Welcome to the Gardenia Abode

It has been four days now since they discussed about her moving to Japan. Needless to say, Sarah was beyond shocked when she heard this. She was even more surprised to hear that she'll be moving to her new hosts' house in no more than a week's time. It was too much to absorb all at once. However, she willingly agreed since her dad really seemed to be excited about this and she didn't want to let him down.

Sarah was currently in her library room, trying to read a novel to help her ease her mind off of things like she always did when she was stressed. However, it was apparently not working for her today as her mind continuously drifted its way back to Japan no matter how much she tried to focus on her novel. She sighed wearily, got up from her seat and closed the book before gently putting it back into its shelf. She has been in this state for some time now. It wasn't that she didn't want to go to Japan, no, in fact it was quite the opposite. She had always been dying to go there and now that she was, it felt surreal and what's more is that she'll be staying there for three years with people whom she's never even met. This was something that unnerved her. Though she had no problem in speaking fluent Japanese, the trouble lied in her people skills. She had absolutely no idea on how to converse with other people. What if l said something rude or embarrassing which would leave a bad impression me? Would they feel like I'm imposing on them and their personal lives? Will they dislike me? These were the questions that constantly haunted her. To think that getting better would create more problems for her.

However... Sarah smiled. She would finally have a chance to get rid of this loneliness of hers. Sure,she had her dad and her elder brother but they were pretty busy themselves. Jackie had to go on countless business trips which ranged from a few days to maybe six months while her elder brother Jay, who used to spend lots of time with her, was studying abroad in world renowned university and the maids who worked in the mansion, well, other than Daphne and Butler Joe, she didn't talk that much with them. With her past health condition, she couldn't even go out of her room let alone the mansion. She would often get sick as a child which she hated a lot, for there would be no one to stay by her side when she needed it the most. There were even times where she cried herself to sleep quietly begging for someone to be there with her. Nevertheless, as expected, nobody came , all that surrounded her was the same dreary, suffocating atmosphere.

Although, she admitted that she didn't have the ideal childhood that most people would dream of and yeah, she was lonely as a child but if she were to be honest, it wasn't that bad now that she looked back. Though Jay and Jackie weren't there that much, they still showed their concern and love for her through phone calls or emails and gifts which made her really happy. During those times, she usually kept herself occupied with anime, novels, mangas, video games etc. and lucky for her, there was no one to stop her.

A loud knock at the door woke her up from her thoughts. " Young miss, master is calling you to come downstairs to the living room. He has people he'd like you to meet."

"Alright, I'll be there in a sec." People he'd like me to meet? Who could they be? She wondered as she left the library room.

* * * * * * * *

" Jackie, l simply can't wait to see your daughter!", thrilled a beautiful red haired woman. " My, my! She must be really lovely."

" Calm down, Mei, l know that you're excited to meet her but at this rate, you'll scare her away", Ren told his wife while sipping his tea. " Though, l can't help but feel a bit intrigued as well, Jack, tell me is she quite the stunner like Irene."

" Oh believe me, she is", he replied rather proudly.

" Daddy?"

" Speak of the devil or in this case angel~", Mei enthused, turning to look at the owner of the sweet voice.

Ren and Mei were utterly mesmerized when they saw her. " She is absolutely stunning", they marvelled.

Jackie chuckled at their reactions and gestured Sarah to come closer.

" Ren, Mei, I'd like you to meet my beloved daughter Sarah", he introduced her to them, "And Sarah I'd like to meet Ren and Mei Nakamura, they will be your hosts."

Realization crossed her face as she looked at them. So, they are the ones. "Hello, its so nice to meet you", she bowed her head, " and thank you for your kindness for allowing me to stay at your place."

Before she knew it, her vision was obscured by stands of red hair. She was being hugged rather tightly, might she add, by her soon-to-be- host. " Oh my goodness!!", the excited woman squealed, " So adorable!!!"

" U-um , I can't b-breathe... "

" Oh sorry!", Mei apologized and quickly released her from her bone- crushing hug. " You were just so cute that l had to hug you and l just get so excited at times."

" Aren't you always~", Ren teased his wife which earned him a menacing glare from her but as always he ignored it. " Anyways, Sarah, I'm fully impressed. You've learnt the proper Japanese etiquette, you're quite polite too and to top it off, you're an undeniable beauty like your mother. Thank goodness! You didn't get the looks from your father." He winked at her, making her giggle in return.

" Just what do you mean by that?! Am l not handsome?!!", Jackie bellowed.

" Ha! Handsome! My foot! No really, my foot looks better than your face."

While the two men continued bickering on, Mei pulled Sarah aside to sit besides her on the leather couch.

"Forget about them, dear. They are hopeless", the older woman scoffed," But it does give us time to ourselves so l guess that something good came out of it afterall. Don't you agree?"

" Yep", she grinned. She was feeling much more relaxed now than when she entered the room.

" You know, Sarah dear, I work as a fashion designer and have designed clothes for famous models from all around the world. I have almost gotten used to the sight of beauties due to my job but today you really left me speechless. Honestly, I have never seen anyone as mesmerizing as you."

Sarah blushed furiously and stared down at her hands that were fisted upon her lap. " Th-that's not t-true , I-I think tha-at yo-you're more at-attractive than me-e",she stammered.

