Too old for you • Tokyo revengers

Chapter 10

Once the taxi finally drops me off at my house, I practically jump out of the vehicle. I'm so excited to see my dad and my uncle again, I can barely stand still as I ring the doorbell. 

The door opens and I excitedly shout, "Surpri..." However, the last syllable never makes it out of my mouth.

A petite, brown-haired woman is staring back at me. A woman I've never seen before.

For one moment, I think I might have somehow gotten the wrong house, but then she speaks, "Oh, you must be Ruby."

"Um, yes?" I reply hesitantly.

"I'm Katherine. Your father's girlfriend."

-----------------------------------------------

It 's been a solid ten minutes since Katherine and I settled on the couches in our living room, and my mind is still trying to grasp the situation unfolding before me.

"I'm sorry you had to find out like this," she apologizes, her warm brown eyes brimming with empathy. "I thought your father had told you by now."

I honestly can't believe he didn't tell me.

"How long have you two been dating?" I inquire.

"Six months," she replies.

"Six months..." I repeat, blinking rapidly as I struggle to process everything.

"So... do you live here now?" I probe further.

"No, I still have my own apartment. It's closer to my work," she explains.

"What do you do?"

"I work as a primary school teacher."

My father is dating a primary school teacher. Didn't see that one coming.

"How did you guys meet?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Well, I had just had the roughest day, and I decided to do something I rarely do—I stopped at a bar. And there was your father, sitting there at the bar. He looked like he needed someone to talk to, so I struck up a conversation. We bonded over the fact that we both became parents at a young age."

"Oh, you have children too?" I ask, slightly surprised.

She offers a warm smile. "Yes, one daughter. Camila. She's just a few years older than you. You'll get to meet her tomorrow at Ran's birthday dinner."

As I'm about to respond, the front door opens, and my father enters. His eyes lock onto Katherine and me and he freezes in his tracks. His gaze rapidly shifts between us, and Katherine rises from the couch.

"I'll leave you two to talk," she states quietly, her words directed at my father and I.

She gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze as she passes by him, making her way out of the living room.

Once she's gone, dad lets out a sigh. "Ruby..."

"Why didn't you say anything? We've talked almost every day, and you never once mentioned her," I express, my confusion evident.

"I just..." He runs a hand through his hair, visibly tense. "I didn't know how to bring it up. I haven't dated anyone since your mother. I guess I was afraid you wouldn't like her."

"Why wouldn't I like her? She seems really sweet."

His shoulders slump, and he sighs once more. "She is."

I rise from the couch and approach him. He silently opens his arms, and I step into a hug. 

"I just want you to be happy, Dad," I confess, feeling his grip tighten around me.