PART ELEVEN | SUSHI SESSION AND AN AFTERNOON TEA

Don't tell anyone; I witness Mom is making a bowl of miso soup in the middle of the night. Then I hear her sobbing. I am not sure it is the miso soup or she has a hard time.

I tighten the shoelace of my roller shoes. A brown stain smudges on the wheels, the white material above remains clean. The street is full of puddles and muds due to the heavy rain in the past few days. I slip my phone from my pocket, clicking the volume button to check the notifications. I huff, disappointing there is nothing new from Jeremy.

I couldn't fathom why he never texts nor calls me even I know he could have my number from Lux. He texted Lux with my number on our first encounter at the gymnasium. Maybe he doesn't really interested in me. Amy is right, he is not ready for any relationships. And so am I.

After I bring up the sensitive conversation about Megan last Monday we rarely see each other except in the field when we are practicing. Since he is a senior in which the classroom is in a different part of the building I couldn't see him in the hallway as well. But he doesn't seem angry or mad, he smiles cheekily when his gaze meets mine during the practice. It is a bit confusing for me.

Mom always picks me up after practice, I have no excuse to ask Jeremy to drop me home. It seems he has no attempt to offer a ride as well. After dinner, I go to my bedroom to do the homework or read a book before sleep. Keeping the curtain on my window open just in case he stops by at my window like the last time, asking me to sneak out again. A small sound from outside the window makes me jolt from my bed and run to the window. But it is just the wind or a branch of the tree knocking on my window.

Shoving the thought aside, I get up. I try to avoid puddles and muds on my way to Miko's house, skating swiftly in my beige skirt. It's a chilly Saturday morning, a breeze caresses my bare legs and arms. A white linen shirt I wear waving as the wind touches the smooth fabric. I reach to my pocket to search my strawberry-flavored chewing gums. Once my fingers find the rough surface of the paper I pull it out, tearing the wrap and throw the pink-colored gums to my mouth. The elastic gum meets my molars, it turns sticky and chewy soon. A burst of sweet flavor spoils my tastebuds. I crumple the paper and shove it back to my pocket.

We are helping Miko to make sushi for her volunteering program at the nursing home. Candice jolts in excitement when Miko offering us to come over her house, she grins from ear to ear for the rest of the day. She even proposes a sleepover on Miko's the night before, but Miko refuses because Candice would be in her drunken state after partying hard on Friday night. Her father doesn't keen on the idea of a drunken teenager in his house.

The winter seems to creep in no time. A pile of dry leaves is cluttering on the solid concrete decorating the neighborhood with an orange-brownish color, Mr. Yoshida diligently sweeping the leaves every morning in front of the gate of his Japanese style house. It is a pretty house painted in cream and white. The bamboo ornaments on the porch show their strong culture in the neighborhood. Mr. Yoshida smiles as he sees me entering the gate, "ohayou, Mr. Yoshida."

He is in his fifties but looks 20 years younger than his actual age, maybe his habitual wide smile stretches his facial muscle so the skin above it refuses to wrinkle. I should've asked my Dad to do that often so he wouldn't look like a grandfather even his children are far from giving him a grandchild anytime soon.

"Ohayou, Tara! It's nice to see you here. Naoko and Kimiko have been busy this morning. You guys better make delicious sushi because I bought fresh salmon and tuna."

Mr. Yoshida loves my name because it is easy for him to pronounce, he is complaining when the first time Julia introduces herself to him. Julia is recoiling when Mr. Yoshida keeps calling her Juria instead of Julia, but then finally after dozens of times failing she gives in and lets him call her whatever he is comfortable with.

"Arigatou. We will make you some spare sashimi, sir. Your favorite." I smile at him. After taking off my roller shoes, I walk to Yoshida's kitchen. I get familiar with the house since I move here, it is nice to live in a friendly neighborhood. The Yoshida brings a box full of sushi to our house on the first day we come here. Mom seems very happy with the gesture, she misses her hometown sometimes, and meeting the Yoshida is a cure to her longing to visit Grandma at Osaka. Being the third culture kid I am, eating my first home-made makizushi I become very emotional. I never get a chance to visit Grandma and taste the famous Kansai food, or any Japanese foods even sushi. Asking my Mom to make it herself at home is a waste of time because she is not an expert on Japanese cuisine. That is strange since she is born and live in Osaka for a long time.

