イタズラな KISS ~3 ✔

INK3-29

Epilogue Twenty-Nine: Pitch Black (Part Two)

"Irie-kun? Are you still mad?" Kotoko followed me to our room after lunch.

I sat on the bed pretending not to hear her. I don't know what's gotten to me but I'm not in the mood to hear anything from her. It's just so complicated to explain. I feel like there's a plague stuck in my heart and my genius brain can't even understand it. I really need to step back and have thoughts in a winding breeze in front of my grandfather's tomato fields. I must do that.

"Hey... Irie-kun?" she asked again and I felt the weight shifted on the bed as she sat beside me.

Her scent... her scent is at it again...

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked coldly.

"So you're not mad anymore?"

"I'm not mad," I swear... I'm not. I know it better. Kotoko's stupid. She's prone to mistakes. Yes, she is. I have known more than that. It's not a surprise for me anymore. It's just that... it is just that unpredictable.

"Really?!" and then she was hyped again, giggling as she took a bolster pillow and put it on her lap. "I know you'll forgive me! Hehehe."

Darn it. She's at it again. I can't help but feel mad.

I turned to check on her, her cheeks were blushing. It's red. I put my hands on her shoulders while my eyes are fixed on hers. And then I asked her, "Are you feeling better now? Are you okay?"

She gulped and then looked around. She paused for a while and I am too. I am a little bit afraid of what Kotoko is thinking right now. I can't decipher what's on her mind. It always makes me feel terrified whenever she will lose that kind of smile.

"I'm okay. I don't know what happened but... I'm okay. I feel energized. I've never felt this way before. It's like I'm reborn. I'm always fine, Irie-kun. You don't have to worry about me." and she smiled for a bit. It's another kind of smile. And I know she's only pretending because she doesn't want me to be more worried but... I am actually feeling that right now.

"Are you really sure you are okay? I mean... your eye disease... I want you to be honest about it. You can't lie to me. Kotoko... I am your doctor. I'm not only asking you this because I am your husband but I am asking this because I am your doctor. You're not only my wife. You're also my patient. Just please... be honest with me." I have another thing to say but my lips were in a tight shut now. I'm hesitating... we never talked something serious as this. I can feel like we are in a life-threatening situation.

"Oh my gosh!" and then she squealed a series of giggles. "Aunt Mayumi was right!" she screamed like a high school girl. "You are really worried about me!" she said and swung slowly... puckering her small face with her hands, she seemed to be inside her own imagination. "I'm in cloud nine!"

I sighed. I should have known better. I'm being serious here but she just only shakes it off.

"Kotoko!" I called her with such authority, "I'm asking you. I really need your honest answer. Please."

"Irie-kun?" and then she blinked innocently.

"Why are you like this? This is why we never have a serious talk. You were always kidding and so immersed in your imagination. You should think about your situation. You know the reality! You know that you're..."