Observant || Oikawa Tooru ff

28. New options

"You really can't?" Ume asked one final time as she looked her father in the eye, desperately hoping for a different answer.

Her father shook his head grimly. His daughter rarely asked for anything of him. And just the one time she does, he had to be going out of town. Out of country actually.

"I told you last time - the company is expanding overseas." He informed her dejected. "I have to go to Argentina to overlook the work there. I would have rescheduled, but the flight's today midnight and the people there, are all expecting me."

"No, no." Ume shook her head. "You don't need to adjust so much of your schedule just for me. I was just hoping that you could come instead of mother." She dipped her head down at the thought.

She looked out of the window of the little restaurant they always had meals at. Today, even this quaint place couldn't provide her with warmth. Her saddened eyes holding innumerable feelings that flashed past them. 

Her father managed a tight smile. "What did you even do, to warrant a whole week of suspension and a visit from the guardians?" He asked.

He was genuinely curious. As far as he knew, his daughter always kept out of trouble. Except for a few times in middle school... he'd rather not live through those times again. But ever since her foray into highschool, it had been quiet. Quiet as can be. What changed?

"That..." Ume averted her eyes. "Some of my classmates got into trouble, so we thought we'd share the punishment to lessen it." She mumbled.

Her father's brow shot up. The little girl who had always cut a lone figure was finally making friends? This was new.

"And? What happened?" He asked. 

"The physics teacher seemed to have some sort of vendetta against us." She rushed.

"I mean, he didn't have to slap him so hard." She muttered angrily, as she recalled the scene when the furious teacher had slapped him to seemingly get out the 'truth'. 

"He encouraged the headmistress to just give all of us punishment, since nobody budged." She couldn't help the prideful note that slipped into her voice at the last part.

Her father smiled. She seemed to be headed in some or the right path. She was finally processing some emotions. The last time he had seen her, she was in a state that no 17-year old should ever be.

For a while there, he had just wanted to take her away from her depressing reality. But was there a need for it now? 

He watched as she slipped into her passive state just as soon as she had broken free of it. Maybe...maybe he should let her make the decision. They had made enough decisions for her, throughout her life, had they not?

"So Ume..." He began uncertainly. "You know how stabilising the business in expanded markets takes a lot of time right?" He asked.

Ume nodded. Her brows furrowed, unsure of what he was getting at. Was this another one of his business management lessons? She should have bought a notebook with her in that case.

"Well, I think that it's going to take time to do things in Argentina. I might have to stay there for a couple of years to make sure that things are running smoothly." He continued.

"What about your girlfriend then?" Ume frowned.

She was having enough trouble with her mother at home these days because of her father's girlfriend. She had hoped, situations won't be more complicated than they were already.

"We'll manage." Her father looked guilty. "That's not what I wanted to discuss."

"Then?" Ume asked confused.

"Well, you'll turn eighteen next month. Technically, a legal adult. Your mother won't be able to claim custody rights anymore." He scrached his head.

"So if you want, you could come with me to Argentina." He proposed nervously.

At that, Ume was shocked, doubtful and frankly, quite a bit befuddled. 

On one hand, she was pleasantly surprised. She could finally leave that cold house. These dreary streets, she won't have to walk on them anymore. She could see bright skies when she looked up instead of the gloomy grey. 

On the other hand, she could do that while staying in Japan too. For six years, she had accumulated enough money that she could support herself once she was an adult. That had always been the plan. Was there a need to go to a far away land for all that? Where everything was foreign and strange. Could she even keep her nerves calm at such a place?

No, more importantly, if she left there would be nobody to look after mother. If she was nearby, she could at least check up on her sometimes. But if she was in a far way country, who would her mother rely on in that lonely, empty house? She must not be selfish.

"You and I both know, that you could never escape your mother's shadow here." Her father looked her in the eye. And Ume flinched at the sheer truth of the statement. 

She was the last rope that her mother was holding onto. She could go to any lengths, to ensure that Ume stayed by her side. And even if Ume did manage to escape from that, her mind could never leave her mother alone. Did she even want to?

Ume suddenly felt a hand stroke her head. She looked up in surprise.

"It's alright." Her father said, perhaps trying to soothe her anxiousness in his own awkward way. "I just wanted to let you know, that you also have this option, should you choose to explore it." 

"You don't have to answer me right away. Deliberate over it carefully. Then we can talk about it the next time we meet. Okay?" He asked smilingly.

Ume only slightly managed to nod in response. Her father stood up and gathered his coat.

"Well I've got to rush if I want to catch that midnight flight. " He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Take care of yourself okay?" He asked. Ume gave a half smile in response.

His phone began ringing and he rushed out of the restaurant. Just as he left, she heard faint words, "Ho! my dutiful son has packed my suitcases already, has he?" 

Her smile disappeared and she tiredly stared at her hands fallen onto her lap. They had a relationship that she could never have. It was him after all, and she was just herself. She had never amounted to much anyways.

Always lost and cold.

"Just hold onto Nii-chan's hand, alright Ume?" A childish voice echoed in her head. "Nii-chan always knows where to go. If you don't know, just slip your hand into mine and we'll find a way!"

"It's all because of you!" The same voice was burning with rage. "We were a happy family till you came! Why don't you just disappear and then everything will be fine!"