CHAPTER 11 : JAPAN I'M COMING

Josh had been busy with his work, but he still gave Caren tutoring. She always excited with him, that night she had tutor again.

Caren :"Josh ge, I'll be 15 next week. What gift will you give me this time ?"

Josh :"Mmm what do you want ?"

Caren :"I don't know what I really want yet, I'll take whatever you give me."

Josh couldn't stand to see her cute smile.

Josh :"I'll see what I can get for you. But I'm sorry I can't be here next week to celebrate your birthday, I'll be leaving to Japan together with your dad. I'll find something nice for you in Japan."

Caren :"Yeyy, you have to give me something special from Japan ! That's too bad you can't come at my birthday. How long will you be in Japan ?"

Josh :"I don't know yet, maybe two weeks or a month."

Caren :"You have to come back as soon as possible !"

Josh :"hahaha.... How can I, your dad is the boss, you tell him."

Caren :"How about this, three days from now there will be full moon celebration in our little community, you should accompany me there OK ?"

Josh :"I hope I can make it."

Caren :"You must come ! I'll be waiting for you to pick me up !"

Full moon celebration this time a bit crowded, the merchants made it to be night market and there are some shows of teenage dancing and magician tricks. Josh couldn't refused her, he tried to finish his job that day in a rush and cleared up all his schedule that night. He went to pick her up at her house that night, Caren waved good bye to Doug "Bye dad, see you later." Doug couldn't refused his spoil girl request "You have to come back at nine o'clock ! Remember Josh you have to take care of her !" Josh replied "Yes I will sir."

Caren was so happy she could go out with Josh finally, actually she wanted to show Josh to her friends to made them jealous, but she wanted to spend some time together with him also. They were enjoying the shows in there and bought some street snacks in there. Suddenly someone called Caren "Hi Caren ! You've made it ?"

Caren :"Hi Sheila ! Yes I can brought him with me tonight see ?" Caren laughed out loud.

Sheila :"Well congratulations Caren ! We won the bet from Lisa, let's show him to Lisa now, I saw her in there just now."

Caren :"OK, Josh come with me."

Josh :"Where will you wanna go again Caren ?"

Caren :"Just come with me. My friends want to meet you ?"

Josh :"Me ???"

Caren was so excited to show Josh to Lisa who bullied her for not having any boyfriend. Now she could won her bet with her for bringing Josh as her boyfriend.

Caren : "Hi Lisa ! This is Josh. Josh this is my friend Lisa."

Lisa was shock, but she was amazed by Josh look, she shook her hand with Josh. Josh was confuse, why Caren's friend wanted to meet him. But after he saw their reactions he could understand now that he was being used.

Caren :"Lisa let's finish our matter tomorrow OK ? Now, will you excuse me ? Bye friends ....."

Caren waved good bye to all her girl friends, and continue to had a date with Josh. Her friends were amazed with Josh, they continued gossiping Caren and Josh after they left.

Josh :"Caren I think we should go home now, I've promised your dad will take you home at nine."

Caren :"But, I still want to look around."

Josh :"It's late now, we can go again some other time. Let's go home now OK ?"

Caren :"Hmmm OK ."

Actually Caren still wanted to spent more time with Josh, but she knew her dad would got angry if she went home too late. They walked to the Caren's house, she wanted to hold his hand but she just to embarrassed to take action first.

Josh :"Well, you're home now. See you later."

Suddenly Caren jumped to his body and kissed his cheek. Josh got shock, he was speechless.

Caren :"Thank you Josh for accompany me today. Take care and please come back soon !"

Josh cold sweat just flowing down from his head, his heart beat fast. He just waved good bye and walked away back home. His mind was blank because of that sudden kiss. He never kissed a girl before nor being kiss.

Hawk lived in the same boarding house with Josh now, since he decided to separate from Marcia. Josh and Hawk were getting ready packing up their stuffs for leaving to Japan the next day. This time they would take airplane to go there.

