Chapter 3

Ryosuke went out for a ride to vent his frustration at Akagi. He pulled over at the parking space and leaned himself against the guardrail. His mind was the expression of Rika earlier that replayed repeatedly. The past between them was slowly playing in his mind about his 'wife'. He smiled faintly when he thought of Rika bit his hand on the wedding night, the cheerful girl who tried to cheer him up when he was down. Deep inside himself, he slowly thought of how Rika would feel about his proposal to Harumi. All Rika's expression was occupied in his mind and he tried to shake those pictures off.

Takahashi Mansion

Rika was sobbing as she lay on her bed. She stared blank into the ceiling as she thought of Ryosuke. She admitted to herself that she had a feeling for him. She tried her best to hide her feeling and not to show it to anyone even though she cared for him. Rika felt that she was an idiot for not controlling herself.

"Stupid Rika!" she pouted and wiped off her tears. "He won't love you anyway. He is Harumi's. I'm the bad girl who snatched him from someone he loves…"

Next Morning

At 5 o'clock, Rika woke up very early in the morning to avoid Ryosuke. She quickly washed up and left the house before Ryosuke woke up. She tried to occupy herself with her study as she traveled. In the meanwhile, Ryosuke looked at the note on the kitchen table, frowned and left the house. He knew that Rika was avoiding him, even if he wanted to apologize. As soon as he reached school, he tried to look for Rika. However, he just stared at her from his classroom as he watched Rika sitting on her desk.

"Rika," Namika called.

Rika looked up at her friend before lowered her gaze at the desk.

"What happened to your eyes?" Namika asked with concern when she saw her swollen eyes.

"Nothing," Rika replied and continued to read her book.

"You cried? Why? What happened?" Namika persisted.

"Namika, I'm very tired." She replied softly. "I don't know what to do. I…" she slowly told Namika about the incident.

"Rika, stay away from him then." Namika told her friend.

Rika nodded.

Rika walked along the corridor during the lunchtime. Harumi was walking on the opposite direction towards the canteen. She saw Rika and stopped, looked at Rika with disgust before she continued.

Takahashi Mansion

Ryosuke listen to the soft door closing from the next room and looked at his watch. '5.35pm' It was a little later than Rika's normal class, which made him wondered where she had been. He stood outside the linked balcony and watched Rika stepped out of the bathroom. He knocked softly on the glass door and stepped into her room before she could give any permission. Rika stared at her book as she listened to his steps toward her.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," he apologized.

"No, don't say that. I should be the one who say sorry. I'm sorry." Rika apologized as she stared at the book.

Ryosuke looked at Rika's back for a while. She just had her shower. He could smell the sweet floral scent which made himself wanted to get closer to her. He gently touched her wet long hair. Rika was dumbfounded and stoned in her seat. Her heart was pounding faster and faster, as if it was coming to stop. The next second, Ryosuke rushed out of the room.

"What's wrong with me?" Ryosuke asked himself as he leaned against his bedroom door.

Rika did not come down for dinner as she locked herself in her room. She did not know how to face Ryosuke. She needed to stay away from him so that he would not know her feelings for him. Keisuke looked at his brother and guessed that something was off from his brother expression. He chose to keep quiet as he watched his Aniki looked upstairs with worries. Keisuke shrugged and went out as usual.

Rika looked at her phone, hesitated to dial someone on the other side. Suddenly, her phone rang. She sighed for a second, took a deep breath and answered it.

"Kito," Rika greeted. "I'm fine… everything is okay… ok! Ja ne!" she hung up.

Rika slowly dressed up before she sneaked out of the house. She waited at the back door for her friend. As soon as a black Supra arrived, Rika got into the car and left.

Sakito looked at his childhood friend with concern. He knew that she must have been having a hard time staying at Takahashi's house. As a good friend of Ryosuke, he knew what Rika would be gone through.

"I'm fine, Kito. Look at me! I'm the unbeatable Rika," Rika said with a fake smile, trying hard to be happy.

"Liar," Sakito replied. "You can't deceive me. Anything that you wanna share?"

Rika shook her head, "Nothing."

"Rika, be patient. I know Ryosuke; he'll realize how fortunate to have you one day. He's just stressed about the arrangement and he needs time to adjust," Sakito told his friend.

"Thanks, Kito. You're the only friend I have now." Rika said softly.

"Silly girl," Sakito shook his head.

"Let's go for another round of spin and I must go back before Ryosuke find out," Rika told her driver.

"Okay," Sakito nodded.

Early that evening, Sakito sent Rika home at the same place that he picked her up. He got out of his Supra and opened the door for Rika before he walked her to the gate.

"Rika, if you're upset or need someone to talk to, call me." Sakito said.

Rika nodded and got back into the house before she quietly sneaked back into her room.

