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It all began with a simple question.
“Professor Aihara, are you by any chance free for dinner tonight?” Theodore asked, getting up from his desk. He stalked over to hers, waiting for her response. His face wore a cunning grin as he watched Kotoko sign off the last paper on her desk.
“Professor Yang,” Kotoko paused, looking up at the chestnut eyes that mirrored her own, “you know I am. I trust you have a good plan for this….experimental first date?” Kotoko chuckled at his awkwardness around her as he shuffled to her other side, allowing her to reach for documents on her shelf.
“Of course.” Theodore took her hand and pressed it to his lips, “But first, Kotoko, call me Theo.”
Kotoko laughed. Theodore was up to his usual antics again, theatrically exaggerating every little quirk of a movement he made. “Oh alright, Theo. Now tell me, where are we going?” she asked, gathering her coat and belongings into her arms.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
It all began with a simple date. A date, where Theodore Yang simply took Kotoko Aihara to the movies. But that was all it took for him to pique her interest. Little by little, he won her over.
Here are some things she liked about him:
His hair, his eyes, his nose, his lips, his ears, his hands, his feet, his smile– everything she saw, sunk deep into her heart
His voice – deep and mellow when he was serious, but chipper and bright when he became excited.
His words – whether it was the way he chained together sentences for his reports and data analysis, or the way he spoke at dinner, she could not stop listening and reading what he wanted to express
His love – perhaps reciprocation was all she craved, Kotoko sometimes thought, as she watched him take furtive glances at her now and then, even at work
The rumors that they were dating spread throughout the whole faculty of Arts and Science, but by then they had already been dating for over a year.
“Will you get that for me, darling?” Kotoko asked, as her mobile phone rang in the bathroom. Theodore grunted and reached for the newest iPhone model he had gotten for her over Christmas. “Hello, who’s this?” he asked briskly. A flat voice answered from the other end of the phone.
“Kotoko, it's your father!” he hollered across the bedroom, chucking the phone to her side of the bed with deadly accuracy.
“Hey, uh, Dad?” Kotoko asked in Japanese, realizing it was 9 pm in Japan, “what’s up?”
“Kotoko! Who was that who answered the phone just now?” her father asked sheepishly.
“Oh uh- just…. A friend.” Kotoko answered, not sure of what to say, “but that aside, what’re you calling for, pops?”
“Oh….ehehehe, Kotoko, this could be the best day of your life, my girl!” he exclaimed, “you’re currently in Massachusetts, right?” He struggled to say the whole word in english. “Well, you won’t believe who’s coming over to Harvard University! C’mon, take a guess, take a guess!”
Kotoko sighed. Was this another uncle or a friend of her father?
“Who?” she asked, slowly climbing out of bed and taking a cup of coffee from Theodore’s hand.
“Here’s a hint…” her father purposefully trailed off, “it’s someone you used to like very very much….”
Kotoko ignored the tiny voice in her brain to say who she thought it was, “who, Dad?”
“It’s Naoki Irie, of course! Remember him? You had a gigantic crush on him the last couple years you were in Japan!”
Kotoko almost comically spit her coffee on the floor.
“Wait– what? How? Why?” she sputtered. Theodore went to grab tissues.
“Well isn’t it the luckiest day of your life! All those years you were pining after him, especially while we were living with their family! He’s finally coming over to America, you’ll get another shot at dating him! Though I’m sure he’ll be just as popular over there as he is here…” her father rambled on in Japanese, “Either way, you must go meet him and nab yourself a serious boyfriend! I’m waiting for grandchildren, you know.”
“Dad!” Kotoko shouted at the phone, “stop! I’m not interested in Naoki-san anymore, gosh. You’re embarrassing me!”
Even so, she felt Theodore glance over at her, concerned for what sort of conversation she was having. For once, she was glad he couldn’t understand her native tongue.
“Kotoko, there’s no reason to be embarrassed! What girl doesn’t want to marry a Naoki-kun? Hm? He’s the perfect man! Good grades, good brain, good body, good face…. What is there not to like? You’ll give birth to some beautiful babies once you two get married.” he reasoned.
