Chapter 3

My high school years were boring except for the occasional boys who asked me out. I never understood why. I rarely wore my hair down, I never wore a skirt or a dress, and unlike the other girls, I never wore make up. That is why every time a boy started talking to me, it was fascinating to me.

I remember when Jordan Ramirez asked me out. It was after gym class one day, so I was even less appealing. But I thought maybe that was the only time he could talk to me alone, away from everybody else.

Jordan was gorgeous. He was one of the tallest boys in school. He was on the basketball team, and really popular with the girls. He looked at me with his hazel eyes that went perfectly with his tanned face. I could tell he was nervous. How could a guy like him be so nervous talking to someone like me?

"Hey Samantha, I was wondering if you were free this Saturday. There is this movie playing, Ocean's Eleven, and it's supposed to be really good. It has a bunch of stars in it like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and that guy from Good Will Hunting. What do you say, do you want to go watch it together?"

I looked at him for a moment. I felt a little bad rejecting him. His eyes were so sincere and nervous. But I used the same excuse I had used many times before.

"Thank you so much for the invite Jordan, but I can't. I'm dating someone."

I could see surprise in his eyes.

"I thought that was just a rumor; you dating someone who lives in Japan."

"It's true. His name is Kei." He stared at me for a minute and nodded his head defeat written all over his face.

"Ok, well I'll see you around, then."

"Yeah, see you around."

Jordan never talked to me again.

A few weeks later, it was time to apply for the Japan Exchange program. So, I decided to tell my parents about my plans. One evening, I sat them down in the living room and I pitched my idea to them. I was so nervous about their decision, my hands were ice cold. I had made my case and was waiting for the verdict.

My mom stared at me for a few minutes then looked at my father.

"We will have to talk to Kenji and Amanda even before you apply. I mean it's not like a week or two, it's going to be four months." My mom finally said.

"Of course." I was trying to play it cool.

"I'll call them tomorrow to talk about it. What is the scholarship going to cover?" My dad asked.

"Transportation, food, they would also cover housing but since I have a place to stay-"

"May have a place to stay." My mom corrected.

"Yeah, that's what I meant." I smiled at her but both my parents were way too serious at that moment.

I couldn't sleep that night. The anticipation was too great.

The next day my mom gave me the good news. She said that Amanda would love to have me. She was even more excited than I was, mom told me.

I filled in all the paperwork including the high school where I wanted to go - which was Kei's school of course - and applied to the program with the help of my advisor.

I was pretty confident. After all, I was the first in my class and in Japanese class. I was also involved in a few clubs and organizations. I was the perfect candidate for a program like that.

When I got the confirmation, about four months later, I immediately wrote to Jiro.

Hey Jiro,

So, I have been accepted to the program. Yay!

I will be staying with you guys from March till the end of July. I am very excited. I think I will need your help with many things like the language. I mean I have studied Japanese for two years, but I still find it difficult to understand everything.

I have seen a documentary about high schools in Japan, what color is the uniform of your school? Do all girls need to wear skirts? You know, I don't wear skirts. Can I just wear pants like the boys? Hahahaha don't you dare think that I am weird!!

I am also counting on you to take me around, I have been dreaming about discovering the city of Tokyo.

What is the weather like in March? Is it usually still cold? Do you want me to bring you anything from the US?

I can't wait for March to be here.

Love,

Sam

The next day, Jiro answered my email.

Hey hey hey!

I am so happy you are coming. I can't wait to see you!!

Don't worry, I'll make sure you use Japanese perfectly in no time. And I will take you around and show you all the good places around Tokyo. You are going to love it.

In the beginning of March, the weather is usually still a little chilly. But towards the end, it gets warmer. The cherry blossom season starts in the end of March. So it is so beautiful at that time of the year.

The uniforms in our schools are dark blue and green. All girls have to wear skirts. And you are weird!!! hahahahaha Sorry you can't wear pants like the boys. You'll just have to get used to it hahahaha

By the way, My mom is so excited you are coming that she is planning on redecorating the guest room for you. My dad is also happy that we will get to see you.

PS: for what to bring me from the US, let me think about it.

Cheers

Jiro

For the next few months, I dreamed of my time in Tokyo almost every night. I imagined my first meeting with Kei and how it would go. Hugs, tears, kind words. The possibilities opening for our friendship to blossom into love. How I would confess my feelings to him and the romantic scene we would have after that. These thoughts gave me patience during all those months of longing.

At school rumors started about me going to live with my boyfriend in Japan. I let them spread. Part of me was living the dream of those rumors becoming reality. My brother Daniel didn't share my enthusiasm though. He was really irritated when he heard them. We had become distant over the years, but I knew he was still looking out for his sister. I had heard stories about him taking my defense when someone would say something bad about me. Sometimes, he even used his fists.

Daniel came to me and told me about the rumors. I didn't want him to get in trouble, so I told him that I had started the rumors. I remember his glare. It was so cold, I felt a chill run through my body. He was too furious to even comment on my confession. He just stormed out of my room without saying a word, and he never brought up those rumors again.

On the day I was leaving, my mom gave me a long hug for the fifth time. I felt a little nervous at the time. It was the first time I was going to be away for more than a month. In addition, it was going to be in a country that was more than seven thousand miles away.

I tightened my arms around her and a tear came down. Then I hugged my dad again. Tom couldn't be there because he had exams, so we had talked on the phone before I left the house. Daniel gave me a weak hug and a pad on the back.

"Take care, sis." He said to me while stepping back. I returned his lack of emotion with a half smile.

When I was going through security, I turned one last time and waved at the three of them. They did the same.

As soon as I passed security, my heart was jumping with joy. The excitement came back and erased any worry I had had just minutes ago.

