Chapter 18

LOBBY

Akira and Isane were walking from the entrance after coming back from a meeting at the other company branch.As they were walking, they saw Risa getting out from the lift and heading towards the café.

Akira : Is that Risa?

Isane : Yes.

Akira : probably Im gonna get another cup of coffee.(grinning)

Isane : Don’t start Akira.

Akira : Why.

Isane : You know she is dating Kaname.

Akira : I think we both know its not true.Or wait, you are into her too?(lifting his eyebrows)

Isane : I never said that.

Akira : You never said anything Isane.But your eyes did.See you!

Akira left Isane standing alone and heads for the café.

Isane : (sigh)

As Isane was about to turn towards the lift,he saw Kaname coming out from the lift and heading towards the café too.

Isane : This is going to be interesting.(grinning)

CAFÉ

Aya was busy talking to Emi when Risa came in right away sat at the empty seat infront of Aya,which is beside Emi.

Risa : I need some green tea please (rubbing her head)

Aya : Oh! Risa! I would like you to meet my new friend.

Risa  : New friend?

Aya : (pointing to the girl beside Risa)

Risa slowly turn to look at the girl beside her and Emi put down her drink and smiles innocently at her.

Risa : What in the world are you doing here!?

Emi : (laughing)

Risa : Whats with the..attire…?

Emi : Oh come on Risa,is that how you welcome your beloved friend ?

Risa : Why are you wearing ..all these clothes?

Emi : It’s a costume-play day for me.Why not ?

As they were talking, Akira walked in and quickly spot Risa in the café. He smiles but he heads to the counter to order instead of approaching her first.

A few seconds after that,Kaname walked in and he saw Risa right away.He went straight to her and all the girls didn’t realize he was standing behind Risa.

Aya : (cough)

Kaname : Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the café?

Risa : (turning back)

Emi : Whooo….

Akira whom just finished ordering his coffee turned around was surprised to find Kaname in the cafe.

Kaname swiftly sat infront of Risa and look at her.

Aya :……I’ll get more coffee.

Kaname : Thank you .

Risa : What?

Emi : (looking at both of them)

Kaname : I was searching for you the whole day,you didn’t even tell--

Risa : Excuse me,do I  have to tell you everything?

Kaname : you are my girlfriend.

Risa : Oh really?

Emi : (grinning)

Kaname : Lets go up.

Risa : I just got my green tea and --

Kaname : We need to talk.

Risa : No.

Kaname : I am being nice to you here Okumura,lets go up and settle all this mixed information.

Risa : What mixed information?

Kaname : Karin told me about you.

Risa : About?

Kaname : About you not wanting to continue this.

Risa : …she what?

Kaname : Thus,lets go up and talk.

Risa : I don’t get you.

Kaname : I said--

Akira : Whoaa whooa Kaname chill.Keep it down.We are outside the office.

Akira was tapping on Kaname’s shoulder when he realized Kaname was about to raise his voice.

Risa : (staring at Kaname)

Akira : Whatever it is,keep it down.Settling here wont be leading you guys anywhere.

Kaname : Mind your own business Akira.

Akira : I am just helping you Kaname.

Risa : Akira,I think you better take your cousin here up.Give him some ice to ease the burn.I’ll come up later.

Akira waited till Kaname finally stood up and Kaname gave Risa a stare before leaving the café.

Risa lay backward and let out a big sigh.

Emi : What was that…

Risa : It must be Karin’s works…

Emi : You are not going to continue?

Risa : I never said that.

Aya whom just came back from the counter quickly took a seat and look at Risa.

Risa : Karin was just saying that she needs to do something so that Kaname would be agitated and starts to pay more attention to this whole issue.

Emi : what a sister he has…

Aya : So..

Risa : I said I don’t even want to think about this,but she insisted…so I didn’t know she would say that to Kaname(rubbing her head)

Aya : (laughing)

Risa : (sigh

Emi : Sounds like I need to work her Aya.I need to keep updated with our Drama Queen here.

Aya : You are welcome to help me clean the dirty tables.

Emi : ugh anything will do.

Risa : What am I going to do now…

Aya : Come on chill Risa. At least I can see some sparks in his eyes.

Risa : What sparks..

Emi : Well at least he got mad when Karin..is that her sister name? Yes when Karin said that.

Aya : Which means…

Emi : He is paying attention to you!

Risa : Which I don’t want it to happen.

Emi : You are so dumb.

Risa : (sigh)

Aya : Anyhow,what time are you going back?

