by C. P. Santi
“I know what I want and I stick to it.”
“But that’s boring! Where’s the thrill in that?”
“I like it. Besides, you two always try new things and then leave them when you don’t like them.” Aya pointed at a plate of natto sushi. Her sisters had barely touched the rolls stuffed with fermented beans.
“But at least we know for sure that we don’t like them.” Kit pushed the plate a bit further away from her. “Anyway, Ate Aya, it’s high time you tried something new.”
“Exactly! You just might be pleasantly surprised.”
“Or need a trip to the toilet.” Aya shook her head.
“The thing is, Aya, if you let opportunity pass you by, you never know if you’ll have another chance.”
Are we still talking about sushi? “I can always ask Kobae-san to make some of what I like.” It was true, the chef was always happy to fill special orders.
“Sure, Ate. But in real life, though, God always listens, but He doesn’t always give us what we want.”
“Wow.” Aya was impressed. “You guys really thought this through, huh?”
“Actually, we just read about this somewhere,” Kit confessed.
“But Kit is right. You have to start taking chances and making mistakes. It’s what living is all about.” Yumi straightened. “And to jumpstart all that, Kit and I have a going-away present for you. Kit?”
Aya put her chopsticks down. Her sisters always gave the best presents. From her bag, Kit withdrew a sheet of folded pink notepaper.
Aya narrowed her eyes. “That had better not be a shopping list.”
“Gaga. Kit and I have taken the liberty of making a bucket list. For you.”
“And here’s what we came up with.” Kit brandished the paper in her hand.
But when Aya held her hand out, Yumi stopped her. “Hep, hep. You have to understand, we’re invoking Rule 9, which means . . .”
“That I have to agree to do everything on that list,” Aya finished.
As they were growing up, their mother had firmly laid down three rules. First, that they should always love and support each other. Second, that they never fight over simple things such as clothes, makeup, or boys. And third, that they try to do their best in whatever they do.
Over the years, Yumi, Aya, and Kit had added their own rules to the list. Some additions were as simple as watching each other’s back and helping cover up messes. There were also standing agreements such as their bi-monthly spa treatments or their monthly girls-only night. Others were complicated treatises on borrowing clothes and accessories and how they should never date each other’s exes. Rule 9 was the special intervention clause. Aya had proposed it when they were trying to get Kit to dump a rocker boyfriend (whom they suspected was into drugs). Rule 9 meant agreeing to her sisters’ every suggestion until they deemed the problem solved.
Aya folded her arms over her chest. “Just what is on that list anyway?”
“Oh, just some things Ate Yumi and I thought you might enjoy doing in Tokyo,” Kit said, a little too flippantly.
“Nothing illegal I hope.”
“Ate! Of course this is all legal!” Kit splayed her hand on her chest in mock affront.
“Yeah, right.” Aya held her hand out for the paper.
But Yumi stopped her again. “So, you promise to try these out?”
“Fine. I promise.” She knew her sisters would never make her do anything life-threatening. At least she hoped not.
Kit handed her the list and watched as Aya unfolded it and read.
Aya’s Bucket List in Tokyo:
1. Date—the more, the merrier .
2. Participate in an anime event.
3. Get really, really drunk.
4. Go on a goukon / group date.
5. Go naked in a Japanese sento.
6. Go to karaoke (and actually sing!).
7. Ride the giant penis at the Kanamara Festival.
8. Make out in public.
9. Have mind-blowing sex.
10. Fall in love again.
“Seriously, a giant penis?” She hadn’t even known there was such a festival.
Kit pouted. “What? It sounded like fun!”
“So, what do you think?” Yumi asked.
Aya ran through the list again. She had a few reservations, but she couldn’t deny that she’d been living pretty sedately for the past few years. Maybe it was time to actively seek out new experiences.
“Fine. I’ll do it.” Or at least most of them.
Yumi and Kit exchanged high fives. Kit rubbed her hands gleefully. “Yeah! Things are about to get exciting!”
