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We were hurling our luggage on board the plane when Valarie suddenly grabbed Jake’s arm.
“Sweetie, I am flying first class and they reserved an extra seat.” She batted her eyes at him. “Do you want to join me?”
“No. Ask someone else,” he said yanking his arm away from her.
“Why? I reserved a seat for you!” she stomped her feet on the floor like a spoilt brat but he ignored her and sat next to me.
‘Are you sure you aren’t worried about her taking him?’ my inner voice asked as I watched her walk off.
‘I am worried about what he would do if she keeps pushing his buttons.’ then I notice Taro and the rest of the family sitting next to us.
‘Looks like, you have other things to worry about.’
I shudder and look away. ‘That woman scares me.’
Then a voice on a speaker told us to fasten our seatbelts and we did. Slowly and gently, I felt the plane move and within minutes, we were up in the sky.
‘Wow! The clouds are so fluffy.’ I think taking a peek through the window.
“Emma,” Jake passed me a set of earphones. “Put it on.”
I do so and Classic Music entered my ears. ‘Wait how did he get this?’
“Do you like it?”
A smile played on my lips. “Yeah, yeah I do.”
“Great! I compiled it for you,” he replied.
Apart from listening to Classic music, ordering food, and sleeping, the flight was uneventful. A few hours later, we were at our destination and dragging our luggage out of the airport.
“Oh look there is our taxi,” Andrew said.
Brianna yawned. “Great! I am so sleepy!”
“So I’m I,” Ralph added.
We piled our luggage into the taxi and go to Charlie’s place but something was wrong because of the loud music coming from the house.
"Maybe we got the wrong date?" Brianna asked as we got off the car.
Andrew saw red. Marching us up to the front porch where someone was sleeping, he opened the door to reveal pool parties were boys drinking and girls wearing revealing bikinis playing in the pool. I cringed seeing a couple making out by the corner of the room and from the looks of things they were probably under the influence of alcohol but I did not want to know.
Andrew walked in slamming leaving us outside. We heard a little commotion followed by a yell, the sound of breaking glass, and girls screaming.
"EVERYONE OUT!"
The door burst open and all the partygoers rushed out with most of them stumbling to the ground because of drunkenness although it was only 6 PM.
The room was littered with cans of beer, bottles, cigarette butts, and an unknown substance on the table. Inside, Andrew was having a loud argument with someone and it got so intense that I wondered who would win.
Then Andrew walked out boiling with rage and from the looks of things, he lost.
"I WANT THIS PLACE CLEANED UP BY THE TIME I GET BACK OR I AM TELLING UNCLE!" he yelled.
"GREAT! TELL ON ME LIKE YOU DID WHEN WE WERE KIDS YOU WUSS!" the person who I suspect was Charlie yelled back. Andrew growled and was about to go in but Ralph and Jake held him.
"Let it go, man," he said holding him tight.
“Yeah. He ain't worth it." Jake added.
Andrew shrugged himself off stomped out of the porch and took out his phone. After making a few calls, he took us to the side of the road where a taxi was waiting for us.
"I am sorry guys," he said slamming the door of the car. "I did not know this was going to happen."
"It’s okay," Jake said.
"It is not your fault," I add.
"I know but the idiot knew we were coming," he replied gritting his teeth.
We arrived at an expensive hotel where Andrew paid for one night for all of us but this time, I was not sharing a room with Jake who was disappointed by it.
"Well, isn't this the best way to start a vacation?" Brianna sarcastically said while taking off her shoes.
"I’ll say," I reply sitting on the bed exhausted. "I can tell Andrew doesn’t like his cousin."
Brianna agreed to confirm my suspicions. "No one knows why but he is part of the reason Andrew learned martial arts in the first place."
"Really? Where they rivals or something?"
She shrugged. "I am not sure. All I know is Charlie used to bully him when they were kids so he learned Martial Arts to get back at him. I’m not so sure and he doesn’t want to talk about it."
I look towards the window and soak in Brianna's words like a sponge. ‘If Charlie was the reason why he learned Martial Arts this means they loath each other. But why did he agree to come to his birthday in the first place?’
"I am going to take a bath," Brianna said reaching out to grab her towel. "I hope the soap in this hotel has a nice fragrance."
