A work in progress......
Chapter 1
The hectic turbulence caused her to wake up. Still drowsy and tired from the hours of lost sleep, Alina Dávila slowly opened her eyes. She frowned a little at the stiff numbness that had set in her cheeks, thanks to the powerful gust of air over her head. Her thick black lashes fluttered some more as the comfortable feeling of sleep began to shrivel within her. That was that, she realized; as soon as she was up there was no way of going back to sleep.
Alina covered her mouth as she yawned and came forward a little in order to stretch. She felt the tense restriction of her seatbelt and sighed. She glanced at her thin leather watch and realized it had already been six hours since she had last touched land. And before that it had been another flight for about seven hours. Adding to that, the amount of time she had spent at the airport had come to three hours. So in reality she had been stuffed from plane to plane for a grand total of sixteen hours.
Needless to say she was exhausted. Butterflies would dance in her stomach each time the aircraft hit turbulence and the nervousness she felt didn’t help to make her feel better. It was her first time traveling in a plane and although she did enjoy it the first six hours, she was ready to jump off in a parachute by the time she had reached the seventh.
Alina raised her head a little and found the seat beside her was empty, with a perfect oval dent in the center, and a soft white pillow lodged beneath the armrest. Her eyes darted over the five rows of seats in front of her, to where the bathroom was supposed to be. She noticed the light at the door was signaling it was in use. Alina shut her eyes and let her head fall back into the headrest.
Her eyes snapped open when she heard high pitched, rapid speaking in a language that took her a moment to recognize as Japanese. She turned her head and spotted an excited little girl coloring in an art book frivolously while holding a small yellow ball beneath her arm. The girl was wearing a deep blue summer dress with a large sunflower print. Her straight, jet black hair was pulled into two neat ponytails. Her bangs were held back at the sides with bright flowery hairpins. The little girl’s mother, a pretty woman with shoulder-length, dark brown hair, shushed the girl and bowed her head apologetically to their neighbor.
Alina cocked her head a little and a sad smile curled the corners of her full, rosy lips. The scene was warm. She recalled doing the same sort of thing at that age when her mother would travel by bus to work.
The little girl turned around and saw Alina staring at her. She had large curious dark eyes. The little girl grinned widely at her and waved her hand excitedly as she dropped her crayon on the small folding table behind the seat infront of her. She was missing her two front teeth. Alina offered the girl a more cheerful smile before averting her eyes and looking out the window.
She watched the monstrous mountains the clouds made and suddenly became fully aware of the fact that she was thousands of miles up from the earth’s surface. They looked like walls of compact ice and snow. Alina leaned back into her seat and shut her eyes a moment. Butterflies began to quiver in the pit of her stomach at the realization that she was only an hour or so away from her destination: Japan.
Something brushed against the leg of her jeans and her eyes dropped to her ankles.
She looked down and spotted the bright yellow ball that she instantly identified as the toothless little girl’s.
Alina leaned forward and took the ball before looking across to the little girl who was apparently waiting for her to throw the ball back. She grinned a little and pushed the armrest up into her chair. Then, she craned her neck to see if a stewardess was watching and swiftly threw the ball back.
The girl caught it and let out a sharp giggle. Her mother turned to look at her suspiciously and the little girl crossed her arms over the ball as though nothing happened. Alina stifled a laugh and turned her head when the mother began to raise her head in her direction. After a few minutes she felt the familiar sensation of the ball at her leg and looked at the girl again. She performed the same ritual before throwing it back: looked around, aimed, and shot.
The game went on for at least five more throws, when the little girl’s mother turned and saw her throw the ball back to Alina.
“Miki!” the woman cried out as she slapped the girl’s hand. “Why can’t you stay still?” her eyes raised to Alina’s and she began to bow her head consecutively, “Gomen nasai!”
Alina shook her head, “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” she said and stared back at Miki. She had a cute name.
The girl smiled back and turned to her mother, “Can I get my ball back?” she asked with hopeful, wide eyes.
The woman looked up questioningly at Alina, an embarrassed smile on her lips.
Alina nodded with a smile grin. “I can’t have this with me where I’m going.” she pointed as she looked down at the ball.
The woman laughed softly and looked down at Miki, “Go and hurry back.”
Miki unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed to the other side. Alina handed her the ball and frowned a little “We got caught.” she said with disappointment.
Miki frowned too, “I know. Now I’ll be bored.” Her frown melted into a smile as she raised her hand. Alina narrowed her eyes questioningly and felt Miki’s fingers get lost in her wavy, ink black hair. “It’s so pretty.” Miki said.
