/ Lots happen in this chapter.
Chapter 21: Stranger
/
Two weeks later.
"It took ages to persuade Shigure to tell Akito about our gardening plans. The good news is that she agreed without hesitation. Apparently she's happy that you are so 'gullible' and finally making yourself useful." He says the last sentence with a look of distain. Akito is so cruel.
"Yay!" I cry, grabbing onto his arm and doing a silly little dance beside him. "When do we start? And would it be suspicious if we went there every weekend?"
He smiles down at his wanton Tohru and her sense of urgency. "We can probably start whenever, as long as we tell her ahead of time. The goal is that eventually she won't even care. And yes, Tohru, that will be suspicious. We'll probably go there once a month until she forgets about it. Then we'll go there more frequently."
"Does that mean we won't be able to… you know."
"Yeah, unfortunately. Her house is right next to mine and she can see the comings and goings. She's also up at all hours, like an insomniac. And Shigure is at the house most of the time, on the first floor too, and from his drunken stupor last time, we know that he is very good at eavesdropping."
"Ah, I remember. But what about if I – " Her words trail off softly.
"What, Tohru?" He invites, tenderly. Her shyness is emanating from her small body and he wants her to feel at ease around him.
"Miss you?"
Oh yes. He has the same question. He ruminates for some time before coming up with a solution.
"How about I pick you up from work on the days that you aren't burnt-out and we can do something fun?"
"Really? It won't be a burden?"
"Of course not." I care for you. I want you to be happy.
/
Hatori's walking past storefronts in the city. Since he's been with Tohru, he's noticing the things outside of his dreary existence. There is a vibrant life outside of the Sohma Estates. It's like she's unlocked the barbed-wire cage of his senses and emotions.
Right now, he can smell the warm griddled red bean cakes from the street carts. And out of impulse, he buys a few to snack on.
He passes by a bookstore and sees a familiar book poster in the window display. It isn't a medical book. It's something that brings a smirk to his placid face.
It's the sequel to Tohru's "smutty" novel that he'd found on the coffee table weeks ago. He recognizes the "arty" fusing of two bodies, and the spidery font of the title. He goes into the bookstore to find the book. He's thinking about buying it for Tohru as a little joke gift. He can't wait to see her blushing reaction.
Hatori expects to see it on one of the front tables, but he can't find it, and he isn't about to ask the clerk where to find it, lest he be on the receiving end of the strange remarks and shocked looks. He roams up and down the aisles until the spots the "romance" section. At the end of the aisle there is a small table of the latest bestsellers and it's there. As he's walking toward the checkout counter, he has a déjà vu moment. In the coffee shop across the street he spots someone.
Her hair is longer, but her profile is unforgettable.
It makes his heart patter like heavy rain on a roof. He pays for the book and steps out onto the sidewalk. She's sipping on a drink – iced green tea, her favorite. A flood of memories assail him. He doesn't want this. It feels like the scab that's formed over his wound is ripped off. There were all those times right after their breakup that he mistaken some girl for her.
And he'd been by the coffee shop countless times. If only to see her beautiful, bright face.
Why is it for real now?
His feet drag him over to the other side of the street, his eyes never straying from her. She's bundled in an oversized beige pullover despite the summer heat, and she's crying.
Why?
Isn't her life supposed to be joyous? Shouldn't she be raising a beautiful baby by now? Last time he heard she was getting along beautifully with her handsome, successful husband and had finally succeeded in her goal: becoming a OB/GYN doctor. They had bought a home in the country.
Old habits die hard.
He has to know.
The truth.
What he lost.
/
He steps into the coffee shop and buys a small iced green tea before finding a seat next to her. Luckily the shop is packed so he has an excuse to get close to her.
"Is this seat taken?" He asks.
"No," she says, giving him a cheery smile after she tries to wipe at her tear-stained cheeks. But anyone can tell that she's been crying for some time now, if they look close enough. And especially if they know her this well.
She's as breathtakingly beautiful as the day he met her. Her inquisitive, warm coffee-hued eyes that look as if they are piercing his soul. Her flushed cheeks when she's nervous.
Not sure how to broach the subject, he mentions that the shop has the best iced green tea. She agrees. She recommends pomegranate green tea if he wants to "spice" things up. He's not so good with small talk. And the faster he can satisfy his curiosity, the faster he can leave and disassociate himself from this.
"What's wrong?" He asks softly.
She chuckles lightly. "The open-up-to-a-stranger-to-make-you-feel-better tactic, hmm-mmm?"
It's still her. She's could always laugh off the pain, never wanting to burden the people around her.
"Yes. I'm a sucker for grief."
The twinkle in her eyes returns as she smiles at his comment.
"Alright, you asked for it. All the gory details of my broken heart. Don't say I didn't warn you." She takes a deep, anxious breath.
"Two weeks ago, my husband had a one-night-stand with his co-worker on a business trip. He called me the next day, telling me what he'd done and promising that it would never happen. I want to believe him. It sounded like he was in near tears. I've always given people the benefit of the doubt, but I just feel so insecure. I saw a picture of her in a company photo and she's gorgeous, and I know he's not that shallow. But she's probably really smart and witty too. There's no way that after what happened between them, it can just be platonic. It's gonna be there – that spark. He wants my forgiveness, but I'm not sure I can give it so easily."
"Have you doubted him before?"
"No. He's been great, faithful for four years. We were going to – nevermind, it'd be cruel to tell you all the details."
"No, do tell."
"Try for a baby."
Hatori's fists are clenched tightly under the table. He can't believe it. He loses her to some unfaithful bastard? If he was Shigure, hell was going to break loose.
There's no doubt: she's always going to be part of him.
His first love.
It's nearly two hours later that she finally tells him that she has to go.
"It's been nice talking with you. I haven't openly told anyone yet, so… thanks a lot. Maybe I'll see you around, my stranger therapist?"
He nods.
She adds, "This is going to sound weird, but do I know you from somewhere? I feel like I—"
"Probably confusing me with someone else. I have a pretty ordinary face," he cuts her off with a lighthearted grin. But inside he is nothing from lighthearted. He feels like he's being dragged in a thousand different directions. And his last sentence... he's far from ordinary. Except he's never acknowledged it.
Is this what he's wanted all along?
Another chance.
/
It's past eleven and Hatori still hasn't called or texted me back. When he misses his calls, he always gets back to me at his nightly check. I feel a bit antsy. But it's too late to go over and check up on him. And I can't exactly ask anyone because it will rouse suspicion.
/
Sorry, T. I was busy tonight. Pick u up at 7 tomorrow?
/
A/N: 2.26.2013 - What are your thoughts?
Mcangel1976: Creeper eyes… hmmm…Thanks for the review! U no like Shigure?
Devilwoman18: I like the name Beatrice – it's old, but there's something about it that I like. And nickname Bee, how cute! I like you name too!
Tsukiakage: Thanks for the review, girl! Always love your support. We shall wait and see to find out who was being a voyeur…
Phenylephrine: Hehe, those will come into play later. His overly protective love turns into something more… hmmm… jealousy abound!
Mackenziejen: Oooo, go away Akito! Haha.
Momma Faraday: Thanks for your review for WIWU. I'm so happy to be in your favs list! Keep reading and reviewing dear!