Cross Climax II

by Tiana Laveen

  “Arashi, what about children? If you have children with her, the children won’t know who they are. They’ll be confused,” his mother sobbed.

  “How could they be confused if we teach them both sides of their culture? Confusion comes from not knowing, not being prepared, never being told, and – people like you. Sore de...

  (Goodbye, Mom.)” Arashi walked away from his mother and gave his father, sister, and brother each a hug.

  “Arashi,” Riko said, “I don’t get it either, but please know that you have my support. I love you big brother.”

  “I love you too.” Arashi left with Angel, hand in hand.

  * * *

  Angel sat in the car with her body turned away from Arashi.

  She was contemplative and quiet.

  A slow burn grew deep inside her.

  “Are you OK, Honey?” Arashi finally broke the silence as he switched lanes.

  “How could I be?” Angel whispered.

  “I’m sorry about what happened tonight. I really had no idea that my mother would act this way. I’ve never heard her say anything negative about anyone based on race before. It seemed to come out of left field,” he explained.

  “Why didn’t you tell her before I arrived, Arashi?” Angel asked, turning towards him with anger in her voice.

  “Tell her what?” Arashi asked.

  “That I’m not Asian! How could you let this happen?” Angel asked.

  “Are you seriously blaming me for this? It’s not my fault she acted that way.”

  “It isn’t your fault, but it could have been avoided. If you had told her, then you would have known her feelings in advance and not subjected me to that. Do you realize how embarrassed I was? I was on display. Your father and brother were the only two people that treated me with any sort of decency. Even your stuck-up sister, with her goofy, pudgy-ass, Elmer Fudd-lookin’

  husband had the nerve to snub her nose at me.”

  “Angel, you’re going to have to get used to this. If we’re going to be together, not everyone’s going to accept us as a couple. You told me you were having trouble at work. I asked you if you wanted us to stop dating, and you said ‘no.’ Now you want me to control how everyone responds to us. I can’t. You can’t change them. You’ll need to be secure with yourself,”

  Arashi said angrily.

  “Take me home,” Angel said shortly.

  “So, this is how you’re going to handle this? You’re going to cause tension between us, when we both are victims here.”

  “No! I’m the victim, not you, Arashi! I’m the one that’s looked at as being bottom of the barrel! You’re the one that’s revered. What’s he doing with her? Why would he want her?

  You’re given a stamp of approval while I’m given a swift kick in the ass. Just take me home!” Angel screamed, tears welling in her eyes.

  “I am. We’re almost there. I think we need to stop talking right now.” Arashi’s head felt like it was going to explode. Ten minutes later Arashi pulled up to Angel’s townhouse. He got out of the car and handed her her bag. His heart was breaking, once again.

  “So, is this it?” Arashi asked.

  “Yes, we can’t be together. It’s too difficult,” Angel forced out of her mouth.

  “But I love you,” Arashi said. Angel couldn’t stand to look at him. Seeing him trying to keep from falling apart tore her to pieces.

  “Arashi, please go.” She went inside her townhouse, closing the door behind her.

  “But I love you, Angel,” Arashi repeated softly to the closed door.

  * * *

  Three weeks later…

  “Oh, my God. Have you seen him?” Wendy asked. “Morris, you have to do something. He’s like the walking dead. Two clients have already complained that he wasn’t paying attention to them. One client quit because he told her to shut the fuck up!

  You know that’s not like him!

  He zones out now,” Wendy explained.

  “OK, I’ll be up in a second.” Morris hung up the phone.

  Arashi sat at his desk going through his emails. He had a five o’clock shadow, and his hair was too long. His shirt was wrinkled, and his socks did not match. Morris burst into Arashi’s office.

  “I don’t want to hear it. Get out,” Arashi said harshly, still looking at his computer.

  “I don’t give a crap what you want to hear. You’ve been ignoring my calls, you come into work late. You look like shit.

  You’re losing clients. You don’t care about life anymore. Look, I’m sorry Angel and you broke up, Bro, but life goes on!”

  “Get out,” Arashi repeated. Wendy walked in.