Caught off by the girl’s comment, Alina couldn’t help but laugh, “Arigato.”
The little girl laughed and looked up at her with wild interest, “And your eyes are the same color as honey.” She seemed to study Alina some more before coming to her conclusion, “You’re different from most of the people that I’ve seen. You’re not like my mommy.”
“Miki-chan.” They both looked up and saw her mother raise her eyebrows impatiently.
“You better go to your mom before she gets mad.” Alina said with a timid smile and though she groaned, Miki reluctantly went back to her seat after waving bye to her.
Alina leaned back into her seat and nodded to herself. Of course I don’t look like anyone you’ve seen, she thought to herself more matter-of-factly than bitterly. She wasn’t Japanese nor did her physique make the possibility plausible. Though thin and short, she was rather shapely and like any Caucasian female, her eyes didn’t carry the distinctness of the Eastern ones.
The only thing that connected her to the reserved and modest world was the language. Though she was born and lived most of her life in the capital of her native country, Colombia, Alina had been exposed to Japanese thanks to her mother, an ardent lover of the culture. She would lie if she said she wasn’t fascinated by the mysterious world too. Maybe in a way, on top of all the problems she was having at home, that had been another factor that contributed in her accepting the task that lay ahead of her.
A swift motion at her left caused her to turn her head and an attractive middle-aged woman sat beside her. Her hair was dyed a dirty blonde with brown streaks. She wore a light beige tank top with a plaid, open shirt over it. Her thin legs were wrapped in dark blue jeans and a smooth tan scarf round her waist for a belt. She immediately caught the scent of cigarette smoke and smirked at the woman, “Oh so that was what you were doing. I got worried you that you might have been sucked down the toilet.” Alina teased.
“I don’t know how I was able to pass the hour.” Misako Komada said and seemed to take a sigh of relief. Perhaps it was because she smoked so much, but unlike most of the women that Alina had met on the plane, Misako’s voice was unusually low and deep. She was a woman of money, with a loose air of elegance about her.
Misako and Alina’s mother had known eachother. They met and became best friends in college and remained so until her mother’s death about five years ago. Shortly after the ordeal, Misako returned to her native Japan and occasionally called to check up on Alina and her little brother Santiago. But two months ago, Misako stopped by the theater Alina worked as a make-up artist for, and watched an entire show before calling her attention.
She remembered the day like it was yesterday. Alina came out from behind the set and made her way through the audience to a stoic Misako.
Alina laughed a little as she stared outside the window and brought her thumb to her lips. Since she could remember, she had always felt a little overwhelmed by Misako’s refined demeanor. She was a very beautiful woman, who wouldn’t demonstrate her age. She was well over forty by now, but her cheeks were high and her skin was so smooth, the number had little to do with the face and voluptuous, firm body. To top it off, everytime she entered a room her powerful and confident presence could be felt.
“It’s good to see you.” Alina had said as she bowed to the woman politely.
Misako smiled brightly at her. Her pearly teeth showing from behind full red lips, “Oh come now, you should know better than to hold up formalities with me, my dear girl.” She wore a dark teal suit with a white blouse beneath and a jade necklace with matching earings. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a tight bun beneath a white silk scarf. “Your Japanese is as good as ever I see.”
Alina nodded, “I took the course during college. Mom always said it needed polishing.”
There had been a moment of silence between the two at the mention of her mother. It was a subject that remained delicate despite the years.
“Well I’m glad you took the course. I can barely pick up an accent.” Misako said, interrupting the uncomfortable silence. She looked around and patted the seat beside her, signaling for Alina to sit down.
“So what brings you to Colombia?” Alina asked as she sat down.
Misako smiled and nodded, “I need some help with something and I am almost confident this is something you can handle.”
She recalled feeling the chill that ran up her spine at Misako’s words. Once she placed so much trust on someone it felt as though despite the difficulty of the task at hand, one had to accomplish it. The thought of failing frightened her but she nodded. “Sure anything I can do.”
Misako smiled again, “Now, I know that things have been getting really difficult. With your grandmother being sick and not attending to the boutique and the high cost of your brother’s school tuition, it is really hard to get by on your paychecks alone.”
Alina agreed with a nod, “Yes, but we’ve managed to keep the debts at a low.”
Misako frowned, “At the cost of your neck and freedom though, I’m sure.”
She shrugged, “I’m doing what I like to do.” she said, referring to her job.
