Flight 109 - Destination: First Love [Chapter 8]
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The story is inspired by yeppie . As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. And if you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
The airplane icon marks the present time. 30-31 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
Oh, and tanjoubi omedetou, Nino :)
「CHAPTER 8: THE FINAL CALL」
Ninomiya Kazunari, Ohno Satoshi and Aiba Masaki are lounging in Matsumoto Jun's living room. They all stare at the same ceilings, thinking about the exact identical thing; their group's youngest member's past relationship.
"I can't believe he has never told her.." Aiba is the one who finally says it.
"Actually," Nino gives him a knowing look, "I kinda have expected that.."
"Would you tell her if you are in his position?" Ohno asks.
"I would," Aiba answers immediately.
"I wouldn't," Nino answers at the exact same time as Aiba. Both of them exchange a look before Nino clears his throat, "But she wouldn't be able to find traces of her memory in my apartment, though."
"You have your traces all over the Internet. And library of tabloids," Aiba says with a laugh.
"Baka! There are no tabloids in the library!" Nino retorts. "You and Riida aren't the ones to talk, though!"
"Yet you hardly found one on Matsujun. Or Sho.." Ohno mumbles quietly.
"They're really careful, aren't they?" Aiba points out.
"Too careful. They are Ninjas. To the point I used to have this theory that they're gays," Nino pulls himself up and stretches his body.
"And all of a sudden, she came to the picture.." Ohno's gaze is million miles away.
"You never liked her, did you?" Nino puts his hands into his pockets as he strolls around the room.
"It's not that I don't like her.. As a person.." Ohno shakes his head.
".. but you don't like the situation she got us into that time." Aiba finishes for the oldest member.
"Yeah.. I kinda feel that way as well," Aiba nods a couple of times.
"She's a great girl, though. I'm quite fond of her," Nino turns around and gives a small smile to each of the older members.
"She is.." Ohno agrees softly, correcting his previous comment. "Maybe I am just jealous of her.. Because of what happened."
Both Nino and Aiba nod in complete understanding.
Kitashiro Rei, who has been unintentionally eavesdropping from Jun's bedroom, cannot do the same.
What happened? She can only asks herself.
She throws a pillow over her head to cover her ears. "If you're speaking in codes, why do you guys have to talk so loud!" She grumbles under the pillow.
---
Matsumoto Jun walks over to the table where his ex girlfriend from 7 years ago, Hanazono Minako, and his warm coffee are. He just did a quick shopping for some clean T-shirt and changed into it as soon as possible.
Minako smiles at the sight of him wearing a V-neck white T-shirt but hasn't put his jacket over it.
"What?" Jun smiles, catching her eyes on him.
"You surely dress a lot simpler now.."
"Really?"
"Hmm.. My boy Jun-tan has totally grown into a man now," She has a big grin on her face. It is unknown whether she is intentional or not to make Jun's cheeks blush into a dark shade of pink.
They haven't mentioned the past anymore even since the Romeo and Juliet question. She only answered the 7 year old question with a shrug and an 'I don't really know' in a soft voice, barely a whisper. Since then, both Minako and Jun stirs the conversation away to a safer route. Talking about their careers, old friends and family until they finally decided to have coffee in the first class lounge.
Her phone suddenly rings. With the same ringtone that reveals her identity earlier that day to Jun. Yes, it is her cover singing the song Kanade from Sukima Switch. But even though it has been the second time he hears the ringtone today, her voice singing it, it still makes his heart stings. The song never failed to do so. He remembers for the past 7 years, everytime he hears the song accidentally, he will automatically turn it off or turn away.
I guess it still hurts, he thinks sadly as he sips his coffee, stealing a glance to Minako who is talking briefly about the details of her flight to the phone.
When she flicks her phone shuts, it is her turn to catch Jun's eyes on her.
"What?" She smiles.
"You and that song.." He mumbles.
"You know how much I love that song.." She stirs her tea.
"It doesn't hurt for you to hear it?" He asks softly, looking away to the big glass window where airplanes on the opposite side are taking off and landing one after another.
