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~Rin’s P.O.V~
It’s been three months since Haru’s apparent wedding. Thank God Hiroki came up with a plan and I got him back.
Three months since our anniversary as well.
I wonder what is in store for us in the future.
Haru is planning on visiting his parents two days from now. With me. This means we have to pack our bags. And I really don’t know how to face them. I was the reason why Haru couldn’t even succeed the family in the first place.
“Haru, when we go there, what will you tell your parents about me?” I asked, biting my bottom lip. I was nervous that I’ll be going to meet my lovers parents. His parents think he’s in love with my sister which I don’t want them to think that. I want to introduce myself properly as his lover. But of course that can’t be done. I look at Haru, waiting for his response, as he packs his blue bag.
“We’ll tell them that you’re my friend.” He said bluntly, looking at me with his usual blank face. Disappointment washed over me as he said those words. Tch. I thought I broke his shell. Looking at me so blankly. But still. Of course I can’t introduce myself as his lover straight out after the whole wedding cancellation.
“I’m planning on telling them that you’re my lover though. After dinner or something.”
“What?!” I exclaimed, “No way! What do you think your parents would say? They would surely get mad or… or disown you… I don’t want that to happen because of me.” I gave out a shaky breath. Yes. If they knew I was the reason for Haru not marrying that woman, they would really get mad. They may even throw him out and not treat him as family. I felt my heart constrict painfully. Of course I can’t be Harus lover in front of his parents. I looked down gritting my teeth. I should make a good first impression, especially on his mom.
I felt Harus warm fingers brush on my chin, lifting my head up, making me look at his sea blue eyes that haven’t yet, and never will, lose their spark, the spark I fell in love when I saw him. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, taking my breath away. This is the first time he ever smiled like that.
“It’s fine, Rin. You don’t have to worry.” He said. But I am worrying. I wanted to retort back but just kept quiet. It’s his family, and I can’t do anything about that, it’s his family. “Now let’s go.” He took his hand away from my chin and smiled at me. This is the first time Haru has done this. I was always the one to reassure him and give him the confidence. I smiled. I guess it’s his turn to reassure me, even after what happened between us.
I look at him and smile back. “Alright. Let’s complete packing our bags.”
Two days later and here we are standing in front of a magnificent two story traditional Japanese house. We walked across the stone path that lead to the front door of the house. The stone path had grass spring through the cracks that seem to find their way into every stone path. We reached the front door and Haru rang the doorbell, a few minutes later an old lady opened the door. She had white hair that was tied in a bun; she wore a black and white maid outfit that made her seem a little younger than her age. Her face was wrinkled due to age, but her lower face was ore wrinkled for another reason, she was smiling. “Haru-sama, what a pleasure to see you back. You’re doing better than your last visit, I’m glad.” The maid spoke with elegance and respect towards Haru. It was very weird hearing someone address Haru with such a respect and adding a ‘sama’ after his name.
“Kukuri-san, I told you before to stop treating me formally. You used to take care of me when I was a child. You’re like my mother.” Haru said, smiling towards Kukuri-san, “and yes I have been better and I feel so much better.” Haru’s smile widened and looked at me. I looked back at him confused, then I looked towards Kukuri-san’s direction and she was smiling at Haru then me. This made me more confused.
“Please do come in both of you. It must have been a very long journey. Dinner will be ready shortly, for the mean time you can go rest in your rooms” Kukuri-san said breaking the mini silence that occurred.
“Yes, of course.” Haru said. Kukuri-san moved aside, opening the door wider, for the both of us can enter, with Haru leading the way. The house was no different from any other traditional Japanese house. Wooden floor board, a corridor that led to the rest of the house, rooms that had tatami mats spread. There were no pictures hung on the wall, maybe because they are some rich family? The house may have looked a little bit small but it was bigger than what it looks like.
Haru led me along the corridor that seemed to be a maze, so many turns. Shit, if Haru were to leave me to wander around, I would surely get lost. My house is nothing compared to this house, its like my house is just the store room compared to this house. Haru stopped in front of a door and slid it open, we entered in and I dropped my bags as soon as I entered. I scanned the room, checking it. Facing me was another sliding door, maybe leading to the outside; the bed was situated the right side of the room, having blue covers; there was a desk placed on the right side of the room, it contained a table lamp and a book rack. There was no book shelf anywhere to be seen.
