Dedicated to Noah's Ark Ship

Chapter 2
White Umbrella

August 16, 2022
Joyfull restaurant

"You're starting to talk weirdly," I told him that moment the crew left us at our table.

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"To be honest, I've been receiving that kind of impression."

"Who wouldn't? It's very unusual for Japanese like you to speak or even act like this. I've been warned—" natigilan ako sa pagsasalita nang napansin kong bahagya siyang nagtaas ng kilay.

"Warned?"

"Oh. . . well, what I mean, someone told me about details. About what should I expect and such," kibit balikat na sagot ko.

"And you're expecting something else? Would you like someone who nods and shakes his head in a daily conversation? Because you know, to be honest, it's quite frustrating to have someone like that," he took a sip on his cold macha.

I crossed my legs and leaned back at the soft yellow sofa of the restaurant. "Well, I just couldn't help but get fascinated. Someone says that in Japan's countryside you'll feel how the time will slow down," I hesitantly took a glance at him.

Ako rin ang naunang nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya bago ko inabot iyong coke na nasa baso. I took a little sip with my silly eyes that tried to take a peek at him again.

He grinned before he looked down at his food.

"So, you consider this fast?"

"Are you running from someone? Something?"

Natigil siya sa paghiwa ng beef at mabagal siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. He blinked at him. He's trying to read my expressions.

"Our first encounter in Maehira Park was nothing, but our second time was unexplainable. You asked a few questions that also quirked my attention. I think you need my existence. . . you need something from me."

He carefully pulled a napkin and gently wiped his lips.

"Wise girl."

"I know. So?"

"I told you. My family sent me to that abandoned house near your hotel. They exclude me from everything that caused me to become this cute Japanese boy in the countryside with a red car. They punished me because I sided with my cousin and because I lied to them about having a girlfriend who doesn't fit their standard. It happened almost a year and a half ago? I don't remember exactly. But now, I am trying to rebel against them, they're trying to marry me off like what they did to Seiji. If my cousin Seiji can escape, why can't I?"

Napatulala ako sa mahabang sinabi niya. I was just asking a few questions, but I never thought that he'd give me the details.

"So, any more questions?"

"And you're telling me this to me?"

"You did ask, right?"

"And you're fine with that?"

"Sometimes, it's good to share stories with a stranger— I mean, a newly made friend."

I slowly tapped my fingers on the table as I stared at him. He mentioned that he's trying to rebel. How?

"And now that you've found the girl fitted for your description, you offered your helping hand. You need me to taunt your family," pansin ko sa saglit na panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata.

He lied about dating a girl that doesn't fit his family's standard. A Filipina, just like the wife of his cousin! Dinala niya ako rito sa restaurant na ito kung saan kilala at siya at maibabalita sa pamilya niya na may kasama siyang babae.

Sabi na! How could a Japanese this friendly? He really needs something from me! My existence is perfect for his rebellion!

"They might hurt me. Damn, I am innocent."

He laughed. "Don't worry. It's not part of our family's standard to hurt outsiders. They didn't even bother to meet or speak with Sidra before. Seiji took all our family's outrage. You're safe."

Napahinga ako nang maluwag.

"So, let's just enjoy this summer. Shall we? Let's find your father."

"To be honest, I don't know where to start."

"Are you sure that he's here in Gifu? Gifu is huge. Is that the photo the only clue to your father?"

"I brought keychains. My mother told me that father loves to buy keychains to the places that they've been together."

"Keychains?" I nodded.

"Maybe I'll visit those places too. I know it's impossible to meet him through that, but I really want to visit those places that my parents enjoyed together."

"Hmm, alright."

Kumain muna kami bago namin sinundan ang usapan. Ramdam ko ang ilang sulyap niya sa akin kaya nahirapan na akong kumain nang marami.

How could I possibly eat too well if someone keeps on glancing at you?

"You're a half-japanese, right?"

"Yes."

"But I didn't notice it right away."

"I think my mother has a thicker blood than father."

"It's better," mabilis na sagot niyang walang kurap.

Muntik na akong masamid sa sinabi niyang iyon. I don't know how to respond either. Mukhang napansin niya na halos hindi ako makapagsalita sa sinabi niya kaya siya na rin muli ang nagsalita.

"I am planning to visit the Philippines when the summer ends."

"To your cousin?"

