Chapter IV: What’s this feeling?
Bar, 7:00 pm
Minami’s POV
I didn’t even blink when Yui, one of my constant dates, kissed me. There’s a second that I let her kissed me but I didn’t respond.
“What’s the matter, Minami?” Yui gave a space and stare at me.
Maybe she notices that I didn’t respond to her kiss. I’m not like that before. I’m stupid these past few days and my minds flying- flying to a certain town, in the sea, and to a certain woman’s face.
“Minami…” Yui whispered to my ear and hug me.
She kissed me again, more passionate this time. I closed my eyes to respond her kiss but other face flashed in my mind. Acchan’s eye shining with gratitude. Her skin soft. Her hands gently touching my face. Her kisses were innocent but sweet.
Oh, I missed her so much!
“Acchan….”
“Acchan? Who’s Acchan?” Yui pushed me.
I struck my eyes in surprise. I nearly fall in my chair. Because of the light that shines in Yui’s place, I saw the exasperation in her look while staring at my face. I sigh and give her a blank face. Although we don’t have a relationship, I know that what I did is wrong- utter a different name while kissing her. I also know that I her pride and most likely, her heart.
“I’m sorry…” I said in low voice and look away.
In the corner of my eyes, I saw her penetrating gaze.
“Talk to me, Minami!” Yui said in low voice, because of her sudden actions all the costumers in the bar was looking at our direction. I didn’t say anything.
“Fine!” she said and come away.
I just watched her walking away. Yui knows me very well so she acquired my silence. My silence meant ‘leave me alone’. Yui was one of my girl and those who were past. Well, I couldn’t remember the faces of some of them but not their name.
I prompted the bartender. She smilingly approaches me.
“Where’s Yuko?”
“In her office,”
We both look upstairs. Right from where I seat, there’s a glass wall you could only see but behind the thick glass wall, I knew Yuko was watching me. It is Yuko’s habit to watch people in private, to know what’s happening when she’s in her office. Nobody could see her because of the one-way glass wall that she custom-built. I was so sure that Yuko saw the scene a while ago. I want to talk to her right now- because I wanted to pour this confusion to someone- but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want her to know what’s really happening to me because I was sure that Yuko would laugh at me. And if it reached to Mariko and Yukirin- my two friends, I was really sure that I received a numerous tease from them. So no one would ever know that a girl disturbed my system.
How is she now? A week passed but she didn’t even remember to call me. Is the operation successful?
I can’t get news to Haruna because she seems spacing out these past few days. She’s avoiding Yuko for a week. Haruna is always at my house after she finishes her job to Yuko’s house. But when she’s in my house, she was always gawk. It seems that the situation get really complicated when they get married. Yuko had saved Haruna from her wicked foster father by marrying her. But instead of becoming close to each other, it seems that the marriage is the reason that they get kept them away to each other. Haruna is busy in her works and studies and Yuko is apparently turned to stone. But behind the mask, I knew Yuko was hurting. Whatever Yuko’s plan is, I wouldn’t interfere her.
And now, in my condition, I can’t intrude to love life of my friends because I might get facing a problem too. I was in trouble, too. Yes, trouble in capital ‘T’. Because when the first time, I met Atsuko’s eye in the terminal, I felt different to her. My heart beat faster for her. Beat that I never felt to the woman who walks in my life. I didn’t know why I felt that way. I thought that is natural to caught my attention because Atsuko is different to all the woman I met. Atsuko is simple, a typical beauty. She wasn’t sexy and stunning buy she possessed something that struck me. I didn’t know what it is. It was like a strong hypnotism.
Acchan, the sorceress…
I felt that I’m being hex because I wasn’t in my sanity. But for Pete’s sake, I didn’t believe in witchcraft.
I’m insane!
I remembered on how Atsuko respond to my kiss. By the way she responded to my kisses, I knew Atsuko was inexperienced. Though inexperienced, her kisses were enough to drown me. That’s why I suddenly release her and don’t look back when I ride my car. I was afraid of what I can do to Atsuko.
Before the bar gets crowded, I left it.
Because of help that I gave to Atsuko, I was sure that she called me and gave news. That girl id in need because of her ill mother and I was capable of helping. When Atsuko first said that she have a problem, I was already thinking that I helped her. Even if it takes a year to pay me, I wouldn’t mind. In fact, it’s okay for me if Atsuko didn’t pay me. Only just her mother has an operation and be in good condition. To help save a person’s life was one opportunity I wouldn’t ignore. I may be one playful when it came to women but I wouldn’t take advantage on Atsuko. Even if I have a bad record, I don’t have a heart to harass Atsuko.