Chapter 3
He was gorgeous.
Aya didn’t usually go for Asian guys. It was Kit who went gaga over Japanese and Korean dramas. But unschooled in the genre though she was, she knew that the guy who stood before her was a prime piece.
He towered over her, which was impressive, since she was usually the one who did that. His arms were crossed over his chest, stretching the t-shirt he wore. Huh. Hot guy obviously worked out. His hair was messily styled and his face was smooth and handsome.
And for some reason, he was pissed at her. A slight frown marred his handsome features.
She gave him the smile.
It was a smile that had been patented and passed down through generations of women in her family—the famous smile that brought out the legendary Sevilla dimples.
It was the smile that had made Anita Sevilla, Aya’s grandmother, a legend in black and white pictures. It was the smile that had won Annacris Sevilla, Aya’s mother, her crown back in the eighties. It was the smile that people said helped Mayumi Sevilla Contreras, bag the same crown five years ago. It was the smile that was a trademark of Marikit Sevilla Contreras’ blog, cementing her rep as a fashion designer, blogger, and all-around trendsetter.
But perhaps, Aya was out of practice. Because when she smiled the smile, it had no effect whatsoever on the guy who stood in front of her.
Or maybe it was a cultural thing? She certainly hoped so. Her pride lay at her feet in shreds.
Aya was mentally reviewing her actions and speech for a cultural faux pas when he spoke.
“Osoi na. You’re late. I was expecting you this morning.”
Aya blanched. In his email, her professor, Ieda Toshiro, hadn’t mentioned anything about a schedule. He just told her to have a safe flight and drop by the laboratory when it was convenient. Neither had Ieda-sensei put up a fuss when Aya finally met him a few minutes ago. He had, in fact, been very welcoming. He and Aya had chatted for a few minutes before he’d asked his secretary to bring Aya up to her tutor.
Aya hadn’t even known she had a tutor. But Kyoko, her professor’s secretary, explained that tutors were guides assigned to new students to help them adjust to life in the lab. The older woman’s smile was friendly as she asked Aya about her flight and dorm arrangements. After giving Aya some forms to fill out, Kyoko took her up to the students’ room and introduced her to her tutor, Ryohei Mori.
Aya’s first thought was: Hello, hotness!
But when she saw the scowl on his face, she almost asked Kyoko to stay. The guy who stood in front of her didn’t look welcoming at all.
She decided to apologize. After all, her Japanese teacher in Manila emphasized the value of apologies in Japan. “Gomenasai. I didn’t know I had to be here early . . .”
“We’ve a lot to do today.” He took a stack of papers from his desk and made a show of checking his watch. “We have to go to the Ward office and the Faculty of Engineering to get you registered. If we hurry, we might be able to make it to the bank before three. This has to be done today if you don’t want your allowance delayed.” Grabbing his jacket, he nodded at her to follow him.
Uh-oh. Aya suddenly had a bad feeling about this. “Uh, Mori-san . . . I already opened a bank account.”
He slowly turned back to look at her. “You have?”
Aya nodded. “Uh, my senpai took me this mornin
g.” Aya thought of Rachel, the sweet girl who had introduced herself as their senpai or senior when Aya and her batch mates had arrived at the dormitory last night. Rachel and the other Filipino senpais had prepared dinner and helped them get settled into their new home.
Rachel had also insisted on helping Aya and her batch mates, April and Reggie, complete their first-day errands. In fact, Rachel had been so efficient, they had been among the first in line at the ward office this morning.
“Then you’ve also registered your residence card at the ward office?” He leaned against a nearby bookshelf and folded his arms over his chest.
“Yes, I have.” Aya nodded again. She was beginning to feel like a bobble head dog on a taxi dashboard.
“Ah, sou. What else have you done?”
