Chapter 2

CAFÉ

Haru : Eh!??

Riho : Shhhh!

Haru : He showed up? Wait, how did he get into your apartment?

Riho : Mother must have given him the combination.

Haru : So….

Riho : So…?

Haru : How is he?

Riho : what do you mean how is he?

Haru : From the scale of 1 till 10. How good looking is he?(blinking)

Riho : Heh?

Haru : Be honest, be honest!

Riho : Wait, mother sent me a photo of him few days ago but I just took one look. Let me show you.

Haru waited till Riho finally showed her a photo of Mayeda Aoi.

Haru : (jaw-dropped)

Riho : Eh, whats wrong?

Haru : He is a definite 10/10. Look at him, such a gentle looking guy .

Riho : But still, what happened this morning was unbelievable (rolling her eyes)

Haru : Have you guys like talk?

Riho : No, I showered and went out right away. I am still shocked he suddenly appeared in my kitchen just like that?

Haru : (laughing)

Riho : You shouldn’t be laughing Haru (sigh)

Haru : okay okay, so what is your plan now?

Riho : Guess I do need to talk to him once I m back.

Haru : Its okay. I am sure he is as good as your mother Riho.

APARTMENT

Riho peeped around the apartment searching for Aoi. She was still scared of Aoi because he is indeed a stranger after all. The thought of having to live with complete stranger scares her so much that she wanted to just sleep at Haru’s place. Riho looked around and there was no sign of Aoi at all. She went to the kitchen and quickly grabbed a bottle of plain water, she was unaware that Aoi was leaning on the door frame of the kitchen when she was searching for plain water in the fridge.

Aoi : Welcome back

Riho startled that she actually hit her elbow on the fridge when she heard Aoi’s voice.

Riho : Itte itte itteeee

Aoi : (laughs)

Riho : Since when were you there? (shocked)

Aoi : Long enough to hear your singing.

Aoi took a seat at the dining table and he gestured to Riho to sit infront of him.

Aoi : Come, have a seat. I believe we haven’t met properly.

Riho looked at Aoi before slowly closing the fridge’s door. She walked towards the table and took a seat.

Aoi : Mayeda Aoi, I am 26.

Riho hesitated at first because this is the first time for her to actually meet this stranger that is going to be her husband in a few days’ time. She straightened her back before finally opening her mouth.

Riho :Mayeda—

Riho stopped when she suddenly realized that both of them were already sharing the same surname without even having any blood nor marriage relation between both of them.

Riho : Mayeda Riho des. I am 18 years old.

Aoi : It will be weird I call you Maeda-san, right? We have the same surname already (laughing)

Riho : …

Aoi : I am sorry if I scarred you this morning. I did knock on your door when I arrived this morning but you seem to be having such a hard time waking up. So I decided not to disturb you. I didn’t mean to scare you this morning.

Riho : Oh, its okay. But still you could have called first so that I can properly greet you.

Aoi laughed before finally looking at Riho

Aoi : I did. I did.

Riho : eh?

Riho quickly took her phone and she looked at the missed calls she overlooked this morning. There was 5 missed calls from the same number. And she suddenly remembered her tapping on the screen just to make the ringing stop. So it was his calls, not the alarm she thought. Riho actually let out a long sigh when she finally realized her carelessness this morning.

Riho : I am so sorry. I didn’t meant to ignore your calls (bowing)

Aoi : Its okay, don’t worry about it. So..

Aoi took a look around the kitchen and the living room. He looked around before turning his head back to Riho

Aoi : You furnished the whole house on your own?

Riho : Yes.

Aoi : You have a great taste (nods)

Riho : (smiles)

Aoi : So here comes the serious part. I am sure my mother—

Aoi stopped when he realized he accidentally addressed Akiko as “my mother” and he looked at Riho hoping that she didn’t get offended when he said that.

Aoi : I mean, when mother told you about the will?

Riho : yes she did.

Aoi : So you understood the whole situation?

Riho : Yes.

Aoi : You are okay with that?

Riho : (looking at Aoi)

Aoi : Don’t misunderstood me, Its not like I am asking you not help mother. I am just worried this issue will be too heavy for you.

Riho : I understood completely. And I made a promise to her that I will help her despite any situation.

Aoi : But this is a serious matter.

Riho : …

Aoi : We are going to live under the same roof.

Riho : (nods)

Aoi : And we are going to get married. We are going to be husband and wife.

Riho : (nods)

Aoi : You are okay marrying me despite not having any feelings between both of us.

Riho didn’t nod when Aoi said that.It finally struck her that she is actually marrying someone she is not in love with and he is too marrying her without any mutual feelings. Riho’s mind wandered for a while and she totally forgot about Aoi infront of her.

Aoi : Riho?

Riho : Eh?

Aoi : Are you okay?

Riho : yes yes, I am fine.

Aoi : Are you sure you are fine with this? We are going to live together. Are you sure you don’t mind being a wife to someone you are not in love with?

Riho : Do I have a choice?

Aoi : You can object mother’s request.

Aoi leaned back as he said that. He look at Riho hoping for a reply from Riho. Riho just looked down taking her time thinking about Aoi’s suggestion.

Riho : ….

Aoi : Riho?

Riho : I have made up my mind.

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RIHO’S ROOM

Riho starred at a photo of her mother and her. She looked at the photo and smile. She placed the photo back on the table and she leaned back on her chair. She was quiet for a while before standing up and stretches.

Riho : I can do this. I can do this.

AOI’S ROOM

Aoi was arranging his stuff in his new room. The room was already furnished when he came in. But everything was in white and neutral colors, just like the other furniture in the apartment. He looked around for a while before unpacking his stuffs. He was arranging his books when he saw a photo in between the pages of a book. He took out the photo and he look at the photo for a while. It was a photo of him with his ex-girlfriend, Ohara Yuna. Yuna was his classmate back in college, they were together for 5 years and Yuna was the one who broke it off. Yuna disappeared after breaking it off with Aoi.

 But to Aoi, Yuna was her everything.

Aoi put the photo on the table before continuing his unpacking. He placed everything properly and most importantly, he placed all his photography tools in one corner. Once he is done, he slumps himself on the bed and stared at the wall.

Aoi : this is going to be hard.

NEXT MORNING

Riho was making her lunch box while listening to her favourite song “Pa” by Nishino Kana. She was totally into her singing-along mood that she actually forgot that Aoi is living with her. She was busy making her tamagoyaki when Aoi went out of his room and head straight to the kitchen. Riho didn’t realize that Aoi was looking at her from the doorframe. Riho was totally enjoying the song and her cooking that she didn’t realize Aoi was there.

Aoi : You are so energetic in the morning

Riho stopped singing and she was too surprised that she accidentally hit the chair behind her when she heard Aoi’s voice

Aoi : Becareful!

Riho turned to Aoi and she cringed when she actually forgot that Aoi is living with her now.

Riho : I am so sorry. Did I wake you up with my song?

Riho quickly stopped her song and she kept her phone in her bag.

Aoi : No No don’t worry. Don’t mind me. I don’t mind.

Aoi went straight to the fridge and took out a bottle of plain water. Aoi turn around to look at Riho. Riho was already in her school uniform and she was packing her bento into her bag.

Aoi : You cook everyday?

Riho : yes.

Aoi : I see. Well then, have fun in school (smiles)

Riho : thank you..

Riho stopped halfway as she realized she was  going to address Aoi as “Mayeda-san”. She paused and she was thinking what to call Aoi.

Aoi : Aoi. Call me Aoi.

Riho : Thank you Aoi-san.

Aoi : You better pack now. You don’t want to be late for school