by C. P. Santi
“Is there a problem? I’m not late, am I?” She was a bit alarmed by their uncharacteristically solemn expressions.
Matsuura shook his head. “There was a problem with your panels, and you have to go fix them.”
The competition committee had told them they were going to exhibit the boards of the twenty finalists. But they hadn’t mentioned a problem when they emailed her this morning.
“Ah, sou? Where—” But she was already being dragged off to a hallway. “Ne, I think the exhibit is over there.” Aya pointed back to where a crowd was congregating at a registration table.
“No. Uh, yours were placed here.” Dei indicated a door.
Aya looked at the door then back at him. Her tone was skeptical as she asked, “My panels are in the emergency stairwell?”
“Sou, sou!” Dei opened the door and Matsuura pushed her in.
“Hey!” Aya protested, as the door closed behind her. It was a fire door and couldn’t be opened from the stairwell. She was trapped. What the hell were Dei and Matsuura trying to pull?
“A-ya-chan. Osoi no yo.”
Aya froze at those words. It just couldn’t be. Slowly, she turned around and saw Ryo walking up from the landing below.
“Ryo?”
“Were you expecting someone else?” Ryo stood before her.
“What are you doing here?” Aya’s eyes caressed his familiar features.
“What do you think?” He cocked his head, as he stared into her eyes.
All of a sudden, the words came rushing out. “Ryo . . . I’m sorry . . . sorry I gave up on us all too easily. I was just too jealous to think clearly and I didn’t trust you enough. I want to try again . . . if you’ll have me.” She bit her lip, as she waited for his reply.
A slow smile broke out on his face. “Baka. What do you think I’m here for? I wouldn’t have come back just for a stupid ceremony. I came back for you.” He opened his arms and she stepped into them.
Enveloped by his familiar warmth, Aya knew in her heart that everything was going to be all right.
Chapter 24
The rest of the night passed in a happy blur. After a few minutes, Dei opened the fire door again and let them back in. For the next hour, they mingled. Hand in hand, they endured the good-natured ribbing of their lab mates and professor. When the formal program started, Aya could hardly care less. Whatever the outcome was, she knew she had already won. Enthusiastically, she clapped along with the others, as the prize was awarded to a group of three young architects from Shimane.
After another hour of good food and wine, Ryo pleaded jetlag and he and Aya made their excuses. They briefly stopped at a row of lockers where Ryo retrieved his backpack.
“Is that all you have?” Aya asked.
He shook his head as he clasped Aya’s hand again. “I had my luggage sent on to your room. It should arrive tomorrow.”
Her heart leapt. “So you’re coming home with me?”
He lightly brushed his thumb across the inside of her wrist. “Do you want me to?” he whispered.
She smiled the smile. “Hell, yeah.”
+ + +
When they got to her room, Aya sat on her bed and patted the space beside her. When he sat down, she asked, “Can we talk first?”
“Of course.”
“Did you get the cookies?”
“Yes, thank you! Everyone thought they were delicious.”
“You shared?” Aya’s incredulity was apparent in her tone.
He ran his hand through his hair and smiled. “Well, they did see the boxes arrive. I let them have at least a dozen. But I locked the others in my room.”
Aya laughed with him, but her face grew serious again. “Did you get my messages?”
He looked straight into her eyes as he answered. “Hai. I did.”
“Well, why didn’t you answer?”
Ryo sighed and took her hand. “I don’t know. It’s not that I wanted to hurt you. Although to be honest, a little part of me did want to. Your lack of trust hurt me, Aya.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So you trust me now?”
“I do.”
“Honto ni?” Ryo raised a skeptical brow.
“Yes!”
Ryo tilted his head, as he considered her. “Have you seen any pictures on Facebook lately?”
Aya took a deep breath. “If you’re talking about the one where you’re wearing a stupid Santa Claus hat, I have.”
“So when you saw Cate and Sonja on my lap, you weren’t jealous? Even a little bit?”
