Fateful Destiny

Ivy adjusted the mask on her face with her gloved hands. She is almost freezing cold! This is her second winter in this foreign land, and until now, she always hated how cold it could get. She feels better though, when she remembers Sachie telling her last night that it was -15degrees in Tokyo. She would freeze to death by then, she thought.

She checked her wristwatch, it's 10 minutes past 6 in the evening, and she realized that it was already dark. She began to type a message on her phone.

"Where are you Hiro? I'm freezing now!"

She went inside the waiting area again and sat on one of the chairs. Today is Friday, December 21st, and she had promised her father that she will spend the holiday break there then she will go home to her mother for the celebration of New Year.

It has been almost 1 year since the relationship between Hiro and Ivy became clear. That time, she asked her father not to publicly announce that she is his daughter, in order not to make a ruckus in their social circle and in the company, where Hiro is the president. If it's made public, its either they cannot make their relationship known or Hiro would be branded as a bastard child and the company would be affected.

Although the company originally belonged to Mita's family, Yukio worked hard on expanding it. When Mita's family was the one running it, it was just a mere textile and transport company that operates only in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Then Yukio was able to expand the company that it was able to dominate the transport industry all over the country, in just less than 20 years of managing it. When Hiro turned 22, Yukio turned over the company to him. In just 10 years, Hiro further expanded the company to include not only transport industry, but also manufacturing of vehicle parts. The YY group of companies now owned a transport group, manufacturing group, chain of hotels and sports club, and large shopping malls and supermarkets built from north to south of Japan. Now, at the age of 33, he is one of the youngest and richest CEO in the country. Just last year, they started branching out to other countries, particularly the Asian market.

If Hiro's complicated family background is made known to the public, his credibility might be affected, and other business partners might shun him, and his entire family. This is what Ivy does not want to happen. She knows how much the sense of shame and honor is respected and being uphold by the people of this country. She has no wish to humiliate him, his family, and her own father in this country. In any case, it does not matter to her one bit if she will never be recognized as her father's daughter, as she literally grew up without one. She is, in fact, very contented with what's going on in her life now. She could not ask for more.

"What are you dreaming about?"

The cold voice and warm touch on her forehead woke Ivy from her deep thoughts. She opened her eyes in surprise as she did not hear the helicopter landing, nor his footsteps.

Looking at her intently is a pair of deep dark brown round eyes, the ones she missed so much. Hell, she has not seen him for almost a month!

"Hiro!" she leapt from her chair and hugged him, her arms around his neck.

"Woah!" Hiro was surprised too, but he instinctively put his arms around her waist as he smelled her sweet scent. How he missed her!

After a while, Ivy let go of him, and as she looked at his smiling eyes, she smiled back, then pouted at him.

"It took you too long to come here, " she stated, with an accusing look, "Don't tell me they have heavy traffic in the sky now".

Hiro laughed sexily, and pinched her little nose covered with the mask.

"Sorry about that, no excuses. But know that I did try to finish all my work as fast as I could to come here and pick you up." He explained then how he missed her for the past weeks. He was in China, Taiwan and Korea to look over the opening ceremony of the YY shopping malls in these countries. It was indeed so tiring for him but he wanted to be present there as the CEO, and he had to meet all the managers assigned in each area, and supervise some decision-making meetings.

She cast him a sideway glance. Of course, she is not angry at him, for even though they were not able to see each other personally during almost a month, they always see each other on video call every night. Hiro would always call her every time he arrives in his hotel room, and they will talk with the video on for hours until they both decided to sleep. But seeing him in person is different, of course.

Finally, she smiled at him. And he laughed.

"You are a little schemer. You just want to hear me say sorry, " he touted.

"Ha-ha", she mimicked his laughter. "Indeed, it is a real pleasure to hear Mr. CEO say sorry to me", she smiled sweetly at him.

Then, as he was about to pinch her nose again, she held her arms in his face. And sneezed. "Sorry, " she said, a bit embarrassed.

"It's too cold, let's go." Hiro put his arm on her shoulder and guided her towards the helicopter. The pilot bowed to them as they went inside, then after a few moments, they are up in the air. Inside, Hiro wrapped his arms around her, as she was taking off her mask. She also took off her gloves and touched his cheeks, and he winced at how cold her hands were.

"I told you I'm freezing, " she giggled at his reaction. She was wearing a thick winter coat, turtleneck heat-tech long sleeve tops, and heat-tech thick leggings. However, her whole body was still so cold with the weather. Meanwhile, Hiro was only wearing a long sleeve collared shirt with a knitted vest and black pants.

