Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Mao ran out the subway station, still fuming over the incident earlier. The nerve of some people, she thought. Just because they are riding in fancy cars doesn’t make them the kings of the road. She stopped at a stop sign again. What if she was really hit and died?

“I haven’t even had my first kiss yet,” she grumbled, earning weird stares from the people beside her.

Oops… One bad habit of hers when she’s angry is she talks to herself before she realizes it. She avoided their gazes and ran ahead when the light turned green. But she should really control her temper before it gets her into any trouble. She was banging on the hood of a jaguar! She wouldn’t be able to afford it if the person demanded payment for damages to it. Not in this lifetime. But the blood just rushed to her head. Luckily, before the person could get out of the car and deal with her, she quickly ran away. Even though the driver was the one at fault, you can never be too careful when it comes to rich people.

Checking her watch, she saw she was already an hour late. Oh no, she thought. Maybe her boss wouldn’t notice… Yeah right, she had become the errand girl for some reason. Editorial assistant, my ass, she thought vehemently. She saw her building and immediately ran up the steps, not noticing her shoelaces were untied before it was too late.

“Ack!” she cried, tripping and hitting her knee on the stairs then sliding down two steps. Fortunately, she wasn’t wearing a skirt this time. Everything happened so quickly. In her haste, she never noticed the person in front of her and when she tripped she had grabbed his jacket for a millisecond before going down.

She winced at the pain in her knee. That’s going to bruise. As she rubbed it, she didn’t notice someone come up to her.

“Are you okay?”

Still wincing, she looked up and saw the cutest guy she had ever seen. He had straight jet-black hair that falls on his eyes in that kakkoi way. He had legs as long as a model’s. He looked like he just stepped out of a magazine. Everything about him was just cool… He was perfect…

Oguri Shun stared down at the petite girl at his feet. She had this indescribable look on her face. Her mouth was slightly open and she almost looked cross-eyed. Her hair was a mess some had escaped her bun but he could still see a pair of big, pretty, almond-shaped eyes, albeit the cross-eyed look.

“Are you okay?” he asked again, stretching out his hand, an offer to help her up.

She shook her head as if to wake herself up, nodded and slowly took it. Shun pulled her up. His hand was very warm.

“I- I…,” Mao stammered, as she gathered up her things. “T-Thank you for -,”

She looked up. He was gone. Eh? She thought. He was already entering the building. Must be those long legs, she thought dreamily. She’s never seen him around before and – Aargh! She was already late!!

Huffing and puffing, she saw an open elevator, shouted “Wait!” and quickly ran in. The elevator doors closed and as she was catching her breath, only then did she realize she was with HIM.

She instantly stiffened up but he was as cool as ever. She stole a glance at him as he watched the floors light up. She hated herself for being so self-conscious now. Who wouldn’t be? She just made a fool out of herself. Tripping in front of him was so not cool. She caught her reflection. She was a big mess, making her wince inside. She nonchalantly attempted to tuck in some stray hairs behind her ears. Shun glanced down at her from the corner of his eye.

Mao’s heart was racing now. She has to act cool. She shifted her bag to the front and when it caught her jacket zipper it made a noise. PROOOT. Her eyes widened. She stole another glance at Shun. The corner of his lips twitched. Oh my god! Is he laughing at her? Did he think she just farted? Should she explain it? That would be weird but-

Ding! The elevator doors opened and Shun stepped out. There he goes, she thought glumly. He must think I’m so weird. And then she realized that this was her floor too. She quickly stepped out but the elevator doors were closing at the same time and she banged on them, making a whole lot of noise.

She winced again as she rubbed her elbows. Shun had turned around, his lips had an amused smile and then he continued to walk on. He’s working here too? She thought. Must be a model. And this wasn’t the way she would hope for him to see her. Why can’t I just wow them with my grace and poise for a change? She thought bitterly, as she trudged along, shoulders drooping and not looking forward to a whole day’s work.

**

“Is it time to go home yet?” Mao said, rubbing her temples and staring blankly at her computer screen.

“You just got here like five minutes ago,” Nino said.

Ninomiya Kazunari was her long-time college friend. It was pure luck they both got into the same company. That was the only silver lining in her job. Nino worked as a food consultant, writing about the latest in places to dine in or what food is hot nowadays. People would always write him off as a geek because of his glasses but he was a pretty funny and sarcastic guy. Ryo and he get along well.

“My point exactly.”

“Point taken,” he said, pushing his glasses. “Takki’s been looking for you.”

Mao grunted. Hideaki Takizawa, her boss from hell.