“I don’t want to have this conversation anymore, Dad. Let’s move on.” Kotoko huffed, as Theodore wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder aloud. “Besides, isn’t this Naoki’s second marriage?”
Her father paused thoughtfully. “Well, to be honest…he’s gotten divorced again. Ai-chan and his wife are..quite worried about Naoki.”
“How? Granted, his first marriage with Yuko lasted a few weeks, but this time it’s been longer than that, right?” Kotoko asked, having calmed down and stuffing down a classic English breakfast her boyfriend had just made.
“This marriage with Chris…it probably didn’t start right.” her father began, “She was introduced to Naoki-kun by Ai-chan after all, from one of his colleagues. In just two months, they decided to get married, remember? Naoki-kun and Chris were all lovey-dovey until….ten months later, Chris found out about the affairs Naoki was having behind her back! Can you believe it? She told her mother-in-law and well…things went downhill from there.” her father commented ruefully.
“I’m not surprised,” Kotoko mused, thinking back to all the times Irie had mocked her and belittled her for the most trivial matters, “what happened?”
Her father continued to spill the tea, “Chris’ family sued the Irie’s and it ended up in a big, big mess. You know, with the adultery and all, so many damages had to be paid. It was tough for Ai-chan.”
“Oh my.” Kotoko took a bite of sausage, her face lighting up as Theodore gave her a peck on the cheek, “so what’s going on now?”
“Well, Naoki-kun’s going to America to do some further studies. He’s going into medical school– he got pretty distracted the first time round, getting twice divorced and all.” her father responded, “Thankfully Ai-chan’s got some useful connections at such a prestigious institution! Naoki-kun was aiming for the very top, and so Harvard was the university he wanted to attend. But still… it’s probably been quite tough for that handsome guy, you know.”
“Well, serves him right for all the affairs he had!” Kotoko laughed, “he’s a terrible person. I hope he learned some kind of lesson.”
“You tell me. Ai-chan almost disowned Naoki-kun too, after the whole Chris thing happened. Though, remember Kin-chan? He started dating Chris just last week. Poor girl, I hope she’s doing well.”
Kotoko glanced at her watch. She had half an hour before her first lecture. “Mhmm. Sorry pops, I gotta go now. I’ll call you next week, okay?”
“Wait- before you go! Naoki-kun is arriving at 8 am tomorrow, can you go fetch him at the airport? You know how girls always swarm him, I don’t want him to be uncomfortable.” her father asked.
“Huh? Why would I? You literally just told me what a jerk he’s become.” she retorted, slipping on a pair of black heels.
“It’s just a favor for the Irie family. They’ve been so kind to us, letting us live under their roof for a whole year! Please do it so they know he’s okay.”
“....fine”
Kotoko put down her phone, already mentally exhausted. It was only 7:45 am.
“So…what was the call about? Have you still not introduced me to your father yet?” Theodore asked hesitantly. This was something else Kotoko liked about him; he was direct, but sensitive. Didn’t try to manipulate you or mock you; he was kind enough to ask you if he wanted something.
“Theo, you know I can’t do that. My dad is…you know, probably best to talk to him… in Japan or something. I don’t know,” Kotoko brushed off his second question, “but the phone call was about one of my high school classmates. No, actually,” she turned around to face him, “it was about one of my biggest crushes. Naoki Irie. He’s coming here tomorrow, since he’s going to be studying at Harvard for the next few years, apparently. I don’t know the details of what’s going on.”
“Oh…” Theodore seemed concerned. This was just like him, to know when she was being serious and when she had more to say. He knew there was much more than what she was telling him.
She closed the door and walked towards the lecture hall.
By the time she came home, it was time to make dinner. Although her father was a chef, she was terrible at cooking. But coming to America made her realize she had to hone this skill, regardless of natural talent– so she signed up for cooking classes, to her father’s chagrin. (“How could my own daughter, the daughter of a renowned chef, do this to me?” he had complained) In fact, America had made her learn something important – unlike in Japan, with the Irie family, natural talent mattered very little. Whether you had an IQ of 200 or an IQ of 7 (like herself), hard work and diligence, commitment and perseverance, resilience and grit, still counted for something. So even though her research usually occupied most of her time, she learned to cook when she could, especially after she started dating Theodore.
