Saturday, January 16, 2010 | 8:50 AM |

Chapter 1

part one

Part 1: OkinawaAs I drifted, I dreamed.
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1998
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
The sun sank weary, flushed and worn. The warm sea-winds sand tattered, torn.
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“Tag! You’re it!” Yamapi pushed my back as we ran along the sand. There were lots of giggling sounds coming from us three friends. Me (Airi), Yamapi and Ryo. He run far away from us, I was the ‘it’ so I shot a glare at Ryo, who was now running away from me.
“Ryo…. Chotto matte ne! (Wait a moment!)” I yelled and started to dash. I’m getting closer to him.
He was running slowly… or is it just me who was running faster? “Ryo, you’re IT!” I close my eyes nudge him sturdily because of excitement. The moment I open my eyes, I saw him on the ground, bleeding. I started to get panic, I was nervous. I tap him consecutively, “Ryo… Ryo… Ryo! Daijobu desu ka? (Are you okay?)”Then I saw a huge rock on the sand, maybe he got stumble and trip up. Probably not but most definitely.
Then I heard Yamapi shouting, his voice were getting audible. “What happen?.... Whoa!!!” then he turn around and stride a few. “Blood. Blood. Blood. No bloods please.”
“I’m okay…” Ryo assured us as he stood up. He held by my shoulders. The bleeding started on his eyebrows. Then I saw a wound on his legs as well. Uh-oh. We’re doom.
“Pi!! Let’s take Ryo to our house first.” I said, very nervous. “let my mom took care of his injury first.”
“Ohhh!! Do I have to come with you guys?” he started to stomp of his feet on the sand and scratch his head.
“Yes! Even if the train would come out from his wound.” I answer his reluctant question.
“Baka! (Stupid)” then Pi slap my head. I glare at him. “A train won’t fit on Ryo’s wound. Airi baka.”
“Yeah… Airi, a train won’t fit on my cut.” Ryo and Yamapi let out a chortle. I roll my eyes. I’m getting bullied.
“Hayaku ! (Faster) before Ryo’s mom would see us.” I said and started to skip a little. Pi helps him or more of dragging him. I was catching my breath as I look around.
“She said she’s not my mom.” He said in low tone. I look back at them; there was sadness on his eyes.
“AIRI! TOMOHISA! What did you do to Ryo?!” my body stood stiff as I hear the akufu’s (wicked woman) voice. I turn around; she was there, standing in front of us with her hands on her waist. I gulp in terror. She walks closer to us, and gets Ryo away from Yamapi’s hands. Then she shot a glare at us, “didn’t I tell you to stay away from him?!” I shiver and step closer to Yamapi. “The next time I saw you playing with my son, I’m going to complaint this over to your parents. You always cause Ryo to get injured.” She clenched her fist, preventing herself to get angrier. She exhale and turn away, hauling Ryo.
I started to calm myself by inhaling and exhaling. She’s more terrifying today.
From the distance, I heard him say, “You said you’re not my mom but why are you calling me your son?” I was waiting for her response, but I didn’t hear her utter anything as they disappear on the beach.
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After a week, Ryo didn’t play with us again. He was forbidden to go outside. But he sneaked out one and for the last time; me and Yamapi were playing outside our house, when he surprise us, he was wearing a very formal clothes as if he was going to a funeral.
“Are you going to a funeral?” Yamapi ask.
“Nope. We’re going BACK to Tokyo.”
“WHAT?!” it was unpredictable, the raising of my voice and so do his statement. I was surprised— REALLY SURPRISED. “Why ‘back’?”
“Cause, she said I was born at Tokyo and my real parents are currently living there… in short, my parents ask her to adopt me first, because their company was in uncertain momentum, almost in bankruptcy, thirteen years ago. Just like what she said, economic meltdown… and now, that everything is in the right place, they’re going to take me back.”
“So that means, you’re surname is not Sato?” Pi asks a very odd question.
“Iie. (No) she said my surname is, Ni---Ni—Ni… ahhh!!! I can’t pronounce it! I don’t know! I must have forgotten as well.”
“You’re leaving us? This is the end?” I ask. Silence fell upon the three of us. Tears were forming around my eyes, possibly any moment now, I could cry.
“Nope, this is not the end. I assure you guys, we will meet someday.” Ryo and Pi walks closer to me, and gave me a group hug. It was comfortable, even if this could be the last time.
“Promise us, you won’t forget us.” I said and huff.
“I promise.”
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Then few hours later, two men, wearing a coat, which often you could see on the movies, appeared on our house and fetch him.
And then he left and that’s the last time we got to see him.
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2003
Few years have passed. Everything had its own ending. Just like our high school life. Graduation just end few minutes ago. I immediately went on the balcony to reminisce all happy memories inside this campus; I look around the soccer field and smiled as the wind drive out my hair.
