Well, you know that I'm a wicked guy
And I was born with a jealous mind
And I can't spend my whole life
Trying just to make you toe the line
- Run for your Life (The Beatles, 1965)
"Daddy...?" Maria slowly entered her father's house office.
Kuon looked up from the document he was reading to his daughter. They have a silent dinner earlier, only the clatter of utensils can be heard.
"What is it, baby?"
Maria fidgets her fingers, nervous. "W-Where is mom?"
"She doesn't to be disturbed in the guest room." He answered automatically.
"Uhm, dad... About the accident earlier..." Maria confessed what really had happened, who really caused the accident. Maria looked at him with her pleading eyes. "Please forgive mommy already... Okay?"
Kuon was honestly surprised by what his daughter just confessed.
Kimiko covered up for Maria? He thought, frowning.
It never happened before, Kimiko always find faults on Maria that gives her reason to punish the child. But now, it was Maria who defended her. And the way she pleaded at him, how can he say no to that?
He smiled at her and patted her. "Okay, as you wish baby. Go to sleep now."
Maria beamed at her. "Thank you, daddy, good night!" She jumped, kissing him on the cheeks.
After Maria left from his office, he heaved a sigh, remembering Kimiko's cry earlier... He didn't know, but it sounds so... Real... Like, she's really afraid of the dark.
Kuon scoffed. "I'm sure she practised that with her friend." He mumbled.
He continues reading the documents, but the sound of her cries and pleas won't leave his mind.
Slamming the pen on his table, he decided to check on her in the basement. Glancing at the clock, it is already past midnight.
The whole mansion is quiet, he opened the basement's door and saw her sleeping on the thin mattress, curling up, hugging herself.
And for the first time, Kuon thought she's pitiful. He carefully scooped her up and carried her to their bedroom.
He softly placed her on the bed, he can see the small cuts at the corner of her lips and her swollen cheeks.
Sighing, he went to the bathroom and took the medicine kit.
She squirmed from the stinging pain whenever he attended her cuts.
After putting Band-Aids, he stood up, but she clutched his shirt.
"Ren..."
His eyes widened, staring intently at her sleeping figure.
What... Did she just say...?
They used to live in Kyoto, they managed a small yet popular ryokan in the area, behind the establishment there's a forest, and if you walk deeper in the forest you will see a small clearing.
Kyoko was crying her eyes out when she heard rustles from behind, looking back, she saw a boy, older than her appeared, and it seems he ran judging from the leaves on his jet-black hair.
The boy stooped when he saw a girl, squatting, with tears running from her eyes, just like his.
"Are you alright?" They asked at the same time.
"Why are you crying?" Kyoko asked.
The boy's eyes flashed with sadness. "Mom and dad finally decided to split up forever."
Kyoko blinked at him. "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that..."
"What about you?" He asked. He was surprised when he saw Kyoko's lips quivered before she starts crying again.
"Mommy has rushed to the hospital again... Waaaah!" His eyes widened, didn't know what else he could do, he brought the little girl on his chest. "Daddy already went to heaven, I don't want mommy to follow him soon!"
He felt ashamed, his problem is nothing compared to hers. "Ssh! There, there..." He patted her head. "Everything will be alright... Your daddy will be sad if he will see you like this."
Kyoko hiccupped a few times before she calmed down.
She stared at the boy. "My name is Kyoko. What's yours?"
He softly smiled. "I'm –" His father's warning on not giving his real name to strangers came back to him. His father said that people will take advantage of him if they will know that he is a Hizuri.
Kyoko tilted her head, waiting for him.
He cleared his throat. "I'm Ren."
"Ren..." She mumbled, and then Kyoko beamed at him. "Well Ren, I am now your crying buddy! This is my secret place to cry, but now that we are friends, I will allow you to come to this place and cry. Okay?"
"Thank you, Kyoko-chan..." He said. "But I hope, I won't see you here frequently."
Kyoko crossed her arm, scoffing. "I could say the same thing to you."
Kyoko slowly opened her eyes. It's been a while since she dreamed of that time. After that day, she never saw him again, which she was glad.
And then, after high school, her mother's sickness gotten worse each day. So they decided to sell the ryokan and move to Tokyo where lots of bigger hospitals are located.
Instead of continuing to college, she started to work to pay for her mother's maintenance medicines. Until the age of twenty-nine, her world only evolves on her mother. She almost has forgotten about the boy she once met, but every time she cried herself to sleep, she dreamt of him.
Kyoko mentally chuckled. He is indeed my crying buddy.
She snapped from her thoughts when Kuon walked out from their dresser, and as if on instinct, she covered herself with the comforter protectively.
She can still feel her face swollen and bruised on her arm still hurts.
Kuon frowned seeing her looking at him frighteningly, cowering on the edge of the bed.
His wife is a prideful woman, she won't let him have the satisfaction of seeing her being afraid of him.
Kyoko trembled when he approached her, and Kuon noticed it.