The first flight was only three hours and fifteen minutes. The layover in Dallas was about two hours.

The plane from Dallas to Tokyo was delayed thirty minutes, but we finally got on. It was a huge plane. I sat by the window and an old American woman sat next to me. We didn't talk for the whole fourteen hour flight except when I needed to go to the restroom.

On the plane, I was so happy to understand at least a bit of what the flight attendants were saying in Japanese. Of course, I didn't understand everything, but I was beaming like a moron when I did.

When I got to Haneda Airport, I was so excited I was taking fast steps to get through customs. After I did, Mrs Ichihara and Jiro were waiting for me. Jiro hugged me first, I basically threw myself in his arms. He was taller than me, which was really odd to me. I remembered when he was a little kid following Kei and me everywhere.

Then, I turned to Amanda who also took me in her arms and squeezed me.

"Look at you Samantha, you have grown into a beautiful young lady."

I felt my face turn scarlet and I smiled at her shyly. I looked closer at her face and noticed that she had changed. It looked like she had aged a bit. Her once bright green eyes became withered and dull. She had gray mixed in with her blond hair and a few wrinkles. She was still beautiful, but it felt like time had been cruel to her.

My eyes searched around for Kei, but they couldn't spot him. Jiro noticed my wandering eyes.

"He didn't come. you'll see him at home." He said putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Kenji didn't come either because he's on a trip." Amanda added.

I smiled but it didn't reach my disappointed eyes. Then we all walked outside to the car. It was about nine at night, so I didn't get to see any of Tokyo except for some lights and tall buildings.

We arrived at the house which was in a residential neighborhood. There were only houses and the streets were pretty tiny. The Ichihara house was big and beautiful. It was different from American houses.

We took off our shoes at the entrance and Jiro gave me slippers to wear.

When we entered the living room, I was expecting Kei to jump at me out of nowhere and hug me. But that didn't happen.

"I think Kei is still out." Jiro said. He probably noticed my expectations. I gave him a weak smile and sat on the couch.

"You must be hungry Sam, it's going to take ten minutes to heat up the food. I made lasagna for dinner." Mrs Ichihara disappeared into the kitchen.

"Kei is a little different, Sam. Don't expect much from him. He's not the same Kei you once knew." Jiro was staring at me.

"Why are you saying that?" I frowned.

"Well, for example he knew you were coming today, but he still went out with his friends."

"Maybe he had plans." He sighed.

"I'm just saying Sam, don't expect too much from him."

"Hey Jiro, can you set the table please?" Amanda called from the kitchen.

Jiro got up to help his mom. I, on the other hand, sat in that living room confused by what Jiro had told me. I had no idea what he meant.

The three of us had dinner together. It was delicious. After we were done, Amanda showed me to my room while Jiro did the dishes. They had transformed the guest room into one for me. It was so sweet of them.

The room was all white; white walls, white curtains, white linens. However, it wasn't boring at all. The pillows thrown on the bed were all different colors. A few picture were hung and the closet was painted in amethist. I loved the room instantly. It brought peace to my heart.

I took a much needed shower and went to my room. I wanted to wait up until Kei came back home. I really wanted to see him that night. It was getting late, though, and I was too tired to even keep my eyes open.

I didn't get to see him that night.

The next morning, I woke up really late. I was really tired from the trip. When I did get up, I found Jiro in the living room reading what looked like a school book, Amanda had gone out to do some shopping, and Kei was nowhere to be seen.

"Good morning sleepy head." Jiro greeted me.

"Morning."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I did. I was so tired." Jiro smiled.

"What do you want to have for breakfast." He asked me as he got up and walked to the kitchen. I followed him.

"I don't know, what do you have?"

"We have cereal, eggs, cake, toast, tea, coffee, juice-"

"Ok, I'll have some scrambled eggs with some toast." I interrupted.

"I'll make it for you."

"I can do it, Jiro."

"Are you sure? I mean I don't want you to burn down the house." I grimaced at him.

"Fine." I sat on one of the stools and watched Jiro make me breakfast.

I ate it while he sipped his green tea.

A few minutes later, a boy appeared in the kitchen. He walked to the fridge and took a juice box. He was even taller than Jiro. All I could see was his broad back. He was wearing a blue long sleeve shirt and jeans. My eyes were desperately following him. I wanted to see his face. He finally turned.

His hair was black and his eyes too. For a second, I thought he was some friend of Kei's or Jiro's who was visiting or something. But as I studied him more, I became sure that the tall boy standing in front of me was in fact my childhood friend and first love.

I stood up expecting some kind of a greeting. Hoping for one similar to the ones I had gotten from Jiro and his mom. Kei looked at me straight in the eyes. What has he done to his beautiful brown hair? and why were his eyes dark?

"Is that Samantha?" Kei finally spoke. I smiled instantly.

"Well yes, it's me." I took a step toward him planning to throw my arms around him.

"Look at you all... mature." I froze at his comment. His eyes were staring at my chest. My face burnt with red.

"Kei!" Jiro stood and his voice was warning. The brothers exchanged a glare.

"Well, whatever... I'm going out." Kei walked away and when he reached the door he turned around and looked at me. "Welcome to Japan!" Then he left.

I stood there shocked for a while. It felt like hours because my mind was racing and trying to understand what had just happened. Jiro finally broke the silence.

"I'm sorry Sam, I told you he's different." I looked at him.

"I think I'm going to go lay down upstairs for a bit. I guess I'm still tired."

I walked to my room and crumbled on the bed. Was that really Kei? How could a person change so much? It was like I had met a totally different person in that kitchen. A stranger who I met for the first time. A rude stranger for that matter. All those dreams I had had, shattered in one blink of an eye. My heart clenched and I buried my face in the pillow.