Risa : IM gonna go home early I don’t care.Im tired enough today

Chapter 17 - Hitomi

KARIN’S OFFICE

Karin was busy talking on the phone while Risa on the other hand is finisher her last sketch Karin asked her to do. Risa is really enjoying her time sketching all the buldings and arcs as described by Karin earlier and it is one of the things she love doing the most.

Karin : Alright,I’ll call you back later then?Alright.see you.

Risa : Busy day ?

Karin : Very. My parents is finally coming back from London.

Risa : (shocked)

Karin : And,yes. They know about you and my mother is more excited to meet you instead of me (laughing)

Risa : (confused)

Karin : It seems like,you are officially our Kaname’s girl.

Risa : I don’t get this anyhow

Karin : I know you wouldn’t want this but--

Risa : Don’t fret Karin.I got it (laughing)

Karin : Im worried you might ditch us and --

Risa : I wont.If I were to ditch you guys,I would have done it on the first day.

Karin : Thank you so much Risa (grinning)

Risa : So,I am done with this sketch. Anymore Karin?

Karin : Wait,that was fast…

Suddenly the door to Karin’s door swung opened and  a girl with a long wavy brown hair walked in.The lady looks very shapr with her smart white one suite top and pants attire.She was wearing a dark red heels and it made a thumping sounds as she walks in.

Karin : Heh?

Hitomi : Konbawa!!!!

Risa : (looking at the girl)

Karin : No food?

Hitomi : No,not this time (laughing)

Karin : Too bad,I love the bread pudding from the café…

Hitomi : anyhow,IM here to pay my share of visit to Kaname’s fiancé!

Risa : Fiance?

Hitomi turned to Risa when she heard her voice

Hitomi : I didn’t know you have new assistant Karin.

Karin : She’s not my assistant.

Hitomi : She’s not even wearing formal clothes..

Karin : Well,because she is not my assistant(laughing)

Hitomi swiftly took a seat at the couch and crossed her legs.

Hitomi : Then?

Karin : She is the Kaname’s girlfriend .

Hitomi quickly uncrossed her legs and turn to Karin.

Hitomi : (turning to Risa)

Risa tried to curve a bitter smile and Hitomi just look straight at her.

Hitomi : How did Kaname manage to get such a good looking girlfriend.. I remember his flirting skills are like -99999.9999. (surprised)

Karin :Well  he didn’t.

Karin walked towards Risa and sat beside her.

Karin :this is Okumura Risa,Risa meet my another cousin,Ishikawa Hitomi.She is from the Restaurant management of the Hotel and Suites department 

Hitomi : Nice to meet you (smiles)

Risa : Nice to meet you too,Hitomi-san.

Hitomi : Cut the ‘san”. Call me HItomi.Damn, Kaname love high school girls eh…

Karin cant help but burst out laughing when Hitomi said that.Karin covered her mouth while lauhing while Risa just look lost and dumbfounded.

Hitomi : Why? Why are you laughing?

Risa :….Karin ..

Karin : Guess how old is she Hitomi

Hitomi : 16? 17? You don’t look like you passed high school yet..

Risa : im 23..

Hitomi : (shocked)

Karin : Trust me.I was shocked too.But anyway,Kaname made the right choice.

Risa : More like he made the wrong move (annoyed)

Hitomi : So how did you both met?

Risa : I punched him.

Hitomi : ……I thought you said you punched him.

Risa : Yes I did.

Hitomi : Now I am more interested tell me everything.

Karin : (laughing)

Chapter 16 - EMI

LOBBY CAFÉ

A girl with knee length pencil skirt and plain blouse walked into the café.She had her boring black hair tied in a simple low tie and she was wearing an old looking spectales.Nerdy,plain and boring ,could be the best words to describe her.She walked in and went straight to the counter where Aya was busy talking Myuu.

Aya : Welcome!

Aya looked at the girl and she froze when she realized that she knows that girl.

Aya : Are you kidding me?

Emi: Good Morning!(pushing her spects up)

Aya walked out of the counter and went straight to Emi and hugged her.Aya screamed a little when she saw Arisa infront of her.They haven’t met since Aya and Risa came back to Japan. Hasegawa Emi is one of their room mates back when they were studying in America.Three of them are so close since they stayed in the same house all through out the years

Aya : Whats  with this nerdy image anyway?(looking at Emi from top to bottom)

Emi : I decided to look nerdy for a while.How do I look?Nerdy enough?

