Title: EVERYBODY’S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT ME AND MY HONEYStarring: Yamashita Tomohisa and Inoue Mao and A LOT of other famous people
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Love/comedy
Disclaimer: No I don’t own Yamapi (though I wish and pray hard I do) or Mao. I am not whatsoever affiliated with JE either. It’s fiction. Look it up in the dictionary.
Chapters: ?
CHAPTER 9Johnny sat down in front of Yamapi with a cigar between his lips. He was old indeed, but he still had that perpetual intimidating aura that all that juniors feared and respected at the same time. Yamapi sat timidly in his huge modernly-designed office. It was cold and the eerie silence was deafening. He knew what was coming, so he wasn’t nervous or scared. However, he was a bit surprised at how fast news traveled. Yamapi clenched his fists and showed no fear. Johnny put the pictures of Yamapi entering Mao’s building at night and another one of him leaving the next morning. Yamapi caught a glance of it and had to laugh in his head. These photographers need a life, he thought.
“I was able to negotiate with the publishers. They weren’t exactly eager and easy to talk to, but I had my way.” Johnny said calmly, his vice husky and low.
He almost sounded like the Godfather. He puffed another puff from his cigar.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“Inoue Mao.”
“Ah. The actress.”
“Right.”
Johnny leaned back in his armchair leisurely.
“Even though I stopped the tabloids from printing these pictures, they will not discontinue their plot. The word is out, and you will see that everyone will be watching your every move. Including hers. When another picture or rumor comes out, I will not be able to prevent it anymore. Do you understand?” he explained in a mild tone.
Yamapi nodded.
“News is at its height of success today. I’m happy about that. Are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then I want you to enjoy and cherish this time of your life. This is an opportunity that will simply not happen to everyone. You are on top. You are young, popular, and successful. This is the time in your life where’ you’re supposed to be focused on yourself and your career, while you still have it all.”
“With all due respect Johnny-san, my world does not revolve around my profession alone. I love it, and I am grateful but I also like a normal life where I can be with a girl I like, like all the other normal guys in the world.”
“Yes I understand that. But the public doesn’t. You are not just normal for them, and it’s true. They demand perfection. They don’t want to see flaws. You hold an image that everyone fawns over, and they put you on a pedestal. You do not want to throw that away. You did not enter here to disappoint people who loved you and supported you while you climbed your way up.”
Yamapi watched the cigar smoke billow as he thought of a good comeback.
“You’re young. You have all the time in the world to be with the person you like. But for now, the only time you have is for yourself and for the world. A little soon, when you’re older perhaps and graduated from News, you can do anything you wish. That is the perfect time, because you have already done everything.”
There is no way out, Yamapi thought. He didn’t want to be dictated and manipulated again, especially this time. He didn’t want to be defeated.
“I can’t break up with her.” he spoke up, mustering all the courage he had in him.
Johnny merely looked at him, placed his cigar neatly on the ashtray, then leaned back comfortably in his leather armchair.
“You are aware that you could not only be jeopardizing your own career, but your band members’ as well? You are a big part of the group.”
Yamapi didn’t really think about that. He didn’t want the whole News to get dragged down with him. This time he didn’t have an answer in mind.
“You’re a smart boy. You’ll think this through. I’ll give you at least two days to clear your head. After which, you can come back to me and tell me what you really want out of this business.” Johnny said nonchalantly in a final tone of voice.
Yamapi knew that the conversation was done, and he had to leave. Leave, he thought. The word echoed in his head like a foghorn. he got inside his car and drove beyond the legal speed limit. His head was all mixed with different thoughts; thoughts he couldn’t comprehend and make out. He had no idea what was going to be his next step, even though he knew that time will come eventually, only it came earlier than expected. He barged into his house, skimmed through his closet and grabbed a few clothes. He paced it in a bag and left a note for Akanishi on the mirror saying he was going away for a while. He then hurried back to his car with his stuff and called up Mao.
