Hey guys! I know it's unprecedented but I got inspired to at least get a chapter up of this story when some of you messaged me. I really felt the support and adoration you have for me and my stories and I thought a chapter update is the least I could do to give back to you. I don't promise to update often but I will, as long as I can. I scoured my mind for acceptable ideas and words and here I am, presenting them to you as gratitude.

So please, enjoy. Until next time.

~Light Eclairs

There was nothing else that she could think about aside from that kiss. It burned into her mind like a decade-old scar, searing with intensity the passion that should have been. If it weren't for her arm, which was a fresh product of her husband's affiliation—or lack thereof—with power-hungry companies, they most probably would have…

"Stop! Oh my god, Miyu!" her own thoughts scolded her, pushing back the lingering ideas of a much more intimate nature. And although if they did, she should have found nothing wrong as they have been bounded by a legal statement for a couple of months now. Even so, a part of her contemplated on the propriety of such an act, as heightened by the fact that they are in a situation in which care, or love for that matter, sparked their relationship—or agreement, whatever they have right now.

In the midst of her self-debate, the figure beside her on the bed stirred and turned to face her, causing her to gasp in surprise. She looked at him, or rather, stared, not believing how stern and tense his face was even in sleep. She knew he needed to grow up quickly and she knew how he hated being how he is right now. And her heart ached for him.

She did not get enough sleep and at that time, she felt the bed's soft comforters hug her and coax her to dreamland. She held back a yawn but was unsuccessful. Kanata slowly opened his eyes, catching her mid-yawn. She stopped, mouth agape and hand in front of it.

"What the hell are you doing?" he whispered, sounding dense and clear at the same time.

Miyu covered her mouth and stifled a laugh. "That was embarrassing."

"It isn't. It's natural. It's beautiful."

She couldn't keep herself from staring at his lips. They were thin and slightly flicked at the ends, fascinating though austere. She kept on staring, watching and memorizing the details, the way his lower lip mildly shone even without gloss, the way they rested perfectly on his face, complementing every single feature it has.

And the moment the ends slowly moved upwards in a smile, she knew she got caught.

She looked back at his eyes to find hints of amusement and cheer in them, something that were rare but pure.

"It's not what you think. I just…" she struggled for words

He leaned and kissed her.

Two seconds

Three

And then she kissed back, overcoming her shock. Her heart heaved and warmed up at their contact. She thought about this all night, sacrificing sweet hours of sleep just thinking about this very moment. She couldn't think straight. All she knows is that her lips were touching his, making him feel that she

…loved him.

She pulled back abruptly, planting confusion on Kanata's face. The room suddenly felt cold and uncomfortable around her and her wound felt like a gash of hot lava. She felt hot and cold at the same time, not understanding why.

She didn't love him. But why is she reciprocating all the kisses? Her mind raced with explanations, logical answers that could explain why such thing is happening to her. Kanata sensed her changed mood and shifted in bed, now resting his arm on it, propping himself up.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"Nothing. I just needed air. I'm sorry." She replied, letting out a forced smile. "I didn't get much sleep…" she continued, feeling the air turn damp and awkward.

Kanata nodded, fell back on the bed adjusted his pillow. Miyu followed suit. She mentally cursed herself for her unfiltered thinking process. While she knew that there was a genuine emotion that pulses through her veins when they kiss, she also knew that the possibility for them to be…something was low. It was uncanny. She couldn't.

No, she just doesn't understand herself. And she's afraid she won't ever be able to reconcile this idea to what she actually is experiencing right now. He's there. Kanata. A new hope for her shattered heart. But she doesn't think she can let it happen. Besides, they couldn't. There was that damn agreement. They were basically trophy spouses to show off to their parents, convincing them to not marry them off to others. It's counterintuitive but it's the best they've got, and they both consented. They would leave each other soon after. And there lies the problem.

She can't fall in love with a man who she knows has an expiration date. Same goes for him. Staying married is, well…

It felt fake. And although it is, staying married gives them a shortcut. And it didn't feel right to her.

She turned her back from Kanata, forgetting that her arm would take all her weight. Letting out a pained gasp, she shifted back to face him, cursing and then biting her lip.

"I'm okay, I'm okay." She chanted, wanting to assure him of her condition. He smiled and inched closer to her, resting his chin on her head.

"Good night, Miyu." He whispered as he snaked an arm around her waist, locking her in an embrace.

"Good night." She choked. "Kanata."

