Keith Finale
I followed him to an empty meeting room and we sat at a desk at the bottom of the steps. He coughed and took some pills before turning to me with a smile.
"Do you know about your grandmother? Yuri Yoshihara?" he asked.
"Not a word." I shook my head. "My mother didn't mentioned her. The last thing I've heard about her is that she died a long time ago."
"She's passed on now huh…" he became sad by the news.
"Did you know her? I would like to hear it." I always wanted know a least something about her. She and my mother had a fall out about twenty years ago making them estranged. My mother and I didn't even go to her funeral. I've heard no stories or anything." I explained.
"Well, your grandmother was here so long ago…" he seemed distant. His eyes clouded with light tears. He told me what my grandmother did when his country was under attack. She rescued him from death multiple times and then he was able to regain his country. He never saw her again. "I loved her." he said. "I loved her and I still do. She was the only one in my heart, but I had to let her go. I was afraid that she didn't feel the same. I can't remember her face, but your necklace used to belong to her."
"Wow, I didn't know my grandmother was that awesome." I said.
"She is awesome. I wished I could have given her more of my gratitude." he gave a sad smile while rubbing his hands.
"I think she wouldn't want anything else from you. She saved you because she wanted to. I don't think she would want an award. Having you safe and sound is all that mattered to her." I said with a reassuring smile.I took his hand gently and gave it a little squeeze. He squeezed back with a much happier smile, but a hint of sadness still lingered on his kind face. We continued until we've noticed that it was getting late. I said my goodbyes and took the ride that his butler offered.
I was given a ride back to the apartment. When I got back Gazelle and her husband holding their baby was there with worried looks. They asked me where I have been, but I didn't say anything. They understood, said their goodbyes, and left.
I went into the bedroom to check in with the kids. Haru was back home and she was sleeping with Kai on the same bed. It looks like Gazelle bought us new bed sheets. Naru, however, was awake and was reading a book on the couch.
"What are you reading Naru?" I asked looking over the couch.
"Knight's Glory." he said with an emotionless voice showing that he was absorbed into the book.
"Isn't that a hard book to read? That was written in 1230s where knights were still around." I said. That book is considered a great literature book of the time and everyone is this country has read it, but it's a in high school or higher not a grade school level.
"I like knights." he replied. I didn't push him anymore and left him alone to go prepare for bed.
….
"Another dinner party, Mrs. Hanazella?" I said after I had given her regular order.
"Of course darling! You know how I love my dinner parties!" she laughed swaying her hand of many rings back and forth. "I want you to serve us tomorrow night! Please, darling."
"Alright I will." I smiled. She screamed with joy and clapped her hands. I forced a smile smile to make her even more happy. Her parties are always exhausting. There's always too many people than what she originally says, but they do have a good time somehow from all of her husband's talking.
It was the next day and the time for the party. I got a babysitter to take care of the kids while I'm gone. I got there on time and ready to introduce myself, again.
"Don't screw up Yoshihara." my boss said going past me.
"I never had and probably never will." I said and went to the party room. It was filled with the same people, same taste, and same order. I grabbed a lot of menus and put on a nice smile and entered confidently.
"Hello everyone, my name is Marika, I'll be your server today," I smiled giving everyone a menu until someone touched my hand. I looked up slightly and saw Keith staring right at me. I cleared my throat and ignored him. "I'll start off with drinks." I regained composure and took out my notebook and pen. I wrote down what drinks that wanted and went out to get them.
"Crap, crap, crap." I whispered to myself. I can't believe he's here! I don't want him here! Ugh, act normal, act like you don't know him. I came back with their drinks and I carefully put on the table for them.
"Does anyone want to start with an appetizer?" I asked.
"Yes please!" one man asked. I wrote them down quickly and left in a flash.
After a while I was able to get everyone's order in front of them. I was happy that I didn't have to go in there for an hour or so. When I was about to leave I heard someone get out of their chair abruptly. I looked over and saw Keith standing there as the room went silent.
"Keith darling is everything alright?" Mrs. Hanazella asked. He didn't hear her and went straight towards me. I quickly left the room, panicked.
"Marika!" he called out. I tried to ignore him but he kept calling my name.
"Leave me alone!" I shouted at him. He didn't seem to listen as he sped walked faster catching up to me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the exit at the back of the restaurant. Once we were outside by the dumpster he pulled me into the tightest hug that I have ever experienced. I tried to pull away but he was to strong.
"I'm so happy to see you." he whispered moving his fingers through my hair.
