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I don’t like how they push me out of his life, but I understand why they did it. The fact that it left us broken and probablyunable to repair ourselves is the problem. However, it is one we must acknowledge. They no longer have the power to keep us apart, only we do.
The ball is in our court. I just don’t know if I even want to play with a person who can’t even call and let me know if he is okay if his plane landed or not.
Trying to focus on the story I’m reading, I give up after a quarter of an hour knowing I won’t be able to focus. Shoving the device away I debate shutting it off. I had it on pretending to read when I was really waiting on his inconsiderate ass.
Grabbing the bottle Aiko left I pour a hefty amount of the plum wine into the glass until it almost reaches the rim. I guess I’m going to try to get a hundred on this test. I giggle feeling the effects before I take a sip of my refill.
Out of nowhere FaceTime pops up with K emblazoned on the icon. My tummy drops thinking it’s Kiyoshi.
All I can think for a split second before I press the button is that something happened to Hisashi.
“Hiyo,” the singsong hello greets me as a beautiful face fills the screen.
“Hiyo,” I whisper arrested by the person that is Hisashi’s younger sister.
“Hi, Taylor-chan,” she says in English far superior to my Japanese. “I’m, Kana.” She gives me a little bow that I return. I wait watching as her cheeks flush. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Is Hisashi okay?” I ask, unable to hide the fear lacing my voice.
“Oh, Hisashi-oniichan is very well and on his way back to the U.S. with Kiyoshi-oniichan and Krie-chan.” Her gaze skates around for a moment as if she fears being overheard. She leans in. “I must speak with you. You must forgive me.” She bows solemnly.
My heart plummets, my chest feels as if being cleaved in two as I watch all friendliness flee her face and her expression turns somber.
“Okay.” Bowing to her, I wait, knowing she’s going to swear me off her brother. Only there is no way I can do that. Not to mention I don’t want to. I know they probably think we are terrible for each other and I may have ulterior motives, but not one iota of that matters. They couldn’t keep us apart then. I can’t get away from him now. How do they solve the problem of my being held in his samurai mansion? Are they going to send an extraction team? I’m pretty sure knowing him as I do, he has every eventuality figured out.
“Hisashi-oniichan likes you very much.” She adds the heart sign so there is no misunderstanding of her words. Japanese elite rarely, if ever, use words like “love.” The most you will get is I like you or I like you very much to convey words of love, adopted during the Meiji Period where a lot of western mainly conservative Victorian societal norms had a great impact on the culture and still lingers to this day.
Still, I am left without words at her pronouncement. I am a useless being staring at my husband’s sister, wondering how she dares be so bold with a person she has no association with.
“Um.” I bow, because what else do I do at such a pronouncement? “Did he tell you this?” I watch as she bows more out of habit than anything else.
“He confided after an incident with Krie-chan that he had a person who he likes very much. I have been to his suites of rooms many times since he’s been gone. You are the only person on his wall. It is not a bad wall like Kiyoshi’s, it is only a Tay-chan wall. I know it can only be you.” She smiles warmly. “He deserves this happiness with you, Taylor. You must be very, very patient with him. He’s endured much.” Her eyes dim brieflybefore they lift to mine, glistening. She wipes an errant tear. “Promise you will.”
“I will promise to try,” I tell her, my heart, chest, and throat tight.
“Hai.” She bows to me.
Returning the gesture I watch the screen go black, disbelief rioting through me like an errant wind.
To say this experience is getting wilder by the moment is an understatement. His sister was so far off-limits when we were together before he barely mentioned her beyond saying he had a sister.
Now she’s calling asking me to have patience.
Many more sips of plum wine later I’m incensed just ruminating on the facts. His sister called but he couldn’t be bothered, she asked for patience, and I had to implore him to get help.
I didn’t ask to be here. I was going about my life fine unknowing of his constant interference. Not I can’t unknow it. Even if I am able to pull the tatters of my life together after what he’s left behind I won’t be able to be free of him.
By the time I enter the bedroom, I’m not even bothering with a glass anymore. I take the bottle to the head. Miserable, alone feeling unwanted and bereft, I drink the last bit watching nothing play before me on the screen.
In this moment I hate this place, this life, and the man who forced me into it.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Hisashi
“It all leads backto Thaddeus Love and his best friend, Mariah this time. They alone hacked the message board; the other kids who helped them all are in the clear. We are tracing the IP addresses as we speak. They did a better job of scrambling the signal but just like bomb makers every hacker has a signature. This is theirs. They often work as a team,” Yumi, whose excellent performance in the Love matter has garnered her a promotion, informs me.
