Catalyst of Dreams

3. Garlic and Bean Sprouts

Back at Lilia’s place, we trade parts of our new stationary packages we bought from the new store “Akusesarī.” 

We already tested our new blueberry and watermelon lip glosses and have now moved onto our new gel pens and stationary of cute monkey and tiger characters. Coincidentally, the tigers are the mascot of the community team, and the monkeys are that of my dad’s team. We usually buy a set each and split them between us.

“Bree, dear, your mother just called. She wants you home to help with dinner” says Mrs. Duncan, standing in Lilia’s doorway. She is a very petite woman with pretty pale skin and short black hair. I forget that Lilia is half Japanese but when she is next to her mother, their shared features are more evident. They have the same shaped eyes and face structure.  Although Lilia’s eye color is green like her dad’s instead of brown like her mother’s. 

Lilia’s parents met when Mr. Duncan was stationed in Japan 15 years ago. It was “love at first sight” as they call it and the rest is history. Luckily Mr. Duncan got the chance to come back to Japan the same year my family moved here. Lilia and I bonded over being the new kids that year and were inseparable since.

Lilia definitely gets her looks from her mother, but she never acts like a girl who knows she is pretty. 

“Yes Oba. I will be up shortly.”

Mrs. Duncan insists on me calling her “aunt” because she loves me like her own family.

“Lilia, I need you and Haru ready as well, we will leave when your father and Jacob come home from the game and have dinner at Sobo’s.”

“I’m packed Mama” Lilia whined. “Why can’t I stay with Bree?”

“Lilia that’s enough. We already went through this. Bree’s family has enough on their hands with their extended guest. Mrs. Lewis doesn’t need one more to look after. I value my friendship with her to not put her through that.”

Lilia groans as Mrs. Duncan leaves the room. Probably to go fiddle with Haru’s packing. Lilia’s cousin is only a year younger than us but Mrs. Duncan feels the need to always fuss at him because he is forgetful. He tends to under-pack and the last time they had a trip, they had to go out to buy him underwear and a toothbrush in the middle of the night.

“My mom loves you Lilia. She’s just been uptight lately” I assure her.

“Why is Kenta staying with you guys again? You told me but I forget.”

“His parents have some big business trip and he wants to stay to focus on baseball and his studies, so my parents offered to house him for the summer.”

Kenta’s parents were more than happy to accept the offer, almost as if it was their idea in the first place. There was nothing they wanted more but to have their son travel and play pro. No doubt it was to add to their already huge achievements. They have one other son who is at the top of his medical career and their family owns several apartment chains across the country.

“Where is he going to sleep?”

We have a pretty big apartment due to military housing but not big enough for one more person. We have 3 bedrooms. My older sisters share a room and I have my own room. We attempted to have Jane share a bunk with me but she threw several tantrums and now sleeps with my parents. The bunk bed is now an extra bed for when Lilia sleeps over. Lindsey and Shailene wanted to keep sharing a room, probably so they could gossip about other girls and boys at their school.

“No he’s not taking your bed” I know what she is really asking. “He’s sleeping on a cot in the living room. He prefers the floor anyways.”

“Good. I have official claim on that top bunk.”

She has her name written on the underside of the bed with arrows pointing up. A note she took out of our favorite movie “It Takes Two” when Amanda claimed the top bunk at camp.

“I really gotta go. Have fun at your grandmother’s and please please please call me when you get back!”

“Forget calling! I’ll be at your door before you know it!”

“This sucks so much.” I don’t know why, but I have this weird feeling that I’m going to miss her more than usual.

“Maybe Kenta will keep you company!”

“Not funny!” I find one of her stuffed animals and throw it at her, forgetting about the uneasiness in my stomach.

She laughs as she catches it and hugs it.

“Go before your mom grounds you all summer and then I really won’t be able to see you!”

She wasn’t lying. I hurriedly leave after a quick goodbye.

*          *          *

“Brianna, I need you to peel the garlic and cut the bean sprouts.”

I look at the two giant bowls filled with the worst food items to prep.

I go straight to work on peeling what looks like hundreds of garlic cloves and removing the stringy tails off of possibly thousands of bean sprouts by hand. I’m not sure if there’s a quicker way but if there is my mother isn’t sharing it. It becomes tiring and back-aching.

When it’s done after what feels like hours later, I stand up and stretch. I look over at my mother who is standing at the kitchen sink rinsing a pot of rice. She is not petite like Mrs. Duncan, but rather, she is slightly taller with more curves.She has lighter color auburn hair and gray-blue eyes, neither inherited by her daughters.  Like her husband, she is an all-American girl but she traveled all over the world before meeting him during one of her backpacking trips across Europe. She made a point to learn how to cook different local foods wherever she traveled. Mrs. Duncan gave her lots of recipes and tips for this summer’s meals. 

“Mom I’ll be back, I need to wash the stickiness off my hands.”

“Okay, but hurry back. You’ll need to set out the floor table and cushions so we can eat soon.”

In that second I sort of resolve to take my time. I’m sure the table and cushions were a trap. An easy job before she puts me to work at another back-breaking task. It was all for show anyways. We have a formal dining table but my mother purchased a folding table to be used when we have guests over. 

I am so lost in my thoughts I didn’t see that the bathroom is already occupied. Right when I reach for the door knob, it swings open. Before I can stop myself, I fall into the occupant. I fall into a surprised Kenta.

Startled, I push myself off of him and try to compose myself. I make the mistake of looking up and as we make eye contact, I look down right away, truly embarrassed.

“Erm...” he began hesitantly. “Erm. Breeahnnie, I am sorry. I. Erm. I am done with this room.”

“Oh! Umm. You can call me ‘Bree’ and it’s okay. Really” I stammer. “I just needed to wash my hands.”

I hold up my hands like I need to show proof.

“Garlicky.” Oh wow. I must look so stupid.

I sneak a look to see if he is looking at me disgusted. Instead I see... a smile?

Yes, I am certain I’m not mistaken this time. He is definitely smiling at me with his white teeth and deep brown eyes filled with amusement. He seems taller now and his shoulders are more broad than I remember from the last time I was this close to him. It isn’t often but every time I have to fight the fluttering sensation in my stomach that threatens to engulf me. He runs his hand through his short black hair. 

“Bree yes. Bree, I like garlic” he says politely.

I smile shyly “I like you too.”

Oh no. What did I just say?

“I mean! I like it too! The garlic” I try to save my mistake.

I think I’m dying inside. I look down again with embarrassment.

It was a bit too silent but I feel an awkward pat on my shoulder.

“You are able to go now. Erm. Bree? The restroom” he says.

I think he is consoling me but I rush past him and shut the door without looking at him.

What is going on with me? It felt a bit rude but I didn’t know how to react.

For one, no boy has ever been that nice to me, let alone smile at me. I mean not that way. I don’t know which way exactly but it was definitely different than my peers. Boys my age didn’t look at me with any interest. They talked to me about other pretty girls in the class that they liked.

I didn’t mind because I didn’t look at any boy with interests other than being friends. We played rough and I scrapped with them if I had too.

But Kenta looks at me in a way that makes me shy. Makes me such a... girl. It is unfamiliar territory but I think this is what crushes are supposed to be. At least it seems that way in the movies. A shy girl and boy smile awkwardly at each other and then find the urge to kiss.

Is that what would happen? No. That could never. I don’t want to kiss... do I? I never thought about that before. Not me doing the kissing anyways.

I don’t know. I just need to avoid him for now. It’s all in my head. I look at my reflection in the mirror. I’m not the kind of girl boys like. I’m not that pretty.

*          *          *