The Melancholy Schmaltz

•••

CHAPTER SEVEN: ALONE

•••

Kahoko was strolling around the beach. Her parents forced her to come with them since it's a family vacation. She played with the water that was brushing her feet. Her long sundress was being tossed by the wind. She sighed as she turned to the horizon. The scenery was picturesque. It was indeed perfect. She checked her watch. It was exactly six in the morning. The smiled then moved back. She squatted on the sand, facing the rising sun.

'For quite sometime, I haven't done this sort of thing.' She thought. Suddenly, her thought was diverted to something. 'I wonder what he is doing right now.'

She held a fist full of sand then lifted her hand to let it fall.

"This thing is too lonely." She mumbled.

"Kahoko? What is making you lonely?" Her sister suddenly appeared.

"W-what are you doing?" Kahoko irked.

"What is making you lonely?" She asked.

"N-nothing." Kahoko denied.

"I know you quite well Kahoko." Her sister sat beside her.

"Nothing." She repeated.

"You might deny but you know, I am feeling… quite lonely." She turned to the horizon. "Today is our second year anniversary." Kotoko weakly smiled as the wind blew.

Kahoko was struck. "Today is your second year anniversary?"

"Yes." She slowly exhaled. "Today is the second year. And you know Kahoko, if Kouji is here, I know he will do something to surprise me."

Kouji was Kotoko's boyfriend but he died a year ago in a car accident.

"Kotoko," Kahoko patted her.

"I miss him. I miss him so much." She smiled as her tears fell. "He is unfair at times because he gives you bouquets of flowers instead of giving it to me but… I am not jealous because he really makes me feel special and important."

"Yeah. He also used to give me chocolates too during Valentines Day and he would explain that in the west, men give chocolates to women."

Kotoko giggled. "But he dates me after that."

Kahoko then stared at her. "You loved him so much, don't you?"

"I would lie if I say no." She said.

"You were supposed to—" Kahoko was interrupted.

"-supposed to be married." She finished Kahoko's sentence. Kahoko pressed her lips as Kotoko lifted her right hand. "Look. This was the engagement ring that he gave me." She showed to her a simple ring with one shimmering diamond. "Can you just imagine? I was so happy that time that I did not expect that the next day, I would not be able to see nor hear him again."

"Kotoko…" Kahoko embraced her sister.

"Kahoko, I know you have someone special so love him while you still can." She advised as she wiped her tears.

"But how did you know?" Kahoko asked, trying her best not to be very curious.

"I saw him while he accompanied you in front of the house one time. He kissed you on the cheek so I concluded that you are together…well, you know what I mean." Kotoko weakly smiled. Kahoko's cheeks burned. Upon seeing her that way, Kotoko embraced her. "Kahoko."

"Want me to accompany you today, sister?" Kahoko asked.

"I would love to." She answered.

That day, Kahoko gave her whole attention to her big sister.

•••

"What the—" Yunoki was pissed.

"I am only with my family." Kahoko tried to control herself.

Yunoki exhaled. "I want to see you now."

"You are just paranoid. Rest and take it easy. This resort is fine. I am alright and you don't have to worry." She said.

"Hello Miss." A guy neared Kahoko but she went away with a smirk.

"I heard that." Yunoki said. "You are flirting there."

"I am not!" She stomped her foot.

"I want to see you now." He declared it for the second time.

"But my parents are here."

"What are you afraid of? I want to officially meet your parents so I'll come there whether you like it or not." He hung up.

*beep* Kahoko stared at her phone. "Is he even serious? Goodness!" She ran in panic. 'If he said he'll come, he'll really come.'

•••

Kahoko prepared herself. She was very afraid. Her heart was thudding like crazy. She fluctuated around the lobby.

"Mom will be upset. Dad will be very mad. And…and Daiichi will…ugh!" She groaned.

Yunoki watched her from afar. He wondered on what was going on with her. He stood behind her then blew the back of her neck. Kahoko caught a shiver.

"What's with that stupid face?" He asked in a sarcastic tone.

"You're here." She smirked. Yunoki eyed her.

