobby accommodating, it was completely bare. The design was very familiar; it looked like the same way as Kennishiro Tomoko’s building.
I heard footsteps at my right which made me look that way. The person that met my eyes was someone I have seen for a brief period of time. It was Toma’s father, walking along side Tamaki sempai, talking with each other very casually. Then Tamaki sempai saw me and waved for me to come over. So I walked towards their direction… very awkwardly.
What was Toma’s father doing here? I thought he was in Taiwan?
“Konnichiwa.” I bowed in respect at Kennishiro-san.
“Konnichiwa Inoue-san, I believe we’ve met before.” Kennishiro-san said with a warm smile as he bowed back to me.
“Ano… I was gate crashing your party in Taiwan last time.” I said shyly.
“Oh… I’ve heard about that from Rainie, but that’s not what I was talking about.” He chuckled this time.
Eh? We’ve met already before??? I have no recollection of it.
I must have this very confused expression registered on my face that made Kennishiro-san laugh out loud.
“Don’t stress yourself from thinking Inoue-san or may I just call you Mao-chan?” He said warmly.
“S…sure.” I stuttered finding myself very surprised by his attitude towards me. Does he know that I am his only son’s fiancée? Is he trying to be friendly with me so he could easily dispose me just like how Toma’s mother tried to shun me?
“Well… I have always been a fan of your work, even invested in it through the help of Hiroshi-san here.” He gestured and patted Tamaki sempai’s shoulder.
Well… I will be damned. I never knew about that! This sly manager… So that’s how my painting got in Taiwan.
My mind started to give out cussing words against Tamaki sempai when my thoughts were cut off when Kennishiro-san started talking again.
“You were 3 years old back then, your father and I were pretty much good friends but it wasn’t as deep as I had with the friendship I held with you mother though.” He nodded thoughtfully as if thinking way back.
“You were already doing calligraphy at the age of 3, painting on doors of your houses which made you father throw a fit. Fortunately your mother was able to pacify him. I knew you had a future as an artist in you, only… your father never wanted you to be one. Well I am glad that you grew up as you are Mao-chan. A woman with spirit, just like your mother.” Kennishiro smiled and held my shoulder, and then his tone went back to business.
“Well the reason I wanted you here was to ask you to make a fresco on this lobby. Something that you feel fit for this building.” He gestured with his arms wide open indicating about the whole place.
I was still confused with what I just heard about him and my family including the work he wanted me to do.
“Mao, he wants you to paint on that wall specifically.” Tamaki sempai said taking me out of my trance, as he pointed at the east side of the building where a huge wall was bare.
“You want me to make a mural in this building? Why don’t you just buy a painting and stick it up on the wall?” I said mindlessly to Kennishiro-san.
“Yes… why don’t I just buy a painting?” Kennishiro-san said thoughtfully as he looked at the wall.
“If I do that… then… I wouldn’t be a fan at all would I? I want to have the very first mural that Inoue Mao would ever make. You never do paintings of people or even murals. So I want this to be a first. That’s how sure I am of your talent.” He smiled confidently at me and then he added.
“Not only that Inoue-san, I want you to hold your gallery show in this building as I have my inauguration… I will be opening this building in three weeks time. I believe that you have compiled enough pieces for a gallery show? That’s what Hiroshi-san has been mentioning awhile ago.”
Wow… I don’t know whether to be flattered or scared that he has too much confidence in me when I am doubting mine.
“Ye-yes… I do, but I’m not sure if…” I started to say.
“Don’t worry about anything. You’ll have enough time to prepare.” He nodded his head at me assuredly.
After a long pause of silence I made a decision to completely challenge myself with this.
“Souka… thank you. I’ll do my best to work on this.” I replied with as much courtesy as I could.
“I’ll just get the measuring tools on my car, I’ll be right back.” Tamaki sempai excused himself after the agreement, then Toma’s father and I engaged in simple conversation while we waited.
“By the way have you heard from Toma yet?” Kennishiro-san suddenly asked out of topic.
“Excuse me?” I said trying to validate that I didn’t get the question wrong.
“Have he told you that he declined leading the company when I proposed a turnover?” He said.
I was stunned to hear this. Toma rejected his father’s offer? So that was his choice?
“I thought he would be considering on taking the company since we both have fixed our issues and he is about to marry you.” He added.
I almost fainted when I heard what he just said. Toma’s father knew I was his fiancée… I should have verified everything first before started accusing Toma of things I just drew up my own conclusion.
“Ano… did he, by any chance tell his plans to you?” I asked carefully.
“Not entirely. Just a few things like going back to Japan quickly and amending some things he didn’t care to elaborate to me. I just chose to trust my son I guess. He always had good perceptions on things.” Kennishiro-san said knowingly.
Blood almost drained from my face; his words were like a slap to me. I should have trusted Toma more…
“Are you alright?” Kennishiro-san asked worriedly as he held me facing him.
“I… skipped my lunch and it’s pretty late. I’ll just hand the measurements to Tamaki sempai and go back Tomorrow to start with the mural. As for the contracts, Tamakai sempai can take care of it. Thank you for personally meeting me Kennishiro san.” I lamely excused myself then bowed to him before taking my leave. He smiled at me and nodded his head, permitting me to go.
This day was tiring. Not because of the things I have to do or go but because of the things I just became aware of. Today was a day of understanding… and I just understood how stupid I was.
~To be continued~
This is purely a fan-fiction.
------------------notes------------------
Finally… everything is revealed to Mao. No more running away I guess.
A few more chapters to go…! I’m going to miss their characters. *sigh* I feel almost depressed that this is really about to end.