"I remembered you, saying, that you are not my wife?" Kyoko widened her eyes. The things she said to him came back to her mind. "If you are not Kimiko, then who are you?" Kuon narrowed his eyes at her.
Get it together, Kyoko! For your mother... She mentally chanted. She mentally took a deep breath before composing herself. Outside, she scoffed and tossed the comforter at him.
"It is just an act." She said, standing up. "I thought you will fall for it, but unfortunately, not. You still locked me up down there." She flipped her hair as she head to the bathroom.
Kuon gritted his teeth. I knew it! She's just acting, and I almost fall for it!
Kyoko, on the other hand, released the breath she was holding the moment she slammed the bathroom door closed.
"That was close." She heaved. Looking up in the mirror, she was surprised at the Band-Aids on her face.
So... He attended my cuts... Did he feel guilty?
Kyoko smiled a little at the thought.
"Boss." Kuon called his godfather and mentor, Lory Takarada. He started working under him before he formally took over their family business while his father took a career in acting.
He was based in the states, specifically, in Hollywood, as he also runs a talent agency. He even recruited him to become an actor but Kuon refused many times, he doesn't want to become a public person.
"What is it, my boy?"
"Can I borrow Ruto for the meantime?" He asked, referring to that jack-of-all-trades right-hand of his.
"Oh? For what?"
Kuon shrugged. "I just want him to spy on Kimiko."
Lory heaved a sigh from the other line. "I told you to divorce her already. How many times did you let Ruto investigate her? And how many men your wife is seeing until she settles on that surgeon?" Lory asked. "I don't want you to be cuckolded, you know."
Kuon was silent, after all, Lory was right. The evidence is already there, but... "I don't want Maria to grow up in a broken home like me."
"So you would rather want her to grow up knowing that her mother is a tramp?"
"Boss, even though I hate saying this, but Kimiko is still her mother."
Lory sighed, defeated. "Alright, alright. Ruto will fly to Japan after he completed the mission that I assigned to him."
"Than you so much, boss."
Lory only hummed in reply before hanging up.
Kuon still hasn't forgotten the name that Kimiko mumbled on her sleep. Ren is a common name, but it has special meaning to him... It was the name he gave to his crying buddy that he met when he was ten.
He just wanted Ruto to know the men that Kimiko associated these last few months if she has a friend named 'Ren' if none, then he would ask Ruto to investigate on where Kimiko knew the name.
Kuon clenched his fist.
"It is not a name that you can casually say... Kimiko..."
Maria was surprised seeing her mother personally picked her up after school. She looked down, feeling guilty over what happened.
"M-Mom... I'm sorry..." She whispered tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "I was scared of daddy... That was the first time I saw him got angry..."
Kyoko was stunned. She never thought that the girl will apologize, smiling softly she patted her head.
"Silly girl, it is my responsibility in protecting you."
Maria looked up at her, stunned. Kyoko really fond of Maria, she wants to spend time with her and bond, spend some mother-daughter time.
"Say, Maria... Is there you want to go?" She asked the child. She softly grabbed her hand. "Take this as my repayment for missing your graduation. My mind is somewhat foggy and I want you to recall what I promised to do for you."
Maria's eyes lit up. "Y-You said you will take me to Disneyland, and ride all the rides."
Kyoko grinned at her.
"Then let's go now!"
Kuon clicked his tongue when Kimiko didn't answer her phone. It is already past seven in the evening and both mother and child haven't arrived yet.
Both the nanny and driver are unreachable.
"Kuon-sama, they've arrived." Inui informed the irritated master in the living room.
The man hurriedly stood up. He was about reprimand Kimiko but he swallowed down the scolding when he heard Maria's laughter.
How long has he heard his daughter laugh like that?
Seeing her father, Maria ran and leapt in his arms.
"Daddy! Daddy! Listen, mommy kept her promise, although it is already late, she still kept it!" The child exclaimed happily. "We went to Disneyland and have fun together!"
Kuon was pleased seeing his daughter this happy.
He raised his eyebrow at Kimiko. "Oh? Just the two of you? You didn't invite me?"
Kyoko felt an arrow hit her chest seeing his expression. She mentally blushed, but on the surface, she put her hand on her hips.
"You are working. I can't afford to disturb you."
Kuon smirked at her. "You are my wife, you have all the rights to disturb me."
She just rolled her eyes at him. "Maria, come on, I'll wash you and then, let's study together." She reached her hand out her.
Maria smiled at her mother widely and took her hand, both headed upstairs.
"Wait, what about dinner?" Kuon asked.
Kyoko gasped, covering her mouth, she looked at him.
"Sorry..." She sheepishly smiled. "I think you will have your dinner by yourself... We already ate."
Kuon sighed. "Fine, but next time, don't forget to invite me."
"Yeees~"
Both child and mother chimed. Seeing them disappeared to the second floor, Kuon's eyes hardened.
Do you want to act? Then I will act with you... Let's see how long you will last.
