The morning sunlight was filtered through the windows. As the wind softly blew pa.s.sed the opened windows, the curtains swayed lazily. Tsubaki squinted her eyes as she was taking in her surroundings. After rubbing her eyes repeatedly, she realized she was laying down on her bed.The memories from last night crashed onto her.
Tsubaki pursed her lips tightly when the tears started to threaten down again. She quickly sat up, almost felt dizzy in the process.
"Sweetheart?"
The sound of the familiar voice made her lifted up her head. She felt like she was in a daze. She just stared blankly at him who was walking over to her in a rush. In an instant, she found that she was in his arms.
Tsubaki raised her hands, she grasped the back of his shirt.
"How are you feeling now?" Ren asked gently. He ran his fingers through her hair, the sweet scent of her shampoo calmed him.
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"Darling," Tsubaki pulled away slightly from him, trying to look into his eyes. "Can we return home?"
Ren nodded, immediately agreeing with her.
He understood his wife could no longer remain here. He had watched her overnight, she was so restless in her sleep and it pained him because he couldn"t do anything to ease her suffering. If before this he would always see her brightened eyes the moment she woke up, this time her eyes were so dull and fear was clouded them.
"We"ll be going home," Ren answered with his words. He softly brushed his lips on the s.p.a.ce between her brows. "We"ll be going home, don"t worry, sweetheart."
Tsubaki nodded. She hid her face in his embrace.
Before they started their journey, the husband and wife went to meet the Kuroki couple. Both of them looked awful, as much as Tsubaki. Tsubaki thanked them for being truthful and promised that she would contact them soon. Aunt Touko hugged her tightly, whispering words of courage to her. Uncle Kiyonaga swore he would help her if she needed anything.
Their ride to the airport was so quiet. Only the ballads sung by Tsubaki"s favorite singers filled the silence. Ren didn"t let go of her hands as he drove. Even when they arrived at the airport, he never wandered far from her.
Hibiki came to get them at the city airport even before the plane landed. He sensed something was off when he saw the expression on his Madam"s face. The cheery look of hers was exchanged with a downhearted one. His Master looked sullen too.
Did they find something in the village?
As he didn"t want to interfere with his Madam"s personal s.p.a.ce, Hibiki swiftly drove them to Spring Garden. The silence suffocated him. When he sneaked a glance through the rearview mirror, he saw his Madam was sleeping on his Master"s chest. His Master looked so worried as he peered at his wife"s tired face.
"I won"t go to the company," Ren said to Hibiki once they alighted the car. Tsubaki was clinging to his side while his hand supported her waist. "Send everything that"s important to my e-mail. I expect no disturbance."
"Yes, Master."
Hibiki gestured for the bodyguards to take the luggage from the trunk as he watched the couple disappeared inside the elevator. He let out a heavy sigh. Something did happen and without a doubt, it was related to his Madam"s background.
Once the husband and wife entered their home, Tsubaki quickly pressed herself on his chest, both of her hands encircled his waist. Ren smiled bitterly, he closed the door behind him with his free hand while the other pulled her to be even closer to him.
"We are home, sweetheart," he whispered by her right ear, his tone was calm and low in contrast with the tumultuous thoughts inside his mind. "We are home."
"En." Tsubaki nodded. She didn"t want to be apart from him even though she felt guilty for clinging to him like this.
Ren seemed to understand her when he bent down to carry her in his arms. His dark eyes searched for her dimmed ones, a small smile lingered at the corners of his lips before he said, "I"ll stay with you, okay?"
The light in her eyes returned for a moment as she heard him, she smiled faintly. "En."
Ren carried her upstairs, his long legs walked steadily toward their bedroom. It had only been a few days yet he had already missed this place.
He immediately turned on the air conditioning system, chasing away the heat of summer. After he unb.u.t.toned the collars of his shirt, Ren helped Tsubaki to undress. He pa.s.sed her a short-sleeved lilac cotton dress to her before he went to change into something light. Ren returned with a grey sleeveless V-neck T-shirt and a pair of black short pants reaching his knees.
