Chapter 11.1

He heard his keitai ringing when he turned another corner, it was Aiba.  He put on his hands free earpiece on, and answered.
"Hai" he chirped happily as he drove on.
"Sho-chan!  Have you gotten a call already?" Aiba voice was shaky.

"Eh?Call?  No.  You just called me, nande?"
"Kitagawa-san has just called the others already.  I think it’s about what happened at the airport.  He sounds really pissed, Sho-chan."  He was really scared at what Kitagawa may do, since he himself had gotten into a fix like that before.  His scandal almost cost him his place in Arashi and the Jimousho.  He didn't want the same thing to happen to his friend.  Sho's smile faded and turned into a scowl.

Damn!" the rapper spat out, slamming on the breaks, causing his van and himself to jolt forward.  His younger band mate and friend knew him and his outbursts.  This was normal of the rapper.  He could remember the same thing happening around this time last year, with a different girl.  His friend had found love and had gotten it snatched away from him by the Jimousho, like with most of them.  They fought back only to be given an ultimatum, the girl or their careers (more like their contracts).  Sho banged his fist on the steering wheel, good thing the road was empty and he hadn't reached the highway yet.  He was sure going to get it not only from his manager but also from Johnny himself.  He knew it was coming sooner or later but this one was really fast.  He didn't even have time to think of what to say.  He slowly let go of the break pedal and stepped on the gas lightly, the van drove forward again.
"Ne Sho-kun, please drive carefully.  Is Jamie-chan still with you?"Aiba asked in a worried tone.  He didn't want both of them in a ccident this time.
"Eh? No..She's already home.  I just dropped her off a few minutes ago.  Please don't tell her I'm in trouble, she'll just get worried and want to leave again," thee rapper said.
"Sou ka, daijoubu Sho-kun.  My lips are sealed," the younger one said and chuckled.
"Ja..I'll have to think of a way to get past Johnny's tirade later ne," Sho said as he turned the corner.
"Hai.  I think we just have to brace ourselves for this one.  I'm caught in it as well since I was driving the car,"Aiba replied.
 "Mah..I know"  Sho began but paused and said," Chotto matte..  What do you think if we...."
~~~

He was tired but he had to think, he put his house key into the doorknob and turned it.   The faint click of the lock opening the door was heard.  The tall man went in, setting down his duffel bag and taking off his cap.  He turned it upside-down, setting it on the side table and emptied the contents of his pockets into it before letting himself fall back onto the bed.

He has to find a way that Jamie won't be cut out of the picture by Johnny-san, like the other girls that many a Johnny's idol got linked to.  He knew that it would be too much if it had to happen to him again.  It was almost daylight before his eyes got some time to rest and his clock started bleating that irritating sound but at least he had an idea to go by.  Sho didn't wake up easy, his imouto Mai-chan went into his room to turn off the thing and sat beside him on the bed. 
He didn't change clothes again; Mai shook her head in dismay. She knew how to wake him up.  Kneeling on the bed she leaned over him and tickled his ear,"Oniisama...Sho-niisama..."
"Hmmm...yamero!!" he mumbled, making the younger one giggle and continue to tickle his ear.
"Oniisama!!  You'll be late for work!!" Mai-chan pouted strightening up with her hands on her hips.  Sho was already awake but pretended to sleep but suddenly grabbed her and tickled her.  She squirmed and giggled, " yemette yo, oniichan!"
Her older brother stopped and let his sister go,"Ohayou imouto"
"Mou..you didn't change clothes and you look so tired" the girl said disapprovingly," how will you snag a girl this way?  Oh, yeah..girls would fall all over you just to get your attention."
Sho smirked and sighed audibly, patting his imouto's hair. "You're jealous again ne?"
"Me?  Jealous? Ha!" Mai imitated his smirked, crossing her arms at him.
"What if I told you that someone was trying not to catch my attention, but caught mine?" He asked.
"I think I know who it is" she smiled knowingly and nudged him, uncrossing her arms.
"Eh?  But I haven't told anyone yet..." Sho's face was surprised since it was only a week since Jamie came into his life.  He's never told anyone of their situation either.
"Mah...oniichan!  You can't even stop yabbering on and one about her!" she giggled up at him, pshing him away and walked over to his audio cd collection and chose a cd, handing it to him.  "Doesn't her name rhyme with this artist when said in an American accent?"
"Eh?" he looked at the cd, it was Namie Amuro's 'PLAY' LE.  He chuckled at the play of words.  Yeah, Jamie did rhyme with Namie if you said the latter's name in American english, he thought.
"I'm right then.  Oniichan, I'd like to meet her some time ne." her smile was honest but her expression changed to panic when she saw the clock again,"ne niichan!  Its late already!!!!"
"Ah!  Sou desu ne..." the rapper scrambled to get off the bed and put the cd back in its place before grabbing his towel and rushitowards the door.  But he doubled back and smiled at Mai.  "Daijoubu, you'll see her before spring ends"
The young woman nodded and Sho sprinted to the bathroom he shared with his other siblings.  He was going to have to brace himself for the verbal onslaught later and prepare himself mentally for his answer to all of Johnny-san's questions.  He has to choose his words and try not to let his emotions flare later, in case Johnny says something untoward about Jamie.

Mai let herself out of his older brother's room and got ready for school, she did have her late class today in Keio after all.  She really did waht to ge to know the girl that her Niichan was raving about the past week.  She wanted to see if she was really nice and if she was worthy of his brother's affection.  She sounded too good to be true, but who knew.  She might really be that great.  The girl busied herself as she got her things and left.
~~~

Jamie woke up with a start, she had been thinking of finding a job soon to be able to stay in Tokyo.  It was the day of the concert on the ticket she had exchanged with Nanao-chan.  It was already 8am when her keitai resounded with the rap part of her favorite Arashi song.  It was Sho.  Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at the screen.

