Flowershop

Chapter Sixteen

Kiku sighed and shut the door, leaning on it. The apartment was awfully lonely and quiet without it's cheery American. He reached in his pocket, ready to talk to Alfred. He jumped slightly with surprise as his phone started buzzing rapidly. He actually bothered to look at the caller ID this time, seeing it was Yao. Actually not sighing this time around, he put the phone up to his ear, ready to talk.
"Hello?"
"Is this Kiku? Hello. How are you? Is anything interesting happening right now?" He asked, sounding expectant. "Uh, not at the moment, no, I'm well, and you?" He answered, a cautious edge to his tone. Yao sounded more interrogative than usual lately. "I'm fine, fine. How has your job been going? Are you eating well?" He asked, ending the sentence sternly. "Ah, I'm eating fine ma, I'm eating fine. My job is going rather well, although there is a new competitor who just opened down the street," He replied, regretting it immediately. He didn't want to get a whole lecture about this right now.

He quickly changed the subject. "So, how have you been? How is everyone?" He asked, hoping Yao would just forget about what he said earlier. "Hmm? Oh, they're doing fine, I guess. Ivan got a raise, Leon hasn't gotten in trouble lately, Yong-Soo managed to get into the AB honor roll, and your sisters are starting to look for colleges. Nirand is thinking about moving to England," he said in a finishing tone, a hint of sadness playing at his voice. Kiku almost felt bad for him; All his kids were growing up fast, and then it would just be Leon and Yong-Soo with him. Yong Soo, in the honor roll? That was surprising. He is one year older than Leon, though they're in the same year. Yao held him back, his reasoning being he messed around too much and he would get better grades. It was eighth grade that happened. And of course Ivan. He got a raise. How exciting.

It wasn't that Kiku didn't like Ivan of course, he just didn't exactly trust him. When he was a child he didn't trust or like him, but he grew up. Ivan was nothing but kind to their family, so Kiku saw no reason to hold this ridiculous grudge. He just wouldn't ever be caught calling him "Dad." Everyone else in their family had no problem calling him their father, but it just didn't seem right to Kiku. He was just being ridiculous of course, deep down he knew that. It's just, if he can call Yao, someone he has no blood relations to, Mom, what made Ivan any different?

"Oh, that's good. How have your patients been holding up?" He asked, curious. Yao was a caregiver; he had to work with sick and old people all the time, and sometimes had to spend the night somewhere, leaving him and his siblings with Ivan. When Ivan wasn't around, Kiku had to look after them, and it was hell usually. No one but Lien and Nirand would really listen to him, and the whole apartment was thrown into pandemonium.

"Oh, and before I go, we're planning on coming over there for Leon's graduation. You are not to tell him you know," he said, becoming protective of his youngest child. Kiku felt a jolt go through his body, not knowing what to say. "O-Oh, really? He can finally meet that one boy he's been friends with for years," he answered shakily. How could he forget Leon was going to graduate? It's almost June already.... "Oh," Yao said, voice hard. He was probably remembering that silly alcohol incident years ago. "You're right, he can," he said, Kiku hearing him sigh. He heard his stupid brothers making a racket off in the background.

Finally getting off the phone with Yao, he ran a hand through his hair, wanting to go to sleep. He grimaced as he remembered he was supposed to call Alfred... Oh well. He dialed Alfred's number in, hoping he hadn't thought he was dead or something. "Hello? Kiku? Oh, thank god, I thought you were dead!" He exclaimed, proving Kiku's theory. "Why didn't you call right away anyway?" He asked, exasperated.

"Haha, sorry... I had to talk to my ma really quick," he said. "Oh, Kiku, I'll pick you up tomorrow, so we can be at my house early for Mattie," He said, sounding excited. Kiku smiled, wanting to meet the boy he'd heard so much about. "Okay, and Alfred, make sure you're on time," he said in a warning tone, smiling to himself. "I-I will be, I promise," he said, setting an alarm. This was something he could not be tardy for.