Two months have gone by in a blink of an eye since the day that Kasey transferred to a new school. In her first week, she was able to meet her grandparents from her mother's side mostly during the weekend she and her grandfather would stay and spend the weekend with them.
But for this weekend she chooses to stay at their house to study for the upcoming midterm exam. After she ate her breakfast and cleaning her room -even though they have enough maids to clean her room- she began reviewing all of her notes.
For Kasey she needs to maintain her grades or even surpass them because she doesn't want to disappoint her dad and grandparents, most of all she want to surpass her brother's achievement when he was in high school but, despite her efforts, she can't still surpass him because for her he was a genius, her hero.
She was focused on her studies that she didn't notice how much time has gone by, she didn't even notice her hunger, not until someone knocks on her door.
"Miss Kasey someone was calling you on your phone. " one of their maids informed her as it gave her mobile phone. "You left it at the dining table this morning."
"Thank you," she said with a smile as she gets her phone.
"Hai, Kasey Okamoto-desu." she answered in Nihongo as soon as she taps the answer button.
[Translation: Yes, it's Kasey Okamoto.]
"Huh?!" the person on the other line was puzzled by what she has said.
"Kasey what did you say?" the person from the other line asked.
"I'm sorry Cherry, I thought that you're my brother." Kasey immediately apologized when she realized who was the owner of that voice.
"It's alright. Uhm… Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
"Tomorrow?" she repeated as she took a short glance at her study table full of books and study material.
"I just want to invite you, let's hang out. The three of us, you, I, and Denise."
"Okay." she immediately answers.
"It's a promise, okay?!" Cherry shrieks in joy. "Let's meet tomorrow at ten in the morning. I'll just send to you the address," she added cheerfully before she ends the call, not even letting Kasey answer her.
"It seems that you've got a few friends already." her grandfather commented.
Her grandfather was standing in front of her room with a smile on his face.
"Opo." she answered in a low tone.
She was aware and she knew what does her grandfather pointing out in his statement, but, she doesn't want to talk about it right now, she's not ready yet.
"Oho~ you're frowning again, don't mind it okay? It's already in the past."
"But -"
"Ah!" her grandfather cut her off. "I almost forgot. There is someone whom I want you to meet."
"Who?"
"You will meet him soon." the old man answered with a mischievous smile on his face that made her confused.
Him? the person he wants me to meet was a man? A boy?
But why? Lolo knew my condition. So, why?
Lolo already knew that going to a co-ed school was already too much for me. Attending class and sitting beside a boy was too much exhausting for me, both mentally and physically. That every day whenever I was on my way to school I was always busy grabbing and finding my courage to stay and sit beside a boy for the whole day.
"He was the same age as you, thus, I hope that you will be friends with him," he added. "I need to go now my dear, I still have a meeting to attend." and then the old man left after he pats his granddaughter's head.
The next day, Kasey meets with Denise and Cherry as they have agreed. They met at the nearest mall in the city. They eat, shop, chat and play all day long, which she never thought that she would end up shopping too just like Cherry who was busy picking few dresses for herself and for Denise.
And while they are on their way towards the parking area outside the mall they decided to stop for a while to rest at one of the benches out there.
My feet hurt so much, especially my sole. I think I already have blisters.
A faint smile escapes from Kasey's lips as she took a quick glance at Denise and Cherry who were busy massaging their feet because just like her, their feet were also in pain.
Kasey felt happy and at ease with Denise and Cherry. Just being with them keeps her at ease as she got to know them more.
"Do you mean your brother was also a model, singer, dancer, actor and now he is managing the restaurants of your family in Japan even though he has a very busy schedule?" Cherry said in loud voice, confirming if she heard it right. If she heard everything that Kasey said correctly. "Wow! You're really different from us," she added as she continues massaging her feet.
Denise immediately slaps Cherry's lap as she hissed at her. "Can you lower your voice? Look, everyone was looking at us now."