“Of course I was jealous!” Aya balled her fists. “I’m so effing jealous I want to tear their baby blue eyes out. But . . . but if you say that there’s nothing to be jealous about, I believe you.”
Laughing, he hugged her. “A-ya-chan. You’ve really nothing to be jealous about. I’m really just friends with Cate. And if her husband isn’t jealous, you shouldn't be either.”
“She’s married?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I even took care of their son a couple of times when she and Ivan wanted to go out.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Did you give me a chance to?”
Aya hung her head. “No.”
With a gentle hand, he raised her chin until their eyes met. “Next time we have a problem, we talk about it, okay? No more cop-outs. And we have to trust each other. That’s what people in relationships do.”
She nodded. “So, we’re . . . we’re in a relationship?”
He nodded. “Aya, we’ve been connected ever since we first laid eyes on each other. You just needed time to accept what you were feeling.”
“And what exactly am I feeling?”
“That you love me, of course. How could you not, right?” Aya hit him and he started laughing. Then his expression turned serious as he cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Aya. Tell me you feel the same way.”
“I do. I love you too, Ryo. So very much.”
“Finally.” His kiss was gentle, but full of promises.
The feelings overwhelmed her. They were thrilling. They were terrifying.
“Oh, Ryo, I can’t wait until you come back home for good.”
“It’s only for another six months.”
“What? I thought you were doing your master’s over there.”
“No. I’m doing my master’s here. I’m there on a one-year research exchange program.”
All that heartbreak for nothing? Full of indignation, she stood and scowled at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Maybe because whenever I tried to talk to you about it, you changed the topic?”
Oh yeah. But still. She pouted. “You should have told me.”
Ryo shook his head. “You needed to learn a lesson in trust.”
Then he smiled as he looked into her eyes. “You know, the real reason why I was unable to answer all your messages was that I was busy trying to finish everything before I left. Now at least I have two whole weeks before I have to go back.” Pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, he reached into his pocket and drew out a box. “Even before I left for Delft, I’d always planned to come back and give you this. Happy birthday, Aya- chan.”
Aya blinked as she looked at the charm that dangled from the dainty chain nestled in black velvet. “Is that . . . is that a cookie?”
“What else? I’m your cookie monster after all. Do you like it?”
“I do. Thank you!”
He took the necklace out. “Let’s put it on.”
They both were startled when Aya’s laptop started beeping insistently. Aya moved to answer the incoming video call.
“Hey, Aya!”
“Hi, Ate Aya!”
“Hi, Ate! Hi, Kit!” Aya sat at her desk, a wide smile on her face.
Yumi raised a brow. “Wow. You look happy. Did you win it?”
“No, we didn’t.” She shook her head.
“Aw, that’s too bad, Ate.”
“Anyway, Yasmin sent me an email of your itiner
ary.” Her older sister told her. “You’ll be staying with her in Amsterdam overnight before traveling on to Delft. There’s a train, but she’s offering to drive . . . Oh!”
Yumi and Kit both stared, as Ryo leaned down and leaned his arms on either side of Aya.
“Konnichiwa! I’m Ryo,” Ryo smiled at the two girls whose mouths were wide open. Then he turned his head to look at Aya. “You were going to Delft?”
“To see you.”
Ryo rested his forehead on hers and kissed her. “Arigatou na.”
“So . . . I guess this means we’ll be cancelling the flights?” Kit commented.
“Yeah, I think so.” Yumi rolled her eyes. “Uh, guys? Can you stop kissing for a second?”
“Um, Ate Yumi, maybe we should say goodbye?”
“I doubt if they’d even hear us.” Yumi snorted as she closed the screen.
Epilogue
At the sound of an incoming video call, Aya slipped out of the bed and pulled on a shirt. Sitting in front of the computer, she clicked a button to connect the call.
“Hi, Ate! Hi, Kit!” She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“You look tired, Ate Aya.”
Aya smiled. She was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. “I’m okay.” She said, as she yawned again.
