Chapter 9

The Oval

The guy with the glasses stood up. I remembered him, he is the vice president who have presented Shin's intermission number earlier. He walked towards me, shin sat down in one of the chairs in the long table. Only three of us in the room, the room was very cozy. Chandeliers, paintings I saw in the internet before, michaelangelo, monalisa, for real? Monalisa is kept in the museum, how do they…? Maybe it's fake. A table with juice, coffee, tea; in different brands and variants. Well there are a lot of brands American, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic etc., I can't see it very clearly as Mr. Vice President walked around me, observing me from head to toe.

"This is it, I see." Vice president said. Hey what are they talking about I am now really confused. The vice president sat to a chair beside Shin. They are now talking something I cannot hear clearly. Shin is talking calmly, but Mr. Vice President is now quite in rage. Scratching his head, and don't want to agree to what Shin is telling him to agree. It's as if, Shin is telling him something that he'll never win no matter what. I sat down to the sofa just beside the door.

"She has a good body, I agree, if toned down in some areas, yes, but she can't.." I heard Mr. Vice President said. My body, what will they ask me to do with my body (now holding my left shoulder with my right hand and right shoulder with my left hand). What will they do to me?!? I leaned forward to hear more of what they are talking.

"She has been one of the great minds in her country, accountable to the fact that.." Shin said, but I can't seem to hear clearly. Shin's eyes are firm, very firm when he say something. Trying to lean more, but I fell from the sofa in my knees, they stopped talking and Shin glanced at me. I immediately sat up to the sofa as if nothing happened, I was quite embarrassed.

"Ehem, Ms. Kumiko" Mr VP said. Hey he knows my name, sounds fishy. "As for this will be a meeting that will take some time.." He stood up and led me to the door. Shin was looking at us when he led me out, He didn't resist so I think its okay. "May you enjoy the service that we could offer at the oval" He said then the automatic door went shut before I said anything.

"Alright, Mr. VP!" I said sarcastically, as I talked to the automatic door. I turned around slowly and thought of where I would start. Outside the room is literally is, oval, how did they manage this design, well nothing's impossible if there's funds. As usual, a place like this composed of elite people, rich people, how could I keep up with them. Well I know, not all of them are cruel, but based on my experience most of them are. I'm used to that scenario, in almost every school I attended to. I can do this!

"Hi miss" I was about to think more of my inspiration stories before when a, I think a model, talked to me. She looks like a brazilian model, with a hint of asian descent.

"Oh hi" I said without being snobbish. We walked towards the side table, as the people in the Oval looks at us. Maybe she is popular too.

"Nice jacket you have there, also had one of that during an event held by Gucci, by the way I'm Megumi, Megumi Xi" She said elegantly as she brushed away here beautiful long wavy hair. She looks like a human size Barbie, indescribable beauty. Well I think she knows it, she's confident and doesn't mind if people are looking at her. She is also wearing an eitoku uniform but worn in a very proper way, tailored for her to be exact. Well, maybe only few of us, buy ready made school uniforms.

"Hi, I'm Kumiko Yamaguchi, this jacket was lend to me by my friend" I said, while giving out a hand for a handshake. He held my hand for a handshake but somewhat unfamiliar with the idea, maybe she's used to just a greeting.

"Oh, really? What's the name of your friend, maybe I know that person, only five of us were given with that jacket. It's especially made only for us." Oh no, if she founds out, oh no, I don't want to get in trouble.

"It's just a knock off, actually borrowed from a friend, hehe" I said, an excuse that I feel humiliating but the best way to unlink my self to the limited edition Gucci Jacket.

"That's what I thought." Now she's sounding cruel. "So.. what is your relation with Sawada Shin?" She asked, I'm feeling really bad about the situation.

"An acquaintance, actually.." I said

"Since when?" She interrupted.

"Recently, well.." I paused for 2 – 5 seconds to think of an alibi. She's very eager to know who I am.

"About an hour ago, I accidentally opened a door, and.. it was locked after I entered, then I saw him" I said

"Well yeah, doors leading to the oval, are all one way entry. Maybe the door you opened was faulty, no one has been permitted to enter unless you're an elite" She said, now sounding she's secluding me from her known social class. She stood up, disregarded me without saying anything and went to a group of I think models too.

"She's just an ordinary student, the jacket is fake, I told you it was" She boastfully said as she brag her findings. I looked at the jacket, well it's not fake, I know it for a fact. She continues bragging, I can hear her voice even I'm two meters away from her. Her laugh now sounds cruel, with her friends joining her. I knew there was a motive for the conversation.