"No.."
"Sou ka.."
"You don't like the song anymore?"
Jun shakes his head.
"Why?"
"It reminds me of.. Of lots of things.." He looks up to her and stares into her eyes, "Of you.."
She lets out a soft laugh, "You don't like to be reminded of me, then.."
And somewhere deep inside that pair of beautiful chocolate eyes, Minako sees darkness. Grim. Suffering.
"It still hurts. Unexpectedly, it still does."
Jun lets out a small sigh. Unexpectedly, he has been holding his breath all this time.
And Minako's heart breaks. All over again. Her chest tightens. She feels sobs pushing through her throat. She blinks back the tears with all her might.
"Jun.. I.." Her voice is shaking.
Her hands are shaking. But one of them reaches across the table to touch his and gives it a gentle squeeze.
Unexpectedly, he squeezes back that hand.
"I remember you everytime.. Every single time.." She tries to choke back the tears. One gets away. It rolls beautifully down her cheek. "Even now I still..."
It is now Jun's phone turn to rings. It is just an ordinary ringtone. Standard. Default.
But the name appears on the caller ID makes him immediately pulls back his hand from her reach.
He clears his throat and picks it up, "Rei-chan.."
"Jun-kun," Rei's voice is throaty and soft. A hint of sadness can be heard from thousands of miles away.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing.. I.. I just miss you, I guess," Rei is forcing a soft laugh to come out.
"Oh.."
Jun steals a glance to Minako who seems to try her hardest to not eavesdrop, let alone seems interested in his conversation.
"The flight will be boarding soon," He clears his throat, brushing away the awkwardness of the situation. "I'll be there in a few hours, okay?"
"I guess so.."
Jun's eyes still doesn't leave Minako, but his feelings are fighting inside of him. This doesn't feel right at all.
"Rei.."
"Uhm?"
"I met a.. an old friend of mine here, she's flying with me to Tokyo.." He tries to explain as casually as possible.
"Oh.. That's good. You have someone to talk to then during flight.."
"Yeah.. I guess so.."
"I'll tell you all about it when I got home, okay?"
"Okay.."
Silence.
"Jun?"
"Yes?"
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Hanazono Minako."
Silence again.
One good minute must have passed before Rei finally says, "Oh.."
A lounge staff approaches his table all of a sudden, "Excuse me, it is the final call for Flight 109 already."
Minako nods and express their thank yous.
"Rei.. I have to board the plane now," Jun mutters quickly to the phone.
"Okay.."
He feels something is wrong. He really does. But he can't pinpoint it. He can't let it out in words. He doesn't even have the heart to ask her again what's bugging her.
"Jun.."
"Yes?"
"Just come back home to me, right?.. Wherever you are right now.."
"Eh..?" He is genuinely confused at first, but his heart somehow understands. "Of course, I'll come back home soon. I'm on my way now, to you."
"Ja.. I'll wait here, then.."
After saying their goodbyes, Jun can't help but wonder as he walks to their designated gate to board the airplane with Minako.
He never utters a word about Minako to Rei. Not her name. Ever. He almost did, several times, but never got through with it.
Now he wonders whether she already knows. Knows their past. Knows their present, that Hanazono Minako wasn't just any old friend, but a girl he used to love so much he would sacrifice anything just to be with her. And she is right here walking beside him this very second.
And he just realizes the cold truth, no matter how cruel it sounds, that he still does keep a special place in his heart for her. And perhaps, that part of his heart, still love her as if it has never been broken. As if they have never been apart. As if time, anyone and anything really doesn't mean anything at all.
---
Kitashiro Rei can't hold back her tears anymore. And by the time she can feel the wetness on her cheeks, she can't make sense of how long she has been holding these tears. Holding back this jealousy.
It is not that she doesn't trust him. She really does. And she knows that whatever happened between her Jun and Hanazono Minako, it was all in the past.
But if it is only me in his heart right now, why does it feel like he is slipping away? She screams in her heart where noone can hear. Where noone will judge her.
She can't take it anymore and wipe her tears roughly off her face. She pulls herself up from Jun's bed and head straight outside.
