Day 3: Where Renge Enlightens
Renge Houshakuji drummed her finel y manicured nails on the table, waiting impatiently for her first appointment of the day. Her golden curls fell nicely around her shoulders, and her usual trademark bow headband was firmly on her head. Her face was one of utter boredom as she stared listlessly out of the window.
She caught a glimpse of her 'date' and beamed. She settled down into her chair and was pleased to see Haruhi walking into the café rather hurriedly, looking flustered.
"Renge, I am so sorry I was late. I woke up late today." Haruhi explained. Renge merely smiled and waved it off airily.
"Mou Haruhi! You're still so cute!" She exclaimed as she reached forward to kiss Haruhi on either cheek. Haruhi smiled slightly, somewhat used to Renge's antics. "So, why did you wake up late? And oh my, are those puffy eyes I spy? Were you crying?" She asked at a gunfire speed, making Haruhi snort in amusement. Some things really did not change.
"Well… I am fine. Just a little stressed over the wedding." Renge pursed her lips, not knowing whether she should opt for the irritated or saddened look.
"Haruhi… you do know that Kyoya never meant to leave you so cruelly right?" Haruhi bit her lip, looking away. She had hoped that Renege would not bring him up, but it was hard not for her to do so as Haruhi thought about it. After all, Renege had played a somewhat pivotal role in the entire debacle.
"Renege, that part of my life is over. I owe what I am now to Tamaki." Renge raised a finely plucked eyebrow. Haruhi's tea arrived and she sipped on it slowly.
"But feeling indebted to someone isn't really a good enough reason for marriage. It has to be out of love, no?" Renge prodded. Haruhi set her cup down.
"Love can be cultivated. It need not be there."
"But do you love Tamaki? Do you even think you can love him?" Renge pressed even further. Haruhi's confusion-stricken face was too apparent and Renge could not help but clasp the poor woman's hands in her own. "Mou Haruhi, I'm sorry for pressing you. It's just that… I can't help but feel it's been really unfair to Kyouya."
Haruhi smiled a small smile. "I am glad that there are people who still care for him."
"He still cares for you, that I am certain. Never mind, let's not talk about this and have our brunch as we planned to, ok?" And with that, the two dropped the topic and moved on to more pleasant subjects.
After nearly two hours of interesting topics ranging from the weather to what Renge was obsessed with currently, Haruhi finally excused herself to head back to the office. She smiled warmly when Renge promised to be there early for the wedding and bid her farewell. She smiled looking at Haruhi leave, and after she could not see Haruhi any longer, she snapped, "Come out, wherever you are."
The café was deserted. After all, she had booked out the entire café although Haruhi was none the wiser. Only one person would dare to eavesdrop on the conservation. The man stepped out from the shadows and chuckled.
"Ah, Renge, your observational skills are absolutely stellar!"
"Save your compliments for me, Tamaki." She scowled, annoyed to see the blonde. She noticed that he had grown in stature, looking even more dashing, she had to admit. No wonder he had little trouble getting into the booked-out café. He sat down, uninvited, opposite her.
"Have you no confidence in your future wife?" He smiled.
"I am just trying to protect her."
"Really?" She smirked. "Or are you simply afraid that she would slip away from you, back to your best friend?" His eyes clouded somewhat at the mention of that, his violet eyes becoming even more purplish.
"She made her decision to be with me. Nothing can change that."
Renge laced her fingers together and rested her head on them, looking straight at Tamaki. "Well, I would say you happened to be at the right place, at the right time, when she needed someone desperately to mend her broken heart. But she only sees you as a benefactor, not a lover, not a husband."
"And would you dare say you are not responsible for this?" Tamaki countered. "After all, you were the reason why Kyouya was forced to break his engagement." Renge's gaze sharpened, to the point of a glare (although she was taught never to glare at anyone, it was only polite not to).
"Yes, I admit that my father had gone overboard in demanding that Kyouya marry me. But who was really responsible for my father's adamant stand in that- that I was going to be an otaku forever and no man would dare marry me? Who put that idea in his head that Kyouya was the best candidate since I was obsessed with a video character that looked like him? I dare say you had something to do with that." Tamaki merely grinned.