“I want to make you a proposal.” Misako had said, cutting to the chase.
“Yes?”
“For about two years I have been working with a rock band that has become quite prominent in my country.” she began.
“You work with them?” Alina asked.
“I’m their manager. Paper work and contracts, that’s all in my hands.” she stopped a moment, “As well as their appearance, too.”
Alina nodded, “Alright.”
“You see, not only does their talent affect their music, but their apparel is just as important. The more extravagant the look, the more attention they will call upon themselves.” An usher made his way toward the two women, but Alina asked him to leave them alone. Misako looked to the stage and then back at her. “I can’t help but feel that your potential can reach a higher peak if you go a little further than the walls of this theater.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Alina said, inquiry written on her soft features.
Misako fixed her with a firm stare and took her wrists, “I’ve hired and fired various make-up artists for the group I am working with and I’m up to my wits end.”
She nodded, a little frightened by the gravity in the woman’s tone.
“You are a professional in your line of work, Alina, and I say that with utmost honesty. A true prodigy with a gift that can go the distance. Your work is of the highest quality I have ever seen. And I think that if you allow me too, I can perhaps help you reach the top of your career.” here it came, the bottom line, “I would like for you to be the makeup artist for the band I work for.”
“Are you alright, Honey?”
Alina turned her head and found herself back inside the plane, sitting beside Misako. “Um yeah. A little jittery, that’s all.”
The woman chuckled to herself and then looked back at Alina, “That’s natural. You’ve been able to hold your nerve quite well actually.” she rested a hand on the girl’s arm.
Alina laughed a little and breathed slowly. Truth be told, her nerves were a complete wreck. After Misako had made the proposal and reassured her that the expenses would be paid by her hand, Alina asked her to wait for her to consult the matter with her family before making any rash decisions. She had hoped for a little more friction on her grandmother’s side, but found that she was quite excited about the whole situation and told her it was a great opportunity.
“Go and make a name for yourself, Niña.” her grandmother had said.
Alina nodded to herself, I will, and looked out the window again. They were approaching their destination. She could see the small masses of land come closer into focus. Excitement rushed through her body and began to shift her leg from side to side nervously. It was much easier to say one would grab the bull by the horns and a completely different thing to go and actually do it.
The hectic turbulence caused her to wake up. Still drowsy and tired from the hours of lost sleep, Alina Dávila slowly opened her eyes. She frowned a little at the stiff numbness that had set in her cheeks, thanks to the powerful gust of air over her head. Her thick black lashes fluttered some more as the comfortable feeling of sleep began to shrivel within her. That was that, she realized; as soon as she was up there was no way of going back to sleep.
Alina covered her mouth as she yawned and came forward a little in order to stretch. She felt the tense restriction of her seatbelt and sighed. She glanced at her thin leather watch and realized it had already been six hours since she had last touched land. And before that it had been another flight for about seven hours. Adding to that, the amount of time she had spent at the airport had come to three hours. So in reality she had been stuffed from plane to plane for a grand total of sixteen hours.
Needless to say she was exhausted. Butterflies would dance in her stomach each time the aircraft hit turbulence and the nervousness she felt didn’t help to make her feel better. It was her first time traveling in a plane and although she did enjoy it the first six hours, she was ready to jump off in a parachute by the time she had reached the seventh.
Alina raised her head a little and found the seat beside her was empty, with a perfect oval dent in the center, and a soft white pillow lodged beneath the armrest. Her eyes darted over the five rows of seats in front of her, to where the bathroom was supposed to be. She noticed the light at the door was signaling it was in use. Alina shut her eyes and let her head fall back into the headrest.
Her eyes snapped open when she heard high pitched, rapid speaking in a language that took her a moment to recognize as Japanese. She turned her head and spotted an excited little girl coloring in an art book frivolously while holding a small yellow ball beneath her arm. The girl was wearing a deep blue summer dress with a large sunflower print. Her straight, jet black hair was pulled into two neat ponytails. Her bangs were held back at the sides with bright flowery hairpins. The little girl’s mother, a pretty woman with shoulder-length, dark brown hair, shushed the girl and bowed her head apologetically to their neighbor.
Alina cocked her head a little and a sad smile curled the corners of her full, rosy lips. The scene was warm. She recalled doing the same sort of thing at that age when her mother would travel by bus to work.