Ryosuke sat in the living room quietly early the next morning and waited for Rika to come down. He knew that she would try to avoid him again. It had been a week that she did not take the family car to school. Rika quietly walked down the stairs, heading for the main entrance. She was shocked when she saw Ryosuke at the sofa. Cueing from Ryosuke's gesture, she slowly dragged herself to the sofa before she sat down in front of him.

Ryosuke looked at his watch and said, "6 o'clock. Where are you going?"

Rika studied the floor and replied, "I'm going to school."

"Rika, you don't need to avoid me. I'm apologized for what I've done earlier," Ryosuke said sincerely. His behavior earlier was too childish. It has been months and it was not a bad thing to have her living together in this house.

"Please don't say that. I shouldn't trouble your family. Actually, I can stay with my grandparents. But I don't know why my parents arranged this to happen." Rika replied. "You're right. I should object it earlier. I'm sorry. Like what you have told me earlier, we'll divorce once we're allowed to do so."

Both of them remained silent, as Ryosuke looked at Rika with a deep thought.

"Ryosuke, you can do anything you want to. If you wanna be with your girlfriend, I'll keep it a secret for you. I'm fine with it," Rika added and stood up.

Ryosuke watched the girl left the house even though he wanted to ask her to go to school with him. He replayed their conversation again, unknowingly deep inside himself started to change but by bit. He was too harsh on her.

Ryosuke's Classroom

Sakito took a few glances at Ryosuke who seemed to be much quiet that usual. He walked over to Ryosuke while the Hideki and Tokio followed behind as usual.

"Hey, Ryosuke. What's wrong?" Sakito asked straightforwardly.

"I'm okay," Ryosuke replied.

"Ryosuke, do you want to go over to the canteen with us? We're having lunch with Harumi." Tokio asked.

"Hey, let's go. You've not seen her for some time," Hideki persuaded.

"Yah! Don't tell me you scare that ugly duckling see?" Tokio smirked. "Ryosuke, that's not you!"

"Guys, mind your own business. Why can't you address Rika by the name?" Sakito asked, as he was irritated.

"Why? Sakito! Which part of you is not comfortable?" Tokio asked. "I'm doing Ryosuke a favour. Do you think he's happy to be with that ugly duckling? He and Harumi are together and they're still now!"

"Leave me alone," Ryosuke told his friends off and walked out of the room.

He passed Rika's classroom, glanced for a few seconds when he saw Rika was sitting quietly at a corner of the room, looking out of the window. He continued heading for a quiet place within the building. Sakito shook his head at Tokio and Hideki before he walked off too. He could not be bothered with them as he found that what they were doing was simply childish. There was no point to join them making fun of Rika and help Harumi to get back Ryosuke.

"How are you feeling?" Sakito said.

Ryosuke looked up, as he sat quietly in his position listening to the two familiar voices.

"I'm fine, thanks." A female voice replied.

"You don't look good." Sakito told the girl. "I feel that you have totally changed to another person… to someone I hardly know."

"Really? I think I'm just to stress up." She replied. "Kito, don't worry. I can handle it!"

Ryosuke thought to himself, "Rika… Sakito… Hmm… that's why she can just simply tell me this morning that I can do whatever I like." He clenched his fist tight, without realizing where the anger came from.

Sakito watched Rika left the rooftop, as he knew that she did not want to talk much about it. He soon left the place without noticing that Ryosuke was there too.

Takahashi's Mansion

Rika was studying in her room since she came back. She must find something to occupy herself so that she would not feel bored. She laid on her bed, looked through the book, noted down on her notebook and listening to music at the same time. Ryosuke got out of his room to get a fresh air at the balcony. He was quite curious about what Rika was doing and took a peep into her room. He flushed when he saw her skirt flipped up, short enough to see her white underwear and her slim legs. He turned away and got a few puff before he got back to his room.

"Ryosuke, it's dinner time," Rika called as she knocked on his door.

Ryosuke opened the door and nodded, "coming, thanks."

He slowly followed her down to the dining room. He watched Rika's back as he followed, noticing her small frame and thin waist. "Is she losing weight or something?" he thought.

At the dinner, Rika was quietly eaten her meal. She ate a bit of each dish before she excused herself back to her room. Ryosuke looked at the leftover food, concerned about her small appetite. The house once again became very quiet as if he was staying alone.

It had been weeks that Ryosuke had not spoken a word to Rika and neither did her. Rika had been staying in her room everyday after school. Ryosuke was concerned about her quietness. He knocked at the glass door that linked on their balcony.

Rika looked up at Ryosuke who was standing on the other side of the door. She slowly opened the door.

"I'll be having a birthday party tomorrow. I'm inviting you along so see you tomorrow morning downstairs." Ryosuke told Rika.

"Your birthday?" Rika asked in her surprise.

Ryosuke nodded as he smiled at her. Rika nodded and closed the door.

