Preludes Part 4A: Masked accapellas

“And here’s our final collection for Tokyo’s Amateur Fashion Designer Collective, please welcome our very own Celina Hayashi!”1

I looked at you from the filled rows of curious audience, and even as your boyfriend, my heart pumps like a tongue-tied man with choked confessions as you strut so beautifully in your violet dress to give your closing thanks. Remember how the emotional girl with scarred fears of love gently dissolves the tough-faced doctor’s disguise? Remember how the inquisitive client melts your mask of business attitude? Today, you are all silk and steel in your brimming smile, and tonight, I can’t wait to give you my heart.2

“Simplicity and sophistication have always been Ms. Hayashi’s philosophy in her designs for modern day office women, where office attires do not only reflect one’s professionalism, but also express their personalities and feelings.”3

Model 1: A black V-neck blouse with pinstripe collar and matching beige skirt with cyan stripes.4

*5

“Good afternoon Sturn and Associates, this is Celina Hayashi speaking.” 6

“Good afternoon Celina, this is Oliver from Uni Wireless. Can you be over our HQ as soon as possible? We want to end that patent and cellular plan dispute issue with Phoenix as fast as we can.”7

Uni Wireless HQ, Roppongi.8

“Unfortunately sir, as I have said before, you cannot acquire copyright protection over your cellular logo because Phoenix has already acquired protection over this logo ten years ago. Even though the artist responsible has passed away, the copyright protection will still remain for the 40 years after his death before it belongs to the public domain. Although Uni has acquired Phoenix last month, I don’t see any agreements stating the transfer of any Phoenix trademarks or plans to Uni.”9

“But aren’t they part of the Uni network?”10

“Yes, but as both of your agreement shows – “Phoenix is part of Uni network as of June 7, 2007, but will continue to operate as a company and continues the use of its cellular plans and logos,” this means that Phoneix will have business as normal. The only issue changed is that now it is part of Uni network, I strongly suggest both of you to take another look and make adjustments to your copyright policies as soon as possible so we can go through this transaction smoothly.”11

7pm, the contract was finally signed between Phoenix and Uni. I browsed around for the nearest Watami Restaurant to grab my usual tontaksu don take out. Being a legal counsel is no 9 to 5 job as I place copyrights, patents or trademarks to their owners – heirs, companies or benefactors, to a point I don’t even have time for dates. I long for relationships, but no, I can’t have them, there were so many scars they twisted my beliefs on love. 12

The night’s getting old as wind blows by – I have mastered the art of walking in stilettos for more than 20 minutes. But as I step down the stairs – CRACK- my ankle feels numb. I cannot move. I am helpless.13

“Miss, what happened? I work here, my name is Sergio and I know CPR First Aid, let me get you to some place where you can sit.”14

“I cannot move, I am so dizzy, I think my leg twisted –“15

*16

Tokyo University Hospital, ICU department17

It’s another night of my night shift, I wonder why patients always flood at night? With my hospital as the only hospital that has a Doctor on Helicopter initiative, it is painful to have patients relocated to different areas, though rewarding when I can feel their compassion to live.18

“Dr. Matusmoto, we got a new patient. Celina Hayashi, age 27, fractured her ankle after falling from a restaurant and fainted. Heart rate 100 , pulse 120 and breathing normal but low blood pressure 67.”19

“I suppose she does not need an operation right away, but did she fall on her head?”20

“No.”21

“Just do the CT scans for safety.”22

“Why am I in a hospital? I was just getting my tonkatsu?”23

“Ms. Hayashi, you fainted after you fractured your ankle. When did you last eat?”24

“1pm.”25

“That explains why you fainted and low blood pressure. You didn’t have enough food. You are now in ICU department of Tokyo University Hospital –“26

“But I have to secure 5 deals tomorrow for the Law firm –“27

“We have called them about your situation. You need to take a rest.”28

Your hopeful eyes brimmed with intelligence, and your smile was a killer. You are definitely one of the more beautiful patients that I see around in ICU.29

*30

Model 2 was in a sleeveless body hugging violet dress, with patterns around the hip area to show off curves while maintaining its category was office attire. Model 2 was paired in a matching set of peeptoes.31