The little girl turned around and saw Alina staring at her. She had large curious dark eyes. The little girl grinned widely at her and waved her hand excitedly as she dropped her crayon on the small folding table behind the seat infront of her. She was missing her two front teeth. Alina offered the girl a more cheerful smile before averting her eyes and looking out the window.
She watched the monstrous mountains the clouds made and suddenly became fully aware of the fact that she was thousands of miles up from the earth’s surface. They looked like walls of compact ice and snow. Alina leaned back into her seat and shut her eyes a moment. Butterflies began to quiver in the pit of her stomach at the realization that she was only an hour or so away from her destination: Japan.
Something brushed against the leg of her jeans and her eyes dropped to her ankles.
She looked down and spotted the bright yellow ball that she instantly identified as the toothless little girl’s.
Alina leaned forward and took the ball before looking across to the little girl who was apparently waiting for her to throw the ball back. She grinned a little and pushed the armrest up into her chair. Then, she craned her neck to see if a stewardess was watching and swiftly threw the ball back.
The girl caught it and let out a sharp giggle. Her mother turned to look at her suspiciously and the little girl crossed her arms over the ball as though nothing happened. Alina stifled a laugh and turned her head when the mother began to raise her head in her direction. After a few minutes she felt the familiar sensation of the ball at her leg and looked at the girl again. She performed the same ritual before throwing it back: looked around, aimed, and shot.
The game went on for at least five more throws, when the little girl’s mother turned and saw her throw the ball back to Alina.
“Miki!” the woman cried out as she slapped the girl’s hand. “Why can’t you stay still?” her eyes raised to Alina’s and she began to bow her head consecutively, “Gomen nasai!”
Alina shook her head, “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” she said and stared back at Miki. She had a cute name.
The girl smiled back and turned to her mother, “Can I get my ball back?” she asked with hopeful, wide eyes.
The woman looked up questioningly at Alina, an embarrassed smile on her lips.
Alina nodded with a smile grin. “I can’t have this with me where I’m going.” she pointed as she looked down at the ball.
The woman laughed softly and looked down at Miki, “Go and hurry back.”
Miki unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed to the other side. Alina handed her the ball and frowned a little “We got caught.” she said with disappointment.
Miki frowned too, “I know. Now I’ll be bored.” Her frown melted into a smile as she raised her hand. Alina narrowed her eyes questioningly and felt Miki’s fingers get lost in her wavy, ink black hair. “It’s so pretty.” Miki said.
Caught off by the girl’s comment, Alina couldn’t help but laugh, “Arigato.”
The little girl laughed and looked up at her with wild interest, “And your eyes are the same color as honey.” She seemed to study Alina some more before coming to her conclusion, “You’re different from most of the people that I’ve seen. You’re not like my mommy.”
“Miki-chan.” They both looked up and saw her mother raise her eyebrows impatiently.
“You better go to your mom before she gets mad.” Alina said with a timid smile and though she groaned, Miki reluctantly went back to her seat after waving bye to her.
Alina leaned back into her seat and nodded to herself. Of course I don’t look like anyone you’ve seen, she thought to herself more matter-of-factly than bitterly. She wasn’t Japanese nor did her physique make the possibility plausible. Though thin and short, she was rather shapely and like any Caucasian female, her eyes didn’t carry the distinctness of the Eastern ones.
The only thing that connected her to the reserved and modest world was the language. Though she was born and lived most of her life in the capital of her native country, Colombia, Alina had been exposed to Japanese thanks to her mother, an ardent lover of the culture. She would lie if she said she wasn’t fascinated by the mysterious world too. Maybe in a way, on top of all the problems she was having at home, that had been another factor that contributed in her accepting the task that lay ahead of her.
A swift motion at her left caused her to turn her head and an attractive middle-aged woman sat beside her. Her hair was dyed a dirty blonde with brown streaks. She wore a light beige tank top with a plaid, open shirt over it. Her thin legs were wrapped in dark blue jeans and a smooth tan scarf round her waist for a belt. She immediately caught the scent of cigarette smoke and smirked at the woman, “Oh so that was what you were doing. I got worried you that you might have been sucked down the toilet.” Alina teased.
“I don’t know how I was able to pass the hour.” Misako Komada said and seemed to take a sigh of relief. Perhaps it was because she smoked so much, but unlike most of the women that Alina had met on the plane, Misako’s voice was unusually low and deep. She was a woman of money, with a loose air of elegance about her.
