On Friday afternoon 5 p.m sharp, Lee bolted out of his office, not forgetting to threaten James to be sure to appear at Kusa Japanese Restaurant at 7 p.m. sharp with one of his sisters. Or else.
Then as soon as he reached his apartment, he spent an hour having a shower, tried on different clothes - seven times, he counted; styled his hair, and poured cologne on himself. Then when he realized he actually smelled like a cologne factory, he took off his clothes and had a shower. Again.
In short, he was a mess. He felt like a teenage boy again.
Finally feeling and looking decent, he bolted out the door and took a subway to the nearest station to the restaurant. He had a car, but as they all would be drinking that night, he figured he shouldn't be driving back.
But his face fell as soon as he saw James and his accompanying sister, both already waiting in front of the restaurant. James had brought Sandra - of all sisters he could have chosen.
As soon as the young woman saw Lee, she waved enthusiastically and tried to hug him longer than what should have been appropriate for greetings.
After he managed to pull away, Lee pulled James aside,
"Why Sandra? Idiot!"
"Hey, I didn't have a choice. Lisa is out with her husband and Sammy also has a date."
Lisa was his oldest sister, who was already married. Samantha was the second oldest.
Lee glanced at the very brightly smiling Sandra, who was looking at him like he was a prey. Before things got more awkward, luckily Jet arrived.
"Hi Lee. Hi James," he glanced at the young woman, "Hi... Sandra... ."
It was no secret this particular sister of James had been pursuing Lee relentlessly, despite the latter's clear display of disinterest.
"No Mia yet?" Jet asked, trying to find another young woman who would look unfamiliar to him, but should already be acquainted to Lee and James.
Lee and James shook their heads.
"Who's Mia?" Sandra quipped.
Jet decided to ignore her, "Well, let's just get in first. Lee, text her to meet us inside."
Lee texted her.
As Lee sat at the end of the table they had been assigned to, Sandra wanted to sit next to him, but James tactfully intervened and sat next to him instead.
"Good job, James!"
Sandra pouted and sat across James, next to Jet.
Jet started ordering some dishes and some sake and shochu(1) for their meal accompaniment. Both him and Lee were pretty knowledgeable in Japanese food and drinks, thanks to their father's Japanese parentage. Then Lee's face brightened up as he saw a figure coming in the restaurant whose eyes darted around trying to look for him. He waved his hand.
Mia noticed him, then also noticed the grinning James. She waved back and walked towards their table.
James stood up and offered his seat to Mia before sitting by Sandra's side.
"GOOD JOB, JAMES!"
Jet stood, smiled at her, and offered his hand, "Jet Tanaka. Lee's older brother."
Mia smiled back, showing row of white teeth, "Mia Simmons."
As Jet gave her a knowing smile while also throwing a teasing look at Lee - without releasing his hand from the young woman's handshake - Lee wanted to strangle his brother,
"[About time you release your hand, Jet.]" Lee hissed in Japanese.
"[What do you mean? What if she's interested in a doctor, not a lawyer?]" Jet teased back in Japanese.
Lee's face sank, "[She's mine.]"
Jet shrugged and finally released his hand from hers. Mia just kept her smile and sat.
The dinner proceeded calmly, if not accounting the very glaring Sandra, who constantly looked at Mia like the latter was the most offensive looking object on earth.
Jet moved a piece of salmon sashimi onto Lee's plate, "Again, happy birthday, bro." he then turned towards Mia, giving her a sage-like teacher look while also squinting his eyes slightly, "Lee LOVES salmon sashimi."
"I want to kill this idiot."
Mia giggled - and Lee's heart was suddenly so warm. She took another piece of sashimi and moved it to Lee's plate,
"Happy birthday again, Lee." she gave him a sweet smile.
"Jet, I love you."
"So Mia, what do you do?" James prompted.
Mia waved her hand and rolled her eyes, "Ah... you know... just normal boring corporate job... . What about you guys?"
"James and I work at a law firm two blocks down from CafeGood ," Lee replied, not giving his friend a chance to steal his thunder.
Jet added, "They are lawyers," then he put his elbow on the table and hold his chin, displaying his face at his best angle, "While I, am the friendly neighborhood doctor."
"[Back off, Jet.]" , Lee snarled again at his brother in Japanese.
"Ahhh... so young, but you boys are already so successful," Mia lamented.
"Young? Boys?" James raised his eyebrows, "How old are you, Miss. Babyface?"
"Hey!" Mia pouted.
"Oh God, I want to embrace her soooo bad."
"I have a lot of grief at work because of this face, okay." she added, "I am turning 30 years old."
Silence. She was four years older than Lee. She didn't look it, though. Jet coughed,
"What a coincidence. I am 30 years old, too." he smirked at Lee. Lee wanted to punch him.
"What month?", Mia asked
"April", Jet replied.
Mia sticked out her tongue, "Hah! Mine is February! I am older." she mightily puffed out her chest.
Lee laughed. He bet he couldn't hide the adoration in his eyes as he dumbly looked at her. Why did she look so proud for being older?
Sandra, who was ignored all this while snorted, "Old maid!"
James glared at his sister; Jet didn't know what to say; Lee was furious, "Watch your mouth!"
Mia softly touched his wrist and shook her head, "Nah, that's OK," she then laughed, breaking the uncomfortable ice between them, "I am old!"
Lee looked at his burning wrist for a while before finally managed to speak coherently with his friends.
Sandra, who was reprimanded for the first time by Lee in such a harsh tone, had a bit too much sake that night. The rest of the dinner went without incident though. As James bid goodbye to take his drunk sister home, Jet also took his leave after winking at Lee,
"Well you two have fun. I need to get back to the hospital. I'm on ER duty tonight."
"Now you suddenly get busy?" Lee thought, raising his brows.
"Well, if you don't mind staying longer, what about we move to the bar?" Lee asked, hoping he could extend the time spent with her longer.
To his delight, Mia nodded. They moved from their table to the restaurant bar.
Lee tried to show off, chatting about various Japanese drinks and cocktails, conversing happily with the bartender in Japanese. He ordered a warmed Japanese wine for Mia, and as soon as the bartender put the flask and a small cup in front of the young woman, she smiled,
"[Atsukan?(2) Which region is the sake from?]" , she spoke to the bartender.
In Japanese.
The bartender replied to her questions, but Lee could only stare at her dumbfounded. When she finished talking, she turned to look at Lee while very slowly sipping her warm sake, the corner of her lips lifted. Lee stammered,
"You... can speak Japanese?"
Mia smirked, "Yeah. Conversational is fine. I can't really read or write though."
Then that means...
"[Ehhhh.... I am yours, am I..."] she pursed her lips teasingly at him.
Lee wanted to find a hole to bury his head into.
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notes:
(1) Both are Japanese alcoholic drinks. Shochu has more alcohol content.
(2 ) atsukan = warmed sake