Chapter 1

So before we began this story I would like to credit my friend who did my cover of this story, she is a wonderful artist and very talented. here is her Insta link: https://www.instagram.com/sadface_usui/


Okay now we can begin, please comment, like and share this story with your friends and family, I would really appreciate it, now on with the story! :)


When I first met him, he was such a goofball! He made me laugh, smile and feel like I can finally act my age - a person that needs to have fun and not be an adult so soon. He was my best friend but unfortunately, I'm not his only best friend.


The day he chose her was overwhelming for me, the love of my life and also my very first love, loved another. My heart was breaking and I couldn't understand why he had chosen her instead of me. I loved him. NO! I still love him, but maybe it wasn't our fate to be together after all. Or so I thought?


I think I'm getting ahead of myself; let's go back to the beginning. No, not the beginning of time, just a few years back when I was just around thirteen or fourteen years old. When I met him - Brandon Johnson.


8Years ago


My brother and I were late for school, or should I say mostly, I made us late for school. We had to transfer to a private school instead of the public school that my older brother Kei and his fiance attended because our parents thought it would make us more proper. How proper should we be? Did I mention that my dad and his brother are part of the White Tiger Gang? He is part of a Yakuza!!! well, it is kind of a Yakuza, it's a long story but besides that, how proper do the children of the Yakuza have to be?


So moving on, we were late for school and the school gates looked like they were about to close soon. My brother, Ryo, was behind me struggling to keep up with me.


I pulled him and we ran as fast as we could until we saw the boy in front of us already reaching the gate. I pushed Ryo in front of me and ran as fast as I could so he would make it to the gate just as it closed. With the gate closed in front of me, I prepared to do what I had trained to do, jump over it.


My brother looked at me with a worried expression on his face as he thought I might get hurt but a little scratch wouldn't hurt me. I stepped back and started running at full speed and doing a few small flips before jumping on and over the gate and landing with my butt towards someone. He turned and looked at me from behind and before I knew it I was on top of him.


When I tried to compose myself, I saw that I had landed on his private area by accident as I was jumping over the gate and the boy and I looked at each other awkwardly, with my face as red as a tomato. "Sorry, I'm new here," I said smiling awkwardly at him.


The guy I landed on was a black guy, with the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen.


He chuckled at me. "Yeah, I would have guessed that would be the case. Umm, do you mind...." he pointed at where I sat and I quickly stood up and patted my skirt of dust, he did the same with his pants.


"Onēsan, are you okay?" Ryo asked me and I said I was fine.


"Onēsan? Is that your name?" the guy asked.


"Oh, no, it means older sister in Japanese. He is my younger twin brother," I explained


"You're twins?! Well, nice to meet you both or more like nice for you to jump on me, I know that I am irresistible to the ladies, that they would be falling for me" he said.


Usually, those kinds of comments would make me puke but somehow, even it surprised my brother, I giggled and laughed at his corny comments. There was something about him that made me feel happy.


"By the way, my name is Brandon, Brandon Johnson. And, you are?"


"My name is Risa Yamamoto and his name is Ryo."


After that encounter, we started hanging out. Turns out, he was a junior and didn't mind hanging out with a couple of freshmen, like us. He showed us the ropes and even Ryo, who was shy, took a liking to him and said he could be a good long-term friend, which I was hoping for.


Home


After school, we went back home in one of our uncle's mens' car. During the ride to our house, my mind went to La La Land. According to Ryo, i was smiling and grinning even when i took a nap in the car! He said he never saw me so happy before. I was, I didn't know why. All i could think is how we met Brandon and how much fun i had today at school. I felt like a kid, which was unusual.


When we reached home, mom was in the living room reading a book. She was sitting in the big armchair that was facing away from the doorway. Me and Ryo nod at each other and we both slowly sneak behind the armchair so we can scare her but of course, my mother has her instincts.


"Don't you dare; both of you," she said and turned back to look at us,smiling. I really think she has eyes at the back of her head. Or is it a mom thing? Would I get those types of instincts when I have a kid?


