Forced Marriage, True Love

29. Avoidance - 2

Mitsuha POV:

I couldn't believe my grandmother accepted Taki so easily. It was like a nightmare, because I was so sure she wouldn't accept him. Feeling uneasy with the whole situation, I tried to avoid Taki as much as possible to clear my head. But the worst part was that I missed being with him. Or was I feeling this way because I truly had no way to escape from him anymore?

I originally agreed to be Taki's fiancée for Yotsuha's sake. Now, however, it seemed like I made a huge mistake back then by agreeing to live with Taki. Or was it? I don't know anymore. My head was aching with this whole situation, thereby making me avoid Taki as much as possible. 

Instead of being with Taki, I spent a lot of time with Tsukasa and tried to find more clues of Shinta's death, and Tessie and Saya-chan, or I kept working overtime to avoid Taki. However, the worst part was I missed being with Taki. I missed our arguments. Have I finally gone mad?

One day, I was walking through the office corridors with a few designs in my hands. I had to review them with my team manager once before working on them. As I was walking, I crashed against a hard chest, making me stumble backward and nearly fall down while dropping my designs. However, a hand caught my waist and pressed me against them.

I gasped and looked up, recognizing the feel of that hand. Those familiar, deep blue eyes seemed to pierce me right into my soul. "Why are you avoiding me?" Taki asked as he looked directly in my eyes. "Let me go." I said, not bothering to reply to him. "Mitsuha, answer me. Have I done something wrong?" He asked, and I swear I could hear pain in his voice.

I decided to ignore that and moved away, still not replying to him. "Tachibana-san, my apologies, but I'm busy working at the moment. Please excuse me." I tried to move away, but Taki held my hand again. "Mitsuha, what's wrong? Please tell me." Taki asked again, making me look down. "N-nothing's... wrong. I just... need to work for money." I replied. "I'll give you that money." "I would've dragged you to the altar if I needed your money Tachibana-san." "I'm serious Mitsuha." "I'm serious too."

Taki sighed, giving in to my complaints. "Fine. Wait for me after office hours. I'll pick you up." "I'm working overtime." I said, making him look at me. "Then I'll wait for you." Taki replied. "There's no need. Tessie and Saya-chan are also working overtime." I lied, feeling guilty instantly. "I'll come with them." Taki looked down for a moment before nodding. "Okay. But don't overwork yourself." He said and gave a quick peck on my lips, stunning me for a moment, before he left.

I sighed as I bent down to pick up my designs and quickly headed to the designing office. The whole way, I was feeling guilty about lying to Taki. But... I really needed some time to make up my mind.

At first, I really thought this fiancée drama was just a fluke, and I'll be able to come over it eventually. However, now that Taki met both my father and grandmother, and both of them agreed on us... I just didn't know what to do. What should I tell them once they find out this is only a fluke?

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head and continued making my way to my team manager, feeling heavy with each step.

***

I paid the driver the money for the ride and pulled out an umbrella, shielding myself from the pouring rain. I sauntered inside the gate and soon went inside the mansion. "I thought you were going to come with your friends." A voice asked, stilling me in my place as I looked up to the stairs.

Taki stood on the stairs, his hand on the railing as he looked at me with a worried expression. "Why did you lie to me Mitsuha?" He asked as he made his way to me. "Do you hate me that much?" I was stunned. "What? No, I don't hate you Taki." "Then why?" I looked down, feeling ashamed of making him worry. "I just... wanted some time alone."

Taki stared at me for a moment before he pulled me into a hug, catching me off guard. "I'm sorry." I apologized, feeling guilty for making him worry so much. "Sh. It's okay. But... don't ever do this again. I care about you, more than you can imagine. So please," Taki said as he moved away and gently hit his forehead against mine. "don't ever do this again. What if something happened on your way back? It's so late in the night. A lone girl wandering around at this hour, in the rain is no way safe."

"I promise." I said, making him smile. "Well then, are you-" Suddenly, a loud thud, followed by a scream startled me, making me and Taki run upstairs. "Yotsuha?!" I cried as I saw my sister on the floor, holding her ankle which was slightly black. Her blanket was off the bed as well, near her foot. "Onee-chan, you're back." My sister said with a smile.

"Did you... trip over the blanket and get hurt?" I asked in shock while from the corner of my eye, I saw Taki forcing himself not to laugh. Yotsuha looked down, her whole face turning red in embarrassment. "I tripped over the blanket and twisted my leg." She said in a low voice, making me sigh.

"Aih. You're hopeless." I said as I slowly helped her get up and sit on the bed. I then went to my room and came back an ointment in my hands. I took a large amount before I slowly rubbed it over Yotsuha's blackened ankle, making her hiss in pain. "Does it still hurt?" I asked as I gently rubbed it, trying to ease her pain.

"A bit." Yotsuha replied, wincing once in a while. "And here, I thought I was clumsier than you." I said, making her pout. "I'll get some ice." Taki said and left the room, while I continued to gently rub Yotsuha's ankle.

Taki came back with an ice pack in his hand, which I took from him. I gently pressed the pack on Yotsuha's ankle, making her hiss again. "Keep it on your leg for a while and then go to sleep." Yotsuha nodded. "Good night, onee-chan." "Good night, clumsy." I teased her, making her swat my hand.

Taki and I left Yotsuha's room and went to mine and Taki's room. I went inside the covers and soon, sleep took over me. Before I lost consciousness, I felt a light peck on my cheek, although I was too tired to know whether it was true or not. "Good night, fiancée." Taki whispered, before he joined me in bed soon enough.