"Get off!"
"No!"
"Why!?"
"Because…" he stopped talking. He didn't say anything else.
"That's not a full answer!" I said finally getting free. "Leave me alone!"
"I can't!"
"Why not!?"
"Because I love you!"
"You're a liar!"
"Really!" Suddenly he kissed me. I felt so many things inside me. In the moment I kissed him back. His lips were soft against mine. We pulled away and had our foreheads against each other. "Does that show you that I'm telling the truth." Before I retorted he kept talking.
"I didn't know anything about your hardships. I honestly didn't. I'm the beginning I was so drawn to you. When we saw the video of you escaping my first thought was 'Wow this is girl is not even human'. When I ordered Luke to go get you, I thought about giving you such a hard time to repay for that case you broke until you brought three children with you. After that I was curious and for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about you. I kept thinking how you got three children, how you lived, your husband or boyfriend.
"When you told me that they were your brother's children, I felt so relieved. You were always on my mind no matter what. I would drag you around because I wanted to be near you. When I was around you I felt so happy. With Laura I feel like a prop. She only sees me as an object to reach to the top ever since we were kids. With you I feel like an actual person. We fight, we talk, we laugh, I've never felt like this before so please, please be with me." He begged. His emerald eyes were filled with tears but he fights them back.
"Do you really feel that way?" I said hesitant. My heart was filled with emotions for him. I want to be with him, hug him, kiss him. My whole heart ached for him.
"I would never lie to you, ever. You treat me like I'm just a person not a prince." he said gripping my shoulders. Then his hands went to my cheeks and strokes gently like I was fragile glass.
"You make me angry." I said. "You make me want to scream and punch walls, how you act high and mighty all the time, the way you talk, the way you sing." he was devastated at what I was saying.
"However…" I continued. "You have this sweet side to you. You listen when I needed it, you were there for me when Laura was being a pain, when Kai fell and broke his arm, when we...are alone." I said touching his cheek. "I can't explain what I feel for you. My heart ached this entire time. I thought showing off at that costume party could make me feel better, but all I wanted was to run to you. All this time I had dreams about you and I can't get rid of these feelings for you. I can't stop loving you, Keith." I finally said and he kissed me again and again and again. After a while we stayed like that forgetting the time.
"Well I'm fired…" I said looking at the time. It looks like the party ended thrity minutes ago.
"You won't need to come back here." Keith said wrapping his arm around me. "You'll live at the palace with me. Bring your kids also. I want to get to know them and Cathy misses Naruki a lot."
"I didn't know you knew there names."
"Cathy loves to talk them, especially Naruki. If he treats her wrong I won't hesitate to punish him."
"You and me, both." I laughed. We decided to leave to go get the kids. I called all my jobs and said in quitting and hung up instantly. When we got to the apartment I told Roger I was moving again. He seemed happy, but in his eyes he seemed sad. We collected all of our stuff and went to Liberty. We we got out of the car Laura was there with a sad expression. I ignored her but she came up to me and went on her knees.
"I'm sorry!" she blurted out. "I regret what I said to you! I didn't know your brother was a soldier! I didn't know that he was killed in that explosion. I'm so sorry. I was just so jealous of you because you and Keith were getting along more than I ever did. I knew he liked you so I wanted to hurt you so much you would leave. I didn't know anything and just word vomited everything I could think of. Please forgive me…" she cried. She was on the ground now crying and wailing.
"She made fun of Daddy?" said Haru.
"What a monster." Naru said in a low tone. I thought for a while and sighed heavily.
"You're not forgiven." I said and she flinched. "You ruined my brother's name, made fun of my children, and covered me in some sticky liquid and you expect me to forgive you." I said with my voice filling with rage. "You are going to work for my forgiveness. Right now I can't."
"I understand!" said Laura. She was a wreck on the ground. I started to feel bad, but I dragged the kids back inside.
"Miss Yoshihara," Luke bowed. Before I said anything to him he held up his hand. "Welcome,back." he smiled. I smiled back and nodded happily. Then Keith pushed all of us to a hall.
"I've for you kids rooms for yourselves." Keith smirked. He gave them rooms near Cathy's so they can hang out with each other anytime.
"Where will I sleep?" I asked.
"With me of course." he said haughtily.
"Excuse me?"
"I know you want to…" he sang so off key.
"God you are so bad at singing." I said covering my ears.
"Don't change the subject." he said smiling. He kissed me and I kissed him back. We bickered and kissed and vise versa.