I nod and check my phone and see the hotel has a free Wi-Fi service so I use the opportunity to search for any information on Mr. Madison.
‘He was a Psychologist specializing in the human brain and how the brain affects human behaviors.’ I read. 'This means his wife was the rich one here.'
I scroll down and see he wrote several great books that were best sellers. Most of them were on how the brain works and how to get kick off bad habits but he faced backlash because one of the books he wrote was deemed controversial. He stole information from another book and the author sued him for it. The title of the book was called, 'THE POWER OF HYPNOSIS'.
‘That was the same book I found in the mansion!’ I continue to read. ‘Not only did he steal information from another author’s book he wasn't a certified hypnotist in the first place!’
I search for the name of the author who sued him and strike gold. ‘Her name is Doctor Eva Steward. An award-winning author and a famous hypnotist living on the other side of Tokyo and she owns a Psychiatric Hospital with her husband Mr. Felix Steward. Maybe she can fill me in on this hypnotizing thing but how can I meet her?'
I take a screenshot of all the information and send them to Caroline. She texted me back telling me that she will look into it.
'Brianna is sure taking her time. I wonder what she is doing in there.'
I go and knock on the bathroom door. "Brianna, is everything alright?"
"Wha... yeah everything is alright."
"What were you doing in there?"
"Sorry. I fell asleep in the tub."
I have a slight panic attack as the image of my murdered Uncle flashed before my eyes.
"It is okay. I am awake now. Do you want to use the bathroom?"
"Umm no. I will use it later. I wanted you to know that I am going to take a stroll outside."
"Alright but do not get lost."
I thank her, walk out of my room and head down the stairs. There I see Andrew looking at his phone with Ralph watching him with his arms folded.
“Hey, guys,” I say looking at them.
Andrew looked up at me and smiled. "I booked a table for us at the hotel’s restaurant. You guys can order anything you want. Dinner is on me."
I smile and rush back to my room. After taking a shower, I spend a full hour pondering on what dress to wear.
“I’ll pick this one,” I say discarding the green dress. It was a red and white dress with matching red shoes. After dressing up, I walk down to the dining room area and see my friends waiting for me downstairs.
Jake was floored. “Wow! You look like a princess Emma.”
I found myself blushing. “Thank you.”
“And you are overdressed.” Brutes pointed out.
Yep, they were wearing casual clothes and I was the only one who was properly dressed for dinner.
I laughed sheepishly at my stupidity. “Oops!”
“Who cares if she overdressed? She is beautiful!” Jake clapped back.
Ralph rose his hands in defense. “Okay, tiger. We are sorry for insulting your girlfriend.”
I hide my discomfort and we go to the table where Brianna was waiting.
"Hey Emma," she tapped on the chair next to her. "I saved a seat for you."
"But I saved a seat for her." Jake protested tapping the seat to his right.
Looking around, I noticed Andrew wasn't there yet giving me a choice on who I should sit next to. Jake was begging me with his eager eyes while Brianna's grin was inviting. Sighing, I sit next to Jake.
Ralph picked up his menu. "Let’s see what they have here."
"Ooh, they have caviar here?" Jake said pointing at the picture. “Beloved let's order this one!”
"Please do not order that," I reply looking for something cheap. "Not only is it expensive, but I also heard it's fish eggs."
Suddenly we heard loud arguing at a distance and everyone turned to the entrance of the dining room. It was Andrew and Charlie and they paid no attention to the patrons who shot them dirty looks.
"Mind if I join you?" Andrew asked getting a shove from Charlie who was looking for a fight. “Leave me alone!”
“This is all your fault!” he yelled back.
"Hi Charlie, how is the party?" Brianna asked getting a glare from us because her question did not help.
Charlie shrugged. "It was cool. Say mind if I sit with you?"
"No," Andrew bluntly said sitting next to Brutes and covering his face with the menu.
Charlie smirked. "C'mon cuz. What is wrong with sitting with you guys?" his tone was taunting. "Let me pay for dinner. Pick anything you want. It is on me!"
"I am already paying so do not waste your money and time thank you." Andrew coldly said.
“I agree,” Jake said.
Brutes sighed and pushed up his glasses. "Let him sit with us. I see nothing wrong with it."
"Neither do I." I meekly say.
"Same here," Ralph said.
"Ditto," Brianna added.
