So sorry I'm late. I realized I needed to plan a little better. I always had an idea of where I wanted this to go and how I wanted it to end, but I wanted to make absolutely sure, particularly when it comes to chapter 5, 6 and 7.
Not gonna make this into a habit hopefully. I really don't like being late .
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 5: Spilled
"Is everything okay, Kotoko-chan?" asked Noriko as she entered Kotoko and Naoki's room with a tray of tea and cookies. She was always so sweet to her daughter in law.
"Yes! Thank you" Kotoko replied as she took the tray from her mother-in-law and placed it on a desk in their bedroom. It was noon, and the family had eaten breakfast a few hours earlier. Naoki was on his way back from his trip and would arrive in a couple of hours.
Noriko found Kotoko standing with her hands on her hips. She seemed to be focused on something. Noriko was curious so she asked.
"What were you doing, Kotoko-chan?"
"Oh, I was trying to figure out where to place this vase. I bought it when I went shopping with Satomi the other day and thought it was adorable!" said Kotoko. It was a small white ceramic vase that was short and wider at the bottom. She bought some beautiful pink roses to place in the vase, which were one of her favorite kinds of flowers. They matched the room, which consisted mainly of shades of blue and pink. Luckily, Naoki didn't care too much about having pink in the room, so Kotoko had much fun decorating to her liking.
Kotoko decided to place the vase on the dresser. It looked nice next to their wedding photo.
"I'll leave it here for now," Kotoko said, "it doesn't look too bad"
"It looks great Kotoko-chan!" said Noriko, "The room looks lovely. You've always been great at this sort of thing". Noriko was glad that she was able to experience having a daughter. She loved her sons, but she made it no secret that she always wanted a girl, so much that she dressed Naoki up in feminine clothing when he was a child, much to his embarrassment.
Kotoko smiled and thanked her.
The room was indeed aesthetically pleasing. The house itself was very big, with enough space for both families to live together without feeling cramped. That's probably one of the reasons why they never thought to move. Noriko did not ask them about moving out either. She liked the idea of them living together as a "big happy family", which is what they were for the most part. The in-laws got along; they liked being around each other. Of course it helped that they have been friends for a long time.
"So," Noriko said, "Onii-chan will be home soon…"
"Yeah" Kotoko replied, "his train should arrive soon, it's a long ride from the hotel"
"Mhm" Noriko nodded, "You two should do something after he gets here! It's a shame he had to travel on your anniversary…"
"Yeah! I plan on asking him to do something," Kotoko said, "There is this festival coming up, and I thought it would be a nice idea to go together"
"Ah good! I hope the two of you can go"
"Me too!" Kotoko replied, with a hopeful expression on her face.
"Oh! You're back, onii-chan" Yuuki said.
Naoki nodded and said, "I'm home"
"Welcome back!" said Noriko to her oldest son.
"Where is father?" Naoki asked as he took off his jacket and shoes.
"He went to visit the Fujihara house with Kotoko-chan's father," Noriko replied, "Kotoko-chan! Onii-chan's home!" she said as she called out to Kotoko.
Kotoko was in the kitchen helping to prepare dinner. She came out and ran to greet her husband.
"Welcome back, Irie-kun~" she said in a cheerful tone.
"Ah" he replied.
"So", she asked, "how was the trip?" Kotoko asked, trying to hide her nervousness.
"It was fine", he said as he made his way upstairs. Kotoko followed him.
"Oh, that's good…" Kotoko replied. She did not know what else to say. She kept asking questions, all of which she knew the answer to.
"So…", Kotoko said, "Who else was there?"
"Where?" Naoki replied, with a slight frown on his face. Kotoko was being weird, and he could tell she was trying to dig for something. He never caught her spying on him though.
"Uhm…Well! Uh…Y'know, at the conference…." she stammered. She realized she couldn't give herself away.
"People," he replied.
"Oh, I see…But what kind of people?" she asked.
Naoki exhaled in frustration and said, "why are you asking so many questions".
"W-well, uh…No reason, hehehe…" Kotoko replied.
Naoki frowned.
What is with her?
"Well, can I go to the bathroom now?" Naoki asked in an annoyed tone. That's when Kotoko realized she was blocking the door to the bathroom.
"Oh! Sure. My bad, hehehe…" she said awkwardly as she moved out of the way.
"Thank you, Kotoko-chan," said Noriko as Kotoko handed her a dry plate. They had just finished cleaning up after dinner.
Noriko started making some tea, and Kotoko brought out the tray with the teacups. She placed it on a table in the living room, where her husband was seated, along with her brother in law. She sat next to Naoki and tried to ask him to go to the festival.
"So…Irie-kun, there's this event happening soon…"
Naoki slightly raised his eyebrows.
Kotoko continued, "And it has some nice activities for couples. And you know since our anniversary was-"
"I don't want to," he replied flatly.
Kotoko was disappointed, and said "Huh? But why…"
"It's silly. Why would I waste my time doing something like that?"
"Well…Uh…" she said, as she struggled to find the right words to say to him.
You went to something "silly" with her…
At this point she desperately wanted to tell him that she knew. Not that he would care though. He would just get annoyed with her for spying.
It seems like she had some pride after all.
It was then that she heard Yumi's words in her head.
…he didn't even hesitate to tell you, his wife, no.
Kotoko shook her head in disbelief.
That doesn't mean anything!
"I'm gonna go see if mother needs something!" said Kotoko as she found an excuse to leave the room.
Afterwards, the family drank their tea and talked for a while, and the day eventually came to an end.
Kotoko and Naoki went up to their bedroom and started getting ready for bed. By the time Kotoko got out of the bathroom, Naoki was fast asleep.
