Thank you for all your kind comments. Thanks to JFC, badsaints, rndmnwierd, Kream!, DO Me DO Me, and Hotaru for commenting on my first story.
I'm back with my second one already. I originally intended this story to be another stand alone - but as I was writing it - it connected itself with the previous story. So consider this not a part 2 yet, but another story in the same universe...lol. I would appreciate your comments on this one as well.
A birthday in a faraway land…
A young woman sat curled up against the pine headboard of her bed staring at the alarm clock that served as her small apartment’s only time-telling device.
It’s been 4 months since Chun and I moved into separate apartments…..I still can’t get used to living on my own…
She pulled the blankets around her, shivering a bit, despite the apartment’s heating system working perfectly. A low drone filled the room as a forgotten TV sat playing a random anime show to an empty sofa. She didn’t know which anime it was, nor did she care.
She looked at her cell phone sitting darkly next to the timepiece glowing red. 11:58pm. A sigh escaped from her lungs. She glanced at the calendar pinned to the wall. Two minutes until March 11th, the date circled on the calendar.
My second birthday away from home…
The room smelled of the night’s dinner – soy sauce, daikon… - food she had purchased from the konbini near the station. She made no secret of the fact that she couldn’t cook very well, a fact her fellow members knew well because she had yet to cook for them.
She looked at the clock again. 11:59. One more minute. Another sigh escaped her lips.
My first birthday as a member of Morning Musume...I wonder if anyone will remember…
She tried to force a smile onto her face, of course they would remember – that’s the reason she looked at the clock so intently. The group was practicing for their upcoming concert tour set to begin in 12…11 days. No celebrations tomorrow, not that she was hoping for one…
Who am I kidding?......Of course I want to celebrate…at least it’ll get my mind off…
The red numbers flashed in her periphery. 12:00. Her birthday. On this day 17 years ago she was born. She looked at her phone again…expectantly. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but it surely wasn’t a dark, quiet phone. She snatched it up and flipped it open. Yes. It was on. No, she wasn’t imagining it…no one had emailed her yet.
Perhaps I’m being impatient……just slow down Lin…give them time…
Lin fell onto her side causing the bedsprings to compress beneath her weight. She turned her attention to the new random anime that was just starting on her TV screen. Her phone was still clutched in her hands. She tried to stare past her hands at the glowing box, trying to keep her mind off of phone watch. Her eyes clouded over and she clenched them shut.
I’m not going to …
Soon, soft breathing was the only other sound in the room other than the TV. The lonely girl had fallen asleep.
***********
“Ohayou gozaimasu,” Lin mumbled as she shuffled into the dance studio.
“Ohayou Lin-chan,” smiled Ai Takahashi, the leader.
The others waved to her saying their own version of hello. Practice moved along as usual and Lin was only scolded a couple of times for losing her place in the dance routine. After several hours the girls were released from practice. Lin wandered over to her bag and grabbed her towel to dry her face and neck. She lifted the bag to her shoulder and began to walk through the door.
“Lin-chan, can you stay for a moment?” she heard Ai from across the room.
“Yes, Takahashi –san.”
She returned the bag to its previous resting place and walks over to where the leader was standing. She watched as the other girls filed out – a few pausing to give her a raised fist in a “ganbatte” pose. She nodded at each ganbatte.
“Lin-chan. How are you?”
Lin looked at her leader with surprise clearly written on her face. Whatever she was expecting of this encounter…this wasn’t it.
“Takaha…Ai-chan? I don’t understand?” She said switching to Ai’s nickname because occasion seemed to call for it.
“You were a bit distracted today.”
“Gomen nasai.”
“No apologies Lin-chan…” she began before stopping and running over to her bag.
“…come here Lin.”
“Ha…Hai.”
Lin walked over to her leader and pulled back with a start when said leader spun around.
“I just wanted to say Happy Birthday…but I didn’t know what to get you. So…I’m inviting you to come with me…don’t ask where. It’s a surprise.” She said, extending her hand.
“Hai Ai-chan.” Lin replied, a smile finally cracking the solemn look she had plastered on her face all day.
As the two walked out of the dance studio Onna ni Sachi Are began to play. Lin dug through her bag until she found her phone. She flipped it open to find her email inbox full of messages from the other members…
“I asked them to wait to send their birthday wishes to you, because I wanted to be able to tell you in person. We will be busy in a few days… and probably won’t have much time off…so I wanted to make your birthday a bit special – since it is your first as a member.”
Lin looked at the older girl and saw a bright smile upon her face. Lin stopped walking as her eyes began to cloud up for the second time in as many days …this time for different reasons. She noticed the leader’s eyes also mist up before she buried herself in Ai’s shirt, trying to hide her own tears.
“Thank you…again…Ai-chan.” She mumbled into the embrace.
“Family Lin-chan. Family. No need to thank me… how about you read those messages before we go?”
“Ok…” Lin replied, wiping her eyes, and flipping her phone open.
From: Reina-kitty
Happy Birthday Linlin! :3
From: Sayu
Have a good birthday. Usa-peace! Work on your cuteness.
Lin laughed at Sayu’s message…so typical.
From: Chun
Happy birthday Lin. I would have sent this earlier….but I was distracted by a…nevermi…
From: Mittsi :3
Happy Birthday Princess Linlin!
From: Turtle
I almost messaged you last night…but I would have been scolded… Omedetto Linlin! :-D
From: Miracle!
HI LINLIN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
From: Risa
I hope you have a happy birthday Linko!!! Wish we could all celebrate together! We love you!
Lin smiled at all the messages.
Linko?....oh no….another nickname…
She laughed at the thought as Ai looked at her with a bemused expression on her face.
“Let’s go Lin-chan!”
Lin couldn’t be sad anymore. It was her birthday and she was with family…
Ai-chan…
She smiled as she took her leader’s hand an continued to walk out of the dance studio.