"Let's go." He grabbed her hand then they went to the restaurant.

Upon arriving to the restaurant area, Kahoko froze with the sight of her parents.

"Wa—wait!" She pulled him.

"What?" Yunoki was vexed.

"No Yunoki. Not now." She pleaded.

"Tsk. I will just meet them. It's not like I mistook you so they will terrorize us." He sternly said. "You are paranoid." He pulled her so she can no longer resist.

Daiichi leaned back. "Where's Kahoko?" He turned then his eyes met hers. "So you're finally there slow poke?"

Kahoko did not respond. Her entire family turned the two of them.

"Who is he Kahoko?" Her mother asked.

"I am Yunoki Azuma. Please to meet you." He said with a smile. He was pretty polite to their sight.

"Yunoki?" Kotoko repeated. "A noble?"

"Not quite." He smiled.

"Why don't you let your guest sit down Kahoko? So he can join us?" Her father said.

"Y-yes." She obeyed.

"So you are Kahoko's senior?" Kahoko's mother asked.

"Yes." He said.

"You're a real sight Yunoki-san." Kotoko smiled.

"Thank you but you may call me Azuma." He permitted.

Kahoko just observed them.

"If I am not mistaken, you were ranked number one in your batch." Kotoko questioned.

"Indeed." He nodded. "How did you know?"

"I was with Kahoko when she enrolled to your school."

"I see." He demurely spoke.

"Your looks are magnificent but you amazed me with your superiority, Azuma-san." Kahoko's mother was pleased.

Kahoko's father was staring at Yunoki, including Daiichi.

"What instrument are you handling?" Daiichi wondered.

"Flute." He answered.

Many questions were thrown to Yunoki but he freely answered everything.

Kahoko stretched her arms. She was barefooted while watching the night scene alone. There was no moon around since it's a new moon but even so, the place was majestic. The breeze was cold like how it was ought to be.

'I was really nervous.' She thought. 'Dad did not utter anything but his looks had something behind it. And Daiichi, his face was very expressionless.' She closed her eyes as the breeze met her face. "At least there was no disaster."

"What disaster?" A pair of strong arms wrapped her waist.

Kahoko opened her eyes. "Yu—yunoki."

"Again, what's with the face?" He asked.

"Nothing." She looked away.

"You felt so delicate." He said. "You are so tiny." He referred her waist.

"Want me to look like a whale?" She asked.

He chuckled. "Your parents and your siblings are nice."

Kahoko turned to him.

"So that's where you got your ways." He smiled.

She sighed.

"Your sighing thing is bothering me. It wants me to do something about it." He muttered.

"The mood feels lonely." She said.

"Really? So my presence is lonesome?" He wondered.

"No. of course not." She shook her head. "It's just that this scene makes me feel too much sentiment."

"I can't simply accept that nonsense answer because that mood does not exist to me." He displayed his original self again. "It's dumb."

That was quite offensive. Kahoko's feeling got hurt.

"Forget what I said. It's purely idiocy." She gestured to take his hands off but he refused.

"It's not like I care." He leaned closer. "I never care." He kissed her. He cupped her chin as she motioned to move away. It's not that she does not want him; it's just that she was hurt somewhere but Yunoki make the apology. He knew that she's sensitive but he got his peculiar ways. As what everyone know, Yunoki is dreamy but even so, he is still Yunoki and no one can ever change that.

He broke the kiss. "I'll ease that loneliness away." He told her before taking another kiss. With that, Kahoko was not able to object. It is not like she will win his game since she knew her weakness too well. And it is him.

Author's Note: I am very busy guys but since I don't want to disappoint you, I am doing my best to update. I started making this at 9 pm then goodness, I ended at 1 A.M. Can you imagine? My head was spinning. I am exhausted. But well… back to the story, Kotoko, Kahoko's sister had a fiancé named Kouji but he died a the day after he proposed to her. This update is surely boring. Sorry about that but I am still hoping for your reviews. Ki'ost kete ne. take care and be happy. Thank you for the reviews. I love them.