Chapter 7: For Old Times' Sake
"Good morning, honey." Yoko is glad she caught Jiro before he leaves.
"Good morning." He kisses her lips.
"I needed to talk to you but I fell asleep waiting for you last night."
"You must have been tired from going out yesterday. Did you guys have fun?"
"We did," Yoko responds as she straightens her husband's kimono. "But something strange happened."
He immediately spins around alarmed. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, sweetheart. It's Hana."
"Hana?"
"Yeah, she showed up out of nowhere. She claimed she saw us when she was taking a break from running errands in Chinatown."
"Very strange, she never goes personally to run errands, especially to Chinatown."
"That is not even the strangest thing that happened. She actually invited Sam to Kei's birthday party on Thursday."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I know for a fact that Hana is aware of the relationship Kei and Sam had."
"What did Sam say?"
"She told her yes, but she doesn't plan on coming. Hana was very persistent."
"Hmm, I'll have someone keep an eye on her."
"Samantha?"
"No, honey. Hana," Jiro says. "Kei can't know about this. At least not yet."
"Of course."
They both walk down stairs where Hana and Kei are already having breakfast silently.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. Didn't think you were still here, Kei." Jiro asks as he pulls the chair for his wife.
"I went to bed late last night"
"He came home really late, that's why. Too much fun until 3 a.m. I guess." Hana comments dryly.
Yoko and Jiro eye each other. Hana always makes it awkward.
"Maybe tonight I shouldn't even bother coming home at all." Kei pushes his chair a little too forcefully. "Enjoy your breakfast, everyone."
Hana's comments have been getting on his nerves lately. He opens the front door and takes a deep breath. He enters his car and immediately calls his assistant.
"Jennifer, I am running late. What's on the schedule today?"
"You have a meeting at 9:50 with Professor Kamura for the annual fundraiser, a board meeting at 12 p.m. then a lunch with Mrs Park about the warehouse fire article. I also have all the police reports that you wanted to review on your desk, sir."
"Thank you, Jennifer. You are the best. I will keep you posted if anything changes." Kei starts driving and squeezes the steering wheel.
'Get it together, Kei. You have no time to lose focus.'
Kei's first meeting with Professor Kamura goes well. He prefers these kinds of meetings over business ones.
"Thank you for all your support, Mr Ichihara," Kamura says with a big smile. "Your generosity will be appreciated by ten more students this year."
"I'm always happy to help, Professor." Kei mirrors his smile. "Just have your assistant contact mine to finalize everything."
"I will do that." The man bows in appreciation.
Kei leaves the office with a warm feeling in his heart. There is something about helping people in need that always made him happy, especially young students working hard to make a future for themselves.
As he takes the next turn to head toward the parking lot, a running woman crashes into him. He grabs her shoulders to steady her. Kei's eyes widen immediately. He would recognize this red hair anywhere.
"I am so sorry."
"Sam?" Kei whispers.
Sam lifts her eyes and finds herself in Kei's arms. She jumps back immediately.
"What are you doing here?" She frowns. "Are you stalking me?"
"What? No, of course not." It is Kei's turn to take a step back. "I had a meeting."
Sam stares at him for a moment before stepping to the side. "Well, goodbye."
Kei unconsciously grabs her arm, then releases it. "Sorry." He notices that she is pale and that her eyes are red. "What happened? Were you crying?"
Sam didn't even know that she was crying.
***A FEW MINUTES EARLIER***
"Great work everyone. Please make sure you sign your piece." Sam's face is split in two. Her first class went better than she expected. Actually, it was perfect. She loves being called sensei and answering everyone's questions. She might actually consider doing this in the long run. The classroom gradually gets quieter as the students leave.
"Sensei, I had a question but I was too embarrassed to ask in class." A male student approaches her.
'Aww, the first student that seeks my help.' Sam's heart fills with happiness.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Denji, Sensei."
"Denji-san, don't ever feel embarrassed to ask any questions in my class. Okay?"
He nods and takes a step closer to her. "Sensei, is there another way to be able to get the shapes right? Sometimes it feels like looking at them is not enough."
He takes another step toward her. A bit too close for Sam's comfort. She tries to take a step back but the desk is right behind her.
'This is way too close. What is going on?' She tries to ignore her discomfort and answer his question.
"You have to make sure you look from different angles. I find that touching helps with getting a feel of the shapes with your hands, and thus have a clearer image in your mind."
"I see." Denji lifts his hand and caresses Sam's face.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sam slaps his hand away.
"Touching, Sensei. I want to get a feel."
"This is very inappropriate, Denji-san."
"But you are so beautiful."
"Excuse me, I have to go." Sam pushes the student to the side, and rushes out of the classroom. Her heart is beating so fast.
'How naïve to think that everything would be perfect.'
"Sam?" Kei calls her name again.
She wipes her wet eyes and tries to brush by him. "It's nothing." She says.
"Do you want to have some coffee?" His question takes Sam by surprise.
"Excuse me?"
"Come on, for old times' sake."
A simple no would have sufficed, but she can't bring her lips to utter the one syllable. She knows she shouldn't, she hates him. She looks into his emerald eyes and she hears herself accept his invitation.
'Weak.'
The ride is silent, except for the car's loud engine. Kei texts Jennifer and asks her to free his schedule for the day. He glimpses over to Sam who seems deep in her thoughts.
"Yoko told me that you started teaching at the university."
"Yes, today was my first day."
"How was it?" Sam pauses for a moment, remembering her student's advances.
'Just another pig in this wide world.'
She didn't know how to react, though. It is her first day and she doesn't want to make a scene when she just started. 'I should have, though.'
"Sam?"
"Not too bad, I guess." She shrugs.
Even though it has been years since they interacted with each other, Kei can still tell that something is bothering her. He doesn't push it, though.
"What about you? What were you doing at the university?" Sam finally turns to look at him.
"The Ichihara Group is one of the main sponsors of a few scholarships at the school. I had a meeting with the foundation chair, we are planning on starting a few more."
"I see, that's nice."
This could almost pass for a normal conversation between two childhood friends.
Almost.
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