The recipe read as follows:
In a large pot, boil water and add pasta
Drain and set pasta aside
In the same pan, heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter, adding garlic
Add in salt and pepper to taste, tossing in chicken
Return cooked pasta to the pot, add remaining butter, parmesan, and parsley
Stir until well mixed and the butter is melted
Add lemon juice once more and serve when hot
A simple pasta was all she could muster on such a busy day. Just as she drained the pasta from the pot, a text message lit up her phone screen.
She swiped up, scanning the text. It was from her father.
“Kotoko, hope your day is going well! It’s Dad” Kotoko sighed – she’d told her father he didn’t have to identify himself like this since she had saved his contact, but he didn’t seem to understand what she meant – “Naoki-kun is arriving at 8 am at the Logan Airport. Also, I’m so sorry to tell you so late but, well, he doesn’t have a place to stay for now, would it be possible to let him stay at your place for the time being?”
Kotoko’s eyes widened as she gaped at the message. “Oh you’ve GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.” she found herself yelling, as Theodore walked into the house.
“Oh nice, pasta,” Theodore began, turning to his enraged girlfriend. “What’s up?”
“I swear-” Kotoko dialed her father, ignoring Theo.
“Hello?” Her father answered, his warm voice transmitted across the line in a flatter, lower tone.
“DAD I SWEAR I AM NOT LETTING NAOKI IRIE INTO THIS HOUSE EVER. You hear me? He is not stepping into my house, not tomorrow, not the day after, n-e-v-e-r. I cannot house a 26 year old in my home! Shouldn’t he have rented someplace?” Kotoko’s Japanese had never been so coarse but fluent as she raged on the line.
“D-dear….” her father began, “why don’t I let you speak to Mrs. Irie first before you decide?” he seemed flustered.
“WHAT ARE YOU- I’M NOT SPEAKING TO-” Kotoko yelled, until she heard-
“Kotoko-chan? Long time no see! Or hear, for that matter!” a chipper, sweeter than sugar voice interrupted her, “how have you been?”
It was just like Naoki’s mother to be this ditzy and airheaded, Kotoko thought, facepalming herself.
“Heyyyy Auntie! Long time no see. I’ve been well! How are Yuuki-kun and Oji-san?” Kotoko asked politely, slipping into the more polite Japanese dialect she used when speaking to her elders.
“They’re good! they’re good! Yuuki-kun just got his first crush on a girl, will you believe it? Goodness, the children really are growing up, aren’t they? From learning how to write, to learning how to walk and run and…well, I just can’t help but get so emotional thinking of Yuuki! He’s grown into such a fine young man, just as handsome as his brother. Remember when those girls would swarm around Naoki? They’re doing it to Yuuki too now! The resemblance is just-”
“Auntie, I’m so sorry but I’ll have to cut you off. Is Naoki-san coming to Boston as well?” Kotoko asked.
“Yes yes! That’s exactly what I wanted to tell you, Kotoko-chan, dear,” Mrs. Irie’s voice sounded all too sweet now, “Naoki’s rental thing was supposed to be complete, but it seems like there was some kind of mistake with it…so he’s homeless! My poor Naoki, homeless child! Do you mind if he stays at yours for a while? Please, Kotoko-chan! My handsome, amazing, accomplished Naoki, whom we love…how can he be homeless? Remember when you both used to like each other… and used to walk home and walk to school together? Ah, so romantic! So can you-”
“I’m so sorry Auntie, but I really can’t.” Kotoko heaved a sigh. She could already see where this conversation was going. Clearly, Naoki’s rental had been tampered with… by his mother, who wanted to set them up. But she couldn’t prove anything. Auntie was just like that.
“Kotoko-chan, why not? Your place is big, you live alone, so unless there’s something… look, I’ll put you on speakerphone so you and your father can talk too!” Auntie skillfully manipulated the conversation like putty in her hands.
“Auntie…Ah, Dad too…” Kotoko sighed. Now seemed like as good a time as any to introduce Theo. The last ace she had up her sleeve.