“He’s so gay,” she grumbled. She’d go to him later. She didn’t feel like it just yet.

“There is a possibility. You want me to spread that rumor?”

“No, no, no. You know I always say that when I’m pissed. He’s okay except for the part he’s working my butt off. At first, I thought he was good-looking and a decent boss,” Mao said, slumped on her desk.

But all that changed when she started working. Every little thing he calls for her to do it. Even if it wasn’t her job or even if it’s from another department. Once he even told her to pick up his laundry. Ugh.

Nino contemplated that for a bit. “I’d still be spreading the rumor.”

Mao laughed out loud. “I need a muffin. You want anything?”

“Nah. Those are like rocks. I’ll see you later,” he said and turned around.

“Hey Nino…,” Mao suddenly said.

“What?”

On second thought… “Uh… never mind… See you!” she said, as she headed for the coffee room.

**

She was stirring her coffee absent-mindedly, still thinking about how to find out about the guy earlier. She had wanted to ask Nino but she would surely be greeted by his disdain. He doesn’t like fangirls. Just as she was thinking that, two models came in speaking in excited voices.

The first one was Leah Dizon, known to sleep around and is a bitch. The other model Mao doesn’t know and she really didn’t care. She refers to them as Stick Figure One and Stick Figure Two.

“Have you seen him? Oh my god! He’s so sexy! I want him,” Stick Figure One said.

“Hot. Hot. Hot. And what’s more, he’s a famous up-and-coming photographer. I can’t believe Takki was able to get him,” Stick Figure Two chimed in.

So he’s a photographer, Mao thought. Stick Figure One and Stick Figure Two didn’t seem to have noticed her yet. She’ll be able to learn more about him then. She leaned a bit closer to listen in.

“Oguri Shun. Is it just me or even his name’s hot?” Stick Figure One giggled.

It’s just you, Mao thought, rolling her eyes,

“They say he’s a real badass and he’s slept with most of the models he’s worked with. But he’s also had a lot of girlfriends before that. Some are even actresses,” Stick Figure Two gushed. “He easily gets bored with them though.”

“Of course, someone like him would only date the beautiful people! Imagine him dating…,” Stick Figure One’s voice trailed off.

Why weren’t they talking anymore? Mao thought, as she leaned in more.

“Excuse me?” Stick Figure One asked in a shrill voice.

Mao jumped a bit at that. She plastered on a fake smile. “Coffee?”

“Were you eavesdropping?”

“Well, not really coz you guys didn’t bother to lower down your voices,” she said, that fake smile still on her face.

“Whatever. Just go away,” said Stick Figure Two.

Stick Figure One had an evil smirk on her face. “You’re interested in Oguri Shun too? Forget it. He’ll never even look at you. Imagine him dating you.”

And the stick figures had a good laugh at that thought. Mao smiled through gritted teeth and walked away. They were still laughing. How she wanted to just punch them in their faces and knock a couple of teeth out!

**

“How are you liking it here so far?” Ikuta Toma asked, as he put his arm around Shun’s shoulders.

Ikuta Toma was one of the top photographers in the magazine. He was a sleazeball and has practically slept with every girl and model in the company. With no real goal in life, he’s just always looking for that next thrill, always at the expense of other people.

“So far, so good,” Shun said, examining his camera.

“Anyone that caught your eye?” Tomas asked, laughing.

Shun was about to answer when he saw the girl who tripped come into the room. She had four cups of Starbucks coffee in one hand and talking on the phone with the other. Toma had been distracted when some people were asking him about some photos. Shun then watched as the girl put the coffees on a table and was about to go when she bumped her head on some lighting equipment. He stifled a laugh as she was rubbing her head. A guy with glasses walked up to her and they talked. She had the most animated expressions as they talked and laughed. He then held up his camera and took some shots.

“What are you doing?” Toma said, once he came back.

Shun didn’t answer him and continued to take out some lenses. Toma frowned a bit and he saw Inoue Mao. He looked at Shun again.

“Did you just take her picture?” he asked.

“No, I was taking random pictures of the room. Just testing the camera,” he lied. Why was he lying to his best friend?

“Was she the one who caught your eye?” Toma asked again, not letting up.

“No one’s going to catch my eye here,” Shun said. “You’ve probably slept with all of them.”

“Not all of them,” Toma said, under his breath. His gaze returned to Mao. His face indescribable.

He then looked back to Shun and then back to Mao again.

“I have an interesting idea,” he said to Shun, a malicious grin on his face.

**

“You’re back early,” Tomohisa’s mom said as her son came into the living room.

