”Drifting about in Dreams” ~Memoir of a Karaoke Singer~

第2話 August 1984 --Chapter 2 --

　　　I attempted to explain to Takano-san what kind of danger was awaiting him, where in Metro Manila. It did not take much time for me, however, to realize it was way too late. He had already visited virtually all the places I picked up to warn him, without facing any trouble.

　　　“Anyway," said I to him, raising my right hand as if swearing to God, “I’ve never met in my life a Japanese who speaks English as fluently as you do, Takano-san."

　　　I did not add, ‘My boyfriend -Akira- and his best friend -Tomita-san- are rare exception, though.'

　　　I went on. “Please, don’t forget, nonetheless, Takano-san, that being able to speak good English doesn’t necessarily guarantee you all the safety you need."

　　　“Yeah, I’ll remember that." He turned to me, smiling. Perhaps, that was the first time he showed his whole face directly to me.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Takano-san’s eyes were filled with true sincerity. ..So looked to me.

　　　Suddenly, I felt guilty, because I was not completely sure for myself if I truly cared about his safety from the bottom of my heart, or if what I had told him was not flattering lip service at all.

　　　I wanted to change the subject of our conversation to something else. But, frustratingly, I could figure out no new topic.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Takano-san had rather smaller eyes with deeply double-edged eyelids. High cheekbones. Clearly outlined, firm lips.

　　　His slim chin and fair skin might be making him look somewhat delicate and sensitive, just as Akira’s did to himself. He was about thirty-five years old, perhaps. On the taller side for a Japanese man, but maybe not as tall as Akira who had claimed his height being one hundred and seventy-five centimeter.

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　　　“If you..." Takano-san’s voice caught my ear. The voice brought me back to the reality from recalling of Akira. “If you haven’t met too many Japanese who spoke good English, Trina, I suspect, it’s because you haven’t happened to be in such places in the past. I believe there are lots of Japanese in this country who speak English very well. ..How about those businesspeople sent out to the city of Makati from Japan, for example?"

　　　‘Indeed,' thought I: All kinds of enterprises in all kinds of fields, such as banks, stockbrokers, manufacturers, mining companies, had established their offices in Makati -the business center of the Philippine economy. And, no question, foreign enterprises were important component of the mixture. So, yes, I might have met many good-English-speaking Japanese if I had ever had opportunities to step into some of those modern skyscrapers in Makati.

　　　“You’re right, Takano-san." I replied.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　What on earth about Japan and Japanese people did I know then?

　　　Well, I worked at a karaoke saloon in Fukuoka, Japan, for six months from December 1980 through May 1981, possibly as one of the clumsiest Filipino singers who ever had visited the country.

　　　I was surprised very much, then, with the fact that Japan was way far richer than I had imagined. I got deeply impressed with the unthinkable cleanness, orderliness and neatness of the city as well.

　　　Almost one year later, I was in Asakusa, Tokyo. That was my second visit to Japan. During that time, of course, I came to know about Japan much more. Akira and Tomita-san were the persons who gave me a wide range of new knowledge in a variety of fields.

　　　But that was all. What I possessed then was still very limited knowledge of Japan.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　“In any case, Takano-san," said I jokingly, for I wanted to prevent my words from sounding too flattering, “I’m truly thankful tonight that I have a customer with whom I can communicate without any feeling of entanglement."

　　　What filled my mind right after my saying that, however, was no longer Takano-san’s ability of speaking English. I was recalling what Akira had told me, instead. ‘You better know about Japan and Japanese people as much as you can, Trina. ..Now that you’re very possibly going to spend the rest of your life here in Japan. ..Of course, with me.'

　　　That had not been materialized yet. I was waiting in Manila for my next chance to work, nowhere else, in Akira’s country.

　　　I heaved an imaginary sigh, almost murmuring to myself, ‘First, Cesar -my husband. ..Then Akira.'

　　　 “Without any feeling of entanglement... That’s very good for you, Trina."Takano-san said with a bright tone in his voice.

　　　Having realized I had been placing Akira’s image upon Takano-san’s once again, I could not help but feel very embarrassed.