  “Arashi, don’t forget you have to see Fred Hopkins today at St. Claire Mental Health Institution.”

  “Oh, shit. I forgot.” Arashi rubbed his eyes, stood up, and grabbed his coat, making his way towards the elevator while Morris followed.

  “Why are you getting on the elevator with me, Morris? Leave me alone, seriously. You don’t know anything about what I’m feeling right now.” Arashi pushed the “down” button.

  “Oh, I don’t? You think I’ve never been in love and got left?”

  Morris asked. The two men got on the elevator together.

  “I’ve been through it too. It hurts. I understand, but you have to get back out there, man,” Morris encouraged.

  “I’m done. I don’t want to date anymore. I don’t want to socialize or anything. I just don’t want to feel anymore. I’m tired of feeling. The first week I felt like I was going to die. The pain is like a heart attack that won’t stop. She won’t return my calls which is rejection all over again. The second week without her was worse than the first because you start to believe it’s really over, so you relive all the wonderful times you had together.

  Here on week three, I just don’t give a shit and want to be left alone,” Arashi murmured.

  “Have dinner with me tonight over at Julia’s. Please,” Morris invited.

  “I’ll think about it.” Arashi watched Morris get off on his floor and waved.

  Arashi drove to the mental hospital. He walked in, found Fred, and sat down at the table with him.

  “Dr. Takahashi!” Fred said, showing a smile that was missing a few teeth. His shaggy, bright red hair; pale skin; big, round, sapphire eyes; long pointy nose; and freckles made him look like a cartoon character. “Glad you came.”

  “Let’s cut to the chase, Fred. I don’t have a lot of time. Why did you kill your mother?” Arashi asked dryly as he took out a piece of paper and pen.

  “She threatened to call the police on me!” Fred started to rock back and forth in his chair nervously.

  “Now that you’ve confessed to the police, they’re going to move you to another hospital that’s not as…,” Arashi looked around, “plush as this one. I need you to understand what the consequences are. You’re on suicide watch still.”

  “I don’t care. I just can’t go back to prison. I’ve been taking my medication. I know what I did was wrong. I can’t take it back though.”

  “No, you can’t. That’s the problem with paranoid schizophrenia, Fred. If you don’t take your medicine, the monsters come back. Look, I want you to keep in touch with me, but only for emergencies, OK?” Arashi handed Fred his card.

  His personal cell was scribbled on the back of it.

  “I’m going to try to persuade the judge to keep you here, but I can make no guarantees.

  Your public defender’s inept, but I’m doing the best I can.”

  He stood up and shook Fred’s hand, then left. Fred went to the window and watched Arashi drive away before a nurse escorted him back to his room.

  * * *

  “Hey, King!”

  “Woof!”

  “Yup, me too. Life’s a bitch, and then you die.” Arashi went to his bedroom and closed the door. He turned on the television, removed his shoes, and laid across the bed. An hour later he was sound asleep when his cell phone rang. Sleepily, he answered. />
  “Hello?”

  “Dr. Takahashi, it’s Fred.”

  “Fred – Fred Hopkins? Why in the hell are you calling me? I told you this was for emergencies only, and we both know you don’t have an emergency!” Arashi sat up and rubbed his bare chest. Fred laughed hysterically.

  “I love how honest you are with me. That’s why I preferred you over Dr. Lucy and asked to be transferred. You don’t sugarcoat! Hey, I wanted to just thank you for your help. You didn’t have to help, me but you did. Oh, and that lady in your car was really pretty. Is she your wife? Is she Japanese or Korean?”

  “What lady in my car? Fred, looks like you missed a dose of your medicine again,” Arashi yawned.

  “No,” Fred laughed, “there was a pretty, dark-haired woman lying down in your backseat. I waved to her, but she didn’t see me.” Arashi began to sweat.

  “What did she look like?”

  “She looked Asian. She had long, dark hair and had on a red, shiny shirt and black skirt. She sure was pretty. I wonder if…,”

  Arashi hung the phone up and raced out to his car that was parked in front of his home. He looked in the back seat and did not see anything. When he returned to his front door, he saw a Post-it note written in Angel’s handwriting.