*32

“Ms. Hayashi, we are going to do your checkup in 10 minutes time.”33

“That’s alright. I will finish a phone call then.” Despite being in ICU, there are still many contracts to be taken care of. Even though the department head stated that I can take a rest, resting completely would only lead to workload suicide when I return to work. 34

“Bonjour, c’est Celina Hayashi, comment Monsieur Desmond a la? Oui, je demander Monsieur Desmond m’appeler ce soir a 17 heure, mon numero du telephone a 009471062, merci beaucoup…”35

I approached Ms. Hayashi, despite my repeated instructions that she needs to completely rest, she continues to have her conversations with her clients as if the hospital bed is her 24/7 office cubicles. I have never met such a workaholic (though a highly professional and multi-lingual client) with such an inflexible temper.36

“Ms. Hayashi, I told you so many times that you have to rest completely to recover fully. What is with all these phone calls? There are some noise complaints over the door.”37

“Look, Dr. Matsumoto, I have to work even if I am in ICU or else it will be workload suicide for me when I get back to office with more than 500 cases and contracts to be solved. And under Japan’s human rights article no. 150, even as a professional health provider, you have no rights to intervene a client’s work activities in a hospital so long their work does not exceed 8 hours.”38

This is reason why I loath taking to Legal Professionals, especially when they are so articulate and business like to the point they can sue you for taking care of them. Why do I have to take care of one now?39

“Although I understand how busy it is, please try to take in mind of other patients in ICU who needs to be in a calm environment. Thank you.” I ducked out of the door , legal professionals are such a pain.40

10pm41

Patient 9 was asleep, his face was so serene, yet so tired as surgery’s scars retouched his lungs. 42

There’s a button calling from bed no.10. 43

“Dr, can you pass me a cup of water?” Her eyes were so teary, their redness and wetness pierced my heart as her hopeful eyes diminished into sorrowful ones filled with chambers of depression. What happened, how can I develop such feelings for a patient?44

“What happened, Ms. Hayashi?” I came in with a cup of water.45

“Call me Celina. It is one of my ex-boyfriends turned clients. His company wanted to secure a set of patents, but the artist who designed it made it clear in his will that these set of logos would only be used by the company until 2008 when their contract ends. So now the company is making every move to exploit as much as possible and it is certainly not fun to be scolded like a customer relations representative.46

I see.47

“That guy does not have to throw his egoistical self and 10 law clauses about how copyrights work for his company. There is a fine line between justice and manipulation, the information was all in the contract. To top it off about his juicy relationship with a colleague in his company was too much information. What am I? A customer representative and psychological counselor in one?”48

“Perhaps you should just give him the evidences with the clauses? In a hospital, we always make tough choices as you do in law. We want to save everyone, but sometimes we can’t because our resources, time and manpower on an emergency site can only do so much for someone with a detrimental condition, and all we could do is to provide the best possible care. It is a risk, but we have to fuse facts and compassion for it.” 49

“Perhaps so, if you have a girlfriend she is so lucky to have someone so caring yet knowledgeable.”50

“I am too busy. That’s not your business.”51

“Can you get me a box of Kleenex?” Maybe there is a sweet side of Ms. Hayashi? 52

I sat there and watched her flood of tears splashed over the paper planes of Kleenexes – each moment she cried, each moment I dreaded and wished I could put an end. Did I fail my job to stay rational and put a patient’s needs first? Was this piercing feeling of sadness love? Perhaps underneath the diplomatic and sophisticated mask of Ms. Hayashi, there is a burst of passion and emotions within. Je ne sa pas. Je ne sa pas amour. If only I am free of employment privacy contracts, if only I can convince her to meet up for coffee after she is discharged.53

*54

“Congratulations Celina, you are released. Please take good care of yourself.” That reply was heartbreaking.55

“Dr. Matsumoto, please come to unit 12, Mr. Wong’s dementia attacks started again! He is hitting the walls with his head again!”56

Despite Mr. Wong’s eventual surgery, he is the reason we meet eh? 57

*58