Morning on Guam. Let me call my office and get you a plane ticket. I am going to have to put you up in a hotel and get you a rental car. This is short notice but we can have your apartment and car within two weeks.”
That was a night of mixed emotions. I was excited about my future as a gym manager on Guam but my excitement turned to sadness when I explained to Emiko that I would be moving to Guam. She became angry and started crying. After a half hour of crying she gathered her things and left. I was stunned and I tried to call her but she hung up on me. I ran down to the parking lot but it was too late, she was already speeding down Wilder Avenue. I remember that I didn’t have time to chase her or even get upset; Mr. Saru was sending a car to pick me up in the next twenty minutes. I tried calling her cell phone again but it went straight to voicemail. I called again and left a message and fought off the urge to cry. I was going to a celebration dinner at Sam Choy’s Diamond Head restaurant. Throughout that entire dinner Mr. Saru kept telling me about how I would love Guam. After dinner we went over to Kapono’s at Aloha Tower to listen to live island music. Mr. Saru told me that he is a fan of live music. “Not that cha-lang-a-lang Hawaiian music that is popular these days. I like real Hawaiian music or Chamorro music. That is the best island music!” I didn’t ask him if he was a fan of Hawaiian artists like Israel ‘Braddah IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole or C&K. The bar that we were sitting at is owned by Henry Kapono of Cecilio and Kapono or C&K as they are commonly known in Hawaii. I had no idea if Mr. Saru had made that connection and I didn’t care to ask him about what he meant by “cha-lang-a-lang music.” I kept trying to call Emiko but the calls went straight to voicemail. After an hour of listening to a local band play cover songs by bands like Kalapana and Three Plus, Mr. Saru was finally ready to leave. When the hotel limo dropped me off back at my apartment I saw Emiko’s car in the parking lot. She was sitting in her car waiting for me. The next morning started off as a typical Friday. Emiko woke up late and rushed out to make it to work on time. I got out of bed about two hours later and walked down to the Sure Shot Café for some coffee and to read the Honolulu Advertiser. But that day was different. That was the first day that I felt really happy, optimistically confident for the first time in months. It was also the first time in months that I didn’t read the jobs section of the classified ads. Back at my apartment I took inventory of what I could pack and what I can leave behind. I drove over to Foodland to get some empty boxes and called Sergeant Ron to ask if he would help me sell my car. By the time Emiko came back that night, most of my stuff was already on the way to Guam. Mr. Saru had paid for the boxes of my stuff to be Fed Ex shipped to his office. They would get there a day or two after I arrive. Emiko and I went out to dinner at Brew Moon. Later at home she was the most passionate she had ever been with me, the way she wrapped her legs around my hips, her arms around my neck and fell asleep holding onto me as if to never let go.
“Three hours left until we get to Guam” a raspy voice calls out from behind me. I look back and see Nestor sitting up in one of the seats. “Did you sleep?” he asks.
“No, I can’t sleep, I am too excited to sleep.” I say to him. I wonder if I can get a flight back to Hawaii. I wonder if it’s too late to tell Mr. Saru that I just want to check it out for two weeks and then go back home. Fuck, I can’t believe I am doing this. Nestor puts on his headset and turns his attention to the in flight movie. I hadn’t paid any attention when the first in flight movie ended and the second one began. I didn’t even take any of the in fight meals. Julia is the name on the nametag of the flight attendant standing here. I barely understood her but I think she was asking me if I wanted a snack. I tell her no. I just don’t feel hungry. Julia just smiles and I return to my daydream of the last few days.
I spent last night and all of this morning with Emiko. The morning started off normal enough but as the day wore on somberness enveloped us although we tried to ignore it. We went to Goma Tei Ramen at Ala Moana Mall for lunch and Emiko’s mom ate lunch with us. It was my first time meeting her mom and I was surprised even though she told me that we would be meeting her mom at the mall. For some reason I had thought she said something about eating saimin at Mom’s Café. Today was the very first time I met any of Emiko’s family. Lunch was filled with laughter and great conversation. Her mom told stories about Emiko growing up. Mrs. Satou even asked me about growing up in California. She seemed to know a lot about me. I wasn’t really shocked as much as I was flattered. Emiko actually talked about me with her mom. Until now I never realized that she felt so strongly about me. From the restaurant we went directly to the airport and then it was a whirlwind of checking in, getting to the gate, boarding the plane and take off and now realizing that I haven’t eaten since lunch, hunger is making me regret passing up on the in flight meals and snacks. I have a bag of trail mix in my backpack that I bought when Emiko and I went to the Longs Drugstore at Ala Moana Mall before we had lunch. As I unzip my backpack I see the unopened envelope from Jay. After my last workout with Jay, I told him that I didn’t want to say goodbye, so he hugged me and shook my hand. “You’re a little shit. Call me when you get to Guam.” He had said as he handed me an envelope with a card. I rip open the side of the envelope and take out the card. Jay has written a note and included a gift card and a hundred dollars cash. I stick the card back into my backpack and put the money into my pocket. I pull out the latest issue of Maxim magazine and begin flipping through the pages before closing my eyes. Closing my eyes I imagine Emiko, I can still smell the pikake lei I gave her this morning, I can still see the warmth in her eyes, standing at the airport, I can still hear her voice whispering “I love you.”
“We will be landing in fifteen minutes” says Julia, staring down at me with a smile “Please set your seat in the upright position and fasten your seatbelt.”
“Yah, ok, thanks” I smile back. I must have been asleep for awhile. The Maxim magazine is strewn open on the seat next to me. I fasten my seatbelt and start to feel a bit overwhelmed. The only people I know on Guam are here on this plane with me. Mr. Saru is friendly enough, but Nestor is aloof. Although he is cordial, he gives me the impression that he does not want to be my friend. Maybe it’s because I am about to become his boss. Fuck, I have no idea where I am staying. Mr. Saru said that I would be staying at a hotel but all I know for sure is that I am going to a party at Mr. Saru’s house. I don’t have any friends here. I’m alone. That thought loops through my head as the plane descends and lands at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport. After spending the last seven hours flying over the Pacific Ocean, I have finally arrived on the island of Guam. What the hell am I doing here?
Chapter 2. Fiesta!
“Buenas Noches, Hafa Tatatmanu hao? I just said Hello, Welcome and asked how you are in Chamorro, pahtnaaaah. Chamorro is the name of the indigenous people of Guam, like me. Also, Chamorro is our language. I am Mr. Randolph Colpio but please, call me Randy. I am Elisa’s cousin” says the man standing before me. He’s well dressed in a white designer suit and Gucci sunglasses, a guy who looks like he stole his wardrobe from Tony Montana the main character of the movie ‘Scarface’. He’s standing here staring at me as if I should know him.
“Elisa Ke’gacha Saru?” He asks, as if he is quizzing me.
Exasperated, he lets out an overly dramatic sigh and says “Mr. Saru’s wife, Mrs. Elisa Saru, she is my cousin. You are the new manager of Tropics Gym, yes?” he asks.
I smile and nod, not quite sure how else to react. His tone switches from disappointment to excitement as he says “Welcome, pahtnaaaah, welcome to the Saru’s home. Mr. and Mrs. Saru will be down to greet you very soon.” I take his extended hand and shake it.
“Pahtnaaaah” he says, drawing out the word partner while shaking my hand. “Welcome, welcome, welcome, come inside and meet everyone.”
Walking into the Saru’s house is like walking into the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove, it’s enormous and full of life, an imitation of an Italian villa, complete with ceramic tile flooring and a spectacular spiral staircase in the heart of the entry way. I follow Randy into a
