Chapter 9

Hanako feels nothing but dread and anxiousness as she waits inside a small event hall. Today was the day for her first book signing event and she's really anxious of the possibility that no one would even come or if her readers would not like her appearance, and all sorts of negativity. She knows that she's just being pessimistic but being left alone in this hall that only has her table and a lot of chairs, wasn't doing her any help.

Still feeling her nerves, she stood up and went to the bathroom inside the hall and looked at herself in the mirror, checking her appearance. She's wearing a simple white sundress and a beige strap sandals, and she also wore a nonprescription glasses for accessory. She made some breathing exercises to calm herself down, and when she finally calmed down, she heard Chieko's voice calling her.

"Hana-chan! Where are you? We're going to start! There were people waiting for you!" Chieko excitedly called her so she immediately came out to go back to the table they provided for her.

"I'm here, Chieko-nee," Hanako walked back to her chair but before she could sit, she felt Chieko's hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be too nervous, just remember that these people came here to get your signature, meaning, they came here for you. So, there's no need for you to be nervous! Just be yourself sweetie," Chieko smiled at Hanako to cheer her up.

"Okay, I will, thank you Chieko-nee," Hanako sat down feeling a little better.

"Okay! That's the spirit!" Chieko chuckled, "Then I'll go open the door for our visitors," she winked at Hanako before she went to the door.

Hanako watched as she opened the door and saw the people slowly filling the hall, along with the other staff that came with Chieko and two guards for security. She took a deep breath as Chieko explained the itinerary they have for this event.

"Okay, thank you everyone for joining us here today despite your busy schedules." Chieko started. Yes, Chieko took the role of the emcee. She said she wanted to, so that she could control the flow of the event, for a smooth and successful event. "We have refreshments on the side so don't be shy and help yourselves if you feel parched or something, we don't want anyone dehydrating here now, do we?" She playfully remarked to lighten the mood and make everyone relaxed and comfortable.

"Now, let me introduce to you, our very beautiful, smart, and hurtful author," she grinned and looked at Hanako, who stood up . "Ladies and gentleman, the creator of our grief and trauma, our author 'Rose'!" She clapped her hands smiling widely as the people in the room laughed at her remarks while clapping.

Hanako bowed but she didn't let Chieko's remarks unnoticed, so she gave her a warning glare. But to Chieko it's just cute, instead of intimidating. "What?" Chieko acted aggrieved, "It's not like I'm lying," she then turn to the crowd, "Am I?"

The crowd then answered with no's as they played along with Chieko's teasing. "Okay, that's enough teasing before we make our author give us more trauma on her next books." Chieko chuckled before she gave everyone the rundown on the event's itinerary.

The first one on the list was a brief reading. But since, it's only a brief reading, everyone have made a majority vote on what chapter they should read via poll. The brief reading lasted for half an hour before they proceed for the Q&A session.

"Now, everyone! Ready your questions because we're now starting the Q&A!" Chieko cheered trying to hype the crowd so that it wouldn't be too boring and plain.

"Okay! First question!" Chieko looked around the crowd to see which of them she should choose until her eyes landed on a girl in glasses. "You!" She pointed to the girl.

The girl stood up shyly but since she raised her hand of course she'll have to ask her question. "Well, um..." She hesitated but Hanako and Chieko both gave her an encouraging smile, so she continued. "Ms. Emcee mentioned earlier that the book was indeed giving us grief or trauma, hope not, but I want to ask, what inspired you to write this book?"

Hanako was a bit surprised by the question but she already anticipated the possible questions and prepared prior answers.

"To be honest, I also don't remember what inspired me to write this book, because it's already drafted back in my younger days. If I remember it correctly I came up with this story when I was on 6th grade? We saw a documented film that time, and the film was an interview for people who works on the red light district. So maybe that's what brought this book on." Hanako answered.

