The Model Father

Chapter 10

Two days later in the afternoon, the phone rang insistently. Kevin left his room to answer it.

“Who are yah?” Estelle’s raspy voice hacked through the line. “Is this Jun’s apartment?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you’re not much of a talker, are yah?” Kevin heard her puff out a smoke. “Can I speak to Jun?”

“Um…”

“What, kid? I ain’t got all day.”

“You didn’t say please,” Kevin spoke softly.

“Whah?”

“You didn’t say please,” Kevin repeated a little louder. He heard her sigh.

“Can I please talk to Jun?” Estelle said with emphasis.

“It’s actually ‘may’–”

“Hello?” Jun felt sorry for the person getting a lecture from Kevin and grabbed the receiver from the kid. “Who’s this?”

“What the hell was that all about?” Estelle exclaimed. “Who was that?”

“Someone very smart,” Jun winked at Kevin and ruffled his hair. Kevin beamed. Jun motioned that he could go. Kevin rounded the corner to his room, but hid behind the wall to listen.

“So apparently, you’re flying out to Venice tonight,” Estelle went straight back to business. “I have your tickets and book ready at the office, so you can stop over here before heading straight to the airport.”

“Wait, I’m not supposed to leave ‘til next week,” Jun protested. “I’m not packed yet. I haven’t even–” Jun paused, wondering if he should mention about his situation with Kevin. “Look, Estelle. I’m not ready to leave tonight, okay?”

“Not okay,” Estelle replied firmly. “Since when do you argue about your schedule, Jun? You used to be so flexible.”

“I am still flexible,” he argued. I just have a kid to take care of, that’s all.

“D&G wanted all their models out earlier than planned. If you have a problem with that, I’ll just find a replacement.”

Jun stared at the receiver after Estelle hung up. He sighed in frustration. He had already arranged for Auntie Em to come next week, now, at the last moment, he had to tell her it was actually tonight. He bit his lip as he thought over this decision. He pressed redial.

***

“Hello?” Mao answered her phone cheerfully. She wiped her hands on her jeans. Luckily, the phone rang just as she finished washing the last plate in the sink.

“Hi, Mao. It’s me. I need your help.” Mao frowned. The man on the line didn’t need to say his name, and he knew she would know who he was. She fumed over his presumptuousness.

“What do you want, Mr. Matsumoto?” her friendliness was replaced by iciness.

“Can you watch over Kevin for a few weeks?” Jun sighed wearily.

“I told you that I’m not a baby–”

“I already have someone arranged to take care of him during evenings. I’d just feel better if you could come over to check up on him once in a while to see if he’s okay.”

“Oh, okay, but I’m not going to promise anything.” Mao bit her lip. Who was she kidding? She knew Jun knew that she would go over to his apartment every day to see Kevin.

“Thanks,” Jun said, with a sigh of relief. “Sorry if it’s last minute. Anyway, I’m leaving for Venice tonight, which is earlier than planned. I’m packing right now, until Auntie Em comes, then I’ll set out to get my ticket and head straight for the airport. I’ll see you when I get back. Bye.”

Mao looked over at the clock hanging above the sink. If she left now she’d see him before he headed out to the airport. Mao stepped back and forth, weighing her decisions. She went with her instinct, and grabbed her keys and purse on the table and left her apartment.

***

“Okay. I’ll be going now,” Jun crouched down to Kevin’s level, looking right into his eyes. Kevin’s face remained blank. “Please, Kevin, try to understand, okay? This is one of the most important gigs in my career. I have to do this for us.” Jun looked at him expectantly. Kevin nodded on cue. “Anyway, Auntie Em will be here with you at night, so you won’t be alone. Plus, Mao should be here to check up on you once in a while.”

“When will you be back?” Kevin asked quietly.

“Not long. Maybe three weeks.” Jun sighed as Kevin pouted. “Look, I’ll be back before you know it, ‘kay? Now promise me you’ll be good.” Jun held his pinky up, which Kevin hooked with his as a promise. Jun hugged him tightly before Auntie Em tapped him on the shoulder to remind him he was going to be late if he didn’t leave now. Jun pulled his suitcase through the door, and waved goodbye one last time.

Jun stood on the sidewalk waiting for a taxi to drive by. He looked up to see Mao coming down the sidewalk towards him. Jun’s face lit up.

“Mr. Matsumoto, I wish you a safe flight,” Mao said formally. She squared her shoulders and looked at him with a cool expression. “I’m here to see if Kevin will be fine tonight.”

“Thanks, Mao,” Jun smiled at her, “for coming over.” He looked at her pointedly, wanting to mention the kiss they shared at Pi two nights ago, but didn’t. There was something in that kiss, but he was not going to do anything about it until Mao acknowledged there was something there, too.

A taxi finally pulled over near Jun. The doorman stuffed the suitcase inside the trunk. Just before getting in, Jun leaned over to give Mao a kiss. Mao kissed back, her subconscious taking over. Jun hesitantly pulled away, trailing his finger on her cheek.

“See you when I get back,” he whispered, then got in the taxi.

As if in a trance, she waved slowly as the taxi merged into traffic. “Bye, Jun. See you,” she said softly to no one. She stood there for a moment to catch her breath. Mao didn’t realize that she had held her breath when Jun surprised her with a kiss again. The sun had already set, but the city was lit up by its many lights. Mao turned around to get inside the building to check on Kevin.

“Miss Mao!” Kevin greeted her happily when she came in. Auntie Em waved at her from the kitchen. Mao placed her purse on the couch and looked at Kevin. He had looked better than when she had first seen him, but she felt there was something behind those eyes, which were currently smiling at her. He seemed a bit sad. Mao smiled. Of course he would be sad: Jun had just left for Italy.

“Uh, I have homework to do,” Kevin said, waiting for her response.

“Go ahead, sweetie,” Mao smiled. “I’ll call when dinner’s ready. Auntie Em is such a good cook. You don’t want to miss it.” Kevin smiled and hurried down the hall to his room. Mao looked around the meticulously clean room. Auntie Em was busy doing whatever she did best in the kitchen, totally forgetting about her. Mao made her way down the opposite hall, to Jun’s room.

She opened the door quietly and stepped in. The perfectionist in Jun was evidenced by his room. The king-sized bed was made up as if it belonged in a high-class hotel. She opened a drawer and found his T-shirts folded nicely in there. She opened another drawer, then quickly closed it. Now she knew where he kept his underwear. She moved to his private bathroom and found it the same. Mao chuckled to herself at how a bachelor’s room could be cleaner than hers.

She went back to his room again and a picture on the nightstand caught her eye. She walked over and took a closer look. It was Jun and Kevin at a Yankees’ game, their matching smiles reflected back at her. They looked so happy, like a family should be. If she didn’t know better, she’d say they were father and son. She couldn’t help but smile back.

Mao traced a finger over Jun’s face. She suddenly plopped onto the edge of the bed with a sigh. She’d finally realized what had been bugging her for the past couple of days: She was in love with a man she knew she couldn’t have.