Session Four:
Mequi sat outside in the lobby, glancing at his watch and wondering where on earth Chance was. An hour had passed and the therapist had considered going home, but he had not received a phone call nor did he believe that Chance was playing hooky. Something told him that Chance would be here tonight.
Abruptly, the front door burst open and Mequi nearly jumped as Chance rushed in.
Once more, Mequi was stunned with the diversity of attire that Chance currently wore. It was only a deep scarlet work-out outfit with two white stripes running down the outer sides of the pant legs and the sleeves of the coat, which was unzipped halfway. A white shirt was underneath and it was wet at the top with sweat. He had on black and white tennis shoes and they were fastened tightly to his feet while his hair was done-up in a hasty ponytail.
“I’m so sorry!” Chance panted, putting his hands on his knees as he bent over himself. “I’m so sorry…I came as quickly as I could, but my car…it broke down…and I had to run…I’m so sorry…”
Mequi rushed to the young man. “It’s all right. Come into my office. I’ll get you some water. You could have canceled, you know.”
“I’m so sorry…” Chance heaved for breath, his forehead beading with droplets of sweat that ran down the sides of his face. “I came as fast as I could…but I couldn’t cancel…I don’t have a cell…and I didn’t think I was all that far away…I was wrong though…”
“It’s all right.” Mequi shut the door behind Chance then quickly brought the young man water. “You look exhausted…and hot…here, let me help you take that jacket off…”
Mequi set the water down on the coffee table as he helped Chance pull the jacket off. It was obvious that Chance was sore all over and that even pulling the garment off was a huge effort on his part.
“Are you fine now?” Mequi asked as he laid the jacket down beside Chance and offered the glass of water to the young man again. Chance took it and swallowed a large gulp before gasping for breath.
“I’m fine…” Chance breathed closing his eyes as he leaned back on the couch, his body pulsating with each heavy intake of air. “I’m fine…”
“Are you sure?” Mequi placed a hand on Chance’s shoulder and the young man flinched visibly before jerking his head up. Swiftly, Mequi removed his hand. “Is something wrong?”
“Uh…” Chance was suddenly trembling as he looked down at the ground. “No…no…nothing is wrong. Would you like me to continue or would you prefer for me to just go home?”
Mequi sighed as he moved to his seat. “What would you prefer because I’d like you to stay?”
Chance’s lips pierced together. “I’ll stay and continue.”
“Thank you.” Mequi murmured as he sat down.
“Well, it was right after Christmas…” Chance began as he lied down. “You were insistent on writing thank you letters to everyone that had given you a gift and so you began the long task of doing so the day after Christmas…”
~~*~~
Mequi sat staring at the name of the person that had given him the science kit as a Christmas gift. He could not move as he gawked at the name, tears filling his eyes.
“Tasumi.” Mequi whispered before quickly rubbing his eyes. “Tasumi…Tohru…my…dad sent this…to me?”
“Mequi!” Barbara called from downstairs. “Come on down! Take a break! You need to eat lunch!”
“C-coming!” Mequi shouted, shoving the gift under his desk as he ran out of his room. How was he going to thank his father?
~~*~~
“Wait a moment.” Mequi breathed out heavily as he stood up to pace. “That…how can you know something like that?”
“I just do.” Chance murmured, staring at his therapist. “If it’s too much, I’ll go away…”
“No.” Mequi turned quickly to look at Chance. “No. Stay.”
Chance frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Mequi sat back down, looking hesitantly at his client. “I want you to stay.”
The young man inhaled slowly. “Okay…so you were having difficulty thanking your father so you waited for Vienza to come back from winter break…”
~~*~~
“Tohru gave you a gift?” Vienza asked with a raised brow. He had been in the middle of teaching Mequi about how to write Kanji when the boy had suddenly thrown him a problematic question. “I wonder how he got it past your parents…”
“Huh?” Mequi’s brows pinched. “What does that mean, sir?”
“Nothing.” Vienza shook his head, rubbing his forehead. “So, you want to thank him, but don’t know how, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Mequi nodded, letting his gaze fall to his nervous hands. “What would I say?”
“Write it in Japanese.” Vienza suggested with a small smile. “That would make his day.”
“But I only know how to do Romaji and I don’t even know Hiragana yet!” Mequi frowned. “I’m terrible at Japanese!”
“You do good at everything.” Vienza informed the boy with a sure look. “You can do whatever you put your mind to. Some people just tell kids that even if it isn’t true, but it’s true for you. You can do anything and you’re definitely good at Japanese.”
Mequi’s look started to darken, but a single glance at the butterfly gift that Vienza had given to him and his eyes brightened. “Right…but I should probably write it first in Romaji…I don’t know the formalities!”
