Session Nine:
Mequi was not sure how he felt as he set his laptop bag down beside his chair. He had been having a rough day and was not entirely certain that he wanted Chance to visit him today. It was not as if he did not want the young man to talk to him, but he did not want to be saddened with his past when it was haunting him already elsewhere. Bitterly, he slumped into his seat and practically lay there as he closed his eyes, exhaustion painting across his face. He was so tired of life being like this. He wanted it to just end if it was going to be so difficult.
“Are you feeling well today, Mequi?” Greg asked as he came in uninvited and handed the other therapist a form. Mequi took it, running his fingers through his hair as he forced himself to sit up. “Here’s the vacation form…you look like you should take one now.”
“Not until this particular client is finished.” Mequi murmured, glancing over the paper and then stuffing it into his bag. “I can’t let this one just slip by.”
“Mequi!” Greg hissed in exasperation. “You need to just stop seeing this person! It’s unhealthy!”
“When you say it like that…” Mequi murmured, his eyes gazing off into nothing. “It sounds as if I’m dating him.”
“He’s a bad influence nevertheless.” Greg growled. “You threw up blood that one time. I know it. Don’t try to hide such a thing!”
“You threw up…blood?” Chance’s voice caused Mequi’s heart to nearly jump out of his chest and he seemed to come alive as he peered at his client.
“Oh, Chance.” Mequi stood hastily, hoping to dismiss the topic before the young man tried to make a conversation out of it. “Welcome. Come in. Greg, you were just leaving, right?”
Greg wrinkled his nose at Mequi and then left, casting Chance a disturbed look. The door closed behind the awkwardly dressed young man. Mequi was not startled by the attire, but more pleased. Chance wore tan slacks and a red and white polo shirt. All and all, he was rather handsome in the simple garments, but the worried look that was crossing his face now was not one Mequi wanted to see upon the young man.
“You threw up blood?” Chance asked again, concern coating his features. “Why…why didn’t you tell me?”
“It only happened once.” Mequi stated, motioning to the couch. “Seat? You look lively today. Did anything exciting happen?”
“Thanks.” Chance murmured as he took a seat, Mequi following suit. “No. Nothing exciting happened today…you threw up blood? You could have been hurt really bad!”
“It was nothing, really.” Mequi was stunned that Chance knew how to stay on one topic despite Mequi’s obvious attempts to sway from the idea. “And it only happened once. I’ve been much better since. You shouldn’t worry about me. Do you want to continue?”
Chance furrowed his brows as if he was thinking about trying to continue his part of the conversation, but then he let out a sigh of consenting and lied down on the couch.
“Have it your way.” The young man growled as if Mequi had battled him for the right of continuing the story of Mequi’s life. “I left off with Barbara’s death…it was a sad funeral…black and white…and it was raining…it was also open-casket and you could not look when you passed by her dead body…after that, you began to think about school…until your father brought home Marcy…”
~~*~~
“We’ve decided to get married.” John informed his son as he put his arm around the woman’s slender shoulders.
Mequi’s eyes widened briefly as he glanced from his father’s expectant face to the thin, but attractive, face, of the brunette woman before him. He decided that her cheekbones were too high and her lips too large. Her eyes were large too and a golden brown that was rich like chocolate. Long lashes framed her beautiful eyes and her skin was a lovely olive complexion. With a slender form, well-proportioned body, and well-defined features, Marcy was a beautiful woman…so why was she agreeing to marry John?
There was only one answer: “She’s after your money, you know.” Mequi stated without hesitation.
John cast his son a dirty look instantly and Marcy laughed at Mequi as if he was being silly. Mequi wanted to slap her. He knew better. John was rich. Everyone knew that. A person would have to be blind to not notice the amount of money this man made and had stored away. John was beyond rich and ideal for a beautiful woman.
“Well,” John hissed. “I’m not exactly looking for your approval.”
“You’ve only known her for three days.” Mequi sighed. He truly did not care, but he wanted his father to see the illogical part of all that was going on. “Also, Barbara has only been dead for five days and you got out of the hospital only two days ago…her funeral was today!”
“I know!” John snarled, his look darkening. “But we really love each other!”
Mequi turned. “It’s your life. Don’t look at me for advice. I don’t care what you do.”
“What a brat!” Marcy gasped. “Oh, John! Don’t worry, when I become his mother, I’ll fix everything!”
“No!” Mequi barked, whipping around to glare at her. Her face had contorted into one of shock. “You will never be my mother! I don’t know you! You’re just a woman that my father happens to like! I have nothing to do with you and I refuse to obey you! Besides, I’m not broken so there’s no need to try and fix me!”