Misako and Alina’s mother had known eachother. They met and became best friends in college and remained so until her mother’s death about five years ago. Shortly after the ordeal, Misako returned to her native Japan and occasionally called to check up on Alina and her little brother Santiago. But two months ago, Misako stopped by the theater Alina worked as a make-up artist for, and watched an entire show before calling her attention.
She remembered the day like it was yesterday. Alina came out from behind the set and made her way through the audience to a stoic Misako.
Alina laughed a little as she stared outside the window and brought her thumb to her lips. Since she could remember, she had always felt a little overwhelmed by Misako’s refined demeanor. She was a very beautiful woman, who wouldn’t demonstrate her age. She was well over forty by now, but her cheeks were high and her skin was so smooth, the number had little to do with the face and voluptuous, firm body. To top it off, everytime she entered a room her powerful and confident presence could be felt.
“It’s good to see you.” Alina had said as she bowed to the woman politely.
Misako smiled brightly at her. Her pearly teeth showing from behind full red lips, “Oh come now, you should know better than to hold up formalities with me, my dear girl.” She wore a dark teal suit with a white blouse beneath and a jade necklace with matching earings. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a tight bun beneath a white silk scarf. “Your Japanese is as good as ever I see.”
Alina nodded, “I took the course during college. Mom always said it needed polishing.”
There had been a moment of silence between the two at the mention of her mother. It was a subject that remained delicate despite the years.
“Well I’m glad you took the course. I can barely pick up an accent.” Misako said, interrupting the uncomfortable silence. She looked around and patted the seat beside her, signaling for Alina to sit down.
“So what brings you to Colombia?” Alina asked as she sat down.
Misako smiled and nodded, “I need some help with something and I am almost confident this is something you can handle.”
She recalled feeling the chill that ran up her spine at Misako’s words. Once she placed so much trust on someone it felt as though despite the difficulty of the task at hand, one had to accomplish it. The thought of failing frightened her but she nodded. “Sure anything I can do.”
Misako smiled again, “Now, I know that things have been getting really difficult. With your grandmother being sick and not attending to the boutique and the high cost of your brother’s school tuition, it is really hard to get by on your paychecks alone.”
Alina agreed with a nod, “Yes, but we’ve managed to keep the debts at a low.”
Misako frowned, “At the cost of your neck and freedom though, I’m sure.”
She shrugged, “I’m doing what I like to do.” she said, referring to her job.
“I want to make you a proposal.” Misako had said, cutting to the chase.
“Yes?”
“For about two years I have been working with a rock band that has become quite prominent in my country.” she began.
“You work with them?” Alina asked.
“I’m their manager. Paper work and contracts, that’s all in my hands.” she stopped a moment, “As well as their appearance, too.”
Alina nodded, “Alright.”
“You see, not only does their talent affect their music, but their apparel is just as important. The more extravagant the look, the more attention they will call upon themselves.” An usher made his way toward the two women, but Alina asked him to leave them alone. Misako looked to the stage and then back at her. “I can’t help but feel that your potential can reach a higher peak if you go a little further than the walls of this theater.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Alina said, inquiry written on her soft features.
Misako fixed her with a firm stare and took her wrists, “I’ve hired and fired various make-up artists for the group I am working with and I’m up to my wits end.”
She nodded, a little frightened by the gravity in the woman’s tone.
“You are a professional in your line of work, Alina, and I say that with utmost honesty. A true prodigy with a gift that can go the distance. Your work is of the highest quality I have ever seen. And I think that if you allow me too, I can perhaps help you reach the top of your career.” here it came, the bottom line, “I would like for you to be the makeup artist for the band I work for.”
“Are you alright, Honey?”
Alina turned her head and found herself back inside the plane, sitting beside Misako. “Um yeah. A little jittery, that’s all.”
The woman chuckled to herself and then looked back at Alina, “That’s natural. You’ve been able to hold your nerve quite well actually.” she rested a hand on the girl’s arm.
Alina laughed a little and breathed slowly. Truth be told, her nerves were a complete wreck. After Misako had made the proposal and reassured her that the expenses would be paid by her hand, Alina asked her to wait for her to consult the matter with her family before making any rash decisions. She had hoped for a little more friction on her grandmother’s side, but found that she was quite excited about the whole situation and told her it was a great opportunity.
“Go and make a name for yourself, Niña.” her grandmother had said.
Alina nodded to herself, I will, and looked out the window again. They were approaching their destination. She could see the small masses of land come closer into focus. Excitement rushed through her body and began to shift her leg from side to side nervously. It was much easier to say one would grab the bull by the horns and a completely different thing to go and actually do it.