Chapter 25
I placed my Bluetooth headset on my ear as I started my car. A rush of feelings burst into me. I was happy, sad and confused. How could fate play a trick on me? The person who I knew where my sister was was always near me. I didn’t have to spend so many years using private detectives and tons of money to search for her whereabouts. She was literally right under my nose.
Tears ran down my cheek and I dialed Aiba-san phone number. After a few rings, he didn’t pick up his phone so I dialed again. I needed to speak to him. I had to see her. I was so desperate and knew I wouldn’t be able to get a chance if I listened to what he had asked for in the letter. I couldn’t wait any longer.
On the 4th ring, Aiba-san picked up his phone. “Moshi-moshi, Asuka-chan? What’s wrong?” I bit my lip to hide my sniffles. I didn’t want to him to hear them. “Aiba-san where are you now?” I asked as I turned onto the main road. “Hm? You want to see me? This is unexpected. I never thought that you…” Before he could finish his rambling, I shouted. “Aiba-san where are you? Just tell me your location.” Suddenly there was silence from Aiba-san’s end. I bit my lip harder and was worried that I had scared him. Did he hang up on me?
“Calm down Asuka-chan. Just, tell me what’s wrong? Maybe I can…” Aiba-san tried to calm me down but it wasn’t working. I let out a loud sigh and in a shaking voice asked, “Please tell me where you are right now. I need to speak with you. Please.” I begged. For the first time ever in my life I was begging and pleading to someone. I thought that this would never happen to me and now I’m begging to him in hopes of seeing my sister.
There was a small pause before he answered. “I’m at my family home in Chiba. I’ll send you the address then.” I smiled in relief. “Arigato.” I said and then ended the call. I turned onto the highway and started to head towards Chiba.
~*~
I pulled into the driveway of Aiba-san’s family home. I grabbed my purse and got out of the car. With a press of a button, I locked the door and slowly made my way towards the front door. I stopped in front of the house to look at what kind house Mariko lived in. The brightly lit lights inside and the garden lamps had given me the feeling that anyone visiting would be welcomed. I bit my lower lip and slowly felt envious and also happy to know that Mariko was able to grow up in a warm environment.
I took some deep breaths and then walked forward to ring the doorbell. Within seconds the door opened and appeared a confused and happy Aiba-san. He flashed a shy smile with his hand on his head. “Asuka-chan… I didn’t you expect to see you especially this late. Did you drive all the way from Tokyo?” He asked. Without giving him a reply, I remained silent as I scanned him. I was slowly trying to come in terms that the man that wrote the letter to me about Mariko was the man whom I always had seen as someone who didn't have any problems with his personal life. Who knew that he was hiding a secret behind that cheerful personality?
I swallowed, gathering my courage and my desperation to see my sister. I clenched my jaw tightly as I took a step forward towards Aiba-san. Surprised, he took a step back to make some space between the both of us, however I grabbed his shirt quickly and yanked his head closer to mine. I stared into his soft and scared eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Tears started to emerge from my eyes again. He widened his eyes and cocked his head to the side. He looked dumbfounded but he also looked frightened if I was going to do something to him. I continued to stare right in his eyes as I asked the same question again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He furrowed his eyebrows. Then I decided to be more specific with my question. “Do you have a sister named Mariko?” Aiba-san stared at me blankly. He nodded his head to answer my question. Slowly he placed his hand over my hand to make me let go of his shirt but I didn’t want to. He could probably feel my hands trembling. I was too upset to know that he was the one stopping me from seeing my sister. I never broke away from my glare at him. “Let me see her.” He furrowed his eyebrows again. Confused and puzzled, he forced a laugh. “Asuka-chan, are you drunk? How come you’re acting like this?”
Anger built up inside me. Why is he not letting me see her? I just want to see what she looks like. It’s been years that I don’t even know what my own sister looks like. I wouldn’t even be able to recognize her face if we were walking on the same street. I tightened my grip on his shirt as tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m not drunk. I can’t get drunk. Why are you stopping me? Just let me see her!” I yelled. My grip slowly loosened and I fell down to the floor with tears running down all over my face.
Aiba-san looked at me worriedly and bent down to my level. Why couldn’t he understand? Why does he have to stop me from seeing the one person I wanted to see for so long? Someone that I’ve thought about every day and night. I grabbed onto his shirt again but this time my grip had weakened. “Please, just let me see my imouto.” I begged softly. Aiba-san pulled back his head and was still slightly confused. “Imouto? That means…” He trailed off with his eyes widened while looking at me.
I tilted my head up to stare into his eyes again. “Mariko is my imouto that my parents had abandoned years ago. Please…let me see her.” I whispered. Aiba-san quietly stared at me in disbelief. He must have thought I was crazy or he must be realizing that what I was saying is true. “Please.” I said and sniffled. Aiba-san pursed his lips and without saying anything, he started to help me up. Then he gently placed his hands on my shoulders as he looked into my eyes to say. “I can’t let you do that. If you got my letter then you know that…” Before he finished his sentence, I interrupted him. “I know what you wrote. I’ve read and memorized that letter. I wanted to heed to your warning but I’ve been waiting for so long already. Now that I finally found out where she is, I just want to see her. Please, let me see her.” I pleaded to him.
He looked at me with weary eyes. Even after pleading and begging, I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to let me see her. “Let her in.” Another voice spoke out and I looked over Aiba-san’s shoulder to see an older man walking towards us. He looked like an older version of Aiba-san. “Let her in. She might be able to help.” He said as he looked at me with soft eyes. Aiba-san tossed his head to him and was surprised to hear what he had said. “Otosan, we can’t. Mariko is in that state that we can’t just let her speak to her. She’s still hasn’t gotten over okaasan’s death…”
His father grunted at him and then folded his arms. “Mariko-chan is not a child anymore. She needs to get over it. It’s something that all of us have to experience. She shouldn’t lock herself away when the world will move on without her.” I nodded my head and placed my hands on top of Aiba-san’s. He turned his head back to me, surprised as to what I was doing. I slowly slid them off of my shoulders and walked past him.
I took off my shoes and Aiba-san’s father started to lead me the way to Mariko’s room. With my heart beating rapidly, there was one part of me that was excited and happy to finally meet her. While the other part of me that was telling me that I was too late to save and protect her.