“So, are we sleeping together or are we sleeping in separate rooms?” I asked unsure, since I wanted us to sleep together.
“We will sleep in this room, don’t worry.” He reassured.
We heard a knock on the door and came in Kukuri-san announcing, “dinner is ready and your parents are waiting for you.”
“OK. Thank you, Kukuri-san,” Haru replied, taking my hand and dragging me somewhere which was supposed to be the dining room. For a rich family they sure go according to tradition, I thought they would be living in a manor of some sorts. Haru opened yet another sliding door, revealing two young maids serving food on a table while two old people sitting on the floor, wearing kimonos. Those must be Harus parents. I smiled at them, feeling nervous that I was meeting Harus parents for the first time, even though Haru was not going to introduce me as his lover, not after the whole ordeal that happened 3 months ago because Haru couldn’t marry Seako. His parents would surely kill me since I was the cause of their son not taking over the family business.
“Good evening, mother and father.” Haru greeted with respect. That’s weird, Usually people address their parents with ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. Is this the way rich people greet their parents? Maybe. What am I to know, I’m just a commoner whose father was a fisher man. His father had white hair though a little black hair, wrinkles all over his face, indicating that he is quite old. His mother on the other hand seemed younger than his father, she had dark brown hair and had makeup on, hiding the few wrinkles that always found their way into the young face.
“Good evening, son” Both his parents said in unison. Wow that was so in sync. Is this like couple goals, to say things together?
“This is my friend, Matsouka Rin” Haru introduced me, and when he said ‘friend’, I felt my chest tighten and felt a pang in my chest. I knew he would not introduce me as his lover, it still hurt more than I expected.
“My name is Matsouka Rin, nice to meet you. Please take care of me.” I introduced myself, bowing my head, a form of respect. I looked from Harus mother to his father, and saw the most confusing thing ever, Harus fathers eyes widened, then his face contorted with pain, his wrinkles deepening.
“Are you by chance Matsouka Toraichi’s son?” Harus father suddenly asked me, taking me by surprise. What? Someone knows my father? What is the meaning of this? And its Harus father.
“Uhhhh… yes…” I answer, slowly, baffled by his question. “You knew my father? How?” I asked. I looked at Haru, and he was as shocked as I was, maybe more or less, but for sure shocked.
“Come to my study later tonight, I shall tell you everything.” He said with remorse hinted in his voice. “For now, let’s eat.”
We all started eating; then Harus mother spoke for the first time, “by the way Haru, where is Makoto? Why didn’t you get him?” His mother asked. I felt like she was about to add instead at the end but decided that it would be rude. Well the vibe you’re giving out is rude in the first place. Man I feel like his mother is the mean ass lady and his father is like the very kind and gentle father who seems to have gone through a lot. Maybe that’s just my imagination or because he knows my father. But seriously how the fuck does he know my father?
“He couldn’t make it because he had some school work he wanted to finish up.” Haru replied nonchalantly as if he wasn’t lying, covering up for his childhood best friend. Well it was a partial lie, because Makoto did want to finish his school work and he also wanted to spend more private time with Hiroki. His mother just nods her head and just seems to ignore my existence completely; on the other hand, his father kept stealing glances towards me and sometimes would keep staring at me as if looking for something, that my face would give him the answer. And what the fuck is wrong with the mother, this woman doesn’t even care about anyone or what?
Dinner went by slower than I wanted it to, with the heavy silence and the constant staring I got, it was getting so weird, so I hurried and finished my food and headed towards mine and Harus room. Soon after Haru came in and sat on the bed.
“Sorry I couldn’t introduce you as my lover. I know it hurt you, because it hurt me too.” Haru confessed.
“No it’s alright, I mean your mom would have killed me if she knew I was the reason you couldn’t get married and take over the family business.” I reasoned with him, reassuring him, and hurting myself in the process. Maybe I was reassuring myself?
