| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
Mao and I have been talking and laughing for almost an hour as if we don’t spend most of our time together. It’s funny how we’re always together but never really get tired of each other, as if all the time in the world is not enough for the two us. As I look at Mao, with her face full of energy, sitting across me and wearing a ruffled white sun dress… she just seems angelic as far as the eye could see, but then again this is INOUE MAO we’re talking about. Suddenly a thought made me grin out of the blue.
“What are you grinning at? I didn’t say anything smart or funny. What are you day dreaming about Ikuta?” Mao asked me curiously as I kept grinning at her.
“I’m just thinking of how nice you look in that white sun dress… and how great you would look without it.” A devious thought crept into my head as I grinned slyly at her.
“Ikuta Toma! You sly sly being... how could you think of something like that here? Especially at lunch?” She asked with a shocked look on her face, and then her facial expression suddenly changed into devious one.
“Want to hit the rest room now? Erika would go ballistic if she knew we tarnished her restaurant like this.” she whispered at me while giggling softly that made me snicker wickedly and nod my head like an eager boy.
We were about to get up of our sit when suddenly Becky Vaughan the clerk and receptionist in the company I worked at came to our table.
“Hey Mao, Toma!!! I thought I would see the two of you here.” Becky greeted both of us with a bright smile and huge eyes.
“Sorry for the intrusion. I’ve got something for both for you, but I had to put it in one envelope because I know you two are together. It’s in an invitation to my wedding. I’m getting married on the fifteenth so you two should better be there! I’ll see you guys later ok? My fiancé’s waiting for me outside.” she put the invitation on the table, smiled at me and Mao and headed to the door, both Mao and I stared at the envelope for a whole couple of minutes after Becky left.
“Toma…” Mao started uncomfortably and looked at the invitation before us, “isn’t that the second invitation we got for this month? Are you noticing anything?” she asked without looking at me.
“Yeah… everyone around us is getting married.” I looked at her and was wondering what she was thinking.
“I don’t know why people want to tie things in Holy Matrimony when they could just live life as is… I mean why get married and make things official when at the end of the day, they might see someone else and get a divorce and have a broken family and then the children suffer because of it. Being unmarried is way convenient and practical.” She shook her head as she thought more about.
I never thought that she would think of marriage this way… does it mean that what I’ve been thinking lately was inconvenient?
“Mao… you’re family is not broken. That’s supposed to be MY FAMILY. Why are you being bitter about matrimonial things? That’s supposed to be my dialogue and you’re taking it off my mouth.” I said without even flinching at the thought of having a broken family and unknown siblings that my dad had planted elsewhere on this planet. Having a broken family and being raised by my mom alone half of my life was not a big issue for me. I’m not entirely proud of it, but it doesn’t really bother me, until Mao mentioned this.
“I’m just saying… what we are right now is so much better than having a commitment in paper or in the heaven’s above with angels singing hallelujah chorus. There’s no hassle in a relationship like this. I know we love each other Toma, that’s enough to last us a life time right?” she gave a small smile and looked expectantly at me waiting for me to agree.
After three years of being with Mao, and having my life spent with her for more than a decade… I couldn’t say that I haven’t been thinking of matrimonial things. Like how would it feel how to be a real husband? To be responsible for a REAL family… then this bombshell of revelation comes in from my prospective fiancé. Marriage idea suddenly washed in the drain and my heart sinks lower to my stomach. Suddenly I wasn’t feeling well anymore and not up to the idea of hitting the restroom or hitting anything at all. All I could do at the moment was give a blank stare at Mao’s expecting face.
Then Erika decided to intrude the moment, which relieved me so much and stirred Mao’s attention away for me. There is definitely a God… I sighed with relief and forced a smile on my face as I looked at Erika.
“Hey you two... what do you think of the food?” She expectantly looked at us waiting for showers of compliments on how good her food was.
“You know what kind of chef you are Erika. There’s no more need to make your head fat with compliments, you might blow up.” Mao stuck her tongue out at Erika, while she just smiled smugly.
“I know. I just want to hear it. So come on! Say it!!! You know it boosts up my ego.” She grinned and winked at me.
