The Encounter

CHAPTER EIGHT

For real? She does not know how to cook? How assuming of him? At least, she knew how to cut apples and beat eggs. She chasten herself and hopelessly thought of a woman like her who did not have a knack for cooking. Life is simple, why complicate it? She convinced herself that she was skilled in simplicity although she already had some knowledge of several kitchen equipment in the short time she had in her present employer. Why need an oven when you can use pan to roast chicken?

She had learned to be keen and attentive to details so this errand was as easy as ABC and an hour was too long for her to finish it. Mr. Sun, as he wanted her to call him, was a helpful and friendly man. He looked way younger and too fit than his age which was thirty-eight. He was also precise and careful. He opened about how grateful he was to have worked for Shintaro. She learned he had been abandoned by his family and was fortunate to start a new life when he came walking by the restaurant road where Shintaro was handling out leaflets for local worker applicants.

That's too hands-on. She thought. Even so, she would never want to deal with him because they always ended up bickering at each other.

"But you should know Ms. Himari that Mr. Yamamoto had not laughed like that ever since our operation." She smiled at which she thought was an omen rather than a compliment.

"He has just a way of making fun at me, Mr. Sun. The nerve he does that to a person whom he should just see as a stranger."

Mr. Sun chuckled at this remark. "I like you - your humor, Ms. Himari. I hope you'll get along well together as I might see you often now."

"Thank you, Mr. Sun but today is actually just a special case. I don't want my manager to be disappointed with me."

"She'll do fine."

"How do you know it's a 'she'?" She was alarmed herself for asking such a trivial question.

"She comes here occasionally. It's funny because she brings us go-food from West Ocean Restaurant."

Of course, a divine beauty should also know how to flatter the likes of Shintaro and his men, she thought to herself. She gave Mr. Sun a quiet chuckle to conceal her growing worry. Why would she be worried? She shook her head from her delusions. Am I becoming...obsessed on this?!

"I think I should get going, Mr. Sun. If you have concerns of some sort, just give us a call. Onegaishimasu."

"We'll do that."

She did not bother saying formal goodbyes to Shintaro as this was busy at the kitchen. He moved like Gordon Ramsay giving orders to kitchen assistants and preparing menus himself. Customers must have flocked in already. That's diligence, focus, and passion there. She noted when she sneaked at the work room. She went back to her workplace in peace and prayed silently. Like an answered prayer, Himari received a message from Henry.

The spectacular hues of twilight that engulfed Lake Biwa and the city as seen from Mt. Hiei were simply breathtaking. For Himari, it was unlikely for everyone to watch a sunset and not meditate on a dram. It was like eating onigiri without nori or even salt at the least. Dusks were designed for a person's rest, dreams, and hope and for her, it meant everything even when purple-pink skies brought rains. The night's cool breeze moved past her, soothing her already chaotic mind. No one could imagine what might happen in a day or even in a year. The circumstances she left in Singapore fell prey to her sentiments. Her foster parents emigrated to Canada and she was still half of a daughter to them. Live your life as if it's your last were the words Mrs. Koh left her. Her heart warmed with those words. Sure she would do that.

"I didn't know I'd see you around here again. I wonder if you had been following me." She was surprised by the nonchalant masculine voice from a man who now stood beside her facing the view of the lake. At her peripheral view, Shintaro exuded sartorial sensibility even without the coat that completed his slim-fit suit. "Did I pass your scrutiny?"

"I'm on reverie and I don't have time for your cracks, Mr. Yamamoto. Also, why would I follow you? Please excuse me." She retreated towards the auberge. He caught her wrist up and stopped her. The little posts wrapped in Chochin were now lighted up so he was able to see her frightened and cautious eyes.

"Where did you get this watch?" His curious eyes glued to her accessory. Eversince she left SG for her job at Kyoto, Himari had been wearing it. Even if it didn't fit the occasion, wearing the watch was like a lucky charm to her - but not tonight.

"It was my mother's gift," she replied straightforwardly. "Excuse me." She intended to avoid him like a plague because what she felt whenever he was near was a total discomfort. But now, here they were as if some invisible string tied them altogether. She reached the entrance of the hotel where she would meet Henry on a business date. He purposely flew to Kyoto to meet a client whom he said would need a language mediator. Because her work did not need her until next week, she obliged. After all, she had to get busy.

Henry's client was rather pleasant and had the air of intelligence and sage perfected with his age. I thought I have seen this face before, she thought. Occasionally, she translated their language to Henry's of which she could fluently speak.

"Oh, here's my son! I had to invite him too as he would make a good successor. Mr. Ling, my son, Shintaro Yamamoto. Watashi no musuko, meet Henry Ling, our newest member of the board." All she saw was the exchange of raging eye-to-eye contact of two young men in between their handshake as if they already saw what was coming. On her seat, Himari wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She was a complete third wheeler and out of place thinking what the hell Henry was up to. To add more to her uneasiness was the reality that Shintaro was not just anybody but an important person in the business world. She was here to commit to a friend's favor but she gained more than she thought!

She could feel Shintaro's stares at her and to her accessory that made her conscious. She wondered if she was obvious - hoping this dinner ended as soon as possible - for she felt suffocated by men's talk.

"Please excuse me father," Shintaro spoke as he stood and collapsed on the floor.

She was the first to rescue, "Ni hai hao ma? Sorry, are you OK, sir?"

"Who are you, Himari?" He held unto her wrist and passed out.