CHAPTER TWELVE
The Decision
There was a moment of eerie stillness in the room. It was a bright, beautiful morning, but what Yumi had felt was a hellacious war between her mind and soul. She was not ready to tell her yet. She heard Sachiko called her, but she did not respond. "What's the matter, Yumi?"
Yumi nervously chuckled. "It was nothing, Onee-sama. I was just umm-" She scratched her head anxiously, examining her antsy feet. "It was just a joke." She gently smiled, looking back at the older girl. "I really don't like to see you cry. It breaks my heart, Onee-sama."
Sachiko smiled listlessly, showing Yumi that she believed her and it was okay. But, at the back of her mind, a jillion questions, thoughts, and doubts were altogether creeping into her head. She doubtlessly didn't believe her. She strongly felt that there was something that was kept hidden in Yumi's chest and she desperately wanted to know what.
The bright sky was now slowly becoming somber. Yumi said goodbye after lunch and it left Sachiko a depressing feeling of loneliness for the entire afternoon. She was grateful and glad, but miserably troubled at the same time. She could not clear out her mind from the perturbed expression of Yumi's face when she asked her about it. 'I am not who you think I am.' She reiterated it a million times over and over in her head. "What did she mean?" She was so engrossed in her musing that she did not discern someone entering her room.
"Of what, Sachiko?"
Sachiko was jolted out of her trance. She abruptly turned to where the voice was. "Father?" She faced her father and bowed for an apology. "I am sorry, father. I did not notice you coming." She said in a monotonous voice.
"It's alright, Sachiko." He stepped nearer into the light, showing his unblemished, matured face. They were stiffly standing at the dusky balcony, not looking at each other. "How are your studies?"
"I'm doing fine, father." It was the very first time he asked anything about school. "And you?" Sachiko took this out of the ordinary fortuity to speak with her father. It was a rare chance indeed seeing her father at home. He was most of the time away and was always….
"Busy." He smiled, looking at her alluringly beautiful daughter. "But good." He moved closer and gently touched Sachiko's neck, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "How are you and Suguru-kun? I heard you two are seeing each other again."
Sachiko sighed inwardly and furrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What is it exactly are you here for, father?"
The man chuckled at her daughter's hostility. "You look greatly like your mother, but you have the attitude of your grandfather. That's why you are his favorite, the heiress of the Ogasawara Empire."
Sachiko eyed him with a straight face, unamused of his mawkish tales. She shifted her side, facing the open garden.
"Sachiko," He called softly, gently tapping her shoulder. "Your grandfather had already arranged the wedding." He looked at her façade, saddened by her careless expression. "I-"
She ignored him. "When will be the ceremony?" Sachiko asked nonchalantly, making her father's words dead.
"Right after your high school graduation." He replied calmly. "Your grandfather wanted to see his great grandchildren rather too soon." He laughed dolefully and added, "He's not getting any younger and healthier, Sachiko."
Sachiko did not respond. There was a minute of silence. The man had decided to leave her daughter alone for a moment of peace, but just as he was about to turn around, Sachiko spoke.
"Does Kashiwagi-san already know about this, father?"
"Yes. He's been told." Her father forced a smile on his face. "Sachiko, please tell me what you're thinking."
"Does it matter, father?" She looked at the man intently in the eye with no emotions shown on her face. "It doesn't." She answered for her father before excusing herself. She slightly bowed and walked passed him, stepping out of her room.
"Gokigenyou, Yumi-sama!" I had just finished praying to the Blessed Virgin when I heard a cheery voice calling Yumi's name behind me. I heard Yumi greeted back with the same degree of liveliness. I turned to face her, my face stretched into a wide smile. Yumi waved her hand animatedly, smiling at me with enthusiasm. "Gokigenyou, Onee-sama!" Her smile widened if that would even be possible. I always loved that smile. I waited for her, watching her closely praying solemnly at the ivory statue. When she was done, she held my hand, and we walked silently together heading to the Rose Mansion.
