Are You The One Jo Togame?

Chapter 23 - The Past (Part 14) Confrontation

The next day, Megumi suggests we attend a family gathering, a small party at his cousin's house. I hesitate, but Megumi's hopeful smile and the promise of a pleasant evening convince me to go. As we arrive at the party, the warm atmosphere and the sound of laughter make me feel at ease. Megumi holds my hand, introducing me to various family members. I can see the pride in his eyes, and it gives me strength.

I am dressed in a stunning deep red dress that perfectly complements my complexion. The dress, made of a silky material, hugs my curves and shimmers softly under the evening lights. I have chosen simple yet elegant accessories—a delicate necklace and matching earrings that add just the right amount of sparkle without overpowering my look. My hair is styled in soft waves, cascading over my shoulders and framing my face beautifully.

Megumi, on the other hand, is wearing a tailored charcoal gray suit that enhances his tall athletic frame. The crisp white shirt and maroon tie subtly complement my dress, making us look like a perfectly matched pair. His polished black shoes and the neatly folded pocket square add an extra touch of sophistication to his ensemble.

The way Megumi and I complement each other is striking. My vibrant red dress contrasts beautifully with Megumi's more subdued, classic attire, highlighting my boldness and his refined elegance. We move together with an easy grace, drawing appreciative glances from the partygoers.

As the evening progresses, Megumi pulls me aside to a quieter corner of the room. He gazes at me, his eyes filled with admiration and affection.

"You look absolutely beautiful tonight," he murmurs, his voice soft and sincere. I smile, a blush spreading across my cheeks. Megumi unable to resist the moment, gently lifts my chin and starts to lean in for a kiss. I hesitate, feeling a mix of emotions. Just as our lips are about to meet, I pull back, unable to go through with it. Before I can say anything, I hear a familiar voice behind us.

"Ruby," the voice says, a mix of anger and sorrow.

My heart sinks as I see Togame standing a few feet away, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His eyes are fixed on me, a determined look on his face.

"Megumi, let's go somewhere else," I whisper, trying to avoid the impending confrontation.

But before we can move, Togame is upon us. "Ruby," he repeats, his voice firmer this time. "We need to talk."

I glance around the room, filled with partygoers oblivious to the tension building between us.

"Why are you here, Togame?" I ask, my voice barely concealing my confusion and anxiety.

He takes a step closer, his presence imposing. "I had to see you, Ruby. There's something we need to clear up. Something important."

I look at Megumi, whose eyes are wide with concern, and then back at Togame. "This isn't the time or place," I protest, trying to keep my voice steady.

Togame's gaze doesn't waver. "It can't wait," he insists. "We need to talk now."

Megumi looks at Togame with confusion. "I don't think we've met. I'm Megumi."

Togame's eyes narrow, his anger intensifying. "Oh, you don't know who I am? How convenient," he says, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're just playing the perfect boyfriend, pretending to be unaware of the history between Ruby and me."

Megumi looks back at me, clearly puzzled but staying calm. "Ruby, do you know this man?"

I glance at Togame, feeling the weight of his gaze. "Togame, please, not here," I beg softly.

Togame ignores me, focusing solely on Megumi. "You're just playing dumb, aren't ya? You think you can act like you're the only one in her life now."

Megumi's expression hardens, but he remains composed. "Togame, I don't know what's going on between you two, but this isn't the place to discuss it. If you have an issue, we can talk about it another time."

Togame's eyes flash with anger. "Oh, we'll talk, all right. But it won't be on your terms." He turns to me, his expression softening slightly. "Ruby, we need to sort this out. Now, come with me."

I feel torn, the tension between Megumi and Togame weighing heavily on me. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "Togame, please. Let's not make a scene here."

But Togame is relentless. "There's no escaping this, Ruby. We have unfinished business, and you know it."

Megumi steps forward, placing himself slightly in front of me. "If there are things to discuss, we should do it respectfully and privately. Let's find a better time and place for this."

Togame drops subtle hints, his voice dripping with insinuation. "Sure, just pretending to be nice and unaware of what's happening, right? Playing the role of the clueless boyfriend."

Megumi's grip tightens slightly, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Togame, I assure you, I have no idea what you're implying. Let's not turn this into something it doesn't need to be."

The tension in the room is palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Togame's grip tightens around his glass, his knuckles turning white. "You think this is all happening by accident, Megumi?" he says, his voice low and filled with frustration. His eyes darken with a mix of longing and frustration, and he tries to hold back his anger. But the effort is too much; the glass in his hand shatters, sending shards everywhere.

Before anything can escalate further, Togame's parents rush over. "We apologize, Megumi," his mother says urgently, trying to calm the situation. "Togame, that's enough!" His father grips his arm firmly, forcing him to leave. Togame resists for a moment, his gaze still burning with unresolved emotions, but he eventually allows himself to be led away, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
Megumi turns to me, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

I nod, though my heart is racing. I can't shake the weight of Togame's words and the unresolved emotions between us. I wonder what Togame meant before his parents arrived. Why is he so determined to talk to me now? Why didn't he try to speak earlier? Is it because I'm with Megumi? How could Megumi not know Togame? Is he pretending? I have so many questions I need to ask Megumi. Something doesn't add up.

----

Later that night, as we sit in the quiet of my living room, I gather my courage to ask the question that's been on my mind. "Megumi, earlier... why did you act like you didn't know Togame?"

Megumi's expression tightens, and he looks away, a shadow passing over his face. "I... I didn't know how to explain it to you," he says finally. "Togame and I... we have a complicated history."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my heart pounding.

Megumi takes a deep breath, as if gathering the courage to speak. He begins. "Something that happened before I met you, and I didn't want it to affect what we have."

My heart races as I hear his words. "What happened between you and Togame?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

Megumi looks down, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. "We were close once, but things got complicated. There was a situation... a misunderstanding that led to a lot of pain. Togame and I couldn't see eye to eye anymore, and it eventually drove us apart."

I feel a mixture of anger and sadness welling up inside me. "Why didn't you tell me this before? Why keep it a secret?"

He looks up at me, his eyes filled with remorse. "I didn't want to bring it up because I knew of your relationship and I didn't want to make him look bad to you. I know that you were in love with him."

I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. "Megumi, I appreciate your honesty now, but your decision to keep this from me has only complicated things. I understand you wanted to protect my feelings by not speaking ill of Togame, but it feels like you were trying to shield me from the truth. By pretending not to know about our relationship, you kept me in the dark, and that betrayal of trust is painful. If we're going to move forward, we need to be completely open with each other. Trust is built on honesty, no matter how hard it might be."

Megumi's expression softens, and he reaches out to take my hand. "I understand why you feel that way. Trust is built over time, and I know I need to earn it back. I'll answer any questions you have, and I'll be patient as we rebuild our trust. Just please give me the chance to prove myself to you."

A storm of questions churns in my mind. Why did he pretend not to know Togame? Why did he act as though he was unaware of the history between Togame and me? How did he even know about our past relationship? Why didn't he tell me about Togame and their complicated history before? Why has he kept all of this from me? Despite claiming to be honest about his life, Megumi has missed out on key details that now seem crucial. The gaps in his honesty and the secrets he's kept weigh heavily on me, making it hard to trust his intentions and his truthfulness. I nod slowly, feeling a lingering skepticism. "Alright, let's start now. Tell me everything, and don't leave anything out."

As Megumi begins to share more details, I listen carefully, hoping that this time, we can truly start building a foundation of honesty and trust.

(The next scene will focus on the fallout between Togame and Megumi, as described from Megumi's perspective.)