2 YEARS LATER

CASSANDRA

I woke up to the sound of my alarm persistently ringing. I tried to reach my phone and turned it off. With a yawn, I slid off my bed and stretched my arms.

I need to prepare for my work. I went to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee and make avocado toast while waiting for my coffee.

Living alone in Japan for the past two years taught me a lot. From living in my small studio apartment, teaching myself to cook, and most importantly managing my money wisely.

Dan helped me find this apartment. I immediately fell in love with it at first sight. It was perfect for me who would be living alone in a foreign country. It had a small bed, no couch with only a small center table, a small kitchen, and a bathroom.

Time had gone by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, I was already living alone in Japan for the past two years...

I shook my head. I didn't like where my thoughts had been trailing. I promised myself in the past that I wouldn't look back to the past because it would only bring back the pain which I didn't want to feel again now that I am happy with my new life.

I spread the avocado on the toast and took a bite of it while pouring my cup of hot coffee. I looked at my watch, I still have a few minutes to spare before I need to go to work.

Dan found me a job as an assistant language teacher at an elementary school and I didn't realize that I would fall in love with my job. At first, I thought that it would be only a temporary job for me until I found a more suitable job that I wanted but I didn't realize that I would fall in love with teaching.

I placed my coffee and toast on the small center table while I sat on the floor to eat. I also took the opportunity to catch up with my readings since I became invested in the novel I bought recently when Dan and I went to the bookshop.

"Oh, shoot!" I nearly forgot the time when I looked at my watch again it was already time. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face before changing my clothes. Thank goodness, I took a shower last night before going to bed since I didn't have time to take one this morning, or I would be late for work.

I grabbed my bag on the side along with my keys before locking my apartment. The train station was only a three-minute walk from my apartment building since I was running late this morning I sprinted so I could catch the train.

This served as my exercise too since. Thank goodness, I came on time. I let out a deep breath when managed to get onto the train.

I put my AirPods on my ears as I listen to my favorite podcast on the way to school. When I arrived at the station I walked going to the school where I work.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Sensei!" Some of my students politely greeted me as they walked past me on the way to school.

"Ohayou," I greeted back with equal enthusiasm.

Once I was in school, I went straight to the faculty to get my things for my first class. I did enjoy teaching these children, especially answering their silly questions about the English language.

Before I knew it, it was already lunchtime. One of my students told me that someone was waiting for me outside and I earned some teasing from the other teachers on the faculty.

"He's just a friend," I told them countless times now but they didn't believe that Dan and I were just friends.

I grabbed my bag and went out of the building to see Dan. I saw him on the school grounds with a paper bag in his hand. "What are you doing here?"

He gave me a wounded expression. "You don't know the special occasion today?"

I grinned widely at him as I opened my arms for him. "I'm just kidding. Of course, I know. Come here," he went willingly to my open arms. "Happy Birthday!"

I heard him chuckle while wrapping his arms around me. "Thank you. I was about to get mad at you. I thought you had forgotten about my birthday. I received no message from you this morning."

I drew back from our embrace still grinning at him. "I'm sorry. I want to surprise you."

"Liar," he accused darkly. "You do forget about my birthday. I thought I was your best friend?"

"You are," I answer with a laugh.

He still acted as if he was deeply wounded that he didn't receive birthday greetings from me this morning. "Here. Since it is my birthday. I thought I needed to treat you somehow. I have a takeout from your favorite restaurant."

I clapped my hands happily. "You're the best, Takaaki-san! How did you know I didn't bring any lunch today."

He pinched my cheek playfully. "Because you are expecting a free meal today, aren't you? Also, you are getting good with your Japanese, huh?"

I beamed proudly at him. "What can I say? I have a very good teacher."

"Let's go on the shaded tree over there to eat our lunch. We can't have you miss your lunch break because of our chitchat."

We went to a shaded tree with a wooden bench. He unpacked the contents of the paper bag and handed me a bento box filled with food.

"Dig in," he said as we started to eat our lunch using chopsticks.

I enjoyed my hearty lunch under the fine weather outside. "What do you plan for your special day?"

He spared me a glance while eating. "Nothing much. The old man is preparing a party for me tonight. You should come with me since half of the guests tonight are probably strangers to me."

I couldn't help but laugh at the sarcasm I heard in his voice. "You don't seem excited about your party tonight."

He pointed to the deadpan expression on his face with his index finger. "Does this look like someone excited about some fancy party my old man prepared for me?"

"Yes," I replied grimly. "I can tell."

The look of disbelief in his eyes was comical. "Do your students know that you like to bully your best friend like this?"

"No."

Dan clicked his tongue. "But kidding aside, I never thought that you would enjoy teaching. A complete opposite of your high-paying job in New York as an art gallery curator."

I smiled gloomily. "What can I say? Two years ago, I wanted a fresh start and Japan offered me that opportunity I desperately wanted."

"Don't you miss your old life?"

I looked at him for a long moment and thought about how to answer him. Do I miss my old life? That was the question I have been asking myself from time to time. And up until now I still didn't have the answer to that question.

"Do you miss him?" Dan tweaked his question a bit which made me shoot him a surprised look.

Dan was aware that the reason I ran away from my old life was because of my family and one man in particular. What he didn't know was that I fell in love with my half-brother and I didn't know that we were related until it was too late. I was not quite ready yet to tell him that secret. I would rather keep that information to myself.

"I can see that you are not still over him," my friend commented with a knowing smile.

"I am over him," I informed him matter-of-factly. "What about you? Still not over with your ballet dancer ex?"

