Chapter 2
One year later
One year has already passed and we are still friends with Brandon and Alessandra . That year was the year when I finally admitted to myself that I really was falling for Brandon. I am in love with him and i want to make him my boyfriend, it will kill my dad but i got mom on my side when i told her what i was about to do today.
Flashback
"WHAT?!"
"Shhh! Mom! You are going to attract attention to us."
"I am so sorry Risa but this is a shock to me, i am happy for you but very worried for that boy."
"Wait, what? Why?"
"Because once you start dating him, your dad is going to torture that poor boy. But I promise you I will do everything in my power to calm your dad down, he knows that you are not a little girl anymore, you will be turning 15 soon. In some cultures, that makes you an adult. But not adult enough to raise kids so you better not have sex before marriage, i know that is what all parents say but that is what i believe in and it's not to have sex before marriage because i didn't, i didn't sleep your father until we were married and i told him i wouldn't either and respected my decision and still waited and loved me until the day he proposed married me and he he showed me that loved me even more."
"I know mom, i would not be having sex before marriage and i do want to have a special intimate moment with the person i marry."
"Good, but also know that you should not judge people who doesn't share the same believe and decisions we do. we should respect each other."
"I know mom." i said smilling at her
"So when am i going to meet my son-in-law?" she said smilling widely at me.
"Mama!! He isn't your son-in-law yet you know!? He's not even my boyfriend yet either!"
"I know but by the way you talk about him and you spent all night chatting and texting him, I think you both are made for each other like your dad and I. A perfect match!"
"Well, maybe after I ask him to be my boyfriend and we go on a few dates, then you will meet him." Mom then smiled widely at me.
Present
Me,Ryo and Brandon were at our usual seats at the cafeteria but Alessandra hadn't arrived yet. We were all curious where she was until we heard a voice coming from afar.
"Brandon! Guys!" we saw Allie running towards us while dragging another girl's hand.
When she reached the table that we were sitting at, I got a clear look of the girl. She was a tan girl with dirty blonde hair with light blue eyes, she was as pretty as Alessandra.
"Meet my new best friend Kristeena!" she exclaimed.
"Hi" Kristeena said softly while waving at us awkwardly.
"Hey there," Brandon said. "What do you mean by your new best friend? I thought I was your best friend?"
"Well, i can have 2 right? And plus she is my girl best friend, I've been wanting for one for a while now." Allie replied.
"Ouch! So sorry that we don't have the same parts between our legs then." he said jokingly and we all laughed.
After meeting Kristeena, I started writing a love letter to Brandon and confessed my love to him. Mom and Aiko gave me some advice on how to write it and it's the same advice, 'follow your heart' which I did and poured all my feelings into the letter and it was finally perfect.
I was about to give the letter to him at school until Kristeena showed up. "Hey Lisa!"
I looked behind me at other girls that she might be calling for. "Who?"
"You, silly! Your name is Lisa right? Lisa ya- okay i can't pronounce your last name."
"Ummm, no my name is Risa Yamamoto not Lisa ya- whatever. Why are you calling me?" I asked as I started feeling something very suspicious about her on the way she approached me.
"Well, i heard that you like Brandon." she said and I started blushing uncontrollably. "Oh how cute! You do like him!" she started squealing which sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
I pulled her aside near the lockers and whispered to her. "How did you know that? Who told you?!"
"No one, I just saw how you look at him and I promise, your secret is safe with me and Brandon wouldn't find out that you like him like that."
"Okay........"
"Just a little advice, woman to woman. I don't think you should confess to him yet, from the letter that you are holding which might be a confession love letter, it's not the best time to do that." she said, shaking her head.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because i heard that Brandon is not dating any girls under 18 since Brandon is turning 18 next year, he is waiting until his 18 to start dating and it would be inappropriate for him to date a 15 or 16 year old girl don't you think? Brandon is a stand-up guy and also he said...uh... that he doesn't want to lose his virginity before marriage so if you are thinking of having sex with him anytime soon, bad idea."
"He said that?"
*Oh my god! That is so sweet! There are not many guys that would think or have those values. Mama, grandma and grandpa would love him! He would be accepted into the family for sure! What would make it better if he wants-*
"And he also wanted to be with only girl for the rest of his life, so he would like his first girlfriend to be his wife in a few or couple of years, probably would even get married during college like maybe a year of dating or maybe a few months too."