"Shosuki..." her voice softly spoke his name.

"Ah...Jamie..anou~ how was your sleep?" he asked, his voice was a bit croaky.  It was obvious he hardly had any sleep and she heard it loud and clear.  It worried her but she couldn't scold him.

"It's ok...." she smiled, her training as a call center agent taught her how to hide her feelings as she spoke over the phone.  Sho's chuckle resonated from the other end of the phone.  She could practically his face in her mind's eye.  She loved hearing his low laughter.

"Yokatta..." he replied.

"Ne I have to go.  I need to meet up with the girls.  I'll be watching tonight." she said.

"Ah...sou da..  I'll be keeping an eye out for you then.  Do bring the others backstage after ne." he said.

"Alright.  I will.  Ja...bye bye.."

"Oi..chotto matte.."

"Eh?"

"I love you..." he whispered and hung up, not letting her reply, but before he did so Jamie thought she hear the other guys jeering him.  She just giggled and rolled her eyes thinking it must have been a dare or something.  Shrugging it off as boyish nonsense, she turned off her keitai and got ready to meet the others.  She went downstairs and saw her cousin and nephews getting ready for the day.

"Good morning po, Ate." the tall girl greeted her cousin.  Sonia was older and had married a Japanese businessman, their two kids, Kenji and Keito were both going to Primary School already.

"Good morning, Jamie.  Kumain ka na diyan at maaga pa yung pupuntahan mo 'diba?(Go and eat, you have an early start today right?)"  her cousin said, motioning to the table.

"Ahhh.. Opo, Ate Sonia.  Ahh..salamat nga po pala ulit sa pag-stay ko rito sa inyo pero sa tingin ko po kelangan ko nang humanap ng sarili kong matitirahan kasi pina-extend po yung Visa ko ng six months (Ahh..hai,Sonia-neechan.  Ahh..Thank you for letting me stay here but I think I need to look for my own place to stay because my Visa had been extended to six months.)" Jamie explained as she sat at the table reaching for a bowl and starting to eat.

"Ha?  Sinong nagpa-extend?  At ang bilis naman!  Daig mo pa ang anak ng Presidente ah.  At teka, saan ka naman titira?  I mean, wala kang trabaho rito, papano mo babayaran 'yun at alam na ba ng Tita Luz yan?(Eh? Who had it extended?  And how fast it is!  Its better than being the daughter of the President ne.  And wait, where will you stay?  I mean, you have no job, how will you pay for the rent and does Luz-obasan know about this already?) " , her obasan asked in rapid-fire succession.
"Ah...kasi po si MatsuJun pina-extend po yung Visa ko.  Maghahanap po ako bukas ng trabaho, gusto ko rin po sanang i-continue yung kolehiyo ko rito.  Sana lang.. hehe..  Ahh..yung bahay po..maghahanap rin po ako bukas.  At opo alam na po ni Mama.  Nakakahiya naman po sa inyo kung pabigat ako rito sa inyo." (Ah.. MatsuJun had my Visa extended aparently.  I'll be looking for a job tomorrow and I also want to continue my college education here.  Hopefully...  Ahh... the apartment...I'll be looking for one tomorrow as well.  And yes, Okasama knows about it already.  Its really embarrassing to be staying here for a long time and being a burden) Jamie said.

"Kelan ka ba naging pabigat sa amin, Jamie.  Hindi ka naman tamad, binabantayan mo yung mga bata.. (When were you ever a burden to us, Jamie?  You're not lazy, you do look after the boys..)" her cousin began and saw that his sons were leaving already,"Oi aren't you two saying goodbye to your obasan?"

"Ittekimasu.." the two boys said from the door.  Jamie just smiled and waved.  She knew they were good kids, even if they gave her a headache some times.  Boys will be boys
.
"Itterasshai," Jamie and her cousin said from the kitchen.  She knew she had to get going and stood up.

"Ay, Jamie...nakita kita kagabi..lumabas ka.  Sino yung lalaking yun, ha? Alam rin ba ng Tita 'yon?  Baka kaya gusto mong bumukod dahil sa kanya.  Ayokong pakialaman ka, pero mag-iingat ka sa mga lalaki rito sa Tokyo.  Hindi lahat sila ay katulad ng kuya Kenichi mo.(Ne Jamie..I saw you last night.. you went outside..  Who was that guy ne?  Does Obasan know about him?  Is he the reason why you want to move out?  I don't want to interfere but do be careful of the men here in Tokyo.  Not all are as good as your, Kenichi-Oniisan)" Ate Sonia warned her as she moved to get her bag on the couch.

"Ahhh...wala po yun.  May ano...may...nakilala ako kahapon may isinoli lang po sa akin.  Ah sige po aalis na po ako, Ate Sonia( Ah...that's nothing.  He uhm...I met him yesterday and he just gave back something.  Ah..ittekimasu, Sonia-nee " Jamie said as she left the house.  She wondered if she sounded credible.  She really did have to find work and a place to stay....Fast!

~~~~

Author's Note:

I do apologize for the vernacular but I just had to write it that way since it was my cousin and we do come from the same country.  We'd most likely speak in the vernacular, Tagalog.  But I did post the translations  within the parentheses.  To understand soem of the words used.  Here you go:

Tagalog 101:

*Ate- (pronounced as Ah-teh) is the vernacular for older sister a.k.a. neechan in the Philippines.  It is also used as a term for respecting someone older than you even if she isn't your real sister.

*Opo-(pronounced ad Oh-pô) it means Yes but in a polite way.  Used in addressing older people or people in higher position.

*Po-(pronounced ad Pô) its used as a suffix or inserted within a sentence for respect/honorific usage.