“That sounds great! I love to sing! Everyone says I’m really good at it.”
“Is that so? Well, maybe you’ll get the chance to show off your skills when we next go out.”
He looks satisfied. “Cool. So do you want to go grab some breakfast?”
“That would be nice.” That’s the first sensible thing he’s said all morning.
“I think I saw a McDonald’s near the station. Do you think they have hotcakes with maple syrup? Or do you think maybe they put seaweed on them instead?”
Oh. My. God.
***
Seriously, it’s like looking after a child. Luke jumps from one thought process to another without any logical connection. And he’s equally erratic in his physical movement as we make our way through the crowds in Umeda.
“Hey Jess, look Jess! It’s a square watermelon! It costs ten-thousand yen! How much is that in Australian dollars? Do you think I should buy one?”
“That’s over one hundred dollars. And no, it’s probably not worth buying. You probably wouldn’t get it through customs. And I don’t think they’re the kind of things you just buy and take home to eat.”
“Oh, wow! Look at that! A vending machine that sells eggs!” He’s off again, completely ignoring me.
“Yeah, I guess that’s a bit odd.”
“And that girl over there is dressed like a Pokemon character!”
“Luke, be cool, okay?” I know Japan is weird, and I know I’ve been prone to being excited about the bizarre things this country can offer, but at least I wasn’t publicly embarrassing the people around me.
Luke isn’t listening.
“I am so getting some of these.” He holds up a bunch of different flavoured Kit-Kats. “What do you reckon this one is?” He shows me one that looks like it has a bowl of dirt on it.
“I don’t know. My Japanese isn’t that good yet.” I have learnt a bit of Katakana, though. I gave up on Hiragana when I learned that Katakana is what all the English words are written in. I study the Kit-Kat, and after twisting my brain into a pretzel, I translate the symbols mi and so. Miso? That can’t be right, can it?
The rest of the morning continues along the same vein—me trying to calm down this overly hyperactive grown man, and him running about like a maniac.
By early afternoon, I make him come back to the apartment. I need a rest before work, and I think Luke needs to get away from all the visual stimuli.
He’s happy to lie in my room and read through a Manga comic he found. It’s not in English, but I think he’s more interested in the pictures of naked schoolgirls it contains.
I take my laptop over to the dining table and log onto my e-mail. I haven’t checked it for ages.
There’s a message from Holly! Finally! And one from Paul too!
I read the one from Holly first.
Jess! Sorry I haven’t been in touch since you left. Things have been really rough lately with me and Sam. In fact, I’ve actually moved out, and I’m staying with my parents at the moment, but they’re doing my head in. Alex said you’re staying in Japan for a while, so I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind me living at your place for a while? I could cover the rent and utilities. Please, please, please! It would really help me out. Call or e-mail me as soon as you get this. I would love to hear more about your trip, but first I need to get myself sorted out.
Love Holly XXX
Oh, poor Holly. I suspected it would only be a matter of time before she got fed up with Sam. But I’m actually quite relieved that she’s offered to stay at my place. I was starting to wonder how I was going to be able to afford two lots of rent. I paid last month’s just before I left and it was almost due again. I quickly write back to Holly and tell her she can move in whenever she likes.
I’m in the middle of telling her that she will have to get a key from the real estate agent when Luke pipes up. He somehow snuck up behind me without my knowledge. I almost jump out of my seat.
“Luke! You scared me!”
“Sorry, but I just wanted to say that I put your key in your mailbox. I found it that night we met at the bar.”
I look at him, surprised. “Oh?”
“Yeah, you must have dropped it after you ordered your drink.”
“Well, thanks.”
“You have a beautiful apartment, by the way.”
I smile, about to say thank you, and then frown.
“You mean my building?”
He looks shifty. “Yeah.”
“No, hang on. Did you mean my building or my actual apartment? You didn’t go in while I was away, did you?”
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
He pulls a little-boy face. “I’m positive. Don’t you believe me?”
I sigh. “I believe you.”
But I’m still going to ask Holly to check if anything’s missing when she moves in.
He sees my expression. “Hey! I wouldn’t have taken anything even if I did go in. Who do you think I am?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t really know you at all.”
“Jess, I’m really sorry you feel that way. Please just give me a chance and I’ll prove that I’m worth it.”
I waver for a moment. He senses it.
“Look, I’ll go and read in the bedroom again while you finish up on the computer. Pretend I’m not even here.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “OK. I think that would be best.”
He hurries off and hides in my room.
What am I going to do? The guy is borderline crazy.
I decide to finish my e-mail to Holly and read the message from Paul before I contemplate further action. Paul was always quite straightforward and sensible. Maybe some of his common sense will rub off on me.
Hey Chicky,
How’s Japan? Alex told me about all your crazy adventures. I hope you’re having a fantastic time. The gang just isn’t the same without you. I haven’t seen Sam and Holly for ages, but I think they might be on the outs. Anyway, all I wanted to say is I miss having you around – there just aren’t that many girls like you. I know this is a bit sudden, but I was thinking maybe when you get back, I could take you on a date. A real one, I mean. I never realised how cool you were until you weren’t around anymore, and I was an idiot for not treating you better. Take some time to think about it, and let me know what you think. I hope you come home soon.