But as she opens the door from Jun's room, she finds herself face to face with Aiba, who is tiptoeing his way to the fridge. And the first thing that Aiba notices is the traces of tears in her eyes.
"Rei-chan? What's wrong?" He whispers.
The two other members are sleeping soundly on the sofa bed by the living room. The lights are all turned off except for a standing lamp at the corner of the room.
Rei just shakes her head, "Nothing.." She really doesn't want to tell anyone about the new revelation. About the cruel coincidence.
She calms herself down and pull an act. She clears her throat and stands up straight. She is an award-winning actress after all.
"Jet-lag.. I can't sleep.."
Aiba nods a couple of times, as if completely understands. He eyes her with such concern that Rei feels bad for not telling him the truth.
"It's okay, Aiba-chan, I think I just take a walk around the neighborhood for a while.."
"Eh? By yourself?"
"It's fine.."
"No way.." Aiba insists, "Both Jun and Nino will kill me if he knows I am letting you go all by yourself like that!"
"Nino won't kill you. And Jun wouldn't even know.."
"No, no, no!" Aiba thinks for a while. His face brightens up a second later, "Eh, Rei-chan! I'll go with you!"
"For a walk? But Aiba-chan.."
"No buts! And not for a walk. But for a drive! Why walk if you can feel the wind blows to your face in 100-ish kilometers per hour?" He takes her by the hand and leads her outside.
And Rei has known Aiba quite well that when he already has come up with one of his 'brilliant' ideas, no one can ever say no to Aiba-chan.
Surely, he can't shut up afterwards, bursting out with excitement, "Good thing Nino and Riida is asleep. My car won't fit for all of us!"
---
As Aiba drives beside her, in his impressive shining white Porsche Cayman, Rei can't help but let out a small laugh.
"What?" Aiba asks with a smile.
"How can I feel the wind blows to my face? The way you said it, it is as if we will be cruising in a convertible," she points out. Even though she still feels down, it is easy to smile when Aiba-chan is at the radius of 1 metre away.
"Eh? Idols driving around town in a convertible is a bad idea, isn't it?"
Rei nods a couple of times, "You've got a good point.."
"I can open the windows for you.."
"I was only kidding, Aiba-chan.."
"Well, let me know if you want to have the wind blows on your face seriously then.."
His gentle tone hurts her more. It is as if he can feel her heart breaks. It is as if it is written so clearly on her face.
"You know, Rei-chan.." Aiba clears his throat as he stares at the empty road, "You can ask me anything if you want to know about something. I won't judge you.."
"I know, Aiba-chan.."
"I don't know everything, I definitely can't read Matsujun's mind or feel his feelings.."
"I can't either.."
"But if he already says it to you personally that he is in love with you, then it is the truth. He hardly ever lies.." Aiba-chan's tone is serious and gentle. Then he breaks the ice again with a huge grin, "And you can tell me anything. I may not look like or have the reputation of keeping secrets, but I swear I will keep this one to my grave!"
Aiba-chan has surely succeeded in opening Rei's heart. She gazes to the road.
"He is with her right now.."
"Who?"
"Jun-kun. He is flying with Hanazono Minako-san right now to Tokyo.."
"EH?"
"The coincidence doesn't make any sense.." Rei mumbles in a small voice, keeping her gaze to the empty road ahead.
Aiba doesn't say anything, knowing by instinct that the best thing that he can give her at the moment is to be a good listener.
"Aiba-chan.." Rei starts again in a shaky voice, "I really don't want to ask any of you in the first place.. But.. But I can't help being curious.. I can't help dying to know more.. I.."
"I understand.. You don't need to ask.." Aiba-chan gives her hand a friendly yet warm squeeze.
Then the gate of tears is now opened wide. Her mask is completely shattered right in front of Aiba Masaki and she covers her face with her hands, sobbing as if her heart is breaking.
Aiba strokes her head gently with one hand as he drives onwards. Collecting old memories of the past he is about to narrate.
Of course, as soon as Rei has done and satisfied crying her heart out. As soon as she's ready to face the past.