How modest. Mei smiled. Ren's found a lovely daughter-in-law for us."Oh please call me Mei or Aunt Mei and if you don't mind Sarah, I'd like to take you out for shopping. Now that your health's all better now, I figured that you might like to get out and get some fresh air if you know what l mean."

" You wouldn't mind?"

" Of course not, even though its only been a few minutes since we met each other, l already adore you. Do say yes dear, we'll have lots of fun chatting and browsing through clothes. I'll tell you everything you need to know about the boys, high-school life, your new home and things like that. So what do you say?"

Sarah was really ecstatic when she heard this. "Yes!", she beamed happily.

After three days later...

As soon as Sarah stepped out of the flight, her eyes roamed around the place and took note of her surroundings . So this is Japan.

" Hey, Uncle Joe, do you think that someone will be waiting here for me?", she anxiously asked the aged man standing beside her.

" Of course, kiddo", he answered smiling. "Say let's look for Nanny Su, shall we?" Sarah nodded her head and bit her lip, she was feeling a bit nervous and excited at the same time.

They made their way to the escalator after picking up her luggage. Sarah couldn't help but feel self-conscious though. She could literally feel the people's gazes on her as if they were trying to burn a hole through her.

"Mama! Mama! That big sis there is super pretty!"

" Is she a supermodel or something?"

" Woah! Check out that girl! I want her to be my girlfriend!"

" Perv! Look at your face! As if she'd be your girlfriend!"

Little did she know that they were admiring her exotic beauty. However, the poor girl was too nice to even think about it. " Why are they staring at me? Is there something on my face or is there something wrong with my dress ?" She looked down at the dress she was wearing.

Maybe, she was just overthinking about things. Besides Aunt Mei said that it looked nice. She shook her head. "Now is not the time to stress over these things. l must keep searching for Nanny Su", she reminded herself. "She should be here somewhere." Sarah tried to recall the photo of Nanny Su that Aunt Mei had showed her. As if on cue, she spotted her, a kind looking old woman holding a paper cardboard with the words 'Sarah' written over it.

"Uncle Joe, she's there!", she exclaimed as she rushed over to the old woman.

" Nanny Su! Nanny Su!", she yelled.

The elderly woman jerked her head to the direction where her name was being called out. "My, my! Madam's future daughter-in-law is truly exceptionally beautiful!", she gasped.

Sarah came closer to her before bowing, " Hello, my name's Sarah Fernandez. I hope that you'll take care of me in the future."

Nanny Su smiled brightly, she was just as sweet and polite as her madam had told her. " Oh, of course dear, and you may call me Granny or Nanny Su. Well, what are you waiting for? Come and follow me dear, you must be tired from your journey."

"Not at all Granny Su",she said," I actually slept on the plane so I'm not that tired as l should be."

Granny Su laughed, "Okay then dear. My, you really are a delight."Sarah flushed in response and quietly followed her.

"Oh how cute!" , Su laughed again.

After bidding her good-byes to Joe, she went with Granny Su to the place where she was gonna be staying, The Gardenia Abode.

Meanwhile in The Gardenia Abode...

A certain black haired boy yawned as though he was sleepy, " Remind me again why we need to stay here to welcome the new person? I'm sleepy~" he whined," This was suppose to be my nappy time you know."

" It can't be helped Ryo, your mother told us too and you know the consequences if you don't do as she says", a blue haired boy with green eyes told him.

" Hey! Why'd you gotta scare me with those words? Mike meanie!", he pouted but he didn't really want to face those consequences. He felt a shiver down his spine "Moms are really scary..."

Ryo

Mike

" Can't you just quieten down, you're disturbing me. With the kind of noise you're creating, its making it difficult to read my novel peacefully", stated a bespectacled boy with light brown hair and blue eyes.

"Eh?!! You too, Kouta!"

Kouta

" Will you just shut the hell up!"

" Huh? Shou? l thought that you weren't gonna show up. Could it be that you got scared by mom's threat to have your pocket money deducted if you don't show up. Man, you really are a money loving weirdo", Ryo teased the red haired boy who was currently making down the stairs.

. Shou

Shou gawked," Hey! What gives you the right to call me a money loving weirdo!"

" By being your brother", Kouta bluntly told him.

" Who the hell asked you, four eyes?!" , Shou barked.

" Seriously, these guys. To think that you could ever have a peaceful time here without all the squawking and squabbling", Mike mentally sighed," Why did Aunt Mei have to gather us together here just to meet this person of hers. Sure, we are gonna be living together but we could just introduce ourselves afterwards or maybe when we'll bump into each other." He sighed again. Though he had to admit that he was a bit interested in this so called person of hers to make them gather like this.

* * * * * * * *

Sarah stepped out of the car and took in the sight . The house was quite big and looked lively. Just beside it was a garden that looked more marvelous than the ones she had back at her home. So this is where l'm gonna be staying.

" Sarah dear", Su called her.

" Yes."

" Welcome to The Gardenia Abode", Su smiled.

~ ~ ~ \* ~ ~ ~

Gosh that took forever to update! I'm tired! Oh hey.... guys😅. Heh, really sorry for the late update. Though l did warn you that l was quite the lazy author in my previous chappie. So, can't blame me😌😉. Anyhoo, I really loved all the comments and support I've been getting from you guys, I literally wanted to give each one of you a big bear hug. Too bad l can't though😑... But yeah, tell me what ya think of this chapter and now Imma gonna go and watch Brothers Conflict. IORI SAMA!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!!!(●♡∀♡)

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