*What?! that is how mama and papa met, that was their story too, mama and papa was just together for a few months to know each other and then they got married after that. Yes! This must be a sign that we are meant to be together. Maybe fate are telling me that Brandon is my soulmate! This all can't be coincidences*
I started grinning like an idiot until I noticed Kristeena looked at me confused and then I stopped. "Uh...yeah, I will take note of that. Thank you for telling me Kristeena, that was really nice of you for helping me."
"Oh... your welcome Risa." she said still looking confuse at me why i was smilling and giggling just now.
The bell rang. "Oh, i better start going to class now and so should you, bye!" i said running and grinning at the same time, feeling the joy and warmness in my heart.
I went and told Ryo everything that Kristeena told me and he was as surprised as I was.
"Wow, a teenage boy who is abstinent and already deciding to have a commited realtionship and marrying that girl, You don't see that much nowadays, unfortunately. It seems unbelievable."
"I know right?! But I think it shouldn't be a surprise to us as Toni Rossi was a virgin before he slept with Izzy and Izzy was a virgin too! They both were virgins and didn't slept with anyone but each other after they got married! So maybe me and Brandon will too! I just have to wait till I'm 18 and I am going to be Mrs Risa Johnson. 'Oh are you Mrs Johnson?'" I started reenacting a random scene in my mind. " 'oh yes, i am and this is my husband Mr Johnson." I started being too dramatic that my brother had to tell me to stop as some people in our class were staring at me. I blushed as i sat back on my seat.
It was amazing to find out all this about him, he is like the perfect guy for me and when i tell mom which i will, she is going to be so happy.
At the cafeteria
Ryo and I went to the cafeteria and we got our food. I felt like I was on cloud nine and Ryo noticed that and helped choose my food as I almost tried to take prune juice by accident, so he replaced it with chocolate pudding. Which got me thinking; why is there prune juice on the menu anyway?
We went to our table and saw Allie and Kristeena chatting and it looked like they're gossiping about something. Suddenly out of nowhere, Ryo started speaking.
"So what are you ladies talking about?"
"Oh nothing" said Kristeena as both she and Allie started giggling
We sat down and Ryo faced me and turned me around to face him, which I am happy he has the strength now because the doctor says that he was finally healthy to attend school normally.
He looked at me seriously. "Watashi wa kanojo o shin'yō shite imasen( i don't trust her)
"Nani? (what?)" I replied to him back. He then mouth the name 'Kristeena'
My eyes widened when he said that but before I asked him anymore questions Brandon came by and then I forgot everything about Ryo's suspicion.
"Hey guys!" i looked up and saw Brandon walking towards us
* look at that! An abstinent and committed guy that wants to marry and wants to spend his life with the first girl he dates. I thought i would marry someone like papa but it turns out i would also marrying someone like my grandpa. I love my grandpa, he was always so nice to me... Just like Brandon!*
"Hey Senpai!"
"Hi... woah, i thought that was just a phase, so you are really sticking with that?" he asked me.
"YES!" I replied while smiling widely at him.
"What's Send-pie?" Allie asked
"Wow that was closed. She called me Senpai, it means senior, it's what you call an upperclassman or someone who is a few years older than you."
*Hehehe, i started teaching Brandon on how to speaking Japanese, well, conversational Japanese anyway. He is kind of a fast learner and i taught him to eat Japanese food too as to prepare him for being with my family. Hey, I can't be blamed for training him to learn more about the Japanese language food. i am just teaching the basics like saying hello, good bye, where is the bathroom. My japanese side of the family is traditional and brutal, he needs to be trained. Especially for Obasaan, she is one of the most important to impress. She is counted as the 2nd head of the family besides my Ojiisaan*
We then continued our other conversations as per usual and I am happy that my future with Brandon is set.
Back home
When I came back home and took a shower and changed my clothes, i went to the kitchen as i smelled my mom's cooking. She always tries to switch it up from western food and japanese food.
Mom wasn't always a housewife, she studied education in college and switched to skating, she was an olympic skater and won medals but mostly it was silver but she always grateful for what she has, whether it's gold, silver or bronze. It was material things to her, she always said relationships are what last forever. Like her friendship with a woman named Maya, she always says their friendship made them stronger and they were like sisters from different parents. I wish I got to meet Maya but they lost contact years ago when mom moved to Japan for a few years.
"Hey mom! Western or Asian?" I asked.
"You know normal kids would ask what's for dinner, not what ethnicity the food is." she chuckled
"Yeah but it's easier for me to ask that question instead of the name of the food, i'm weird that way."
