Empty Promises

|6| An Interesting Marriage

A/N: Recommend reading: Up to chapter 50

"That's amazing sweetie! You should go! Don't think too much about it," dad smiled widely.

"I don't know dad..." I grimaced. "It overlaps with your surgery and I want to be able to call you and ask how you're doing."

"Honey, it'll be your first school field trip." He ruffled my hair. "We could never afford to pay for all these expenses so now that you got a scholarship, you should take full advantage of it! You're only young once."

"But dad," I whined. "Didn't you hear me? It overlaps with your-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he chuckled. "It overlaps with my surgery." He rolled his eyes. "Look Hanami, I've already done this about three times at least and I've been fine in all of them. Plus, this new hospital has the best doctors in the region so don't worry, okay? I'll be fine."

I pouted, not really convinced.

"I'll think about it," I finally sighed.

"Okay, where's the permission slip and where's my pen?"

"I said I'll think about it dad!" I screeched.

"Okay, okay I'll change the subject," he chuckled. "So, how's your relationship with Rui going?" He turned serious.

"Er, more or less," I lied, I didn't want him to worry.

"Huh? Is something wrong?"

I paused. Maybe he could give me some advice...

"Well," I began, not really knowing how to say this without revealing what was actually happening. "Sometimes... it does seem like he genuinely cares about me and he can even be quite nice when he wants to," I explained, that day he rescued me from Fuyuko running through my head. "But most of the time he's so mea- unemotional," I was quick to correct myself. I, once again, didn't want him to worry.

"Come on Hanami." He stifled a laugh. "He's probably shy."

"No, I don't think so." I pursed my lips.

"Well then he might have difficulties opening up," he suggested.

"I guess." I sighed.

I was going nowhere with this...

"But, you see dad-" I paused - "if we're going to get married, I'd like to first fall in love with him, you know?"

It was something that had been on my mind ever since my engagement was announced. Those were also the thoughts that had crossed my mind when I still didn't know who my fiancé was.

At that time, I thought making myself fall in love with my unknown fiancé, or at least get to be friends, would help make the marriage bearable. But of course that was before I knew who he actually was. With Rui as my future husband, both options now seemed quite impossible.

"I'm sorry things had to go this way, honey." He sighed sadly as he lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"It's okay dad," I whispered. "And Rui's not that bad." Those words suddenly came out of my mouth, surprising even myself.

'Wasn't I just complaining about him in my thoughts?!' I freaked out.

Where did this come from?! Was it because I believed he actually cared about me those days he was nice? Or was I just saying this because he indirectly saved me from Fuyuko?

"My only complaint is that he can be quite dry," I was quick to add.

I didn't want to make it seem like it was all going smoothly, I still needed my father's advice.