Love Paul.
For heaven’s sake! Is he kidding? I need fun, slightly distant Paul right now. Not lovey-dovey Paul. I’ll deal with him later. Admittedly, it is very flattering to have all these boys’ attention, but not very helpful.
“What are you doing, babe?” Luke calls out from the bedroom.
Babe? He has no right to call me babe! Has the whole world gone mad?
“Still just checking e-mails.”
“Are you absolutely sure you can’t take today off work?”
Agh!
“Positive. I should really start getting ready too.”
I’m so glad Zac went out already. I couldn’t bear the teasing.
I leave a bit earlier than usual. I need to get away, because I’m on the verge of saying something I’ll regret. I’m going to have to come up with some sort of plan. This has all been a huge mistake and I’ve decided that Luke has to leave.
Zac raises an eyebrow when he sees me enter the staff room half an hour early.
“What’s going on with you and Luke? By the way, how long did you say you had been together before you came to Japan?”
“Not long. I’d rather not talk about it right now.”
“Fine. I just hope he doesn’t burn down the apartment while we’re gone.”
“He’s not that bad!”
“Who’s not that bad?” Alana comes in.
Great. Just what I need.
“Jess’ boyfriend arrived yesterday!”
“What? You mean he’s real?” Alana pretends to look shocked.
“Yes. And he’s quite a character.” Zac
raises an eyebrow.
“What does that mean?” Alana frowns at me.
“Nothing. He’s fine. He’s just a bit…a bit…I don’t know.”
“Immature? Possessive? Psychotic?” Zac offers.
“Ooh! What did he do?”
“He didn’t do anything!” I shout. “He’s just not used to Japan. And he’s probably got jet lag.”
“I don’t think that kind of stupidity is a result of jetlag. Do you know he asked me if Japanese people ate sushi for every meal?” Zac scoffs.
Alana looks delighted. “Really?”
“He’s like a five year old. And a particularly dim one at that.”
“Tell me more about how you met,” Alana says.
“Look, he’s not really what I expected. We only met a couple of times before I left and he seemed nice enough then. He’s supposed to be an accountant, but I don’t know now. He’s unemployed and sleeping in my room. God, what am I going to do?” I groan.
“You mean to say you hardly know the guy and he flew all this way to see you? That’s kind of creepy,” Alana whistles.
“I know. And it was exhausting shopping with him today. Plus, I think he let himself into my apartment back home.”
“That’s stalking, Jess. You should tell him to leave.”
“I can’t. Well, not without a proper explanation.”
“Everything you said is reason enough. Do you want me to do it?” Zac asks.
“I don’t think he’ll listen to you.”
“It is half my apartment. He’ll have to go if you really don’t want him there.”
“I’ll talk to him tonight. Just give me some time to work out what to say.”
Zac shrugs and goes off to grab a snack before the next lesson.
“Zac’s looking better and better all the time now, eh?” Alana nudges me.
“Would you give it a rest?” I cry. “Nothing is going to happen between Zac and I. He’s happy with Miki and I’ve got plenty of other things to worry about than starting a new relationship right now.”
“Touchy,” she teases.
“Well, would you like it if I kept hassling you about Kentaro all the time?”
“Keep it down!” Alana whispers. “I could get into serious trouble if anyone found out.”
“Well, shut up about Zac, then.”
“Fine.” She goes off in a huff.
Great. Just what I need. More drama.
***
I can’t concentrate on my lessons today. I have great students, but all I can think about is what I’m going to do about Luke.
I contemplate staying out all night and hoping he gets the message and leaves of his own accord—but he doesn’t seem like the type to take a hint. I’m going to have to go home and face the music.
Zac and I catch the train home together. He doesn’t say much, preferring to play with his iPhone instead.
When we get off at our station, Zac offers to stop by the supermarket and pick up a few groceries to make a late supper. I suspect he’s just making an excuse to stay out, so I can talk to Luke alone.
I get to the door and brace myself for the unpleasantness to come.
Inside, I hear laughing. I go in and see Luke and Miki sitting on the couch having a great old time. My carton of cigarettes has found its way back into Miki’s clutches, and the two of them are puffing away and giggling like old friends.
“Oh, hi Jess. I can’t believe you haven’t told me about Luke before. Isn’t he a scream?”
I stare at her. She makes it sounds like we’re best buddies and I deliberately kept a secret from her.
“Aren’t they my cigarettes?” I ask numbly.
“Oh, yeah. Luke found them in your room. It’s obvious you don’t smoke so I thought you wouldn’t miss them.”
“I didn’t know you smoked,” I say to Luke.
“I’m cutting back,” he says defensively. “I only smoke in social situations now.”
I realise that I know even less about this guy than I thought. Scary. And he’s staying in my room. Something else occurs to me.