Yumi opened the door for me; we were the first one to arrive in the room and it pleased me to have a lone time with her. We seated at our accustomed seating arrangement. She asked me if I would like to have a cup of tea with her, I said yes. She went to the small galley, preparing two cups of tea and after a while, she went straight to me, handing me the white porcelain cup. I thanked her with a smile, enjoying her clownish movements. She smiled at me gleefully when she accidentally shoved her cup, spattering dark fluids all over her uniform. I sighed inwardly. I stood at once to help her wash off the mess. At first, I had asked myself why she was always so lumpy like she was born all thumbs. I had never met anyone like her before. She was really one of a kind. In a good sense, that is. But I learned to love her and her exceptional personality overtime. It was her natural charm that enticed me to get to know her better. It was like an addiction I was so absorbed with. But sadly, for the past few months, she had somehow changed. Or was she really changed? I could not quite decipher what it was, really. It was not the silent treatment she was giving me or the shunning-away-moments; I was giving her so much worse. It was like I didn't know her at all. She was a completely different person, like a total stranger. I knew it sounded so absurd, but that was how I felt. That was what I saw in her. I swore, I never wanted to meet that type of Yumi ever again. Now, thankfully, she was back to her old self. Old self? What a foolish thing for me to say! I only met her half a year ago and I was still not sure if she was being real. I still didn't have a single clue about her life or basically anything about her at all. Well, I knew that her family name was Fukuzawa and that she had a brother and a mother who looked exactly like her. But beyond that, nothing. There was also one mysterious thing about her that kept me troubled. I felt it deep within my soul that there was something Yumi was hiding from me and or maybe from everybody else.
"Onee-sama?"
"Umm . . . O-Onee-sama?" Her strained voice snatched me out of my reverie. I was not sure how many times Yumi tried calling my attention, but the oddly concern look on her face told me that I was clearly out of my mind. I smiled apologetically at her, feeling embarrassed of zoning out when I was supposedly be helping her clean her uniform. It was then I could feel her shaking and flushing. I was so startled to see my hand on her chest; I could already feel her two soft fronts. It took me a lingering moment to lift my hand, just in time the door swung wide open.
"Gokigen . . ." Rei trailed off, looking horribly shocked. "Ah . . . Fo-forgive me fo-for interrupting." She stuttered drastically, closing back the door. I heard her mumbled something followed by a squeal, I guess it was from Yoshino.
I looked back at Yumi quizzically and there I realized Yumi and I were actually just a breath away with my left hand on her hip and the other . . . well, it was still on her chest. I forcibly with enormous effort to move my hand, but it seemed my hand had its own self. I unconsciously bit my lower lip, trying all my power and might to take control, but mind was as stubborn as my eyes. I later found myself staring at those beautiful hazel orbs. I was melted by the warmth of her gaze and the feeling of her chest. What I meant was the erotic beat of her heart.
"Onee-sama?" She called me, I automatically inhaled the sweet breath like I would essentially need it for survival. I forgot her call as I impulsively draw nearer to her, to where the sweet, cool breath came from. I was almost there when Yumi called me again. "O-Onee-sa-sama?"
AH! Could you imagine the frustration I felt at that moment? It was ridiculously unbearable! "What?" I snapped sharper than I intended. She couldn't blame me, I felt awfully discontented and very much unhappy.
Yumi was taken aback by my sudden mood change. She was petrified, I could clearly see it in her face. I sighed heavily and walked over to the table, leaving her behind, speechless and frozen. I grabbed my bag, briefly glancing at her. "We should go." I stepped towards the door when I was surprisingly grabbed by the arm, eliciting me to turn around and yelp, but my voice was caught by the perfect softness of her lips. I was beyond heaven. I closed my eyes, feeling the heat, the intensity, the passion, the love. Yumi loves me. I can feel it in her kiss. She loves me. And I loved her too, but . . . I broke off the kiss and looked at her with excruciating pain in my chest. "Yumi, I can't do this." I'm getting married. I wanted to tell her that, but I just couldn't, at least not yet. I was not ready to tell everyone, especially her. I opened the door and walked out the Rose Mansion. "I'm so sorry, Yumi."
to be continued
Scribbler's Note:
I decided to have another Sachiko's POV so you could fully understand how Sachiko is feeling at the moment. If you are confused, have wild reactions, be chill and ask me nicely. :) DON'T WORRY, guys! I would never abandon this story. I can't promise you faster updates, but I will do everything I can. Until next time! :)