"Yes. I want to meet the twins."

"I noticed that you're good in English. I am not expecting that I'd meet a Japanese in this countryside who speaks confidently like you."

"Well, Kyohei and Tadashi insisted me to learn. My other cousins. "

"Hmm. . ."

Kousuke and I talked about random things until 11 pm. Ako na iyong nagyaya sa kanya na gusto ko nang umuwi. When we were in front of the Kamono Hotel, I insisted that he shouldn't open the door for me.

"Thank you," I said with a smile.

"So, do you have plans for tomorrow? You might want to check your mother's keychains?"

Naalala ko iyong unang lugar na sinabi ni Mama na pinuntahan nila ni Papa.

"Meiji-Mura. I think it is s historical place."

His lips prodded. He checked his phone and nodded twice. "It's in Aichi. We have to travel about forty minutes from here. I haven't been there. But let's check it tomorrow."

My eyes widened. "Are you free?"

"Of course. I told you, I am just a jobless cute country boy with a red car."

I laughed a little. "Alright. What time?"

"12 noon?"

"Sure."

"Alright, Rhoe Ann. See you tomorrow."

Hinayaan niya muna akong tumalikod bago ko narinig na umandar ang kanyang sasakyan.

***

August 17, 2022
Meiji Mura, Aichi.

Tulad kahapon ay maaga na rin akong nag-ayos ng isusuot ko. I know that we're not going to a date or something and he's just probably bored, being a cute country boy with a red car. Kaya inalok niya akong sasamahan niya ako sa mga lakad ko.

Isa pa, it's quite hassle to constantly ride by a train, tulad nang nagpunta ako sa Maehira Koen.

Kasalukuyan na akong nasa harap ng cabinet habang pinagmamasdan ang mga damit ko. And I just noticed that it's not the length of the dress, but its consistent color. Halos puti pala ang mga dala kong dresses! Well, it's summer and it's pleasing to the eyes.

Last night, I picked vintage puff sleeves, now I chose another white long dress with a little bit thicker ribbon strap on my shoulders, it has a low cut again on my chest, tightly hugging my stomach, and is a little flowy. I used my medium size rattan bag, hat, and brown flats.

Bumaba pa lang ako ng hagdan nang makita kong nakaparada na sa harap ng hotel si Kousuke. The window was already open and he's smiling with that boyish grin on his face, and huge black shades that makes him more like a cute country boy with a red car.

Mas lalong napaangat ang isang kilay ko nang mapansin ko na nagpagupit siya. So, he had an appointment with his hair stylist now?

Hindi pa man kami nakakalayo sa Kamono Hotel ay binati ko na ang bago niyang hairstyle. Hindi na siya aakalain na hapon kapag nakasuot siya ng shades dahil nakatago ang singkit niyang mga bata.

He has this clean-cut na hindi ko inaasahan sa katulad niya na parang sanay na magulo ang buhok. He literally shaved both sides of his head like the usual hairstyle of some male of a boy next door type of romance movies.

"I like. . ." nag-aalangan kong itinuro ang tagiliran ng ulo ko.

"I like the haircut," pagtuloy ko.

Akala ko ay magpapasalamat siya sa akin. But he just took a glance at the rear mirror and I saw how he suppressed his smile.

Kinikilig ba siya?

I even saw how he hesitantly caressed his hair. Yumuko pa siya na parang nahihiya sa akin, hindi pa nga siya makalingon at nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagmamaneho.

But what made me smiled more was how his ears turned red. I guess he's still a Japanese, after all.

Akala ko ay hanggang sa makarating kami sa Meiji Mura ay hindi siya magsasalita, pero mukhang nakabawi na niya sa pagiging mahiyain niya dahil nagsimula na siyang kausapin ako.

"Actually, my cousins and I have the same hairstyle and his wife has been complaining about it. She's been bullying us that we're just copying Seiji. That's why. . . well, I worked out."

"Oh, that's why. That's what I noticed as well. I thought most of the Japanese are skinny," sagot ko sa kanya.

"I really have to work out. Even Shin decided to work out as well."

"Oh. . ."

Isa pa rin ito sa napapansin ko kay Kousuke. He enjoys telling me stories about his cousins. Why is this man an open book to a stranger like me? Why is he comfortably sharing these details about him?