We both hugged her tightly. "Oh my little cuties, how was your first day of school? Didn't cause any trouble did you? Risa?" she glared at me.


"Of course not, it was pretty normal," my eyes started to wander around the room and my heart started fluttering after what came out of my mouth next. "Plus we met Brandon," I was shocked that I made a tone that sounded so soft and smooth.


"Brandon? Who is he?" mom asked.


"He's a - uh.... A new friend of ours that we met today." I said while stuttering a bit.


"Oh really?" mom said with a smirk. "A friend, you say?"


"You sure, you don't mean boyfriend?" Mom said. My eyes widened and Ryo's were too and then he started avoiding my eyes and i was confused why, he then started whistling for some reason. Then I knew why....


"BOYFRIEND?! WHAT BOYFRIEND! WHO HAS A BOYFRIEND?! SARA, PLEASE TELL ME IT'S YOU!" my dad yelled as he came barging into the conversation.


I started rolling my eyes at him and replied in disgust,"Ew! No papa, i don't have a boyfriend!"


"Wait, hold on. Are you saying that it is okay if i have an affair but it's not okay if your daughter has a boyfriend? What kind of logic is that?" mom argued.


Dad went silent and had a 'why did I say that?' kind of look on his face."No, I mean-" mom cutted him off.


"Reiji!!! what kind of logic is that? what kind of an examples are you trying to set for our children" Ryo and I tried to control our laughter and mom just kept chuckling and dad started sulking.


Mom stood up from the armchair she was sitting on and walked towards dad and hugged him. "Oh honey, i know what you mean. Don't sulk. I was just kidding." she looked up at him. "Scratch that, keep sulking, you look cute when you do." he smiled at her and they started kissing.


"You always love to play and tease me, Sara, my sweet wife, the love of my life" Dad said to Mom he started kissing her again.


"EWW! I'm out!" Ryo said .


"I AGREE!" I held Ryo's hands and took our bags and ran out of that situation as fast as possible and up to our rooms. Yes, we still share a room at 14! So what?! If you are asking us how we change our clothes, we have curtains.
And plus because, we are going to have seperate rooms soon, Mom and Dad wanted to renovate the room besides us for my room and Ryo can have this room. The reason why is because the other room had a broken pipe and just say the bathub was in the kitchen at one point. Let's just leave it at that.


We closed the curtains that were in the middle of our room and we changed into our home clothes and then Ryo started talking.


"Hey Onēsan, when mom was talking about you having a boyfriend, it got me thinking."


"Yeah?"


"Do you ever think of falling in love someday? I know you will be busy trying to prove yourself worthy in the Yakuza someday but what about love? And having a family?" he asked me and I stood there in silent.


I haven't thought about it, I had one goal in life, be the best Yakuza woman in the family and stand by my older brother kei's side as his right hand man- I mean woman! and probably the first right hand woman in the Yakuza in my family! But thinking further of getting married and having kids didn't came to mind, would I want to? I don't even know what love feels like, i've seen it plenty of times but seeing it wasn't enough to understand it.


"Onēsan?" I snapped back to reality.


"Huh? What? What are you talking about? We are still young, we are too young to think about marriage and having kids or even finding love. We are still in school. That is ridiculous!." I said as I finally changed into my home clothes which is a shirt and comfy pajama pants. "Are you decent yet?" I asked him and he said yes.


I sat at my bed and he came and sat on the edge. "Risa, you know you can always show your soft side whenever you want to right? Like today with Brandon, you seem so happy and giggling and you look so care-free. I just want to see you happy." he said to me and it almost made me tear up hearing him say that.


I quickly sat up from my bed and hugged him. "I'm glad you are my twin."


"Me too Risa, Me too."