At that, Miyu let it consume her, her developing feelings for the man that would be leaving her in a few months.

And she can't have that again.

0

Kanata drove haphazardly. He nearly nicked a pedestrian, earning him a few, hard curses as he drove off. He couldn't contain himself and needed to release the stress he recently acquired from that damn phone call. His father could be quite annoying at times but he was sure as hell this was the first time he genuinely felt the raging urge to shout back at him and be excruciatingly angry.

"You have to do this, Kanata. There's no way this is not going to happen. You're smart enough to understand why this has to be done, son. I know you do."

He did know, and he did understand. But he didn't understand how his father let such thing happen. He didn't understand that his father was capable of doing something of that caliber and he didn't want to. All his life he looked up to him, praising him for his work ethics, for his skills, capabilities. Hosho Saionji was a man of principle and honor, and Kanata have seen that and believed in it.

So why his father was shoulders-deep in debt and financial discrepancies puzzled him.

"I don't understand why you needed to do that!"

Fifteen million in debt. To be erased by a merger. A merger that will be symbolized by the union of two families. Classic tradition. But he will have none of it. Or so he'll try to.

"I am deeply sorry, my son. Help your old man here."

"No. You brought this upon yourself. You keep me out of this!"

"Kanata, please. If this was the last thing I'll ask from you."

He never did ask much. Talking to Kanata would all be about praises and genuine concern, asking about him, how he was doing, how his son's latest stock growth surpassed his during his time, and the occasional and traditional annoying father jokes. It had always been about his son's well-being. He seldom asked for favors. But now Kanata wished he should have asked a whole lot more, instead of one, big, slap to the face.

But he wasn't angry at his dad's proposal. He was angry at the fact that the only reason for him wanting his son to do his wishes is that he got careless and stupid. Kanata couldn't accept the fact that his father made a huge failure because if he did, he knew he will let himself fail too, causing them both indescribable damage. And he didn't want that. He didn't want his father to appear pathetic and small.

"Masatsu-san is willing to wait a year for you, Kanata. He believes you're the only one fit for his daughter. And Kanata, come on. Weren't you friends with Akira? I know for a fact that you liked her years ago. Heck, Kanata, the Kijyou family have been our closest friends!"

"I'm fucking married!"

In a way, he was. Legally. On paper. But not…emotionally. He did felt something for Miyu but even he was not sure if he was capable of feeling such a thing. To say he loves Miyu was tricking them both, a possible lie that could destroy her heart further. It was stupid of him to actually go overboard and kiss her, and he knew that.

He avoided her since that night. He felt her hesitation, her questioning look, her confusion. He knew that it was too soon for her to share a romantic bond with another man. But damn, he can't help it. There was solace and peach with her around.

But he wasn't sure if it was well, love…

"I know, Kanata. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. In any other situation, I would have been jubilant to learn of it. And I would have the greatest pleasure of meeting her. But...it isn't so. And, son I truly apologize but…I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to divorce her."

Goddamn it. Damn it to hell. It was too soon.

"For your old man. I beg you."

"You're sick."

He didn't want to hang up at that but there was a rising force in his chest that could prove damaging if he kept on talking.

0

Grocery shopping had always been therapeutic for Miyu. She had a very quirky habit of choosing vegetables and fruits by color. She would go for the red ones first, then green, then yellow, then all the others. It stemmed from her mom's habit. She loved picking fruits and vegetables by color as well, but maybe it was because of Miyu. When she was a child, her mom would teach her the colors of the vegetables and the vitamins that would go with them. Pumpkin can help your eyes, she would say. But pumpkin was Miyu's least favorite vegetable.

She smiled at the thought. She missed her mom.

The selects looked very fresh today, she thought as she picked a pack of red bell peppers. Normally the maids would cook but Miyu insisted she does her part around the house too, and well, because the food prepared everyday was too fancy for her taste. She was told she could request for whatever she'd like to eat but she was too shy to do so. And then she volunteered to do the groceries as the very least she could do for them.

Part of the course for tonight was pumpkin and spinach quiche. She scrunched her face in disgust. She would eat it, because it would be prepared by very good people, but would not enjoy it. The only consolation for her was that they agreed for her to do smoked vinegared salmon and a couple of pints of miso soup.

Looking at her cart, she noticed that she only lacked pumpkin. She looked around to see that the only pumpkin in her sight was a few meters away. Determined to procure the lone pumpkin, she brisk walked her way to oblivion. As she extended a slender hand to get it, another, cardigan clad one reached out before her.

