Even though my parent's visit was a mess in the beginning, especially with them finding out that Heiji and I live together, it ended up working out for the best. Now that the truth is out and my parents gave us their blessing, it felt like a weight was off my shoulders. I could finally be with Heiji without feeling that pressure and anxiety.
My parents decided to go sleep in a hotel for the night, much to my dad's dismay but my mom was able to convince him and left with a wink on her face insinuating that Heiji and I can have the freedom to do whatever we wanted.
Heiji and I blushed at what my mom did and looked at each other awkwardly. Heiji and I haven't reached that far yet in our relationship, especially with everything that happened to us the last few days, and to be honest I don't think I'm ready to take the next step yet. Especially since it's going to be my first time. I doubt it's going to be his, but I don't really care.
After my parents left, Heiji and I ordered pizza and watched whatever TV show was on at that moment.
I took my last bite and said, "Alright then, I'm going to sleep. I'm extremely tired, especially after the roller coaster of emotions I felt when my parents came."
"Yeah, I think I'll go to bed too." Heiji replied.
We cleaned up the living room and went to the kitchen to drink some water and put everything in the trash.
I cleared my throat and awkwardly said, "Okay… Well good night, Heiji."
"Good night." He replied.
I just smiled at him and walked towards my room. Suddenly I felt his hands around my wrist pulling me towards him. He put his other hand on my waist and turned me around and kissed me on the lips.
I blinked, surprised at the sudden kiss. He saw my face and understood what I was thinking.
"Good night kiss." He simply said.
"Oh okay." I said, then I pulled his shirt and kissed him back, while playing with his soft black hair. He definitely approved of it as I could feel his lips slightly smiling against mine.
-.-
I only had two classes at college today, and I was so excited to be done with them because I wanted to talk to my friends. I haven't talked to them since I was arrested and I'm pretty sure they're extremely worried about me.
I was finally done with them, and I ran to the coffee shop that we usually hang out in. I saw them sitting in the same place we usually sit in and ran to them.
Aoko recognized me first since she sat across the door and immediately stood up from her seat causing everyone to turn around in curiosity.
"KAZUHA!" Everyone in the coffee shop heard Aoko as she screamed my name and hugged me.
I hugged her back so hard I'm pretty sure she couldn't breathe, just like how I couldn't from how hard she hugged me.
I didn't know how much I needed her hug until I felt the tears running down my face. It just felt so good to be back. To be back with my friends, back in the university, back to normal life. Well, as normal as my life was, which wasn't really that normal.
I looked up and found Kaito and Sonoko looking at me with sad smiles. I hugged them both so hard, not wanting to let go, until a passerby coughed because we were blocking their way.
We apologized and moved out of the way. Sonoko held my hand and walked me to the table, "Come on, you must tell us EVERYTHING. We were worried sick about you."
"Girl, I don't even know where to start." I said as I sat down in my usual seat.
"Start from the arrest." Kaito said.
I immediately felt my body tense up, my back and neck stiffening. My body almost immediately shifted to a flight or flight mode just from remembering what happened. I told them what happened, from how Heiji attacked me in a fit of anger, then the FBI's arrest, the interrogation, how I was freed, Natsu's betrayal, then how Heiji and I reconciled and are in a relationship and my parents know.
"Woah." That's all Aoko said.
After a few minutes of silence, Sonoko asked, "How did you feel at that moment?"
I was speechless. I didn't know how to answer her questions. Somehow telling them what happened was much easier than telling them how I felt. How did I feel? I felt all sorts of emotions and it was hard to explain. Almost like the words weren't forming and I was tongue-tied.
"I- I don't know. It was crazy honestly."
I hated it, the way they looked at me with pity. Like I'm some sort of victim. I know they are worried about me, especially after the insane things that happened to me, but I just didn't feel like talking about that anymore.
"Anyway, is Hattori a good kisser?" Kaito asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
I didn't know whether to be thankful that Kaito changed the subject or kill him for the new topic he decided to bring up.
"Kaito!" I warned him, but I could feel my traitorous cheeks turn red making my glare less threatening.
Aoko and Sonoko looked at me expectantly their eyes sparkling with curiosity, and I knew they would never drop it unless I answered Kaito's question. I sighed in defeat, "Yes, he's a very good kisser."
"Well, obviously. He had a lot of practice with Lauren." Sonoko said.
My embarrassment turned into anger at the thought of that, and I smacked Sonoko's arms.
"Ouch!" Sonoko exclaimed as she rubbed her arm to soothe the pain, "You should hit him not me." She whined.
"Well, he's not here, is he?" I said, "Plus you're the one who decided to mention that stupid thing."
"You mean his fling with Lauren." Kaito said teasingly with a smirk, before his face changed into pain when I pulled his ear, "Kazuhaaa!"
The girls and I started laughing at Kaito and his red ear. I truly missed them and their craziness. I'm so lucky to have them.
They were there to support me and make me laugh. It didn't go unnoticed how Kaito would pull up some crazy stunt or magic trick to distract us from people's looks towards me, or the gossip about the murderer in campus, AKA me. I smiled at him, silently thanking him. He smiled back and winked.
-.-
Later that day, I went back to Heiji and I's apartment and decided to cook us some dinner. I went for something easy, spaghetti with tomato sauce. It was a nice distraction since I didn't want to sit and wait for him in silence and have my thoughts swallow me whole.
When he finally came back from his classes, we had dinner together and made small talk. Looking from the outside everything seemed normal. A couple who live together are having dinner and talking about their day. But it was everything but normal.
Heiji would smile, but his eyes were still haunted. I laughed at his silly comments, but my body was locked up, and my heart filled with grief. I knew we needed to talk about this, but the thought of confronting our thoughts, feeling and fears just seemed harder than just sweeping it under the rug.
"By the way, I going to Osaka. I'm booking the earliest flight." Heiji said after finishing his last bite.
My eyes widened and I was taken aback. I knew he was going to go eventually, especially because he needed to visit his father, but for some reason I thought he would include me in his decision.
"I want to go with you." I said, my voice indicating that he can't and won't change my mind, "My parents are flying back tomorrow, maybe we can find seats in their flight."
He looked at me, assessing whether he should try to push me back or just let me go with him.
I sat across him with my arms crossed in front of my chest, I looked at him with my eyes narrowing, almost daring him to say no.
He sighed, "Alright. Send me their flight information, I'll see if there are any seats available."
I smiled, relived that he didn't make it so hard.
I texted my parents and asked them for the flight information, my heart racing with excitement.
I didn't realize just how much I missed Osaka. I can't wait to go back.
I'm coming back, Osaka. My home sweet home.
-.-
I can't believe I finally updated after two years. I'm not going to lie I was thinking of discontinuing this story, but after seeing the reviews I felt motivated to continue it. Now that I graduated, I have more free time and I definitely want to continue all my stories. Thank you for all the support and hopefully I will be updating soon.