  Hi Arashi,

  I stopped by. I was driving past and couldn’t pretend I didn’t miss you. I know you probably don’t want to talk to me, but I wanted you to know that I love you too.

  Love,

  Angel

  Arashi turned and looked at his house. He felt like he was having an out-of-body experience.

  He ran inside, picked up his cell phone, and dialed Angel’s number. There was no answer. He dialed again and again – no answer. He grabbed his car keys and drove as quickly as he could to her house. He parked his car and walked towards her door. He saw an irregular pile of jagged, broken glass laying on the ground. His heart began to beat out of his chest as his adrenaline rose. He quickly picked up his cell phone and called the police as he attempted to get past the glass and make his way into Angel’s townhouse.

  “Hello! Yes! I need someone at 324 Almond Street, Apartment 2B! There’s been a breakin. This is Arashi Takahashi.

  I’m at my girlfriend’s house. Please hurry!” Arashi whispered.

  Arashi pushed his leg through the window. The jagged edges snagged his clothing. Once inside, his foot crushed several shards that were dotted with bright crimson blood. Arashi slowly walked inside, swiftly looking in all directions. He followed the drops of blood to the kitchen.

  He saw signs of a struggle. The silence sent chills up his spine.

  “Angel!” he yelled out. He raced from room to room, opening the doors.

  “Angel! Where are you?” He heard a faint noise coming from Angel’s bathroom. Arashi slowly made his way to the door. He heard Angel say, “Don’t!” He slowly opened the door.

  There was Ryoko, holding a knife.

  “She’s so precious to you,” Ryoko’s voice trembled. “Arashi, I gave you everything. I gave you my mind, my soul, my body, and what do you do? You break up with me and go with this Black slut!” Arashi put his hands up.

  “OK, Ryoko, let’s just calm down and think. Sit down on the bed with me.” He slowly went to the bed and sat down, keeping his eyes steadily on her as he patted the bed for her to sit.

  “No! I came to your office today to talk to you. I saw you coming out, so I got in your car.

  I had a key. I was going to talk some sense into you once we reached your house, but then I saw that bitch pull up. I called your mother to see how you were doing after Thanksgiving. She asked me if I broke into your house. I told her ‘no’ because you know that’s a lie! You wanted me there! You shamed your family, Arashi! You’re so selfish! I knew when she got out of that car, it was her! She walked up to your door, and I got into her car. It was time she and I had a little talk so she’d understand that you are mine!”

  Ryoko lunged towards Arashi with the knife. He held her wrists in place while she struggled.

  She looked up at him, her eyes straining, her arms shaking, while she tried to maintain physical control. Arashi quickly overpowered her.

  “Ryoko, stop! Stop it!” The knife dropped to the floor.

  Suddenly there was commotion in the apartment.

  “Police!” an officer shouted. Arashi turned and looked.

  “Over here! I’m the one who called! Please help her in the bathroom!” Arashi continued to hold Ryoko’s wrist while another officer handcuffed her. Arashi was pushed back as the officer went into the bathroom. Inside, Angel’s naked body was submerged in water up to her bottom lip. She lie inert, her arm hanging over the edge of the tub, dangling lifelessly. The water was light pink. She appeared to be going in and out of consciousness.

  “Get an ambulance here, stat!” screamed one of the officers.

  A female officer reached down and felt her pulse. “She’s still alive, but her pulse is weak.” Arashi looked at Ryoko as she was being taken to the police car. A fire burned in his eyes. A deep hatred was conceived in seconds.

  “If she dies, I’ll come after you,” he mouthed slowly so that she could read his lips. Ryoko looked disoriented as she was put inside the police car. Arashi asked to be allowed to ride in the ambulance. He held Angel’s hand on the way to the hospital.

  “Angel, please stay awake. Don’t fall asleep! You can’t die!”

  They arrived at the hospital where Angel was quickly whisked away. Arashi sat in the waiting area. His eyes repeatedly glazed over with tears. He was shaking. His thoughts were sporadic and incomprehensible. His cell phone rang. It was Morris.