The following days, the morning routine in the household involves Kyoko preparing a suit for Kuon, then cooked for their breakfast, and then packing Maria and Kuon's lunchboxes, and then spending her time in the mansion.
Her cuts and bruises already healed, and since Kuon is no longer strict with her and allowed her to go out as she pleased, she immediately informs Kanae that she has a 'day off' and want to meet her. Her best friends gave her an okay and send her the meeting place.
Kyoko prepared herself to meet Kanae and Chiori, and hopefully, her mother too.
Meanwhile, Kana raised her eyebrow at the lunchbox on Kuon's table.
"What?" He asked.
"Who prepared that?" She pointed at the box as if it was the most disgusting thing in the world.
"Kimiko."
Kana's eyes widened. "What?! You are joking, right?!" She exclaimed.
Kuon smirked. "Apparently, no. It seems she studied Culinary Arts with Matsunai-san these last few weeks."
"Oh? That woman did something sensible... But I'm surprised, she acted like a wife now."
"She indeed acting like a good wife and mother, so I must act like a good husband too." Kuon sniggered.
Kana gaped. "So the two of you are just acting?! And here I thought it was real!" She exclaimed in disbelief. "Should I call Lory-san and tell him to get you a role in Hollywood?" She mocked.
Kuon rolled his eyes. "No, thank you."
Kana snickered at him. "Well, may I join you for lunch? So I can see what kind of dishes your wife cooked for you?"
"Of course. You can even have it." He immediately agreed. "Call Hiro, too."
In school, Maria's classmates all gasped at her lunchbox.
"Mommy doesn't know how to cook, and it was always my nanny who prepared my lunch." One of her classmates said.
"Maria is so lucky! Her mommy cooked for her."
"I thought your mommy doesn't love you 'cause she missed your graduation ceremony?"
Maria smiled at them, her ego inflated hearing their appreciations.
"Mommy was just busy with work at that time, so I understand her." She smiled at her classmates.
Hiou joined her for lunch. "You finally made peace with your mother?"
Maria flashed a smirk that's similar to her father's.
"Stuuupid~ There's no way I would forgive her~"
The boy was taken aback. "T-Then... Why are you eating the lunch that she prepared?"
"I need to act like a good daughter and get her good side so she will allow me to go to Masumi's birthday party next weekend." She smirked at him. "I mean, mommy is acting like a good mother now, so I must act like a good daughter too, right?"
Kanae and Chiori were both waiting in the cafe for Kyoko when an unfamiliar woman approached them and took a seat.
"Excuse me, but that chair is already reserved for our friend." Chiori snapped at the woman.
"Moko-san... Chiorin..." The woman looked up at them.
Both women froze.
"What..."
"...did you just say?" Kanae finished.
Kyoko can no longer control the tears in her eyes and hugged the two.
The two were stunned.
Kanae pushed her. "Wait, who are you? How come you called me by that name?"
"It's me... Kyoko..." She hiccuped.
The two widened their eyes.
"WHAT?!" They both exclaimed.
"No way!" Kanae slammed her hand on the table. "Kyoko is much prettier than you!"
Chiori nodded. "That's right!"
"Moko-san, Chiorin!" Kyoko cried harder. "It's really me!"
"Prove it!" Chiori challenged. Kyoko revealed their most kept secrets, embarrassing moments, where they first met, birthday, zodiac signs, etc.
"It is really you." Kanae felt Kyoko's face. "How come you get so ugly?"
Kyoko has no choice but revealed everything to them, the thing that Dr Fuwa Sho wanted in exchange of paying her mother's surgery and for finding a heart for her to transplant.
Kanae clenched her fists, and her teeth almost break from gritting. "That fucking son of a bitch!" She cursed. "And he called himself a doctor?!"
Chiori was the calmed one among the three. "So it means, you are living as Hizuri Kimiko now? Is your husband treating you well? He didn't lay a hand on you, right?"
Kyoko managed to smile and shook her head. "He is strict because he could no longer trust his wife, and I think I can understand that."
"But!" Kanae interjected. "To become a wife and a mother?! Why the hell Hizuri-san married that bitch in the first place?! Did he get charmed by this face?!" Kanae pointed at Kimiko's face.
Kyoko heaved a sigh. "It's only until Kimiko returned from touring around the world then I can have plastic surgery again to have my real face back. That's what written on our agreement." Kyoko showed them the brown envelop and Kanae immediately took the documents and read it. After reading, she passed it to Chiori.
"At least, it is legal." Kanae mumbled.
"Enough about me, I want to know about my mother's condition."
It was Kanae and Chiori's turn to tell her everything.
Kyoko sighed in relief knowing that her mother is doing well, and she didn't miss any follow-up check-ups.
Kanae informed her that there's an enormous sum of money sent to her account a few days ago, counting on the days, it was when Kuon locked her in the basement.
Kyoko rubbed the bridge of her nose to prevent her tears from falling.
The cuts and bruises are nothing... It is all worth it.