Chapter 25 The Memories of Yua #2
I nod in agreement. That’s the most compelling argument I’ve heard in a long time. Tokyo Tower is like the Japanese version of the Eiffel Tower. And if Whitney got to have her Hallmark-movie moment—I should, too!
Aiko’s plans for our little sightseeing expedition warm my chest. The next thing I know, I’m giggling and pulling her in for hug number two. “Easy on the sell. I’m already on board!”
Aiko rocks me in place. “You should be. I’m a great tour guide.”
The Matsumotos are already here when Aiko and I go downstairs.
Mrs. Matsumoto is lost in conversation with the Nakamuras.
They sit on the living room couch while the kitchen is crowded with faces I’ve seen at the alterations shop.
I recognize Mrs. Kobayashi—the superrich client who stops by once a week—and Granny Sato, the client who’s always talking Yua’s ear off.
Aiko informs me that some of these patrons have been going to the boutique ever since Yua was a child.
Seeing her go is like watching a cousin leave for college.
I also recognize Yukie and Keiko, along with some of Yua’s other coworkers from Cuppa Coffee.
They stand in a corner of the living room, chatting with plates of Mrs. Nakamura’s goodies in their hands.
Yua’s tattoo artist friends are here, too.
This is the first time I’ve seen them in person.
But I did meet them before when Yua video called me once from Studio Pink.
Despite the summer heat, they’re wearing long sleeves and long pants.
I don’t see a single tattoo on any of them.
Even though this is a going-away party for Yua, they’re respectful enough to cover themselves in someone else’s home.
I stay at Aiko’s side, snacking on the dumplings and sushi Mrs. Nakamura has laid out in the kitchen.
I’m sure Yua is caught somewhere between all the people saying goodbye and wishing her well.
There’s even a stack of gifts growing in the entryway.
But when I look around, I can’t find her anywhere.
Even Mrs. Matsumoto has been swept up by the crowd.
Eventually, I break away to step out on the patio.
Though the windows are open, there are so many people inside that it was getting hard to breathe.
The sun has gone down, and the streets are a glow of amber.
A cat leaps up from the sidewalk to climb over a stone fence.
Its warm gold eyes watch me as I watch it.
“Hi.”
A voice creeps up from behind me. I don’t need to see her to know Yua’s appeared. Before I can turn around, her arms wrap around my stomach. Her warm breath finds my ear before her lips meet that sweet spot on my neck.
Yua holds me there, lips pressed against me and my spine spooned against her curves. I melt into her familiarity and savor this moment.
When Yua finally loosens her grip, I spin around and loop my arms over her head. Yes, there’s a party going on inside. But this patio is dark enough to give us some privacy.
“So, is this where you’ve been hiding?” Yua asks. Her forehead presses between my brows. When she speaks, I taste Mrs. Nakamura’s sponge cake on her breath.
“I’d almost given up on looking for you,” I admit, sliding my hand around to cup her jaw. My thumb strokes her cheek, and I shut my eyes. When I’m gone, this is the memory I want to follow me home. “Besides, this is your party. Aren’t you busy?”
“I’ll never be too busy for you,” Yua says so gently, her voice hides in the chatter of guests still inside. “In fact, I dare you to bother me. Be my nuisance, Lilyn. Annoy me. Because if you do, at least that will mean you’re still in my life.”
I chuckle. Of course Yua would speak something like poetry. With my hand still on her jaw, I take her up on her offer and flick her cheek.
Yua straightens. “Well, now you’ve crossed the line.”
Despite her best efforts to sound stern, she doesn’t hide the humor in her eyes. Soon, we’re both giggling, and then our lips meet like they have so many times before.
Yua’s hands slide behind my lower back, pulling me in until we’re touching from our knees to our lips. She sways in place. My body rocks with hers, moving to the sounds of the cars driving by, the wind in the vines, and the hum of conversations seeping through the windows.
One private dance. One long kiss. All of it adding up to equal the goodbye we both know is coming.
I thought I’d prepared for this. My tear-stained pillows in the tatami room upstairs is a testament of that.
And still, I don’t want to pull away. I don’t want this night to end.
I don’t want to be away from Yua, even though we’re still together.
A tear slides from my eye, and I lean back, ruining our dance.
“What’s wrong?” Yua asks, lashes flickering. And then her gaze lowers to the tear on my cheek before I can wipe it away. “Lilyn…”
“I’m fine,” I insist, unlooping my arms to wipe my face. “I’m just…I know we’re going to try long distance, but still. LA is so far away, and I don’t know when we’ll have chances like this again.”
When I’m finally ready to look Yua in the eyes, I’m expecting a mournful expression. She can’t be happy about a long-distance relationship, either. But when our eyes lock, Yua’s smiling at me.
“So…I have one more thing to tell you.” Her smile doesn’t wane.
I sniff and rub my eye one last time. “What do you mean?”
Yua’s hands are back around my waist like it’s her favorite way to hold me. She pulls our hips together so that we’re touching again. “I know I said I was going to LA. And I still am, technically…”
My brows furrow. Where is she going with this?
“But I wasn’t sure where I’d be going after the apprenticeship,” Yua continues. “Until earlier this morning.”
My mouth is half open, but no words escape. My mind is a buzz of questions. Is she coming to DC? Is there a program she can attend? One that’s close to me? Ma and I have a spare bedroom at our house. Could she…
“I’ve been applying for jobs in New York City,” Yua says, smiling. “I didn’t think anyone would hire me, since it’s a little too early to apply. But I was hoping I’d be able to join you in New York City, and, well, I have a job waiting for me.”
My eyes dance between hers, reading all the micro expressions of her face.
New York City. Once I get accepted to CIF, we’ll both be living in the same place.
She’ll be chasing her dream, and I’ll be chasing mine.
I’ll be there for her wins, her losses, and all the monotony in between.
I imagine us strolling through Central Park hand in hand.
We’re meeting up for bagels and coffee. We’re hopping on the same subways and giving each other goodbye kisses and see-you-later waves.
We’ll be together in all the ways I’ve dreamed about.
“I may have done some digging and found a woman who used to apprentice at Studio Pink,” Yua explains.
“She owns a shop in New York City, and she interviewed me. One of her employees is taking maternity leave around the time I’ll be wrapping up my training in LA…
So, I guess maybe being with you in New York was just meant to be. ”
Meant to be. The words float around my ears like hummingbirds around a flower.
“I wanted you to be the first one I told besides Mum,” Yua continues. “I’m going to make the announcement before the night is over.”
There’s no music playing aside from the sounds of nature in our company. Despite that, I take Yua’s hand and twirl her on the spot. When she circles back around to face me, I land another kiss on her lips. Yua giggles against me.
“This isn’t goodbye,” Yua says, stroking my cheek.
“Of course not,” I reply, voice hoarse to suppress my tears of joy. I clear my throat. “You’ll video call me when you land in LA, right?”
“Obviously.” Yua’s arms tighten around me. “And you’ll video call me when you do your fashion show, right?”
I give Yua another long kiss. One that I savor for as long as I can before pulling away. “Obviously.”