The next day


We didn't see Brandon this morning so when we texted him and asked him where he was, he said that he came to school with his best friend and he would like us to meet his best friend during lunch and I texted him 'okay'.
*Woah, we are meeting his best friend, I wonder what he might be like? Oh, why does that even matter, I'll sure I like him as well? Besides, it is Brandon's best friend after all*


When the lunch time bell rang, we quickly rushed to find Brandon,when we did find him, he was at the outside cafeteria. We saw that he was talking to a girl with long light brown hair that we only got to see her from the back. He waved at us when he saw us but I was a bit shocked. We went towards him and put our tupperware filled with mom's home cooked food on the table.


"Hey, how was your 2nd day of school," he asked us, Ryo started talking but I couldn't concentrate as I saw the face of the girl Brandon was talking to. She was a beautiful caucasian girl with green eyes and clear skin. She looks like a grown woman! Compared to me, I look like a little girl.


"Risa?" Brandon called me


I snapped back to reality and he looked at me confused on how I took that long to answer a simple question. "Oh...i'm" I looked at the girl again. "It was okay" I stuttered


"That's good! Oh, I forgot to introduce you to my best friend; Alessandra , well I like to call her Allie," he said. My brother said hi and so did I as I kept staring at her, well more like glaring at her. The name Alessandra was really a good fit for her from the way she looks. My insecurities came and snuck up on me as I began feeling jealous of this girl, which i shouldn't be, all of us are different and mom taught me that jealousy is bad, being jealous is bad because you should always appreciate and be greatful for what you have.


Alessandra was really kind and friendly with me and Ryo but I wasn't really close to her and so was Ryo. She is kind but I felt Brandon was more of a friend to me than her. Whenever I try to hang out with Brandon, she will always be there. He said that they have been friends since they were in diapers, their fathers are best friends and so are their brothers, they seem like a perfect match to me. Like childhood lovers?! Am I in a story?


The more we spend time with them, the more we get closer to them but my heart always feels closer to Brandon. I know I seem obsessed with him but there was something about him that has a calming and familiar vibe to me. I feel connected with him somehow.


A few months later


"So your sister-in-law is Aiko Naga? The japanese actress?!" Brandon asked me as we were hanging out during lunch period again.


"Yup" I said and nodded at him.


"Wow, that means she is famous! Wow, just wow!"


"Yeah, i looked up to her alot when i was little and even now, she's just so amazing!'' I told him. "I wanted to be like her one day, the confidence she has when she is up on stage, acting and performing. I know she says it's really difficult and a cut throat industry but the adrenaline though!"


Brandon looked at me. "Hey, can you act?"


I blushed and replied softly. "Yes. I kinda try and performed at home infront of my family, mostly infront of my parents, brothers and grandparents and some cousins too. when i was little."


"Aww, that is so cute of you, can you show me your acting skills? Like maybe some lines you might remember from a show or a play?" he asked me.


"You mean right here? Now? Ummm..." that day i wish Ryo was there but he got sick again and now i was alone with him, Alessandra was hanging out with her other friends.


"Okay then." i said.


Brandon had an excited expression in his face and he pulled me into the school's garden where no one would see us. "Okay, i want to see it, your acting skills, i think you would be good at it. No pressure"


"You are really determined aren't you? and you know saying no pressure to the person you asking to do something like acting gives them more pressure right?" i said and chuckle did Brandon and he apologised if he was giving me pressure by saying 'no pressure' he is such a sweet guy! he was being so supportive and cheering me on eventhough i haven't even done or said any line yet.


And then i started acting for him with lines from plays and sitcomes in both Japanese and in English that i saw in dramas and in both performances that i did made his jaw drop.


"Woah, that was amazing Risa, that was incredible, you are really talented. Maybe you and your cousin can be a duo team? You can be an actress just like her since you looked up to her so much, why not try it?"
"Well, are you sure i can do it?" i asked him


"I believe in you, trust me." he said as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and I felt his hand grazed upon my cheek, it made my heart flutter again, i see him as my confidant, my best friend and i wanted to kiss him then and there. And I almost did but...


"Brand!" Someone called out for him from behind and we saw Alessandra running towards us. "What are you guys doing here?"


