Seiji's Love Letters
Chapter 2 – Beginnings
Dear Shiharu,
The first time I saw you, I thought I had fallen asleep in the taxi and was dreaming. To walk into the daycare center and see Aoi-kun and Akane-chan happy and clinging to a young woman was something I had not expected. They were so frightened of strangers and had been crying almost constantly since the death of their mother and the disappearance of their father. Because I had not seen you there before, I assumed you were a newly hired university graduate. I knew without a doubt that I needed you as the babysitter for the twins.
The past three months the twins had been in my charge had left me so sleep deprived that I did not realize that I expressed my request improperly. The scandalized looks on your face and that of the sensei made me realize that my request could be taken as a marriage proposal. I quickly clarified that I meant as a babysitter, not a wife. I offered to pay double the amount the daycare center was paying her just for the smiles on Aoi-kun and Akane-chan's faces.
Your gentle smile was enchanting as you explained that you would have to get the approval from the head of the institution before you could accept the job. When I questioned you about that, you explained that you had been orphaned at age five, lived in the orphanage for eleven years, and would be living there for two more. I was stunned. I had assumed that you were twenty-one or twenty-two, not sixteen. No wonder the scandalized looks at my proposition.
It was good thing that the daycare center was connected to the orphanage so the head of the institution was already aware of my situation. She had interviewed me after I applied for daycare for the twins. Otherwise, I do not think she would have approved of a sixteen year old girl working in the home of the twenty-five year old man, even as a babysitter.
The first day you came to the house I know you were shocked at the state of it…and me. The obvious neglect of my appearance and the house must have had you doubting your decision to accept the job. When the twins came to greet you, I simply could not keep my eyes open any longer. Knowing that you were there for the twins, I fell asleep right there in the hallway.
Hours later when I woke up I was completely confused. How had I gotten onto the futon? Why were the twins not climbing all over me wanting food or to play? Had something terrible happened while I slept?
When I opened the door and looked into the living room, I was stunned. The place was clean, the twins were helping, and they were happy. Nothing I did ever got them pick up after themselves or help me clean up.
I'm sorry I startled you with the revelation that I am not the twins' father. Because the head of the institution knew I was single and taking care of my brother's children, I thought you knew as well. Obviously, I was still too sleep deprived to be thinking straight.
I fell in love with you all over again when I returned from work that evening. The house was spotless and the twins happily greeted me at the door. You were sound asleep on the table and I placed a blanket on your shoulders. I was mesmerized by your sleeping form and the twins quietly watching over you. I do not know what I was thinking as I knelt down to look closely at your face. Maybe somewhere in my muddled thoughts was the idea of waking the sleeping princess with a kiss. You must have sensed my proximity because you woke abruptly and jumped away from me.
I should not have grabbed you roughly as we argued about my accompanying you back to the institution that night, but I feared for your safety at such a late hour. It was already past curfew and, although it was not a great distance, anything could happen. We barely knew each other but I could not abide even the slightest chance that I might lose you.
At least Aoi-kun's interruption forestalled any further arguments. You surprised me when you asked permission to come in the mornings to get the twins ready and take them to daycare. I granted my permission, or rather accepted your generous offer, that was a great help to me. I sincerely hope that my desire to have you here helping with the twins does not interfere with your school and social life.
Walking you home so late at night and just talking was special to me—no twins, no scrutiny, just you and me in the moonlight.
The next morning when the twins greeted you with "Welcome home" and you responded with "I'm home," I felt my heartrate increase with the pleasure of knowing that you were considering yourself part of the household—part of our family.
Love, Seiji