"Lunchtime has pa.s.sed and you haven"t eaten yet," Ren sat at her side, he untied her high ponytail, letting her long hair fell below her waist. "What do you want to eat? I"ve already asked Hibiki to restock the ingredients in the fridge before we came back. He has even cooked rice for us."
Tsubaki stared at him as she was pondering. She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt before she quietly muttered out a few words. "Could you make omurice?"
Ren was startled before he laughed awkwardly. "Sweetheart, I"m flattered when you like my cooking but... I"m afraid the omelet won"t look good."
He was confident in frying the rice but to wrapped the omelet beautifully over the rice? It could end in a disaster.
Tsubaki giggled, her eyes brightened when she thought of the possibility. "You could just place the omelet on the rice if you couldn"t wrap it. It"s okay."
Ren smiled helplessly. He rubbed the side of her head affectionately as he was relieved to see her smiling. "Okay. If it"s alright with you."
Tsubaki quickly nodded, she was afraid he would change his mind. After wearing their home slippers, both of them went downstairs. Ren turned on the stereo, letting one of his favorite songs echoed in the living room.
"This is..." Tsubaki recognized the song. This was one of her favorites too. She looked up to her husband, her lips curled up into a small smile. "Love in the Ice?"
Ren nodded, he returned her smile.
As the soulful vocals of the singers reached till the kitchen, Tsubaki followed Ren to the kitchen island. Ren brought out a few ingredients from the fridge. He refused when she offered her help.
"Just stay still," Ren lightly gripped her shoulders as he pressed her down to sit on the tall stool. "I could handle the cooking."
"Okay..."
Ren smiled when he saw her dejected face. He kissed her nose once before he started focusing on his cooking. In a short time, Ren had diced the boneless chicken, carrots, celery and the rest of the fresh ingredients. The heavenly smell of fried rice spread in the kitchen. Tsubaki was eyeing her husband with delight, from the look of it he had been quite skillful in cooking.
"Okay..." Ren laughed stiffly when he was pouring the beaten eggs and milk in the pan. He had divided the fried rice into two bowls before frying the omelet. "This is the tough part."
Tsubaki giggled. The heaviness inside her heart had slowly dissipated.
It was good to be home. Tsubaki swept her gaze around the kitchen before it landed in the living room. Another song replaced the previous one. It was Lovin" You from the same group of singers. She curled up on the stool as she was enjoying the song.
"Ah!"
Ren"s sudden yell startled Tsubaki. She lifted up her face from her knees, her eyes looking at his face.
"Darling? Why?" Tsubaki asked anxiously. She was afraid he injured himself during cooking.
He didn"t answer her but he looked so terrified over something. It was only when she saw the mess on the white plate in his left hand did Tsubaki understand.
Apparently, he had already folded both sides of the omelet over the rice yet when he wanted to transfer them to the plate, he accidentally mistook the timing when to flip the pan. The soft surface of the yellow omelet cracked, revealing the rice inside.
"Pff!" Tsubaki snorted.
She couldn"t help but laugh out loud. Tsubaki pressed her tummy, her body doubled over as she tried to suppress her laughter. Ren was baffled when he saw her expression.
"Sweetheart... How could you..."
Did you laugh at me?
At this time, he looked as if he was betrayed as he stared incredulously at his wife who was laughing at him.
"Hahaha! Sorry! Sorry!"
Tsubaki quickly went to his side. Ren was frowning at her. Tsubaki giggled funnily, she tiptoed slightly and pecked his cheek. "Sorry, darling."
Ren sighed in defeat. If it took a failed omurice to make her laugh again, so be it.
"Alright. This one has failed but I still have some rice left," Ren was determined to settle the score with the pan in his hand. The surface of the pan gleamed under the lights. "Just watch me."
"Okay~"
Tsubaki stood close to him as she watched him cooking. A sweet smile bloomed on her face. It was the first time she smiled so brightly after leaving her family home.
It was really good to be home.