"His birthday? What kind of wife I am? I don't even know his birth date…"Rika thought and pissed off with herself. "How? What present should I get?" she looked at her watch and worried, as it was too late for her to get him a present.

Rika got out of the room quietly, heading to the kitchen.

At Midnight

Rika smiled at herself and the birthday cake that she just finished baking. She then frowned, as this was the only thing she could do. She stood outside the glass door at the balcony. She was quite happy to see that the light was still on and she knocked the door.

"Happy Birthday," Rika said with a smile as Ryosuke opened the sliding door.

He was surprised and slowly got out of his room.

"Make a wish," Rika told Ryosuke.

Ryosuke did as he was instructed. He made a wish and blew the candles.

"Thank you," he said to Rika.

"I'm sorry that I can't give you a proper present. I'll give you later," Rika apologized.

seeing how guilty she was, Ryosuke pulled her over before he wrapped his arms around her.

"It's enough. I don't need any more present," he told her, without realizing what he was doing.

Rika looked up at him, "Really?"

Ryosuke nodded. He brushed her hair, as he held her in his arms. He slowly kissed her lips gently. He broke their kisses and took a closer look at Rika.

"You haven't cut the cake," Rika mumbled as her mind went blank and she only remembered about cutting the cake.

Ryosuke shook his head with a smile, as the atmosphere was just destroyed. He cut the cake and had a few bites. He smiled at Rika's face when he saw a dot of whipped cream on the top of the lip. He then cleaned it with his lip before he kissed her again.

Next Morning

Rika woke up and slowly opened her eyes as she lay still on his bed. She looked at Ryosuke who was still asleep. She slowly replayed last night's incident and brushed. Ryosuke smiled at her expression as he was actually awaken for sometime. He gave her a quick hug before he got out of his bed. Rika quickly returned to her room to get change, as they were going to the party.

Ryosuke waited patiently with Keisuke at the living room. Keisuke was wondering about his brother who seemed to be happier than usual. They left as soon as Rika came down.

Ryosuke's Party

Hideki, Sakito and Tokio were chatting while waiting for the birthday boy at the party. They were looking around for Harumi, as Hideki proposed a small plan. Ryosuke arrived shortly with Keisuke and Rika. Rika watched Ryosuke and his friends, as she stood at the back of the crowd. Keisuke stepped a few steps back to stand beside Rika. Rika's heart sank when she saw Harumi and Ryosuke. It was reminding her that she should not be here. They were more compatible compared to her. Keisuke looked at Rika who was slowly stepped out of the room quietly. He followed her, as he wanted to make sure that she was alright. Rika sat at the bench near the pond, frowning as she lost in her thought.

"You should be inside," Keisuke told Rika as he sat down beside her.

"I should not be here. If there were no marriage, he would still be with Harumi." Rika replied sadly.

"Rika, don't say that." Keisuke tried to console her.

"Keisuke, I know a lot of things has changed since I appeared. I'm sorry." Rika said while studying at ground. "But it would be very sad if I were to leave Ryosuke."

Keisuke looked at Rika, understandingly as he knew what she meant. They were sitting there silently as both of them had some thoughts.

Rika got back to the party and was getting herself a drink when Tokio walked over. He grinned at Hideki, who joined him in a short while.

"Having fun here?" Tokio asked.

"It must be the first time an ugly duckling like you attend this type of party." Hideki remarked.

Rika lowered her head and turned back, when Harumi joined the guys with Sakito.

"You guys are so rude, you know." Harumi said with a smile.

"Oh really? I'm just telling the truth, right ugly duckling?" Hideki replied as he looked at Rika.

"I don't think it's nice to make a fool of her, let's go!" Harumi said.

Sakito looked at Rika for a second before he patted on her shoulder as he followed his friends. Rika sighed before she put the drink down and walked out of the party to a quiet place.

"What had I done? Why do they hate me so much?" Rika asked herself as her tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You've done nothing wrong?" Keisuke said as he sat down next to her. "It's just some nonsense from those rich kids!"

"If I were to object the proposal, they wouldn't have hated me so much, I guess!" Rika said.

"It's not your fault. Aniki or I don't have the choice when come to marriage issue. He knew it well and those guys too. The only problem is his friends." Keisuke replied. "I sometimes don't understand why Aniki chose to be with those guys."

"I miss my parents sometimes. If they're still here, I'd be happily living my life, be with my friends and do what I like. Ryosuke never cared for me, even I told him I'm lonely." Rika pouted.

"I'm such a naïve girl. I believe that he will accept me one day. I'm silly right?" Rika asked.

"You like Aniki?" Keisuke asked.

Rika nodded, "I'm silly, right? I told myself that I shouldn't, but I still falling for him. Keisuke, promise me that you won't tell anyone even your brother, please."

Keisuke nodded.

To be continued...