Read The Sound of Your Love :: The Hideaway

“I’m never doing that again.” I proclaim, walking up to the entrance of a bar, with a neon sign that reads The Hideaway. This bar is my Grandfather’s and it’s been here since before my mother was born. So I guess you can say, this little speakeasy is my Grandfather’s legacy. And it’s pretty much how my family met their significant others: My Grandfather met my Grandmother here. And my mother met my father here. Before anyone starts to think that this bar is a blessing for my family, which on one hand…it is. But it’s also a curse, in the other.

The Hideaway starts with my Grandfather, Honjo Takahashi. And as people that come into the bar always tells me, he looked just like I do now, back then. Not particularly saying I don’t believe them. My Grandfather ages pretty well—he looks like he can be my and Kikyo’s father. So yeah, I can see how we resemble one another.

You see, Grandfather Honjo knew exactly who he wanted to be and what he wanted to do with his life from a young age. One night, when he was 15, he and his friends, who he was also in a band with, were at a karaoke bar. He loved the vibe, the atmosphere, and how everyone that came into the bar showed obvious fondness towards the bartender. Who my grandfather later finds out is the owner of the place.

Seeing how my grandfather also liked to socialize and entertain people with music, he saw who he could be after watching the bartender. That motivation helped make up his mind to open up his own bar one day. And for the next few years, my grandfather made it his job to make the owner his mentor, by getting a job at the Karaoke bar.

Now 21, my grandfather is going to college for business management, like the bar owner suggested, and he’s finally opened up his own tavern and named it—The Hideaway. Just like the karaoke bar owner, my grandfather is known and adored by many. Especially since he and his band have a great reputation. Of course, just like any good band, they wanted to go pro. But my grandfather wanted to go down a different path. He didn’t care to be in that category of fame. My Grandfather wanted to touch people’s hearts another way.

A couple years go by, since he opens The Hideaway, and things are looking up for him. He’s graduated college, business is good, so everything seems to be on his side. Everything. Especially the day my grandmother came through the door, that one rainy night.

[Grandfather Honjo’s POV:38 Years Ago]

“Wow! It’s raining.” Points out a bar customer. “I don’t remember the weather channel mentioning anything about a storm today.”

Cleaning a cocktail glass in my hand, I glance at the entrance of the bar, where the biggest window is, to view outside. “Yeah. It does look like it’s coming down hard.” Looking over everyone’s distressed expressions, in the bar, I say, “Everyone can stay as long as they need, until the rain lets up!”

The light coming back into their eyes, I receive a lot of drunken thanks. And just as I decide to change the television to catch up on the weather, that’s directly above the booze behind the bar, a young woman rushes into the bar, gently slamming the door behind her. As she shivers from being soaking wet after running through the rain, she turns around to get her bearing of where she is.

“Hey p—pretty lady.” A tipsy bar guest struggles to say, walking up to the young woman. “Y—you look cold. Come on in and g—get warm.”

The young woman starts to hug herself, bracing for the drunkard to touch her. Before he got the chance, I stop him by placing my hand on his shoulder and say, “Woah there, old timer. How about some water, yeah?”

“Honjo, my boy!” He yells, taking his attention away from the shivering woman and wraps his arm around my shoulder instead. “You are a saint. Letting all of us wait out the storm here!”

“Yeah well, someone has to make sure you don’t cause anyone trouble.”

He starts to laugh uncontrollably. ‘You see! No one cares like you do,” he says. “I don’t know what I would do if your bar wasn’t here.”

“Go to another bar.” I add, helping him back to his seat. I lift an index finger to the patientaly waiting young woman and mouth “one second.”

“You’re such a f—funny guy, Honjo!” He yells.

I shake my head and chuckle as he falls asleep, after sitting down. “I’m sorry about him.” I say to the wet cold woman. “But he’s harmless. As you’ve already heard. I’m the barkeep, Honjo Takahashi.”

“Mei Yamaguchi.” She replies shivering.

Looking at her now, I notice she hasn’t stepped any further into the bar. ‘This 5’8” young woman can’t be 21 yet.’ I think to myself. ‘She looks like this is her first time in a bar.’

“You know,” I start. “It’s not good to look lost in a place like this. That’s how you’ll attract guys like him.”

“W—what do you mean? I just came in to get out of the rain.” She asks, with a quiver in her voice.

I chuckle at her innocent response.

“Are you seriously laughing at me?”

“No, I—“ I stop mid sentence as I notice a puddle has formed around her feet since her clothes have been dripping. Her outfit short of reminds me of something a librarian would wear. It’s a thick long sleeve sweater that went down mid thigh. Even though it’s long enough to be a dress she still wore tight jeans underneath. Seeing this gives me a thought. ‘Maybe…because…she’s the modest or shy type?’ “Look I, uh—,” I start hesitantly. “I live upstairs. I have fresh clothes up there you can borrow, and you can dry your wet ones in the dryer I have up there too.”

Not saying anything, she gives me a disgusted look at my suggestion. ‘I knew she was going to react like that.’ I think to myself.

“I only mention it because you’re kinda wetting my floor. Which is a hazard.” Her face relaxes as she looks down at her feet and realizes what I tell her is true. “If it’ll make you comfortable. I can have Aiko accompany you. She helps me out around here.” I can tell she’s debating the right thing to do, as she looks away from me. “Unless…You want to just stand here and catch a cold?”

[A Few Minutes Later]

“I’m surprised you’re actually letting a stranger into your apartment, Honjo.” Says a bar guest, after seeing Mei go upstairs with Aiko.

“I can.” Scoffs another guest. “Honjo has a soft spot for the ladies.”

“Still,” he adds. “You shouldn’t put your guard down.”

“I’m not putting my guard down.” I say in an objective tone. “I was just making sure she stopped dripping all over my floor, so drunks like you don’t slip. Besides, I can tell she’s not the type to take anything.”

The bar guest looks at me with judgment in his eyes. “How are you so sure?”

Before I could answer, Mei reappears wearing one of my long sleeve button ups and a pair of sweats—both were very oversized on her since I’m 6’2” and a little muscular. While she being 5’8” and looking no heavier than 130.

You couldn’t tell when her hair was wet, but dry, her black hair is cut in a cute bob that aligned with her jawline. The look is adorable for her. And the cherry on top, for me, are her glasses that fit her slender face just right. ‘Very cute.’ I think to myself.

“Thank you…again.” She starts, in an embarrassed tone, as she sits in front of me, at the bar. “You didn’t have to do that, but you did, so…yeah. Thank you.”

“I’m just glad you’re warm now. Almost don’t even recognize you.” “I say jokingly.

“Wait Honjo! Turn up the T.V.” Demands a bar guest.

Doing as he so nicely asked, I turn up the volume, so everyone can hear the weather man.

“Well. Looks like you’re all welcome to set up shop here tonight.” I say with a heart warming smile on my face.