Hawk and Josh went to the airport together, they met Brian and Doug in the airport. It was his first time experience took a plane, he said to himself "Japan I'm coming ! Dad I'll go to your hometown !" Their project this time a bit difficult, It took a week to negotiate about the price. There were two ship company to deal with, but Doug seems more interested on the first company. While waiting for the negotiation Hawk and Josh were wondering around the city. Josh was looking for something that might suitable to give to Caren for her birthday, then his eyes got blink when he saw a music jewelry box, he said to himself "Ah girl must be likes to keep their jewelries in here, it's cute and I think she'll like it." He paid the music box and keep it on his back.

Hawk :"Who do you buy it for ? I never see you have a girlfriend ?"

Josh :"Ah not a girlfriend just friend."

Hawk :"When will you introduce her to me?"

Josh :"Never .... hahaha...."

Hawk :"Come on don't be stingy !"

They went back to their hotel, and got ready to inspect the ship after lunch. While they inspected the ship Josh heard someone screaming on the deck. He went to check what happen. There he saw a little girl got bullied. Her face and her cloth was dirty, she just got slapped on her cheek, she was wearing waitress dress. In front of her standing a luxurious woman. He asked someone "What's going on in here ?" A man in waiter cloth explained to him in whisper "The girl was accindentally pour the wine into that woman dress, so that woman scream hystericly. That poor girl got bullied so many times already, pity her !" Josh curiously asked him again "Why did she get bullied many times ?" The man replied "Because his father just went to jail because or murdered and everyone dislike her and her family so she got bullied all the time, no one wanted to hire her work, but they were from poor background. Josh felt pity to her "Oh I see, well it was not her fault if her father is murderer. Thank you."

The supervisor finally asked for apologize to the woman and so the girl, she knelt down in front of her. Now everyone got back to their places, they left alone that little girl on her knee. She wasn't crying anymore, her eyes were blank looking at the sea. Josh went near her "Little girl, what's your name ?" That little girl looked him "Who are you sir ? Don't you afraid to be near me ?" Josh felt pity to her

Josh :"I'm not afraid to anyone, tell me your name ?"

The little girl :"I'm Megumi, my father is a murderer. Don't you afraid ?"

Josh :"No, I'm not afraid with murderer because I can fight, my father had taught me karate. My name is Joshiro."

Megumi :"Are you Japanese ? I thought you were Chinese ?

Josh :"My dad was a Japanese, my mom is a Chinese. Get up now, no one around !"

Megumi got up after Josh persuaded her many times. Josh told her to go home since it's getting late.

Doug finally got the deal with the first company, now Hawk and Josh turn, to fix the ship to be ready to use for them to go home. It took three weeks for them to fix the ship this time. During their fixing Josh saw Megumi got bullied again and again by different people. One day Josh went to Megumi and gave her some food to eat, he asked her "Meg, with whom do you live here ?"

Megumi :"No one, I live alone. My mom ran away since my dad got trial."

Josh :"Why did she taken you away with her ?"

Megumi :"I didn't want to go with her, because she was like a whore, she had slept with some men randomly !"

Josh :"Poor you little girl, how old are you ?"

Megumi :"I'm 17 years old. My dad did kill that man who slept with my mom, that's why I'm sure my dad was innocent !"

Josh :"Oh so that was the story. Meg, don't you want to leave this place someday ?"

Megumi :"I want to but I don't know where to go. I don't know who I can trust."

Josh :"How about me ? Do you trust me ?"

Megumi :"Well, so far I trust you. And thank you for the food can I eat it ?"

Josh :"Sure, the food is yours ! How about you go with me ?"

Megumi :"To where ? When ?"

Josh :"To get back to my hometown in China, I have a loving mom, I'm sure she like you !"

Megumi :"Mmm... It's a good idea. Let me think about it."

Josh :"Yeah take your time to consider it, I maybe still need some times to finished my work here."

Megumi :"What exactly you're doing in here ?"

Josh :"Me ? I'm fixing the ship engine."

Megumi :"Oh, it was a difficult job ! I can help you to get some spare parts if you need them. My father used to work as spare parts seller."

Josh :"Ouw that will be helpful Meg, I'll contact you if we need something. See you later."