Continue to Chapter 9
The airplane icon marks the present time. 30-31 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
Oh, and tanjoubi omedetou, Nino :)
「CHAPTER 8: THE FINAL CALL」
Ninomiya Kazunari, Ohno Satoshi and Aiba Masaki are lounging in Matsumoto Jun's living room. They all stare at the same ceilings, thinking about the exact identical thing; their group's youngest member's past relationship.
"I can't believe he has never told her.." Aiba is the one who finally says it.
"Actually," Nino gives him a knowing look, "I kinda have expected that.."
"Would you tell her if you are in his position?" Ohno asks.
"I would," Aiba answers immediately.
"I wouldn't," Nino answers at the exact same time as Aiba. Both of them exchange a look before Nino clears his throat, "But she wouldn't be able to find traces of her memory in my apartment, though."
"You have your traces all over the Internet. And library of tabloids," Aiba says with a laugh.
"Baka! There are no tabloids in the library!" Nino retorts. "You and Riida aren't the ones to talk, though!"
"Yet you hardly found one on Matsujun. Or Sho.." Ohno mumbles quietly.
"They're really careful, aren't they?" Aiba points out.
"Too careful. They are Ninjas. To the point I used to have this theory that they're gays," Nino pulls himself up and stretches his body.
"And all of a sudden, she came to the picture.." Ohno's gaze is million miles away.
"You never liked her, did you?" Nino puts his hands into his pockets as he strolls around the room.
"It's not that I don't like her.. As a person.." Ohno shakes his head.
".. but you don't like the situation she got us into that time." Aiba finishes for the oldest member.
"Yeah.. I kinda feel that way as well," Aiba nods a couple of times.
"She's a great girl, though. I'm quite fond of her," Nino turns around and gives a small smile to each of the older members.
"She is.." Ohno agrees softly, correcting his previous comment. "Maybe I am just jealous of her.. Because of what happened."
Both Nino and Aiba nod in complete understanding.
Kitashiro Rei, who has been unintentionally eavesdropping from Jun's bedroom, cannot do the same.
What happened? She can only asks herself.
She throws a pillow over her head to cover her ears. "If you're speaking in codes, why do you guys have to talk so loud!" She grumbles under the pillow.
---
Matsumoto Jun walks over to the table where his ex girlfriend from 7 years ago, Hanazono Minako, and his warm coffee are. He just did a quick shopping for some clean T-shirt and changed into it as soon as possible.
Minako smiles at the sight of him wearing a V-neck white T-shirt but hasn't put his jacket over it.
"What?" Jun smiles, catching her eyes on him.
"You surely dress a lot simpler now.."
"Really?"
"Hmm.. My boy Jun-tan has totally grown into a man now," She has a big grin on her face. It is unknown whether she is intentional or not to make Jun's cheeks blush into a dark shade of pink.
They haven't mentioned the past anymore even since the Romeo and Juliet question. She only answered the 7 year old question with a shrug and an 'I don't really know' in a soft voice, barely a whisper. Since then, both Minako and Jun stirs the conversation away to a safer route. Talking about their careers, old friends and family until they finally decided to have coffee in the first class lounge.
Her phone suddenly rings. With the same ringtone that reveals her identity earlier that day to Jun. Yes, it is her cover singing the song Kanade from Sukima Switch. But even though it has been the second time he hears the ringtone today, her voice singing it, it still makes his heart stings. The song never failed to do so. He remembers for the past 7 years, everytime he hears the song accidentally, he will automatically turn it off or turn away.
I guess it still hurts, he thinks sadly as he sips his coffee, stealing a glance to Minako who is talking briefly about the details of her flight to the phone.
When she flicks her phone shuts, it is her turn to catch Jun's eyes on her.
"What?" She smiles.
"You and that song.." He mumbles.
"You know how much I love that song.." She stirs her tea.
"It doesn't hurt for you to hear it?" He asks softly, looking away to the big glass window where airplanes on the opposite side are taking off and landing one after another.
"No.."
"Sou ka.."
"You don't like the song anymore?"