"And hear this, relationship to Sawada Shin? Z-E-R-O. She's just a lost girl who I think intentionally opened the hidden door and luckily the door led to Sawada Shin's entrance." She said. Everybody heard it, now everybody knew me as just a normal absurd fan, desperately longing for Shin. Sheesh can't stand this I have to fight! But it's my first day, don't want to have any more arguments, I'm here for my family, not for these girls. Shin's meeting is taking too long, I stood up immediately and accidentally bumped into a girl with the same height as I am.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry" I held her up and she held my arm for support.

"Its okay, it's just an accident." The girl smiled, a smile signifying that the situation is okay. We're just standing up and talked beside one of the pillars in the Oval.

"Hi I'm Ishigawa Keiko, just call me Keiko, I'm in 3rd year, what's yours?" She talks very casual, sounds like a friend to me. She is friendly and smiles too.

"Hi, I'm Kumiko Yamaguchi, er, Yamagucho Kumiko, just call me Kumiko, I'm in 1st year" Led out my hand and she made a handshake with me without hesitation. At last I found my friend!

"Actually I'm 20 years old, just came from the Philippines and they said I need to pass highschool here in Japan before I could go to college" I said openly to her, I knew I could trust her.

"Me, I'm 18, age doesn't matter as long you're doing the right thing. You don't even look like you're 20, I even mistakenly thought you were just 16, sorry for that" She said.

"No, No, don't be sorry, many tells me that. I think of it as a complement." I laughed.

"Really, you look very young for your age. What position are you applying for the Student Council?" She asked.

"Actually, I really don't know, I don't even know where this place is." I said, I hope this conversation will not lead to Shin.

"This is the oval, the official headquarters of Eitoku's Student Council. I thought you were familiar because you're already talking to Eitoku's Secretary, Megumi Xi?" She said wondering.

"No, I don't know her. She even isolated me from her girl group over there." I said.

"It's typical of her. She did that when I applied too on my first year here in Eitoku. She will investigate if you are popular enough to be with her crowd. Actually this is my third try; it's really hard to be part of the student council. You must be physically fit, intelligent & has a charisma that in once glance will notify people that they must follow you. Me too, I don't know what position I want. But I think I'm okay on being an assistant of any officer or lady of the oval. It's a good experience to be part of the Oval Team. It's really hard to get in, even just being physically present here in the oval. Outside we were a thousand now we are somewhat a 100 and there are only few slots available and many of us want it" She said. She really wants the position. Well I think that's tough, 1000 to 100, and still she's not in a position that she wants? Almost everybody wants to be in the council I wonder why, but Keiko is determined for the experience she'll gain.

"Oh I see, good luck with you then" I said to cheer her up. I don't even know what "lady of the oval" means, maybe the muse. She can be one, her look is not bad.

Clang, Clang, Clang. Everybody stood up and went to the front. Keiko smiled at me as we stood up and listened to the guy in front. It was Mr. VP.

"Congratulations in reaching the oval. As the president, vice president, secretary & finance head officers are voted by Eitoku High, the assistants, committees and ladies or gentlemen of the oval is still undetermined. Same as last year, Committees will be generated and led by the assistants who will be chosen by their respective officers upon screening. Well for those who will be less fortunate, you may try your luck being a lady or gentleman of the house." He said. Four people went infront holding banners, specifically, President, Vice President, Secretary & Finance. "For people who would like to be assistants & committee members under a certain position, please align yourself accordingly." He said this as he points out to, I think ushers who will lead us to the next screening place. The thing is I don't want to join, and where Shin is anyway and, "Hey" I said as people are now rushing to have a line with the President's usher. All of the people in the room went for the President's place, well almost, the Secretary Megumi Xi is with her usher, same with the finance & Mr. VP. I think they knew this will going to happen. Keiko also formed in line in the president's banner. But how about me?

"Kumiko, let's go, or you'll miss out meeting.." Keiko said hastily as the usher now lead the line to the hall to the left.

"Good Luck to Everyone" Mr. VP said as he walked to the left pathway also. The secretary and finance went their respective pathways in the right side of the oval with their ushers.

"Its okay Keiko, have to find a comfort room first, go ahead" I smiled. They all left, now, what am I going to do. Ha, find the brat. I need to get some explanation out of him. I went back to the room Mr. VP & Shin had a meeting earlier, he didn't left the room so he must be in there. I tried to open the door but I forgot that its automatic. So I just stayed in front of it but it didn't opened. I can't seem to find any button to open it. I knocked at the door three times, a small camera had me in focused then the door just opened.