Cheery just pout her lips.
"Isn't it difficult for your brother? he was busy working in front of the cameras and then he also needs to manage your family business." it was Denise who asks this time.
"Yeah, it might be difficult for him but, my brother was not the only one managing our family business in Japan, my uncle they were helping him since that was our family business," Kasey answered as the face of his brother smiling at her clearly appeared in her mind.
"If your brother was a model, then, are you a model also?" Cherry asked curiously.
For a second Kasey becomes hesitant to answer the question.
How did our conversation a while ago turn into a question and answer about my life?
"I used to be, but I already stopped being a model. I quit modeling already," she answered hesitantly.
"Why?"
It looks like Cherry has a lot of questions for me today, it was like I was in front of a host or reporter interviewing me about my life.
"Something came up," she answered almost a whisper.
Something that became my nightmare, and is still hunting me.
"That's enough Cherry," Denise said just before Cherry could open her mouth to ask another question.
Kasey silently thanked Denise as she felt relieved.
"Okay." Cherry surrendered. "Let's go, it's getting dark now, let's go home," she added as she stood up.
"Uhmm... Kasey, I just want to ask this earlier, I just want to ask why you and your grandfather choose to stay here when your family was in Japan?" Denise asks cautiously.
"Because it is my grandfather's decision, besides my mother's parents, my grandparents were also here. Aside from that, another branch of our business was about to open here that's why lolo choose to stay here to manage it and make it grow just like our other branches in the US and Japan." Kasey answered without having any second thoughts.
I can't tell them now the other real reason why I'm here with my grandfather.
For the past two months, today was the only day where they were able to talk and get to know each other more.
When Kasey got home her she immediately took a shower before going to bed without saying good night to her grandfather since her grandfather was still not at home.
* * *
"Let go of me! let go of me!" Kasey shouted while crying.
"Shhh… Stop crying Kasey, we're going to live together from now on, you are mine right!, you're mine, you are the only one for me, so stop crying okay? Kasey, you are mine and no one can get you away from me." the strange and unfamiliar man whispered to her ear while he was combing her hair.
Kasey can't move, she cants scream either. She was scared, but, there's nothing she could do aside from crying, crying, and praying for her safety as the man beside her was slowly moving his hands through her body with a lustful and perverted look in his eyes.
"Let go of me! Get off me! Let me go!" Kasey shouted with all her might as she stretched her hands out.
"Kasey, Kasey!" her grandfather shouted in fear as he shook Kasey's trembling body lightly to wake her up.
"Lolo?" she murmured as she stares blankly at the old man.
"My dear, you are having a nightmare, again."
"Lolo!" Kasey cried as she hugged him tightly.
Her grandfather gently rubs her back to calm her down.
"Don't cry my dear, you're handsome lolo is here."
"Thank you lolo." she whispered in between her sobs.
"It was just a dream you don't need to be afraid of."
"I think we should have our breakfast first since it was already morning and you still have your class today, right?"
Kasey didn't utter a single word to answer. She remained silent as she tried her best to calm herself.
"You need to get up now my dear. Go and take a shower now, you're sweaty. I'll just wait for you at the dining table downstairs, I will also send you to school today, is that alright?" her grandfather instructed her as he stood up and pat her shoulders.
It was just a dream.
Kasey chooses to take a cold shower to wake herself completely. After preparing and after she kept on telling herself that it was just a dream and nothing will happen to her, she finally got down to join her grandfather for breakfast.
"Lolo, did onii-san called you?"
"He didn't yet, maybe he was too busy right now."
"Is that so," Kasey whispered to herself in disappointment.
"Oho~ you're already turning eighteen this year and you are still a messy eater, look there still some milk on your lips."
"Gomennasai." she apologized as she wiped her lips.
After having breakfast with her grandfather her grandfather then sent her to school before he headed to visit the site where their new business is being built.
[Onii-san/Nii-san: means older brother; Gomennasai- means sorry.]