Uncover the Blurred Memory

Chapter 11- Waiting for Upcoming Moment

Kyoko's POV-

I almost stumbled on the ground. But I managed myself and held myself steadily. The audience was filled with applause. Nothing could be heard. Nothing could be seen. The only thing that was floating in my eyes was a smile from Kanzaki.

He came?

My eyes filled with tears. I smiled slowly. But just by then, the smile turned into neutral. The same girl from the mall started to pull him out of the gallery. All the expectations from my heart started to fade away. I blinked away my tears and took a deep breath. Then, I smiled and waved at the cheerful audience. But inside, a single piece of me was broken.

Aoi and I walked away from the stage to backstage. Hiroshi, Fumiko, Taiga and ojiisan cried out- "Congratulations!!"

"You both were gorgeous." Fumiko giggled.

"I wish I was talented like you both," Taiga said.

"Your passion is studying. Go and study. You were... Uhm... excellent." Hiroshi said with a blush and his eyes were on Aoi.

Aoi's face flushed and she looked away with an 'Ahem'.

Everybody started laughing at them like they had created an embarrassing moment. But I didn't laugh. It was like I could laugh, but I didn't want to. My heart was racing to an explosion. Ojiisan came and hugged me.

"You did it well, my dear." He whispered and rubbed the back of my back.

"Thank you, ojiisan." I said back. I just wanted to get out of here.

"Guys, you all wait here. I need to get some air. I'll be right back." I faked a smile and excused all of them.

They watched as I rushed out backstage. I ran as fast as I could to get away. It was almost sunset. People around me on the road were watching me run. But I didn't care. Finally, I stopped when I saw that I was standing on the stone bridge. My feet were hurting because of the great escape. I let myself fall to my knees and the tears started to fall from my eyes.

I started crying for the first time in the two years that I remembered. I cried thinking nobody is hearing. The sun is setting. The Christmas that I thought was going to be the best one is in ruins.

"Kyoko." A familiar female voice buzzed in my ears. I turned my head in the exact direction and my eyes widened.

Kanzaki's POV-

"Why did you bring me out?" I shouted as I was pulled out of the gallery.

Akari huffed and sighed. Then she looked at me.

"Your eyes were locked on that girl! You promised you will just enjoy the show not that girl at all!" Akari said.

"Will you please stop taking control over me? I am not your puppet." I protested.

"You are, now. Our fathers made a deal. And according to that deal, you have to date me for more than years until we both graduate from our study session. You will be my fiancé and that is decided. If you don't obey me, surely your father and you will be bankrupt. Got it?!" Akari said.

I had nothing more to say. Our fathers really made that deal. My father was never a good-hearted man. Neither to anybody else nor to his own family. I wish he had a heart. He was a very greedy man. Just because of it, I hurt Yoshiko and now I am being hurt myself.