“Hello?”
“Mao-chan? Are you at home?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Pack your stuff. We’re going somewhere.”
“Heh? Now?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know yet. Just bring only a few stuff, ne.”
“But why are we going so suddenly?”
“You are very inquisitive. Enjoy a little mystery from time to time. Hurry up I’m on my way.”
He hung up before she could ask more questions. I will not falter, he said to himself. He needed a break, and he needed to get away for a while. I have a right to enjoy life the way I want it, damn it, he added. He arrived at Mao’s place in a snap, and she was already waiting outside with her stuff. She got in looking confused.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“We’re celebrating holidays.”
“Heh? Holidays? There’s no holiday today.”
Yamapi stepped on the gas and began their road trip to nowhere. He was still deciding whether to go to Osaka or Kyoto.
“What are your favorite holidays?” he asked.
The strangeness of his behavior still startled her, but then again, he was an impulsive person.
“Hmm. I like Christmas of course. Uhm… Valentines too. My birthday, and then New Year.”
“Yosh. Then we’ll celebrate all of those holidays today.”
“Eh? Nande?”
“Why, would you rather stay with Koichi, because I can just drop you off there.”
“No, no I’m fine.” she said, patting his arm.
Something is definitely fishy, she thought, but shrugged aside the thought. The whole ride they had the radio on full blast , singing along to songs of Ayumi Hamasaki, Morning Musume, Orange Range, GReeeN, etc. When News’ single Weeeek came up, Mao jokingly covered her ears and switched it to another radio station. Yamapi laughed and hit her head playfully. They made a stopover at a store where Mao bought lots of food (and candies) and Yamapi bought a few packs of fireworks. They played like kids while shopping—Mao jumping into the shopping cart and Yamapi pushing her through the aisles while she says “Faster! Faster!” When their joyride continued, Mao fell asleep, tired from all the playing and singing. Yamapi felt a little lonely with her sleeping so he kept singing on his own.
They ended up somewhere in the Kyoto Prefecture. It was a part where it wasn’t exactly deserted, but it was surely a peaceful and quiet part. There were establishments and buildings, which looked just like the ones in Osaka. He felt comfortable with the place so he decided to stay there. He found a small but decent-looking hotel (not a motel, mind you) and parked in front of it.
“Mao-chan. Wake up.” he said.
Mao stretched and yawned and looked out the window.
“Where are we?”
“Kyoto Prefecture. Come on.”
The got off, bringing and carrying everything. They checked in and the concierge gave them a room with one bed (they totally didn’t ask for it). When they went up to their room, Yamapi raided the mini bar and Mao checked the view from the window.
“Oh! Champagne!” Yamapi cried, sticking his head inside the mini bar.
“That’s probably an expensive one don’t touch that.” she said.
“Ne, let’s celebrate New Year first.” he said excitedly, rummaging through the shopping bags.
“Where are we supposed to do the fireworks?”
“They have a rooftop. There’s a pool thee too.”
It was perfect. It was early in the evening. The fireworks would light up the dark sky beautifully. They went to the rooftop wearing shorts and thick jackets. They jumped up and down as soon as they got up because of the stinging cold wind.
“Hurry, hurry.” Mao urged him, as he hastily lit the fireworks one by one. He ran far from it as soon as he was done lighting them and he and Mao covered their ears.
“Countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5…”
“…4, 3, 2, 1...”
The fireworks set off, like mini space shuttles shooting up the sky and bursting into beautiful beads of light. One sparked after another, embedding the sky with diamond-like sparkles.
“Happy new year!” they greeted each other and hugged while jumping and bouncing.
“Sugoi.” Mao yelled amidst the cracking sounds of the fireworks.
“What’s your resolution?” he asked.
“To get inside from the cold.”
“Okay.”
They hurried back inside before any of the caught a cold. They held hands as they walked their way back to their room.
“It was nice, ne?” Yamapi said in a cutesy voice.