"Yes you are Risa but i love you anyway." mom said and i kissed her cheek.
Mom stepped away from the pot and lowered down the heat, she sat down at the table and I pulled up a chair and sat next to her grinning like an idiot. She noticed and looked at me with a confused look on her face.
"Why are you smiling like that? Did something good happen at school?" she asked
"YES!" I exclaimed. "Something wonderful happened at school mama."
"Really? What happened?" she asked
I told her everything I found out about Brandon of what Kirsteena told me and mom smiled widely as I did when I found out.
"Really? Wow! At this day an age? I was lucky when your dad waited for me until our wedding night but finding a guy like that is rare. So Brandon is really waiting until marriage to have sex, i never saw him but if it's true your grandpa would love him and knowing that he is abstinent would calm your dad down if you're dating him.'' Mom's smile became wider.
"I think both sides would be happy, which is the first for our family usually it was either one side isn't happy or both sides. I would love to meet him someday Risa, did you confess your feelings for him yet? How did he respond?" she asked curiously.
"Well I didn't, because it turns out since Brandon is going to be 18 next year, what Kristeena had told me that he thought it would be inappropriate for him to date anyone who is under 18 and I try to make sense of that. Maybe he thinks he will get in trouble for dating a minor which is possible mama."
"Well, yeah but depending on how your relationship goes and with our consent,you can get married even though one of you is a minor and i think i can get your dad to agree to it."
"Why are we talking about marriage now?"
"That is where you are going with this right and also Ryo told me you were changing your last name to his in class." mom started chuckling
*RYO! You are so lucky you are my brother and i love you because if i don't you would be getting your butt whoop!!!*
"OH! The soup is done!" Mom stood up and turned off the stove. "Now where are the good bowls I have? Where did I last put it?"
Mom can be forgetful sometimes but I remember where she put it, so I wave my hand and the cupboard flung open and the bowls flew on top of mom, she notices and looks at me angrily but also humouring me as well.
"Here you go mom" I said while lowering down the bowls to her.
"Thanks Risa, you are getting good at your magic. How is your flying lessons? Still reckless?"
"No! It's better now, didn't the teachers in that academy tell you about my lessons yet? I have improved from my reckless ways as they say it."
"Yeah, they did and hopefully it sticks that way from now on."
After that conversation with mom, I went up to the bedroom and saw Ryo was studying. I went and sneaked behind him slowly.
"BOO!"
"AH!"
"Hey what are you doing? You kinda look tensed all of a sudden. Did any of those dumb jocks are teasing you again? if they did i will knock them down! No one messes brother! and plus picking on someone who is minding their own business is so 2000s"
"No Risa, it's just I have a bad feeling like something is going to happen and I don't want it to happen." he said while holding his chest.
"Nothing is going to happen, you are over exaggerating! Hey i kinda want to tell you something, i thought of like just giving Brandon the letter now, instead of just waiting till i turn 18. Like it is obvious we are meant to be together, he is like my best friend and we know alot about each other and he supports all my decisions. He is absolutely perfect!" I said while falling onto my bed and hugging my pillow tightly.
"Sure, if you want to Risa, i fully support your realtionship with Brandon, he is such a nice guy and you guys seems so good together."
"Right?!"
"And i would be happy for him to join the family and be my brother-in-law"
"Aww!!! Thanks Ryo for your support." i said hugging my twin brother. "But i would actually need the support of papa too, mama is already is on my side on so are you. you got my back bro? would you help me and mama convince papa to be with Brandon?"
"Risa, you know i got your back and fully support you and your decision, well the logical ones anyway that don't seem dangerous." he chuckled and i rollled my eyes and chuckled and laughed with him too.
"Thanks bro." I said hugging him again.
"No problem sis" he said hugging me back again.
The next day, I heard from some people that Brandon and Alessandra were going to the carnival that was near the park that night. So i thought that it would be a great romantic place for me to confess my feelings for him, and i can tell Alessandra to leave us alone while i'll tell him.
I told mom that I was going to do it and I would be out late to go to the carnival, Ryo says he would come later on as he has some errands to do. I was so excited i started walking and skipping like a little girl, i was just so chipper and happy! I am confessing to the boy I love, my best friend, the love of my life, my soulmate, my Brandon!
And then i saw it, i stopped on my tracks once i reached the carnival and my eyes widened and it started watering. I held tightly onto the love letter that I had in my hand, almost crumpling it when I saw them.
Brandon and Alessandra kissing.