Chapter 10
"Why did I do that…?" Kahoko whimpered, rolling, for the second time, on her bed. The bed and room she owned at Nami's apartment.
Last night was a disaster as she left without a word. Never leaving a note nor talking to anyone, in particular, to her husband. Ex, she muttered, firm.
She planned to apologize afterwards, accepting the fact that she drove to the conclusion without giving him a chance to explain. She sighed, muttered a light curse as she deemed to say her apology.
She halted, hand extended to the golden knob.
"What had happened?" Kahoko did not need to see who owned the voice. Clearly, with his baritone power of speech, Kahoko knew it was Takumi.
"I believe I didn't do anything wrong. She should think first before talking."
In that thought, Kahoko fumed. At least, he should say sorry for the accident as well. It was not her entire fault—perhaps the biggest part yet he's at fault too. Kahoko cursed, "So much for saying sorry. Never." She stomped her feet.
"It's not my fault too! That guy!" she hissed, rolling once more as she punched her pillow. "You should at least apologize too. Creep." She continued her attention, as though thinking that the poor pillow was the man himself.
Loud, succeeding knocks disrupted her business. She hissed annoyance pasted scandalously over her porcelain face. "Sheesh, wait, wait!" she muttered, getting up from her comfortable spot. "Wha—you?!"
"Are you stupid or just plain stupid?" It did not make sense, he just painstakingly emphasized that he viewed her as plain stupid for acting such last night.
Welcoming with such greet just simmered Kahoko's anger. She frowned. "If you're just going to say how stupid I am, then leave!"
She slammed the door close, back leaning at it afterwards.
Len knocked once more, louder. "We need to talk."
"We don't have to. I quit, find another woman instead."
"I'm reminding you that you are still indebted to me."
"I'll pay for it!" Kahoko shouted back.
"Stupid woman."
"What the heck." Kahoko opened the door, glaring at him. "Look, Mister, you can shout as long as you want. Stay there until nighttime, but never ever call me stupid! I'm not working for you anymore, leave me alone!" she retaliated, closing the door; however he prevented it by his foot.
"What the?" Kahoko looked at him.
"We need to talk."
Kahoko attempted to close the door, kicking his feet yet his arm moved, resting between the door and the wall.
"What do you want?"
"Return"
"As if I will"
Len sighed, his patience draining in every tick of the clock. "You're my wife."
"Not anymore."
Crumples started to develop on his forehead, brows twitched lightly. "You are married to an affluent person."
"So, you're threatening me?"
"I can."
Kahoko gulped, line of sweat misted her hands.
"But I'm doing the most appropriate thing, which is to explain to you that…" he exhaled, heaving another air before continuing. "You are the only wife I have."
His words suddenly cascaded through her heart, giving tickle caresses that sprouted pleasing effects within. Her lips curved a little, eyes starting to soften, however not that long as he spoke yet again.
"As if I can tell them that you had plastic surgery that's why your appearance changed. Think logically, will they believe such obvious deceit? The media showed our wedding, and most of my associates came. They already know who you are."
"Crap you!" she ranted, face reddened in another level of anger. I thought you care about me, but you are so stupid you only care for yourself. "You despicable jerk." She forced the door close, never caring if he got hurt.
"W-wait…I'll do everything, anything you want." He struggled, holding the little space before the door close.
Kahoko stopped, eyes bored. "Fine, go inside." She sighed in resignation. She could sense he would not leave her until she agreed to him.
With a bare nod, Len walked inside, looking around in wonder.
"Sorry, it's not as big as your mansion, Tsukimori-san."
His brow twitched hearing his surname instead of his name. Somehow, he felt very irritated. He never felt this before—that confused him. He was fond of people calling him by his surname; as he never allowed anyone to call him by name except, of course, his family but other than that no one else. Why did he feel irked? He wanted her to call him like before. It pleases him, confuses him in some way, but the pleasure overwhelmed the latter.
Pushing the thought out of his head, Len talked. "Kaho—"
"Hino."
"Huh?"
"Do I need to repeat myself?" she asked, voice adorned with sarcasm he usually used before.
Len frowned. "Yes Hino, sorry for being forward. What could I do to make you return to me?"
"I need to decide."
"Shall I wait?"
"You have a choice." She turned around, walking towards the living room as though ushering him. "If you will wait, you need to convince me."
"How?"
"Like you said…you'll do anything I want. The more compliant you are the better. Now go to work." She flashed a sly smile.
"What do you mean." It was a statement. Him, Tsukimori Len, the co-owner of Seiso and the chief executive officer of a music company, doing a job of a house cleaner? Who is she?