“Mequi!” John shouted, but the boy ignored the man and ran upstairs. “Mequi!”
“I hate you!” Mequi screamed, unable to stop the tears as they ran down his cheeks. He tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming.
Rushing into his room, he shut the door and locked it before running to his phone. There was only one person he knew to call: Sam Query.
“Hello?” Sam’s voice broke static across the phone.
“Sam?” Mequi asked, his voice choked. “Did I call at a bad time? It’s Mequi.”
“No!” Sam quickly informed the boy. “You called fine, Mequi. What’s up?”
Mequi let out an easy sigh. Sam and him had become very close over the past five days since the car accident and Mequi had grown to like Sam the same as he had liked Vienza. The only thing that Mequi hated about that feeling was that he feared Sam would replace Vienza in his heart. He prayed that would not happen, but he knew he needed someone in his life right now. He felt like he did not even have his father anymore.
“What’s wrong, Mequi?” Sam’s voice came across the phone line in a concerned tone. “You can tell me anything.”
“My dad’s getting married.” Mequi began to sob before he could stop himself. “He’s marrying a woman he’s only known for three days and Barb…mom…she died only five days ago! This is horrible! This is horrible!”
There was silence on the other end for only a moment. “Mequi, I’m sorry, but there really isn’t anything I can do about that…it’s your father’s choice and…”
“There is one thing you can do.” Mequi interrupted the man, his throat aching. “Stop acting like a mature adult and just tell me it’s all right.”
Sam let out a chuckle and then quickly sobered. “You’re right, Mequi. You’re absolutely right. I’m so sorry, Mequi. If I could, I’d make it all go away, but I can’t. Look. It’s going to be all right. You’re going into high school…right? You can just focus on school and not worry about a thing.”
Vienza’s words rang through Mequi’s mind at that moment. He remembered what his tutor had said to his parents the week after Tammy had paid a visit. All Mequi had to do was focus on his studies and all the bad things would fade into the background.
Inwardly, he hated that his life was always about focusing on something else in order to get through the current situation. He hated that, but there was nothing he could do.
“Thanks, Sam.” Mequi murmured, knowing that Sam had tried his best, but wishing that the man had tried harder to be original in his reassurance. “Thank you for listening…”
“Hey, Mequi!” Sam’s voice took on a more encouraging and light-hearted tone. “We’re having a company picnic in…like…ten minutes! Ask your dad if you can come! You’ll have fun! There will be food and kids your own age and…”
“I’m sorry, Sam.” Mequi let out a heavy sigh of disappointment in himself. “But I have things I need to do today. Thanks for the offer, but I can’t go, even if my dad gives me permission.”
Again, there was silence over the phone. “God, you’re way too mature for your age, Mequi. All right, fine. I hope I get to see you around!”
“Thanks.” Mequi smiled slightly. “I’ll talk to you soon! Bye!”
“Bye!”
Mequi’s words turned out to be a lie. He did not talk to Sam again for a couple of years.
~~*~~
“I’m sorry.” Mequi said as he stood, heading for the pitcher of water. “You’re hoarse already, Chance.”
“It’s okay, but thank you.” Chance smiled as he accepted the glass of water that his therapist offered to him and then he guzzled it within seconds. “Sorry…”
“It’s all right.” Mequi grinned, taking the glass and refilling it before setting it down on the coffee table alongside his own glass and taking his seat. “Please, continue.”
“After that…” Chance murmured, lying back down. “You began your high school years at Fraiton’s High…”
~~*~~
Mequi stood outside of Fraiton’s High School, staring up the steps that led to the school’s sparkling and extensive entrance. His heart was racing faster than a greyhound as his eyes swept over the clean soft grey steps and spotless campus. The glass of the front doors reflected the sunlight and trees swayed close to the entrance. He had thought the school would be smaller for some reason and he could not imagine that a tutored young boy such as himself could adjust to the hectic and mature lifestyle of teenagers.
Tentatively, he turned to look at his father, whom still sat in his car, Marcy in the seat next to him.
“Can’t you come with me?” Mequi asked, his brows pinched.
“All you have to do is walk from one room to the next!” John rolled his eyes at Mequi’s fear. “You have your schedule and lunch! You should be fine!”
“But…” Mequi wanted to hurt someone, preferably, his father. “I’m only nine! This is scary!”
“Not as scary as walking into a hospital all by yourself without even knowing where you’re going!” John informed the boy as he put the vehicle into gear. “I’ll see you later! Call me if you get home before us!”
Mequi gave his father a dirty look and then turned away. “Have fun on your honeymoon!”
“Thanks!” John called as he sped away, Marcy laughing the whole way.
