It had been two days since their arrival, and yet Lisa still hasn't returned as she promised. The other girls are returning to Seoul today, leaving behind the lady boss with her boyfriend to stay another two days of vacation. Ally was forced to stay with the couple.
"Let me know when you arrived," Woon Young gave the last instruction to the girls. "Dr Kang will be working tomorrow. Make sure to send those letters of instruction to Dr Kim as well."
"Don't worry. We'll do that tomorrow," Vivian, the receptionist reassuring the lady boss. "Enjoy your stay! Don't forget to tell us all about it," She winked at William. "Bye, Dr Ally. See you two next week." Vivian waved to Ally. The rest of the girls waved at them before disappearing behind the departure gate. Their constant sighing for their short vacation trip still echoes loudly while their lady boss is watching them from afar.
"Where are you going?" Woon Young asked as she was about to leave. She was aware Ally didn't bring anything with her except the worn-out canvas sling bag, the first gift given by Julian during their art school trip to Malaysia. She once had the same bag though with more characteristics compare to Ally's. Woon Young felt dispirited at the fond memory. 'What is she trying to do? Does Ally blaming me for the breakup?' Woon Young look away in despair, clenching her grip tight slightly shaken.
"I'm leaving." Ally answered without even looking at them, walking towards the opposite direction of the carpark exit.
William has been standing beside her the whole time covered his beloved's hand, startling her to loosen her grips. "I'm sorry." William pulls her into his arm, comforting her. His warm arms engulf her like a little lost chick. Woon Young felt her cheek wet with tears. William gave her light warm padding on the back. It took her the whole ten minutes to recompose herself before she can bravely move.
"Thank you." She sniffled, lightly push him away. She turned at where Ally had been before. 'She really has gone.'
Ever since Ally returned home at dawn three months ago, she was not her lifeless self anymore but rather more radiant, and happier previous person when they were still a student. Kelly and even Prof Kim were impressed by her assessment result. They were still unable to believe at her miraculous healing from depression overnight. Or somewhat after three nights. But, they did suggest that Ally is in the period of the healing phase. No more nightmares, insomnia, and her appetite are coming back. It was such a relief to know.
She wants to know more about the stranger-good Samaritan and want to thank him, but he claimed not the one. He merely being paid for the service of delivering her safely. The memory of Ally still soundly asleep continues to sleep for another three days straight had worried her to the max. She burst into tears; the minute Ally begins to move. Everyone was relieved too. Kelly was on her way with the hospital personnel to get Ally to the hospital for treatment- to wake her up. Woon Young was doubtfully undecisive either to contact Julian or not at that time. But, seeing her awake from her long slumber has brought her to tears. A relieve and happy tears.
This vacation trip was suggested by William as one of Ally's recuperate period. But watching her leaving doesn't seem right.
########
Ally left Kansai International Airport heading to Osaka where the attractions are about. Tourists were scattered everywhere as well as the sakura blossoming on every tree in Osaka create a living picture. She has never been to Osaka city before. She was excited and nervous at the same time with the idea of travel alone in Osaka for the sakura viewing. With her Chinese looks and petit slim body, she was sure to blend into the crowd effortlessly. Language has never been a problem to her; after all, she was once a member of the Foreign Languages club for five years. After two hours wandering at the famous Osaka Castle, she enters into a small coffee shop. She ordered a black hazelnut coffee. She moved to the highchair with a full window overlooking the historical Osaka Castle while watching people going around getting in and out from the castle. Not far from the castle, there was an open field and children were gathering there by their school teachers. It was spring break after all.
Ally saw some inspirations coming through, quickly pulled out her drawing materials from her saddlebag and started to draw it out before it disappears.
######
"I heard Kuni has just returned. Why hasn't he here yet? Do we need to go and fetch him?" Shuusei cracked up the questions while playing the pool game with the rest of the guys.
"Don't worry. He's already here. Kakeru asked him to meet with the client on his behave," Yamato explained while watching a basketball tournament on TV with Takashi. "Besides, Kakeru wants to see him. To talk about work."
"Did you guys heard about Kakeru's recent woman?" Daisuke asked with excitement to know the news earlier.
"Aye. I know. What about her?" Shuusei nonchalantly answered.
"Really? What a bump! That can't be real. The redhead woman?" Daisuke was unsatisfied with Shuusei answer. Shuusei nodded. "Don't tell me your informer is Marie?" Shuusei nodded for the second time, and his shot hit another hole. "F****."
#######
Kunihiko had been sitting on coffeeshop second floor for a while now. Kakeru just left after he reviewed the reports that he submitted to Kakeru a few days ago. His nephew didn't come today, which confirmed the rumour about the presence of the redhead woman as Kakeru's newest woman. But with his nephew's cold behaviour towards all his father's women so far, no women were lucky enough to see the kid. Kakeru always busy with work and travels for business trips. It's only right for him to cling onto his father whenever he returns to Osaka. But, today his nephew is not with his father only means that that redhead has gained the kid's trust.
The noises from the park not far from the coffeeshop halt him from his work which one of his best interest besides the real work with Kakeru. One more step, submitting photos to Jeremy Kang, one of his club friend he met at the university, then he'll be done.
A group of playschool children gathered around on a bench, laughing and chatting loudly. Something in the centre of the group moves, and he curiously wonders what was it. Times past and the crowd slowly disperse, revealing a person. No. A woman. A woman so engrossingly on something not aware of her surrounding. Looks like the weather outside much colder than he expected to watch at the steam coming out from her breathing. This spring quite cold than the last spring. Or, when was the last spring he went back to Osaka? The woman's back was all he can see. But, her posture looks like she was doing something that excites the children to gather.
"Boss, that woman seemed so familiar," The voice of his assistant snapped the idea of being alone after Kakeru left. "It looks like Tanaka san's wo..."
"Ain't you supposed to leave like half an hour ago?" Kunihiko ignores his assistant and gets back with his photos editing & compiling works. On top of the tiny table, only his laptop and camera. He needs to finish up soon before heading to the clubhouse with the rest of the guys waiting for the spring national basketball tournament. 'Henri's woman? Why should I care?' He shook his head, shaking the idea of anticipating who his newest woman is.
"I come back to tell you about the meeting with Kakeru san client has just been cancelled." The assistant said, waiting for his boss's reaction but none. "Alright, I'll get going then. See you when you get back to Seoul, boss." No response. His assistant left in confuse, looking at the woman sitting on the stone bench. "Hmmm, I am sure that woman, kind of the same woman as Tanaka's woman."
Kunihiko heaved a relieving sigh at the final submission. Jeremy shouldn't be bothering him with his spring break with the guys for a week. Kunihiko gathered his camera and laptop and slipped it in all into the sling bag and leave the coffee shop.
The weather of the spring was cold and windy, but it doesn't hinder the tourists to enjoy the outdoor view of the sakura blossoms. The woman on the bench has already gone. Maybe his assistant has been mistaken Henri's woman with this woman. The last woman he saw was skinny and thin with visible bony below the skin. The woman just now is more robust and chubby, although similarly petit.
The sun is still shining yet not strong enough to give a sunburn. Kunihiko decided to visit a 'friend' in Nara by train. After 48 minutes, he arrived at the temple in Nara and tourists were crowding the temple ground as he passed through a small pathway to the back of the temple to a special place in his heart. A resting place. He stopped in front of the tomb. 'Here lay Rest In Peace - KUNIHIKO YAMAKUCHI
"I'm back, brother."