She looked up to the owner of the hand and was greeted by the most serene but graceful set of facial features she had ever seen. The rosy white face was framed by black hair that flowed down to the woman's waist, almost like hers but infinitely better and smoother looking and tucked plainly behind.

"Oh, I'm sorry, were you supposed to also get it?" the woman cooed in a cool and soothing tone as though. There was also a tone of authority and self-reassurance that Miyu found very mesmerizing. The woman was clad in a dark green dress that fell just above her knees and from the shoulder, she was covered in a peach cardigan that accentuated her slender form. Miyu could have fallen in love.

"No...no. It's okay, I'll just use gourd. You can have it. It's alright." Miyu stammered.

"Ah, it's okay. I was just going to substitute it with a certain dish but it's perfectly fine without it." She answered, putting the pumpkin in Miyu's cart. She smiled at Miyu and took a pack of potatoes just beside them.

"T-Thank you." Miyu called out. "You're very pretty." She involuntarily spoke out.

The woman laughed and put her hand to her chest. "Oh my. That's too nice of you. Thank you." She said, and reached out to Miyu's hand, holding it softly. "You are too."

Miyu was unable to reply as the woman made its way at the next aisle and table, smiling at her. Letting out a deep breath, Miyu stared at the pumpkin and whispered to it. "You freaking idiot."

Her shopping went on undisturbed right after. Passing by a cart of fresh leeks, she got an extra bunch of stalks and proceeded to the check out counter. While waiting in line, she noticed that her purse was slightly open. Unconsciously, she reached inside, forced by some unknown instinct to just stick her hand inside. As her hand grasped for something, panic slowly crept in when she started to realize that something was missing.

Cold sweat started to form on her temples and her heart fell in a massive heap of terror and impending despair. "I got mugged." She whispered. Losing to the world, she backed away from the line, as the tears started to well up in her eyes. Doing so, she hit a person behind her, the yelp of whom brought her back to reality. She turned around and saw the same woman who generously handed her the lone pumpkin.

"I'm so sorry." She choked on her voice.

"It's alright. I'm okay." She answered, quick to reassure her. The woman stooped down and glanced at Miyu. "Are you?"

She held back her tears and tried not to sob as she shook her head, determined not to show the lady that she wasn't alright.

"I got mugged." She said involuntarily, cursing herself for being so stupid. The woman surely heard him.

The woman gasped and held Miyu's arms, taking her away from the line and back at the stacks of candy wafers just beside them. "Oh god. Do you have extra cash?"

Miyu shook her head and waved her arms at the lady, trying to break free. "No, but I'll be okay. I'll just have to call my husband." She said, fearing what Kanata, who had gone distant to her for the past days, would say and do.

"No, it's alright. I'll pay for your things for now."

"No, please. You don't have to."

"I insist." She said in a tone that Miyu was sure would not allow anything otherwise. "Come on."

And she did. She paid of her and Miyu's grocery.

And the food they ate afterward.

"I'm so sorry about this." Miyu told her over a plate of pesto pasta. She was so upset that she let the woman take her anywhere.

The woman shook her head to reassure her once again. "You'll pay right?"

Miyu nodded at once and made all the necessary promises to her. She laughed.

"I'm just kidding." She took a huge bite out of the clubhouse sandwich she was eating, sending a chunk down for it did not fit her mouth. "Whoops! Sorry!" she laughed again, her voice sounding like bells in the morning. Amidst the despair Miyu was feeling, she could not help but smile. This woman, all the class and jewelries and money in the world with her, making a fool out of herself while eating a sandwich. It made her more human to Miyu.

"I'm half-kidding. I'm rich as hell. I don't even know what to do with my money." And there it is, that laugh. "I'm joking. I'm just trying to cheer you up." And there it is too, that smile.

"I think you aren't kidding. You do look rich." Miyu answered.

The woman nodded. "Heard of Kijyou?"

"Uh, yeah. I think they're the family behind Archwell…um, I'm not familiar with the name. But they're in IT and outsourcing and furnitures, I think?" Miyu answered.

"Yep. Close." She smiled, munching on her sandwich. "I'm the only daughter."

"Your'e kidding me." Miyu gasped.

"No. I wish I was, though." She said, extending out a hand towards Miyu.

Miyu blinked.

"My name's Kijyou Akira."