Mequi wanted to scream for all that was going on, but he ignored his feelings, pushing them aside as he started up the steps to the entrance. His heart jumped into his throat when reached for the handle of the door, but he hesitated. He was afraid to enter!
The door abruptly swung open, causing Mequi to jump and move away. With it opened, but a moment, he slipped inside and started down the hall, ignoring the looks that he was receiving from the other students. Despite how short he was, he stood out like a sore thumb amongst the outrageously tall teens and adults. Blush poisoned his cheeks as he wiggled through the packed hallways and to his first class. Slipping inside, he found a seat close to the door and sat down, not surprised by the stunned look the teacher gave him upon seeing him.
After a moment of Mequi not budging from his position close to the door, the teacher excused himself from his conversation with another teacher and moved to the young boy. With a smile, he introduced himself as Mr. Ford, the math teacher, and then he asked as to why Mequi was there.
“I’m a student.” Mequi informed the man, completely expecting the shocked look that Mr. Ford gave him. “My name is Mequi Tobbinson. I’m nine years old. I’m a freshman in high school. I was tutored for all the years prior to this. I hope you understand. I have a note here from the principle proving that I am a student here.”
Pulling the letter from his pocket, the boy handed it to the man and watched as Mr. Ford opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and read the contents with growing mortification.
“Dear God…” The man gasped. “You’re telling the truth! You’ve got excellent scores, boy. I hope you know that.”
“Thank you.” Mequi murmured as every eye in the classroom rested upon him. “I try…um…I hope it won’t be a bother for me to school here. I won’t weight the class down and I’ll work my hardest. I won’t let my grades drop below an A. You can expect that much.”
“I doubt you can promise something like that for sure.” The man chuckled, but sobered upon seeing the look of determination upon Mequi’s face. “All right. Maybe, you do have a chance.”
“I do.” Mequi nodded. “I’m glad to have met you, sir.”
~~*~~
“Um…” Chance’s voice interrupted Mequi’s thoughts. “That’s mine, Mequi…”
Mequi’s face contorted as he nearly spat his water out onto the floor. Quickly, he set the glass of water down and stood, swallowing what was left in his mouth as he reached for a towel to wipe the rest from his suit. Chance was no help at all as he burst with laughter, tears filling his eyes.
“I’m so sorry!” Mequi apologized, wiping the towel over his seat, the coffee table, the glasses, and the floor. “I’m so sorry! I’ll get you another glass.”
“It’s okay.” Chance chuckled as he took the glass from Mequi’s hand, even as Mequi was trying to clean it of the spilt water. Nonchalant, Chance took a drink from the glass and set it back down on the coffee table. “Well, anyway, after that, you grew more comfortable. You had no friends, even though all the girls thought you were absolutely adorable, and two years flew by lightning fast. Your father eventually signed everything over to Marcy for in case he died…and then your junior year started with a bit of a surprise…”
~~*~~
Mequi had been going to school as a junior for only a week. Currently eleven years old, he had changed a lot over the past few years. His hair had taken on a rustier tint and his face had become slightly more masculine. Having grown only a tiny bit taller, he was still the talk of school. Most saw him as either a freak of nature or a genius in his own category. He still had no friends either of his age or of an older or younger age group. His best friend was his laptop, which he lugged around with him everywhere. Marcy was his enemy and his father was a complete stranger. Sam had practically disappeared out of his life, though, he still thought about him.
“Hey!” A voice stabbed into Mequi’s chest and he turned to see a beautiful Japanese boy with rusty hair. Mequi’s heart slammed up into his throat for a moment. “Are you Ruri?”
“Ruri?” Mequi murmured slowly, letting the name roll off his tongue and through his mind. Suddenly, the name clicked in his brain and his heart flipped. “Yes, in a sense. Why?”
“My brother is Tohru.” The teenager stated with a smirk. “My name is Akira. I’m…your…uncle.”
Mequi’s body began to tremble uncontrollably as he stared at the elder. “You…you’re my…uncle.”
“Yes.” Akira’s eyes were fire. “I hope you don’t mind that.”
“Oh, no, no!” Mequi’s voice came out more shrill than he would have liked. “It’s perfectly fine! You…you’d know Tohru then! You’d know my papa!”
“I would.” Akira smiled at Mequi’s excitement.
“Then…is he all right?” Mequi could feel the excitement growing inside of him as he stepped closer to the teenager. “Is he okay and all?”
“Yes.” Akira’s grin broadened. “So, I have a question, why didn’t you ever respond to his letter?”
