The Japanese Tutor (PART I-II) [ONGOING]

XIII: Shifted World

The wounds remained fresh since that day and it would last longer as coldness enveloped the entire hemisphere. As Aya attempted to get herself out of the room, she wore an invisible mask to tell the world that everything was fine and the events of that day in October were normal. It seemed that her room was the only world she felt comfortable and wished that she would not get outside of it.

This was noticeable to everyone's eyes as she paraded a strange blank look—including Diego and Elizabeth. One time in November, a month full of tests, Aya was outside the university with the diary on her hand. Wearing velvet colored wool coat and black gloves to protect her hands from cold, she had a pen on her hand to write her thoughts in Japanese—a language that everyone in the campus didn't know to maintain her secrecy. She took a deep breath and stared at the distant view of London, yet this didn't sort out what was taken away from her as she would leave this lovely place soon.

"Ms. Yamaguchi, what's wrong?" Aya was jolted to hear the sound of Hiroto behind her, so she tucked her pen into the notebook and closed it quickly before he saw her writings. He wore a white scarf and a grey oversized coat. As Hiroto sat beside her, she didn't have a glance at the man beside her.

"Nothing," Aya replied, "I'm watching something."

"Watching?" Hiroto searched around the far view to find a certain place that attracted her, "there's nothing strange here."

"I found out that the number of chimes from the Big Ben increased as an hour passed," Aya slightly smiled to hide her trembling soul, "and I saw the Thanes Bridge rose to give way to a ship."

"I already know that, but it's fascinating to hear you talk about common things," Hiroto commented, "I'd never had a conversation with you outside our tutorials."

Which was unusual right? He muttered, low enough for Aya not to hear. Hiroto gulped as he felt the snapped boundary between them. He took a deep breath before he started apologizing when Aya chuckled.

"I notice that Hiroto-san," she replied. Hiroto took a peek on her and he noticed her blooming rosy cheeks and the color of her eyes thanks to minimal sunlight of autumn, "life is carrying you heavily, right? Perhaps this is the only time we can chatter unrelated to our status as student and teacher."

Hiroto felt a light heat on his cheeks. He looked at Big Ben, with its minute hand about to reach the new hour. He heard three chimes from the clock tower. "Are you planning to go home?"

"Not yet," Aya lowly replied, "I want to enjoy this pleasant view."

"Do you have something to talk about?" He asked.

"Most of my problems are very personal," she answered in a serious tone that made the man beside her worried, "but one problem that I can tell you is how to live by myself."

Hiroto furrowed his eyebrows. "You want to live by yourself?"

"Other than diplomacy reasons, I have plans here. One of them is finding a place and never return," Aya responded. Her body tensed, anxious of what he would say especially to the last part.

"But you're a diplomat... my father wanted to stay here but his duties in Japan made his return," Hiroto reasoned. He moved closer to her, which she didn't mind, "you can come back here anytime, especially in Steinfeld residence. My mother and grandparents will welcome you warmly."

Aya swallowed her tears, attempted not to cry. She looked at the clock and noticed that she was around here for a long while.

Hiroto crossed his legs and sighed. "Since the air is cold and tensed, do you know that my family has two houses? The one in Buckinghamshire is for official affairs only, but the main one is in Devonshire—few walks later and you'll see the coastal cliff. It has the best view of the sea ever."