Unfortunately, she is his wife. Somehow, he could not say no to her. He wanted her to return, not just for his own sake yet what more? The answer was still unknown to him.
"Won't do? You're free to leave."
"I will, what's your first order."
Kahoko paused, eyes training towards his determined form. She did not expect this to happen. Visualizing her thought, she knew he would reject, give up and leave her alone, but the reality did the opposite. "C-clean the house."
Len examined the place. It doesn't seem difficult. Ease reverberated out of him.
Attempting to make him quit by his own will, Kahoko cleared her throat. "Oops, the storage room my dear."
He nodded. "Ok then."
~NeKo Meow~
What's wrong with him? Kahoko slapped her forehead, walking towards the storage room. She left him there alone for a half hour; she considered it enough for him to finish everything. She paused, looking at the man sitting on the floor. "What are you doing?" Great, is he going to give up now? She silently cheered.
"I'm already finished. I'm just organizing some of the things when I saw this box. I believe it's yours."
"Ye—" she gulped, paling a bit as she noticed what he held.
"And this." Len muttered, holding a certain picture in his right hand.
Kahoko hurriedly knelt before him, snatching the said picture. "It's all in the past."
"Is he…" Len thinned his lips, gulping as his eyes examined her feature. Her lively golden eyes turned dull, a line of sadness lingered on it as she, as well, pursed her lips to what Len could tell as preventing the quivering of her lips.
"Past is past, Tsukimori-san."
Knowing she would not tell anything more, Len diverted the topic. Bringing another topic to talk, he got another picture. "You're a musician…violinist rather."
W-will he be the same? Kahoko looked at him in response. Will he leave me after this contract end?
"Hino." Len muttered, louder than the first.
Golden eyes glanced, startled.
"You're a violinist right?" he repeated, worry thumping over his chest.
Kahoko nodded shyly, uncertain what to reply.
"You won many completions…quite unexpected."
"But it was a long time now."
"Where's your violin?" Len asked, curious.
A pause echoed before she replied. "I-I sold it for our business before."
"Do you want to play again?" Len would like to rephrase his words yet it moved unknowingly out of his lips. He sighed, waiting for her response.
She sat on the floor, occupying herself in digging her old stuffs. "I loved to… That's why I want to teach..." she exhaled. "I want to share with them the feelings brought by music."
Len stared back, amazement laced in every stare. He sighed, standing.
"Tsukimori-san."
"I need to use the bathroom." He gestured his hands.
Kahoko looked at him, chuckled after seeing his dusty face. "You really need to."
He glared, stopping her from laughing. Kahoko coughed, suppressing her mirth. "You can use the washing machine and the dryer there for your clothes. I'll get you some towel."
~NeKo Meow~
After a while, Kahoko strode down towards the bathroom. "Tsukimori-san." She muttered, telling the himthat she was there.
"Come in."
With his signal, Kahoko turned the knob. "Here's your to—" boiling blood crept on her cheeks, warming it in the process. Her feet struggled to spin around as she threw the towel in the nearby ledge. "Y-your towel is there." She stuttered, shutting the door close.
Did she take long getting him a towel? Kahoko sighed face still hot. His vision remained intact in her insane mind; more blush crept out of her face. Kahoko…Kahoko, get a hold of yourself! She walked, trying, with all her might, to forget him— his silky cerulean hair brushing his pale cheek, globules of water caressing his toned muscles…his chest…
Kahoko paused, how she thanked that the tub was rather deep, if not…. She slapped her head once more.
"Hino."
Get out…get out. Busy with her stupor she did not notice the center of her crazy thoughts. She spun around. "Wh—" she gasped, face met chest. "Wah!" she jumped backward, distancing as her finger accusingly pointing at him. "Do you still have some decency in you?"
"I'm just going to ask you." he looked away, could not able to mutter his intent.
Kahoko tried to avoid him. "Wha—" for the second time, she paused. Silly me. "Oh! I-I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you how to operate the washing machine." She forcefully laughed, avoiding the sight of him, wrapped only in a towel. Creep, I might be jailed any time soon. Great, I am a big bad wolf. She mentally whacked her head with the thought.
~NeKo Meow~
Kahoko went straight to the living room after telling him what to do. She did not have any plan of staying there longer. She had held her breathe enough, her face too flush, she did not know if it could get any more redder. She sighed, deep, relaxing herself on the couch.
After about half an hour, Len strode towards the living room, talking to announce his presence. "I'm finish."