Mequi’s heart stopped beating for a brief second. “Letter? I…never got a letter from him…I sent him a thank you letter though! That one year for Christmas! I sent him a thank you letter for Christmas!”
“Yes, yes…he got that.” Akira informed the boy and Mequi could feel himself relax within. He had always wondered if Tohru had received his letter. “But he sent you a letter asking what you would think of meeting him one day. He sent it to your adoptive parents, but you never responded. There was no letter whatsoever in response…he even sent you presents every year for Christmas and your birthday, but there was never any reply back after that.”
“Oh, no…” Mequi moaned as hot tears filled his eyes. “If it had to go through my parents first then…they never gave me any of those. I never got a letter or anything…they…never gave me them…they didn’t want…”
Mequi turned away, trying to hide his tears from the teenager. Why had they done that to him? They knew he had wanted to meet his biological father! They knew he had wanted to make contact! They knew that! They had deceived him and not permitted him to!
“Sou desu ka.” Akira murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“Speak in Japanese.” Mequi murmured as he turned back around, trying his hardest to smile at his uncle. “I like it. It sounds good.”
“Yeah, but do you understand what I’m saying?” Akira’s eyes were coy.
“Hie…I should.” Mequi whispered, staring at the ground. “Akira-san…um…does papa…hate me?”
“Iie.” Akira shook his head. “He loves you, Ruri. He wants to meet you so badly. All he has are the few baby pictures that Tammy gave him. He cherishes them. By the way, you can call me just Akira.”
Mequi looked up at his uncle. “Arigatou, Akira.”
Akira smiled as he ruffled Mequi’s hair. “God! You look like a rich kid!”
“I am a rich kid.” Mequi muttered in embarrassment. “There’s a reason why I had special tutors and grew up in a suit. Akira…can we be friends?”
“Yes.” Akira grinned down at the boy. “You know, you can probably meet Tohru now. He lives not too far from here. He’s a translator for manga and anime and his pay is pretty good.”
“He lives here!” Mequi gasped, his eyes growing wide. “I…I want to meet him!”
Akira laughed at Mequi’s enthusiasm. “Good. He would be thrilled to meet you. Hey, talk to your adoptive parents and let us know what they say. Maybe, we could work something out.”
Mequi frowned instantly. “Maybe, but I doubt it. My adoptive mom, Barbara, died in a car accident two years ago and John remarried to this woman named Marcy. She’s super strict and really wants to control me. I think, she would see this as an advantage to prove her dominance over me, but I’ll see what happens.”
Akira burst with laughter. “You do act like an adult!”
“Hey!” Mequi instantly began to defend himself. “Who told you that I act like an adult?”
“Tohru did.” Akira shrugged helplessly.
“But…” Mequi’s brows pinched. “How would he know?”
“There was a friend of his that was updating him for a while.” Akira murmured as he put his knuckle to his chin. “But then something happened so his informer could no longer do anything.”
“Who?” Mequi asked, his brows furrowed deeply.
“Some guy named Vienza.” Akira replied with another shrug.
The single name of Vienza made Mequi’s whole body hurt. A tear began to form in his eye, but he blinked it into submission.
“Vienza was my tutor from third grade until sixth grade.” Mequi stated, his heart thumping quickly. “He said that he knew Tohru…I should have guessed…but…he had to leave after sixth grade.”
“I know the story.” Akira’s face was strict. “Well, Ruri, I’ll talk to you later. School is starting.”
“Yeah.” Mequi nodded.
“Hey, wait.” Akira placed a hand upon Mequi’s shoulder before he could leave. “Didn’t John and Barbara name you Mequi or something?”
“Yes.” Mequi wanted to cry. Tohru had wanted Ruri to be his name.
“Oh, then, I guess, I should call you Mequi…”
“No!” Mequi yelped. “I like Ruri better! You can call me Ruri if you want to!”
Akira’s mouth opened as he smiled. “I’m glad. Take care, Ruri!”
Mequi stood for a moment longer, staring after his uncle as the teenager disappeared into the crowds of students. He wanted to run after him, but he knew he had to get to class before he was late. Rushing off, he feared what John would say to his question.
~~*~~
“Oops…” Chance blushed when the glass suddenly slipped from his hand and hit the ground. Quickly, both he and Mequi moved to grab the fallen article before anymore water slipped out, but they ended up hitting heads. “Oh, sorry!”
“No no…” Mequi laughed, rubbing his forehead. “It was my fault. Um…I’ll get that.”
Quickly, Mequi picked up the glass, glad to see it had not been harmed.
“Well, it looks like we’re having water problems.” Mequi laughed, his face bright as he refilled the glass and set it on the coffee table before trying to clean up the spilt water. “Oh, well.”
