I put our luggage down on cemented paveway near the gate of the old traditional Japanese house from the 1700s. The old couple came by car.
There right above me was the engraved name of "Tanaka Residence" with a few surveillance cameras on the side and a door bell. My eyes fell back to the suitcases that were too heavy for the elderly to carry while Mom was... busy.
"Oh my, Yui-chan, you've grown thin. Have you eaten yet?" the sweet voice of a mother worried for her child.
"No, not yet, Mama... Keiko-chan and I were too busy coming here that we..." a flustered child with an unreasonable state of mind. First time I saw Mom in such a way.
"You skipped meals? Ayyah, you are the same as always, Yui." and the old man's voice was humble yet strict. What was it that he said to me earlier?
"Don't get too comfortable, child. You are not welcome here," said it with such piercing eyes and admirable anger... if it weren't directed at me that is.
I stood there watching the three interact like a happy family (without me in the scene), while I'm left out like a servant. Actually, the family looked about as rich enough to have servants. My thoughts lingered and so did my eyes.
There were huge trees surrounding the traditional house, giving it a refreshing breath of wind passing through, but it was near autumn. It's as cold as winter here. "Brr..." I shivered.
"Ah! Keiko-chan, hurry up, your grandmama has prepare soup and porridge for us!" as if returning back to reality, Mom called out for her ill-awaited daughter. It was cold enough already without the icy stares of the old couple.
"Huu..." I breathed, "Cold..." I should've worn a jacket before coming here...
When I started moving the luggage by wheel, I noticed that the pavements were a wack, they were spread around like stepping stones but cemented all the way through to the front door. Though the scenery was beautiful. The flowers underneath numbers of trees were breathtaking. It was refreshing compared to the tall buildings around that hotel.
"Hey... you okay, hun?" a kindly lady approached, "Let me help you." I couldn't respond. I mean, how can you if you don't know how to speak their language?
The first thing I noticed about her was that she was about the same age as Mom, her dress was like a kimono, same as the elderly couple. And then there was that smile after taking the backpack on my back. "Oof, they're pretty heavy." she commented as she took more luggage and started walking again. "What did you put in these?"
"Ah.. um..." I looked down, ashamed for some reason. Suddenly, my curly orange hair looked interesting.
"Oh, I'm sorry... do you not know how to talk?" I could only nod in response. "But you understand me. So, there's still a chance you can learn Japanese," she grinned. Again with learning... it frustrated me to think about it. Then again, I showed too much of myself to this lady that she understood. "Ahahaha, do you hate academics that much?" her giggle surprised me. What was so funny?
"Hahah, how cute." she covered her mouth and smiled with her eyes. "You're just like my son, he too doesn't like studying. Haha," I stared at her amusement, still confused. I didn't notice before, her forest green hair was tied up in a bun with a stick putting it in place, and her eyes had gentle golden eyes. She was beautiful...
"Keiko!!" Mom called again. Our walk felt like a whole mountain hike.
"Ah!" I bowed at the kind lady, and ran towards Mom. Making sure to come back and help the lady carry our luggage inside. "Sorry, Mom, I got distracted..." I spoke.
Mom pat my head and said, "That's alright, sweetie. You're here now, aren't you?" Under her hand was the little blush I had hidden. I loved it when Mom would pat me like this. Unfortunately, it ended as quickly as she reassured. "Now come on, it's dinner time."
We were speaking in Chinese. I think that was the reason for the family dark faces before Mom turned around and called me to join them for dinner.
I sighed in exhaustion, how much more hatred is rooted in this family, I wonder. "My lady, please leave it to me to bring your luggage to your room." The kind lady from earlier said. So I was right, they did have servants. Fancy, I thought and nodded in respect to her.
The moment I sat down, they had finished praying and started eating. I followed along and got what interests me to eat. "So, Mama, where's Chiyo? I thought I'll be seeing her here by now."
"Oh my, you were so far away from us that we forgot to inform you." That felt like a direct hit to the heart. They left her out on purpose. "Chiyo is currently finishing her medical school in the US. Apparently, she got herself in Harvard University." granny's eyes were fixated on Mom's reaction, which meant that she said it to belittle Mom. Mom's reaction... it made me curious , so I turned.
She clapped, "Aha! That's our little Chiyo, I knew she could reach wonders if she does her best!"
"Ah, she applied for the collage right after we knew that you married." claimed by the old man. Mom's hands began to shake, but her smile didn't.
So this is what the Tanaka family were like. "Chiyo had gained so much fire that she left as soon as she got the acceptance letter." my aunt's "fire" was from the adrenaline she had when she found out her sister had committed something so disgusting, and created an unforgivable thing. Me.
Just listening to their cruel words... didn't affect me.
I continued to eat the delicacy of a rich family while the three conversed and I stayed put. I had been physically and mentally abused since I can remember (which is not much as recent accidents).
Meanwhile, Mom remained untouched by her parents' words. I wonder, did she married my father because she was rebellious or because she committed the act and HAD to be married. Which is which?
I slurped the noodles, unknowingly making noise when they stopped talking. Oops, disturbed... the three watched me eat. That was what made me stop and kept quiet for a while. "Haha, don't worry Keiko, everyone here is having as much of an apetite as you are. Right, Papa?"
"Eh herm! Yes, of course." With that, Mom neutralized their stares and they resumed to eat.
I couldn't help but mouth out a "thank you" to Mom as she gazed at me so proudly and happily. I love you, Mom, I'll never disrespect your choices again!
As the sun sets, and the few of the servants washed the dishes, Mom helped with the cleaning while I settled in to my very own room with an already prepared kimono of my own. The clothing was neatly folded on top of a futon [as I've known from anime]. I placed the kimono on my body to measure it up. It fits.
Suddenly, there was an abrupt bang of wood and Mom spoke, "Oh! That was my kimono when I was still here. Wow, it fits you so well." she said, immediately dropping everything she was doing and came to me like a fan. "My, my, Keiko! Come on, you HAVE to try it!"
"Wah- wait, Mom!"
"Ah hush, trust me you'll look beautiful!"
Moments later, granny opened the paper door to my room, "Yui-chan? Are you in here?"
"But Mom, it doesn't feel right..." I scratched my arm. "Also it's a little too heavy," I complained.
"Oh hush, you look great in it!"
"Yui!" granny interrupted.
"Hm? Mama, what brings you here?" there she goes again with that fake smile. Deep down, I think Mom was angry for interrupting her Mother-daughter time with me. But that was too selfish of me, I lowered my head a bit.
"Your father and I wanted to talk to you about something." she said it so stiffly that it made Mom a statue for a second. Mom had been calling the old man "papa", so it's reasonable to say that her "Mama" would also call her "papa" that. But she didn't. Must be serious.
"I'll be there, mother." yep, serious, I thought. "I'll finish up here with Keiko first," her smile went back to the way it was. Lowkey kinda creeped me out.
"Alright, be there in 10 minutes." then granny left the door opened. Seriously, that made me mad. If your gonna come in, come in and close the door. Sheesh. I kept my facial expression as stoic as I can.
"Okay, Keiko, just put insert this here, and tie it from the back." after doing while giving instructions, she finished. "There! Now, I gotta go, you behave, okay?"
I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded nonchalantly. "I'll be back as soon as possible. Bye!" she left right after. Then, the mirror of Dad suddenly flooded my mind.
I wore an orange kimono with a white lilies decorating right at the ends of the fabric, while my hair was still lighter than this orange, but... "it fits..."
"You look great, Keiko." Dad's voice. Before I knew it, I was staring at myself crying.
"Ah... then again, he wanted to wear a yukata..."