"Oh, we came here cause - did you know that Risa can act? And beautiful I might add." Brandon said with a wink towards me, I blushed.


"Really? I would love to see you act, can you act for me?" She asked me.


I hesitated and the only words that came out was. "Uhhhh..." Luckily the bell rang and we had to rush back to class.
"Awww too bad, maybe next time?" She said in a friendly tone. She then took Brandon's arm and started walking." Let's go Brand."


"Hold on Allie" Brandon said while laughing at how Alessandra pulled him out of the garden.


Once I saw Alessandra and Brandon fade away from the garden, I was shocked at what I almost did and then I saw it, a butterfly in front of me. It landed on my nose and all I can now smell are flowers, and I feel warm inside. I didn't understand what I was feeling, it's a feeling I never had before. It scared me.


After that day, I couldn't explain my feelings that I had in the garden with Brandon and why I wanted to kiss him so I ignored those feelings inside. I continued the days at school normally, hanging out with Brandon and talking about things and he always brought up the subject of me being a pop star.


"C'mon!"


"No!"


"Please?" Brandon said as he used the puppy dog eyes on me.


"No! Nonononono!" i said back to him.


"But i don't get it! Why don't you want to be an actress like your sister-in-law Aiko? You can act, you can also do stunts, i saw you kick butt in the school's martial arts club and I know you can work hard on it and you can definitely memoriese lines, c'mon i saw remember your biology notes so quickly and then got an A+ and, plus your cousin has connections. Why not do it?"


"Brandon, i have..." I paused. "Another career in mind and it's important to me that I am trying to get." I said with a serious tone in my voice.


"Man, you sound serious? Okay, then what is this career you are trying to get?" he asked me and I was stunned. I didn't know what to say.


*Oh no, I can't tell him that, what am I going to say? 'Hey Brandon, I want to be the right-hand woman of my family's Yakuza, well not really in Japan but in America. It's called the White Tiger gang and almost all male members of my family join it. I want to be the first female to be in the higher ranks!' Nah! I can't say that! Think Risa, you are smart, Think!*


"Hello? Earth to Risa, Earth to Risa Yamamoto!" he said while waving his hand in front of my face, I snapped back from my thoughts. "You just space out, it's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
*Aww, he is so sweet*


"Well, let's just say that the career is only reserved for men. My brother is expected to get into this line of job but he was so sick and I wanted to take off the load of the pressure of one day working there. He is still planning to work there but I wanted to be by his side and work there too. It's dangerous for him to be alone and I thought maybe someone who knows him better would help him with stress and the workload that it gives."


Brandon looked confused. "Okay, at first I thought I got it but you just completely lost me again. But if that is what you want to do then do it, but it doesn't mean you can't do both? I don't know, some celebs have 2 careers right? I think?" he said, trying to think of celebs.


I chuckled. "I guess so. Maybe I can ask my sister-in-law for small parts of her show like an extra or something like that, maybe during summer vacation? She did have a movie or maybe a TV show that is coming up that I can audition for a role that is compatible to me too."


"That's the spirit! He said


I was really considering it as it might take time, maybe in a year or so when I can actually start working for the gang with my cousin when he takes over. I will move up to the ranks. I would also love to spend time with Aiko as she is like a big sister to me and she can teach me the ropes of being an actress. Who knows? Maybe I can make it as an actress by day and a gangster by night. Well, gangter-ish, i'll probably explain later, maybe.


The weekend


I was at home and my big brother and father were discussing 'business' stuff, but the good thing is that I get to hang out with Aiko!


"Gakkō wa dō?" (How's school?) Atarashī tomodachi o tsukurimashita ka? (Did you make new friends?)


"Okay...school is fine but why are you speaking japanese now?" I asked her.


She looked at me confused. "Oh, i'm sorry Risa. I just came back from Japan a few days ago and I'm still in japanese mode or something. I keep speaking japanese at work and I forget to switch back to english when I get back home.

