When We Crossed Paths

Chapter Twenty Nine: A Lot To Ponder

There was a lot to think about that day. I was lying in my bed that evening thinking over everything that he said. I didn't quite understand the meaning behind a lot of what he said. We had continued talking, but, it was pretty subdued. The entire dynamic of our relationship had changed. I really didn't like it. When I quizzed him about what had been happening, he'd give a very vague answer. When I asked about him not answering my messages or calls, he just shrugged his shoulders. I wasn't angry though. I was upset and I was worried, of course, but sort of understood. He probably just wasn't in the mood to talk. Pretending everything was OK when it wasn't. Of course it wasn't. Of course he didn't want to talk. Understanding that didn't make me feel any less upset. I was probably being selfish. I didn't tell him how I felt. There's no way I'd put that burden on him. I knew that he didn't want to feel that way. I knew he wanted things to be like before.

This was all such a mess. We should have been more careful. We were careless. And now Asahi is paying a heavy price for it.

I heard the front door slam. It actually gave me a shock. My Dad had just came home. It was pretty late for him to be home. I could hear mumbling. My Mum and Dad were talking about something. I don't know why, but something made me sneak over and slowly open my bedroom door slightly to try and hear their conversation... 

"He's a very close minded man!"

"Would he not discuss it?"

"He had no interest in talking about it with me. He blames Hideki for this."

"Is he serious!? He's pinning all the blame on Hideki?"

"He's adamont that Hideki has corrupted his son. He had grand plans for Asahi to marry some girl in some arrangement and have babies and be a happily married couple or some drivel!"

"Is he insane!? Corrupting his son? What complete nonsense! That poor boy!"

"I saw Asahi peering down from the upstairs banister. He looked so sad. Clearly deflated."

"That's awful. I wish there was something we could do."

"Well...there is something we could do."

"What is it?"

"I think if we get a chance. We tell Asahi that if he wants to leave, then he can live here."

"Are you sure?"

"I can't in good conscience sleep at night, knowing that Asahi is going through something terrible. His father muttered something about saving his son and that worries me. I really think Asahi needs to leave that house and be somewhere where he'll be safe."

"I agree!"

"You do?"

"Yes! We'll tell Hideki in the morning. He has a better chance of seeing him than we do, and perhaps Asahi might be more inclined to agree if it comes from Hideki."

"It's a plan then!"

I slowly and carefully closed the door. That conversation really hammered home how bad everything was. The fact my parents were discussing something like that was really scary. Don't get me wrong. I loved that they cared that much to be prepared to offer their home to someone in need. And the idea of living under the same roof as Asahi may have brought a smile to my face, but, it was still a serious situation and I knew that Asahi would be resistant to the idea. He wouldn't want to feel like a burden and he would insist he could handle his Dad, and I would already know that would be a lie.

I would have to think extremely carefully about how I broached the subject. My parent's gesture was beyond the call of duty and I needed to make sure that that gesture wasn't wasted.