The corner of his mouth curved with a smile. "What makes you say that?"

I arched my brows in his direction. "I saw your recent search on your YouTube where all her recent performances were."

His face became red all over while his eyes went wide at me. "H-How did you know that?!"

I grinned at him haughtily. "I borrowed your phone the other day remember? I accidentally opened your YouTube and saw the recently searched videos."

He cleared his throat while he sat up straight in his seat.

"Don't worry," I said cheerfully, eating my lunch. "I won't judge."

He threw an accusing stare at me but I just gave him an angelic smile. He cleared his throat once again as he looked nervous all of a sudden. "Hey, Cassie, if I ask for a favor, do you think you can do it for me?"

"Of course." Did he think I would not do anything for him after everything he did for me for the past two years? "Anything for you."

He put aside his food and mine. Then, he grabbed both of my hands and squeezed them firmly. His face looked so serious. "Can you go to New York with me next month? I secured tickets for the ballet performance of Mia. It will be her first solo performance and I don't want to attend on my own."

I bit my bottom lip. If it was held in other places I would have said 'yes' without a heartbeat but New York? I have several reasons why I wanted to turn down his offer but I couldn't refuse him so easily without a nudge on my conscience. This was probably one of the few times he asked me a favor to me.

But it didn't sit me well knowing that we had to go to New York of all the places. That place held so many memories I'd rather forget altogether. Besides, there was a chance that he might be...

I shook my head resolutely. That was very unlikely, right? He went back to Monte Carlo. He no longer resides in New York.

So what's stopping you then, Cassandra?

"Do you think you can come with me, Cassie? I know that you are apprehensive when it comes to New York but--"

"I'll come with you," I said before I changed my mind. If he wants me to accompany him to New York to watch his ex's first solo performance then I would be willing to do that for my dear friend.

Dan's face lit up considerably upon hearing my response. "Really?!"

"Yes," I said with a smile. "For you, I am willing to do anything even if supporting you with your craziness."

He grinned widely. "You are the best. Do you know that?"

"Your flattery is no use in me. I know that I am your only friend." I reminded him with a laugh.

"Whatever," he replied dismissively. "I will pick you up after school."

"All right. But I am planning to go the bookshop after work."

He nodded, his eyes were twinkling with delight. "I'll come with you and then we can come together at the boring party."

"Fine by me."

We finished our lunch and then Dan left and I continued with my afternoon class. It didn't take long before it was time to go. As I got out of the building I already saw Dan waiting for me in his flashy car outside the school.

Daniel Takaaki. I mused. Son of a Japanese billionaire and a Brazilian model. He has been blessed with such a beautiful face thanks to his mother and he walked the same path as his mother. He preferred to be in front of the camera than managing a company. He told me that he had no interest in helping his father run his company but that didn't stop him from using his father's car collection.

"Aren't you a scene stealer with your car?" I teased when I reached his side. I was aware that the students coming out of the school grounds kept on looking at his sports car.

He grinned at me. He leaned casually on the passenger side of his car while his hands were tucked in his middle. His eyes were obscured by a pair of designer sunglasses and he was looking like a piece of art on the side of the street. "Hello, Sensei. Your chauffeur is here."

I shook my head, feeling shy that we were starting to attract attention from the public. I pushed him to the driver's side as I get inside the passenger's side immediately.

"What's wrong? Are you ashamed seeing seen with me in public now?" He jested while putting on his seatbelt.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, especially when you bring your father's limited edition car."

He made a sound like a snort before starting the engine. "Where to, my Cassie?"

"Bookshop."

"All right. Here we go," he said as he drove off to the street. I settled back comfortably in his car as we went to our destination.

After a few minutes on the road. He pulled in front of a bookstore that sells English books. We went inside the establishment to find the book that I wanted.

As I browsed the shelves looking for the particular book that I wanted. I saw Dan flipping back the magazines where he was on the cover.

Was he shy or something? Did he think that could prevent people from recognizing him? He was already more famous than an average celebrity here in Japan. His name was starting to become a household name in the fashion industry.

I went to his side to tease him about the magazines where he was on the covers when my attention was caught by an international fashion magazine where a famous model was on the cover.

But it wasn't the woman on the cover that caught my attention it was the photographer who took the photo.

My hand began to shake as I took the magazine off the rack and stared at the name of the photographer on the lower right side of the cover. It was just small but it was enough to get my attention.

Calix Spiridakou.

There was no mistaking it. He was probably the only one who had a such name in the fashion industry. I thought he didn't like doing fashion shoots. I guess two years was enough to change a person's perspective on things.

Up until now, seeing his name would make my heart tremble and I didn't expect this. I hated myself for being affected like this.

"What's wrong?" Dan asked worriedly.

"Nothing," I said dismissively, putting back the magazine on the shelves.

"You look like someone who had seen a ghost from her past." He commented smartly while picking up the magazine that I just put back in its place. "What's wrong with this?"

"Nothing."

He glanced at me and then back to the cover. "Calix Spiridakou," he looked at me beneath his sunglasses. "It's that him? Your ex?"

My brain had been telling me to deny but there was no use. From the look on his face, he wouldn't believe me even if I denied it. I looked away as I hated he would see through me. "Y-Yes..."

"I think I want to buy this."

I shot him a severe glance. "What do you think you are doing?"

"What?" He asked innocently. "I want to read this magazine."

I shook my head and decided that it was not worth arguing with him over a trivial matter.

"Buy the book you need. Don't mind me here," he instructed with a devilish smile. "While I read this magazine cover to cover. Who knows what I might find something interesting in here."