I don't normally mind the crowd but it was different that day. It was like a sea of faces moving in an unseen current, flowing like water. Occasionally, there would be people stopping which causes a small eddy but the others would flow around them and continue on their way towards an unknown destination. It was very uncomfortable.
"Umm, excuse me, sorry!" I said as i squeezed past two couples whom only have eyes for each other. Get a room... I thought as I navigated through the crowd.
The smell of sweat was suffocating, and soon, I was contributing to the stench. After a few bumps, i made it to the ticketing machine.
Okay, just get the ticket and you are out of this place..
I went to get some doughnuts since he kept on pestering me for them. He's a handful but he is my brother and I love him. Sometimes.
"The train departing to Tokyo is leaving in two minutes."
I took a minute to admire the pleasant aroma of the warm glazed doughnuts before packing them. I took a glance at my watch, 2:59PM. One more minute before the train leaves.
After grazing past many many sweaty people, I made it right on time as the train was about to close its doors. Finding a place to sit was going to be hard since the day was quite hectic for some unknown reason but I found a place to sit and relax after all the running. It was nice to take a break from the hecticness back at the station. I adjusted the air-con on top to blow directly at me in hopes of drying my sweat and thus eradicating the stench.
A message from: Eric "Hey! U on the train yet? When are u reachin?"
Eric is my brother, like i said, he's a handful. I was visiting him in Japan, our parents divorced and we got separated from each other, we still kept in touch but I missed him. That was the reason why i'm visiting him. My mum agreed to let me come here on one condition. To not let my dad know.
It was a weird request but fair enough, I wasn't here to see him anyway.
I messaged back " I just got on board so it might take a while, see you! "
I took a small nap and before I know it, i'm at Tokyo, the capital of fashion! I was quite excited to meet my brother but scared to see how much he changed. The last time i saw him was 9 years ago when he was still a little kid. Who knows how much he changed...
I looked around the station to see that there were several exits, each exits were labelled with Japanese characters.
"Umm, which exit are you at? There are four exits here."
"I'm at exit 3"
Exit three? Where is this exit three? I learned a bit of Japanese but I don't recognise the Kanjis printed on the signboards.
"Exit three is 三番 ?''
''Yes... come quick, I'm hungry and i want my doughnuts... you have better had bought them...''
Like I said, a handful.
I exited the station and noticed that the air here was incredibly fresh, it made me feel more energetic. Sitting in the train for so long gave me a sore leg. The airport was quite close to the city so I could see a few buildings from where I was standing. There was a big banner near the Taxi Stand which says ''Welcome to Narita Airport!'' Around it were many beautiful flowers that formed an elaborate pattern. I saw my Brother slouching beside a taxi, probably impatient from waiting. He had definitely changed. He's a lot taller than me with pale green eyes. He looks like a nerd, not the stereotypical nerd but still a nerd. He had big glasses and messy brown hair. I sashayed my way over to him, ''Hey! Long time no see!'' He looked up at me and smiled, ''what took you so long?'' I pointed to the taxi stand, ''It would be easier if the signs had English subtitles...''
''Didn't i tell you to learn a bit of simple Japanese before you come here? You had a few months time to learn..''
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a doughnut out of the plastic bag, ''for you!'' His eyes glistened as I handed him the doughnuts. ''So Mr Tour guide, where are we going today?'' I asked, looking at my phone for any signs of Erishine's messages. Erishine has been my best friend since kindergarten.
''I planned to bring you to go shopping until around 6:15, then we will need to go to the Hinode Terminal Boarding Point for our dinner.''
''Why are we going to a terminal boarding point to have our dinner?''
"Tokyo Bay Cruise.''
Tokyo Bay Cruise is a type of cruise where you can have your dinner on. It is a very high class place.
''Don't you need reservations for that?''
''I planned everything already. Just get in the cab, the driver is waiting.'' He said as he picked up my luggage.
That night, we were on the cruise taking about our lives, trying to fill in the gap our parents created for us. Without warning, tears streamed down my face as i struggled to find a tissue to conceal it. ''What's wrong? Is the food too spicy?'' He asked. I sniffed and managed a smile, ''I guess...'' He ran his finger down the glass of wine and looked at me, ''Something's bothering you?''
''Not really, just remembered that I still have some unfinished business back at home.'' I said while glancing at him. He didn't buy it but at least he didn't ask. I know how he would react if I ever asked anything about their divorce, I did it once when I was ten. From the way he reacted, it was obvious then that he didn't want to talk about it. Throughout the rest of the dinner, I kept on thinking about the divorce. It never dawned on me on how abrupt the divorce was. One second our parents were still talking and laughing and the next they were fighting. Something had always seemed off about the divorce...
The ride home was uncomfortably quiet, I had a feeling something was bothering him but I didn't know what it was. We were about to reach home when he said, ''The divorce... It was forced.'' Forced? ''What? What do you mean?'' I turned to look at him but he continued to look out at the window. ''I'm not allowed to tell you the details...''
Not allowed? What did he mean by not allowed? Who didn't allow it?
