Roses and Cherry Blossoms

Chapter 19

"You are the best Yumi!" I tell her as we walk out of the DMV.

Cupcake and I have been going over all the things one needs to know before driving, the stuff on the test to get a permit.

Yumi figured that while we had all of my legal documents ready to get my passport, we would also stop by the DMV so I could do the test to get my permit. And I passed! I can drive now!

Well, I need to have a legal adult supervising, but Cupcake is eighteen and I won't be driving anywhere without him anyway.

Before we went to the post office to get the paperwork sent off for the passport, Yumi took me to get my picture taken and it turned out so cute!

Now I just need to wait forever for the actual passport to come. Grandma didn't want to come, so she sent a signed note and a copy of her ID with me this morning.

"I am just happy you can come with us! I will have to start teaching you some Japanese, or Kai can, just come up with an excuse." I nod. Learning Japanese sounds hard, and I only have three months to prepare.

"When are we going to tell him that I am going?" I ask her, how long do I have to hide this for? I am not good at hiding things from my Cupcake.

She turns on the car. "Probably June, I haven't quite decided yet." She says, starting our drive. Now we are actually headed to the mall to do a little shopping.

Right when we get to the mall Yumi takes me to get some food court pizza, something I am a bit sad I missed out on for so many years. Bread sticks are amazing!

"I never got to have days like this with Mama, so thank you Yumi." I tell her with a smile.

"I am happy to take you sweetheart, I am sorry you never got to do this with your mother." She says. What else could she say to me in this moment?

I look around the food court. It is pretty busy. Around the perimeter is a bunch of different food places, fast food, quick service, and even the enterence to an actual sit down restaurant. The entire ceiling is windows, letting the bit of sun shine through. Most of the people sitting are around my age. Some are parents with babies or toddlers. There is even an old lady with a little dog in a stroller!

I miss Cupcake. I haven't seen him in hours and I really miss him. Is he okay? What if he is gone? What if he left me? What if he never comes back? What if I never see him again?

A tear rolls down my cheek.

"Vanni, it's okay. You will see him soon." Vanni says. How can she read my mind too?

"I know Yumi. I just can't help but feel like everyone is going to leave me at every second. It just got worse when the accident happened. My parents promised me they would be back, that I would see them in a few hours. I actually believed them. And then they never came back, they are gone forever." More tears leave my eyes.

"I can't even imagine how hard this is for you. But I know they never wanted to leave you. Everyone loves you, Vanni." She assures me. I nod, trying to make myself believe her.

"Thanks Yumi."I tell her with a small smile, trying my best to believe her.

*

Cupcake was eagerly waiting for us to return from shopping. Well, really he was waiting for just me. He loves his mother, but I think he has as much separation anxiety when it comes to me as I do when it comes to him.

As soon as we walked in the front door and my shoes were off, Cupcake stole me. He picked me up and brought me to his room.

"Your mom took me to get my permit today, I passed! Now you can start teaching me for real." I tell Cupcake. Apparently teaching someone to drive is super stressful, so Cupcake wasn't exactly waiting for this moment to come. He also doesn't mind driving me around. He loves being my personal chauffeur.