  “Come on man! Julia really threw down in the kitchen tonight. You gotta come!”

  “Morris,” Arashi pleaded, “something terrible has happened.”

  Arashi tried to fight the tears so he could speak clearly.

  “What’s wrong, Arashi?” Morris whispered.

  “It’s Angel. Ryoko – Ryoko hurt her. I’m at the hospital.

  She…”

  “I’m on my way!” Morris hung up the phone. Arashi wept.

  He bent at the waist and filled his palms with so many tears that everything became blurry. His head began to pound, and his heart filled with immeasurable pain. A doctor came out.

  “Are you Arashi?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Arashi looked up at the doctor with bloodshot eyes.

  “I’m Dr. Bernard. She’s going to be OK. It looks like you got there just in time. Her assailant barely cut into Ms. Grace’s wrist.

  She knocked her unconscious, so she has a pretty big bruise on her head. We took care of the swelling. It looks like you startled her attacker, and she stopped in progress. Ms. Grace is resting and can leave tonight, but we prefer to keep her for observation until the morning. The police are finished interviewing her, so you’re welcome to visit in a few minutes. We’ll have a nurse get you.”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much!” Arashi shook the doctor’s hand. He sat back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling. He looked at the clock and counted the minutes.

  “Arashi, you can come back now.” A short blonde nurse came out, giving Arashi a pleasant smile. Arashi walked into the hospital room. Angel’s eyes were closed, and there was a bandage over her left temple. Her wrist was bandaged, and there was oxygen being supplied to her.

  “Why is she on oxygen?” asked Arashi the nurse that was updating Angel’s chart.

  “It’s just a precaution. Her heart rate was a bit irregular.

  Nothing to worry about.” The nurse smiled and walked out.

  Arashi walked over to Angel and sat beside her.

  “Baby, I love you so much. I’m so sorry,” he whispered, wiping a tear from his face.

  “Shhh,” Angel said. “Don’t cry.”

  “Oh, you’re awake.” Arashi gently kissed her forehead.

  Angel tried to sit up, but the pain medication had her woozy.

  “Here, let me help you.
” Arashi got up and fluffed her pillow.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “She surprised me. I left your house and stopped at the store.

  When I got home, I walked into the kitchen, and she was already in the house. She came up behind me, and we fell to the ground. I punched her in the face, but she hit me in the back of the head with a vase. When I woke up, I was in the tub, and she was taking a knife out. I passed out again.” Angel removed the oxygen tube from her nose.

  “You don’t have to talk about it, Angel. She’s in jail and will be staying there. I’m going to make sure of it. I’m sorry that my family and ex-girlfriend have made your life a living hell. At this point, I’d be surprised if you ever want to speak to me again.” Angel looked at Arashi and smiled.

  “Arashi, I’ve had a lot of time to think. I came to your house today to ask you to forgive me for taking out my own insecurities about our relationship on you. You were right; you can’t control others. You stood up for me to your mother. I should’ve been happy with that, but instead I fell apart under the pressure. Then today, she was talking about you belonging to her and some other crazy mess. Julia told me you had an ex-girlfriend that was bothering you. I put two and two together and realized I was in trouble.”

  “She hadn’t bothered me for a while, so I didn’t see the reason to mention her. All I know is that it’s all my fault.”

  Arashi looked day dreamily out the hospital room window.

  “No, it’s not. The people that caused all this are to blame, not us. Come here.” Angel smiled weakly. Arashi leaned in close to her. Angel began to kiss him. He reciprocated. Angel reached out and held his neck. Arashi slipped his tongue inside her mouth as they continued kissing.

  Angel pulled back and smiled.

  “I so missed that, kissing you.” She looked into Arashi’s eyes.

  “I missed you so much, Angel. I don’t think you know how much I love you.” He took her hand again. The doctor walked in and asked to have some time alone with Angel to examine her head once again. Arashi kissed Angel, giving her a peck on the lips and returned to the waiting room. As he walked in, he saw Julia, Wendy, and Morris. Julia stood up and said,