Startled, Kahoko literally fell from the couch. "Y-Yeah." She chuckled, rubbing her back. Aw, that hurts.
"Are you all right?" before he could go any nearer, Kahoko stood up, waving her hand to say she was fine. Len nodded.
"You can cook lunch now."
"Cook?"
Realization popped in her head. Her forgotten-plan earlier ascended once more. Give up now. Somehow, thinking that he might give up squeezed her heart, painful enough to make her wince.
"I will try."
It was music to her ears. His voice rolled around, assurance graced in ever words. Her mind divided into two, was she really would be glad if he give up or was she more expecting that he do whatever would please her?
The latter part overpowered the first. This is not a real marriage. Nevertheless, at least this moment, I wanted to feel it. You…and I…together like a couple, building our little home. She smiled. "I'll be waiting."
~NeKo Meow~
"Why don't you eat your food?" Len asked, frowning.
Kahoko scowled at their food "I-I-it..." she looked at Len yet what she saw was the same frown on his face. She grunted. "It doesn't look edible." She poked the weird-looking food.
"Well, sorry I'm not a cook. You told me to cook, so it's your fault."
"That's why I told you to cook some sunny side-up, but this looks like sunny side-down." Geez, fried egg for lunch
"It does not taste that bad." Len tried some. It could be disturbing on the outside, yet it wasn't bad at all if eaten.
"After for umpteenth times of cooking eggs, Sheesh. You still don't get i—"
"Just eat." Len huffed, shoving the chopstick towards her mouth.
Indirect kiss. Kahoko flushed yet again.
"So?"
"So what?" she stammered.
"Is it ok?"
"Well…" It's not bad at all. "It's fine."
"Fine?"
"Yes fine." She chuckled afterwards, finding his reaction a little cuter for him. "Ok, it's not bad at all. However, you still have a long way to go."
Len nodded his head, he might not express it, yet Kahoko noticed the sparkle in his eyes. Was that contentment? She smiled.
"Why are you smiling? Eat your lunch."
Kahoko remained her smile. "Can you feed me?"
"What?"
"Please."
Resisting was far from his thought. He nodded his head in agreement. "Fine."
"Yay" she clapped her hand.
"You're like a kid you know. Very childish."
"I don't care. Ah." She gestured.
~NeKo Meow~
"Thank you, Tsukimori-san."
"Hn." Was his reply as he organized their plates.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, what else do we do after eating. Hn, Hino?"
"I know, but I did not order you to."
Len grunted. "You don't need to tell me. I know what to do."
She pouted. "Fine."
He nodded his head, brought the plates to the kitchen to wash it.
You're so weird. Kahoko whispered, following him.
She stopped, leaned her head at the side dividing the kitchen and the dining. Her thoughts flew away. Will you stay longer? She sighed. What am I thinking? Isn't the plan making you give up and leave me alone. Not to bother me anymore…isn't it supposed to be that way…that is why I am giving you tasks that I know you are not used to.
She stepped forward, removing the expanse between them. Why do I feel afraid if that time comes?
"Kah—Hino." Startled, Len almost drop the plate.
Putting it down on the sink, he brought his hand on hers. Kahoko snuggled closer, tightening her embrace behind. "Hino…if you don't mind, I'm washing the dishes. I can't move."
He heard a light cuss from her. Len grunted, sensing the mood of the woman.
"You're not just a jerk, you're dense as well." She stomped away.
What did I do? Len thought.
~NeKo Meow~
"Hino, are you awake?" Len muttered behind the door. He had been knocking for quite a while now, yet the said woman did not want to open her door. Len grunted, thinking that she was sleeping.
Minutes later, Kahoko went out of her room, walking towards the living room. "Tsuki—" Did he left? She increased her walking up to the point of jogging to the dining. No one was there.
She went to the kitchen. The place looked quiet, plates organized on the side, and sink cleaned. Her heart thumped loudly, she inhaled, walking once more to the other part of the house, yet she found no one. Did he leave? Kahoko sat on the couch, gloomy. He left… he left me. He quit… he could not take me. She closed her eyes, tightly, to prevent her tears to flow down. "Why did you leave me?"
"Hino?"
She lifted her gaze shock hurriedly flooded her expression. "W-Where have you been?" she jogged towards him.
"Do I have to say everything to you?"
She pouted.
"Are you crying?"
"N-No…" she looked away, stammering.
"I went home to get my things and bought some groceries. Why?"
"W-What do you mean your things?"
"Aren't I'm here to convince you? I'm staying until you said yes."
She nodded, smile curving on her lips. "You'll stay."
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