Jun shakes his head.
"Why?"
"It reminds me of.. Of lots of things.." He looks up to her and stares into her eyes, "Of you.."
She lets out a soft laugh, "You don't like to be reminded of me, then.."
And somewhere deep inside that pair of beautiful chocolate eyes, Minako sees darkness. Grim. Suffering.
"It still hurts. Unexpectedly, it still does."
Jun lets out a small sigh. Unexpectedly, he has been holding his breath all this time.
And Minako's heart breaks. All over again. Her chest tightens. She feels sobs pushing through her throat. She blinks back the tears with all her might.
"Jun.. I.." Her voice is shaking.
Her hands are shaking. But one of them reaches across the table to touch his and gives it a gentle squeeze.
Unexpectedly, he squeezes back that hand.
"I remember you everytime.. Every single time.." She tries to choke back the tears. One gets away. It rolls beautifully down her cheek. "Even now I still..."
It is now Jun's phone turn to rings. It is just an ordinary ringtone. Standard. Default.
But the name appears on the caller ID makes him immediately pulls back his hand from her reach.
He clears his throat and picks it up, "Rei-chan.."
"Jun-kun," Rei's voice is throaty and soft. A hint of sadness can be heard from thousands of miles away.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing.. I.. I just miss you, I guess," Rei is forcing a soft laugh to come out.
"Oh.."
Jun steals a glance to Minako who seems to try her hardest to not eavesdrop, let alone seems interested in his conversation.
"The flight will be boarding soon," He clears his throat, brushing away the awkwardness of the situation. "I'll be there in a few hours, okay?"
"I guess so.."
Jun's eyes still doesn't leave Minako, but his feelings are fighting inside of him. This doesn't feel right at all.
"Rei.."
"Uhm?"
"I met a.. an old friend of mine here, she's flying with me to Tokyo.." He tries to explain as casually as possible.
"Oh.. That's good. You have someone to talk to then during flight.."
"Yeah.. I guess so.."
"I'll tell you all about it when I got home, okay?"
"Okay.."
Silence.
"Jun?"
"Yes?"
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Hanazono Minako."
Silence again.
One good minute must have passed before Rei finally says, "Oh.."
A lounge staff approaches his table all of a sudden, "Excuse me, it is the final call for Flight 109 already."
Minako nods and express their thank yous.
"Rei.. I have to board the plane now," Jun mutters quickly to the phone.
"Okay.."
He feels something is wrong. He really does. But he can't pinpoint it. He can't let it out in words. He doesn't even have the heart to ask her again what's bugging her.
"Jun.."
"Yes?"
"Just come back home to me, right?.. Wherever you are right now.."
"Eh..?" He is genuinely confused at first, but his heart somehow understands. "Of course, I'll come back home soon. I'm on my way now, to you."
"Ja.. I'll wait here, then.."
After saying their goodbyes, Jun can't help but wonder as he walks to their designated gate to board the airplane with Minako.
He never utters a word about Minako to Rei. Not her name. Ever. He almost did, several times, but never got through with it.
Now he wonders whether she already knows. Knows their past. Knows their present, that Hanazono Minako wasn't just any old friend, but a girl he used to love so much he would sacrifice anything just to be with her. And she is right here walking beside him this very second.
And he just realizes the cold truth, no matter how cruel it sounds, that he still does keep a special place in his heart for her. And perhaps, that part of his heart, still love her as if it has never been broken. As if they have never been apart. As if time, anyone and anything really doesn't mean anything at all.
---
Kitashiro Rei can't hold back her tears anymore. And by the time she can feel the wetness on her cheeks, she can't make sense of how long she has been holding these tears. Holding back this jealousy.
It is not that she doesn't trust him. She really does. And she knows that whatever happened between her Jun and Hanazono Minako, it was all in the past.
But if it is only me in his heart right now, why does it feel like he is slipping away? She screams in her heart where noone can hear. Where noone will judge her.
She can't take it anymore and wipe her tears roughly off her face. She pulls herself up from Jun's bed and head straight outside.