“Hai, hai, I liked it Pi-chan.” she chirped and tiptoed to give him a quick kiss.
“Yosh. Let’s celebrate your birthday next.” he said.
They went back to their room and sat on the bed with candies and junkfood before them.
“This is such an unhealthy birthday.” he said, looking at all the candy she bought.
“This is my fantasy birthday party. With candy and junkfood.” she chirruped, and put a lollipop in her mouth.
“You’re really still a kid.”
“Where’s my birthday present?” she demanded, extending her hand to him, palm facing up. Yamapi grabbed it and kissed it.
“Eh? None?”
“That was my gift. A kiss.”
“You suck.”
“Ah. Chotto matte.”
Yamapi got up, took something from a shopping bag and ran to the bathroom. Mao laughed.
“Eh? Is this the perfect time to take a dump?”
Seconds later, Yamapi came out holding a nig cupcake with yummy-looking icing and a small candle on it. He jumped on the bed and held it before her.
“Kyaaa I have a cake.” she squealed.
“Make a wish.”
Mao closed her eyes and opened them after a long time.
“That was a long wish.”
“I had to be specific.”
“Blow it.”
“Aren’t you going to sing?”
“Do I have to?”
“Of course. It’s not a birthday without the singing.”
Yamapi reluctantly sang the birthday song while Mao looked at him amusedly.
“Okay, now blow the candle.” he said after his song.
Mao grinned and blew the candle.
“Kawaii! Now eat it before I do.” he said, handing the cupcake to her. He took the lollipop from her mouth and put it in his.
“Oichi!” she said after taking a bite.
They devoured on candies until their stomach and teeth ached. It was more like they went trick or treating than celebrating a birthday. Yamapi lied down on the bed while Mao rested her head on his stomach.. They were half in pain, half in sugar rush.
“I want a letter for valentines.” she said.
“I’m bad at writing letters.”
“Come on. I’ll write you one too.”
“Okay.”
They lazily got up and each picked their corner in the room to write each other a letter. They were quiet and busy on their own for a long time, putting a lot of effort and thought into their rather fake Valentine letter.
“I’m ready when you are.” Mao said after what seemed like forever.
“I’m done.”
They sat on the bed again, holding their letters.
“Hai. Let’s switch.” she said, and they exchanged, and began reading silently, their backs turned to each other. Yamapi sat up and walked towards the window. Mao’s letter for him went:
Pi-chan! ^_^
Happy Valentines! <3 Although it’s not really Valentines I want to say that I like you. But you probably know that already, ne. >_< While I was watching the fireworks, I wanted to grasp them in my hand. They were so beautiful and I wanted it to go on forever. I didn’t want it to end. Much like this day. I don’t want this day to end. Life became more interesting since you and I met. I didn’t expect you would somehow end up in my life. I learned a lot. I learned how much of a good person you are, how down to earth you are, and how sweet you are. The you I’ve come to know is different from the you that I expected. I want you to stay beside me always, even if you don’t have to say anything. We don’t really need words to keep each other company ne? So I ask you to stay, unlike the fireworks that disappear quickly. I’ll have you in a leash to make sure you don’t go! >_<
Love, Mao-chan
Yamapi didn’t know why, but reading her words somehow caused pain to rise in his chest. He leaned on the window as he watched her read his letter in silence.
His letter went:
Honey…<3
I don’t rally know how to make letters. But for you I’ll try my best to explain how I feel since its Valentines. ^_^ I guess I can tell you a story. I’m good in that area. Once upon a time, there lived a girl. Black hair, black eyes. When she smiled, I smiled. When she cried, I cried. Every single thing that happened to me that mattered in some way had to do with her. She’s very sweet, but she hits. She’s very thoughtful, and reminds me of my mother sometimes. She smells really good. After I spend the day with her, I go to bed at night with my clothes still smelling like her. She’s someone truly special that I can’t stop thinking about. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met and just knowing she’s not far from me has given me this constant fluttering in my stomach. It keeps me awake at night. When I think about who I can tell talk to about this, the only person that comes to mind is you, because you are the one I feel this way about. You know the girl I’m talking about, ne? She’s holding this letter. If I tried to tell this to anybody else, they’d say that you and I are impossible, that our lives are too complicated, that we would never be right for each other. But we understand each other and care for each other and ages from now, I believe we still will. I love you. Now, forever, and everyday in between. Happy valentines.
