February 5, 2012 / 3:53 pm
Aija sighed as she sat on her patio looking at the Seattle skyline underneath a thick blanket. This used to be one of her most favorite views but now...now it seemed dull, lifeless. She knew it was just her mind making her feel this way but still things right now felt so meaningless without Hikaru. He had been gone for almost a month now but to Aija it felt like forever ago. Despite that, however, she didn't feel like she did when she lost her job and she was surprised by that. The depressed state she was in last season almost seemed non-existent and with that, she knew she could go on. The problem was...where to start and so many questions ran through Aija's mind.
Stay in Seattle?
Move home?
Find a new place altogether?
Keep going with Dior Chanel?
Date again?
Turkey and cheddar or tomato soup?
She pondered all of this as Prada came outside with her in the cold. Brought out of her thoughts, Aija looked down at her shivering pup and shook her head.
"Well, that's what happens when you come outside without your sweater, girlfriend. Come on, I'm done out here anyway."
The two made their way inside as the front door sounded off from a knock. Prada ran to the door barking as Aija cocked her head in confusion. She wasn't expecting anybody. Peeking out of her peephole she could see Shae's face and opened her door.
"Hello, Aija!" Andrew greeted as he walked inside behind Shae with a bottle of wine- Shae herself holding what looked like a Chinese food container.
"Hey, what's...what's going on?"
Christopher walked in with more containers followed by Marabelle who held drinks. As they all situated the food around the dining room table, Aija looked at Shae in question. Shae gave her a warm hug and her soft eyes held hers.
"You usually have a dinner party around this time but we've noticed you didn't plan one. So we did it for you."
Aija blinked; in all of this going on with Hikaru, she did realize that she completely missed out on this season's dinner party. She dropped her hands to her thighs with a sigh. "I know. I was planning on doing it a couple of weeks ago, but then..."
The room got silent as everybody started to think about what happened with the Mizuno family. Mara glanced from one person to the other, not really understanding what had previously taken place so she smiled and started passing out plates.
"What's done is done, right? It's in the past and this dinner is our present so let's not linger on things that we can't control."
"Yes." Aija agreed sitting down at the dining room table. "So let's eat."
"Drew wanted me to get Japanese food, but I told him that was insensitive, Aija." Marabelle continued as she started plating food
Aija giggled. "Good looking out, Mara." She said while Andrew threw his hands up in the air. "It's just food!"
A conversation ensued between the five and Aija couldn't help feeling like the fifth wheel as she looked over the two couples. These four had come to be her second family; they were such a constant bright light in her life and as she watched them bicker and laugh amongst themselves, she sighed happily, gaining all of their attention before getting all of their goofy smiles. Aija laughed at how silly they all looked. Christopher cleared his throat, noticing her.
"So, what's next for you, Sweetheart?" He asked, taking a swig of his beer. " I know things have changed so much for you."
Aija shrugged. This was a good question. " I'm not sure if I want to stay here in Seattle anymore. I'm leaning towards moving back in with my dad. He's a workaholic so somebody has to look over the household while he's chief of police, you know."
Shae kept her eyes on her friend. "Have you heard from Hikaru?" Everyone waited for her answer.
"Yes. He texted me. He's in mourning because his grandfather died of cancer a few weeks ago. That's the last time I heard from him."
Sounds of sympathy came from the four and Andrew shook his head. "I heard from Chris. That's why he had to leave so suddenly. That sucks big time. I just wish he would have done this a lot better."
"We all do, Drew." Aija responded, picking at her plate. "But as Mara said, what's done is done. I'm just glad I got to hear from him and I look forward to his next text. No worries."
There was a bit of awkward silence before Christopher threw a bit of rice toward Andrew. "Leave it to Andrew to start shit up." He ducked as rice flew back in his direction. "You started things, you jerk!" Shae tried to throw rice at the two, inadvertantly hitting Mara who gasped at her cousin before throwing rice as well.
Meanwhile, Aija just watched the mini food fight with amusement all in her dark eyes. This was just what she needed in her life.
