Not that I had been struggling in the first place, but after the engagement announcement I was more determined than ever to ensure I would be able to attend University. I had no ambitions to attend one far away, as I wanted to stay close to my friends.
My hard work paid off, as I graduated with top honors at the school – not the very top, mind you, but one of the highest. I chalk it up to the fact that American schools are nothing like Japanese schools. In fact, the only subject I really seemed to struggle in was American History.
Otosan was, I think, very proud of my achievements, and my desire to continue my education. To his credit, he did not question my enrollment into the University’s art program, though I suspect that perhaps he was disappointed – hoping perhaps for me to go into law, or the sciences, perhaps. Jessica congratulated me on being accepted, but after I left the room and she thought I was gone, I overheard her laughing, calling my choice “positively ridiculous” and that I would wind up having “no future”. Can you see now why she infuriates me? Otosan didn’t speak up for me either, he simply changed the subject.
Upon graduation I was gifted with a car. A proper vehicle for a young lady, Jessica told me cheerfully. I traded it in for a new bike, this time one that was a good racing bike, as I was hoping to try a race soon. I enrolled in the fall semester and signed up for a room in the dormitories, having no desire to live at home with Otosan and Jessica. They tried to get me to stay there, to work on the family dynamic, but I cited my desire for some measure of independence.
I spent the summer working at the restaurant David’s family owned, taking orders and serving. I continued working there until exam season, when it became clear I did not have the capacity to both work and study. David’s parents understood, and told me if I ever needed to, I could come work for them again.
When it came time for me to move into my dorm room, I spent time carefully packing up my belongings and moving them into my room – anything I wanted to take with me. I left a lot behind, and the only thing from my otaku collection that I took with me was a stuffed Mew that my grandparents had gifted me when I was small. It was a little battered, but well-loved and still in good condition, and I didn’t think it would stick out too badly. Besides, I need something familiar and calming with me while I was away.
I told Dad I was going to leave my room as it was, so if I needed to, I could come home and grab something without having to search through boxes for it. He was rather compliant with this, probably expecting me to come live at home again after a fashion. I stressed to him that if something needed to be packed or moved or gone through that was in my room, for whatever reason, to let me know so that I could do it. I was very clear that I didn’t want anyone messing with my things. Otosan had arranged to pay for my schooling that scholarships and grants did not cover, and had also issued me a credit card to use, just telling me to be responsible with it.
Tony was also attending, majoring in mechanics through the school’s vocational program, but also had an interest in engineering. He’d told me more than once that some day, he’d like to design a car that one day might get made. Despite different coursework, we often studied together for the sake of each others’ company – though I also tried to teach him some Japanese as well. When we were not in class or studying, we spent the time with David, or with the gang as a whole.
I spent the Christmas holiday that year at home, at Otosan’s request. It was a very difficult time for me, because I had to deal with Jessica’s cheerfulness more than I want to. I had bothered to put some thought into her gift – I didn’t know what she liked, so I went by what I knew.
What I knew was that she accessorized with scarves on a regular basis, so I bothered to take the time and effort to hand paint a silk scarf for her. A very simple, but pretty design, in a sumi-e style. My father complimented the skill that went into it. She put on fake airs and claimed it was lovely and beautiful, but I have never seen her wear it, and have never bothered to do anything so nice for her again.
Then dinner happened, and what a disaster that was. There was a point when my father had excused himself to take a work related phone call, and she started talking to me, asking me about Kaasan. So I told her a story that my father used to tell me, to try and give Jessica an idea of what she had been like, and what she meant to me.
She laughed! She actually laughed, finding something about the beautiful little story amusing. I know it was genuine, because it sounded different than all her little laughs before – those all sounded so very fake anyway. Belittling someone’s beloved deceased mother is not the way to win over a future step-child, and I told her as much. She simply smiled, seemingly amused at my behavior. By the time Otosan was back, she had put on a nuetral face.
Dad had just sat down when I addressed him in Japanese about what had happened. He asked Jessica if it were so, and admitted to having smiled a lot during the story and found it charming. He believed her over me! Shaking with anger I got up and stormed out into the wintry night, making my way to Tony’s place. I didn’t even know if he’d be home, so I texted him once I was outside the house. A short time later he exited, zipping up his jacket and heading towards me.
I begged him to help me race. Right then, right now, in order to work out my frustrations. He agreed readily, and took me to a flat stretch of road that was well maintained, but with little to no traffic. He would wait for me at the campus coffee house, he said. As long as it takes for me to come back. I drove, steadily increasing speed until the tears ran out. My cry finished, myself calmer, I turned around and headed back to the coffee house, where he was waiting outside for me with a cup of coffee, just the way I liked it.
It was very sweet of him, and I thanked him for it. He stumbled over his words, trying to get something out. “Just tell me.” I told him. Steeling his nerve (or so he told me later), he then set his cup down and walked toward me, placing a hand on either side of my face and planted a kiss on my lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” he told me, and then asked if I would date him. I enthusiastically said yes, spilling some of my coffee on him in the process.
At New Year’s when we met with the gang, I outlined a plan to start tackling the pharmaceutical company that Otosan and Jessica worked for. Primarily the unscheduled runs and the excess, or the cargo that seemed to be dangerous, as far as we could tell. This activity, coupled with school and general management of Saiche Resa left Tony and I little free time together, so what time we did spend together was precious.
It was right around Chinese New Year when Otosan somehow learned I had started dating. He called me, asking me to bring my young man over for dinner so he could meet him. I should have known better than to accept. I should have kept the plans we had with David instead.
Tony and I carpooled over to the house – he was nervous about meeting my father. Things started out well enough – Jessica wasn’t there. We had civil conversation for a while, until Otosan started in with the questions about Tony’s intentions towards me and his goals in life, trying to learn more about him. It became more and more clear to me that Otosan did not approve of Tony, deeming him not good enough for me.
Then Jessica came home.