"You know when I came back, I accidentally went to starbucks and ordered in japanese? The cashier was so confused." she started laughing and so did i.


"No way! That is hilarious!"


We both stopped laughing. "So did you make any new friends in your new school?"


"Yeah, I did. Kinda." I said avoiding her gaze and texting on my phone to see what Brandon was doing.


"Risa?" She tried to call me but I was busy texting Brandon and then I felt a presence over me and I looked up to see Aiko looking at my text.


"HEY! Have you ever heard of privacy?" I shouted at her.


"Well, first of all it's rude to text someone when you are already in a conversation with the person right in front of you. And second of all, who is Brandon? Your boyfriend?" she asked with a smirk on her face.


"N-n-NO! He is not my boyfriend, h-he's my friend I met at school and I just happen to find him interesting. That's all." i said


"Interesting enough to date?" she asked and i felt embarrassed. "C'mon, spill. Tell me about Brandon." she said.


And I did... i told her everything from the day we met till now, i told her how he is a good friend to me and we always hang out at school during lunch and we text a lot too. I also told her about what happened in the garden and also about how he encouraged me to try and become an actress, I looked at Aiko's face and her expressions changed and I was confused of what that face meant. Her face from listening turned into a smile where her eyes started sparkling.


"What? What is that face you're making?" I asked her.


"Ooooo someone's in love."


"What?! No! What the hell are you talking about? Me and Brandon? No way!"


"Well, from what you told me about him and again you only told me about him instead of your other friends, you are more closer to him. Whenever you even mention and say his name you start smiling widely and the most obvious of all, i didn't say it was Brandon but you did." she said with a smirk. "So i think you have a crush on him, you're falling for him aren't you?" i gulped


"So that's what it is? I'm in love with him? So that warm feeling I felt being near him is love?" i said while holding my chest as my heart started pounding.


"It feels good right? that warmness when you are near him, how you can be yourself with him and how he makes you smile whenever thinking about him. That is love. That is how i feel when i met Kei, he made me smile and gave me the same warmth that you are feeling right now and look at us, we are married and we have 2 pairs of twins, 4 kids! And I have never been happier."


"But you guys were together because of a bond our family shares, i don't think i will have that with Brandon, not that i love him or anything, we just won't be that lucky" i told her.


"Don't be so sure about that, there have been stranger coincidences before, just give it a chance maybe you guys have a bond too."


"Yeah right! Like there is a huge connection we have but I never knew about, like that could ever happen."


34 years ago


Maya's POV
My parents were taking us to our new home in New York and I didn't care where we were going because I always enjoyed car rides with them and my older siblings.


When we reached our destination, mom and dad got out of the car and my siblings did too, dad opened the door for me and picked me up from my seat and carried me. i looked up to where we were and saw that it was a huge beautiful blue house and i see some beautiful flowers on their lawn. We mostly lived in an apartment but my dad got enough money from his job working at the auto repair shop to get us a house. is this our new house?


When we were walking towards the huge beautiful blue house, we saw that there was a white man coming out of it and I was really scared because I didn't know him so I tucked my head into the crook of my dad's neck.


"Andre!, Nia! You both are finally here!" he said and hugged my mom and dad, I looked back at him and he was smiling at me. "Oh, this must be little Maya Wilson, nice to meet you." after he said that I went back to rest at the crook of my dad's neck and they all laughed.


"She is just shy." said dad


"So where is your wife and daughter?" mom asked.


"Oh they are at- oh there they are!" I looked up and saw a beautiful Asian woman with her daughter holding hands.


Dad put me down even though I protested, he turned me around to face them but all I saw was a little girl around my age.


The man started talking again "Maya Wilson, meet my daughter Sara Roberts." I was really putting my guard up among these people as I was scared but what she did next was really what made me feel safe and happy. She hugged me.


"Hi, Maya! I hope we can be best friends forever!" she said to me, well more like yelled in my ear.
​

But that was the day I met my best friend and my best sister for life.


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Chapter2