“I’m really sorry.” Chance apologized, his cheeks pink when Mequi looked up at him. “I’ll…”
“Don’t do anything.” Mequi smiled as he gazed upon Chance’s embarrassed features. “You’re really…um…hmm…where were we?”
“What were you about to say?” Chance asked, his eyes curious and his head cocked to the side.
“I was about to say nothing.” Mequi replied curtly as he stood and threw the towel onto a chair. “Please, continue.”
“What if I want to talk to you about something else?” Chance asked, his face innocent for a brief moment.
“Well, then feel free.” Mequi took his seat, afraid that Chance would venture too much into his accidental statement.
“I…I think, I’m in love with someone.” Chance stated and his words hit Mequi hard in the chest.
Chance was in love with someone? Chance had someone special already in his mind? Who could be that special to be able to place in this wonderful young man’s heart? There was no one that Mequi thought deserved someone like Chance, but he hardly knew anything about Chance nor the people that knew the young man. He had no right to think the way he was thinking.
“They’re very nice and very sophisticated.” Chance continued. “I really like them. I’ve actually liked them for most of my life, but I have never had the courage to go up and ask them to go out with me.”
“That’s a normal case.” Mequi murmured even as jealousy filled his chest. “I take it your past has come back to you then?”
“Actually…all of it.” Chance offered a small smile to Mequi. “Um…I wanted to ask you what you think I should do.”
“I think…” Mequi had to pause and collect himself. He was getting angry and worked up over nothing. He should have expected that someone as wonderful as Chance had someone that would love and adore him, probably more than he himself. “I think you should do whatever you feel is the right thing to do. If you feel like you can ask them then ask them. If you truly love them, go for it. The worst that can happen is that they say no, but, seeing the kind of person you are, I’m almost positive that they won’t.”
“Really?” Chance asked, his face brightening. “You think that highly of me, Mequi?”
“You’re a wonderful person.” Mequi replied with a grin even as his throat thickened with sadness. “I think, they will agree. I’m glad you trust me.”
Chance smiled again, but it seemed sad to Mequi. Still, the therapist did not dare ask.
“Well, I guess, I’ll continue…” Chance murmured. “Now that that is off my chest, I guess, I can focus on this….um…so you asked your father about that…”
~~*~~
“No!” Marcy yelped instantly, banging her fists onto the table as she stood, her face enraged. “I’ve heard about your biological parents! They’re horrible people! Your mother almost killed you!”
“That was my mom!” Mequi argued, also standing. John gave the boy a warning look, but Mequi ignored it. “I can’t believe this! John, you and Barbara never gave me Tohru’s letter or his presents! Those were mine!”
“He has no right to barge into your life!” John growled.
“He wasn’t barging!” Mequi felt his tears surfacing. He did not understand it, but, when it came down to Tohru, he always cried. “He was standing at the door and knocking! He was requesting entrance and he never even got an answer!”
“No one was home.” John hissed. “I agree with Marcy, he’s dangerous!”
Mequi found himself squatting with his hands wrapped around his knees. “No…no…he’s my papa…I want to see him…I want to meet him…if only once…I want to say, “Hello, thank you for bringing me into this world even if you couldn’t raise me.” I want to be able to thank him…”
“Your existence in this world was a mistake.” John snapped. “No one wanted you to be born! You weren’t supposed to be born! You’re lucky Tammy didn’t cut you out! Your birth was a miracle and you’re lucky I decided to let you live with us! I almost didn’t, considering where you came from. Now, I think, I’m starting to regret it!”
Mequi stood slowly, his body trembling. “Fine. Have it your way, but you can’t stop me from talking with Akira. I’m going to make it to see my papa one day. You’ll see! When I’m eighteen, I’ll see my papa and I’ll never talk to you again!”
“Your “papa” never raised you, sweetheart!” John yelled in sarcasm. “And you do not talk to me that way!”
“I’ll talk to you however I want!” Mequi shouted. “You’re not my father!”
With that, the boy ran all the way to his room and slammed the door, locking it behind him and then throwing himself onto his bed. Even though he tried to resist, the boy sobbed away his anger and grief. He had no way of reaching the one figure he wanted to touch…
~~*~~
“Thank you.” Mequi sighed as he stood. “But your time is up, Chance.”
“Yeah…” Chance stood, his features sad. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Mequi placed a hand upon the young man’s shoulder. “Take care, Chance.”
Chance glanced down at the ground momentarily as if thinking of more to say and then he smiled up at Mequi, the act sad and pathetic. “Right. You too…”
With that the young man was gone, leaving Mequi’s heart in a million pieces.