Doesn't he feel cold at all?

"Aren't you cold?" she wondered and asked him.

"I was, " he answered, looking at a knee-length winter coat tossed at the back of their seat. "But now that my human blanket is here, then I'm not cold anymore." He winked at her, knowing that the hidden meaning in his words was not lost on her, for her cheeks became redder with embarrassment.

She pinched his side, as he stifled a laugh.

"You are becoming too straightforward these days, " she commented. She then checked her phone and read his reply which said "Coming as fast as I could, honey!" She smiled to herself.

"Why, don't you like it? Do you want me to hide my feelings for you?" he frowned at her.

She looked at him, wondering how can he be so handsome, and how was she able to have him. "I do, but only when it's the two of us." She whispered to his ear. Hiro was aroused with her action, as he felt her soft breath on his ear, tickled his senses.

His arms went to her waist, slightly caressing her on the lower part.

"I can't wait to be with you tonight." He whispered back.

Ivy smiled to herself mischievously.

"Me too, but I have..."

Disappointment was written all over his face as he heard her last words. Ivy couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

"Are you teasing me or what?" he asked.

"No, it's true." She said innocently, "It's my second day, do you want me to prove it to you later?" she tested his patience.

Hiro was silent for a short while, then with an evil smirk on his face, he said. "Well, I don't mind becoming a vampire for a few nights."

Ivy was lost for words. She did not understand what he meant, and as she looked at him with that expression, he laughed at her and pinched her nose.

"I was just kidding, little one." He said, amused at how ignorant and innocent she can sometimes be. Well, it might be one of the reasons why he became drawn to her, her pure innocence.

He held her close to his chest the whole time they were in the air, while telling about his travels. He recounted how many times he had to coldly push away some girls that were sent to him by some managers who wanted to have his good side. Hiro was not offended, as he knows that in a man's world, sexual pleasure is one of the best way to get close to somebody's good side. As the CEO, he had numerous experiences about it, but he always managed to push the girls away. Especially now, that he has Ivy.

Ivy was jealous at first, but when he said the last words, she somehow felt at ease. She smiled at him.

"Can you repeat it?"

He looked at her questioningly at first, the he obliged. "I don't have any need for another woman since I already have you."

She giggled sheepishly, and Hiro pinched her on the nose. "It is so hard to be a CEO, right? You always have girls who want to take advantage of you." She said.

He lifted one thick eyebrow, "It's not only because I'm a CEO, " his voice has some pride on it, and she caught it too well. She lowered her eyes, "Ok, you are handsome, and charming, and so capable, and the list goes on and on..."

Her voice was so small that Hiro had to listen to her closely, "I did not hear you quite well, " he put on a cold look, She laughed. "I said, Mr. CEO, that you are handsome, and a macho man. So girls fly to you like bees."

"Well, at least you know" he joked, while hugging her closer.

When they arrived, they went straight to the dining room, where Sachie, Mita and Yukio were waiting for them. Sachie hugged her at once, and after a few moment, she bowed at Mita and Yukio.

"How's school?" Yukio asked as she sat in between Hiro and Sachie.

"Everything's ok, father, " she replied, "I will be able to graduate next year."

"That's good, " he nodded.

"So, when will the wedding be?" Sachie asked out of nowhere, Ivy almost choked on her food, while Hiro cast an approval glance to his little sister. Give it to Sachie to ask questions that are too straightforward.

Yukio cleared his throat, while Mita just smiled.

"Well, it depends on Ivy, " Hiro said, and he felt a thud on his foot. He groaned inwardly as her heeled boots stomped on his foot.

"Sachie, I have to graduate first, " she said.

"It's like too long, " Sachie pouted her lips, "Can't you get married while you are in school?"

Way to go, Sachie! Hiro promised to buy for her whatever she wants later on.

Ivy did not know how to answer. Come to think of it, nobody is against their relationship. Hiro has made is intention really clear to her, and Yukio already gave him his blessings. The only thing to do is for them to ask Andrea's permission. That is where the problem lies.

As Hiro's stepfather, he had to ask Andrea's permission. But as Ivy's father, he already gave his permission. Aside from that, no one dared to mention Andrea in their midst. Mita still felt guilty that she was the cause of their broken relationship, but Yukio's dilemma was different. How would he face her after all those years? Will he apologize? Will he go there as Ivy's father, as Hiro's father, or as Andrea's ex-lover?

"For now, finish your meal, Sachie. That topic is for adults only." Hiro was the one who broke the silence, as the three adults had their own thoughts.