February 14, 2012
Aija couldn't stop smiling and she hadn't stopped since she got a delivery of what looked like a hundred roses from The Million Roses company. The aroma from the roses filled her living room and she swooned seeing what looked like a heart shaped by pink roses. The heart was surrounded by red roses. She touched one delicately before taking notice of a envelope that the delivery man had gave to her. Opening it Aija took no time to read the note inside of it.
Happy Valentines Day, Aija. If you're reading this then that means my valentine's gift came on time. I hope you approve of it. These roses from Europe are special. They are preserved to last and if I'm not mistaken they are made to last one to three years. That's a pretty long time and I think they symbolize us. I want you to know that even though I'm an ocean away from you, I'm preserving our love. I don't care if it takes one year, two years or three years. I'm keeping it and you're in my heart at all times and while I know that you have your own life to live, I want you to know that it's killing me to think of mine without you.
I also want you to know that while I have known that I was leaving, I didn't do this without thinking about us and about consequences and so, I am ordering these months in advance. You have to know how much I love you, Koishii. I'm willing to wait for as long as I need to to have you back in my life because you're it. You're the only woman for me. Nothing will ever change that, not an ocean, not my family, not anything.
Please enjoy your life until I can come back to it and if for some reason you feel that I'm not the one for you, just know you'll always be in my heart regardless.
With all my heart,
Hikaru
Tears blurred the end of the letter as Aija let drop after drop fall freely from her eyes. He still loved her just as much as she loved him. As her heart swelled with happiness, she knew what she had to do.
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February 24, 2012
Aija released a cleansing breath as she looked at her empty condo for the last time, a swirl of emotions nearly overcoming her. So many things had happened her in only a year in Seattle. She found new friends, a new man, a new life style and through all of this, she found out what career she really wanted to pursue. It was so hard for her
"So, I guess this is it." Aija said shakily. Her eyes went from Shae to Christopher, then from Andrew, to Mara and finally Mallorie and Jane who winked at her.
Shae wiped tears from her eyes and she had a tearful edge to her voice. "Yeah. It is huh?" Christopher held on to her arms as he kissed her forehead. Aija smiled, watching the two. She could see their relationship hanging on for a long time. He would be her strength.
Aija grabbed onto to Shae's hand. She would miss her so much and she hated that their friendship barely even had a chance to really blossom. "You know I'd love to stay here with you all...I just..." She looked down closing her eyes as Hikaru appeared in her thoughts. Christopher, feeling her pain, gripped her shoulder. "You don't have to explain anything to us, honey. I'm- We're just sorry this happened to you." Agreeing nods came from all of the others and Aija gave off a soft smile.
Mara frowned, "I mean I can't help but wonder...he couldn't take you with him, Aija?"
Aija turned putting the bag she held in her already stuffed car. She turned and face the group answering, "No. That wouldn't have been a great idea. Please, everybody don't be angry at Hikaru. His father leads so much of his life and maybe...maybe one day he'll break away and realize that he can lead his own; with or without me. I'm going to go on with my life, but he'll always be the love of my life."
Andrew gestured to her. "Hopefully he'll lead with you-In time. Keep us updated, okay?" He said, grabbing Aija's chin with his thumb and shaking it lightly. Aija smiled.
Jane motioned with both hands for Aija to come to her. "Come give me hugs, honey!" When Aija walked into her embrace, Jane gave her the warmest hug, rubbing her back. "Oh, I'm going to miss you so much." Aija sobbed soft burying her face in Jane's shoulder when she felt more and more arms being wrapped around her. Even Mallorie hugged her around her waist. When she came back up she wiped her eyes.
"I'm going to miss you all too. You've been the best friends a lady can ask for. Thank you for everything."
Shae and the others waved as Aija finally drove away. That was the third hardest goodbye she ever had to do in her life but she cleared her throat and put her attention on the road as she made her way back to North Carolina. The last view she had of Seattle was the Space Needle, gleaming in the morning's sunlight.