"Mon cheri, you have absolutely no proof of that."
"You're just a fake, Tamaki!" She spat as she stood up to leave. "Remember this- You crossed me and I'll make you pay, one day."
"After my wedding, anything is fine. That's if you can touch me." Tamaki stood up as well, his gaze trained on her as well. For that split second, Renge was chilled to see the stare of a man who was determined to use whatever means to get what he wanted, but that look was but for a fleeting moment. She blinked when she saw him shift, his eyes now sparkling yet again (she really hated that sparkly look).
"I'll see you on the day of the wedding. Ja!"
Renge really hated Suoh Tamaki, make no mistake about that.
Haruhi let out a small sigh as she sat at her table, massaging her temples. It was not the work that was making her tired, but the entire wedding nonsense. She swiveled around to look at the landscape outside. Being one of the best and the brightest lawyers in her firm had secured her a fast-track career and an office with a great view.
Kyouya…. Thinking of his name made her heart ache even though it had been that long. When she had learnt that Kyouya had left her to marry Renge, she was in a state of utter disbelief. She had never thought of them of being in a secret relationship. But the truth started to trickle in, first from Fuyumi, then Hunny, then the twins, and finally, Yoshio Ootori himself. Renge's father was old, and he was hoping to see Renge married soon. But there was hardly a man Renge liked, given how she was still somewhat obsessed with her anime boys. Of course Renge dated here and there, but she was still young and the prospect of marrying at 24 was somewhat daunting.
And then, someone had put the thought of Kyouya as a good match into her father's head and he had insisted that Kyouya marry Renge, threatening to cut off all business ties with the Ootori empire. The Houshakuji's were an important business parter in Europe for the Ootoris and Kyouya had no choice but to fly over. But Kyouya worked with Renge to change her father's mind- how they did it Haruhi never knew, for by then, she was too heartbroken to care.
And that was when Tamaki had once again waltzed into her life and tried to pick up the pieces, putting them back together as best as he could. For that, Haruhi always felt she owed it to Tamaki. Yet, what Renge had told her today rang a chord in her heart.
Could she love Tamaki the way she loved Kyoya? She tried to convince herself that it was possible, but in her heart deep down, she knew she could not. She let out a sigh as she turned to her table, and unlocked a drawer.
She opened it and took out a small velvet box. She opened it, revealing a simple, but elegant diamond ring. She slipped it onto her finger, the ring placed on top of Tamaki's engagement ring.
The two rings were flawless, yet one of them somehow looked better on her, she though secretly. While Tamaki's ring had a dazzle to it (the diamond was huge), Kyoya's ring had a brilliant yet somewhat subtle shine to it. It reminded her of the way Kyouya showed his feelings- a quiet, fiery passion.
Just then, the door to her office banged open and she jumped.
"HaruhI! Let's have lunch!" Tamaki said cheerfully as he strode over to her table. She hurriedly slid the ring off her finger and pushed it into the drawer, locking it quickly. She smiled faintly at Tamaki, hoping as hell that he had not noticed what she had done.
"Sure, let me pack up and we can leave." She motioned to him to leave her alone, and pretended to shuffle some papers. Tamaki beamed and went outside. As he closed the door to her office, he allowed a look of hurt to cross his face.
He had done so much… yet she still compared Kyouya to him. He wanted to scream or kick something, but he knew that it was futile.
"Tamaki?" A voice besides him questioned. "You're blocking the door."
"Ah. Come let's go!" And he grabbed her hand, leading her to the elevator. If Haruhi was displeased by that action, she did not quite show it by pulling her hand away. She let him hold her hand, and Tamaki was somewhat calmed by the cool metal he felt around her third finger.
After all, it was his ring that she now wore and that was enough... for now.
Reviews please! A darker and more realistic side of Tamaki now comes out. Counting down to Day 7- the day of the wedding!