Then the next question came, "I noticed that the first novel and this novel was somehow connected. Am I correct?" A woman around mid 20s asked. She looks like a businesswoman.

"Yes, It is indeed connected. I'm not certain yet, but this could be a serialization." Hanako answered honestly. She's really planning on adding another novel connected to the first two.

A few more questions were answered by Hanako and now it's time for the last question since the time for the session is about to end. Chieko chose a youth, probably a college student boy to ask his question. And Hanako was taken aback since she knew who this person is. They were classmates before, back in middle school in Miyagi, her mother's hometown. They were closed friends but both of them went to different highschools so they naturally drifted apart.

Jun was actually shocked when he entered the hall where book signing was held, when he saw Hanako on the table. Because, her sitting there means that she's the author of the book that's going to be signed today. The two of them were closed friends during middle school, because they were both from Miyagi and their houses were just next to each other. Their mothers were also friends so they naturally became one too. He couldn't believe that the book he bought, out of curiosity brought by the free tissues was a book written by Hanako. After reading 'The shelter' he was hooked and became interested on reading the first novel too but unfortunately for him, there were no available copies anymore.

The entire time he was staring at Hanako's face as he recalls the story that her novel tells and he couldn't help but be curious about something. Then he was luckily picked to ask his question, so he asked, "You don't have to answer if you can't, or you don't want to, but if I may ask, Is there a part of the story that's based of your personal experiences?"

Hanako clenched her fists, she was shaken by the question but she remained calm and smiled. "I personally think that there's none." She answered affirmatively.

"And that concludes our Q&A! I hope that we managed to answer your questions. Now, we will proceed with the actual signing. Please line up properly and patiently wait for your turn." Chieko chirped in as she noticed the subtle change on Hanako's mood.

The book signing dragged on as there were actually a hundred and fifty people chosen to participate the book signing. Jun's turn came and as he handed his book to be signed he also put a piece of tissue there that he wrote something on.

Hanako took the tissue but she didn't read it yet, and just signed the book. Jun left and Hanako continued signing books until none were left.

Before everyone leaves the hall the staffs along with Chieko and Hanako thanked everyone for coming. As they were also leaving the hall Hanako remembered the tissue that Jun gave her earlier so she read it.

'Here's my number, call me. I want to meet up with you later. I'll wait for your call.'

And his number was written on the bottom. Hanako took a deep breath contemplating whether to go meet Jun or not.

In the end Hanako still decided to meet up with Jun since it's not that late. They agreed to have dinner together at a restaurant, so Hanako was now entering their meeting place and immediately looked for the familiar figure of Jun. She didn't find it hard to find him since he saw her first and waved at her to come over.

"Have you waited for long?" Hanako asked as she took the seat across him.

"Oh, it's fine. There's no rush anyway." Jun called for the waiter to come and take their orders.

"I'm glad that's the case." Hanako heaved a sigh of relief then she gave her orders to the waiter. "So, why'd you want to meet?" She casually asked him.

"Well, nothing really." Jun shrugged. "Maybe, I wanted to see how you're doing? Oh, and I actually loved your book. Sadly, I couldn't find the first one." He added as he also gave her orders.

"Well, as you can see I'm doing fine, and thanks for liking my book. About the first one, I think that the Miyamura publishing was planning on printing another batch of copies for an event. I'm not sure if it's finalized or not but I think they'll release it on the book's anniversary, that's around October." Hanako replied.

"Oh, really? Then I should keep an eye on that." Then their orders came. "By the way, I'm sorry about earlier." Jun apologized as the waiter set up their food on the table.

"Earlier? About what?" Hanako asked, a crease formed on her forehead.

"About my question earlier. It's just that, the story was a bit related to you right?" Jun started picking on his food.

"What made you think that it is?" Hanako also starts eating.

"I'm sorry in advance, but Hanako..." Jun looked at Hanako warily.

"Weren't you adopted?"

*Notes*

+ Miyagi was a small province located in Japan.