"Aunt, Uncle... you knew?"Tsubaki"s question echoed in the silent living room.
Aunt Touko hung her head low while Uncle Kiyonaga seemed like he was searching for the right words to answer Tsubaki but, even after a while, the couple remained in silence.
Tsubaki"s lips parted slightly, disbelief crossed her face. In a second, all the painful emotions she tried to contain since the moment she stepped inside this village crashed onto her. Her fingers trembled, a layer of mist blurred her eyes and even in the heat of summer, she felt cold.
So cold...
"Tsubaki!"
Ren immediately stood up when Tsubaki suddenly slumped forward. His st.u.r.dy hands caught her before she fell from the couch. Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga reacted swiftly, both of them tried to catch Tsubaki but she was already safe in her husband"s arms.
Tsubaki leaned against his chest, one of her hands placed on his arm as she stared at the couple"s terrified faces. Ren"s hands felt so solid on her shoulders and waist. She took a deep breath, refusing to allow herself being toyed with her own emotions.
After a while, the clarity in her eyes returned.
"Aunt Touko, Uncle Kiyonaga, I"d really appreciate it if you"d tell me everything that you knew," Tsubaki arranged her words properly, even though her voice sounded calm but she couldn"t hide the terror she felt behind it. "Satsuki and I have already known that we"re not biological siblings so I really need your cooperation."
"What? You already knew?"
"Yes." Tsubaki nodded, her gaze remained steady.
Tsubaki saw that the old couple was pondering over her words as the two of them looked at each other before their eyes were directed to her. The little girl whom they had watched growing up since years ago had really prosper to be an admirable lady. Since young, Tsubaki wasn"t one to cause worry for the people around her and it didn"t change.
Even after she was seeking for the truth, she did it in a composed manner instead of wailing and blaming others.
"Alright..."
Aunt Touko eventually agreed. Uncle Kiyonaga who sat beside her nodded, supporting his wife"s decision. Tsubaki had already known so what was the point of keeping the secret? It had been over two decades. How much longer should they conceal it?
"Sweetheart?" Ren called softly from behind. He only spoke when it was needed. Seeing the couple"s tense faces, he added, "Why don"t we talk tomorrow? It"s getting late."
Tsubaki glanced at the grandfather clock, stood tall at a corner of the living room. She remembered the times when she and Satsuki would always feel awe whenever the clock chimed. It was one of her colorful memories during her childhood.
The meaning behind his words was clear.
"Aunt, Uncle," Tsubaki smiled faintly. "Ren is right. It"s already late. We shouldn"t impose on your time any longer. So, I hope by tomorrow I could hear what you knew of Mom"s secret. May I?"
"You may," Uncle Kiyonaga answered with a nod. "You have our promise."
"Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."
After bidding good night, the husband and wife left the Kuroki couple"s home. They came with excitement but only heavy thoughts filled their minds as they exited the door. Ren kept Tsubaki close to him, knowing there was a turmoil inside her heart.
They walked slowly on the quiet country road, lit by the street lights above them. The sound of cicadas filled the air, accompanying them home. Their fingers laced together as they walked in silence.
Ren cast a glance at Tsubaki, she had kept her head low since the moment they stepped out from the gate. A wave of emotions flickered in his dark eyes as he felt pained seeing her like that.
She looked so much in despair, so lost of hope.
"Love?"
"En?"
Tsubaki looked up to Ren when he suddenly stopped walking. She paused her steps, looking at him with confusion. Their hands were still connected to each other when Ren suddenly pulled her toward him. Tsubaki crashed against his st.u.r.dy chest as Ren caught her waist with a hand.
"Hubby?" Tsubaki was baffled, she raised her eyes to meet his. They were so dark even under the moonlight.
"You"re thinking of what Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga said, right?" Ren placed one palm on her left cheek, his thumb moved in slow circles. "I know it"s hard to wait for it but I hope you could have a good sleep tonight. You"re tired, sweetheart. I could see it."
Tsubaki pursed her lips, the tough front she masked herself in front of the old couple began to crack as she felt so secure and safe with him. Ren noticed the changed in her eyes. His smile was so soft as he dipped his head toward her and pressed his thin lips over hers. Tsubaki tip-toed slightly, accepting his kiss.
He was so gentle with her. She could feel all the love he had for her, pouring inside her heart. It was so warm.
Tsubaki felt a sense of familiarity once she pulled away, her eyes looking at his face with the light of the moon gleamed on his back. A smile blossomed beautifully on her face.
As if being echanted by him, she said, "Darling, I am in love with you."
Her voice was so soft, so tender and her eyes were dreamy, sparkling with stars.
There was a slight shock on Ren"s face once she finished confessing her love before a wide smile broke on his handsome face. He looked so happy when he suddenly put his hands on the sides of her waist, further decreasing the distance between them.
"I am bedazzled by you, sweetheart," His deep voice echoed in the quiet night. His eyes twinkled in happiness.
Tsubaki giggled, the sorrow from before had slowly faded away all thanks to her magnificent husband. Ren smiled in relief when he saw the smile on her face. He didn"t want her to carry the heaviness of her heart to bed. At the very least, before they met the couple again tomorrow, she wouldn"t be bothered by a sleepless night.
Tsubaki loved seeing him smiling to her. He was always there whenever she felt down and tried his best to comfort her. She would have a good night sleep tonight, she was sure of it.
So, she wanted to cheer him up too.
"Dear, I want to say something," Tsubaki took both of his hands from her waist, her slender fingers felt so soft under his skin. She slowly twirled his hands, marveling at the roughness of his palms.
"What it is, sweetheart?" Ren smiled, he just let her play with his hands.
Tsubaki placed the tip of her index finger on his wedding ring, warmth enveloped her heart as she looked at the ring but not for long as she was reminded of his words of regret when he talked to Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga earlier. A pang of guilt stabbed her heart.
She wanted him to stop blaming himself.
"Whenever you want to blame yourself over what happened years ago, I want you to think of us after we met again," Tsubaki said slowly. She locked her gaze on his, a layer of tenderness guise over her small face.
Ren immediately understood what she wanted to say. His smiled turned rueful. She was trying to make him happy and he was grateful over it. But, it wasn"t easy for him to forget it and treat it as something without importance.
"It"s true that I did leave you."
When he said the words, the calm and composure he always shown to other people were nowhere to be found in his voice. In an instance, Tsubaki saw a boy needed rea.s.surance in front of her.
He was cold and aloof to the outside world yet he trusted her enough to show her his moments of weaknesses. It took him time to completely let go of his tough mask but over time, he knew she accepted the demons warring inside him and let her embraced his weaknesses.
"We need to move forward, okay?" Tsubaki placed her hands on the collars of his shirt, slightly pulling him down as she spoke against his lips. "All that matter is we are together. Always."
Ren closed his eyes. Savoring the softness of hers. Her presence had touched the softest part of his heart, a part he once guarded with the st.u.r.diest wall, afraid to let anyone came into contact with it.
She didn"t break the wall hastily, leaving the sharp pieces around to hurt him. Instead, she melted it with her warmth and love until he could only have her in his heart.
The cicadas continued humming around them as the two souls were lost in their own world.
After a while, Tsubaki let him go. Under the moonlight, he could see how flushed her cheeks were.
His wife was so beautiful, his G.o.ddess.
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"Let"s go home?" Ren interlocked their fingers together again, earning a bright smile from Tsubaki.
"Okay!"
The husband and wife walked in harmony toward their home. As Tsubaki had predicted, she slept peacefully beside him.