Mao finished the letter with tears streaming down her face. Yamapi didn’t realize she was crying since she had her back turned to him. She got up from the bed sobbing, walked towards him and hugged him.
“Heh? Nanni?” Yamapi aid.
She cried a little harder, making his shirt wet.
“Ne, ne. I told you I hate seeing you cry.”
She didn’t budge and held him tighter. He remembered his talk with Johnny and it occurred to him at that moment that if Mao wasn’t letting go, he wouldn’t either. He hugged her back and stroked her little head.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I don’t know either.”
He silently laughed and wiped her cheeks with his shirt. The little droplets of tears that clung to her eyelashes made him want to cuddle her. It was the most adorable thing he ever saw. He led her to the bed and they both tucked themselves in. They got too dizzy from all the sugar and the writing they did. Yamapi turned off the lam and took his shirt off. He leaned in to give her their usual goodnight kiss but somehow they both didn’t ant to part from that kiss. They sunk it deeper and deeper into it, until gradually became more than just a kiss. When one thing leads to another, there’s usually no stopping it and so they begin to undress each other and unlike the other nights that they slept in one bed, this time, something actually happened. And the only description of it that you’ll ever get is that it was definitely worth Yamapi’s wait.
Yamapi woke up at the dead of night. He looked at the clock on the bedside table and it glowed 3:45. Only then did he realize that he was naked, and so was Mao who was curled up in a fetal position close to him. They were buried under the thick heavy duvet covers but it was still a bit cold. He smiled at Mao’s outline in the dark, and kissed her bare shoulder. He felt for his boxer shorts on the floor beside the bed and blindly reached for it and slipped it on before quietly getting out bed. He took his phone from his bag and dialed for Akanishi.
JIN: [mumbling] Hello?
PI: [whispering] Jin.
JIN: Where the hell are you?
PI: Ssh. I’m in Kyoto.
JIN: Why are you there? Johnny found out didn’t he? I heard it awhile ago from the juniors.
PI: Yeah, photographers followed me. Johnny got hold of it though.
JIN: He asked you to end it?
PI: Not really. He told me to think about what I really want out of the business.
JIN: That’s the same thing. He’s implying that you dump that girl because JE is far more important. I mean, the guy made you. He put you on the map.
PI: I don’t want to be told what to do with my personal life. Not anymore. I came here with her to find out what to do and I’ve decided I’m not leaving her. If Johnny resolves to suspend me for defying his orders then so be it.
JIN: [gasps like a girl] What are you turning into?
PI: I’m sick of the system. I’m close to quitting.
JIN: Don’t say things like that. We all are. You’re not the only one who’s suppressed you know. We’re all not allowed to have a normal relationship. We can sleep with girls for a short time then end it, I mean, that’s the fun part, remember?
PI: See that’s the thing that makes me different from you guys. I want to be serious. I’m sick of screwing around.
JIN: So what are you going to do now?
PI: I don’t know. Look I called to let you know where I cam. And don’t worry, we didn’t elope. We’re coming back tomorrow. Bye.
JIN: Pi. Please make the right decision.
Pi: [long pause] Ja ne.
Yamapi hung up and sat there on the floor for a long time, leaning on the bed. What was the right decision, he thought. A lot was going on in his head and it was driving him mad, and the only sanctuary that can pacify him was being beside Mao, so he climbed back up in bed and carefully wrapped his arm around her. He closed his eyes to go back to sleep and didn’t realize she was actually awake.
--END OF NINTH CHAPTER--
