Ok, I'm officially late for the gathering. 1 and a half hour. Oh gosh. Here is the next part for everyone who has been waiting!
The most hated Aya POV
F.Y.I
Chapter 17
Mat’s version
December 24 (10.40am)
In the taxi on my way to the Narita Airport, I thought for the gazillion time, “Am I right to meet up with Maki today? Why did I even agree to meet up with her yesterday? What am I going to say to her later? She crushed my heart! I hadn’t talked to her ever since that day I desperately begged her to stay as friends in the studio. I’ve nothing to say to her. Shit, I shouldn’t have agreed on meeting up.”
I took out my handphone from my bag as I wanted to text Miki that I was going to the airport to send someone off today in case she was worried for me. Strange, my phone didn’t even vibrate once this morning. I thought Miki would have called or at least messaged me. Maybe I shouldn’t avoid her like what I had done yesterday but I couldn’t face up to her after what I had said. I couldn’t face up to myself. Maybe she was with Yossie. No, I shouldn’t doubt her. Miki loved me.
I flipped open my phone and pressed the ‘on’ button several times and I was frustrated that my phone’s screen was blank. I came to one conclusion: my phone’s battery was flat. Shit, I should have charged it yesterday. Why did I fall asleep on my bed before I charged it?
The first thing that crossed my mind when I realized that my phone’s battery was flat was that Maki couldn’t reach me and our lunch appointment wouldn’t be possible. I mean, Narita Airport was quite big and she wouldn’t be able to find me. I wouldn’t be bothered to look for her. After all, she didn’t tell me where we were meeting exactly yesterday. The only way was that she waited for me at the drop-off point. But that would be so silly of her to wait there.
Then Miki crossed my mind. Miki must be trying hard to reach me the whole morning. She must be thinking that I was avoiding her by switching off my phone. What would she think of me if she happened to know that I was meeting up with Maki today? She probably would think that I still liked Maki. But how would she know? I didn’t tell her and Tokyo wasn’t a small place.
December 24 (11.45am)
After I paid the taxi driver and came out of the taxi at the drop-off point, I heard a familiar voice calling my name from behind. I turned and saw her leaning against the wall. She looked weathered and much more haggard than before despite the make-up she wore. I tried to keep my eyes off her cleavage revealed by her loosely worn blouse. The old memories of those nights we spent together began to surface themselves in my mind. No, I mustn’t think about them for the sake of Miki. No, I mustn’t.
She asked in that same tender voice, “Shall we go in?” I nodded. I hated the familiarity. How much I wanted to just hail a cab right now and leave Narita.
“Do you like Starbucks?” she asked again when we entered the airport. Personally I preferred Coffee Bean but this wasn’t the correct time to say that. I nodded in agreement and we strolled towards Starbucks in silence. I didn’t know how to describe that silence. It wasn’t exactly awkward but neither was it comfortable.
We were seated across each other in a cozy corner in Starbucks after I grabbed a cup of cappuccino and she got latte for herself. As an artist, I was used to sitting in corners. But this corner just seemed to be too cozy to my liking and it brought back too much memories. Way too much. I tried to shake off those memories but I failed.
Maki took a sip of the latte she ordered before she whispered, “I’m sorry for dumping you like that. It was all my fault. I never expect you to forgive me. I never expect us to be anything again,” she paused and she looked straight into my eyes. I gazed at her and I instantly realized that was a very big mistake. That pair of penetrating eyes looked hurt and it was just too familiar to my liking. Penetrating eyes, lips…No, I shouldn’t be thinking of this. I loved Miki. She continued, “Thank you for dropping your charges. Thank you, Aya.”
I didn’t quite know how to react to this. I wasn’t mentally prepared for this. What should I say? I must be fair to Miki after all that she had done for me. I mustn’t think about our past. I mustn’t. I smiled in an attempt to calm my nerves and replied in a rather flat voice, “I heard from Nacchi about you and I just sympathize with you. That’s all.” Maybe it did sound harsh because she appeared to be somewhat taken aback by my response but it couldn’t be helped. I mustn’t let her think that she stood a chance between GAM. I took a sip of the cappuccino placed in front of me.
Suddenly, Maki leaned across the table towards me, smiled and spoke rather gently, “There’s some cream on your face, Aya. Don’t move.” I obeyed and didn’t move an inch. As she came closer to me, I could feel her breathing. It was just so familiar. Shit, I shouldn’t have drunk it. Shit, I shouldn’t have even ordered cappuccino. Those memories surfaced themselves again and I couldn’t shake them off. They were overwhelming and suffocating me.
When our faces were inches apart, I could hear someone stomping towards us. Maybe it was someone who was late for his or her flight and had to rush his or her lunch. Maki turned her head and greeted that person, “Hi Miki.” My jaws literally dropped when I heard the name. Why would Miki be here? She didn’t know that I was with Maki here. Who did she hear it from? What timing. I turned my head and I saw a furious Miki raising her arm and she slapped Maki hard on her cheeks.
Maki didn’t appear shocked though. In fact, she looked relaxed. Maybe she had suffered a lot in there and this slap wasn’t something great or maybe she just wanted to taunt Miki by depriving Miki of the satisfaction of slapping. Or maybe she had already expected it to come. This girl was just simply too difficult to be read. I couldn’t understand what was going through her mind. I never understand.
I had never seen that expression on Miki’s face before. It was a mixture of anger, disappointment and sorrow. She bit her lips and ran off. Confused, I stood up and shouted several times, “Miki-tan!” She didn’t even look back once. I knew what she was thinking of. She thought that I deliberately met up with Maki on the next day after our quarrel to spite her or hurt her. She thought that Maki and I were in for a kiss. She thought that I cheated on her.
“Go and chase after her. She likes you,” Maki spoke with a smile on her face. I felt pissed off by what she had just said. Why did she teach me what to do? I knew I needed to chase after her. Did she think that I didn’t know Miki liked me?
Without saying a word, I took off my heels, dashed off and ran after Miki. I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch Miki wearing those heels. But without the heels, would it be possible for me to catch up with the former Gatas player? I had no choice but to chase. It was my one and only chance to catch her heart.
Topic: F.Y.I 29 - Recurring Moments (Read 151082 times)