But as she opens the door from Jun's room, she finds herself face to face with Aiba, who is tiptoeing his way to the fridge. And the first thing that Aiba notices is the traces of tears in her eyes.
"Rei-chan? What's wrong?" He whispers.
The two other members are sleeping soundly on the sofa bed by the living room. The lights are all turned off except for a standing lamp at the corner of the room.
Rei just shakes her head, "Nothing.." She really doesn't want to tell anyone about the new revelation. About the cruel coincidence.
She calms herself down and pull an act. She clears her throat and stands up straight. She is an award-winning actress after all.
"Jet-lag.. I can't sleep.."
Aiba nods a couple of times, as if completely understands. He eyes her with such concern that Rei feels bad for not telling him the truth.
"It's okay, Aiba-chan, I think I just take a walk around the neighborhood for a while.."
"Eh? By yourself?"
"It's fine.."
"No way.." Aiba insists, "Both Jun and Nino will kill me if he knows I am letting you go all by yourself like that!"
"Nino won't kill you. And Jun wouldn't even know.."
"No, no, no!" Aiba thinks for a while. His face brightens up a second later, "Eh, Rei-chan! I'll go with you!"
"For a walk? But Aiba-chan.."
"No buts! And not for a walk. But for a drive! Why walk if you can feel the wind blows to your face in 100-ish kilometers per hour?" He takes her by the hand and leads her outside.
And Rei has known Aiba quite well that when he already has come up with one of his 'brilliant' ideas, no one can ever say no to Aiba-chan.
Surely, he can't shut up afterwards, bursting out with excitement, "Good thing Nino and Riida is asleep. My car won't fit for all of us!"
---
As Aiba drives beside her, in his impressive shining white Porsche Cayman, Rei can't help but let out a small laugh.
"What?" Aiba asks with a smile.
"How can I feel the wind blows to my face? The way you said it, it is as if we will be cruising in a convertible," she points out. Even though she still feels down, it is easy to smile when Aiba-chan is at the radius of 1 metre away.
"Eh? Idols driving around town in a convertible is a bad idea, isn't it?"
Rei nods a couple of times, "You've got a good point.."
"I can open the windows for you.."
"I was only kidding, Aiba-chan.."
"Well, let me know if you want to have the wind blows on your face seriously then.."
His gentle tone hurts her more. It is as if he can feel her heart breaks. It is as if it is written so clearly on her face.
"You know, Rei-chan.." Aiba clears his throat as he stares at the empty road, "You can ask me anything if you want to know about something. I won't judge you.."
"I know, Aiba-chan.."
"I don't know everything, I definitely can't read Matsujun's mind or feel his feelings.."
"I can't either.."
"But if he already says it to you personally that he is in love with you, then it is the truth. He hardly ever lies.." Aiba-chan's tone is serious and gentle. Then he breaks the ice again with a huge grin, "And you can tell me anything. I may not look like or have the reputation of keeping secrets, but I swear I will keep this one to my grave!"
Aiba-chan has surely succeeded in opening Rei's heart. She gazes to the road.
"He is with her right now.."
"Who?"
"Jun-kun. He is flying with Hanazono Minako-san right now to Tokyo.."
"EH?"
"The coincidence doesn't make any sense.." Rei mumbles in a small voice, keeping her gaze to the empty road ahead.
Aiba doesn't say anything, knowing by instinct that the best thing that he can give her at the moment is to be a good listener.
"Aiba-chan.." Rei starts again in a shaky voice, "I really don't want to ask any of you in the first place.. But.. But I can't help being curious.. I can't help dying to know more.. I.."
"I understand.. You don't need to ask.." Aiba-chan gives her hand a friendly yet warm squeeze.
Then the gate of tears is now opened wide. Her mask is completely shattered right in front of Aiba Masaki and she covers her face with her hands, sobbing as if her heart is breaking.
Aiba strokes her head gently with one hand as he drives onwards. Collecting old memories of the past he is about to narrate.
Of course, as soon as Rei has done and satisfied crying her heart out. As soon as she's ready to face the past.
Continue to Chapter 9