When Xiao Ping and Yu Jin step their feet on the sparkling floor of Maple Hotel, frenzied atmosphere welcomes them. "How crowded," Yu Jin hisses with a round eyes to his surprise. His hand reflexively grabs Xiao Ping's hand, worry that she may separate from him.
"That's Xiao Fei," Xiao Ping says while pointing to a crowd of girls. Yu Jin tries to find the girl Xiao Ping meant, but fails. "I'm going there for a minute, Yu Jin. I want to know the latest news," she then says.
Yu Jin in doubt for a second, but finally nods. "Okay. I'm going to ask the hotel's employee," he then decides. "But you, don't go anywhere else. Stay there. I will meet you there," Yu Jin asks. Xiao Ping nods to agree.
Yu Jin is still watching Xiao Ping's back for a few seconds. After that, he takes off his jacket so now only a grey full sleeves shirt on his upper body. He then walks toward the receptionist desk. A young man, maybe only two years older than him greets him with a warm smile. "What can I help you ?" the employee asks. "Can I have the room price list ?" Yu Jin asks. "Sure," the employee then disappears behind the desk to take a brochure.
Yu Jin wanders his sight again. "It's so crowded today," he says as a complaint when the employee straights back his body. "There are Japanese idols stay here. These girls await for their idols to come out," the employee explains.
Yu Jin snorts. "They seem to have nothing better to do," he pouts. The employee nods and smiles to agree. "True. The possibility to meet is also even very small. Not only they have a super tight guards, they also use secret passages," the employee responds. Eventually he likes to chat since without being asked he continues, "Just like now. The girls are crowding there to wait their idols to come for dinner at the restaurant. They don't know that actually their idols are already inside the restaurant. What did they think? There is no way we take the idols through an open space like that."
Yu Jin responds to his explanation with a small nod. He then takes the brochure. "May I take this ?" he asks. The employee nods. After saying thank you, Yu Jin leaves the employee. In a little hurry, he searches for gaps between the fans crowd to approach Xiao Ping that is waiting for him in front of the restaurant door.
"Turns out Takeshi is going to have dinner here. A business man invites them to have dinner at the private room of this restaurant," Xiao Ping reports enthusiastically.
"Is. Is having dinner," Yu Jin corrects her, "I just got an information from hotel's employee, they are already inside the restaurant."
Xiao Ping's eyes widens for a moment then drastically turns to be gloom. "So, he is already inside. That means he didn't pass through here," she says lethargic. Yu Jin only gives her a thin smile. Xiao Ping sighs in regret. "What should we do now ?" she asks rhetorically. "Eat," Yu Jin answers. Xiao Ping looks at him with fused eyebrows. "Eat ?" Yu Jin nods. "I'm hungry.."
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Sitting with hands are tucked under her thighs, Xiao Ping moves her feet back and forth under the round table covers with beautiful tablecloth. Without hiding her admiration, Xiao Ping circling the room that as big as her school's hall with her sight. That room is really beautiful, like rooms of the palace of the Ming dynasty she often saw on history book. Everything looks expensive and luxurious. Including the dishes' prices. Not every person afford or want to eat at this kind of restaurant. Beside her table, there are only two more tables than occupied. One is by some girls and other by two men with formal suits.
At first Xiao Ping declined when Yu Jin took her to the restaurant, but Yu Jin insisted. Xiao Ping was almost choked to see the prices list on the menu. They were five times from normal price. She didn't dare to order anything. Finally Yu Jin ordered for both of them.
"Here, taste it," Yu Jin who is sitting in front of her says while handing her a plate with steak that the meat has been cut into small-bite pieces. Xiao Ping awkwardly accepts the plate. This is the second times Yu Jin serves her like that. Yu Jin takes another plate in front of Xiao Ping that also has steak on it., then cuts a small piece and eat it. To see Yu Jin's normal reaction, Xiao Ping decides not to mutter her awkwardness and starts to eat the meat. It is really tender and delicious.
"I have analyzed," Yu Jin speaks to halt Xiao Ping devours her next piece of meat. "The waiters took the dishes in to the private room from the door behind me. It means, it is the only door of the private room," Yu Jin explains. Xiao Ping chews the meat inside of her mouth in slow motion. In other word, sooner or later Takeshi will comes out from that door, she says inwardly. Just like that, she feels her body temperature drops few degree. Then.. what should I do ? How to greet him ? Hi, Takeshi, I'm Xiao Ping ? Hello, darling ?? eeuh... Xiao Ping's body shudders in amused to imagine she calls Takeshi 'darling'.
"Nervous ?" Yu Jin asks, forcing her to come out of her daze. Xiao Ping looks at him. She shakes her head once then nods. "A little," she admits. Yu Jin smiles to calm her. If only the table is not this big, Yu Jin wants to reach Xiao Ping's hand and gently squeezes it. Like being commanded, both simultaneously drops their faces and continue eat their dinner in silent for some times.
"When is your graduation ?" Xiao Ping asks, trying to distract her thought. "Next semester," Yu Jin answers. "Will your parents come ?" Xiao Ping asks. "Hmm.. I guess so. At least, my mom definitely will. If his project is finished, my dad will also ..." Yu Jin doesn't continue his words to realize Xiao Ping's attention is no longer at him, but to something behind him. Yu Jin turns his head around. The door behind him is opened a bit.
Xiao Ping's heart is beating so fast as the door is opened wider. A bulky tall man comes out followed by a similar figure man that is speaking on a walkie-talkie on his hand. The third man is short and chubby with a cartoonish face. Behind him is a familiar face, Ichiba Sato.
Xiao Ping barely able to breathe out of nervous. Then.. he shows up. Takeshi Hasegawa. With a white and blue stripped T-shirt, his full-sleeves are puled up to his elbows, a black jeans, and a shade, Takeshi walks across, so close to where Xiao Ping is. They are only separated by an empty table. Xiao Ping stands, still with a napkin on her grab. She puts all of her energy to make a sound that suddenly disappears.
"Ta... Takeshi-kun!" she weakly calls. Takeshi can't hear it. "Takeshi-kun !" she calls stronger. This time it is heard by Takeshi, because he stops and turns to her. Xiao Ping raises a smile then walks toward him. Her body feels so weightless and her feet seems floating. But the girls that were on one of the table are faster than her. They run as if trying to break through the line while screaming on Takeshi's name. Their screams are loud enough to be heard from outside and become a signal for the fans out there that actually can not see Takeshi to hysterically screams. Some are trying to break in, but are prevented by the hotel's employees. It becomes chaotic.
"急いで (Isoide-Hurry), Takeshi !" The chubby Japanese man that walked before Takeshi comes close to the idol and reaches out to him to persuade him to walk faster. Seeing Takeshi moves away, Xiao Ping becomes panic. "Takeshi-kun !!" she shouts louder while her steps are faster. Two men walk behind Takeshi suddenly turn their bodies, to block his fans's steps, including Xiao Ping.
"Takeshi-kun! 私はしあわせ!! (Watashi wa Shiawase!!-I'm Shiawase!!)" Xiao Ping shouts right in front of the two bodyguards. Takeshi stops his step and moves as if he's about to turn around. Xiao Ping feels her heart is about to pop out. He recognizes me! She exclaims in her heart. When Xiao Ping really thinks Takeshi will turn around and smile at her, her idol is continuing his steps and disappears behind the kitchen's door.