After dinner, everybody went to do their own stuff. Mita and Yukio drank tea together in front of the television at the living room, while watching a Japanese variety show. Sachie went to her room, to have a chat with her friends on LINE. Hiro and Ivy went outside to the garden for a walk to help them digest the food, where a small greenhouse was erected to grow some flowers and herbs that cannot tolerate the cold temperature. After walking in silence for about 15 minutes while holding hands, they decided to go back to the house.

"It is really cold in here, " Ivy's teeth were almost shattering as she speak, and her cheeks were reddish with the cold.

Hiro's gloved hands cupped her face firmly, "You should take a warm bath, so you can relax." Then he kissed her forehead.

She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent and anticipating. She was waiting for his kiss on her lips, that never came. When she opened her eyes, Hiro's mocking eyes was looking at her intently. Her cheeks reddened more.

He laughed at her, and she punched him on his chest, which he almost did not feel.

"You're a bully, " she said, "I am sorry my dear, but you looked so cute there, with your eyes closed and your lips slightly parted, waiting for me to --"

"Stop it!" she covered his mouth with her hands. "Have you no shame? They might hear you." She glanced around to see if somebody is near. Aside from the four of them, there are two butlers and three other staff in the house. She has never seen another Japanese house with servants and butlers, so she knows that this family is really rich.

"What is there to be ashamed of?" he asked, his voice becoming thick with deliberate ease. He began to inch closer to her, she stepped backwards, until she felt the wall on her back. He stopped just an inch away from her, his face was so close that she can feel his breath. She moved her face to the side, but he cupped her face and forced her to meet his gaze.

"Are you ashamed of being my girl?" he asked, searching her eyes.

She blinked. How did it come to this?

"Of course not, " she said

"Then why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you cover my mouth earlier?"

"Because you were saying something... something private, " she avoided the word embarrassing, for he might not like it.

"So, " he was playfully curling her hair with his other hand, "it's ok if I say something...private when there's only the two of us?"

How can he be like a child? She thought.

She nodded, what else can she do? He would not let her go unless she succumbed to his bullying.

Hiro smiled. He always find it interesting to tease her, and get some reaction from her lovely face.

"Ok, now go to your room, " he moved back a little, "before I change my mind and take you to my room."

She punched him again, as she went up the stairs to her room. She was smiling to herself, thinking of how complete she feels whenever he is around her.

She then went to her own bathroom and get the tub ready with warm water. Imagine, in this house, there is a private bathroom in every room, and the tub was so big that she can lay there completely and will still be able to fit another person. She felt tickled as her thought wandered to Hiro, imagining them together at the tub.

After spending an hour in the tub, she put on her sleep wear and wrapped her long hair with the towel. She then began to dry her hair in front of the dresser when she heard a knock on her door.

"It's me, " was all he said.

She frowned and looked at the wall clock. It's almost 10PM, why is he still not sleeping? Nevertheless, she went to the door and opened it. He was also in his sleep wear, with a bottle of wine in his one hand and two wine glasses on the other. He went in without further ado. She closed the door and locked it, and continued drying her hair.

Hiro made himself at home in her room, sitting casually on the sofa, after putting the wine and glasses on the small table nearby. He then switched on the tv in her room, and after a while, he settled with a holly wood movie featuring Angelina Jolie.

She joined him after a while. As she sat beside him, she could smell his aftershave, and body wash. He put his arm around her shoulder, as she nestled close to his chest.

He inhaled her newly washed body, and he kissed her hair. How could she smell so nice, even on her period?

"Why, can't you sleep?" she softly asked, not looking at him, but on the movie.

"A bit, " he replied.

Then he became silent. Ivy thought that he was intently watching the movie, so she also behave herself. Until she felt his hand inside her sweater, caressing her waist. His hand was warm, and it felt good to her. He stayed doing that for a few minutes, then he whispered in her ear, "I miss you, " his voice husky and sexy.

She looked at him, his eyes was darker with desire, and his hand was becoming warmer against her bare skin.

She giggled softly, "I miss you, too. But learn to control your desire, Hiro, " she said, now it's her turn to tease him, as she thought of something naughty.

She took his hand that was inside her sweater, and draw circles on the center of his palm. She knows that he gets tickled when she do that.

"Stop that, " he warned, as he inhaled sharply. He pulled his hand away from her. Then, he reached for the bottle of wine and poured on the glasses. He gave the first to her.

She took a sip from the glass, while looking at his face from the side of her eyes.

"Ivy, I came here to ask you, when should we meet your mother properly?" He asked, his eyes focused on the tv.