Aya told him. After registering her residence card and applying for health insurance at the ward office, Rachel had brought them to the university. They opened accounts at a nearby bank, and then visited the International Center to register for their Japanese classes. April and Reggie were in the beginner’s class. Aya had been studying Nihongo for almost a year, so she had been placed in a more advanced class. After they took a quick break for lunch, Rachel brought them to their respective department offices to complete the necessary paperwork. Finally, Rachel had helped them find their laboratories. She had even delivered Aya to Ieda-san’s door barely fifteen minutes ago.
Privately amazed she had managed to say all that in Japanese, Aya stared at her tutor. Mori-san had remained silent throughout her slow recitation.
He replaced the sheaf of paper on his table and looked at her. He still looked annoyed. “Guess you don’t need a tutor after all.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. The way Rachel had taken charge of everything that morning, Aya had just assumed that was the way things were done.
Apparently not.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know . . .”
“Daijoubu. Do you want a tour of the lab?”
Despite his abrupt tone, she nodded.
She followed as he breezed through the formal meeting room, Ieda-sensei’s office, and the research assistants’ workspace. At the students’ meeting room, he briefly explained that the row of computers were for communal use. Ascending the stairs, they went back up to the mezzanine, where large drafting tables and bookshelves had been set up in rows.
He showed Aya her desk. Aya noticed that it was right next to his.
The door below opened and a boisterous group of students entered. Her tutor facilitated the introductions and Aya was relieved that everyone else seemed friendly.
As she laughed at their jokes and answered their questions, Ryo muttered indistinctly , grabbed his jacket, and left.
That hadn’t gone so well.
Chapter 4
“What happened?” April asked her new friend. Aya had slumped down on a bench next to her, buried her face in her hands, and groaned.
“Bad news?” Reggie, who was sitting on the other end of the bench, squeezed Aya’s shoulder in sympathy. “Was your professor that bad?”
“No, my professor was perfectly nice. It’s my tutor who’s giving me a nervous breakdown!”
“Tell us!” April invited.
Aya needed no additional prompting. It was wonderful to have people to vent to. April and Reggie were the perfect audience as Aya told them about what happened with her tutor.
The three of them had met only weeks ago, at an orientation for incoming scholars in Manila. Usually, it took Aya time to warm up to people, but she had struck an instantaneous friendship with April and Reggie.
April Llaneta was in the Department of Aquatic Biosciences and was studying fish diseases. Aya hadn’t been aware that fish had diseases. But apparently, they did.
Regina Altamirano, a plant biologist, was in the Faculty of Agriculture and her research involved strawberries. Aya loved strawberries. But when Reggie began to explain about her research, Aya’s eyes had glazed over.
Diverse though their fields were, they had bonded together. Perhaps it was the novelty of being in a strange land or needing an anchor in the midst of all the change. Whatever it was, Aya was glad she had them.
Glancing at her watch, she was surprised to see it was barely three in the afternoon. “Wow. I didn’t realize it was still so early.”
“It’s been a rather long day, no?”
“You guys ready to go home? I hear my bed calling me.”
Aya stood. “Rachel was a slave driver this morning.”
“But at least we got everything done, right?” Reggie grinned. “And last night, her adobo was heaven.”
April’s eyes twinkled. “She left the leftovers in my room. Do you know what that means?”
“We don’t have to worry about dinner tonight?” Aya asked hopefully.
“Bingo!”
As they walked toward the train station, Aya asked Reggie and April how their meeting with their respective professors had gone. Reggie told her she was in awe of the lab setup and was excited to see the greenhouses the next day. April had been told that she’d soon be sent for training at a lab in Iwate for a couple of weeks.
After changing trains at Tameike Sanno, they navigated a maze of underground corridors. Aya was glad that they had agreed to go back home together. She felt she wasn’t up to dealing with Tokyo’s complicated subway system by herself. Not today, at least.
At Shimbashi, they stopped to buy groceries at a store Rachel had pointed out earlier.
“Hey! I hear there’s a big party with the senpais at the dorm this weekend,” April said as she looked over the meat selection. “You guys want to go?”
