Chapter 10: Demanding

Just as promised nothing really changed after our commitment. My grandpa smiled at us and told us not to worry about anything. He told us to act normally and enjoy the things that happen. We signed the papers and were married. The strange sensation that filled my hand made me worry if I was really making the right choice, if I was signing myself away to death.

Those strange words my grandfather told Kai made my mind go blank. "Take care of her." It ran through my mind, but Kai's response I could never hear. A part of me refused to listen to what he said.

I observed to see any changes, and none really came. Kai kept his distance from me during school and I continued to do what I usually did. I didn't tell anyone, not even my friends, that I was married. The only ones that knew where our family. The delicate chain that hung around my neck with a sliver ring felt like it was burning through my chest. I would find myself playing with the silver band between my fingers as if it was an enchanted object containing my life forever.

I hid this ring under my uniform shirt. I wasn't sure what to do with it. I didn't want it on my finger and I was sure I was going to lose it the moment I casted my eyes away from it.

Kai took it from me, strung it on a chain and handed it back to me. He even threatened me that if I lost it he would kill me. I never saw him wear it, and I wasn't even sure if he wouldn't have lost that tiny ring.

I tried to forget everything, sometimes it actually worked, but it came back to remind me as I see Kai watching over me when I wasn't noticing. He didn't treat me as mean anymore, though we still had the strange awkwardness when we were together. Sometimes we even bickered and got mad at each other like we normally did. He would walk away from me, and the next day still be waiting at the foot of my gate for me. I could tell on his face how much he was holding back.

Keahi was the most confused when he found out that I was married to his older brother. He sometimes saw us fight, and I guess he couldn't figure out why I would marry his brother. I had to explain to him. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices, even if it's something you don't want to do.

I stretched as I let the cool spring air fill my lungs. It's been 5 months since I had signed that paper. Kai would graduate this spring, and still I didn't ask him what he was planning on doing. That part of the deal almost started to feel annoying. These next 5-so years felt like it would be long.

I walked idly next to Becky almost sobbing half because I would have to suck it up and hunt down Kai, and half because of worrying about what I was planning on doing next school year.

The spring classes were almost over.

"I can't wait for break!" Becky said stretching her arms. "Are you doing anything this summer?"

I shook my head. "Not that I know of. I always get invited to go on vacations with the Hiwatari's. I'm not sure if they are doing anything this year."

"Lucky!" She said as she nudged me. "Aren't you excited? Kai is finally out of your hair next year." I gave an awkward chuckle. "Well not totally out of your hair, I guess. Do you have a plan for what you're going to do in college? You said before you wanted to be a teacher."

I nodded. "I'm not sure where I'll be going, but I know I want to teach."

"Have you decided what though? Music right?" Becky said grinning at me.

"I was thinking English. It's actually one of my best classes." Becky pouted at the thought of English classes.

"Aww, I thought you would do Music. You're great at singing it would have been a breeze." She pouted. I laughed at her. She wanted to go into the music industry.

"Sorry." I told her. We reached the fork that we always walked to before splitting. We talked about how excited we were to be seniors and finally having one more step out of it. It was something to look forward to.

I waved goodbye as I saw her turn the corner and I couldn't see her anymore. I looked forward down the path and walked faster up the slope. It was already 6 and I didn't want to waste more time idling my time to find Kai.

The faster I got it over with the faster I can put my mind towards other things.

Flipping my phone open I looked through my contacts till I came towards Kai's name. Clicking on his name I typed a message towards him.

'Are you home?' I wrote, sending the message. My screen gave me the confirmation. I kept the phone in my hand as I walked up the hill towards home. My phone vibrated in my hand and I opened it to see a message say 'Yes.'

I stared at it with a glare. Kai always says one-word answers. He never asked why to a question. My phone buzzed again in my hand as another message appeared.

'We need to talk. I'll be meet you at your place.'

I stared at the message not believing him. I gave a sigh as I closed the phone and placed it into my skirt pocket.

I reached the front of my home. I looked up at the large mansion. My grandfather returned back to work and my sister returned to college. It was this big house and I.

I looked around to see if Kai was anywhere. I didn't see him and shrugged it off as I walked into the quiet building. I looked around again incase he was inside. I didn't see him and so I left and headed up the stairs.

I opened the door to my room and walked in. I tilted my head as I observed the person sitting at my desk. His legs were crossed, and his back braced against my chair. His arms were folded and eyes shut in typical Kai fashion. The only thing is he didn't hear me come in. There was a pair of ear bud type earphones in his ears.

