"Keikai?"

"Bruce?"

"Oh wow, Kei, it's good to see you.  Why didn't you call me and tell me when your plane was supposed to arrive, I would've picked you up!"

"Alex picked me up. Besides, I'm not sure if I have the right number for you anymore. You did move, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but the number's still the same."

"Oh."

"So when did you get in?"

Glances at watch, "Oh, 5 hours ago? These different time zones mess me up a bit. Sit down, I need to talk to you."

"Okay, what's up?"

Keikai stands up to reveal a slightly swollen stomach. It is clear she is beginning to show the first visible signs of pregnancy.

"Oh....wow. Is it..?"

"Yes, it's yours."

Both Bruce and Keikai sit back down.

"Why didn't you call me or tell me sooner?"

"I didn't want to tell you any other way than in person."

Bruce cups Keikai's hand

"Well, I guess that's one way of doing things."

"Don't act so hurt. What good would it have done to tell you two months ago other than make you antsy and probably sell your car for a plane ticket to Japan?"

"Well, at least that way I could have been there to help you tell your parents."

"My parents don't know yet..."

"But what..."

"What even makes you assume that I want to keep this baby?"

"Well, you're still pregnant at, counts on fingers, 4 months, and you bothered to tell me, it makes me think that you want to make a go of it."

"Go of what? Us? It's not our baby. It's my baby."

"But why are you telling me if you don't want me in your life? You know how long I've loved you. You know I'll take care of you and the baby."

"We've been best friends through three years of college. But we were only together as a couple for the two weeks before summer. I've been with Alex for over two years."

"But you two broke up! That's when I told you how I felt about you! THAT'S when we became a couple, and that's how we made this child!"

"We're getting back together."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to stay away from the not-quite-happy Japanese couple."

"He can make me happy too you know."

"Do you love him?"

"What kind of question is that? I feel something for him, yes. I don't know if that's love or not, but I still feel something."

"And you don't feel anything for me?"

"Yes...but there are other things to consider. We have been in a relationship together for a long time. We are used to each other, and we know that we can probably make it as a couple. You and I haven't. You can't transform a close friendship into a solid relationship. There's no guarantee that we'd be right for each other. And you would be incredibly difficult for my parents to swallow, too."

"You two broke up once, that's not what I'd call stability. This isn't the Dark Ages, either. Why would your parents have such a hard time accepting a tall, lanky blond guy?"

"That was me "taking some time off for myself". I was feeling claustrophobic, and I just needed some time apart. I feel more sure about me and Alex now. And my parents feel like it's an insult to the family to marry someone that isn't Japanese."

"It's still my baby."

"I told Alex about the baby. He thinks it's his. And he wants to get married."

"Kei, you don't have to marry him. You don't have to marry anyone. And you shouldn't if you don't love him."

"I don't want to be an unwed mother."

"We could get married."

"You can't be serious. You can't just come up and say, "Oh, you're pregnant, let's get married." Like you said, it isn't the dark ages, and this isn't the South, so you shouldn't expect the shotgun wedding."

"Well, I don't know what else to tell you. I love you. And I want to be a father to this baby. And I can't stand the idea that you would want it any other way."

Bruce places his hand on Keikai's belly.  She winces.

"I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't have touched..."

"It's okay."

"I still want to be a part of this. "

"That just isn't possible, Bruce. Look, I have to go. We'll talk more about this later, okay. I'm sorry that I've hurt you."

"Don't be a stranger, Kei. I love you."  Bruce gets up and walks away while watching her, and eventually turns around.

"I love you too."

Tears roll down her cheeks.