The Melancholy Schmaltz

•••

CHAPTER NINETEEN: WHAT HE WANTED

•••

Kahoko entered her apartment. She's tried and she needed rest. She turned her head in attempt to turn the lights on, but the lights got turned on. Kahoko held her breathe.

"How was your flight?"

It was Len.

Kahoko looked down and closed her eyes.

"You got me there." She shook her head.

"Are you watching ghost movies lately?" He neared her to help her with her luggages.

"I have not watched any lately." She smiled as she closed the door. "How did you know I was coming home today?"

"I asked Kanazawa." He dragged her suitcase near her center table. "He told me that you decided to stay in Germany for one week so he went home ahead of you."

"Oh, I see."

"So what did you do there?" He curiously asked.

Kahoko fidgeted. She then went to the kitchen. "I…uhm, shopped. I toured the place. I never knew Germany was that beautiful."

"Did you eat dinner already?"

"No, I didn't." She drank water.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I'll just cook." She went back to the kitchen to check her refrigerator. "I just remembered. I haven't done any grocery."

"Let's just eat outside then." Len leaned on the table.

"Uhm, how about we'll just call for a delivery?" She closed the fridge's door and walked her way to him.

He looked at her. He knew she was tried and perhaps preferred to stay home and rest. He just nodded. "I'll call for one." He went out to get the phone.

Kahoko went to her room and opened her luggages. When she opened her red suitcase, she saw Yunoki's suite.

"He must have left this…" She mumbled. Suddenly, she heard Len's footsteps drawing closer. She closed her case and up packed the first ones which she had opened.

"I did not think that you would bring three suite cases when you are just supposed to stay there for a short time." He sat on her bed.

"I thought that we were staying there for quite sometime so I had to think safely." She forced a smile as she zipped her case which contained Yunoki's suite.

Twenty minutes later, the delivery guy knocked at the door. Len took their order and placed it on the table. Kahoko on the other hand set the table up.

"Kahoko," Len began.

Kahoko looked up to him. "Yes?"

Len looked down to his plate and blushed. "What do you think of marriage?"

Kahoko tilted her head. She did not think that his question was a big deal. It was just a question. "Marriage? What do you mean?"

"What is your say about being married?" Len's jaws tightened.

"Uh well, I think it is a nice thought. To have your own family, settle down…" She had a smile on her lips. "To have someone with you to share all your days, and create children with him who'll have both of your looks…" She then looked at Len. "Why did you ask?"

She then giggled. "Your cheeks are tainted."

"I was just asking. Nothing more." He closed his eyes and ate. 'Why do I feel pathetic?'

'It was just a question wasn't it?' Kahoko thought. 'It meant nothing. It was just a question.'

Len stood up and picked his plate up. Kahoko stood up.

"No Len. Let me do it instead." She took his plate and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. 'If it meant nothing… why am I so bothered about it?' The turned the faucet on. 'Len is not the type to talk about less serious things… Well, marriage is a serious subject. Uh, for me, it is. But for him, I barely have a clue.'

Len stayed in the living room. He sat on the sofa and stared at the table's centerpiece. He was pondering about her answer. He was wondering if he wants what she wanted. To be bound by the sacrament. He closed his eyes and gave a weak sigh. He then opened his eyes and smiled weakly.

"Uhm, Len, are you tired?" Kahoko asked.

He shook his head. "Kahoko, I want to tell you something."

"What is it?" She sat on the sofa opposite from where he sat.

"I will stop playing the violin."

"What?" She was shock. "Are you serious? Why?"

"I guess, its time for me to handle my family's business."

"But—but are you certain that you want to stop playing the violin?" She was very bothered.

"I didn't mean that I will no longer play the violin for good. I was saying that, I am determined to take my grandfather's offer. That is to handle the company. I will still play the violin whenever I wish though." He explained.

"May I ask why?"

He leaned forward. "There are things which I needed to be prepared for. But before that, I would like to hear what you think about this decision of mine?"

Kahoko lowered her gaze from him. "You want to hear what I think?" She rubbed her hands.

"I am asking if you are in favor of what I am planning."

"Len, you know, I am just your girlfriend and I cannot stop you if you want something done for yourself. I am just here to support you in anyway possible." She answered.

Len curled his brows. "I need your opinion."

"You are too great to stop playing the violin."

"But you are already in that field." He said.

"But me, compared to you… that's a shame."

"Kahoko, you're an amazing violinist. Don't compare yourself to me. From the very moment that I heard you play, I know you are extraordinary." He dislikes that sort of thinking from her. "So you are not in favor of me quitting then?"