I can’t believe three years have passed. It was like a blink of the eyes. I remember the first time I step inside this school. My emotions were mixed. Delight, excitement and anxiety. But as I reflected from my past, it was all worth it. It was fun. High school was fun.
“Hey.” Someone said. I look back. It was Yamapi, my one and only remaining best friend. His hair was a mess, so do his uniform. Maybe lots of girls fight over for his second button. From this great distance between us, I can’t visibly see if it’s still there or what.
Slowly, he walks closer to me. I got the chance to see it clearly, it wasn’t there. I shifted my stare and look at him. I suddenly felt pity on the way he looked. I tiptoe a little and shove his hair with my hand and fixed it. “There… you look better.” He laughed breathlessly. I smiled and ask, “So have you thought about it?” The happy face turned into a crestfallen. Without him saying what is on his mind, I already knew the answer. It was clearly evident on his face.
I forgot how long it was but I ask him if he wants to go to college with me at the same school.
Instead his reply was irrelevant; somehow it did answer my question. “Dad was promoted. His work will be transfer in Tokyo, so we’ll be moving there.”
I gaze downward. My hair strands starts to cover my face. I felt a pang and sadness. Who wouldn’t feel depression if your only best friend will leave you too? I nodded several times and say, “Ah… I understand” I swallowed hard. I don’t want him to hear my croaky voice. I totally understand. From the first place, I’m just the best friend, even though I would cry buckets, there’s nothing I can do.
Nada.
Cause I’m just the best friend. Swiftly, he pulled my hand and hugged me. I didn’t hesitate, I cling my hands around him. I started to cry and sob, tears were flowing. We didn’t utter any single word for awhile.
He move back a little and held me on my arms with both of his hands. He laughed as he saw me crying. He wipes my face with his two thumbs. “Don’t cry… you look hideous.”
“It’s your fault...! You’re making me sad.”
“I’m sorry… ” he inserts his hand on his pocket, and pluck something. He held my hands and squeeze the ‘thing’ he gets form his pocket inside my hand. I slowly open it, to my surprise it was his second button.
“Gomen ne(I’m sorry)… I didn’t prepare anything for you.”
“It’s okay. You’re already enough for a present.” He said not looking at my eyes. I look down. I don’t want him to see me blush. “ikou?” (ikou means let’s go.) I loop my hand around his arms as we started to walk along the hallway of our school, for the last time.
“You know what?” I ask him. Our voice was echoing along the way.
“What?”
“I just realized, maybe you’re the reason why I didn’t get the chance to have any romantic fling with other guys. We’re so close that people may have thought that you’re boyfriend.”
He stopped walking, so do I. “So you’re blaming me for not having any boyfriend all throughout these years??” he said half shouting. He raised his left hand, he almost pin point it to me. Not directly, because he was holding three bouquets I’ve got from our other three male classmates.
He was angry. He raised one eyebrow. I smiled and loop back my arms around his. “Having you as my best friend proves to me MAYBE I don’t need any other man.” I laugh as I emphasis the word maybe. So does he. Then we start to walk again, I was resting my head on his arms. I’m surely going to miss this.
“Maybe?” he shrieks out.
“Yeah. As if the two of we’re going to get marry in the future.” I answer back playfully.
“Who knows?” he said and blurted out an evil laugh. I slap his chest.
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2009
That story was already a part of history.
After graduation, their family migrated to Tokyo. We haven’t seen each other after that. But we never fail to communicate each other.
He studied law just like his father who is an attorney. I didn’t go to college after graduation, for we lack money. It was a sacrifice and my own decision as well. My mom was diagnosed with heart disease and has to be sent in the hospital back and forth.
I studied in some vocational schools, were I focus more on arts. I’ve been designing stuffs, any stuff as long as I can do it.
One month earlier, I saw an advertisement that this big company at Tokyo were looking for a designer. I don’t want to lose that opportunity, so without a doubt I applied. After two weeks of waiting, they called me and said, I was accepted, I should make a samples and I have to fly to Tokyo on their main office after two weeks.
I readily accept their offer. Why such waste a chance? I inform my parents and they supported me. It’s for our sake on the first place. I immediately call Yamapi and ask him if I can stay at his place for two weeks, because that’s the cover period of my work there. He said yes and that I can stay there as long as I want. I started to work on my drafts, not wasting any minute any second.
Everything worked out just what I picture it to be, except for the fact that, I never imagine that I would be leaving Okinawa too. I assume it would be fun. I’ll just treat it like a vacation and I hope we could have a small gathering: me, Yamapi and Ryo.
So, Tokyo, here I come!
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10.10.09
4:36pm

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