“He’s your father.” Vienza laughed heartedly. “Drop the formalities! He’d appreciate it…here, I’ll write it in English, you translate it into Romaji, and then we’ll work together to write it in Hiragana. Does that sound good?”
“Yes, sir.” Mequi murmured and then waited as Vienza jotted down a quick thank you letter before handing it to the boy.
“Personalize it as you see fit.” Vienza put the cap on his pen. “And then start writing it in Romaji. Hiragana is easy once you know what symbols you’re using.”
Mequi nodded as he read the letter out loud, adding in what he thought sounded more befitting,
“Mr. Tohru,
Hello. I am Mequi…no…Ruri. Thank you. Your gift is good.
Thank you,
Mequi…um…Ruri…”
Mequi frowned. “I wish I knew enough to make it sound better.”
“Keep it short.” Vienza recommended. “You don’t know him well enough…but I suggest that you write in English that you would like to meet him one day. That would make him feel better.”
“I do want to meet him…” Mequi sighed as he wrote down the suggested sentence. “All right, Romaji…
“Tohru-san,
Konnichi wa. Watashi wa Ruri o desu. Domou arigatou gozaimasu. Anata no itadakimono o tame desu.
Arigatou gozaimasu,
Ruri.”
Mequi paused and stared at his writing. “He’s going to think I’m an idiot.”
Vienza laughed at Mequi’s stubbornness. “You’re so cute! He’ll think the same! The very thought that you would write him a thank you letter will tell him that you’re thinking about him and know that he exists. Though…I guess, you could have called him “papa” instead of “Tohru-san.” It sounds so professional the way you put it…”
Mequi scribbled out the name and replaced it with “Papa.” Staring at the letter, he decided that Vienza was right. “Papa” looked better there and made the letter seem more personal.
“I hope he likes it.” Mequi sighed.
“He’ll love it.” Vienza patted Mequi’s shoulder. “Now, that will count as a part of your Japanese lessons. Write it in Hiragana now…”
The doorbell rang and Vienza jumped slightly.
“Oh.” The teacher stood. “I wonder who that is.”
“Can I answer it, sir?” Mequi asked as he stood.
“No.” Vienza started down the stairs. “Stay there!”
~~*~~
“My time is up.” Chance stated, interrupting the mortified trance that Mequi had found himself in. “I have to go home. I have work to do.”
“Sou desu ka…” Mequi murmured and then caught himself. “I see…I see…so, you’ll be coming back next week, correct?”
“If you want me to.” Chance stated, his eyes falling downcast as he stood. “Mequi, if it becomes too much, let me know.”
“I just don’t like the cliffhangers.” Mequi sighed.
“But you know what happens!” Chance yelped, looking back up to stare into Mequi’s eyes.
“I do.” Mequi whispered. “But time and fear of remembering has distorted my memory. Some of the past has become twisted with the truth and what my mind wishes had happened…some of it, I’ve forgotten. In a weird way, I know what’s going on in pure detail, but, in another weird way, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a life.”
Chance chuckled at that, but then sobered quickly. “Mequi…I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You sound like you find me precious.” Mequi smiled coyly at his client, knowing full well that he was edging across the line.
Chance grinned, but it was obvious that he was embarrassed. “I do find you precious. It’s like we’ve grown up together only we have no memories of ever being together. I know all about you. I…pity you a little bit. I don’t want you to hurt anymore.”
Mequi could feel his cheeks reddening. “I’m used to it, but pain can shape a person. Maybe, you were supposed to see my life for some purpose neither of us know of yet.”
The young man thought about that for a moment. “Maybe…I’ll see you next week…oh! Wait! I owe you money!”
“No.” Mequi smiled as he stood and laid a hand upon Chance’s shoulder. “Pay me when we’ve finished.”
Chance looked at the man, his lips parting as if he intended to rebuke Mequi’s suggestion, but then he hesitated, his eyes searching his therapist’s. “All right. I’ll see you later.”
“Good-bye.” Mequi let his hand slide off of Chance’s shoulder and then he watched as the young man left. Sitting down in his chair, he cursed under his breath. What were these warm, pounding feelings aroused in his chest? He had wanted to kiss Chance a moment ago. He had wanted to pull him into his arms and hold him. Never before had he felt that way for anyone!
“I have to be careful.” Mequi whispered, his eyes sad. “I can’t let my emotions get the better of me. He’s my client and I’m straight…somewhat…”
Muttering, Mequi stood and packed up his things. He had to go home and talk to the detective he had hired to investigate Chance Kelly.