Chapter 25: Chapter 25

After Ren left the hospital to get ready for school, and once he made sure that Reiko is fast asleep, Van decided to go outside to smoke.

Outside the hospital building, Van pulled out a cigarette stick and tries to light it. But the lighter seems to be broken. After a few more tries, he angrily gave up and threw it at a trash bin.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the summer breeze...

Van suddenly remembered the most wonderful summer that ever happened to him 8 years ago.

And it was also the season of nightmare. The clock of time stopped when the person he ever loved passed away, without any warning...

Van shook his head, as if shaking all the negative thoughts from of his mind.His bitterness and anger made him remember what happened many years ago.

Nao would still be living her life to the fullest if it wasn't for Seira Yoshida.

But something has been bothering him since he went to the welcome party.

He saw the shock on Seira's face when their eyes met... There was something about her expression that made his cold heart waver for a few seconds. The way she looked at him... He doesn't know why, but her eyes felt so familiar.

He snapped out from his deep reverie when his phone rang again. When he saw on the

caller screen that it was his boss, he quickly answered the call.

"Van? How's Reiko?" his boss asked.

"Reiko's fine. She's taking a rest now.Are you in the office, boss?" Van abruptly changes the subject.

"Yes,and I'm working on a big scoop,Van... If only we could gather more evidence

against Mr. Yoshida, then this would be a big bomb to the business world. And since we're talking about it,I just received a tip from our sources that the big man will be having a business meeting with his associates tomorrow afternoon." informed the editor-in-chief.

"Meaning he's doing drugs in exchange for some bloody money." affirmed Van.

"Right. So I'm gonna do a stake-out----!" Mr. Matsumoto stopped at mid-sentence when

Van interrupted him.

"I'll do it.The meeting is by tomorrow afternoon, right?" he said hastily.

"Huh? How about Reiko?" his boss puzzily asked,still a little hesitant and worried about Reiko.

"Ren will take care of her after his classes." Van replied.

"Are you sure about this?" his Boss asked asked again.

"I'll be in the office at 7 am. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Van firmly stated, then he ended the call.

=======================

The next morning...

Matsumoto Publishing House.

"Here's the information on Mr. Yoshida's drug dealings for the past years..."

Van thoughtfully read the document infront of him.

"The next exchange deal is at Pier 21? Aren't rich people usually meet up in a classy hotel or something?" Van sarcastically muttered.

The editor-in-chief smacked Van in the head.

"You know what? I think I should be the one investigating this." he announced.

"Please leave this to me, Chief. One good shot of Yoshida Sousuke holding a bag of

money in exchange of drugs will be a one-way ticket for any photographer's award.." mused Van, while holding his old camera.

"Are you sure you want to do this,Van? This could be more dangerous than you think."

cautioned the editor-in-chief.

"I've been tailing Yoshida for almot 8 years now, Chief. I think it's time for some action. I've been waiting for this." Van stated, while looking determined.

The Editor-in-Chief nodded at him, but he was still looking a little hesitant.

"Well, to tell you the truth, you've been working hard since you started here... But

if you encounter ANY problem,don't hesitate to call me. I'm still your boss,so you still have to report everything to me." he lectured Van.

"I'll think about it. I'll be back with the photos." Van snatched the camera and slung it around his neck. He walked out of the office without looking back.

======================

After that conversation with his Editor-in-Chief, Van drove rightaway to Yoshida humongous mansion to start with his surveillance.

Van looked at his wristwatch. He has been waiting for almost 5 hours now but there's still no sight of his subject. He took a deep calming breath as he lights another cigarette. If he has to give up his sleep just to catch that single shot of evidence that he's looking for, then so be it. There's no turning back.

==========================

At the same time.

I was staring at my reflection in the mirror while I was deep in thought.

I'm still not used of the idea of living a life of a stranger. There's so many names that I need to remember... I needed to act and think as Seira Yoshida.

I need to stay this way until I figure out what really happened to me and how can I

get away from this...

My mobile phone suddenly rang.

"Who could be calling this time?" I wondered.

Of course, it could only be Seira's circle of friends. I needed to play her role again...

"Hello?" I finally answered.

"Hey, baby." it was a male voice. He had this raspy voice and it gave me goosebumps.

"Who's this?" I tried to sound normal.

The caller on the other line laughed as if I said something funny.

"Nice joke there, baby. But kidding aside, I'm Shin. Your boyfriend, remember?" he replied.

"Oh." I was too shocked to say anything other than that.

Seira has a boyfriend? This could be a real problem. I thought.

"---Sorry if I didn't have the time to visit you while you were in the hospital. I have my own problems to attend to, baby." Shin apologetically spoke.

"I-It's alright..." I forced myself to speak again.

There was a moment of silence between us. And after a few seconds, I heard Shin's laugh again.

"I can t believe this! You're not angry with me? Maybe you were really hit in the head, huh?" Shin unbelievably cried out, as he continued on laughing.

I gulped down an imaginary lump on my throat.

"Why did you call me, Shin?" I tried to ask him.

"I know what you're going through right now, baby. Being comatosed for 8 years is not a joke. So I thought I should help you." relayed Shin.

"Help me? How?" I questioned him.

"Does he know my secret?" I asked to myself.

"I'll help you go back to your old self." said Shin.

My heart started to beat like a drumroll when I heard him.

So he knew it all along!

"Where are you?" I instantly inquired.

"Now, we're talking. Meet me at Serizawa Hotel, Room 204 in an hour." I could still hear the laughter on his voice, then the call ended.

She would finally be free! She will be back to normal again!And she will be reunited with her loved ones...

I quickly stood up and opened the closet to get ready...

After 25 minutes, I went out of the house, but some personal bodyguards blocked

her way.

"Where are you going, Miss Seira?" asked one of them.

"Oh, I'm going to meet Shin." I answered them with a smile.

The guards nodded in return.

"Then, we'll come with you." they decided.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I see. Still following my father's orders, huh?" I said, in a flat tone.

"We apologize, but this is for your own good." said the others.

"This way, please." one guard ushered her.

They all made their way outside where her personal car is parked.

=========================

At the same time...

Van quickly straightened from his seat when he saw Yoshida Seira along with her

personal bodyguards. One of them opened the door for her, and Seira stepped inside.

He shouldn't give a damn on Seira Yoshida's personal affairs. His main target is her father... But at the back of his mind, there's a faint voices that urges him to follow Seira and see where it could lead him.

President Yoshida will be out from his house on his way to Pier 21 where the drug exchange will take place---in fifteen minutes.

If he follows the spoiled princess he will lose his only chance.

His instincts won in the end, much to his anger and frustration.

"Dammit, you'll regret this later, Van!" he cursed himself, as he started the car engine to follow Seira Yoshida.