“Dad, I hid this from you for around half a year or so but I’ve actually been living with my boyfriend at his home. I’ve rented my place out to make some extra money.” Kotoko admitted.
“Wha-What? Are you sure? There’s no way! Who is he? What is he like? Give me three adjectives to describe him! Proof that he exists!” Auntie sounded shocked. Her father stayed silent for a while, before piping up.
“Well then, Kotoko, you must have Naoki over! All the more reason to!” he said.
“Wh-What do you not understand??” Kotoko asked, “I just told you I had someone staying over with me!”
But her father and Auntie were an unstoppable duo. Together they strung together arguments faster than Kotoko could blink.
“You know that Naoki, always messing around with women – you can show him what a healthy relationship looks like!” Auntie exclaimed happily.
“Also, it’s a good chance for childhood friends to reconnect! With your boyfriend around, you no longer have to fear him” her father squealed.
“Right right! And Naoki-kun would really benefit from having a male role model at home, apart from his father! Your boyfriend would make a great mentor-” Auntie chimed in.
“Who knows? You might end up leaving your boyfriend and finding someone even more fulfilling…like Naoki-kun!” her father intoned, obviously unwilling to admit Naoki’s arrogance and incompatibility with anyone else of the human race.
“Okay okay stop! I need to discuss this with my boyfriend.” Kotoko intoned seriously.
“There is no discussion, Kotoko. As your father, I need you to repay the debt of hospitality we have to the Iries. Please do this for us, Kotoko. Naoki needs you.” her father requested. Silence.
Kotoko sighed. There was no more discussion.
“Theodore?” She hollered from across the kitchen to the dining room.
“What?”
“We’re having a guest over for a year or so. Is that okay? My dad insists I must…” she yelled again.
Theodore shrugged. This house was mostly run by Kotoko anyway. “Sure. Let’s talk about it though.”
Kotoko turned back to her phone. “My boyfriend says it’s fine. I’ll pick him up from the airport tomorrow, since I don’t have work. But please, ensure he stays no longer than a month, Auntie.”
“You got it, Kotoko-chan! Thanks for being so kind and caring as usual~” Auntie happily intoned. Mission accomplished.
As Kotoko hung up, Auntie and her father high-fived. This was matchmaking at its best.
/
“Hey, Theo. I’m so sorry about the sudden thing…my Dad is being unreasonable, making me invite Naoki over for this long…” Kotoko felt tears well in her eyes as she explained her past with Naoki, unable to look Theo in the eye. She knew he wouldn’t judge her but his concern and worry would definitely make her start crying.
Theodore hugged her. “It’ll be okay, Kotoko. I remember you telling me about Naoki before, but I never expected that the day we’d have to live with him would come” he laughed, “as long as you don’t develop feelings for him, we’ll be fine.”
“Are you…really sure about this? He’s a jerk though!”
“As long as he doesn’t try anything funny on you, I won’t have to break any bones!” Theodore joked, as if he could be bothered, “tell me more about this Naoki guy.”
“Well…where to begin…” Kotoko looked at Theodore.
“He’s an arrogant narcissist who thinks he’s at the top of the world because, up until college, he was. First in the country for almost everything, especially academics.”
Theodore let out a low whistle. “That’s not easy to accomplish.”
“He has a tested IQ of 200,” she continued, “with an ego to match. He has photographic memory, plays tennis and athletics competitively and is an ultimate perfectionist.”
“Woah,” Theodore chuckled, “that’s amazing.”
“Exactly. He always has swarms of girls around him because he’s so, so, soooo hot and handsome. I thought he was the love of my life for 3 too many years.” Kotoko angrily huffed, “but trust me, he’s nowhere near as hot as you are, Theo.”
Theodore laughed freely. “I’m not sure I can compare to someone like that, Kotoko. But it’s always natural to have crushes on such perfect people.”
Kotoko rolled her eyes. “Anyhow, I’ll finish making dinner in a sec. Just wait for me here, okay?”
Theodore nodded. As soon as her back was turned, he searched up “naoki irie” on google.
She was right. He was famous. Named the #1 genius in Japan eleven years ago, he was claimed to be a child prodigy.
Theodore felt unsure of what to do.