"Shin Sawada! Where are you?!? I shouted, he's not in the long table area. Cameras are still looking at me, went inside to another room, which is actually a bigger room, just like of one of the places I like to go very much, the white house' presidential room. Books piled up on the sides, a big glass window where you can see the vast soccer and football field of eitoku, the cherry blossoms. The room, filled with camaraderie, leadership spirit and justice, I think. The table, the wonderful presidential table with notepads, paper holders, folders piled up and…

"Shin! What are you doing there?" As I pointed him out. He lifted his legs to the wonderful oak table.

"Just hanging around, hey!" I removed his legs form the table. "Don't be too bossy around here, even though you're the richest person in the world you must respect and value the president's room especially 'the table'. The president leads people and inform them what to do.." I said as I tidy up the things in the table, fixed the papers, grouped the pens and pencils, the stamps..

"They are valued by their constituents because they believe that the president will unite them whatever group they are, a team, a country and even the school." Now he moved himself away with the rolling presidential business chair, he's not mad though, he's listening.

"So if given a chance you'll serve the president?" He asked.

"Yes, of course I will. The president will not be elected in the position if he can't do the job. Being part of the president's team will be a great experience, since I really don't know any leadership techniques here in Japan." I said while tidying up the books in the shelves, aligning them accordingly. Well, people in the oval bashed the president's usher earlier that means he/she must be great.

"Basically it's the same" He said while yawning in his seat. This brat doesn't know anything, how could he say that it is the same.

"There, the table now looks like a president's table, wooh that's a lot of work in a short amount of time." I said fixing the mini Japan and Eitoku flag in the left and right side. Good thing that the place is airconditioned, or else my sweat will be dripping right now. I now rolled the jacket sleeves up. I went back to the sofa, as I sat down, he picked up the entrepreneur magazine and again held his legs to the table.

"Hey, Shin don't do that, you'll ruin the table!" I walked towards him and again removed his legs. "Also you can't sit there, the president may come anytime now." I held his shoulder, tried to raise him up, he looked at me and smirked. He stood up and left the magazine in the table. I went back to the sofa for my deserved rest. He then held a book from the shelves, entitled, "managing the..unmanagea..". Was about to read the whole title when a soft melodic tune rang. Shin has pushed a button in his phone.

Ting ting ting

"Mr. Sawada, they're here, have narrowed them by yours truly, into 3. Oh you're here." He noticed that I was here, he looked disappointed actually. I fixed myself, unrolled my sleeves and fixed my glasses.

"Please, You don't need to." Mr. VP Said, hey that's rude. "Anyway, I'll be letting the applicants in, I suggest that you hide her in the chamber". He went out, Shin walked towards me.

"Hey no way! What chamber is he referring to? Shin?" I asked him, he walked toward me. "Don't mind him it's just a hide out, it's the first time he called it a chamber. Need you to hide." He said calmly.

"Okay." He's quite surprised that I agreed quickly. "You're not afraid?" He asked and led me to the bookshelves near the table. "I've never been afraid" I said thoughthlessly, I couldn't say that I trust him. "Yeah I know" He said then pulled a book from the bookshelves and the bookshelves turned. I was inside a well lighted room and couple of boards, sofas and the usual hall in the oval, but in a smaller size. I looked back at the bookshelves with holes that I think are not visible in the other side. I saw shin sat in the president's chair promptly, pushed a button under it, then a name plate suddenly burst out from the chair.

"Oh No", I don't want to think about it. Mr. VP went in followed by three eitoku students and said. "Mr. Sawada may I present to your our final ladies for the President's assistant". Well yeah, it's pretty obvious, why didn't I thought he's the president, after what I have said adoring the president, being with the president, and then he's the president. My head aches, can't capture the thought that he is, well, let me look first. They are now giving their folders to Shin, they are not the giggly type of girls, but their smiles are undeniably towards Shin while they give their folders to him. I can't see Shin's reaction, I'm just seeing him sitting in his chair, his arms and his hair slightly peeking. He stood up then laid the folders in his table, "Kame, you really did your job well picking these ladies; their credentials are more than what I have expected".

"Thank you just doing my job." Mr. VP said and the girls smiled too. "Will be sending an email today, for the successful candidate, for now, may our vice president assist you to the oval." Shin said, then shook the hands of the candidates. "I'm really glad to be one of the finalists, Mr. Sawada" The third candidate smiled and didn't let go of Shin's hand for 30 seconds. Shin just smiled then removed his hand from the handshake. The finalist went out. "Kame, will mail you what I have chosen within the day.". He said to Kame.