"I don't get why you have to stop. I thought you like music so much?"

"Music is my life, but I think I found something else which I wanted to take with me for life. Kahoko… I want a life with you." He stood up and sat beside her. Kahoko looked at him, dumbfounded.

"What are you talking about?"

"Forgive me, I am not good in this sort of thing… but I mean it. I want to have a life with you. I want to finally settle down. I want you to be the mother of my children. And I want to be the father who'll provide everything that my family would need." He took her hand.

"I don't know why I have to explain myself too far… I wonder if it really works like this but," He took something out of his pocket. "Will you marry me?" He opened the small box. It contained a ring, a simple yet elegant ring.

"Len… why? Are you serious? I—I…"

"I did not plan on asking you this way. I wanted something memorable but I don't know how. But here I am now, asking you in such a not-romantic way." He weakly smiled.

"I don't know what to say." Her eyes misted.

"You don't have to say anything." He placed the box on her hand.

"You don't understand. I don't know if—if I am ready to get married." She shook her head. She felt guilty. He did not know that she was betraying him and yet here he was, asking her to marriage. But she had to say that she wasn't ready yet because of the guy who moved her. Yunoki Azuma. Her feelings of guilt got worst.

"I am not forcing you, nor am I hurrying you. I understand. I am willing to wait." He looked at her in the eyes but she wouldn't look at him the way he was looking at her. She was afraid that if she would, he would know that she betrayed him. "Wear it when you are ready to answer me."

Len held her hand. "I better get going. You are tired and you need to rest." He then made his way out of the door.

Kahoko stared at the box. The ring… it was beautiful, and being proposed to marriage, is what every girl dreams. But how some she is not happy? She covered her mouth and started crying.

"I am sorry…" She whispered. "Sorry Len…"

•

"Mister Yunoki, the board is waiting now." Yunoki's assistant said.
"Okay, I'll be there." He stood up from his chair and went out of his office. "By the way, could you book me a flight to Japan?"

"Sir?" She tilted her head. "Can I ask why sir?"

He smiled. "I just need to do something back home. Please book me a flight for tonight."

"Oh…okay then sir." She nodded.

'How annoying.' Yunoki thought to himself.

While the board meeting was going on, Yunoki was hardly listening to the reports. He was pondering to the conversation that he and Kahoko had last week.

•••FLASH BACK•••

He was reviewing some papers, when his phone rang.

"Yunoki Azuma, speaking." He politely said.

"Azuma…"

It was Kahoko.

"Kahoko? Did you miss me already?" He smirked, but then he heard her sob. He straightened himself. "Are you crying?"

"He…He proposed to me."

"What?" His face soured. "And what did you say? Don't tell me you—"

"I didn't!"

"So why are you weeping? It's as if he died." He leaned back to his seat.

"Ugh! I hope I did not call you." she sobbed.

"And what is your problem with that? You just told him that you don't want to marry him. At least you did not hurt him much by not telling him that you wanted to be with me."

"I am not joking! I did not actually say 'no'. I just said that I am not ready yet and he told me that he's willing to wait. You cannot just joke about this. This is a serious matter."

Yunoki paused. He was pondering about what she said.

"Do you realize the situation that I am into?"

"You are torn between two lovers." He snorted.

"Your sarcasm wouldn't help. If you are just the Yunoki-senpai that I used to know, you would advice me something sensible."

"Kahoko, someday, you will have to choose. You cannot marry the two of us?" He waited to her response but she did not say anything. She just sighed. "If I am to be the senpai that you used to know… I would ask you…Who do you really love? But if you ask me, the Yunoki now, my other side… I would tell you: Why do you have to marry me when I can feel that you love me more?"

•••END•••

'And she has to choose. No matter how hard this is.' Yunoki thought.

"Do you have any comments Mister Azuma?" One of his board members asked.

He looked up and smiled. "Good job, you made an increase. Our rate is wonderful."

"Thank you Sir." He nodded.

•

Len played his violin. He has just finished talking to his grandfather and had accepted his offer. He will be the upcoming vice-president of the company for the mean time but after knowing what he had to know, he will eventually be the company's President.

"You had graduated in Business Management and you are brilliant. You can handle it. Are you really sure you don't want to be the CEO right away?" His grandfather asked.

"Not too soon, I still have to know things." he said.

Len placed his violin down. "But as soon as I will become the President, I will beat Yunoki Azuma out." He swore to himself.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank goodness! I finally have updated! I hope you enjoyed it. But I am in need of your comments. I am really open for criticism. :D