"Nii-chan! Somebody booked you for an entire three months. You're so popular even with tourists. Maybe I should try it as well. My english is good. And I'm even more handsome than you are. I might just replace you as number one."
Ren rapt a fist at his brother's head. This kid and his antics. He took the laptop and checked his profile which his brother Jin was referring to. He was right. Someone did book him for three months and has paid for it already. The contact details of the client were recently sent to his mail.
Seems like he'll be busy in the coming days. Hopefully, his client would be gracious enough not to ask him for his company every single day. His other part-time jobs might be compromised.
"Ren Nii-chan, why do even work so hard? You already have multiple part-time jobs. Aside from the fact that you even ask me and your friends to pay for every single favor from you. Which is actually another form of extortion, by the way. Tsk. Tsk. That travel guide gig of yours already pays you handsomely. What do you need the money for?"
Jin whined to him. He chuckled lowly and flicked his forehead.
"A kid like you will never get it. Go to your room and do your homework. Don't idle around in mine."
He lectured him. Jin stomped out of his room murmuring injustice at being kicked out. Ren just shook his head at his brother's liveliness.
He gave a thought to his question. What does he need the money for? Ren sighed audibly.
Freedom. He needed it for his freedom. Ren's dream was to be a novelist, an author. But his parents, especially his father was strongly against it.
Ren couldn't blame him. After all, he was the top student of the law department of Tokyo University. His lawyer of a father was quite proud of him for this. He was following in his footsteps and was even more outstanding, after all. But then out of the blue, he shocked him and his mother when he abruptly decided to stop after his junior year and proclaimed he'll pursue being an author. His father almost beat him up for that.
However, Inoue Ryuu couldn't change his mind no matter what way he tried. In the end, he just ignored Ren altogether. He knew he couldn't rely on them anymore than he does now. So he took up multiple jobs. He worked at a convenience store, waited at a coffee shop, serviced at a gas station, helped at a house-cleaning service and was even a travel guide on most days.
His motto was "every minute is a cent and every cent is money counted." He planned to make enough for him to be able to leave the country and be on his own to pursue his dream. And also to leave some for his brother and mother.
Ren knew he didn't need to do that since they were well-off compared to other people. His father was good provider. Frankly, his family could get by even better without him. But he still felt like he owed it to his mother and brother. If he left, his mother would lose a son, and his brother would lack brotherly guidance. As for his father, Ren knew he wouldn't care about him unless he goes back, finish his degree in law, and take the exam.
He would have done that eventually. Law also held a special place in his heart. However, he wanted to pursue his dream first. Ren couldn't comprehend why his father refused to understand him.
He shook his head and dispeled these unnecessary thoughts. Instead, Ren saved the number flashing into his laptop screen and sent it a message.
[Good evening! This is Ren Inoue. Your travel guide and companion for three months. May I ask when and where will we meet? It would be good if we could discuss the things you want to do here in Japan.]
---
Yona just finished a hot shower to rid herself of the tipsiness when a message suddenly popped up into her phone. She took a look at it and smirked lightly. That was fast.
The number one guy on the app has already messaged her. He introduced himself and asked about the setting of their meeting. Yona hummed in approval. She thought she'll be waiting until tomorrow to hear from him. Fortunately not.
She tapped in the message and swiftly typed a reply.
[Yona Worth. I'll see you tomorrow at 9 am sharp then. Fetch me at the New Otani Garden Court. Main building. The concierge will direct you to my floor.]
After sending her reply, she immediately threw open the closet and ruffled through the clothes she just unpacked and organized.
Yona took out a distressed denim skirt with a slit running up to half her thigh and a white silk top. She squinted at this and then took out another pair of clothes. This time it was a crisp tan pants and a cream colored polo. Yona tapped her finger at her chin contemplating on what to choose between the two.
In the end she couldn't decide between the two. So she decided to leave it be and rest for the night. Unaware that her actions were quite unusual since she has never contemplated on what to wear. Yona was the type to put on the first piece of cloth she pulls out of her closet.
And she was even more unaware that her life is about to flip starting the very next day.