To my readers: Thank you so much for bearing with my silence for the past months. Things have been hectic at the hospital.
Thank you, viel for giving me encouragement to continue the story i have in my mind.
Thank you sheen for taking time to read and post comments. It's an honour.
CHAPTER 14
I never saw it coming, this disaster I was heading into.
The moment the speedboat landed on my island, I saw her. She was standing on the beach, wearing a long, blue sarong dress. I stole a glance at Tsukushi. She was wearing a mixed expression of confusion and apprehension. I smiled to myself and nuzzled my face in her hair. She almost jumped.
"I didn't invite her. I'm just as surprised as you to see her here."
Tsukushi turned around, blushing. "Oh..yes, a pleasant surprise."
I jumped off the boat, the warm water reaching my waist. "Come on, I'll carry you on my shoulder. You'll get your dress wet." Tsukushi slid off the edge and into my arms. I flipped her over my shoulder like a sack of rice before she could protest and laughed heartily all the way to the shore.
"I'll get you for this, Hanazawa! You better start running once you put me down!" Tsukushi was screaming, kicking, and squirming.
I smiled as I set her down. Tsukushi's face was beet red, her nostrils flaring, with hand fisted to her sides. "I love the way you squirm," I whispered languidly in her ear. Tsukushi was ready to strangle me when we became aware of 'her' presence.
"Hi Tsukushi." She embraced Tsukushi and smiled at her. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages." Before Tsukushi could answer, she had moved on to me. Standing on her toes, she embraced me and kissed me on the mouth. I looked at Tsukushi; her mouth was hanging open. I disentangled myself from her. "Rui," she said, her eyes searching mine. "I've missed you."
CHAPTER 15
Shizuka. I should have known.
Seeing Rui and Shizuka there, holding hands infront of me, with their eyes intent on one another, I felt like an intruder. How can I compete with someone such as her. She obviously came here because she wants Rui. There was a sudden heaviness in my heart that I could not comprehend.
Realizing that my mouth had gone dry because it was left hanging open, I forced a smile to my frozen lips. I saw Rui look at me with concern and reassurance.
Rui casually placed an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer. "Shizuka, what a pleasant surprise. Have the Mimiasakas arrived? I hope we haven't kept you waiting long. Please." He motioned for us to walk towards the patio. I discreetly turned to Rui with a puzzled look. He just smiled.
"Haven't seen them yet. I arrived around two hours before you," Shizuka replied, climbing the stairs infront of us. "The flight from New York was tiring. It was a good thing Elena helped me to a room. The weather's too balmy here."
Rui squeezed my shoulders subtly. "How do you find the cottage?"
The 'cottage' Rui was referring to was more like a private villa. Nestled on top of a hill that descended down to the beach, huge, circular, two- to three-storey cogon grass huts were interconnected by numerous glass-walled halls. Underneath these 'huts' were simulated bubbling brooks with cascading waterfalls following each tier of huts made out of black marble.
I had to smile, despite the situation. Rui still calls this a cottage. "It's unbelievably breathtaking."
"Good, I'm happy you liked it," he smiled boyishly, his dimple showing. "I'll tell you about this place once we've settled into our room." I raised an eyebrow at his emphasis.
"Excuse me," Shizuka said rather loudly, cutting our conversation. "My hut is over there. I guess I'll see you guys later for lunch?" She was smiling, but I had the feeling she was irate.
Rui answered instantly without taking his eyes off me. "Yes, yes of course. We'll ring you later."
"See you, Shizuka," I replied, waving off but she had already turned her back on us.
CHAPTER 16
If I had found the villa impressive, the interior was absolutely splendid. It was not so much as a hotel that I expected it to be. It had a lived-in look, comfy... Just like...
"Our cottage, Tsukushi." His arms crossed, Rui was leaning on the doorframe, intently observing my reaction.
Oh God, he remembered so well. Everything here reminded me of those weeks I lived with him in that cottage he rented. When I ran away from everything...from Tsukasa.
