A/N: Hi guys! So here is the 5th chapter of my installment. I really do hope you guys enjoy this chapter, even thought for me, this chapter is by far the crappiest at the moment T.T (writer's block? I do not know :P)

Please review, pm me or anything and tell me if you guys love it, hate it or just plain tired of the story ^^. And to make up for the big skip, I'll write a two-shots possibly.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in Marimite except the OC Kaoru Sakamoto. All belongs to Oyuki Konno.

Chapter 5: At the Park

3 days before school started…

Yumi can't believe it. In less than one week, school's starting and she will become one of the student council leaders!

Pacing back and forth endlessly, only one thing or person was occupying the girl's mind.

Ogasawara Sachiko.

'Time sure flew by. I wonder how Sachiko is right now… God now I can't stop thinking about her' Yumi groaned to herself. Thinking of a way to get rid of the raven-haired girl in her mind, she decided to take a walk in the park five minutes away from her house.

Getting her light green sweater, she went downstairs and spoke out loud, telling her mother that she's going to the park.

"Mom I'm just going to take a walk down the park and come back before dinner starts ok?"

"…"

Hearing no reply, she turned around and saw her mother just standing there; tapping her foot, hands on her hips and eyes just boring holes into Yumi. Sensing this atmosphere, she changed her proposition.

"Before night falls then?"

"Better. Just be safe and don't buy snacks before dinner ok? "

"Ok mom and thank you!"

Telling her mother goodbye with a smile, she opened the front door and was greeted with sunlight kissing her face. Who knew walking in a nice summer day would not toast a person?

'What a nice afternoon. My head will surely clear up by the time I go home.'

While she was walking, a familiar voice suddenly greeted her. Turning her head to the said voice, Sakomoto Kaoru waved at her and shouted,

"Yumi-chan, wait up!" And the young man thought girls in Lillian Academy walk slowly. He ran corrected.

"Gokigenyou Kaoru-kun! Where are you off today?"

"Oh I'm just going to the park. And you?"

When she told him that she was going to the same location, an idea suddenly struck her brain.

"Since we're both going at the same destination, why don't we walk there together?"

Agreeing with Yumi, Kaoru sparked a conversation. They discussed a lot of things and both didn't even notice they've already arrived. The park was splendid; the grass, oh so green and the sky blue heavens above giving the place a soothing ambience.

"We're here!" shouted the cheerful Yumi.

"We sure are."

After awhile, Yumi's stomach grumbled, therefore making her face change to cherry red from embarrassment. Hearing this, Kaoru looked around and saw an ice cream vendor with his cart.

"Want me to buy you an ice cream cone?"

"If it's ok with you, then it's totally fine by me."

Walking to the ice cream man, he was about to buy a cone when he suddenly realized that he didn't ask Yumi what flavor she wanted. Going with his instincts, he bought a single scoop of peach flavored ice cream.

'He's such a good friend… I wonder if he has a girlfriend' Yumi pondered to herself as she watched the young man buy the cone.

"Here you go Yumi-chan!" Handing Yumi the ice cream cone, he waited for her opinion.

"Mmm, peach flavored ice cream? How did you know I love peach?"

Scratching the back of his head, Kaoru replied with a sheepish smile.

"Oh, I just thought you'd like this flavor because it was the favorite flavor of a person very dear to me that reminded me of you.

Hearing this, Yumi reluctantly asked the man if he had a special someone in his heart.

"I-I see. Do you have a special someone Kaoru-kun?"

"I used to, but you can say that person left me behind."

Kaoru's whole cheerful, happy attitude abruptly changed. Noticing the sudden change, she tried to change the depressing topic, so she attempted to tell the soccer captain a joke in which she failed, miserably so.

"Next time you want to cheer someone up, don't tell them a joke. Your cute face that changes every minute is enough for a person to cry from laughing. Blushing for the second time that day, Yumi tried to make a comeback.

"And here I am trying to lighten up the mood." Yumi retorted while giving Kaoru a playful punch on his shoulders.

Seething with rage, Sachiko stated out loud. She will do anything to postpone this marriage of hers just to finish college.

"You can't do this ojii-sama. I want to delay this wedding as long as possi-"

"Listen to me carefully Sachiko, and you will only hear this from me once. Your engagement with Suguru will be delayed no more. You will be married by next spring." The elderly man continued."As for your studies, you can go and attend Lillian University, but only for a year. After that, you will have to get married. I'll inform the Kashiwagi family about this too."

Not restraining herself anymore, a fuming Sachiko retaliated.

"I am certain ojii-sama. I will at least finish college befo-." She was interrupted once more

"You will not decide these decisions Sachiko. I am the man of power in this family. You my dear granddaughter will do as I say."

Now getting impatient with the future heiress, Sachiko's grandfather turned his office chair facing Sachiko no more.

"I am very sorry grandfather, but I won't marry Suguru-san until I graduate college. Gokigenyou"

And with that she bowed and left her grandfather's office, slamming the door with great force in the process. She didn't even walk away from the slammed door when her grandfather spoke out loud,

"I assure you Sachiko, we will discuss this matter once more later."

'I will not marry that man, not until I finish college'. She told herself, reassuring her mind of what will happen in the near future. Looking for a way to calm herself down, she thought of the park near Yumi's neighborhood. Not even greeting the maids, she walked towards the garage and went to her silver Porsche, opened the door to the driver's seat, buckled her seatbelt and started the engine. As if she's talking to someone; she spoke out loud,

"I can't believe ojii-sama wants me to get married by spring. I can't even finish college he said!"