Ivy was silent, she was also thinking about the same thing when she was in the tub. Although Andrea already knows that Hiro is not Yukio's son, she is not sure if her mother would be able to meet Yukio without hard feelings anymore. She never talked about Yukio with Andrea, because she feels that it is a forbidden topic with her mother. After she learned about her father, she went home twice already. She recounted to Andrea what really happened between Mita and Yukio. Afterwards, she saw a mixture of expression on her mother's face. It's like regret, sadness, happiness, and anger. During that time, she did not have the heart to ask her mother about her real feelings. Andrea did acknowledge her relationship with Hiro, but never once mentioned anything about what she found out about Yukio and Mita. For that, Ivy is hesitant to let her parents meet, for fear of digging up unnecessary problems.

"I wonder about that too, Hiro. I am not sure about my mother's reaction when she meets father and Aunt Mita, " she replied honestly.

Hiro inhaled, he has his own thoughts about the matter, too. But for him, no matter what their reactions would be, he won't let anybody hinder their relationship. He will make her his wife, that is certain.

He hugged her closer, "Well, let's just finish this movie tonight. We can talk about it tomorrow."

He kissed her lips lightly, and she smiled at him. How could he be so understanding? Hiro became contented with cuddling her and caressing her body, all the while until the movie finished. When it was 11:30, she thought that he would go back to his bed, but he went with her to her bed. That night, they just slept together cuddling each other. Ivy was contented, while he was tormented, thinking about the past weeks that he was not with her. And now that they are together, her period got in the way.

The holiday was spent in the Yamamoto house. Mostly, Sachie and Ivy would go out in daytime to do shopping, while Hiro was still going to his office. As a private company, the holiday starts in the 28th of December until the 2nd day of January. In the evening, they would either dine out somewhere or just at home. Sachie and Ivy became closer than before, as Sachie became more fluent in English. At the same time, Ivy could already converse in Japanese at an intermediate level.

On the 29th, it was her time to go back to her country. Hiro accompanied her as they flew back home. Andrea welcomed them both, her mother was civil to Hiro. Again, Andy was so mesmerized by how Hiro carried himself so elegantly.

During dinnertime, only the four of them were present because Andy chose to spend the holiday with his friends who just live a couple of houses away from them. Andrea and Ivy cooked their food together, while Hiro was patiently talking with the grandmother, who has a hearing problem.

"How is it?" Ivy asked excitedly to Hiro, as he tasted the food.

Hiro chew on the food silently. It was a meat dish with lots of soup that tastes sour due to tamarind. In Ivy's mother tongue, they call it 'sinigang'. He actually liked it.

"It's delicious, " he said, sipping on the bowl of soup that Ivy had given him.

"Really?" she arched her eyebrow, for she knows that most Japanese would be so polite to say the otherwise. They would always say that the food was delicious so as not to embarrass the person who cooked. "You're not just being polite, are you?"

Hiro smiled at her, "Ivy, it is delicious. Really." He found it amusing that she was really asking for his honest opinion, like wanting to impress him. Although for him, she does not need to impress her with her cooking ability anymore. The pleasures she gave him is more than enough, but of course he cannot tell it to her now, especially that her mother and grandmother are listening.

She felt happy and smiled like a child to him. It is indeed one of the dishes that she always cooks, and she takes pride in it.

"Ok then, come on and eat this too, " she put on another dish on his plate. "You don't have an allergy on seafood, right?" she was asking him, but she does not look like somebody who was waiting for his answer, as she already put a lot of shrimps on his plate.

This time it is a seafood dish that almost have the same ingredients with the first meat dish. As Hiro tasted it, it was exactly the same taste with the meat, minus the meaty taste.

"What is this called?" he asked, although he already had a guess.

"It's the same dish, just a different main ingredient."

As he expected, 'can't she cook something that is not sour?' he thought to himself.

"So?" she asked, waiting anxiously for his verdict.

"It is also delicious."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Ivy smiled sweetly, and began to ate her food as well.

Andrea suppressed herself from laughing in the child-like manner of her daughter. She has never seen Ivy this keen for compliments before.

"Anyway Ivy, I asked Andy to clean his room for Hiro, will that be ok?" Andrea asked.

They only have four rooms in the house, occupied by each one of them. They don't have a guest room as their house is just a normal one for an average income-earner. Her mother is a high-school teacher, although she has promoted as a principal for more than a decade, but they never live in luxury. But at least, they don't live in debts, either. Her mother does not want to borrow money from anybody, even to her relatives. Since she was young, her mom always told her to make her ends meet. She was taught from a young age that if she has 1 peso, she should only spend 0.80 cent and save the remaining for emergency purposes.

