　　　It was a little before ten o’clock in the evening. There was only one group of customers in Sakura: Three middle-aged men. Having gathered in a corner of the saloon near the entrance, girls with no customer were patiently waiting for the next ones to come in, while aimlessly chatting one another with low voices, except the two who were asleep ignoring manager’s order, inclining each other, shoulder to shoulder.

　　　I was a little apart from them at a spot where more light was available, copying lyrics of new Japanese popular songs written in Roma-ji (Roman characters) from Lisa’s notebook to my own.

　　　Vigorously opening the entrance door, security guard Edgardo shouted into the saloon, “Irasshai mase (Welcome)!”

　　　At once, all the girls took the postures of welcoming new customers. Even those two who had been asleep did not fell behind too much.

　　　Someone sitting closest to the door raised her voice. “Wow, it’s Takano-san!”

　　　For some reason or other, I moved my eyes very slowly toward the entrance.

　　　“Maligayang pagdatíng (Welcome home)!” Another girl yelled, waving her both hands to Takano-san.

　　　Following her, many girls cheerfully raised their voices to send him their welcome messages.

　　　Dull atmosphere that had filled up Sakura until a moment before was all gone. All the people working in the saloon, including Melba and Lisa, both serving at the table of the three middle-aged men, now were casting their eyes on Takano-san, all smiling.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Melba was waiting for Takano-san to find her, keeping her face toward him.

Lisa, perhaps excusing herself for leaving the three middle-aged men, very slowly stood up to her feet, and, with a wide smile on her face, started toward Takano-san.

　　　Takano-san noticed her movement. He waved his hand first to Lisa, then to Melba, smiling back to them.

　　　“Shinpai shitayo (We’ve been worrying about you)!” Another girl yelled out. “Doko itteta (Where have you been)?”

　　　Takano-san somewhat humorously bowed deeply toward the voice, and handed one of the girls near him a few packages of candies, without seeing anybody’s face directly.

　　　The girl who had received the packages raised her voice as loudly as the one who had asked Takano-san about his whereabouts. “Salámat pô (Thank you, sir)!”

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Lisa and Takano-san exchanged a few words in front of the girls. Takano-san shook his head, smiling broadly. Having shown him her quizzical expression momentarily, Lisa took his arm and led him to the table at a far end corner of the saloon -the same one Takano-san and I had used once.

　　　Manager Manuel visited Takano-san’s table, and shook hands with him.

　　　Melba was exchanging happy smiles with her three customers. Her worry over Takano-san’s welfare obviously had gone already.

　　　Waiter Raymond headed toward Takano-san’s table, carrying an oshibori (hot, wet towel) on a tray. Lisa directed him something.

I was vaguely wondering if his first order at that night would be a glass of mango juice again.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Placing her hand on Takano-san’s shoulder, Lisa stood up. She walked to the bar counter, picked up her handbook in which, I guessed, her girls’ daily job performances were recorded, then she started turning over its pages.

　　　Lisa came back to the tables where most of her girls were still patiently awaiting new customers.

　　　Bending toward me, Lisa said, “It’s your turn, Trina.” 　　　I rushed to my feet, while folding my notebook on my lap, into which I had been copying lyrics of Japanese songs, and responded to Lisa. “Wait a minute, mama.”

　　　Lisa turned back to me in front of the bar counter. 　　　“If it’s my turn, mama,” I uttered my words into her ear so that the loud sound of music coming out from speakers would not disturb our talk, “may I ask you to replace me with Melba, for, as you know, she has been worrying about Takano-san very much, longing for him to show up.”

　　　“She has been so, indeed. ..But, you may not, Trina.” Lisa said unwaveringly. “How do you think her current customers might feel if she leaves them as soon as a new customer came in and start serving him? They may not feel they are fully appreciated. Right? Melba might have a chance to serve Takano-san later this evening. If not this evening, then, tomorrow. ..Trina, don’t you feel sometimes that you’re too caring?”

　　　I could not answer her.

　　　“Besides, to make it clear, Trina, let me tell you this: Takano-san himself said he wanted to talk with you tonight. Got it?” 　　　I cast my quick eye toward Melba.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　I was already very close to Takano-san’s table when I came to realize that Lisa had checked her handbook before calling my name because she had not wanted to hurt Melba’s feeling. ..Naturally Melba would not have been very happy if she had discerned that Takano-san had made special request for a girl other than herself on the night he had just shown up to Sakura again for the first time in more than two weeks. ..Even if the girl other than herself happened to be the one whom she herself had predicted Takano-san might soon fall in love with.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　“Doumo (hi)! Welcome back, Takano-san!” Greeting him as cheerfully as I could, as if I wanted to wipe off my mixed feeling toward Melba, I slid myself onto the semi-circular settee that could seat four to five people.

　　　"Kumusta ka (How are you doing), Trina?” Takano-san asked me somewhat sheepishly.

　　　“Mabuti lámang (Just fine).”

　　　“Ang masayáng balità iyán (That’s a good news).”

　　　“At ikáw (And you)?”

　　　“Akó’y mabúting mabúti rin (I’m very fine, too).” Indeed, partly because of his deep suntan, he looked as fine as he had declared. ..At least to my eye at that moment.

　　　I was very happy, while being remorseful toward Melba in another corner of my mind for my being so happy. ..I had never anticipated that such content a feeling would come to me at my second sight of him.

　　　To prevent my happy feeling from appearing directly on my face, I said to him jokingly, “Our conversation has sounded like a basic Tagalog lesson, hasn’t it?”

　　　“Oh, indeed.” He laughed liberally. ..His laughter, I thought, might have been a little too loud for a response to my poor joke.

　　　　　　　　　　-----

　　　Raymond brought a glass of mango juice to Takano-san as I had guessed.

　　　I wrapped up the bottom half of the glass with a piece of paper napkin so that his fingers, which were supposed to pick up a cigarette sooner or later, would not get moisture. ..Hoping, perhaps, the wrapping might give me some extra time before I had to start my conversation with him.

　　　“Thank you.” Having grabbed the glass, Takano-san said, with his eyes being kept toward the stage.

　　　On the stage, Kristina, deemed by every one working at Sakura to be the second best singer only next to Lisa and most beautiful among Sakura girls, was about to begin her singing.

　　　Kristina waved her hand toward Takano-san and me, generously offering us her gorgeous smile. I gave my clapping to her. Having shown his slight bow to Kristina while holding his glass near his eyes, Takano-san slowly brought the glass to his mouth.

　　　My happy feeling was still there. And that led me to wonder, ‘Do I want a man who really needs me, in fact?’ ‘Otherwise, a man whom I can be very sweet to?’ ‘A man who will never, or may not, betray me?’ ‘Ever since Akira changed his attitude to me?’ 　　　I found no answer. But I knew I had never felt Akira more remote. I was clearly aware of that.

　　　Then, I thought. ‘Wasn’t I firmly convinced, when I decided to accept Akira’s court, that he would be the last man I would choose in the rest of my life?’