“I can’t keep hiding it. I have to tell them. Now that you’re here it would be much easier. Let’s go.” Haru finalized, taking my hand once again and dragged me to another unknown destination in this maze like house. Apparently he dragged me towards the living room, even after all my protests, where both his parents were sitting down drinking what seemed and smelled to be herbal tea. He held my hand and interlocked his fingers with mine and went into the room with confidence oozing out of him.
“Father, mother. I have something to say.” he announced, grabbing both of the adults’ attention towards us. I felt a knot at the pit of my stomach and butterflies decided to have a little parade and dance inside that made the knot tighten. The adults’ eyes straight away landed to our interlocked hands. I look around anywhere but the couple that were staring at us. “This is my lover Matsouka Rin. I want to introduce him properly to you both.” OH MY GOD. HE REALLY DID IT! He seriously said that, right in front of his parents.
Instinctively I looked at his father, for a weird reason I started taking a liking to him and somewhat saw my father, I don’t even know why. He looked normal, but seemed to be relieved and happy? I then looked at his mother, who had the most murderous glare, if looks could kill, I think… not think, I would most definitely be sprawled on the floor, dead, right about now.
“Do you love him Haru? Is he the man you love and choose to be with?” His father asked breaking the suffocating and murderous silence. Why is it that he always takes me by surprise, every word he utters is always a surprise.
“Yes, father.” Haru answered with confidence.
He then looked at me and asked, “and do you love him Rin? With all your heart and you won’t leave him?”
“I love him and I will never leave his side. It’s a promise.” I reply with confidence from the unknown.
“Then I don’t mind. I accept this relationship.” His father declared. Yet another surprise from the old man. Is this house filled with surprises or is it that Harus father is filled with surprises? What other surprises are waiting for me. From the corner of my eye I glimpsed Harus mother opening her mouth, wanting to protest, but then closed her mouth and shut up. Well its better that way, I don’t want to be rude but this lady is really getting on my nerve of how rude she was.
Haru then bowed down and thanked both his parents for accepting our relationship, and I bowed as well showing my respect and thanking them, well mostly Harus father. We headed out of the living room still our hands interlocked.
“Your mother seemed to want to say something but then she shut up.” I said after we reached our room, breaking the silence.
“Well she can’t say anything as long as my father has a say in it. Its a rule in the house, that the wives cannot interfere with the decisions made by the head of the family, which is their husband. I’m glad that one rule in this household is useful.” He answered, taking off his clothes, “We’ll soon have to go to my father’s study so we have to get dressed.”
“Yes, I know.”
Later that night me and Haru headed to his father’s study, well Haru guiding the way. When we reached, Haru knocked on the door and then slid it open. The adult was sitting behind his desk, looking down on some papers and working.
“You wanted to talk to us father.” Haru said, causing the older man to look up and, for the first time I have seen this man, he smiled.
“Yes. Actually I want to tell you boys a little story. A story of my past. Haru, I never told you this for two reasons. One, is that I never had the time to actually spend time with you so I never told you anything of my past. And two, I did not want you to repeat the same mistake I did 20 years ago.” Now this had me confused. “Before you ask me anything Rin. I will tell you my story. When I was younger than the both of you, I met someone who changed my life. I fell in love with them and they did too. We had a relationship going on for many years but there was just one problem, I came from a rich family, while that person came from a commoner family. Even with that problem, we set it aside and continued our days filled with love. One day, I was forced into an arranged marriage with Ayame, your mother Haru. Of course I didn’t want my partner to get into trouble standing up against my family, so I told them to leave it be and I would find a way, that we would stay together even after I get married. But unfortunately, that person disappeared after attending my wedding. I never heard from them later on. That person was your father, Rin, Matsouka Toraichi. He was my lover in the past. Of course no one knew that we were together. I regret everything I did in the past, the fact that me myself did not stand up for our relationship, for me being stupid. The reason why I allowed you Haru to not marry Seako after finding out that you loved someone else, I did not want the past to repeat itself, I did not want you to marry and live with someone you don’t love.” A stray tear found its way across the older man’s cheek as he smiled towards us. I was speechless. My father was Harus fathers lover? And I seriously thought to myself before, what other surprises are waiting for me. This is one huge ass surprise. I cant believe that both mine and Harus fathers were lovers. I tried to sink the information under my skin so I can grasp it and understand it.
