Chapter 22: Chapter 22
"The oldest form of theatre is the dinner table."
-Michael J Fox-
***
Phoebe's P.O.V
It is exactly 4P.M when a knock is heard on my door, I wonder who that may be? I hope it's not one of those strange people I saw earlier.
I turn to open the door and see a maid in kimono and she carries a black box, and I look at her in confusion, but it appears that she cannot speak English, so she hands over the box to me and bows down in respect, before leaving the room.
I don't know why, but I am not a fan of boxes and I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't agree with me, because opening boxes are like opening birthday present or something.
I sit down on the bed and stare at the box for almost a minute, wondering what is inside, before I take a deep breath, and slowly move my hand to open the box.
My eyes widen when I see what is inside, it's an evening gown, and it's not too formal or complicated at all, this gown is a soft orange color with knee length end and short sleeve, and it has three vertical silver lining on the front part and it's not exactly too glam or anything like that, but enough to be worn to parties.
A pair of white flat pump and a small piece of necklace with round pendant is inside the box as well along with the dress and it doesn't take me long enough to realize that this is meant for the dinner. I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this, not exactly in a n uncomfortable way, just a bad feeling that something I never imagine would happen.
Better get rid of this negative thought of mine before I attract it. Yes, I do believe in law of Attraction, it's just I'm not too hardcore about it, after all, people don't attract their own death or misfortune, they never wish for that, but I agree that positive thought is a must, so it's a half half situation for me.
Fortunately, they give me a private bathroom inside the room. And I hop into the shower and just clean myself, after all, I don't want to miss this opportunity, who knows what will happen after this? I may be wandering at the street again for a while before going home and I would stink by then, So showering is a must.
I put on the dress and the necklace, and since I can't possibly put on makeup at this situation, I let my bare face get exposed, and when I look at the mirror, I can see faint freckles across my nose, and slightly on each side of my cheek.
I have always thought they look kind of cute but some other time, I wish I didn't have them, but I love my face no matter what and I don't really get insecure about it. I tie my hair in a high ponytail, wear the flat pump and I'm done.
After a while, there is another knock on my room and when I go to open it, my blue eyes meet the light brown eyes and the man I know as Yuuto is standing there, and he is smiling at me, as he examines my body from the top to the bottom.
"Kirei." He murmurs, but loud enough for me to hear, and I'm not sure what the word means, but I hope it is a good one.
"I thought I would pick you to the dining room myself, I hope you are comfortable with that"
"It's fine, I don't mind." I reply.
"Well, shall we go now?" I nod my head and both of us are walking through the quiet hallway, I don't really know why it's so quiet here, it's just, before, there were a lot of people, at least the ones I have seen, so why is it that not even a maid is at sight.
We arrive at the dining room which looks like a mixture of Japanese dining room and a western one, it can be seen from the interior design which screams Japan, the floor is made out of tatami, the door is one of those Japanese sliding door called Shoji, from the sturdy wooden cupboard that has some Asian porcelain plates and tea set in the corner, to the Japanese calligraphies which seems to be written in Kanji hung on the walls, everything looks very traditional, but the way the dining table is arranged Is like one of the western, instead of the low table with cushion pillow as seats, it's a high Cream colored table with average sized cream colored chairs as well, several maids in kimono have been standing on each side of the room.
One of the maid approaches and pulls out the seat for me which makes me feel bad but I say nothing about it, and I take my seat right on the opposite side of him.
"I assume that you haven't been here for long, have you tried any Japanese food here, or would you feel comfortable with it? Perhaps, you prefer a French dish?" He speaks in a very polite manner, it makes me feel bad.
"Japanese food is fine." I speak and he nods.
"Very well, don't worry, it's nothing that would be out of your comfort zone" he smiles reassuringly, maybe he is thinking too much about it.
He speaks something to the man who seems to be the chef and he nods, before disappearing into the kitchen.
We don't have to wait for long before the maids come and bring several plates of food. Two bowls of rice are served, one for me and one for him. And another bowl filled with what seems like miso soup.
There are lots of plates with seafood in them served on the table, and I feel bad for not knowing any of their name. Except for common things like sushi and tempura, of course.
"We mostly eat seafood here, are you okay with that?"
I nod my head. Honestly, he doesn't have to try that hard, it makes me feel bad.
I look at the food, and they look delicious.
"Itadakimasu." He speaks before eating his rice, and I'm still confused on how I am supposed to eat.
"In Japan, we usually share food, so we take part that we would like to eat from a main plate" he speaks as he uses his chopstick to grab a tempura and puts it in his mouth.
I smile and grab the chopstick. Well, I'm not quite sure how to use it properly, so I try my best to at least not look too inexperienced in using it.
He smiles at me, and I feel embarrassed because what if I do something wrong, but he speaks again.
"Take it easy, it's okay, we aren't at a formal dining event or anything, please, do eat at ease."
With those words, I feel a bit warm and begin eating my food, and surprisingly, I manage to do it well to the end of the meal without screwing something.
After we are done with the meal, we chat a little bit as the maids start cleaning up the table.
"I haven't thanked you for saving me, thank you so much."
"Ah, sure."
"No, I am really grateful, how can I possibly repay you?"
"You don't have to, you have done a lot."
"I still owe you my life, please, do stay here until you are recovered, I will try to give to the best possible service here."
I hesitate a bit, before, he smiles, and then he stands up from his seat, and approach me as he holds out his hand.
"Mademoiselle, would you take a walk with me?" He calls me mademoiselle, which I never expect before, and he is acting like a total gentleman right now.
I don't know why but my hand accepts his hand, and he folds his hand into mine, as he leads me toward another side of his house, before he stops in front of a sliding door.
He smiles at me once again and slide the door open. At the moment, I am amazed by what I see.
It's a beautiful Japanese garden, and there is an artificial pond made in the middle of it, with lots of koi fishes swimming around, and the garden has a wooden bridge with lots of beautiful flower plants, trees, bushes, and rocks arranged everywhere in a beautiful arrangement, and a mini red gazebo is placed in the end of the bridge.
Even though it's evening, there are lamps on each section of the garden, illuminating the place making the place luminous and bright.
It makes it appear as if I am in an actual garden, and not in a garden inside a building.
"We... we are still in Tokyo, aren't we?" I ask him, making sure I am not dreaming.
"Yes, we are still in Tokyo, in my place, and this garden is an artificial Japanese garden inside a building, beautiful, don't you think?" He slowly drags me inside of the garden and the sound of falling water in the pond mixed with the chirping of birds gives me a sense of relaxation.
"It's stunning." I speak and he nods, agreeing with me as we take a walk around the garden.
"It looks even better on daytime, I was thinking of bringing you here tomorrow, but I want you to feel comfortable right now, so I decide this would be a good idea."
We cross the bridge and arrive at the gazebo. we are sitting as we look at the sighting from here.
My mind is at ease, but my heart is not.
I mean, it's beautiful, but something is scaring me, I turn my head to him and stare at him for a while before he looks back at me and slightly tilts his head.
"What's wrong, Phoebe?"
"Yuuto... can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Who... who are you really?"
His expression turns cold for a moment, as if my question is a bombing question, but he smiles again.
"I guess, I can tell you this, after all, it's wrong to not tell your identity to your savior."
He takes a deep breath, before speaking again.
"I am Yuuto Rinkou, the next heir and owner of Rinkou Corporation, I guess you can say, I am a wealthy businessman, who has an economical influence in Japan and also..."
"A descendant of a Yakuza family."