There was a look of betrayal on Andrew’s face. "Fine but for the love of my sanity do not sit next to me."
"It is alright," Charlie said with a smile. "I’ll sit next to this beauty here."
He was referring to me but I look away. The table was already full so he grabbed a chair from a nearby table, squeezed in between Jake and me, and sat. Jake gave him a death glare but he ignored him and looked at my menu.
‘He is pissed! Do something!’
‘What can I do?’
"Good evening, what would you like for dinner?" the waiter asked holding a bottle of Champaign and a glass in one hand.
Charlie tried to reach for it but I stop him.
"I would like Spaghetti bolognese," Ralph said putting his menu down.
"I want spaghetti with tomato sauce. Hold the shrimp please." said Brutes.
"I’ll take a leg of lamb with collard greens," Brianna said...
I look over the menu again and saw that they had glazed beef shoulder with mashed potatoes and gravy and ordered that.
Unsurprisingly, Jake ordered the same thing.
"You like meat don't you darling," Charlie asked.
I give him the stink eye because he was staring at my front. "Yeah so?"
He chuckled and turned to the waiter. "I will have what the lady is having with a side of Champaign."
I immediately guessed what was going to happen because of his early behavior and stop him. "I am sorry sir. Please replace the Champaign with nonalcoholic red wine."
"Yes ma'am," he said writing it down. "And what would you like to have my good sir?"
"Please get me your best beef soup with a lot of vegetables," Andrew said dropping his menu.
The waiter put wrote it in his notebook and walked off. There was an awkward silence for a while until Brianna asked Charlie how he was doing.
"Oh I am doing well," he said shrugging. "My old man is still out and my mom keeps throwing parties so it’s the same old thing."
This shocked me. "Your mom throws parties?"
"Yeah," he replied grinning. "Sometimes three times a week."
"I am not surprised," Jake said writing something on the table cloth with his finger.
Charlie shrugged. "So how is your old man cuz?"
Andrew frowned. "First of all, he is not old. Secondly, we are doing just fine thank you, and finally, do not call me cuz. As far as I am concerned, we are far from being cousins."
"Ouch!" Charlie put his hand on his chest in an act of shock. "I am hurt by that Andrew. I am. I mean we were practically best buds when we were kids."
"I do not think so." He said with a glare. "You have forgotten how you pulled my hair and destroy anything I owned when we were kids."
Charlie gave a rueful laugh. "Those were good times eh cuz."
Red with anger, Andrew gripped the tablecloth tightly.
Sensing a big argument was about to brew, I change the subject. "So, I heard that you play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Have you passed the final boss?"
Charlie grinned. "Why yes, I have.”
“You completed the game?” Brianna asked.
“Yep!"
“Gosh! I heard that game is like Dark Souls!” Ralph said. “You must be an expert gamer!”
"Why yes, he is!" Andrew said sarcastically.
Our food arrived and we talked about the game while we ate.
"Why don't you drink Champaign babe?" Charlie whined. "Don't you like it?"
"No thank you," I reply cutting through my meat.
He huffed. "Why?"
"I am underage and so is everyone here."
"And we do not want you to get drunk on us." Brutes said. "Remember what happened last time?"
"What happened last time?" Jake asked with curiosity.
Andrew smirked. "He was singing so loud at the top of his voice that we had to leave. I don’t remember what song it was but it was so funny watching him sing like a girl.”
“Interesting.”
Was I the only one who noticed the sly grin on his face?
"It’s a good thing you didn’t record that or I would have kicked your ass," Charlie said with a glare.
"Didn’t need to. Someone posted it online and you got your ass kicked by your dad. How were three months without a phone, friends, and parties?" he asked.
Charlie growled and gave him the finger which annoyed me. A few minutes passed in silence until we finished our meal and ordered dessert.
“Dad called to say you and your friends shouldn’t stay in the hotel anymore,” Charlie said as he took a piece of cake. “But we aren’t staying at the beach house either.”
Andrew sighed. “So where are we going to stay?”
“You will find out tomorrow.”
We did. It was a Hot Spring.
“Impressed you, little tattletale?” Charlie asked ruefully. “How I’m I going to throw a party in a boring place like this?”
“That’s your problem!” Andrew snapped back.
