@Yuki88: Thank you! I've always known that I can write non-fiction; I just never believed I could do fiction as well. So far, fiction is proving to be rather enjoyable, as I'm getting to work with a blank slate for the first time in a long while.
@cisda83: I was surprised as Chapter 2 started flowing in my head nonstop for a few hours in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep so I had no choice but to write it out. I hope you will enjoy the chapter below.
Crossroads - Chapter 2
Spring 2006 After several email exchanges, they agreed to meet for tea on Saturday, which also happened to be a national holiday. Most people had returned to their hometowns during this Golden Week vacation period, and Shibuya was abnormally serene.
Yuko leaned against the wall outside the coffee shop and glanced at her watch. It was already a quarter past the hour. She whipped out her phone and pulled up the photograph Jurina had sent last night. The accompanying message read, “This is me! Please look out for this face.” Yuko chuckled at the picture, which was slightly blurry and out of focus.
She must’ve taken this in a hurry. “Oshima-san?” said a voice out of nowhere.
Yuko looked up and saw a face identical to the one in the photograph staring back at her.
“Matsui-san!” she exclaimed.
Now that the subject was in focus, Yuko gazed momentarily at Jurina’s sharp facial features and jet-black chin-length hair. The simple white dress and denim jacket she was wearing brought out a girlish charm. Yuko felt instantly relieved. Earlier in the day, she had been panicking over what to wear, not knowing whether to dress up or dress down. In the end, she had opted for a discreet cardigan paired with khakis.
“I guess instead of me finding you, you found me,” Yuko laughed. “Let’s go inside.”
“So how do you like Tokyo so far?” Yuko inquired after the waiter had served their beverages.
“It’s so big, and the subway system really confuses me. I’m terribly sorry for being late today, but I honestly got lost in that underground maze.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it in no time! If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“You’re too kind, Oshima-san! I’m really grateful to you for coming out to meet me today.”
“Just call me Yuko, Jurina-chan! After all, I’ve known you since you were, what, 16? 17?”
“That’s true. Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony. Yuko.” Jurina beamed.
Yuko noticed that the girl had dimples not too different from her own. She went on to tell Jurina about how her father had been retrenched from his job during her first year in university, and how her father and brother had moved back to Tochigi Prefecture to live with her grandparents.
“Shortly after I started living alone, I met Seiji. He really gave me a lot of support throughout my university career. Now he’s moved to Canada for work…” Yuko trailed off, but quickly snapped out of it. “So do you have a boyfriend, Jurina-chan?”
“Kinda, sorta…” Jurina pursed her lips together.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, I’ve been with this guy for a while now, but he’s been engrossed in carpentry ever since graduating from high school. Even though he says that he will eventually apply to enter university, I really don’t see it happening,” Jurina said as she rolled her eyes.
“There’s nothing wrong in being a woodworker.”
“I’ll eventually want to start a family, and definitely wouldn’t feel financially secure being married to a carpenter. At first, I thought what he does was cool and even a little artistic, but now when I think about it practically… Anyway, he’s back in Aichi Prefecture, so I don’t even know if we’re gonna work out.”
It appeared that Jurina did not wish to talk about this matter any further.
“Yuko-san, do you think any appliance stores are open today? I would like to get an electric fan. The weather is starting to get a little warm already.”
“I think Yamada Denki across the street ought to be open. Most major chains in Tokyo stay open even during public holidays.”
“Life sure is different in a big city,” said Jurina pensively.
Yuko watched Jurina, who was fascinated by the vast array of consumer electronics. The girl was excitable, like a small child filled with sense of wonder. Yuko felt like she needed to do all she could in order to preserve this beautiful naïveté.
“I want that standing lamp too! My new room is so dark I can’t even put on make-up properly. But there’s no way I’d be able to carry back both a fan and a lamp by myself…” Jurina whined.
“Just get it. I’ll help you carry it back to your dorm,” Yuko replied with a gentle smile.
The aircrew dormitory was located in Shinagawa, a 12-minute train ride away from Shibuya.
“You live really close to Odaiba! My high school friends and I often hang out at a café there. It has a stunning view of the Rainbow Bridge. I’ll take you there next time,” Yuko said while lugging the bulky box.
“I look forward to it!” squealed Jurina, who was also struggling with her box.
Thankfully, Jurina’s living quarters were not too far away from the train station.
“I’m sorry to intrude,” Yuko said instinctively upon entering the flat.
She looked up to see two girls seated at the dining table flipping through magazines while painting their nails.
“These are my housemates, Itano-san and Sashihara-san. The three of us share this unit,” Jurina explained. Gesturing toward Yuko, she continued, “And this is Oshima-san, so far my only friend from Tokyo.”
“Nice to meet you,” Yuko said and bowed.
Both housemates nodded and mumbled something along the same lines. Yuko looked at the three stewardesses-to-be.
Skymark sure knows how to choose pretty girls for their cabin crew. With the exception of that Sashihara girl. She looks quite plain and ordinary. Yeah, wouldn’t be too excited if she were on my flight. “I really need to use the restroom,” said Jurina all of a sudden.
“I’ll bring these to your room. Which one is it?” Yuko offered.
“Thanks so much! That one there,” Jurina replied while pointing to a door in the back left corner of the room.
Yuko sat down on the single bed and saw that the bedroom was mostly bare. Through the open door, she could overhear the conversation going on outside.
“I’m really looking forward to receiving discounts at Duty Free. There’s this mascara by Chanel I’ve been wanting to buy since forever.”
“I’m more excited about meeting the pilots. Some of the girls saw them the other day, and apparently there’s this one guy who’s really hot. And unmarried.”
“Do pilots make much? Right now I’m only interested in a guy who will buy me that new limited edition Hermès tote. I’m so bored of this Samantha Thavasa bag. It’s already a year old!”
So this is the life of a flight attendant. Suddenly, Yuko felt incredibly thankful for her library job. She imagined that having to put on a false appearance daily would eventually become rather tiresome.
In any case, I’d make a lousy stewardess. I’m so short I wouldn’t even be able to reach the overhead compartments. And my teeth are so crooked… “Yuko-san, do you want to join us for dinner? I think a bunch of us will go try out a new yakiniku joint around the corner,” Jurina asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“No, not today. I just remembered I have some work that needs to be completed by Monday. You girls enjoy yourselves!” said Yuko as she got up from the bed. She flashed Jurina a wide smile. “Let’s meet again soon!”
Author's Note:It's Koi Suru Fortune Cookie Day! Sorry, Sashihara fans. I was so upset when Sasshi got first place in the election, I immediately went for a 1-hour brisk walk to vent.
This chapter was very interesting to work on because it's the first time I've written dialogue in a long long while. I dug up a few novels at home and tried my best to copy the style. Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong. I was very surprised as once I got the voices started in my head, they just wouldn't stop talking!
I usually do not believe in explicitly explaining symbolism in my writing (unless asked), but kindly bear with me this one time, and allow me to explain the significance of the carpenter.
I'm not sure how things are in other parts of the world, but I know for a fact that in Asia, many people still regard creative pursuits (such as woodwork and fiction writing) as plain wastes of time simply because they are not profitable activities. To aspiring writers facing such opposition, do not let them bring you down! (Though it may result in people like Jurina not wanting to marry you…)
Writing is an art form that is slowly but surely dying in this Internet age. Each time I see poor English (due to laziness and not lack of ability) on social networking sites, I swear a little part of my heart breaks.
I am probably going to take a well-deserved break and try my best not to think about this story for a couple of weeks. Till next time!
Topic: Crossroads (JuriYuu) - Cancelled (2014.02.19) (Read 30031 times)