Double Troubles - the reunion. Part 2
Recap or familiarize with what happened click here
Picking up a little further ahead than where it was left off; the cast of Glory Days 20 years later have come back together for a college reunion; with life experiences, maturity (we hope) and are all hoping, for the least to have a good time. Let the manic unfold.
OC Eriko Sato & Midori Katayani
Voltage Canons Yukihisa Maki, Shunichiro Tachibana, Toshiakia, Shinichi Kagari & Rikiya
The utmost confound smirk which without hesitation graces my lips I’m weary of, although for the woman that causes it, I feel that my uneasiness - for the very moment, I should without trouble be able to let slide. At least for the night. She, the temptress others are compared to, the unicorn that never seems to exist, the femme fatale I have wanted for the last how ever many years yearned to sink my teeth into, looks stunning.
Eyes soaking up the way the dress she wears clings to her every curve and outlines her silhouette exquisitely, the question which is posed at me causes the breath in my lungs to be knocked out of me temporarily – or perhaps that’s managed by her presence; and a warmth of familiarity I haven’t experienced in a long whole fills my chest. The address of my name would of had a more startling effect had Eriko not playfully poked her tongue out at me. None the less, I remember that times change and people become the combined efforts of all those they’ve ever known and sometimes traits we wish we could grow out of or leave behind don’t change. Case in point - the playful Eriko I once remembered flickering out for an appearance finally.
“Tachibana? He… well he was right beside me a minute ago”, I explain with a roll of the eyes, “Why? Would you like it if he got you a drink rather than I?”
A confident display of clicked fingers high up over the bar get the attention of a young woman who at one point in my life, unsurprisingly, would have been my taste in life. Thank god for eventually learning that sometimes things when it came to women and more specifically their bodies on display were better left to the imagination.
“So what are we having? Tastes changed? Champagne, whiskey sour, long island, tonic water? Name your poison”, I ask as I begin to notice that I’m fidgeting like a nervous child at my shirt buttons midway down my chest. Talk about tell signs that no woman in years has been graced to see or attempt to define. Looking over Eriko’s shoulder and noticing Shunichiro manage to near unsuccessfully escape a frenzy of women we once had classes with and make his way over. A shake of the head is all it seems I need to convey what I’m beginning to think.
“I’ll start with two brandy’s, on ice”, I tell the bartender, “…..and for the lady. Well she’s always been one to decide for her self.”
If it weren’t for Shinichi insisting that the college reunion being something that were near a compulsory attendancr in his own books and guide to life, I’d be still stuck in the work office, calculating grades and figuring out how to improve the overall marks for my class - students were the way of the future. The least I could do was ensure they did better and had more opportunities than myself.
Checking my watch with a flick of my wrist but not before checking the screen of my phone again and groaning to myself at the fact ‘Mr Social’s last text near an hour ago was that he’d be late, I sighed, the sound increasing to an unimpressed exhale after from the corner of my eye I noticed the woman 20 hears ago I stupidly, carelessly, once gave my heart to with a man who helped to inflict a world of pure fuck-up or at least on my behalf also on her life and scowl.
I’m aware that my bestfriend flew abroad to spend time with the girl but this ‘doctor’ still manages to rub me up the wrong way. Thoughts cut short by a whistle following a slap on the back, Shinichi’s presence is just in time to help me swing my mind away.
“….lets get inside and get this night over and done with.”
“Pina Colada, please.” Satisfied with the nod I receive from the cute bartender but not so much at the mockery smirk from Maki, “What, it’s sweet. I like it.” In spite of how often I get tease about my child like taste in alcohol, I’m never used to it. There’s enough expectation in one life time- from family (and the curse that comes with it), work and society. Being a woman maybe a lot easier in 21st century but still takes tremendous hard work just to prove to the world (and the opposite gender) that we are just as excellent and capable so my choice of drinks remain the one little exception- I don’t give a fuck what others think.
Eying up and down the doctor in a stylish, simple three piece tux and looking insanely handsome yet most women are still buzzing pathetically around Tachibana. “You look good.” I smile, as sincerely as possible but my mischievous nature is thick as blood. “No wonder people say men are like fine wine.”
Propping an elbow on the bar and resting my chin in an open palm, I take a sip of my drink and lift it in the air with a happy cheers. Grinning wildly when someone takes the bait and replies along the line of fine wine is said to only improve with age.
“Yeah, they start out as grapes, and it’s up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.“ A cheeky smile finds its way on my lips and shakes my head in amusement. It easier that way- a straight out heart to heart compliment would only lead to something else. Well, not that it has ever prevented the topic from coming up but at least keeping it light seems to be a wise move. Or is it? Was it?
If it wasn’t for the accident that interrupt our private little make out session; if I didn’t use Toshiaki to provoke him then left him hanging in a cab; taunted and ignored him time and time; if I gave in and did it- would he still see me like his goddess? Was I ever truly wise? Did I at least grow a little even in the face of these troubled middle aged fine men?
Shifting my gaze to the door every now and then before I finally see two other familiar faces, one who I got to know a lot more but eventually drifted apart while the other I could have treated better and fair if my life wasn’t such a mess yet the one man I’ve wanted to see most still hasn’t turned up. The quiet battle of waiting patiently and curious to ask Maki is beginning to show as I gulp down my drink a bit too quickly, in attempt to hide whatever this feeling is, "Can I get another one?”
Shunichiro Tachibana’s POV
The crowd has me almost forgotten my reason of attending this reunion but seeing Yuki by the bar comes in handy. “Ladies, it’s so good to see you all but allow me to grab a drink first.”
It’s a mystery how these women who have all ages 20 years on the outside still remain around the same level on the inside. “Perfect timing as always, my friend.” I snatch one glass out of his hand and rolls a nice long sip around my tongue, savouring the soft and subtle flavors.
“Eriko! Good to see you,” I take her hand and bring it to my lips, “obviously not as happy as Yuki but…..” the rest of my words hesitantly trailed off at the sight of her hand- a significant glow on her finger to be exact. Turning slightly back to my friend whom I am certain was is thrilled to see his one who got away which now I’m not too sure of.
