Why is Rika-chan meeting up with Yoshizawa-san? Is Ishikawa CorPrint (Corporate Printers) making a comeback?
Oh great...Rika's ordeal was probably business-related, wasn't it?
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Conspiracy theorist in me wants to say that it was actually Yossi's dad that organized it in order to force Ishikawa CorPrint to agreeing to some type of hostile takeover/buyout that Yossi did not know about. <_<[/bgcolor]
“Oh my… She is kawaii indeed… Ayaka wasn’t lying… Yoshiko, you are so lucky to have a super kawaii girlf— ITAI!“ Hitomi stepped on her toe. “— girl… staying with you at home. She must have been filling your flat with pure kawaiiness …”
Yossi must have been talking about Rika quite a bit at the office.
“Okay, President Yoshizawa Yoshiko… I promise I won’t exhaust her…” Mai teased Hitomi.
“Come along now, Rika-chan… … … You’re so kawaii…” Mai walked ahead and Rika followed her to the office.
Mai =
Rika =
Rika barely read the titles until a thick one with a red stamp at the corner got her attention. The folder had “Ishikawa CorPrint – Yoshizawa PubCom Merger Ad written in bold letters in front. CorPrint was a known name to her because her family owned it until it fell into bankruptcy in 2002.
I KNEW IT!!!
Ayumi just nodded along, confused. The company president just called my best friend ‘Rika-chan in the office… PERFECT MATCH!?!?!
Shiba-chan =
Ayumi faced Ayaka, “… In our senior year, Rika’s father committed suicide because their business crashed into bankruptcy… After our graduation, she just disappeared. That was around five years ago. She didn’t even tell me where she went. I was really worried about her and tried to find her in Japan even while I was studying in the university. After asking around, I heard that her stepmother might have taken her to the Philippines. That’s why I decided to work for the company when the main office was moved here. I figured that I could find her. I planned to resign and go back to Japan because I thought she wasn’t here. I’ve spent three years in this country looking for her.”
Time to investigate what step-mom's been up to.
Ayumi was silent. She felt strange seeing Rika like that, not speaking and being all buddy-buddy and sweet with three of the most important young people in the world economy. Kawaii!? They’ve said that about Rika for the nth time! She just gazed at Rika who didn’t seem to notice.
Shiba-chan jealous?
Hitomi noticed her gazing at Rika “Ayumi, if you want to spend time with Rika tonight, you can sleep over at our place”
Rika was surprised. Our place?
Ayumi was surprised at the offer and was pleased that it was made but she declined “I’m sorry but I can’t tonight, I have to do something at home tonight” she lied.
“Aww, don’t you want to have a heart to heart talk with Rika?” Ayaka said, quite disappointed.
Well, having Yossi there would make things a bit awkward.
Ayaka unlocked the doors her car “Yoshiko, don’t forget. Tomorrow is a Sunday. The office is closed. Okay?” Ayaka reminded Hitomi who sometimes forgets that Sunday is the company rest day. “Only Mai has work on Sundays.” Ayaka added poking at Mai.
“Don’t remind me…” Mai said, annoyed.
Ouch.
Her Auntie was her best bud here for the first four years. But in the fifth… …Why did she change? Didn’t she hear me scream? Didn’t she hear me say no? Didn’t she see what he did to me? What he did to me…
Rika closed her eyes tighter hoping to block the images of a man he once trusted. She remembered it all. The smell of alcohol and smoke in the room . She sat up not wanting to feel his weight on her again and that strong punch he gave her at the stomach that left her unconscious. She tried to block her ears with her hands. She didn’t want to hear Auntie Mayumi’s voice. Puta ka talaga! Napakalandi mo! Pati Tito Dan mo, pinatos mo! Dapat pagkakitaan mo na lang ‘yang kalandian mo imbes na mang-agaw ka! (You are such a whore. You’re such a flirt! You even seduced your Uncle Dan! Why don’t you try earning a living with your flirtatiousness instead of stealing someone else’s man?)
Rika wept silently. She didn’t want to wake Hitomi with her sobs. I didn’t seduce him! I was sleeping! Didn’t you see? She bit a finger to keep herself from screamin
Oh FUCK!
Hitomi woke up to a strange smell. Is that… garlic? She walked to the dining table where Rika was sitting, waiting for her.
Rika took out the sketchbook “Good morning”
“Good morning, Rika… What did you cook for breakfast?”
“Tapsilog”
It's good stuff, it is.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...tapsilog.
*RIKA'S STORY*
“Yoshiko. It’s Mai”
“What’s up?”
“I’m here at the office. Your father just called.”
“What did he say?”
“He called to tell me that he and Matsuura-san are about to board the plane to here.”
“Nani?! Isn’t he in Hong Kong?”
“Yes. It seems he already met up with Matsuura-san in Hong Kong.”
“When did he call?”
“Just before I called you. The plane will arrive in about one and a half hour…
Oh boy...
and I think I might have found something of interest to you… I’ll tell you later…”
Something about Rika?
“… Okay… Bring your van. Meet me here. I’ll call Ayaka. Bye.” Hitomi hung up and dialed Ayaka’s number.