“Ooooh! Somebody just had some!” Yumi teased and they all laughed. “Have you met Yasmin yet?”
“Yes, she was very nice! She toured us around Amsterdam yesterday.” Ryo had been tickled pink at the idea of a local celebrity acting as their tour guide.
“Yasmin is a sweetheart.” Yumi smiled. “Did you give her the dried mangoes I sent?”
“She ate them right away!” Aya laughed. “She wouldn’t even give Max any.” Yasmin’s boyfriend, Max, had pouted until Yasmin relented and gave him a tiny piece.
Yumi giggled. “She always had a thing for dried mangoes. Oh yeah, I sent Mom’s green terno to April just as you asked. What do you need it for anyway?”
“Adrian and Hazel talked me into participating in a fashion show for ASEAN Week.” Aya confessed. She was glad she had made her peace with Adrian and Hazel. Admittedly, it had been fun to finally participate in student activities.
“Wow, after all these years, you’re finally walking the stage, huh?”
Aya stuck her tongue out at her sister.
“By the way Ate, Mom said to warn you that Dad has been making noises about visiting next month. He’s mentioned cherry blossoms three times now.”
Aya sighed. “Is he still nursing his grudge?”
“Oh, you know Dad. He’s trying to get the most mileage out of his little tampo. He can’t stay mad at any of us for very long.” Her younger sister assured her. “Oh! But I can’t wait to see cherry blossoms!”
“You better gird your loins because Dad wants to meet your new young man.” Yumi’s fingers formed air quotes for emphasis.
“Oh, dear. Good thing Ryo won’t be home yet.”
Yumi shook her head. “I wouldn’t put it past Dad to visit again in fall just to meet him.”
“Uh, Ate Aya? Not that we’re complaining or anything, but if you don’t pull up that sheet soon, our view is going to get pretty interesting.” Kit smiled as she pointed.
Aya glanced toward the bed. Ryo had shifted in his sleep and the sheet was close to— “Oops. Hold on.” She walked back to the bed and pulled the sheet back up.
Yumi snickered. “If Dad could see you now, he’d have a coronary! What was your excuse for going there? To study modern Dutch architecture?”
Kit giggled. “Seems to me you’re studying something different altogether.”
“Hoy, we went to Utrecht and visited the Schröder House just the other day,” Aya protested, but she too was giggling.
“Whatever.” Yumi rolled her eyes. “When are you going back to Tokyo?”
“In three days.”
“And when is Ryo going back?” Kit asked.
“In three months. He just has to finish up some stuff.”
“And I’m sure you’ve been a lot of help,” Yumi widened her eyes for emphasis.
“Ate! I’ve been helping him pack boxes!”
“Oh, right.” Her younger sister started giggling again. “You’ve been ‘packing’—that clearly explains your present state of undress.”
Aya muffled her own laughter, as her sisters exchanged high fives and started cackling.
“Are you happy, Malaya?” Yumi tilted her head as she considered her sister.
Glancing over to where Ryo was sleeping, Aya turned back to her sisters with a wide smile. “Hell, yeah!”