We spent the whole forty minutes telling stories to each other. Mas marami nga siyang naikuwento sa akin. Dahil pansin niya na hindi ako katulad niyang kayang magkuwento nang napakarami sa kanya ay siya na lang ang nagsalita nang nagsalita sa amin.

"You're really sociable for a Japanese, Kousuke."

"Will I hear that words again tomorrow?" tanong niya nang itigil na niya sa parking ang sasakyan.

If I am wearing a white long dress, Kousuke's wearing an oversize white polo and loose khaki pants. He has a black backpack, black shades, wearing a black watch, and a black bucket hat.

He really does look like a cute country boy who's ready to travel. Dati ay akala ko ay hindi ko magugustuhan ang pananamit ng lalaki na sobrang laki sa kanila, but Kousuke Matsumoto slayed his summer outfit.

He may be speaks, thinks, and acts differently compared with the other Japanese, but his style still screams of his culture. Hindi rin kasi mahilig sa fitted na damit ang mga hapon.

Malayo ang parking sa mismong entrance ng Meiji Mura, at sa halip na sa mismong harapan kami magmumula ay sa tagiliran mismo nang pinakamalaking building ang dadaanan namin.

Kousuke and I started to walk along with the cluster of huge trees. Habang gumagala ang mga mata ko, hinding-hindi mo aakalain na may makikita kang isang napakalaking museum sa gitna ng kagubatan.

Napapatingala na lang ako dahil sa taas ng mga punong nakadungaw sa amin ni Kousuke, napapalingon dahil sa ingay mula sa iba't ibang insekto sa paligid at napapasulyap sa iilang taong aming nakakasalubong.

What makes me different from the people in here? Ako lang iyong nakapayong. This is how tell you're a Filipina without telling that you're a Filipina. Kung ang mga hapon na nakakasalubong namin ay masaya pang dinadama ang tindi ng sikat ng araw, ako lang yata iyong nakapayong.

Nang sulyapan ko si Kousuke ay pulang-pula na siya sa init pero mukha naman siyang nag-e-enjoy mainitan.

"What's your favorite season, Kousuke?"

"Summer!"

I giggled. Lalo na nang makita ko ang ngisi niya nang sabihin iyon. "It's hot in summer."

"Summer is happy days, Rhoe Anne."

Habang nag-uusap kami ay pansin ko ang ilang sulyap sa amin ng mga nakakasalubong namin ni Kousuke.

"Do I look weird in this umbrella?" isasarado ko na ang payong ko nang bigla siyang yumuko at lumapit sa akin. He's trying his best to fit his height below my white umbrella.

"I suddenly want to share your umbrella," he grinned.

Tumingkayad ako at hinawakan ko gamit ng dalawang kamay ang tangkay ng payong ko para higit iyong itaas at makatayo nang maayos si Kousuke, but he's too tall for me.

"Let me—"

Huli na bago ko tanggalin ang pagkakatingkayad ng paa ko, dahil tuluyan na akong nawalan ng balanse, hindi pantay ang daan dahil pababa na iyon.

Muling nanlaki ang maliit niyang mga mata, at sa halip na sa tangkay ng payong magtungo ang kanyang mga kamay ay agad ko iyong naramdamang yumakap sa aking baywang.

As my body slowly inclined with gravity, his arms wrapped around my waist, the sudden blew of the wind flew our white umbrella, crossing the arc-like entrance of Meiji Mura together with my straw hat and his bucket hat.

"Our hats flew away. . ." I whispered near his face.

We're completely stuck in that awkward position, as his eyes never left my face. "H-Hearts?"

"Hats, Kousuke. . ."

He immediately pulled me against him and secured my safe position. Napabuga siya ng hangin habang nakapamaywang ang dalawa niyang kamay sa kanyang baywang.

"H-hai, the hats flew away. Let's go. . ."

Nauna nang maglakad sa akin si Kousuke.

And when he slowly crossed that pale red stoned arc, the entrance of Meiji-Mura,

That sudden blink of my eyes brought me to a place I wished I had never known— a complete version of this place, with no colors, and me alone.

"No. . ."

"Rhoe Anne! Let's go!"

Nang muli akong kumurap ay nakangiting Kousuke na ang sumalubong sa akin, holding my straw hat and white umbrella.

I forced a smile and walked toward him. I'm done with that phase, I am happy now— and this summer, I know that I'm not going to be alone.