I found pleasure in teasing her so that’s why I keep teasing her that night. And to the picture I take, I just want to remember that special night with Atsuko. For just in case Atsuko didn’t back here, I would have memories that I can go back. I have a picture of her in case of time that I missed the presence of Atsuko. And the white lady image? Oh, I was just teasing her!
Damn, what am I thinking?
I fasten the car. I just want to go home and stare at the picture of Atsuko
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I saw Haruna in the gate. I called her. Haruna smiled and opened the gate for me
“It’s already night. Are you still working?” I ask
She just smiled.
“Yuko is in the bar now.” I said in low tone
“Maybe she sleeps there.” She said in flat tone
I was sensitive enough to notice the sadness in her flat tone. It’s not obvious to Haruna that Yuko is always sleeping in the bar after they get married.
“There’s a food inside, if you want I’ll heat it for you.”
“No, thanks. I’m full.”
I turned away.
“You seem so sad. Do you have a problem?”
I faced her and shook my head. But I really need someone to talk. So I…..
“Are you going to sleep now, Haruna?” I asked.
Haruna just stared at me for long seconds. The tone of my voice must be the reason that Haruna can’t ignore me. If I was correct, there’s a mixed of sadness and confusion in my tone. A tone that needed a someone to talk to.
“I know you have a problem.” Haruna said. “I’m not still sleepy. I can listen to your sentiment- if only you want to share it to me.” There’s a concern in her eyes when she said that.
I breathe deeply. “I’m going to change first. We can talk to the garden.”
I don’t want Haruna to know that her best friend is troubling my mind. I would make sure she would think of other person. I don’t want Haruna to tease me, which I was sure my friends would do.
I turned away. After a two steps, I can’t stop to look at Haruna again. “D-Do you have news to your best friend?”
A smile formed in her lips. Happiness is seen in her look. “I received a call from Atsuko. Her mother is in good condition but there’s a test to check if it’s malignant or benign the polyp in her colon.”
“That’s good news.”
“Thanks to you,” Haruna said smiling. “You and your friends are truly an angel.”
“Angel? So one of the angel you’re talking about is the reason why are you sad this past few days?” I said smiling
Her smile turns into wince.
I laugh and continue to go to my house.
End of Minami’s POV
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Hospital
Atsuko smiled when she enter in the room of her mother, holding a two piece of roses. She saw the two friends of her mother. They suddenly stop talking when they see Atsuko.
“Oh. Why did you stop talking?” she said smiling and give the flowers to her mother. “For my beautiful mother,”
“Mrs. Maeda, I must go now. I will visit you again tomorrow.”
“Me too,”
“Okay. Thank you for coming here.”
The two oldies still whispering to each other. When Atsuko look to her mother, they smiled to each other. Her mother was indeed safe. She wants to cry right now while watching her mother. Atsuko set aside the thoughts of what move they next to do. She doesn’t want her mother back to work. Atsuko sure to herself that her mother was doing nothing but to rest. She is in charge of all. On how she would do that disregard from now. She would find a job and overcome all the trials. The important is her mother is safe. May the doctor confirm that it was a benign polyp in her colon?
“Where did you get money, Atsuko?” her mother asked in low voice.
Atsuko blinked. When they eyes meet, it seems that her mother would cry anytime.
“Who give you the money? W-What’s the exchange of it? ”
“Mom…”
“Tell me the truth, Atsuko. Don’t ever lie to me. Do you…..” her mother can’t continue on what she was saying because she was crying.
It seems that her voice clogged in her throat because of the worriedness and hurt she saw in her mother. Atsuko understand on what her mother was thinking. As a mother- that cared so much to her child- she knows that it’s very hurtful to know that Atsuko exchange herself in her health. Atsuko hug her mother.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, Mom. The money is from the friend of Haruna’s boss. Do you remember Oshima Yuko-san? I borrowed it from her friend. It’s a debt. She didn’t ask for an exchange, believe me.” Oh, there’s one thing, she make me a white lady.
“Is it true?”
“Yes, Mom,”
Atsuko told her Mom, what Haruna is doing. She is in good hands. Atsuko knows her mother didn’t skeptical to her.
“You know that I can’t keep secrets to you when I do wrong.” She said and parted their hug.
Her mother smiled. Atsuko knows her mother believe on her. Whenever she was with her mother, Atsuko knows that she can face and overcome whatever trials it is.
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Topic: My chinky-eyed Angel (Atsumina) Chapter VII [29.9.2014] (Read 28564 times)