Part 2: ‘The Forbidden’

Mrs. Takahashi is a real nice person. Right after listening to Hitori’s problem, she offered him right way to stay at the restaurant. She also didn’t seem to mind that he is still going to school and all. She said that they are rooms above the place. Most of the rooms are filled with boxes and furniture but, there’s one spacey empty room. She said that her son usually goes up there to do his art work and that Hitori will find her son’s stuffs at one end of the room and Hitori could use the other end of the room. She said that the bathroom together with toilet is just beside the room.
Hitori didn’t mind at all of the condition of the room as long as he has a place to stay, sleep and bath. It is near his school too. After that, Mrs. Takahashi also offered him to find help to move his stuff from his old place. Hitori is also very thankful for that.
After all of the talking, now it is time to get back to business. She said that her new restaurant, ‘The Forbidden’, is a real exclusive restaurant. There are five tables for ten and ten tables for two inside the restaurant. The customers will have to book the tables two or three days earlier and the customers who came would be those from the rich and famous. Business starts at 6 p.m. each day and end at 12 p.m. Hitori thought that he’ll have enough sleep for school and time for studies and homework. His school starts at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. He’ll start cooking and preparing right after school. Mrs. Takahashi said that she’ll provide him assistant chefs. All he would need them to do is to help him with the frying, chopping, and serving anyway. He thought of preparing the ingredients and all by himself. This time, he thought, it was as if angels suddenly fell down on his side…
***
The place is really spacey and does look exclusive. He really liked it especially the kitchen. It’s all that matters… The kitchen suits all his needs. Why is it that since he met Mrs. Takahashi, everything seems to fall into place? Everything had been easy for him. He felt blessed.
God, thanks for everything…, he whispered silently inside his heart. As he went upstairs and got to the room, he thought that it looked really cozy. As soon as he enters the door, he saw a cupboard stands at the far side of the wall. There’s a fold-up futon and several clothes inside it. Next to it, there’s a table filled with art stuffs. The table comes with a chair. Standing near the table is a drawing board with a painting pasted to it. It is a real beautiful painting… Whoever that had painted it is a real talented artist. It’s a painting of a rose garden. The garden seems real magical. The roses are redder than ever, the leaves are green and sun shone above them. Sun so bright! It is as if he can touch and smell those roses. He feels like he is in the painting. What a wonderful feeling…
He arranged all of his stuffs at the on other end of the room. He too, folds up his futon and keeps it in his drawer. He fixes all of his clothes and things into place. He had a Japanese table with a study lamp on it. So, he didn’t need a chair. He thought of doing his homework and studies right after work which ended at 12 p.m. He’ll get to sleep around 2 a.m. That way, he’ll get five hours enough sleep. He used to not getting enough sleep anyway if he sleeps later than that.
There’s a real wide window in the middle of the wall in the room. It shines light to the whole room. The view outside is lovely and he felt homey already. Business won’t start until next week. A few workers will come in now and then to set-up the place. Only after the place is ready then the food will be in store and after that, he’ll get busy arranging the kitchen’s arrangement and the dishes’ ingredients and all. It doesn’t matter… All he cared about is having payments to live and he for sure will keep all the money including the ¥100,000 that he had won. He lights up a smile on his face. His life will get better…
***
The moon rise high on the dark sky. Stars surrounded her… what a beautiful sight. Hitori turned off the lights to go to sleep. Tomorrow is Sunday, another day off from school. He had finished all of his homework. He only has to study tomorrow. Unlike all of the other kids in school, he is always… always… alone. He never liked to go to game stores or hang out like them. So, he always thought that being alone is better.
His futon had been spread down on the floor. He went straight to bed. Again, like all the other nights, he whispers silently through his teeth; Tomorrow could be just another day and also a new beginning… He closed his eyes slowly, remembering his mother’s presence. Her smell, her eyes, her smile… she almost looked like that risen moon outside his window. She must be very happy, in heaven, along with the angels, now…, he thought and doze off to sleep.
***