“Moshi moshi…”
“Ayaka, it’s me. Make reservations at the Peninsula Hotel for Matsuura Aya. Ask for the best suite, a double room and a conference room. Also make reservations for a single room at the Bayview Hotel. Bring your car and meet us at the airport.”
What on earth is he thinking?
Wait, the "Matsuura-san" here is AYA???
And what's the deal with the second hotel room? Who's going to be staying there?
Rika hasn’t seen this side of Hitomi yet. She seemed so uptight. So tense. So anxious. So nervous.
This undoubtedly must be a really big, really important business deal.
Luckily, it’s a Sunday. Driving in EdSA was a breeze. Mai’s Toyota Grandia sped through the highway.
In case anyone didn't know what EDSA was or what a Gradia looked like.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Grandia“Ayaka, we’re at the airport. Where are you?”
“I’m right behind you. Literally.”
Hitomi looked back to see Ayaka waving at her from her Toyota Camry. She waved back.
Yeah, Toyota's are pretty popular back home.
“Anyway. Have you made the reservations?”
“Yes.”
“You know what to do.”
“Don’t worry, Yoshiko, I’ll take care of him”
By "him"...I take it Yossi's referring to her father?
The two vehicles drove to the arrivals area of NAIA (formerly Manila International Airport or MIA). Hitomi immediately saw the familiar faces of her father, Fujimoto Miki and Matsuura Aya standing right beside him.
Ah, so THAT's why she had a double-room booked. Miki-sama's there too.
Fujimoto and Matsuura boarded the van. Hitomi followed them quickly, closing and locking the door. The van quickly drove off to the Pen. When Ayaka drove off in the same direction, Yoshizawa Jin felt relieved. But the feeling of relief was shattered when Ayaka pulled over at the Bayview Hotel at Roxas Boulevard as the van drove past them.
“Sumimasen, Yoshizawa-san… this is as far as you can go… I have made reservations for you.”
Hopefully Miki and Aya won't find it too strange that Yossi's dad isn't joining them.
“It is a pleasure to meet all of you. But Yossui, formalities like these are not necessary.” Smiles suddenly cracked from Hitomi and Aya’s faces.
“Well, Ayaya, you know me. I’m all for formality.”
“But to re-introduce me to Mai-chan and Ayaka-chan? That’s too much.”
“You did get to meet fresh faces, ne?”
Ah, so they already know each other? Wonder if Yossi's dad was aware of that?
“Yeah… but I didn’t know you were the type to get a personal assistant.”
“… Well… I needed company at home.”
“… Well… I needed company at home.”
“Well, if you put it that way, you could call Mikitty my personal assistant too.”
Yossi should have made that reservation for a "double-bed", instead of a "double room".
Laughter broke out from Ayaya, Ayaka and Mai.
“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that!” Hitomi went on defensive mode. Rika caught Aya’s drift and blushed after recalling how Aya and Miki held hands in the van.
Awwwwwwwww...Rika noticed.
“Kabutomushi, You are still a sneaky devil…” Miki butted in.
“Well, well, well… Look who’s talking!” Hitomi talked back. “I suddenly remembered a certain somebody called Kuwagata who studied engineering even though she didn’t like engineering just to work for a certain somebody who happens to own a motors company named Matsuura Motors!”
She did???
That must have made Aya happy, or at least flattered.
“Anyway, I chose to come here unannounced so that my father couldn’t bug me, in more ways than one. He’s the one thing that kept me from signing into the merger. You know I’ve always wanted to do business with you.”
“I know. But won’t you get into trouble with your father because of this? I heard he hates my guts.”
Somehow I get the feeling that it's PubCom that he's got issues with, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if a lot of that had to do with stuff that Yossi's dad (and not Yossi herself) did.
“He can’t do anything about it now. It’s not my fault too. I didn’t elect me to be president.”
Score one for Ayaya.
Does my father know about the two of you being… together?”
“I don’t know… Well, he did try mentioning you to Mikitty a couple of times right in front of me. If you know what I mean.”
“Good thing you got Kuwagata’s full attention…” Hitomi smiled.
So dad knows about Yossi "playing for the other team?" And he tried to set her up with Miki?
Miki rolled her eyes at the two who were indiscreetly talking about her “… Anyway, can we go ahead to our hotel room? I’m tired.”
“Oh, sure… I sense that you two would go to bed right away.” Hitomi teased Ayaya who blushed.
“Shut up, Yoshizawa!” Miki shouted at Hitomi
Miki =
Yossi =
Aya =
Miki =
Yossi said EXACTLY what I was thinking too.
“Ayaka, can you drive Ayumi and Rika home? Mai and I have something else to discuss.”
“I brought my car with me…” Ayumi suddenly said. “… um… can I drive Rika–chan home?”
.
“Okay, Ayumi, Please drive safely,” Hitomi then turned to Rika “Here is your key to the flat” handing her a key.
Now Shiba-chan and Rika can have that talk.
Not paying attention to Ayaka, she bade the best friends goodbye “Take care, both of you.” The two nodded and left the room.
...
