𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 -𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗈

THIRTEEN: Defining Our Relationships

Choso's PoV

Its been more than a week since Ayako and I seen or talked to each other. Maybe it really is a sign that the break that we're having right now is just her telling that she's done with what we have.

I sighed as I was wiping the cleanly washed dishes and put it in the cabinet. I tried contacting her as soon as I got home after she told me that we needed a break but, I couldn't send a message or call her which meant that I'm blocked.

I also didn't see her in campus and I only heard from the other students there that she went overseas to... get married. I couldn't believe it at first but I was forced to swallow the hard and bitter pill of truth when I read articles online about her marriage to the son of a successful and influential businesswoman to be held in a month from now.

How could she not break up with me properly and make me wait for her like a fool? It really made me feel so hurt and heartbroken that I found out that she was getting married to another man.

"Nii-san, are you alright? You've been wiping the same plate for five minutes now." I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out to me by my younger sibling.

I sighed and put the plate in the cabinet and set the cloth aside for it to dry and I patted my hands clear of water, ruffling my younger sibling's hair and showed a reassuring smile.

"I'm alright. Did you finish your homework?", "No..." this little– "But this was in our doorstep so I brought it inside." He gives me a package and I take it, bringing it to the table.

I used a box cutter to remove get through the tape that sealed it and when I opened it, "What the hell..." I couldn't believe my eyes and questioned if I was dreaming or not.

There was a wedding attire for a groom and there was a small blue velvet box sitting in the middle. I picked it up and opened it, seeing a gold ring. Inside the box was a folded letter, so I unfolded it to read the letter.

My heart is forever with you.
No matter what comes in between,
I'll always come back to you.
So, wait for me.

-A.M

I was beyond speechless with this package. I know who sent this to me, how could I not know? "Ayako.." I tightly held the ring with my hand and I took a deep breath, "This is all I wanted to know." I look at the ring and a smile spreads out on my face.

First she's the one who told me to date her, now she's also the first one to propose to me. I really have an assertive girlfriend– ah, I meant to say fiancée.

I wore the ring around my left ring finger and I loved how it looked, especially since it came from the woman that I dearly love. Our love is strong despite being apart from each other. But I believe her when she says that she'll come back to me and I'll wait for that day to come.

Ayako's PoV

"You look rather happy. Did something good happen?" I look behind me and I see Suguru walking towards my bed and he made himself comfortable on my bed, laying down on his stomach and looking at me with curious eyes.

"Again, it's none of your business." I dismissed his inquiry and closed my laptop after I shut it down. He lets out a sulking noise, "But aren't we partners? Friends?" He's not wrong though, but perhaps I just wanted to play with him a little since his reactions are very amusing.

After feeling satisfied with his reaction, I decided to give him what he wants. "I finally reached out to my true fiancé." I said, unable to resist a smile from spreading out on my face.

"Hm.." his reaction seemed lukewarm. "Well that's great news then. Glad you managed to fix that up." That moment of dullness disappeared quickly when he showed a smile and his face didn't look so empty like earlier. It was weird but I paid it no mind.

Now it was my turn to ask. "Did you manage to talk to Satoru yet?" He looked like he didn't expect me to ask a question back to him and he didn't seem prepared for it. It appears like he's hiding something from me.

"I haven't." He answered, "I never got to talk to him for a year and I'm..scared that he forgot about me or replaced me with someone else." I couldn't help but let a frown form and I held his face up with my hands and made him look at me.

"Those thoughts will lead you to nowhere, I assure you. I suggest you pull yourself together and contact him right now to hear the answer." He looks like he's about near his breaking point and I grabbed my phone from the nightstand to contact the number of Satoru.

"Hel–", "I have Suguru Geto with me. Does that ring a bell in your head?" I went straight to the point and he fell silent for a while. I glanced at Suguru and he was looking at me with eyes glistening with tears threatening to fall.

"This is your first phone call to me after a year and you're messing with my life again?!" I groaned in annoyance, "Look, I didn't call you for that. I want you to talk to Suguru. He.." I paused when I felt Suguru's hand on top of my left hand.

I can feel his hand and his fingers trembling and it made me feel... sad for him. "He.. misses you." It was the only word that I could sense from him and I handed my phone to him. I nod in assurance, mouthing "You can do it." to him.

I wanted to leave him be for his own privacy but, as soon as I intended to stand up, he tugs my hand and slowly shaked his head. He didn't want me to go, rather, he doesn't want to be alone.

So I complied to his wish and sat beside him while he was holding my hand for support as he talked to Satoru after a year of not talking with him. I saw him smile, cry, and hear him laugh and finally breathe out in relief from the burden he was carrying in his heart.

This must be what a friend does to their own friend. And the fact that he's the first friend of mine is enough for me to make sure that he will remain happy.

After a long while he gives my phone back to me and as I reached for it, he suddenly pulls me in a tight hug. "S-suguru?" I say in surprise. He snuggled closer to me and he buries his face on my shoulder, "Thank you.. thank you so much, Ayako." He said in a whisper. "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have been able to talk to Satoru. You gave me the courage and support to do that."

"Of course. We're... partners.. friends, right?" I mentioned what he said to me earlier and he lifts his head up to face me and look at me with a surprised expression on his face. The surprised face softens down to a smile, "Yeah. Partners and friends." He said with a nod.

Perhaps the fake marriage that we'll be having in a few weeks time won't be so bad after all.