Checking her rear view mirror, she maneuvered her way out, and started driving to the park while thinking about her actions earlier in the mansion.

'What's the point of delaying the inevitable anyways? I'm pretty sure Yumi has given up on me.' Sachiko mused to herself sadly.

Arriving at her destination, Sachiko parked her car on the left side of the street. A sense of tranquility came to her as she opened her car door and stepped out of it.

Strolling within the park with elegance, she suddenly heard laughter coming from two voices, one of which she knows very, very well. Listening intently, she soon came across two people arguing like children but laughing with merriment and joy.

Yumi.

She could not believe her eyes. Not far away was Yumi and with another guy. No sooner tears started to fall from her deep, azure eyes.

'Now I understand how Yumi feels. Just seeing her laughing with another person, especially with a guy is breaking my heart so much. No wonder she walked away from me that night'

Watching the heart-wrenching scene not far away from her made her final decision about the engagement. Running as fast as she can ungracefully as it looks right now, Sachiko didn't care, just as long as she can go away from the two as far as she can.

Getting in her car, she drove to the Ogasawara State Mansion where she will confront her grandfather about her unexpected decision regarding to the engagement.

-Knock, knock-

"Come in"

Turning his head in front, he saw his granddaughter come in his office once more.

"Sachiko, did you calm down now?"

"Ojii-sama, sudden things have occurred and from that I have made an unsuspected change to your wish" With this she carried on," I will marry Suguru before winter starts.

Hearing this rash decision, the old man's eyes widened with surprise. In other words, those seven words that came out of his granddaughter left his mouth agape.

"Did you just say before winter starts? Then what about your wish to finish college?"

"I change my mind. A sudden thought has reasoned with my thinking that's all."

Sachiko can't afford to tell her grandfather why she changed her mind. She has decided that from now on, she will have to focus on her own future without her, her dear sweet Yumi. Even the thought itself was tearing her apart.

"I see. I guess that thought accomplished one thing that I myself couldn't. " Sachiko's grandfather laughed dryly as he scanned through the reports and bills in his hands.

"Please be mindful of what you say ojii-sama."

Shuffling of papers were heard for a while when the elderly man asked Sachiko if there were things that still needed to be discussed.

Replying with a no, Sachiko bid her grandfather goodbye and went straight to her room as her eyes closed from the psychical and emotional strains.

'So this was what Yumi was feeling when I couldn't fight for her' Sachiko mused to herself with sadness and tears. 'What have I done to her? No wonder she doesn't even want to talk to me.'

She was completely and utterly broken from that once scene that unfolded earlier at the park.

The following day, when news from the president of the Ogasawara Corp. reached a certain Kashiwagi Suguru through a phone call, he was in complete state of shock. What in heaven's name was the reason why Sachiko wanted the marriage to be done by the beginning of winter?

After driving to the Ogasawara mansion, he went straight inside and asked where Sachiko was. Thanking the maids for informing him, he went directly to Sachiko's bedroom. Knocking gently, he asked if he could come in, in which his permission was granted.

"What brings you here Suguru-san?"

"What is your reason for wanting to get married by the end of autumn?"

Taking a deep breath, the younger of the two replied,

"No reason. Why delay it? Better get this stupid engagement over with" Sachiko reasoned out.

Not believing his cousin, Suguru asked Sachiko something that caught Sachiko's attention.

"This foolish decision of yours has something to do with Yumi right?"

"It has nothing to do with Yumi Suguru-san. What made you think that?"

Having no more patience left in him, Suguru went straight to the point of his interrogation.

"Yumi did something that made you execute this absurd choice you made, didn't she?"

Sobs finally escaped Sachiko's throat. Tears went down once more on her pale, white cheeks.

After telling Suguru about what she saw yesterday at park, Sachiko can't help but wonder what Yumi and that guy's relationship is.

"Maybe she got tired of fighting for us, for me and found someone else that could give her things that I could never offer."

"Now that thinking is just plain stupid Sachan. Yumi isn't that type of girl who would just get together with someone in an eye's blink. Besides, you don't even know if that guy was Yumi's boyfriend." Suguru continued," Don't jump into conclusions ok?"

And just like that, it is as if a heavy weight was lifted off Sachiko's chest. With a dazzling smile; she thanked her cousin for the advice.

"So... you can ask your grandfather if he can postpone the wedding again right?" Suguru exclaimed with glee.

Unfortunately, he didn't get a yes. He only got a big, fat NO.

"No, our wedding will still be held by the end of autumn."

"Are you saying you don't care or love Yumi-chan anymore?"

Now this question made Sachiko's blood boil. Her eyes forming slits, she replied back with anger.

"Why would you even ask? You know what my answer will be!'

"Oh, you want to know? Because from my point of view, it looks like you don't even give a care for her anymore. If you truly love her, you will not delay, postpone or for the love of God even speed up the process of our engagement." Suguru trailed on, his voice still strong."You will stand up to Ogasawara-sama and ask him straight to annul this marriage of ours."

Suguru sighed as he lightly placed his hand on Sachiko's shoulder, as if silently cheering her to do the right thing.

"Think about it, ok Sachiko-chan?"

Taking his leave, he bid his cousin farewell and left her alone with her thoughts.

'Did I really choose the right course of action?' Sachiko pondered to herself.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, I won't ramble for long. If it's not too much to ask, please review or PM me on your opinions about this chapter!

Thanks again for reading and thank you also to those who added this story to their favorites list and story alerts.

Hope to hear from you soon,

AsulNaRosa