Clumsy at Love
Chapter 42: Here we go again
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½
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I don't want to let you go; I never want to let you go.
She heard him say, his face popping out inside her head.
I believe if we stay together, I can accomplish much greater things. He continued.
She wanted to believe that it's the only truth.
I don't want to force anything on you when you had enough.
"You should have tried harder." She muttered to herself.
I could give us time apart, to reflect on our situation and seriously consider your doubts and worries.
"Time? It's been a long time now." She retorted. "When are you coming back? Is returning even on your agenda? Have you changed your mind? Perhaps you've finally realized that what you felt was nothing more than pity and guilt?" She cried.
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
She suddenly sat up in her bed and reached for her cellphone on the bedside table, desperate to silence the haunting music playing.
"Akane?" she heard, followed by a gentle knocking on the door. The sound of Kasumi's voice lightens her mood somehow. "Are you still awake?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm here," Akane replied, "Come on in.
Kasumi entered her room. "Hey," she greeted, but her gaze quickly fell on Akane's red eyes. "Were you crying?"
"No, I'm not," Akane replied, attempting to deny it as she wiped her tears.
Kasumi suddenly stopped; her expression filled with concern.
"What?" she asked.
"Never mind," Kasumi then said, her voice tinged with hesitation. "You should rest early."
"No, it's fine. What is it?" Akane insisted.
"Are you sure? It's about Ranma," Kasumi replied, her gaze showing genuine worry.
"What about him?" Akane asked, her voice trembled.
"It's just that... we wanted to let you know that Tofu and I were planning to invite Ranma to our wedding."
Akane found herself momentarily without words, then exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind?! It's your wedding; naturally, you can invite anyone you choose." A mixture of nervousness and anticipation stirred in her stomach.
"We truly hoped he could attend, but we felt it was important for you to be aware."
She vigorously nodded, "Don't concern yourself with me; I'll manage," she uttered amid a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
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Ever since Kasumi had raised the possibility of inviting Ranma to her wedding, Her world had been immersed in a perpetual state of unrest. Her mind frequently drifted towards the eagerly anticipated day.
In her dreams, she painted vivid pictures of the moment when she would finally encounter him once more, not confined to the confines of a screen or the pages of a book, but in the tangible world. She craved that face-to-face reunion, an opportunity to gaze into his eyes again.
She pondered on how their meeting might unfold this time. Would he be taken aback by the transformed Akane standing before him? She had painstakingly grown her hair long once more, tended to her skin meticulously, and mastered the art of carrying herself with grace. She wondered if he would feel a sense of pride upon discovering her achievements—her journey from a fiery-tempered girl to a poised lady.
Her heart throbbed with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the day. The ache of missing him consumed her deeply.
Yet, what if he never arrived?
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Ranma had returned, but to her great dismay, he was accompanied by his new angel, who irritatingly radiate an otherworldly grace, as usual.
And if he resembled a celebrity before, he's now an actual celebrity, attracting an even larger following. Crowds gathered around him, eager to glimpse the man who had evolved into a genuine icon.
Now, she wished they hadn't come at all; their tardiness not only disrupted the event but also overshadowed the true stars. And the irritation lingered, prompting her to question Kasumi and Doctor Ono's choice to include him in the invitation.
However, she was acutely aware within herself that she harbored a personal grudge against the individual in question, making her irritation invalid. The excitement she once held for this day now seemed hollow and devoid of meaning. Regret filled her as she recognized the futility of the time and effort invested in dressing up. An audible grumble escaped her repeatedly.
It was becoming painfully evident that he had moved on, and it hurt deeply. It seemed as though he had completely erased her from his memory. Despite the heartache, she found a small measure of comfort in the knowledge that he had at least, kept his promise. It seemed he had genuinely reflected on his emotions and, unfortunately, arrived at a conclusion—that his feelings for her were once exaggerated.
"Good for him," she thought bitterly as she raised the glass of wine to her lips and drained it in a single, desperate gulp. Setting the empty glass down with a firm thud, she pushed herself up from her seat, her movements abrupt and filled with unresolved emotions.
Why was everyone seeming so nonchalant? Why couldn't they read the atmosphere? Ranma is back but back with another woman. Why can't they see that it's hurting her? Right, they were not good at reading each other specially in times like this or they did but they were just giving her time and space she needed, as always.
Right. She wants to be alone.
"Where are you going?" asked Nabiki as she watched her sister's turbulent expression.
"Washroom," she replied curtly.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Nabiki offered.
"No, I'm alright," she said, her tone trying to convey a façade of composure. Nabiki let her go, but as she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling of Nabiki's watchful gaze lingering on her back.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" came the curious question from one of the girls gathered around Ranma. Her heart raced with anticipation as she eagerly awaited his response. Unaware of it, she held her breath, as if the answer would reveal some long-kept secret.
"I actually have a wife," his words fell upon her ears like an unexpected thunderclap, catching her completely off-guard. A swirl of emotions engulfed her in that moment - surprise, disbelief, and an ache that she hadn't anticipated.
"Wife?" her mind repeated, a stunned echo reverberating through her thoughts.
"That couldn't be me; we're already divorced," she thought, her inner voice providing the answer to her own bewildering question.
The realization hit her like a tidal wave. "Had he really moved on and married someone?!" her mind screamed, the weight of this newfound truth sinking deep into her consciousness. The shock and disbelief were overwhelming, leaving her grappling with a mix of emotions she hadn't expected.
"You have a wife?!" the lady exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise and disappointment. "You already have a wife? That's a shame," she added, shaking her head in disapproval.
Ranma couldn't help but laugh at the lady's reaction. "Yes, she's here actually," he added and about to look around but she then bolted from the scene as fast as her feet could carry her, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.
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Ranma had been discreetly trailing his wife for a while now, his observations leaving him awestruck. She had become a completely different Akane, better in every way by the way, yet still familiar.
When he had made the decision to leave, he had promised himself that this time he wouldn't falter. He vowed that he wouldn't check on her, ask for recent photos, or try to contact her in any way. He knew all too well how challenging it was for him to adhere to these self-imposed rules but he made it anyway.
The satisfaction he feeling right at this moment, finally laying eyes on her once more, was beyond compare. It felt like all the sacrifices and promises he had made to himself seem entirely worthwhile.
But why did she look so down? Wasn't she as thrilled to see him again as he was? Had she not missed him during their time apart? He couldn't help but wonder if she felt proud of his achievements or if she harbored resentment over his decision to pursue his dreams and leave. These questions weighed on his mind, creating a sense of unease amidst his happiness.
But no matter what he will not back down this time. He will pursue her no matter how hard and how long but being apart from each other will never be an option this time around. What matters most is she did not hate him and he had already given what she wanted to gain, her peace of mind. This time around, he hoped and prayed that she would cooperate working out this relationship he wanted to keep for the rest of his life, they are not getting any younger for goodness' sake. He grumbled inwardly.