I walked towards the desk placing my bag by the corner. "How long have you been here?"

"Only for a few." He said opening one of his eyes to look at me. I frowned at him. He pulled his earphones out of his ears.

"Well make yourself comfortable." Not like you've already done that. He uncrossed his legs and sat properly in the chair. "What do you need to talk about?"

I looked at him and he sent me a strange glare. "I should ask you that. Why did you ask me if I was home? You never ask where I am."

I flinched back diverting my eyes away from Kai. "I just needed to talk to you about something that's all." He got up from the chair and walked towards me. I stood my ground. He was in front of me possibly a foot away.

"That makes two." He spoke. "Do you want to start or shall I?"

I frowned as I stared at him. "I wanted to know what your plan was for when you start university."

"Is that all?" He said. His voice was flat almost sounding like my reason for calling him was really for nothing. I glared at him. "The university I'll be attending is only a couple towns out, nothing a little driving can't handle. I won't leave here it'll burden you on your last year."

I nodded my head. "But I do what to move." I snapped my head up.

"Move? Why?" I said confused to the reason. He had his eyes closed and his hand roaming through his hair.

"I don't want to live here anymore."

"Then move?" I question. "There's nothing holding you back." I said. His eyes snapped open glaring at me.

"For a smart girl you're pretty stupid." He took his hand out of his already natural messy hair. "Or did you forget I have to take you along with me?"

I gave a groan as I had totally forgotten. I took a seat on my bed. "I totally forgot." I said. I looked up at him. "But why? What's wrong with living here?"

He shook his head. "I want my freedom. Staying here I don't feel like I have it, and being bounded by this stupid marriage makes it even worse." He crossed his arms and stood in front of me. "I have to take you with me so I'm asking you if you want to?"

"But Kai I know our family is rich and everything, but I hardly can say I have the money to buy a new home. I hardly have a cent to my name."

"Don't worry about the money." He said. I looked up at him unsure to believe him or not. "I'll handle it. Just say yes you'll do it. That you'll come live with me." He said. "Don't you feel lonely being in this huge house by yourself." He asked me.

I did feel lonely in this house sometimes. I tried to ignore it by preoccupying myself with things to do. Though it's hard to look back and know that it's only me that lives here. My sister will be out of college soon, but that doesn't insure that she'll come back here, and my grandpa preoccupies himself with working and stays close to that.

But the idea of living under the same roof as Kai didn't sit well with me either. Being able to see him 24/7, felt like it would be a nightmare. Leaves room for more potential fights, which I'll have to try to not do as much in the future. Just looking at him irritates me.

I know that was going to be something that we were going to have to figure out, but I honestly prayed that it wouldn't be this soon. I frowned as I thought.

"I'll have to talk to my grandfather about it." I said sighing. "So I'll get back to you about this. Is that fine?" I asked him.

"Fine, just don't take too long." He said, almost threatening me.

I glared back at him not saying anything. He turned around and proceeded towards my door letting himself out. I watched him leave, and once he was gone I let out a sigh and fall backwards on my bed. Rubbing my eyes I let my hands fall against my bed. He frustrated me, and I knew deep down this was how it was going to be.

I was reluctant that night. I didn't want to call my grandfather. I was staring at my phone for a good hour before deciding to call him. When I finally did call him, his happy voice filled my ears.

He asked me all sorts of questions before I got a chance to ask him. He even asked me how everything was going with Kai. I lied through my teeth as I told him everything was okay. I started to tell him how Kai wanted to move.

To be honest, I should have figured that part out. He had asked that question when we were sitting with my grandfather. He must have been planning it for a while to leave. I was the ball chain that was grounding him here now.

My grandfather sounded excited when I told him. He continued to talk, though I felt unsure.

"Well this is a good opportunity. I know your sister is probably not going to come back to live at that house, and if you leave there won't be anyone there." He stated, "We might as well put everything into storage, and sell the house."

"Are you sure?" I asked him my face half in my pillow.

"Yes, yes, that big house is too much to handle anyways, and once you get older you'll end up living in your own apartment and living your own life. So I knew eventually we wouldn't need the house." I half-heartedly agreed with him. He started to laugh in good spirits.

He gave me his best wishes in finding a new home, and to sleep tight.

I groaned into my pillow before picking myself up, and texting Kai my response. I pondered on my grandfather's words as he said that once I got older I would have my own apartment and be living by myself. That didn't seem like it would come true.

I dropped my phone on my bed as I pulled my pillow to my chest. I could feel it vibrate and I flipped it open to see his response.

His text read, "You're coming with me next weekend."

Demanding asshole.