cttro
~
Etsuko swiped and unlocked her phone, her heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety.
10:34 am
It had been an hour since Kenma arrived, and he hadn't said a word to her. The room felt heavy with tension as the twins, sensing the need for privacy, had left them alone. Kenma stood by the window, his presence commanding and distant, wearing the same outfit she had seen him in on the news. Etsuko sat on the couch, her fingers trembling as she nervously played with them.
Kenma took a deep breath, crossing his arms tightly across his chest, and cast a glance in her direction. "Can we please fix this already?" he said, his face etched with a deep frown.
Etsuko looked up at him, her voice tinged with frustration. "Kenma, you're the one being difficult."
Kenma stared at her in disbelief, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "It's not my fault that I wanted to be with you more than that damn event!"
"That event you're talking about is your dream! You've worked so hard for it! I saw the news this morning. Look at how everyone celebrated your success!"
As the room filled with tension, Kenma and Etsuko's voices rose, their words sharp and filled with hurt. Each accusation felt like a dagger to their already fragile hearts, tearing at the foundation of their once beautiful relationship.
Kenma's eyes burned with anger and frustration as he lashed out, his voice trembling with emotion. "It's just an event, Etsuko. I can always celebrate it another time! Why can't you just tell me that you want to be with your ex-boyfriend more than me?"
"Shinsuke has nothing to do with this, Kenma-" Etsuko began, but her words were cut short as Kenma erupted in anger.
"It's the truth! Etsuko, stop lying! Damn it! Fuck."
Their words collided in the air, creating a storm of resentment and regret. They had reached a breaking point, where love and understanding seemed like distant memories.
Fear flashed in Etsuko's eyes as she witnessed Kenma's rage. It was the first time she had seen him so furious, and it shook her to her core. She fought back tears, her lips pressed tightly together, desperately trying to maintain her composure.
Don't cry. Please, don't cry. Breathe in. Breathe out. Everything will be fine. Don't cry.
But the tears betrayed her, streaming down her face as Kenma knelt before her, his hand reaching out to comfort her. Etsuko flinched, causing Kenma to withdraw his hand, his own eyes welling up with regret.
Etsuko's eyes welled up with tears, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Kenma, I can't let you sacrifice your dreams for me."
Kenma's brows furrowed, his voice filled with desperation. "But Etsuko, you're my priority. I want to be by your side, no matter what. I can't stand the idea of you facing your struggles alone."
Etsuko's voice trembled as she fought back tears, her heart torn between love and selflessness. "I know you want to be there for me, Kenma, but I can't let you give up your dreams for mine. It wouldn't be fair to you, and it wouldn't be fair to us."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their conflicting desires hanging in the air. Etsuko made a difficult decision, her voice filled with a mix of determination and sorrow. "I can't bear to see you abandon your dreams, Kenma. It's the only way I can protect you from making a sacrifice you might regret."
Kenma cursed himself silently, realizing he had come here to mend their relationship, not to have another fight. But now, it seemed that their bond was beyond repair.
He couldn't bear to see her cry, and he asked a question that he knew would haunt him forever.
"Are you going to break up with me now?" Kenma's voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mix of desperation and resignation.
Unconsciously, Etsuko nodded, her heart breaking with each tear that fell from her hazel eyes. Kenma held her hands tightly, his own tears mingling with hers, unwilling to let go.
Tears streamed down Etsuko's face as she took a step back, her voice filled with a mixture of heartache and love. "I'm doing this because I love you, Kenma. I want you to pursue your dreams, and I don't want to be the reason you give them up. This is the hardest decision I've ever made, but it's what I believe is best for both of us."
Kenma reached out, his hand trembling, but Etsuko stepped further away, her heart breaking with each inch of distance between them. "Please understand, Kenma. This is the only way I can protect our love and your future. I hope that one day, we'll find our way back to each other."
With a heavy heart, Kenma planted a tender kiss on her forehead, his voice choked with emotion. "I love you, Etsuko. And I always will."
Kenma rose to his feet, his resolve firm, ready to leave. He gazed at her one last time, his eyes filled with love and pain. "I love you, and I always will, Etsuko." And with that, he turned away, his steps heavy with the weight of their shattered love.
Etsuko watched as Kenma walked away, each step feeling like a dagger through her heart. The room suddenly felt empty, devoid of the warmth and love they once shared. She clutched her chest, the pain intensifying with every beat of her broken heart.
As the door closed behind him, Etsuko crumbled to the floor, her sobs echoing through the silent room. The realization of what they had lost hit her with a wave of grief, leaving her feeling hollow and alone.
Memories of their laughter, their shared dreams, and the moments they held each other tight flooded her mind. The weight of their love, now shattered, pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.
She reached out, longing for Kenma's touch, but all she felt was the emptiness of the space he once occupied. The room seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with the absence of his presence.
Etsuko clung to the remnants of their love, desperately wishing for a chance to turn back time and make things right. But the reality of their broken relationship was a harsh reminder that some wounds cannot be healed, no matter how much they longed for reconciliation.
She whispered his name into the empty room, her voice filled with regret and longing. "Kenma... I'm sorry," she choked out between sobs, her words carried away by the wind.