"It's beautiful, Rui. Thank you for bringing me here." I went over to the wooden balcony, admiring the view and taking in the salty breeze. "What a wonderful view."
He was facing me while he leaned back against the single driftwood branch that was the balcony. "You're beautiful." He lowered his face to mine; I closed my eyes. Not as beautiful as her.
I never thought humans could melt, but I certainly proved to myself that it wasn't impossible. I felt like butter on toast.
"Pardon me?" Rui's lips didn't touch mine.
I opened my eyes, perplexed. "What?" He was looking me as if I had lost my mind. "Huh?"
"You said 'not as beautiful as her'."
Oh, God. "I said that?" Heat from embarrassment was creeping up my neck. I leaned my back on the balcony.
Rui gave one of his rare smiles. Butter on toast again. "I didn't invite Shizuka, Tsukushi." He stood infront of me, his hands braced beside mine on the balcony. "But I know why she came here." Sighing, he placed his hands on mine. He was looking off into the azure horizon, the calm of the sea reflected in his eyes. "Shizuka is after me. Or rather my money if you could believe it."
"But why? Her family is one of the most prominent in Japan; their corporations are leading in the electronics and computer industries. She doesn't need money."
"You don't understand, Tsukushi. Everything that you are and all that you have now, you have achieved them on your own. Even if you were to lose everything that you have right now, you know that you could always start from the beginning and get back all that you have lost." Rui brushed a strand of hair from my face and traced his finger along my jaw. His eyes locked into mine, studying me. "My wild grass, my Tsukushi. People may ignore the wild grass they step on; but in my world, it wouldn't be as green and as lovely without that emerald blanket."
"Shizuka, on the other hand, grew up being handed with everything she could ever want. The best that money could provide. She never had to even want anything. And now that their businesses are failing, she's terrified of losing everything." Rui paused, his dark brown eyes softening. "We grew up together, knowing that our parents would arrange our marriage one day. But despite this, we grew up as close as a brother and sister could be. She was the one who pulled me out of my cocoon before; and for that I am forever grateful to her."
I was lost in the everchanging expression in his eyes. "And then you fell in love with her," I finished for him.
His eyes twinkled; a dimpled smile appeared. "Are you jealous, Tsukushi?" But before my hand was inching towards his waist to pinch him, he caught my hand without breaking eye contact and kissed my knuckles one by one. "Don't interrupt me." His fingers intertwined with mine. "I adored her. I thought I was in love with her. But what did I know? I was just 19 then, barely a man who has yet to see the world. I saw her as the rest of the world did, an erudite woman with beauty, talent, and prominent background. What was there that any man cannot resist?"
"She broke my heart; you were there, you witnessed me at my worst. Yet even as I mourned and poured my heart out to you, knowing you had feelings for me, you stayed and comforted me. I had felt the pain of getting spurned; I knew then how difficult and confusing it was for you to be there that night on the beach as you embraced me and as I kissed you. It dawned on me at that time the biggest regret that I ever had." Rui's other hand combed thru my hair and brought it to his lips; his eyes closed. "That I had given away someone whom I fell in love with to my best friend."
A tear trickled down his smooth cheek. "I figured out everything too late. I know how painful it was for you to have someone you love chasing another and so I decided not to fight for you because I did not want to hurt you ever again. I saw you fall in love with my best friend; that was my self-inflicted punishment--to love you as you loved one of my 'brothers.' And even during the darkest hours of your relationship, I was there for you to encourage you to fight for your love, Tsukasa. I was happy when you were reunited with him once more. I had the hardest time accepting that you could never be mine, but seeing you at your happiest eased my heart somewhat. So I left to try to forget."
I had not realized that we were both in tears; his thumb was wiping them away. I never knew. He never told me this much before. All those moments of comfortable silence between us have been torture for Rui, knowing that it was Tsukasa whom I love. I let myself be led to the lounge bed on the balcony and sat on the edge.
"Tsukushi, look at me."
I looked at Rui thru my downcast eyes. His callused hand cupped my face. "I'm not letting you go this time." Then he kissed me. His soft lips met mine, molding them.
