He reached for her hands, patting them. ‘Your brother wouldn’t be happy if he knew you were holding a grudge.’

‘I know,’ she muttered. She paused and took a deep breath. ‘I know you’re right, but at the time I was angry.’

‘So, you pretended to be interested in me?’

Liyun raised her head. ‘That was only in the beginning.’

‘Hmmm?’

‘After I moved in, I got to know you more as a person, and I found you interesting.’ She chuckled. ‘And your reaction after that night too, so innocent and trusting.’

‘Hey,’ he protested.

She looked at him. ‘I liked your work, especially your opinion pieces. They were sensitive and well thought out. I told myself that the man who wrote them must be a sincere person.’

He averted his eyes. ‘You thought too highly of me.’

‘No, I really love your writing.’ Her tone was firm. ‘When I first read your articles, I felt like I wanted to know you better. But you didn’t know that, did you?’

Shoji thought carefully about what to say. ‘Let’s not dwell on the past. It’s not a good idea.’

‘It’s not good idea for me, or for you?’

‘For either of us.’

Liyun opened the window. A gust of warm air entered. The curtain waved gently, taking him back to the time he’d spent with her in Tokyo.

The apartment they had shared was cheap, the best he could find based on his meagre salary. After Yoko had disappeared, Shoji had lived day to day, frustrated with his life, but he couldn’t say there had been no happy moments. Even now, he missed those days when he and Liyun ate together in the tiny living room. She made the best pickled vegetables. And he would never forget those weekend afternoons they used to spend together, sitting across from each other. He, smoking while drinking coffee, and she, talking and laughing. The coffee she made was good, even though she wasn’t a coffee drinker. Behind her, the white curtains with tiny floral patterns flapped around in the wind.

‘I still have those curtains you gave me,’ Shoji said. ‘They’ve got two tiny holes. I wasn’t careful when I hung them out to dry after washing, and the fabric caught in the pegs.’

Liyun turned to face him. ‘How long has it been? You should’ve replaced them with new ones.’

‘There’s something comforting about sticking to the old stuff.’

‘Stop being sentimental.’

Liyun smiled. Shoji was glad her mood had improved.

She shifted her eyes. ‘Since we’re friends again, what if I told you something interesting?’

He grinned. ‘You still have something to tell me?’

‘Never underestimate women. We’re full of secrets,’ Liyun said. ‘Especially that woman of yours.’

Shoji’s throat felt dry. ‘Yoko?’

Liyun nodded and then stared off into the distance. ‘What if I told you I know where she is?’

PART III

YOKO
洋子