“Fine… it’s really great. Not because it’s free… but because it’s cooked by the best chef in the world.” Mao remarked as she held up her fork in front of her face and used it as prop mic as if announcing in a news segment on TV. Erika smiled brightly at us and coughed a bit, preparing to say something.
“Well… that’s not all there is to this lunch. I also have an announcement to make…” her voice trailed off for an effect, but Mao cut her off.
“Don’t tell me… you’re also getting married.” she said with obvious teasing in her tone.
“How did you know?!?” Erika asked shocked that Mao said such a thing. My head swiftly turned to Erika’s direction and shook my head with disbelief.
“Are you FUCKING SERIOUS?!?” Mao suddenly got up from her seat and looked directly in her eyes, “You’re not just messing with my head right?”
“Of course not!!! What made you say that?” Erika asked incredulously at her then Mao looked at me with her wide eyes as if saying IS THIS FOR REAL???
All I could do was shrug my shoulders at her, since it really is happening. People around us are getting married and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. This is the fifth wedding invitation we got in three months and god knows how many more there would come. Not that I’m complaining, I like weddings… the one favorite thing I like in a wedding is when the groom looks at his bride walking down the aisle. I always wonder how a groom feels while standing by the altar, waiting to be committed for the rest of his life with the woman whom he chose to be with. This has always run through my mind ever since the first wedding I attended at Okinawa, which was held by the beach. Not that I’m professing to be a romantic, it was just… a nice feeling to see someone get married. Apparently the woman at my side doesn’t think the same way I do, which has taken me off guard…because Mao as I’ve known it… is the epitome of romanticism. Yes, she is wild and crazy… but she’s still a romantic. That’s why it surprised me that she doesn’t believe in getting united in holy matrimony.
“This is so unbelievable Erika!!! You’re getting married?!? Are you sure about this? Are you entirely really sure about this? I know you don’t believe in divorce and all that but this is big! And you’re mean... why break it out in our anniversary? You’re getting the lime light now.” Mao pouted at Erika.
“You should be glad I’m giving out free lunch to both of you… and stop pouting. It doesn’t look good on you.” Erika stuck out her tongue at Mao.
“I got to go back to the kitchen. Disaster may strike out if I’m out of it. I’ll see you love birds later. Don’t forget my wedding, mark that day on your calendars ok? Ja.”
As Erika turned around and walked towards the kitchen, Mao slumped back down on the chair.
“Why does everyone just have to get married?” She muttered to herself rather than me.
“Maybe because they want stability in their lives or maybe they are just that happy together and want to make things more official.” I told her before shoving food into my mouth, which didn’t taste as good as it was earlier. My mood had changed and it’s definitely not a happy one.
“Mao, I think we should go home. I’m not feeling that good.”
“Souka… me too. Let’s go home.” She took her bag from the table and held my hand as we walked out of the restaurant.
I can’t help but look at our hands that are clasped tightly together.
I wonder how long this would last. Holding Mao’s hand is a very nice and comforting feeling, but for how long?
My heart was pounding in my ears as I thought about these things, I have been thinking about asking Mao the ultimate question for a long time now, long before our friends started getting married. I guess I just didn’t have the guts to do it yet. Then my mind went back to our conversation earlier, suddenly I feel like I want to be swallowed whole by the earth instead.
What exactly do a man like me should be doing now? Simple. Just let it be. For now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as we got back into my apartment, a call came for Mao. There was an emergency at her gallery. Apparently, a fire broke out at the place where all her paintings were set up and my girl friend dropped the phone from her hand without letting the person finish talking at the other end of the line, gave a quick explanation to me and rushed out of the pad in a hurry. With this news, I was shocked at what happened that I wasn’t able to move a muscle or even offer a ride to the gallery. Then I heard shouting from her phone and recognized Tamaki sempai’s voice and quickly grabbed the phone to talk to him.
“Sempai, this is Toma. What the hell happened to the gallery? She bolted right out of the apartment to go there. Are her paintings alright?” I asked worriedly.
