The Swirl

Ep. 17

"You did what?!" Oratile yelled. He stared incredulously at his sister as she packed her bags.

"It's just for the weekend. I'll be on a flight back on sunday. Why are you being so difficult about this?" Mabea threw in a pair of heels into her overnight bag.

"You're going to a whole other continent with a guy that you have barely known for long enough and a country whose language you don't speak! What if he turns around overnight and becomes someone else? You don't know that country, you don't know anyone there and you'll be completely helpless without him!"

Mabea zipped up her bag and looked at him. "I trust Hiroto, OK? Even if he does all that to me, I took some of my savings and went the extra mile of converting them to Yen. I'll have google and that money to back me up if things don't go according to plan. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Oratile shook his head. "I'm gonna tell mama if you go," he mumbled.

"You wouldn't dare!" Mabea gasped. "You wouldn't dare tell Mama."

"If this was about work, that would be great but you're going to Japan for a man whose family doesn't even like you. If they had the guts to treat you the way they did in your home country, imagine what they will do in their own home country. Don't go. And it hasn't been that long since you and Hiroto got back together."

"I'll give you 120 for the weekend if you keep your mouth shut. And you're having the house to yourself. For a whole freaking weekend."

"150."

"130."

"Am I the one that's going on a trip or not? 150 or nothing."

Mabea clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I'll send it via mobile banking. Don't you trash this house when I'm gone. If I come back and you've turned it upside down, I'm whooping your ass and I don't care that you're 18 now. I'm not kidding."

"If only people knew how much you abuse me. Mxm. They think we are the perfect siblings."

Mabea shook her head and sucked her teeth. She made sure that she was looking good and fresh because she was going to be on a long flight. No wig or makeup. Just gloss, eyeliner and a cap over her braided hair. She would be meeting Hiroto at the airport just before their flight.

He looked as yummy as ever when he stepped out of the car that was dropping him. A beard really worked for him because Mabea had become obsessed with it. It was a little course but not as course as those of her exes. He always kept it trimmed and when he kissed her, it tickled a little. Now looking at him looking like a cover page model in his semi casual attire, Mabea felt under dressed in his T-shirt and sweatpants that she had 'borrowed' a couple of months ago.

He grinned at her, grabbing her hand in the crowded airport and pecking her lips slightly. Mabea felt a little embarrassed with this public display of affection and she smiled at the floor. People just stared at them as they walked hand in hand to board their flight.

...

Hiroto tapped her on the shoulder and she stirred awake, her eyes barely cracking open. He grinned at her.

"We've landed."

She stretched and looked out the window only to realise that they had landed at the Kansai International Airport. Hiroto had informed her that that was what it was called and as they walked towards who Mabea assumed was their driver, he told her all about the airport.

The driver greeted them politely in English and took their bags into the boot of the car as they let themselves in. Hiroto kept her entertained all the way to his residence in one of the wealthiest areas she had ever seen.