Yamapi & Linda

(In the car)

Yamapi saw Linda sitting uncomfortably. “Linda-chan, are you really feeling okay?” he asked, glancing at her.

She nodded. “I’m fine. Really, I’m just nervous. That’s all,” she assured him.

Yamapi pursed his lips and decided not to pursue further. He knew that Linda was hiding her pain away from him just like before but he also knew that Linda would get upset and would have a cold war with him for a long time.

When they arrived at the studio, Linda’s face lit up. He could see her mischievous eyes again. “Don’t go running…” Yamapi started but Linda had already gone out of the car and running towards the entrance where Yuki and Shige was standing.

“Linda Masaki! How could she run off like that? What does she think? Still an 18 year-old? She’s 30 and carrying a baby, for goodness’ sake!” Yamapi grumbled as he made his way towards them.

When he approached them, Yamapi twisted Linda’s ear. “Oww! What did you do that for?” she asked, irritated.

“Serve you right! Do you ever listen to what I said about running and jumping and all those stuff? Do I have to remind you?” Yamapi asked, getting a bit angry over her careless attitude.

Linda looked down at the floor. Yuki and Shige were feeling a bit uncomfortable. “Ne, Yamapi-kun, don’t get angry. It’s not nice for people to see,” Shige remarked.

Linda walked away from them. “See, you hurt her feelings,” Yuki accused him and went after her.

Linda went inside the dressing room and saw News members streaming in. She grinned. “How are you?” she asked Massu.

Massu grinned at her. “I’m fine. How’s my godson?” he asked.

“Takahisa? He’s naughty by day. You should see him one day,” Linda replied.

“Haha..I will. Anyway, where’s Yamashita-kun?” he asked.

“He’s somewhere. He’ll be here in a few minutes’ time,” Linda answered.

“Linda!” Yamapi jogged towards her.

“Massu! How are you? Linda, I need to talk to you,” he said, pulling her to a corner.
Linda looked at him with no expression on her face. “I’m sorry,” he apologized.

Linda did not say anything. “I’m sorry,” he repeated.

She still did not answer him. He closed his eyes and knew that she was having a cold war with him. Just as he thought he was doomed for, he felt his hand being squeezed. He opened his eyes and saw her smiling softly at him. “Let’s just do our best later, ok?” she said.

He nodded and bent down to give her a kiss. “Ahem! We are on in 60 seconds’ time,” someone announced.

They pulled away and went to prepare to go on stage. Yamapi, Linda, Shige and Yuki would be the last couple to get interviewed since Yuki and Linda were from the same group and they too were once the most popular stars in the entertainment business.

Yuki and Shige went on first. They talked about what went on with their life and so forth. As they were announcing their son’s birthday that day, the emcee asked, “So, when will we be expecting a 2nd little one from the Kato family?”

Shige was blushing and looked at his wife. His wife too blushed and answered, “I’m expecting another one now.”

“Eh?” everyone including Shige was stunned.

Linda who was beside Yuki, jumped up and hugged her friend. Yamapi was surprised by his wife’s reaction that he almost had a heart attack. “Omedetou!” Linda wished her sincerely.

Yamapi held her hands tightly so that she would not create anymore heart attacks for him. The emcee and the couple talked further before it was Yamapi’s and Linda’s turn. “Hai, now let’s find out about the leader of the group-Yamashita-san!” the emcee announced.

Linda and Yamapi bowed. “So, before we start, I could see that Yamapi loves his wife so much that he did not want to let her hands go,” the emcee teased them.

“Ohh…yes, I do,” he nodded which made Linda blushed.

“So, Linda-san, you are currently expecting the fourth one?” the emcee asked again.

She nodded. “ Yes, I am. The other three are at home with Yamapi’s mother,” she answered.

“Before that, let’s see some of their pictures,” the emcee said.

The screen flashed the three boys and their happy family photos. Linda’s eyes started to blur.A shot of pain went through her tummy. “I heard that one of them is named after Massu-kun, is that right?” the emcee asked.

“Yeah, the third one. Massu’s had been very helpful towards me during the whole period when Yamapi was away for some filming in another country that time. That’s why we named the boy after him,” Linda explained, hiding her pain.

“Their ages are 3, 2 and 1. Whoa, one year one child. Yamapi, you really do love kids,” the emcee teased again.

With each question, and time went by, Yamapi could feel Linda squeezing his hand, harder and harder. He glanced at her but he found no trace of pain on her face except for her eyes. After a few more questions, the whole interview was over and News gathered to perform. When Linda let go of his hand, Yamapi felt uncomfortable. He looked at his wife again before going up the stage and felt a bit assured when he saw her smile. Yuki and Linda were at backstage watching them perform. Halfway in the performance, Linda tugged Yuki’s arm. “Yuki, can you help me to the dressing room?” she asked.

Yuki saw Linda’s face had turned to deathly white. “Ok, let’s go,” she said, helping her away.

Linda sat down on a chair and put her head down while clutching something tightly. “Linda, are you ok?” Yuki asked, worriedly.

“I’m just tired. Let me rest for awhile,” she whispered.

Yuki watched her, concerned. “Are you in pain?” she asked a few minutes later.

“No, I’m not. Don’t worry. It’s too early for me to be in labor,” Linda assured her.

Yuki kept quiet. She waited a while longer. She went over to Linda. She touched her forehead. It was cold. “Linda-chan?” she called.

Linda did not answer. Yuki patted her arm. Her hand who was clutching something dropped and the thing fell from her hand. “Linda-chan? Ne, Okite!” she shook her.

Linda’s face was white. Yuki, fearing something wrong was happening, put her finger under Linda’s nose. Her breathing was getting slower. “Linda-chan! Yamapi,” she said and rushed out of the door.