“Miki—I thought you weren’t supposed to be getting back until tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I got back early.” She doesn’t offer any further explanation.
This is a nightmare. I wonder what Zac will make of all this.
I’m about to find out. He traipses through the front door loaded down with carrier bags and looks at us all, surprised.
“Miki! I wasn’t expecting you back until tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m here now. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Of course.” He drops all the bags on the floor and hurries over to give her a hug.
“Luke and I have been having so much fun while you two fuddy-duddies were at school.”
“Some of us have to work for a living,” I point out.
“Yeah, well, we’ve been chatting about movies and holidays and all kinds of stuff.”
“I’m glad to see you haven’t been bored,” Zac says dryly.
“Not at all,” Miki says airily, missing the sarcasm. “Hey, we should all go on a double date.”
I look at Zac, alarmed.
“I think we should give Jess and Luke some time alone,” Zac says, saving me. “They’ve barely seen each other since he arrived.”
“Oh, right. Whatever.”
“Uh, I might go and get changed,” I say awkwardly.
“I found somewhere for us to go,” Luke says excitedly. “Hurry up and I’ll show you.”
Miki has a mischievous look on her face. I wonder what she’s been up to.
I wearily change into something a bit more casual and follow Luke out as he jumps around like a demented rabbit. I’m trying to work out exactly how to bring up the subject of him leaving. Hopefully he’ll suggest we go to the local fast-food joint. I’ll let him down gently and suggest he leave as soon as possible.
***
I reluctantly follow Luke out to the train.
“Where are we going?” I ask for the hundredth time.
“You’ll see.”
“Everything will be closed soon. It’s a weeknight.”
“The place we’re going won’t close.”
Why is he so sure of himself all of a sudden? And how come he already knows his way around the train network? It took me ages to get the hang of it.
Twenty minutes later, we get off at some unpronounceable station I’ve never heard of and walk a couple of blocks down a dark alley. Luke occasionally consults a piece of paper that he hides when I try to sneak a peek, and I start to wonder whether I’ve been incredibly stupid in letting this stranger take me through the back streets of Osaka. I get out my phone and dial in the emergency number just in case. I’ll press Send at the first sign of trouble.
Just when I’m about to turn around and go home, we pop out at a brightly lit block of flashing neon.
“What is this?” I ask, dazzled by the sudden burst of light.
“You’ll see in a minute. Come with me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Please? Just trust me.” He turns to me with big soulful eyes.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
“Fine.” I stomp after him as he tries to read the passing signs.
I stop and stare at a particularly festive looking building. How odd—is that a Christmas village? I can’t believe they’re getting out the decorations already—it’s only September.
We walk a bit further past increasingly strange looking buildings.
“Ah, here we are.” Luke turns to me, smiling.
We’re out the front of a place called Club Dolphin. “What’s this supposed to be?”
“A hotel!” He beams.
“But why? We already had a perfectly good place to stay.” Well I did, I add silently.
“You have to see this, though. Just come in for a minute.”
“Ah, no thanks. I’m going home.”
“But it will be amazing, I promise.”
“It’s a seedy hotel. How can it be amazing?”
“Just come into the lobby for a second. I’ll show you.”
I’m feeling quite uneasy about all of this. Is it some sort of elaborate ploy to coax me into unfamiliar territory? But then all of Luke’s stuff is back at the apartment. They’d be able to trace him for sure if he murdered me and stuffed my remains under the mattress in the hotel room.
“I didn’t bring a change of clothes or anything,” I say reasonably.
“Who cares? Come on! Where’s your sense of adventure?”
I huff. “All right. What am I looking at?”
He drags me by the arm into the lobby and points to a wall of bizarre images.
“I think we should go to this one,” he nods to a particularly surreal looking picture.
“What is it?”
“It’s a themed room.”
“Is that a cannon on the side of the bed?”
“Yup! It’s like Pirates of the Caribbean!”
Excuse me?
“Luke, I’m not going up to a crazy pirate-themed hotel room with you just so you can live out some sort of twisted fantasy.”
He frowns. “I wasn’t thinking that at all. I just wanted to see what it looked like. Miki said she and Zac come here all the time.”
Zac comes here? I really couldn’t imagine him wearing a billowy white shirt and spanking Miki with his cutlass.
I quickly erase that mental image.
“I wouldn’t have thought this would be his kind of place.”
“But Miki said they visited just last week. Anyway, we’re here now so we might as well stay.”
“No, thanks. I’m going back. You can stay if you like.”
“Come on, Jess! Live a little.”
“Luke! This is not my idea of living. I’ll see you later.”
“Wait! I’ll come with you.” He runs after me as I try to figure out how to get back to the main road.
What was Luke thinking—dragging me halfway across town in the middle of the night? All I wanted was a quiet night in with some noodles and maybe an old episode of Full House. Instead, I’m running around with some weirdo who wants me to star in his own private swashbuckling adventure. It’s like something out of a porn movie. I shiver.
I find my way back to the station and look at the timetable in dismay. The last train of the night has already gone.
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