“God… that girl is so impulsive!!! I’m not even finished talking. Yes, there was a fire… but the gallery room was not affected so all her paintings are fine. I called because I wanted to discuss the transfer of her paintings to another gallery area. Since the building may not be safe anymore.” I noticed the frustration in sempai’s voice, but I couldn’t help but smile with relief that Mao’s paintings are Ok. Also, I was laughing inside that she had been almost hysterical and out of it that she didn’t even bother to let Tamaki sempai finish his talking. I shook my head with amazement at how impetuous she was.
“Souka… unfortunately she left her phone here out of a hurry and shock. So you would have to deal with her when she gets there. I’m warning you, it won’t be pretty.” I chuckled while giving sempai the head’s up on what’s bestowed upon him.
“I know that for sure, she’s going to have a fit that she went all that trouble for nothing. I should just probably prepare myself or just ask Aoi for help.” He sighed and was probably shaking his head like he usually do.
“My advice is you ask Aoi for help, she usually knows how to turn Mao around.”
“Souka. Thanks for the heads up. Ja.” The phone on the other end of the line clicked.
I shook my head while smiling at the thought of Mao’s reaction when she finds out that she made a fuss for nothing. Gingerly I sat down on the couch and picked up the remote control to the TV set to watch some movie I have rented a few days ago when all of a sudden the sound of a baby laughing hysterically was ringing inside the room. My head turned swiftly to look if there was a kid around but I don’t see one. My blood run cold and I sat up straight on the couch listening intently if I was hearing right. The laughter came again which was really starting to creep me out, and then finally my eyes caught my cell phone that was laid on the coffee table, lighting up simultaneously with the sound of a child’s laughter.
“Dammit, Mao changed my ringtone again.” I swore out loud while shaking my head with disbelief that I almost thought that evil spirits were actually residing in my place. Walking over to get my phone, I wanted to kick myself for being fooled again.
God, that woman knows how to get me. Last time she did this, she made my ringtone into the sound of a police car’s siren. What’s worse is that my phone rang in the middle of my presentation with the executives I was presenting my research to. When I told her about it, I got no consolation whatsoever but instead a hearty laughing fit she kept throwing at me.
“Mosh-mosh?” I answered the phone while heading to the kitchen trying to forget about evil spirits.
“Ikuta-san? This is Juri.” My secretary answered.
“Oh, Juri. Why are you calling me on a day off?” I asked a bit annoyed but also curious.
“Gome ne for calling you today, but you are being summoned by the bosses here. The executives want you to present the research you’ve been working on this month at 4 pm. It’s a short notice, but I know you’re done with it. I’ll just arrange the files, set the programs and you’ll be all set for the presentation when you get here.”
I heaved a big sigh upon hearing this. It just means that my real busy schedule was starting from this call. I even thought I could loaf around the pad even with evil spirits or none. Originally I was planning to surprise Mao with some candle lit dinner with a recipe that Erika taught me, but then again the day wasn’t going well as planned.
“Souka, I understand. Please set up the power point just like last time and tell the boss I’ll be there in ten minutes so I could brief him for the research before we proceed on presenting it on the executives.” I told Juri before I hang up.
Immediately I walked into my room to wear a suit for the presentation. As I changed into my clothes as quickly as I could, I couldn’t help thinking that of all the years I’ve been working with the company this was the first time I’ve been called out of schedule to make a presentation. This thought made me anxious. Shaking off the feeling, I quickly ran out of the pad and headed for the elevator forgetting my phone on the process.
Oh well… any calls I would be receiving will be stored on my voicemail anyway.
The elevator closed and brought me to the ground floor of the building. On my way out to the hallway, I suddenly bumped into someone who was carrying a pile of boxes which instantly fell down to my feet.
“Ouch!!! Shit. What the…” my voice trailed off as soon as I saw the person who bumped into me.
~To be continued~
Words from me: Was this chapter draggy and boring? I’m sorry guys if it was. My mind is drained out of creative juices and I need plots and excitement to help me put up with the story line. So you’re comment would be a really big help as to where I should be directing my story at. I need an inspiration…!!! Hopefully it comes in soon!
Some small spoilers:
Mao and Toma’s family would be showing up on this sequel.