He must be so tired…
Kotoko laid down on her side of the bed, and faced her husband. She smiled as she watched him sleep.
He looks so handsome when he sleeps too…
She smoothed his hair and continued to watch him.
He's tired and probably stressed out. That's why he said no.
She yawned as she felt her eyes practically force themselves shut. She then fell asleep.
Kotoko made her way downstairs. It was Monday morning, and she and Naoki were working today. They had the same shift. Which meant she could walk to and from work with him. She was elated.
The two ate breakfast, said goodbye and left together. They eventually reached the hospital, and went to their respective departments.
Kotoko changed into her nursing uniform and started with her first task for the day. She was actually pretty good at her job now. She was used to giving injections and knew how to handle the more rude and moody patients, but nobody really gave her credit for that. She was still known as the "clumsy and incompetent" nurse with a husband who was too good for her. Nevertheless, she did her best everyday.
Kotoko worked throughout the morning, and eventually went for a break. She got herself some tea and sat down with her friend Motoki.
"So…" Motoki began, "how are things with Irie-kun?" she asked.
"It's been good, I guess," Kotoko replied.
Motoki raised her eyebrows, "really?"
"Yeah" Kotoko replied, "Why wouldn't they be?"
"I mean…That intern has been hanging around him a lot. And people are gossiping more and more"
"What? Really?" Kotoko said. She was exasperated.
"Ah! There he is" she said as she pointed to Naoki walking in.
"What? Where?!" Kotoko said excitedly as she stood up.
She looked to her right and saw that Naoki was indeed entering the room. And…Youko was walking next to him. Suddenly, Kotoko didn't want to approach him anymore. She sat back down.
"Hey" Motoki said "I said he's right there"
"Yeah" Kotoko said as she laughed nervously, "You're right…"
"You're not gonna go up to him?"
Motoko stared at Kotoko for a few seconds, with a slightly confused expression on her face.
"Uhh…well…idk"
"I mean if you won't, I will~" said Motoki as she approached Naoki and his colleague.
"Hey!" Kotoko said as she followed her friend.
"Hello, Irie-kun!" said Motoki as she approached Naoki.
"Hello, Kikyou" Naoki replied.
"Hi, Irie-kun~" said Kotoko with a smile.
"Naoki-kun", said Youko, "Why does your wife call you by your last name?
Naoki…Since when does she call him Naoki?
Youko had a smirk on her face as she looked at the nurse in front of her.
"Hey, Kotoko-san, you should've seen the musical the other day. It was amazing."
She continued to try and get a reaction from her. She said "You've probably never seen one together haven't you?".
Kotoko looked at her husband to see if he would say something. Naoki didn't say anything. That upset Kotoko.
"Stop looking at him", Youko said, "He doesn't care about you-"
Kotoko couldn't take it anymore. She took the nearest water bottle and threw the water on her face.
Everyone in the room was shocked. They all stared at the scene in front of them.
"Kotoko!" Naoki yelled, "What are you doing?"
Now he wants to say something?
Youko was furious. She wiped her face and yelled "Are you insane?!"
"What about you?! How long are you gonna flirt with someone else's husband?" Kotoko yelled back.
"You're actually crazy," Youko said, seething with rage.
Naoki tried to scold his wife.
"Kotoko, what has-"
"Just admit it!" Kotoko said, with tears in her eyes, "You two are having an affair aren't you?!"
Everyone gasped and started whispering amongst themselves.
"Is it true?"
"...I mean I had a feeling…"
"...I mean, I don't blame him…"
"...Seems like hes finally come to his senses…"
Kotoko heard that one. She took a step back, realised that everyone was watching and ran out.
The minute they finished work, Naoki grabbed Kotoko by her wrist and didn't let go until they got home.
He eventually let go of her wrist, closed the bedroom door behind them and then turned to face his wife, who was standing and fidgeting with her fingers.
"What has gotten into you lately!?" Naoki asked.
Kotoko didn't know what to say.
"You've been acting more weird than normal. Get a hold of yourself."
Kotoko suddenly felt angry. She had never felt this angry before.
His words echoed in her mind.
Get a hold of yourself.
She felt something in the pit of her stomach. She had to get it out. She looked up at her husband and decided to do just that.
"WHY DON'T YOU!?" Kotoko yelled.
Noaki was taken aback.
"Huh?" he replied.
"It seems you like her more than me anyway, so why don't you just go be with her?! If you hate spending time with me that much, then that's what you should do!" she yelled.
Naoki looked at her like she was crazy.
She continued, "You never tell other people that you're not with her! And you don't stop her when she insults me!" she said with tears streaming down her face, "...Just go be with her. Eveyone already knows anyway-"
Naoki slammed his hand on the table and was visibly angry.
"What's the matter with you?!" he yelled.
Kotoko was startled.
"I don't know how long you're gonna continue to act this way" he said, "It's like dealing with a child. Always so insecure"
"I-" said Kotoko. She didn't know what to say.
"If you can't contain your immaturity and your jealousy for five seconds-"
"I'm not-"
"Then maybe you shouldn't love a doctor!"
Kotoko was stunned. She felt her stomach turn. Her entire body was hot and she felt dizzy.
She struggled to find the words to say. She had heard this from him before, but it felt different this time. She couldn't tell what was real anymore. She felt like she was losing her mind.
Naoki had been unaware of the woman's intentions on their honeymoon. But this time, he had seen everything in front of him. Was she really blowing this out of proportion? Was she really crazy?
"I-Uh-I…" she stammered.
"Forget it. I'm leaving. Naoki said coldly, "Don't follow me". He left and shut the door behind him.
Kotoko sank to her knees.
What have I done?