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Revelation
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"There are no secrets that time cannot reveal."
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'You may now read the tale.'
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Week 2
Friday
Sakuno woke up to the feeling of someone's lips on her forehead.
It was odd, but at the same time, pleasant. Then realization hit her hard.
Don't tell me…
She slowly opened her eyes while bracing herself. She actually suspected Ryoma's face to be looming near hers and she felt the tell-tale signs of a blush.
Was he getting intimate with her? It was way too early in the morning for that.
But before she can fully open her eyes, she felt a shift beside her. Sakuno took a peek and saw no one beside her.
"Huh?" she whispered.
"Good thing you're finally awake," said a voice at the foot of the bed. Sakuno lifted her head slightly to get a better view of Ryoma.
"I'm having a tennis practice today," he said, as he averted his face. "So, accompany me." He turned his back so fast, but Sakuno caught the pink on his cheeks.
She laughed. "Of course. And are you—"
"I'm gonna take a bath!" he announced as he marched towards the bathroom.
He never really did fail to surprise her.
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Ryoma's phone rang loudly in the almost empty space of the tennis court. He was hitting the ball against the wall.
There were no spectators to watch him play this time. Only Sakuno was present, but even so, she was worth every single one of his fans.
However, he would not admit that out loud. It was too embarrassing. Okay, maybe he will if he was under pressure. Or if that is the only thing that would save him and her from oblivion.
"Ryoma," Sakuno called out to him.
In one fluid motion, he caught the ball in his right hand.
"Hn?" He looked at her. He was still giving her his monosyllabic replies.
In reply, she handed him his cellular phone.
"Dad's calling," she said, referring to Nanjirou.
Odd, Ryoma thought. But he took the phone regardless. What useless matter was he gonna talk about this time?
"Hello?" Ryoma spoke to the phone.
"Oi! Seishounen!" He heard his father's usual gruff tone.
"What now?" Ryoma asked, annoyed. A few steps away from him stood Sakuno who watched him talk to his father.
"It's your mother again. Said she's worried about the current state of affairs," Nanjirou said, referring to Ryoma's marriage as some sort of news.
"So, dinner tonight. Bring Sakuno-chan. Your mother misses her." And with that, the phone call ended.
"How did it go?" Sakuno asked as she took his phone.
"Dinner tonight at home," he replied. She immediately understood that home meant his parents' house. Her pulse raced though. Was this invitation connected to the phone call she got from his mother the other night?
No, Sakuno decided. It must be something else.
"Oh, okay," she said to him and smiled.
With the towel in her hand, which she brought together with Ryoma's phone, she proceeded to wipe his sweat off his face absentmindedly.
Ryoma initially tensed up, surprised at her actions, but relaxed soon enough, enjoying her affection.
His hand caught hers, and that seemed to shock her out of her thoughts.
"Ryoma?"
And the second surprise of the day was he hugged her.
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Sakuno was less nervous on the second visit to her in-laws' house. Maybe it was because she somewhat had gotten used to being with Ryoma after two weeks of living together.
He was standing beside her and he was about to ring the doorbell.
"Wait." She held his right hand before she made him face her.
Ryoma stiffened as she placed both of her hands on his shoulders and inched closer. He took a sharp intake of breath as she leaned in closer and stood on the tip of her toes.
He stood still as he anticipated her next move which he felt involved lips being brought together.
This isn't the place, he thought.
However, to his disappointment, Sakuno only straightened out his collar.
"There." She patted his color, satisfied with her work.
And here I thought—
His train of thought was cut off as the door opened.
Crap.
"Ryoma, Sakuno—" Rinko started, but abruptly stopped when she saw them.
"Oi, Seishounen," Nanjirou said, and Ryoma could tell the faintest hint of teasing in his voice. "A good luck kiss?" He asked in reference to their suggestive position.
As if electrified, Sakuno withdrew her arms around Ryoma's neck. A blush immediately crept to her face.
"Shut up, Oyaji," Ryoma muttered as a way to brush the incident off, though they could all tell that his cheeks had a slight tint.
It was Rinko who broke the silence. "Let's all get inside."
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Dinner passed by almost without incident except for Nanjirou's teasing. But Sakuno supposed it can't be helped. It will always be her father-in-law's nature.
After dinner, the women of the Echizen household busied themselves with cleaning up the dining table and washing of the dishes.
"How are you, Sakuno-chan?" Rinko asked once they were alone side by side by the sink.
Nanjirou and Ryoma have left them for a bit of tennis.
"I got really worried after the call the other night," Rinko added.
Sakuno remembered the call she received after she retired to their bedroom the night she and Ryoma fought. As soon as Sakuno answered the call did Rinko know that something was off.
Sakuno could only nod to Rinko's initial question.
A moment passed before Rinko spoke again.
"I know Ryoma's a bit difficult to handle," she began while Sakuno continued washing the plates. But even so, Rinko knew she was listening intently. "But please be more patient."
Sakuno paused and looked at her mother-in-law.
"And don't give up on him," Rinko added as she looked at Sakuno as well. "Both Nanjirou and I will always be here. So, don't hesitate to give us a call, okay?"
Sakuno understood her message and it touched her. Soon enough her eyes were brimming with tears.
She nodded before saying, "Thank you."
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"Oi, Seishounen," Nanjirou said as he returned Ryoma's serve without so much effort. "I heard you've been giving her a hard time."
This took Ryoma by surprise, but he still managed to return the ball.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryoma lied. He guessed his best move for this was to play dumb.
"There's been an agreement among the three of us," Nanjirou went on, disregarding Ryoma's answer. He knew the truth anyway. "Have you read that tiny clause in your marriage contract?"
"Marriage contract?" Ryoma asked, confused. What about the marriage contract? "What are you talking about?"
"Your marriage," Nanjirou continued, not even out of breath as he returned all of Ryoma's shots, "is only valid for a month." He smirked as he finished their match.
Meanwhile, Ryoma remain rooted on his spot, shocked at this turn of events.
"What?" Ryoma said in disbelief.
"You heard me. Your marriage is only valid for a month. You should be happy right because in two weeks you'll be free. After all, Sumire did not allow her granddaughter to marry so you could make her cry."
Notes from a Muddy Writer:
My final exams are tomorrow but that won't stop me! Hahaha! Hopefully, I get to update a whole faster this sembreak because freedom! And we're almost at the end. T_T Did that reveal shocked you? Or not… that was the purpose of the "Week 1, Week 2"… lols. Anyway, on to the replies!
Replies:
ulquihime7980- They are getting pretty well, aren't they? Hahahaha! And I don't think we'll be seeing more of the senpais. T_T At least I haven't written anymore of them.
Heartluv- Aaawww! Thank you for continuing to read and review! I sure hope Ryoma does not do anything stupid. *glares at him*
J Luc Pitard- "and who would guess the sempai-tachi would be the font of good dating advice?" This made me lol XD hahahaha! Guess Ryoma will have to do more than listening from now on… :3
K.G- Hi there! Read the future chapters to see whether Ryoma gets to be more expressive about his feelings… and stuff… *hints hints* hahahahaha!
MitsukiJunko- MJ! (I'm contemplating of dropping –san hehehe) Thank you so much for the review again! Aaawww! The apple tradition shall live on forever~ Thank you still for the continued reading and support! 3
0202- Hi there! Hahahaha! Thank you for still reading this story! 3
Tarawiel- Here's an update for you~~~ :D
