My Soul Will Find Yours : The Fulfillment of the Promise

Grey

The man's tall figure froze when our eyes met. His initial surprise turned into a look of extreme pleasure when he recovered. He was wearing a grey tank top and a matching pair of ¾ running pants that exposed his toned calves. Grey seemed to be his workout theme as his shoes as well as the wireless earbuds he had on were of the same color.

"Hi, Hinata," he said, the slight curve on his lips reaching his eyes. "I didn't know you lived here."

"H-how..?" I stammered.

"Hina, where are you?" I heard mum call out. "Come to the kitchen, there's someone I want you to meet."

"C-coming!" I replied although I was extremely reluctant to leave the man alone. When he gestured for me to go and that he'll follow, only then did my legs move.

"She's finally here," mum smiled at her friend before beckoning me to stand beside her. "Susan, this is my pride and joy, my daughter, Hinata."

"Oh, she's indeed beautiful! She looks just like you!" exclaimed the woman named Susan while looking at me up and down. "She reminds me of your teenage self, Gloria!"

Mum blushed and made an oh-you hand gesture. "Hina, this is your aunt Susan. She's one of my high school best friends."

"Hello, aunt Susan," I gave her a polite smile before taking her right hand and lightly pressing it against my forehead[1].

"And the handsome man you met just now is her son Brandon," mum continued with the introductions.

"We've met before, aunt Gloria," Brandon said, happiness was very apparent on his face.

"You have?" mum asked before turning to me with a questioning look.

Brandon's mother Susan also did not expect his son's reply and was looking at him with a confused look. Before I could open my mouth to explain, he told them the whole story.

"We were seatmates in a flight back to Manila from Japan. Last night, I saw her at B&M International's annual thanksgiving party in Raffles."

"Oh," mum said. "That's unexpected but very good to know. There's no need for introductions then."

"Indeed," Susan giggled. "Gloria, didn't you say your daughter is still single? My Brandon is single as well!"

"He is?" my mother's eyes were like saucers, but then she remembered something and her face sank a little. "Unfortunately, she's in a relationship. She's started dating her long-time friend Charles recently. Right, anak?"

My face turned crimson at her words. "Mum, I'm not. I told you we're just friends."

"But the scene—"

I sighed in relief when she stopped herself on time.

"Oh. Oh, I see," she said instead, making the eyes of the mother and son duo in front of me sparkle.

"My Brandon is the Chief Creative Officer of Peak Media. As far as I know, he's been single for two years now," Susan said as she affectionately held her son's arm.

"Ma!" Brandon cried out, sounding a bit embarrassed at her declaration.

"What? I'm just telling the truth! Beautiful Hinata is also single but she's not being shy about it," she looked at her son with teasing eyes.

Mum laughed. "Oh, Susan! You haven't changed at all!"

The kettle on the stove started to whistle. Mum got up from her chair and started preparing some tea. Seeing this as my chance to excuse myself, I got some cups from the cupboard before announcing that I'll just go upstairs to freshen up a bit. As I left the kitchen, I could feel Brandon's eyes boring through my back as they followed me out of the room.

~~~

When I returned downstairs, mum and our guests were having midday snacks in the living room while Bobby Flay was making a cocktail on the television.

Dressed in a pair of white cotton shorts, a floral blouse, and my bunny slippers, I took the near empty glass tea pot to refill it.

"My Hina makes the best tea," mum boasted slightly. "You took a tea-making course while you were in Kyoto, right, dear?"

Cringing internally because I had to lie, I nodded. It was the only excuse I could think of without having to reveal the almost five years I spent making it for and drinking it with Kaname.

"Tea is my favorite drink and so is Brandon's," Susan said, obviously trying her best to pair me up with her son. "We lived in the UK for seven years and have adopted the Brits' love for tea."

That explained his accent whenever he spoke English then, I thought to myself. "I'll make you guys a fresh pot of green tea," I said.

"Brandon will help you," mum announced.

I had no choice but to hand over the tray with the tea pot and used plates to Brandon. Together, we went to the kitchen to make the drink.

I was never one to talk much so I didn't think it was wrong of me to not say anything else aside from the instructions on how to make the tea I was making.

"Judging from the smile on your lips, you must really love tea," Brandon spoke.

I nodded. "I have very fond memories of making it when I was in Japan."

"Do you visit the country often?" he asked while we waited for the leaves to brew.

"This year was my first time but it surely won't be my last," I answered, deciding right then and there that I'd work hard to be able to visit the country twice a year starting next year.

"I can't blame you. It's a beautiful country," Brandon said as he watched me pour the sencha[2] in the cups with care.

"I love Japan, it has a very soft spot in my heart. If given the chance, I'd love to move there," I said.

When the last drop of tea was poured, I placed the used loose leaves in a ceramic tea infuser to reuse later. I then took a pack of shoyu senbei from the snacks cabinet to go with the tea. I was about to carry the tray when Brandon reached out for it at the same time. When our skins touched, I felt some tingling sensation.

Looking up, I searched his face for some sign that he felt it too but he just smiled at me and said, "Let me."

Still a bit flustered, I followed him out of the kitchen. His broad and bronze back made a striking contrast with his grey tank top. Like last night, his hair was tied in a messy bun. It must have been too hot for him in the kitchen because a trickle of sweat ran down his nape. The sight of his perspiration made me subconsciously fan myself.

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[1] In the Philippines, we call this pagmamano. It is considered as a way of respectfully greeting the elderly.
[2] Sencha is a type of Japanese ryokucha which is prepared by infusing the processed whole tea leaves in hot water. It's one of my personal favorites! ♡