"Okay, may your secretary be of help to your leadership" Mr. VP Said and went out to. Shin turned around, staring at me in a distance; well he can't see me the shelves is too far from the door. I sat in the sofa in the chamber and act as if I'm reading a magazine. The bookshelves again opened, and he was there, I know he's looking at me but pretended not to.

"Hey" He said.

"Oh hey" I said, pretending that I'm still reading, and flipping up few pages of the magazine. "So how was it?" I asked.

"What how was it?" He asked. "Ermm, I don't know, your meeting" I said then got a new magazine from the coffee table. He is still leaning on the bookshelves.

"You've heard it, it's the usual" He said.

"Well, I didn't hear all of it. I am just sitting here reading some magazines." I said. He then walked towards me, then picked up the magazine I was holding.

"Hmm, you're reading.." He said, while scanning the pages,

"Yeah, why? Is there a problem?" I said and stood up. Eventhough sometimes I'm clumsy I know how to read!

"Look", he then showed me the magazine in my face. "Its in Japanese, nice alibi" He said, left the magazine in the coffee table, and smirked. Why do I feel dumb when I'm with him? It supposed to be me smarter! He walked towards the bookshelves

"Let's go" He said. As I scratched my head for my very awful clumsiness. He then pressed a button, the bookshelves reversed and now we're back in the president's room or Shin's room of leadership. He walked towards a door in the corner of the room. As I looked at his back, it thought, how could this brat lead a school, but then again maybe I could see more of how he leads it.

"Kumiko" He said while looking at me.

"Oh yeah" I walked towards the door. The door is made of oak, and at the looks of it, it's quite heavy. Shin then pressed a button from his remote and it opened. Inside the door is just a space with a chair in it, more of a business chair but its designed quite differently.

"Get in" I went in and sat in the chair. He then pushed a button a remote and a strap secured my legs and arms. He is now somewhat laughing in the scenario that I'm in the chair, strapped.

"Why are you smiling? You better not toy with me Shin!" I said.

"You're the only person who have sat there, its dedicated for president's use that to escape the room easily. And it looks sure funny with the straps on." He said. Yeah the straps look funny because the straps are fashioned to almost every part of your body to keep you secure.

"Hmp, you may be sure funnier when you sat here!" I said, he then stopped smiling and pushed the button.

"Enjoy the ride" He then smirked again and pushed a button. The oak door closed, it was pretty dark and I heard a sound of machine, just like a machine from a roller coaster. Then it blast off, it really is a roller coaster, it went down at first then swirling down, a stage where it will horizontally move, then a going down to a very steep pathway. Then it stopped. It was then well lighted. I was in a room full of mops and brooms and pails, a janitor's room, but its quite big. Its like a mini house if you ask me but full of cleaning supplies. I was released from the straps and my bag popped out from the floor. I stood up, removed the jacket and put it in my bag as I walked slowly to the door. The chair then vanquished, like it was swallowed by the floor. Well, I was there before I came up here.

I walked towards the door, the sunlight is beaming. "Yeah, I'm alive!" I said quite loudly while stretching my arms and some eitoku students glanced and walked through. My phone rang, it was Shin, I answered it.

"Look up" He said. After I looked up I saw the tallest building in eitoku and there he is in the topmost part, standing in the big glass window staring.

"You're my new secretary, see you later" Even when I was about to speak, he dropped the line. I can see from afar that he is smirking then walked away from the window.

"Kumiko!" I heard someone called me, its Keiko.

"I have been looking all over for you. Where have you been? It's already 5:00 PM" She said.

"Just looking around, you know feeling the Eitoku experience." I said thoughtlessly.

"That sure is my sister, we must feel eitoku, with Sawada Shin around, you'll become more inspired, more driven, more passionate" Keiko said as she held her heart for a dramatic effect.

"Hmm, yeah?" I said, don't know what to tell Keiko, I can't tell her that I was actually beside Shin a while a go. She'll freak out, and will it ruin my privacy in loose.

We then walked together going home.

"You know sis, I tried to apply earlier to the student council, we were 1500+ students there, and it was really tough. First you'll have to pass the physical exam, they'll check your statistics, and then you'll have to answer series of tests in the computer. It's really really tough. Too bad I didn't pass, well ofcourse credentials is a plus, but being with SS is my original purpose. What organization did you joined?" She asked.

"Searching for it yet, maybe a secretary." I said. Shin said I'm his secretary, but I don't even know what I will do in the position.

"I think you'll be a good secretary, Kumiko sister" Keiko smiled and we went to the train station and Keiko talked about Shin and the loots she got from the culminating activity earlier. My first day, and its one heck of a ride, literally.