“I was shocked when Haru introduced you in the beginning. You look nothing like Toraichi. It really must be fate.” He stated.
Even though I was speechless, I still mustered up whatever I could, “well… I take after my mother…” I was rendered speechless. Was this whole trip set so I would end up speechless and shocked and surprised and baffled?
“Why haven’t you told me before, father? That could have saved so much trouble between me and Rin, me and you.” Haru finally said something, after keeping quite.
“As I told you before. It was tough, and I had a hard time bringing that topic itself up. It’s like a taboo for me.” The old man then looked at me and asked, “how is your father now? I never heard anything about him ever since.”
I looked down at my hands, looking away from my dad’s former lover. “He’s dead.” I whispered, hoping he heard me since I didn’t want to repeat it.
“Oh…” I looked up at him and saw his face contort with pain and sadness. Tears start to fall down his eyes, paving paths for streams of tears across his cheeks, “how?” The simple question with his voice broke my heart.
“He was fishing and it was a stormy night, he ended up drowning like most of the other fishers.” I answered.
More tears fell from his eyes, “is it alright if you two leave, I’d like some time.”
“Of course” I said getting up fast. I did not like seeing him cry, especially knowing that he was my father’s dearest person. We got out of the study and headed to our room.
“I can’t believe this. Your dad was my dad’s lover.” Haru said in disbelief. He paced around the room. “That explains all those sad faces, the fact that he never listened to mother, the fact that he kept asking me if I had anyone I loved, and the fact that he did not want my arranged marriage in the beginning.” Haru kept muttering. I just looked at him, still confused and not sure what to say at the moment. I do remember seeing someone who looked like Harus father in one of my dad’s treasure box that was filled with pictures.
“Haru lets just sleep and think about it tomorrow.” I said, laying down on the bed and pulling up the covers. Haru stopped his little walk around the room, looked at me and nodded his head, and finally decided that it was time to sleep.
The next few days that we spent in the house were a bit awkward, but mostly interesting because I got to ask many questions about my father and how he was when he was in high school.
Our last day and we packed our bags ready to go back to Iwatobi. We said our good byes, and Harus father said that he plans on coming to Iwatobi to visit my dad’s grave. Both Haru and I sat in silence in the train, Haru most probably thinking about the events that happened while I was thinking of something else. The promise i made to him years ago. We reached Iwatobi after three hours of sitting our asses down and constantly thinking of shit.
We started walking, and this time I was leading the way because I knew where we were going. We walked the empty road to the destination I had in mind, Haru did not seem to notice that we were heading to a different place, so I kept walking leading the way.
“Wait… Rin… this is not the way to our home.” Haru stated finally realizing the situation. I chuckled. “It is, Haru. We are just taking a different route.”
I stopped in front of a well-built house, it was a traditional Japanese of course but not as great a Harus main house, at least it’s better than our previous house. I look at Haru; his face was filled with confusion. I shifted my weight from one leg to the other unsure if it was a good idea, then I fished out something out of my pocket and spoke, “Haru I know that shit had happened between us, and I still can’t believe that our fathers were lovers.” I chuckled and continued, “but let’s just put all the past behind us and not think about them, I want us to be together, and I will be with you forever as I promised to your father. So will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man and marry me.” I knelt on one knee, and took out the ring I had brought for this special occasion. I saw tears well up in Harus eyes, he was smiling.
“Yes.” Was all he said, before he crashed into me with a death grip hug.
((And finally we end the story with them finally getting married. so much for a girls fantasies. man i never knew i had this romantic side in me. Meh. I hope you guys liked it. I wasn’t that creative when it came to the proposal cuz I did not want to make it even more lengthier and i had no ideas for sudden proposals so ya. And btw i finished this chp like within less than 24 hours. I am so proud of myself *wipes tears from my eyes* XD. Anyways i hope you guys enjoyed this story, comment your feedback, and vote if you liked it and thanks a bunch for all you support everyone especially 3Angel-Demon3. Thank you very much for your consatnt voting everyone.))
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