Read Online I Hear Them Cry by Shiho Kishimoto - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shiho Kishimoto
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“Mr. Muraoka?” I said, trying to hide my embarrassment. “Hello. How’ve you been? It’s sure been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. I’ll be sure to let the President know you called as soon as he returns,” he said, professionally.
“That’s all right. It’s nothing important. I’ll just call later. Bye.”
I had no choice but to end the phone call abruptly. It occurred to me that someone might have been at his side, breathing down his neck. When the three of us had been out for drinks, he had never been so reserved, going so far as to tease Shigeki and me.
“I can see now why the President didn’t return from France right away,” he’d said, drunkenly laughing. “You’re so gorgeous.”
Staring at the cell phone in my hand, a new inkling of doubt popped into my head. It was strange that he had spoken so cautiously, as if he were on guard. I played back the phone call in my mind: the phone rang, and then Muraoka hesitated and answered cautiously.
(It’s meee.)
I knew of nobody else who would call Shigeki’s phone and say such a thing in the coquettish manner I’d used. Unless there was someone else. Muraoka knew that, and answered cautiously to avoid making any gaffes. When I asked about him, he must have recognized my voice. But his distant tone persisted because he wanted to conceal the fact that he had been cautious initially.
Was I being paranoid? Was my imagination running wild? I couldn’t come up with any other reason for Muraoka’s formal manner.
REIKA: FIVE
It was the rainy season, and when the sun made an appearance it baked your skin. But there was no light in my life then, only a dark cloud hanging over my heart. There was a Shigeki I did not know. I decided to learn more about my husband by talking to his mother.
“Hi, this is Mayu.”
“I hope you’re keeping well, dear. It’s quite hot, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Certainly feels like the rainy season is already over.” After an awkward pause, I continued. “Would you mind if I dropped by to see you today?”
“Of course not, dear. It’s your house, too, you know. Come by anytime you like.”
Shigeki was born in Kamakura, a mountain town nestled among the lush greenery. The family had occupied a mansion there for several generations. It was very old and had become uncomfortable to live in, so the family built an elegant European-style cottage on the grounds. Kanako lived in the cottage, along with her longtime helper, Ms. Sato.
When I first visited with Shigeki to announce our marriage, the old mansion charmed me instantly. It was love at first sight.On subsequent visits, I sketched it, promising myself that one day I would do an oil painting of it. Kanako liked to watch me draw and seemed to be looking forward to seeing the finished work. She was probably thinking that this visit was casual, an excuse to draw some more.
Ms. Sato answered the door after I rang the bell. For many years, she had commuted to the Tachibana household. But after her only daughter married and her husband died from cancer, she found herself living alone. She decided to become live-in help at the Tachibana house. With a sturdy physique, she gave the impression that she had been a hard worker since her youth. She was the polar opposite of slender Kanako. She was also several years older than Kanako.
I hoped that this visit to Shigeki’s family home would expose some clues or help reveal that side of him that made him seem like another person. I felt like I was the only one in the dark about Reika Terashima. Standing at the front door, everything seemed different than usual. I couldn’t help thinking that both Kanako and Ms. Sato were hiding something from me.
“Welcome, ma’am,” Ms. Sato said, opening the door and offering slippers. “Madam has been expecting you.”
“And where might she be now?”
“In the garden, ma’am, but please wait in the living room. I shall go fetch her.”
“That won’t be necessary.
“Mr. Muraoka?” I said, trying to hide my embarrassment. “Hello. How’ve you been? It’s sure been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. I’ll be sure to let the President know you called as soon as he returns,” he said, professionally.
“That’s all right. It’s nothing important. I’ll just call later. Bye.”
I had no choice but to end the phone call abruptly. It occurred to me that someone might have been at his side, breathing down his neck. When the three of us had been out for drinks, he had never been so reserved, going so far as to tease Shigeki and me.
“I can see now why the President didn’t return from France right away,” he’d said, drunkenly laughing. “You’re so gorgeous.”
Staring at the cell phone in my hand, a new inkling of doubt popped into my head. It was strange that he had spoken so cautiously, as if he were on guard. I played back the phone call in my mind: the phone rang, and then Muraoka hesitated and answered cautiously.
(It’s meee.)
I knew of nobody else who would call Shigeki’s phone and say such a thing in the coquettish manner I’d used. Unless there was someone else. Muraoka knew that, and answered cautiously to avoid making any gaffes. When I asked about him, he must have recognized my voice. But his distant tone persisted because he wanted to conceal the fact that he had been cautious initially.
Was I being paranoid? Was my imagination running wild? I couldn’t come up with any other reason for Muraoka’s formal manner.
REIKA: FIVE
It was the rainy season, and when the sun made an appearance it baked your skin. But there was no light in my life then, only a dark cloud hanging over my heart. There was a Shigeki I did not know. I decided to learn more about my husband by talking to his mother.
“Hi, this is Mayu.”
“I hope you’re keeping well, dear. It’s quite hot, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Certainly feels like the rainy season is already over.” After an awkward pause, I continued. “Would you mind if I dropped by to see you today?”
“Of course not, dear. It’s your house, too, you know. Come by anytime you like.”
Shigeki was born in Kamakura, a mountain town nestled among the lush greenery. The family had occupied a mansion there for several generations. It was very old and had become uncomfortable to live in, so the family built an elegant European-style cottage on the grounds. Kanako lived in the cottage, along with her longtime helper, Ms. Sato.
When I first visited with Shigeki to announce our marriage, the old mansion charmed me instantly. It was love at first sight.On subsequent visits, I sketched it, promising myself that one day I would do an oil painting of it. Kanako liked to watch me draw and seemed to be looking forward to seeing the finished work. She was probably thinking that this visit was casual, an excuse to draw some more.
Ms. Sato answered the door after I rang the bell. For many years, she had commuted to the Tachibana household. But after her only daughter married and her husband died from cancer, she found herself living alone. She decided to become live-in help at the Tachibana house. With a sturdy physique, she gave the impression that she had been a hard worker since her youth. She was the polar opposite of slender Kanako. She was also several years older than Kanako.
I hoped that this visit to Shigeki’s family home would expose some clues or help reveal that side of him that made him seem like another person. I felt like I was the only one in the dark about Reika Terashima. Standing at the front door, everything seemed different than usual. I couldn’t help thinking that both Kanako and Ms. Sato were hiding something from me.
“Welcome, ma’am,” Ms. Sato said, opening the door and offering slippers. “Madam has been expecting you.”
“And where might she be now?”
“In the garden, ma’am, but please wait in the living room. I shall go fetch her.”
“That won’t be necessary.
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