Thank you, viel for giving me encouragement to continue the story i have in my mind.
Thank you sheen for taking time to read and post comments. It's an honour.
CHAPTER 14
I never saw it coming, this disaster I was heading into.
The moment the speedboat landed on my island, I saw her. She was standing on the beach, wearing a long, blue sarong dress. I stole a glance at Tsukushi. She was wearing a mixed expression of confusion and apprehension. I smiled to myself and nuzzled my face in her hair. She almost jumped.
"I didn't invite her. I'm just as surprised as you to see her here."
Tsukushi turned around, blushing. "Oh..yes, a pleasant surprise."
I jumped off the boat, the warm water reaching my waist. "Come on, I'll carry you on my shoulder. You'll get your dress wet." Tsukushi slid off the edge and into my arms. I flipped her over my shoulder like a sack of rice before she could protest and laughed heartily all the way to the shore.
"I'll get you for this, Hanazawa! You better start running once you put me down!" Tsukushi was screaming, kicking, and squirming.
I smiled as I set her down. Tsukushi's face was beet red, her nostrils flaring, with hand fisted to her sides. "I love the way you squirm," I whispered languidly in her ear. Tsukushi was ready to strangle me when we became aware of 'her' presence.
"Hi Tsukushi." She embraced Tsukushi and smiled at her. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages." Before Tsukushi could answer, she had moved on to me. Standing on her toes, she embraced me and kissed me on the mouth. I looked at Tsukushi; her mouth was hanging open. I disentangled myself from her. "Rui," she said, her eyes searching mine. "I've missed you."
CHAPTER 15
Shizuka. I should have known.
Seeing Rui and Shizuka there, holding hands infront of me, with their eyes intent on one another, I felt like an intruder. How can I compete with someone such as her. She obviously came here because she wants Rui. There was a sudden heaviness in my heart that I could not comprehend.
Realizing that my mouth had gone dry because it was left hanging open, I forced a smile to my frozen lips. I saw Rui look at me with concern and reassurance.
Rui casually placed an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer. "Shizuka, what a pleasant surprise. Have the Mimiasakas arrived? I hope we haven't kept you waiting long. Please." He motioned for us to walk towards the patio. I discreetly turned to Rui with a puzzled look. He just smiled.
"Haven't seen them yet. I arrived around two hours before you," Shizuka replied, climbing the stairs infront of us. "The flight from New York was tiring. It was a good thing Elena helped me to a room. The weather's too balmy here."
Rui squeezed my shoulders subtly. "How do you find the cottage?"
The 'cottage' Rui was referring to was more like a private villa. Nestled on top of a hill that descended down to the beach, huge, circular, two- to three-storey cogon grass huts were interconnected by numerous glass-walled halls. Underneath these 'huts' were simulated bubbling brooks with cascading waterfalls following each tier of huts made out of black marble.
I had to smile, despite the situation. Rui still calls this a cottage. "It's unbelievably breathtaking."
"Good, I'm happy you liked it," he smiled boyishly, his dimple showing. "I'll tell you about this place once we've settled into our room." I raised an eyebrow at his emphasis.
"Excuse me," Shizuka said rather loudly, cutting our conversation. "My hut is over there. I guess I'll see you guys later for lunch?" She was smiling, but I had the feeling she was irate.
Rui answered instantly without taking his eyes off me. "Yes, yes of course. We'll ring you later."
"See you, Shizuka," I replied, waving off but she had already turned her back on us.
CHAPTER 16
If I had found the villa impressive, the interior was absolutely splendid. It was not so much as a hotel that I expected it to be. It had a lived-in look, comfy... Just like...
"Our cottage, Tsukushi." His arms crossed, Rui was leaning on the doorframe, intently observing my reaction.
Oh God, he remembered so well. Everything here reminded me of those weeks I lived with him in that cottage he rented. When I ran away from everything...from Tsukasa.
"It's beautiful, Rui. Thank you for bringing me here." I went over to the wooden balcony, admiring the view and taking in the salty breeze. "What a wonderful view."
