OVER…OR NOT?
Chapter 3
The Road Is Long…
On Makino's eighteenth birthday, Domyouji sent her a silver necklace air parceled all the way from New York to Japan. It was an heirloom of sorts and even Domyouji Kadae was unaware of its existence. Domyouji's grandmother had given it to him some years ago, when he was twelve.
Makino gasped, for the craftsmanship was very fine; it was the most exquisite gift among all the other gifts from him before. In the years to come, Makino would always keep it carefully in her jewelry box and sometimes she would take it out to look at and hold it close to herself, and remember his love for her.
- - - - - -
On her nineteenth birthday, Makino did not receive anything from Domyouji.
She did not see Domyouji getting online when she logged on into the school's computer the next day, nor the day after that.
Nor did he call her.
"Don't worry." Rui comforted after he took a seat beside Makino when he finally located the lonely silhouette of his soul mate seated along the flight of stairway at the emergency exit of the Eitoku University – their new found favourite spot.
"Tsubasa neesan told us he has been flying out of New York lately." Rui informed but Makino couldn't help but feeling miserable and unsure about herself.
"Why don't you call him?" Rui asked.
She slowly pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket, stared at it blankly and shook her head because for some unknown reason, she did not dare to call him either.
- - - - -
On the third day, the telephone rang when Makino had just reached home. She was right next to the phone, but she hesitated. She waited for the phone to ring three, four times before she picked up the receiver and heard Domyouji's voice.
"Happy belated birthday…" Domyouji said, "I was down with one damn high fever."
Makino was so happy and relieved that she nearly cried.
"It's okay, I've had fever before." Makino said.
"I love you." Domyouji said softly but at that time, Makino did not realize what it was that he had said, and he did not repeat it.
- - - - -
The 'nineteenth birthday missing-in-action' episode somehow changed an indefinable something in their relationship. Makino could sense it but she did not know if Domyouji sensed it or not.
He behaved like everything was normal whenever he called her on phone and she could not tell if it was really an act or whether he really felt that everything was just the same as before. Makino's feeling of unease soon came to an end when she found Domyouji appearing outside her door during the night of Christmas Eve.
"Why are you here?" Makino gaped with no intention of hiding her surprise and of course it always brought Domyouji joy whenever he gets to see that expression from her.
"Merry Christmas…" Domyouji opened both his arms and pulled her close to him.
"We are not supposed to meet." Makino reminded pointedly with her face buried deep inside his chest while both her arms encircled firmly around his waist and she didn't even realized that how tight she was hugging him. It was as if he would slip away the moment she let go.
"Rules are meant to be broken…" Domyouji quickly whispered into her ear before dragging her out of the house and soon both of them were heading towards one sandy playground near Makino's house.Even though it was freezing outside, Makino was not feeling cold at all because Domyouji was her source of warmth while they were talking about their hopes, dreams and plans for their future.
They had shared such an utter sense of closeness that she was shaken by the enormity of that feeling. It brought back those sweet bitter memories they had shared when they were in the island, it was as if they were the last two people on earth, suspended in a moment that could last forever.
"Will you be staying until Christmas is over?" Makino asked and she felt a sense of relief to see Domyouji nodding his head.
- - - - -
Makino had bought two tickets for the latest movie in which Domyouji's favourite actor was starring in and it was meant to be a surprise.
"Domyouji-sama has taken the earliest flight back to New York during this morning, along with Kadae-sama." The butler informed as he opened the door.
Just the mentioning of Kadae was clear enough for her to know why he didn't call to inform her about his unannounced departure. Makino understood this, with the intrusion of that woman, he was not in full control, but she felt disappointed anyway. She felt something slipping away, but she told herself there would be a next time for Domyouji and herself to be together and all she had to do was…to wait.
To be continued…