Miko's petite figure is standing in front of the counter, a cute white apron ties neatly on her neck. Her hand extends and flexes as she arranges the salmon, tuna, cucumber, and several ingredients for our sushi. Naoko, her younger sister, sits with a giant earphone smothering her head. Her hands drumming mercilessly to the beat I couldn't hear.

"Hi, TJ!" Miko squeals when she lifts her eyes to meet mine in front of the door of the kitchen. "Geez, someone is eager to meet me this morning," I wink at her. There is no evidence of Julia and Candice's arrival as my eyes wander. Miko giggles at my remarks, "we have cupcakes if you want."

"No, thank you." Mom ensures my stomach is full enough before I leave the house. We start to chop avocados when we hear Candice's voice from the front door. Then Julia's sassy remarks fill the hallway of Miko's house. The culprits cluttering to the kitchen with a loud sound. Candice laughs so hard on whatever Julia says. She clutches her fingers on my right arm and squeezes it makes me flinch, "good morning, pretty!" She squeals on my ears. Her lips meet my unguarded cheek and landing a light peck on it.

"Good morning, rioters."

Candice shifts her attention to Miko and gives her a tight hug from behind. Julia rolls her eyes at Candice's behavior, "she can't breath, Can. Hi, Naoko." Julia cranes her neck to Naoko who still sitting but her giant earphone has been removed, laying on the counter. Naoko answers Julia with a shy smile, she is a quiet kid. We barely have a long conversation.

Our calming surroundings suddenly become more chaotic since Candice's arrival but we don't mind, she lightens our mood. Miko patiently teaches us how to roll sushi. She demonstrates eagerly, it seems she has been doing it in her whole life. A plastic wraps her hands as she squeezes the ingredients between the sushi mat. Then she cuts the roll into smaller rolls.

"Partying last night, Can?" She nods energetically, her blond hair bounces up and down as she moves her head. She tells about some random kids ask her to join their band as a keyboardist. Last night turns out to be their first gig, she plays some songs with them at the party. But it doesn't last long after Candice drinks a huge amount of alcohol, as always.

"Do you see Jeremy there?" I ask without tilting my gaze from the sushi roll. I am afraid to hear the answer.

"No." Candice snaps her head to Julia who is standing beside her. "Do you see him, Juls?"

Julia shakes her head, "I thought that he was hanging out with you." She wiggles her eyebrows. I throw a cucumber to her head, it smacks her head then bounces to the counter. I couldn't contain my laughter. Julia glares at me and throws back the cucumber but I duck away. The cucumber lands helplessly on the floor. We both earn a murderous glare from Miko, we know it's better to shut up now.

Our sushi making session lasts for 2 hours, we already pack the sushi and ready to deliver our masterpiece to the nursing home. Julia steals her Mom's car, as she used to do on Saturday morning, to drive us to the nursing home. We pull to the parking lot with a screeching sound. Julia drives like a mad teenager.

After finishing the good deeds, Julia drops us to our house. My house is the first destination since it is the nearest to the nursing home. I bid them goodbye as I step outside the car, "see you on Monday."

It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the perfect time to savoring a book. Then I remember I don't have any books left on my shelf, I read it all. Honestly, I prefer a physical book to the electronic one. Imagining tuck my nose in the paper of an old published book, inhaling the musty and its typical odor. There is a bookstore nearby, I should go there after showering.

I extend my hand to open the gate of my house. Then my eyes dart to a familiar vehicle in front of my building. The black car that belongs to Jeremy. I squeeze my eyes to get a better view, it is empty. My head snaps to my left and right to search his figure but I couldn't find him anywhere outside my house. Except he is inside. I rush to my front door. My heart beats faster as I place my hand on the doorknob.

It's impossible, silly. He won't be here.

