CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MANJIRO SANO
I'm here... again.
I sighed as I stared at their house from the outside gate. I don't have any idea why their main door is close. Well, it looks like Y/N's not present in the house right now.
But something's off, I guess? I can hear the strum of a guitar from above. I scanned the area and decided to barge inside.
My forehead crease when I realized that their gate wasn't locked. Is Giovanni here? It's Saturday, they doesn't have classes.
The sound of the guitar filled my ears as I saw a tree house beside their house. Who the heck made this? Giovanni? If it is him then I salute him for that. Even I can't build such a thing.
I looked up and decided to climb. There's a small wooden blocks that serves as the stair. I was sweating due to the hot weather, but I still decided to go.
When I finally climbed up, the guitar strums stopped. I look at my son who's staring at me with a shock expression.
I secretly smirked. Who would've thought that he can still make another expression except from a straight face? Tch.
“W-What are you doing here?! I'll call the police! This is trespassing!” he shouted and place his small guitar on the corner.
I scanned the insides of the tree house, it was spacious, a mini library stand was also present which was made by wood, it was full of psychological and thriller books. There was also two small pots on the corner and a stand for guitar. On the other side of the tree house, there was a foam, it looks like he was sleeping before playing guitar, it was still messy as fuck.
I saw him rolled his eyes before resting his back to the wood, that indicates as the wall. “I don't even know you so why are you here?” he ask while staring at me.
“You play guitar?”
He scoff and nodded. “Yeah, so what?”
Tch. Why is he so hard to please?
“So your mom knows how to play guitar?” I asked, luckily he answered me nicely.
“Yeah, she thought me how to play it. And she's also good at cooking.” he tilted his head to see me. “Who are you again? You're a stranger so why am I talking to you?“
I almost laugh but I managed to stop myself. It would be bad if I'll laugh in front of him.
“I'm Manjiro.”
He nodded and spoke. “Do you know me?“
I lick my lower lip as I think of the best words to answer his question. Is it better to tell him that I'm his—
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard him spoke again. “So you're my mom's one and only? She always talks about you whenever we're eating every dinner.”
I gulp hard and look at him with such a hopeful eyes. “R-Really?”
“Why do you look surprise? Didn't you told her that you'll be back? That you'll come back to her... to us?”
I almost lost my breathe when he told me that. Does he knew? But why did Y/N told our son that I'll be coming back? I fucking told her before that I don't want our child anymore, she's giving our son some false hopes!
“I-I... I didn't said that.”
“Then why are you here, Manjiro?”
I gulp the lump on my throat when I heard how he addressed me. Manjiro...
“I'm not that dumb, old man. I know you're my father. Who wouldn't if my mom kept on crying every damn night, saying that she misses you everyday, that she wants you beside us. And now you're here...” he gulp and sighed before continuing his sentence. “But you said you didn't say it. That means you never have any intentions to come back here to us. You're such... a cruel man.”
I almost lost my consciousness because of what he said. He said it already, I'm a cruel man, a useless father to his own child. Damn it, I can't even defend my stand as a father! Stupid me!
“Why can't you say anything? Aren't you going to beg for my mother's forgiveness? That's how an irresponsible father should do, right? You clearly told her before that you don't want me as your son, and you even doubt her before...” I saw how he gritted his teeth. “How dare you... My mother's not a whore, she won't sleep with other men 'cause she's too...”
What? What was that? Y/N's what?
“Your... Your mother is what?”
“Why do you want to know? It's not as if you can be with us if you'll know, tch.”
I gulp as I shifted my gaze to the foam where he's sitting. “Your mother must've suffered a lot.” I gulp as I started to fidget my fingers. I always wanted to take care of them, but I have my work to do, and that was to dispose every enemy that'll try to get in my way. I always wanted to be with them but the heavens just can't give me that chance!
“Yeah, she really did, and I thank her for that. She's my everything, I love my mother so much...” he spoke, full of sincerity.
A bitter smile appeared from my lips as I realized how Y/N sacrificed a lot just to raise our child, alone.
“Your mother loves you too.” I exclaimed.
He tilted his head to face me. “Liar. My mother loves you more than she loves me.”
I gulp hard as I heard those words. Y/N loves me? It felt so unreal, knowing what our situation is right now. But it sounded great. It sounded so special that I wanted to scream. This unexplainable feeling that kept on making me crazy every damn second is so frustrating.
“Say, old man. Do you love my mother... or you're doing all this acts because of your sick fucking obsession?”
I immediately shifted my gaze to see him. Obsession? The idea disgusts me. It never sinked on me that I'm obsessed with her, though, at all costs of times, before, it feels like I wanted to tie her with me. I wanted her, everything on her, I want it.
“I don't...” I sighed heavily and spoke. “I'm not obsessed with her.”
He scoffed and crossed his arms. “Are you telling me right now that you love my mother? What? That sounds so dumb, coming from a... tch, nevermind.” he hissed and closed his eyes.
“If I tell you I love your mother, would you let me marry her?”
He fastly spoke while still closing his eyes. “No. 'Cause I believe in the fucked up quote that hardword is a must.” he opened his eyes and stared at me. “You should tell my mother how you feel, after that, you need to work your ass off, to earn my complete trust, Manjiro...”
I gulp hard upon hearing his sentence. Kakucho was right. My son is really something.