Tomohisa slumped down on an armchair. “Those board of directors are easy to handle. It’s the same old thing. I propose something new, they disagree. I’d come and convince them and then they’d agree in the end.”

“That’s my boy,” his mom chuckled.

Tomohisa grinned childishly. He was the son of hotel conglomerates, owning the largest hotel chain in the country and internationally. They’ve expanded to developing beach resorts now. Tomohisa has never had to worry about his life ever since he was a kid. He’s forever being taken care of by everyone. Every person heeding to his every need. Everything’s been set for him. Whatever he wants, he can easily get. Life was good. But somehow, he felt something was missing.

His mom noticed the pout in his lips, whenever he was deep in thought.

“That look on your face is all too familiar.”

He sighed. “It’s just that it’s always the same thing every single day. It’s making me restless.”

He was so bored with his life; though some people may find that hard to believe. Maybe because everything came so easily… And it was always clubbing, party after party, every single night. He was so sick of it.

“You know what you need? A girl in your life,” his mom declared, sipping her tea.

Tomohisa groaned. “Not that again, Mom. I date, okay? But the girls I have dated are always the same. They’re like these Barbie dolls that are so perfect and poised, it’s a bit creepy.”

“Well, you just haven’t met one that-“

He shook his head. “No, Mom.”

And then he remembered the incident earlier. “Although something interesting happened this morning –“

His phone suddenly beeped. He took it out from his pocket.

“I always say that you just have to have the right people around you and you’ll see things in a different light,” she said, sympathetic over her son’s plight. It was hard for a mother to not be able to do anything to help her son.

He nodded absent-mindedly as he checked his message.

“It’s time for golf,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Like clockwork.”

**

“Eiji’s going to be celebrating his birthday tonight,” Shirota Yuu said. “So let’s party it out.”

“We could do it on our yacht,” Eiji said, grinning.

Tomohisa laughed along with his friends but he wasn’t really into it. They were having drinks after playing golf and tonight it was the same old thing. Great, he thought glumly.

“You seem out of it, Pi. What’s up?” Akanishi Jin asked, twirling one of his golf clubs.

Yamapi or Pi to his close friends has had his nickname ever since they were kids. It was because his mom for a time always dressed him up in pink shirts, for some crazy reason. They used to call him Yamashita Pink then shortened it to Yamapi.

Yamapi shook his head. He wished someone would get him out of here soon.

“Nothing,” he said. They wouldn’t understand anyway. They are enjoying this kind of life.

Shige suddenly approached their table. “There’s an important phone call for you, sir.”

Yamapi nodded and excused himself. They walked off as Yamapi reached out his hand for the phone.

“Actually, there’s no phone call. You looked like you needed help,” Shige then said, grinning.

Yamapi laughed out loud and thumped Shige on the back. “You always know what I need. Let’s get out of here. I’ll tell them later I had something to do.”

Shige nodded and they headed for the valet entrance to pick up the car.

“Where do you want to go, sir?”

“I think I’ll have some takoyaki balls,” Yamapi said, grinning happily.

**

Takoyaki was one of Yamapi’s favourite food. He especially liked eating out on the streets; He just liked the atmosphere.

“Yummy!” he exclaimed, as he placed one in his mouth.

They were eating in his favourite takoyaki stand. The owner was already familiar with him and would always give him extra. A lot of students frequent the stand too. He put another one in his mouth, completely oblivious to the girl students ogling him and whispering excitedly. Some were even taking photos of him with their phones. But he was in takoyaki heaven.

“I never would have thought you would really like these things, sir,” Shige said.

“Don’t call me ‘sir’. How many times do I have to tell you?” Yamapi said, as he put in more sauce. “And yeah, as much as I love those guys, I don’t think they’d get it either.”

Something as simple as this made him this happy, Shige thought. His boss really is one of a kind. You’d never expect it from someone with his background.

Out of nowhere, Yamapi suddenly sighed. “I need a vacation.”

“A vacation? Well, you can go out of the country and-“

“Nah. I want to do something different. Look at these people, Shige… I wonder what they have that’s making them really happy with their lives…,” Yamapi said, as he observed the people around him laughing and talking.

Shige swallowed the takoyaki in his mouth and simply said, “I guess we would never know, sir. Since you live a totally different life compared to them.”

Shige was about to eat another takoyaki when he noticed Yamapi had sort of froze. He looked up and saw that he had a faraway look in his eyes.

And then,” That’s it!” he exclaimed, breaking into a huge smile.

Shige was at a lost. Yamapi popped a takoyaki into his mouth and gave Shige a thumbs-up sign , nodding happily.

Was it something he said? Shige thought.