He was facing me while he leaned back against the single driftwood branch that was the balcony. "You're beautiful." He lowered his face to mine; I closed my eyes. Not as beautiful as her.
I never thought humans could melt, but I certainly proved to myself that it wasn't impossible. I felt like butter on toast.
"Pardon me?" Rui's lips didn't touch mine.
I opened my eyes, perplexed. "What?" He was looking me as if I had lost my mind. "Huh?"
"You said 'not as beautiful as her'."
Oh, God. "I said that?" Heat from embarrassment was creeping up my neck. I leaned my back on the balcony.
Rui gave one of his rare smiles. Butter on toast again. "I didn't invite Shizuka, Tsukushi." He stood infront of me, his hands braced beside mine on the balcony. "But I know why she came here." Sighing, he placed his hands on mine. He was looking off into the azure horizon, the calm of the sea reflected in his eyes. "Shizuka is after me. Or rather my money if you could believe it."
"But why? Her family is one of the most prominent in Japan; their corporations are leading in the electronics and computer industries. She doesn't need money."
"You don't understand, Tsukushi. Everything that you are and all that you have now, you have achieved them on your own. Even if you were to lose everything that you have right now, you know that you could always start from the beginning and get back all that you have lost." Rui brushed a strand of hair from my face and traced his finger along my jaw. His eyes locked into mine, studying me. "My wild grass, my Tsukushi. People may ignore the wild grass they step on; but in my world, it wouldn't be as green and as lovely without that emerald blanket."
"Shizuka, on the other hand, grew up being handed with everything she could ever want. The best that money could provide. She never had to even want anything. And now that their businesses are failing, she's terrified of losing everything." Rui paused, his dark brown eyes softening. "We grew up together, knowing that our parents would arrange our marriage one day. But despite this, we grew up as close as a brother and sister could be. She was the one who pulled me out of my cocoon before; and for that I am forever grateful to her."
I was lost in the everchanging expression in his eyes. "And then you fell in love with her," I finished for him.
His eyes twinkled; a dimpled smile appeared. "Are you jealous, Tsukushi?" But before my hand was inching towards his waist to pinch him, he caught my hand without breaking eye contact and kissed my knuckles one by one. "Don't interrupt me." His fingers intertwined with mine. "I adored her. I thought I was in love with her. But what did I know? I was just 19 then, barely a man who has yet to see the world. I saw her as the rest of the world did, an erudite woman with beauty, talent, and prominent background. What was there that any man cannot resist?"
"She broke my heart; you were there, you witnessed me at my worst. Yet even as I mourned and poured my heart out to you, knowing you had feelings for me, you stayed and comforted me. I had felt the pain of getting spurned; I knew then how difficult and confusing it was for you to be there that night on the beach as you embraced me and as I kissed you. It dawned on me at that time the biggest regret that I ever had." Rui's other hand combed thru my hair and brought it to his lips; his eyes closed. "That I had given away someone whom I fell in love with to my best friend."
A tear trickled down his smooth cheek. "I figured out everything too late. I know how painful it was for you to have someone you love chasing another and so I decided not to fight for you because I did not want to hurt you ever again. I saw you fall in love with my best friend; that was my self-inflicted punishment--to love you as you loved one of my 'brothers.' And even during the darkest hours of your relationship, I was there for you to encourage you to fight for your love, Tsukasa. I was happy when you were reunited with him once more. I had the hardest time accepting that you could never be mine, but seeing you at your happiest eased my heart somewhat. So I left to try to forget."
I had not realized that we were both in tears; his thumb was wiping them away. I never knew. He never told me this much before. All those moments of comfortable silence between us have been torture for Rui, knowing that it was Tsukasa whom I love. I let myself be led to the lounge bed on the balcony and sat on the edge.
"Tsukushi, look at me."
I looked at Rui thru my downcast eyes. His callused hand cupped my face. "I'm not letting you go this time." Then he kissed me. His soft lips met mine, molding them.