“Well, since you two need some privacy—“
“Ayaka, stay. I need to talk to both you and Mai.”
Mai laughed out loud. “Ayaka… is this what I think it is?”
“I don’t know Mai… Yoshiko sure is acting strange talking in gibberish like that.” Ayaka rolled her eyes at Hitomi.
“All right, all right! I might be falling for her.” Hitomi said sounding defeated.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!
Mai said “My, my… Yoshiko… I’ve never heard you say that before…”
Hitomi just looked down. “Yeah… I know…I’m scared”
Ayaka took Hitomi’s hand “Yoshiko, sit down…”
Hitomi sat down beside Ayaka.
“Are you sure about what you feel about her?”
...
“Yoshiko… you found her with bruises and her clothes torn with a violent man...” Ayaka hinted at a memory only the three of them knew.
Uh-oh.
Hitomi caught on fast. “No… it’s not that… … … I have to admit she does remind me of Mama sometimes but seeing how hard she tries to keep on smiling just so we wouldn’t worry about her also reminds me that she isn’t Mama… Rika didn’t give up…” Mama did…
“Yoshiko… give yourselves more time.” Ayaka advised her friend
Mai shook her head “No… I think you should tell her how you feel right away.”
Differing opinions. Why am I not surprised?
“but Yoshiko… just be sure that you don’t go playing around like before… Rika is also our friend… I wouldn’t want to see her go through what you did to Miki… even if that one wasn’t for real… ”
Hitomi went defensive “… You guys know I just did that because Miki and I needed a pretext to “break up”… … ”
EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH???
Does Aya know about this?
“Oh!” Mai exclaimed after she suddenly remembered the interesting artifact she found in her office “… speaking of Rika… I found this in my office,” handing Hitomi the folder Rika dropped on the floor the other day.
Hitomi read the title “Ishikawa CorPrint – Yoshizawa PubCom Merger Ad…?”
Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!
“… Yoshiko… Ayumi told us that Rika’s father committed suicide in 2003 when their business crashed… ” Ayaka took the folder from Hitomi’s hands.
“… To-san never mentioned this merger to me when he handed me the company… … … … never… … … keep that folder for tonight. Bring it to the office on tomorrow.”
“Will you mention this to Rika?”
“… I seriously don’t know… I wish I won’t have to…”
So Yossi didn't know about this then? Looks like she's going to have to spend a lot of time cleaning up the messes her dad has made.
In the car, Ayumi looked at Rika who was watching the other cars drive by “You wanna hang out at my place before going home?”
Rika took out her sketchbook. “Yes, it’s been a long while since we last talked. I really missed you.” She showed Ayumi the message while the traffic light was red. Just to be safe
You know that a car in The Philippines is being driven by someone who's NOT a Filipino if they're actually STOPPED at a red traffic light.
*RIKA'S MOVING STORY*
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...interesting.
Ayumi took a serious tone “…but Charmy, if you’re going to fall for that one, be careful… ”
“Nani?!~”
Hey, when you're best friends with someone, they learn to read you like a book.
...
Wait a sec...did Rika just speak???
While walking from the parking lot to the elevator, Hitomi thought of the folder Mai showed her. Why didn’t To-san mention that to me? Ishikawa CorPrint…Rika’s father committed suicide… … She was in the Philippines five years ago… Hitomi’s trail of thought was broken when she bumped into somebody.
“I’m sorr-- ” She realized that somebody was in fact her most hated nobody—her father.
“Hicchan, I’ve been waiting for you… I asked the receptionist where your flat was but she wouldn’t tell me. So I decided to wait for you here.” Again, attempting to warm up to his daughter.
If he's done some of the things that we're thinking he's done...he'll be lucky Yossi doesn't knock him flat on his ass.
“Well, I also did notice that pretty girl seated in Satoda’s van a while ago. Who is she? Is she your friend? Does she work for the company?”
Hitomi was shocked that his old man noticed Rika. He really has sharp eyes. “She’s nobody you know… and she’s none of your business”
It'll be interesting to see how he reacts when he finds out who Rika is (because you know that someone in his position, sooner or later he'll find out).
Hitomi proceeded to a room she hasn’t shown Rika yet. She hasn’t used the room for two years. She stepped into the music room and found everything the way she left them the last time she used the room. She approached the baby grand in the middle of the room. Opening it and pressing down on some keys revealed that it was in perfect pitch. Thank Mai for that. Turning away from the piano, she looked at the instrument of her preference. Her violin. She’s had it since forever. She hoped her violin was still okay.Seeing it now brings back a lot of memories from her very distant past..
Probably remembering her mom, huh?
The Eyes should have found her by now… Why can’t they find her? … Chimu… We made a promise, remember?
OMGASS YOSSI AND RIKA WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS?!?!!?!?
“Well, I got the feeling that you and Rika were having such a good time together that you might forget to come to the office today... so I’m just reminding you… go to work…”
“… Really, now…”
“I’m pretty sure she woke up ahead of you again and cooked you up some delicious breakfast like a responsible wife.”
Yeah...breakfast.
This sounds SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much like a bad Pinoy drama.
Topic: Runaway from the Past (Read 317253 times)