I was in awe! It looked exactly like the Japanese garden in my favorite fantasy drama. Sakura Trees, bridges, stones, water, lanterns, Lotus flowers floating in the ponds, Japanese maple trees, and Carps! Giant gold fishes were swimming in the pools of water and they reminded me of Senji, the main character's spirit guardian!
“It’s wonderful!" I say twirling around. "I didn’t know your father owned this place.”
Charlie giggled. “Yeah, he poured a lot of money into it.”
I reached down to touch the water and squealed when the fish approached me.
“I can tell you are in love with ancient Japanese Gardens Emma.” Brutes said.
“I have always been fascinated by the Ancient Japanese era and how our ancestors lived when I was a child.” I pick up a lotus flower and decorate my hair with it.
“All you need is a kimono and you are all set to be an Ancient Japanese princess,” Brianna said with a chuckle.
Despite my happiness, Charlie continued to grumble about the change of venue and blamed Andrew for it. We ignored their childish banter and walked into the building to check-in.
“Yes. Our Master has told us all about your coming young master.” the old woman said keeping her head bowed. “He said your friends can pick any room they want.”
I was elated. “Do you have rooms with a view of the garden?”
“Why yes! We have rooms with a view of the ocean and beach and there are special rooms for couples and honeymoon makers as well,” she replied.
“We’ll take it!” Jake quickly said and before I could protest, he was already running down the hall with our luggage.
“Young master stop!” the old woman yelled. “The rooms are the other way!”
And that is how I was stuck sharing a room with Jake. Was I happy? A little. It had everything I wanted with a balcony showing the view of the garden and I was admiring it while Jake unpacked our things.
‘This place is amazing! They even have a hot spring here!’
Then someone knocked on the door, it was the maids.
“We have been requested by the young master to pamper you,” they said in unison which scared me a bit.
“Uh, okay.”
They lead the way to the spa house. There I took a shower while being scrubbed with nylon pads, got a massage, and had my feet soaked in water filled with tea leaves while my hair was steamed and conditioned. When I was done, they draped me in a kimono worn by people of royalty which was white and decorated with gold flowers, did my make-up, and packed my hair packed in a ponytail.
“Thank you,” I say taking a bow to them. They bowed back and I walked into the hall where my friends were getting ready to hit the beach.
“Wow Emma, you look gorgeous!” Brianna said.
“I’ll say! Ancient Japanese custom fits you.” Andrew added.
“Looks like you are not coming with us to the beach then.” Brutes said in a monotone voice.
I shake my head, bid them goodbye and go off to explore the garden.
‘Looks like they have plenty of attractions here.’ I said as I walked around. ‘Children are flying kites, an old lady is telling kids stories and…’ I gasped. ‘They even have a Japanese theatre!’
I go there but was stopped by three maids.
“I am sorry young mistress but you are not allowed to come here.” One said.
I was disappointed. “Why?”
“This stage is set up because one of our patrons is getting married.” Said another.
“We do not want any disturbance.” They said the last one.
“Please come during the evening. Then you will be permitted to see the marriage ceremony and the play commence.”
I nod, bow to them, and leave. One of the little girls was near the pool trying to reach a lotus flower so I go there, and get one for her. She thanked me and ran off to her mother leaving me with a smile on my face.
“Looks like you love children don’t you Beloved.”
I turn around and see Jake and gulp. He was wearing the same kimono as me but he was wielding a sword in his hand.
“Does my Beloved find me handsome?” he asked snapping me out of my trance.
The words got stuck in my throat because of how handsome he looked in it and when he took my hand in his, a gentle breeze blew causing the petals from the Sakura trees to flutter beside me. Blushing heavily, I look away and pull my hand from his grip.
“I am sorry Jake but I have to go.”
I quickly turn to leave but he held my hand.
“Then let’s go. Together.” He said caressing my face.
Together, we lunch under the Sakura trees, listened to the tale of the cursed mermaid being told by an old woman, fly kites and learn the ‘Dance of the Fallen Flower’. Then we fall asleep on the soft grass.
I wake up to find myself sleeping on his chest with him watching me. Blushing, head to the theatre just in time to see the wedding procession take place between the couple and the play commence.
‘You have to admit the scene between the both of you was romantic.’
I turn red. ‘Shut up.’
ns 15.158.61.54da2