“Sure! Sounds like fun.” Reggie placed some carrots and lettuce in her basket. “Aya?”
Aya reached for a carton of milk and shook her head. “Can’t. But you guys go. I’m sure it’ll be a blast.”
Adrian would be at the party, and she didn’t think she was up to seeing him just yet.
“Aw c’mon, Aya. We need you! Please, please come!” April wheedled.
“I’m sorry! Another time, all right?”
Reggie put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Aya . . . does this have something to do with Adrian?”
“How did you . . . ?”
“We heard some of the senpais talking about you last night. They said something about you being Adrian’s ex.”
So much for keeping a low profile. Aya remembered what Adrian had told her last year about the student community being a tight-knit group.
“Aya . . ., we don’t mean to pry, but are you all right?” Concern was evident on Reggie’s face.
“I’m good. I’m just not ready to see him again, I guess.”
“If you ever want to talk about it, we’re here for you, all right?” April gave her a one-armed hug.
Aya smiled. “Thanks, girls.”
She may not be too lucky in love, but her luck with friends was definitely the best.
+ + +
“How do you like Tokyo so far?” Kyoko, her professor’s secretary unwrapped a slice of sponge cake.
Aya smiled as she nibbled on a stick of chocolate-almond Pocky. “It’s been fun!”
Tokyo was an amazing city to live in. From the people to the vending machines, there was always something fascinating around every corner.
She hadn’t had enough time to go around though.
Language classes had started last Monday and the daily six-hour sessions were enough to keep her occupied. New friends kept her entertained as well. Aside from Reggie and April, Aya had enjoyed meeting students from other countries and forming new friendships.
The woman who sat daintily eating cake was one of her new friends. Aya had bonded with Kyoko, her professor’s secretary, over packs of dried mango. Discovering a common affinity for sweets, Kyoko had invited her to share afternoon tea. Glad for the female company, Kyoko regaled Aya with juicy little tidbits about the lab members. She was proving to be a good source of gossip.
“I
’m glad. So, has Mori-kun been helpful?”
Aya bit back a sarcastic remark. Much as she disliked her tutor, she didn’t want to get him into trouble. In the past week, Mori-san treated her with polite civility and ignored her most of the time. Their adjoining tables made ignoring each other awkward, but if he could do it, Aya was determined to do it too.
She just wished he wasn’t so . . . handsome. In the past week, Aya worried that she would develop eyestrain from discreetly ogling the eye-candy who sat next to her.
“Well . . .”
“He’s handsome, deshou?” Kyoko giggled. “He has a lot of admirers in the campus. Some undergrads even come in here, pretending to do research just to see him.”
“Eeee.” Aya’s eyes widened. At least she wasn’t alone in her fascination.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Aya-san?”
Aya caught the matchmaking gleam in the older woman’s eyes and shook her head. “No. And I’m looking forward to enjoying being single for a while.”
“Ah, sou?” Kyoko seemed interested, but didn’t push. “Anyway, we’ll make sure that you enjoy your stay here. You’ll be at the kangekai, right?”
“Kangekai?”
“It’s traditional to hold a welcome party at the start of the term,” Kyoko explained. “We’ll have ours next Thursday evening.”
“Sounds fun!” Aya sipped from a carton of strawberry milk. “Do you need any help, Kyoko-san?”
Kyoko smiled and shook her head. “Arigatou, but I can do it. We used to go to yakiniku or shabu-shabu restaurants, but ever since last term, we’ve been having parties in the lab instead. Eric-san is a vegetarian and Amat-san can only eat halal meat.” She turned to Aya. “Do you have any food restrictions, Aya-san? I was thinking of ordering sushi. And some salad and sandwiches.”
“I love sushi. Please don’t worry, I eat almost anything.”
“Yokatta!” Kyoko smiled in relief. It was probably difficult working around the food preferences of some foreign lab members. “Ieda-sensei already ordered two boxes of wine. And Suzuki-san brought some bottles of shochu from Hokkaido. I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun at the party.”