"Actually, it is better--" Hiro was about to say that it is better if they stay together but he felt a light kick on his foot. As he looked sharply at Ivy, who smiled innocently at him, he thought that he would make her pay later on. Nobody has ever kicked him before, even under the table, except this girl. He would have to make her understand later who is the boss. "that way, Auntie. Thank you."

"I see, don't worry. Everything was newly washed." Andrea said, for she knows how much Japanese people values hygiene. She made sure that the room was thoroughly cleaned, scrubbed on all corners and sprayed with room deodorizer earlier. She still remembered that Yukio always sneeze when the room was dusty.

"Thank you for the consideration, Auntie." Hiro replied. He does not want to be a bother, but he was really thankful for that.

"Anyway, mom, will you be staying here on the 2nd? Do you anywhere you wish to visit?" Ivy asked, praying that her mother will say no.

"Nothing in particular, " Andrea replied, "Maybe we will have some visitors from my colleagues, but I don't have a plan to go somewhere, why did you ask?"

Ivy cleared her throat, and she looked at Hiro for support. He, in turn, tried to bully her by avoiding her eyes and drinking his coffee. She pursed her lips.

"Will it be alright if, you know, Hiro's family will visit us on the 2nd?" she tried to rephrase the question that she wanted to ask. She was about to say 'father', referring to Yukio, but thought against it.

The room was silent. All the while, the grandmother was just patiently and slowly chewing on her food with what little teeth remaining on her mouth. Andrea drank her coffee too, and cast a glance at Hiro, who met her gaze steadily.

"Are they coming over about the two of you?"

"Yes mom, " Ivy said at the same time that Hiro answered "Yes, Auntie."

Andrea was silent for a few moments, and continued drinking her coffee.

"In that case, we will welcome them, then."

Ivy and Hiro felt relieved upon hearing Andrea's response. That evening, Hiro was not able to really fall asleep. His room is just next to Ivy's, so he kept on thinking about her. On the other hand, Ivy was not in her room. She was in Andrea's room, as her mother asked her to talk with her earlier when they were washing the plates together.

Andrea was sitting on her bed, while Ivy was lying on her back with her head on her mother's lap.

"Ivy, are you sure you would want to marry him?" she asked her daughter.

"Yes mom, " Ivy answered seriously, for she could not think about marriage anymore if not with Hiro. "I love him mom."

Andrea sighed, her mind was telling her that no matter what she says, Ivy's mind is already dead set on marrying Hiro. It is not like she is against him, even after she knew that his mother and grandfather tricked Yukio for marriage, it is not Hiro's fault. She knows it. But still, she could not help herself from blaming what happened. If not for that, she would have been Yukio's wife, and Ivy would not have had a hard time growing up being bullied by other children for not having a father. For so many years, she tried to live by accepting what happened to her, trying not to blame anyone, trying to move on. But ever since she learned about Yukio being tricked, she could not help thinking about the what ifs. Although she knows too well that lost time would not return, she once again found herself wishing for it.

"Mom, " Ivy looked at her mother's eyes, "have you forgiven.. them?"

Still, ivy could not bring herself to call Yukio 'father' in front of Andrea.

"Of course, Ivy, " Andrea smiled, "Hatred is not good, you know. You should never harbor hate towards anybody, otherwise you cannot move on." Has she really move don, after all those years?

As Ivy was supposed to ask her another question, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She sat down and looked at the message. It was from Hiro!

She shielded the phone from her mother's eyes, not knowing if Hiro would send something too private.

'I cannot sleep, I need you to put me to bed.'

Her cheeks burned as she read the message. How can he be so bold? She immediately closed the screen, and out the phone back in her pocket.

"Mom, I will go back to my room, " she said, and gave her a peck on her cheek, "Goodnight."

Andrea nodded her head, thinking that Hiro might have asked her to come to his room. She is aware that her daughter is a modern woman, and she trust that she knows what she is doing.

"Goodnight Ivy, relax because you are tired from travel."

Ivy did not fail to catch the meaning behind her mother's words, and she tried to hide the embarrassment in her face as she hurriedly went out of her mother's room. She went inside her room first. She looked at her appearance in the mirror and smelled herself. Although she has just finished a body shower before she went to Andrea's room, she feels conscious whenever she is with Hiro.

As she stood in front of his room to knock, the door suddenly opens and she was pulled into his strong arms. She found herself staring right through a pair of dark brown eyes, as his lips lowered to her.