I push the door let me come inside the house. The living room remains the same before I leave this morning. I walk to the kitchen, finding a bouquet of sunflowers sitting neatly on the counter. Extending my hand to hold the bouquet, I see a white paper shoved between the sunflowers.

To my pretty Tara-Jane;

I can't find you at Sucré this morning.

The text is written in scratchy handwriting on a crumpled paper. I smile at the thought, imagining what happens when he is writing this; He stops by at Sucré to grab a coffee after his football practice. He couldn't find me and rushes to a flower shop nearby. Writing a message hurriedly and shoves the paper hiding it between the sunflowers.

A burst of laughter from the back of the house retreating me from my thought. It sounds like Mom, but I could recognize another voice laughing with her. Walking to the back of the house with a bouquet of sunflowers in my hand. I spot a long leg in khaki trousers, a white Vans hanging loosely as he crosses his leg. His brown hair shining below the afternoon light. I am facing his back.

"Oh! You're home, sweetheart," Mom chirps as she sees me standing at the door. Jeremy turns around, facing me. His typical cheeky smile plastered on his face. Two buttons on his green shirt remain open, exposing his skin.

"Jeremy is looking for you," she continues with a grin creeps to her cheek, my eyes dart to the cup of tea on the table. She must be very happy to have an unpredictable guest this afternoon. "I'll be upstairs, honey." she touches my arm and squeezes it lightly then walks to the door. Leaving me with Jeremy in the backyard.

"Thanks. For the sunflowers." I lift the bouquet on my hands. I couldn't hear my voice over my thumping heart. Seeing him in my backyard is a peculiar sight. He nods as he clears his throat.

"I don't plan to have an afternoon tea with your Mom, honestly." His eyes flicker to the cup on the table. The thought of Jeremy formally drinks a cup of tea with Mom is really funny. I couldn't hold myself from chuckling, earning a smile on his lips. "So, what's your actual plan then?"

He sits down, his hand extends to his tea then sipping it slowly. I mirror his action, sitting beside him. "I wanna know, what are you eating this morning?"

I chuckle, missing his typical question. "It's an egg scramble. And milk. What are you eating before practice?"

"A banana," I lift my eyebrows couldn't believe his answer. "I overslept," he adds.

"Why don't you call me or text me, Jer?" I couldn't hold any longer, the question I have been dying to ask him this week.

"I don't have your number, Tara-Jane." He smiles, still holding the half-empty cup in his hand. I snort, "you can search it on Lux's phone."

"I ain't gonna stealin' a phone number in a lame manner like that." He gulps down the remaining liquid in the cup. "Besides, I don't like textin' or callin'. I like speakin' to you, in person." His gaze bores into mine. The orange sunray illuminates our faces. His brown eyes remind me of a cup of hot chocolate I love on rainy days. It does a beautiful effect on his earthy color outfit today. He extends his hand to touch my cheek with his thumb, caressing it softly.

"You're so pretty, Tara-Jane. I should've kissed you." His eyes flicker to my lips then back to my eyes. "But not today," he smirks. I punch his shoulder lightly, feeling deceived. He catches my hand and pecks it lightly.

"What do you wanna do now, Tara-Jane?"

I remember I want to visit a local bookstore, "Hm... I want to buy some books actually. What about you?"

"Wanna hang out at my place?" He scoots closer, "I have some books if you wanna read." I squint my eyes, suspicious about his real intention.

"What's that look?" He chuckles, "I promise, I don't take any advantages."

It almost a month I know Jeremy, but I don't have a clue what is his real-world beside football. Probably it is the curiosity again, or it is just my excuse to be with him a little longer. I nod, "Okay. I underlined your last sentence, you better keep your promise, Jer."

He extends his hand and grabs my hand, "Deal." He grins, a dimple appears on his left cheek.

"Anyway, you smell like sushi, Tara-Jane," he whispers.

***

Let's call it 'The sushi chapter', it's probably the longest part I ever wrote!
Do you ever try raw sushi before? Share me your thought about sushi, please x
And, this chapter is dedicated to my friend because I can't thank her enough for reviewing this story. I hope this chapter makes a better description!^^
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