Aya : You may fool other people not me Emi (rolling her eyes)

Emi : Oh come on.

Aya : What happened to your purple hair?

Emi : I dyed them black before flying back here.

Aya : Why?Wait wait,lets sit! Shinji!!! My favorite drink,two!

Shinji : Right away Aya-san!

Aya asked Emi to sit at the table and Aya looked at Emi and laughed again.

Emi : What?

Aya : Its weird,seriously.First,to see you here.And second…(pointing to Emi)

Emi : I tried hard to look nerdy today alright.Please spare some compliments.

Aya : Oh come one,my eyes can still detect your sharpness in everything. You cant fool me Emi.But,when did you come back?

Emi : Yesterday!

Aya : And..

Emi : I went to your house this morning to find Junna-san telling me both of you got a job.

Aya : And you came here.

Emi : Yes!Where is Risa working anyway?

Aya : I’ll tell you later(winks)

Emi adjusted her spectacles and that action made Aya burst out laughing

Aya : I cant see you like this seriously.I doubt Risa can digest looking at your costume play today.

Emi : I find it so pleasing not to have eyes looking at you.

Aya : Had enough of people turning their head to you eh?

Emi : I had enough of America Aya.Let me start over in Japan,as a nerdy.

Aya : Fake nerdy you mean?

Emi : Shut up.

Aya : Lets see if Risa wont kill you when she sees you.

Suddenly the door to Aya’s café swung opened and two guys walked in.Heads turned when the two guys walked in and everyone seem to be focused on them.Not because they are wearing suits or anything,it is because they are Ishikawas.

Isane : Im getting  a coffee.

Akira :Since when do you drink coffees?

Isane and Akira went straight to the counter to order.

Aya : who is these guys..

Emi : How should I know.

COUNTER

Myuu : One caramel mocha and latte!

Isane : I heard you got a new owner?

Myuu : Yes yes Isane-san!Thats our new owner.

Myuu pointed to the table near the window and both Isana and Akira turned to look.Isane accidentally looked at the wrong person and his eyes landed on the old man,sitting at the table alone.He turned to Myuu with a disbelief look.

Isane : That old man?

Myuu : eh no no,that one!The one in red and short hair.The woman sitting infront of the lady with spectacles.

Akira and Isane turned again and they finally spot Aya .

Myuu : Oh!They are friends  of Kaname’s girlfriend too.

Akira : Okumura?

Myuu : (nodding)

Isane : (surprised)

Akira : Whats her name?

MYuu : Aya,Nakazawa Aya.

Akira : Not bad at all

Isane : Akira (glaring at Isane)

Akira : Im joking .(smirks)

Isane : Well,why not we go and say hello. We’ll be seeing her a lot after this.Plus she is Okumura’s friend.

Akira : (confused)

Isane,without second doubts walked towards Aya’s table while Akira following him from behind.

Aya  : Oh god,Emi,you are as annoying as ever!

Emi : I know you miss me(winks)

Isane : Good Morning (smiles)

Aya and Emi abruptly stopped laughing when they heard  Isane’s voice,They turned to look at a very smart and neat looking man dressed in all black suit with a light brown tie.

Aya : Good Morning..?

Isane : I apologize for the sudden introduction.We got to know that you are the new owner here?

Aya quickly  stood and smile at both Isane and Akira.

Aya : I am so sorry.Yes yes.Nakazawa Aya-des.

Isane : Don’t be formal with me Nakazawa-san. Im Ishikawa Isane--

Akira : Ishikawa Akira-des.(smiling)

Aya : More Ishikawas…(dumbfounded)

Isane : ???

Aya : eh no no I mean,nice to meet you Ishikawa-san (smiles(

Isane  : I heard that you are a friend of Okumura-san?

Emi’s head  swiftly turn to Isane when she heard Risa’s name.

Aya : aaa yes yes. We actually.Both of us. This is Hasegawa Emi.

Emi placed her drink on the table and purposely made a clumsy attempt and stood up.She bowed carelessly towards Isane and Akira.

Emi : Hasegawa Emi-des.

Isane : Nice to meet you Hasegawa san(smiles)

Akira : (looking at Emi)

Aya : I suppose we will be bumping into each other frequently after this?

Isane : Exactly.

Akira :We should be going now Isane.

Isane : Oh I am so sorry .Have a good day Nakazawa-san,Hasegawa-san .(smiles)

Akira and Isane went to the counter to take their coffees and left the café.

Emi : Both of them are totally into Risa.

Aya : you think?

Emi : Definitely.