T H E E N D
Author’s Notes
1. Every year, 50-100 students from the Philippines come to Japan to study under various study grants and programs. If you’re interested in studying in Japan, check out the “Study in Japan” section of your local Japanese Consulate or Embassy website;
2. Aya’s graduate program is based on my own. The Japanese government (MEXT) research grant allowed me to undertake graduate and postgraduate degrees at the same university I mention in this book;
3. There are several Filipino student organizations all over Japan. The Association of Filipino Students in Japan (AFSJ) is one of the oldest and is based in Tokyo. Other organizations are determined by area (such as the Filipino Association of Students in Tsukuba), by university (such as Todaipips), or by professional inclination (such as the Science and Technology Advisory Council - Japan);
4. Filipino senpais are usually very, very helpful. They will teach you to not only to open a bank account and register at the ward office, but also how to cook food, load a washing machine, and rock at UFO catcher. Seriously, my poor tutor was so stressed because they had done all his work for him (ゴめなさい、福田さん);
5. An amazing number of people I know ended up marrying their tutors. Or at least a lab-mate. It’s all that proximity, I guess. Though most professors don’t really care, it’s sometimes seen as unprofessional. I’ve known people to move to a different lab just so their relationship could become legit;
6. TU Delft is a real school and some of my lab-mates have gone on the one-year study exchange program that’s mentioned here;
7. Parts of Yumi and Kit’s talk about sushi and men in Chapter 2 took inspiration from the article “Sushi and being Single,” which I also wrote. It was first published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Youngblood column in November 2001, then in Silangan Shinbun in 2002;
8. The concept of liminality or in-between that Aya and Ryo used for their design project is the basis of my master’s thesis;
9. The ebook is slightly different from the Spark print version. I consolidated the POV and added some scenes. Plus a bonus short story (featuring Kit and Karl) at the end;
10. Mayumi, Malaya, and Marikit are Filipino adjectives (that are sometimes used as names), i.e., mayumi = gentle, malaya = free, marikit = pretty / charming;
11. The campus being described in the book is based on Toudai’s Hongo campus. Most of the buildings and landmarks (and even the cafeteria food) are factual. The layout of Aya’s lab is based on the old Kishida ken (now 小渕研究); and
12. The Kanamara Festival is a real thing. I kid you not.
Acknowledgements
Thank you for reading! I really hope you enjoyed Aya and Ryo’s story :-)
To Mina V. Esguerra, thank you for the guidance. Outlines work! And to everyone who participated in the #SparkNA class, those two months were super fun!
To everyone in #romanceclass, thanks for being an awesome and supportive community!
To my senpai-tachi and kouhai-tachi, you made my stay in Tokyo amazing. Thank you for all the hours of kwento, hugot, karaoke-houdai, nomihoudai, tabehoudai, bus tours, and the late night movie marathons!
岸田研究室のみんなさん、本とにありがとうございました! I might not have learned to ride a bicycle (despite your best efforts) but I learned a lot in the six years I studied with you. And yes, I
promise to publish my dissertation one day soon. Hahaha! ;-)
To April and Niki, for beta-reading and giving me useful feedback, you guys rock!
To Ines, for being an amazing editor, and to Jay for doing (more than) the proofreading—what would I do without your insight and diligence??? Naaaaks! And yes, three question marks just to annoy you. Wahaha! But seriously, thank you. Aylabyu!!
To Annacris, Reggie, April, and Hazel, thank you for your input! Hahaha! As promised, your names are in the story :-)
To my Sweet Girls—you know who you are—thank you for keeping me sane while we all embark on this writing journey!
To Nadine and her strawberries, thank you for telling me not to give up!
To my family, thank you for teaching me to love books! And thank you for allowing me to me expound on my meandering plot lines and for giving me useful feedback! Winner kayo!
To Juls, for understanding my need to write. I can’t believe I wrote this in two months—with two little boys and no yaya or maid. Thank you for the love and the support, Mahal!
To Basti and Indy, you’ll probably never read this, but this is for you. Love you always!
About the Author
C. P. Santi loves dreaming up stories about the people she meets.
Based in Tokyo, Japan since 2001, she is married to an engineer / indie songwriter and is a full-time mom to two energetic boys. She loves cooking and crafting, feeding people, gorging on chocolate, laughing and crying over J-dramas, belting it out in the karaoke box, and running around the house playing tickle tag.
In another life, she is also an architect and academic.
Twitter / Instagram / Wattpad:
@arkicpsanti
Other titles by C. P. Santi
Be Careful What You Wish For
When Cocoy Became Kikay
Maybe This Time
Dare to Love
Promdi Heart
A Different Kind of Christmas
The knob turned and the door creaked open. The faint smell of vanilla wafted into the room—not strong as to be cloying, but enough to announce her presence. Soft steps padded toward the bed and the mattress dipped as she sat down.
