"So, our belle of the bakery has finally gotten herself a boyfriend?" Mr. Goto laughed heartily. Tsubaki's red cheeks affirmed his guess.
"He's not my boyfriend..." She mumbled.
He is my husband.
"Was he the man that brat saw?" Mr. Goto remembered what Kitaoji Masaru had said.
"Yes." She admitted with a nod.
Tsubaki turned to look at Mr. Goto with a worried expression. As if sensing what she had wanted to say, he chuckled.
"As long as he's not someone else's other half, you can date or marry him. Being with someone wealthier than you is not a crime. As long as you're in love and be true to each other, other things would just be the obstacles to be overcame together."
Tsubaki took Mr. Goto's words seriously as she was thinking the nature of her and Fuse Ren's relationship. To her, he was a man who she had just met. But to him, she was his wife. She didn't know why he had just returned to her life but she knew it was unwise to make a judgment on things she was unknown of.
For now, she would trust him.
Days had passed and it was finally the day of Satsuki's kidney transplat operation. Tsubaki woke up earlier than usual and planned to go straight to the hospital. Her employees were overjoyed when she said Satsuki would get a transplant and told her to not worry about their shop. She picked a white dress and light yellow cardigan. Once she stepped outside, she saw a man in a black suit was waiting in front of the building. The man greeted her with a bow.
"President Fuse is already in the flight, heading back from the UK. I will bring you to the hospital." The man named Hibiki said.
"Okay... thank you."
Tsubaki get inside the black Maserati. Ren had called her last night, saying that he had assigned his employee to drive her to the hospital. She felt grateful with what he had planned. She was too nervous and couldn't sleep properly last night. Having a company on the way to the hospital would help easing up her nerves.
Hibiki received a call when they stopped at a red light. After speaking to the caller, he turned off the Bluetooth and turned around to look at her who was sitting on the back seat.
"Madam, the president has just landed. He will meet you in front of the operation theater."
"Okay..."
Even though Tsubaki was baffled hearing Hibiki addressed her as 'madam' but it was less of her concerns. Knowing Ren would come directly after landing made her worried. He must have pushed himself to the limits in order to immediately finish his job and returned to the country as soon as possible.
Dr. Morishita and Dr. Sakaguchi were already waiting for her. Satsuki had just been wheeled out of his room, heading to the operation theater.
"We'll do our best. Please don't worry, Miss Hanada."
Tsubaki nodded. "Please take care of my brother, doctors." She turned to her brother and held his hands. "You'll be okay."
Satsuki smiled, trying to hide his nervousness. "I'll see you and Brother Ren after this, okay? Don't worry about me."
"Just focus on your surgery. You'll see him soon."
Satsuki laughed. He squeezed his sister's hands before the attendants wheeled him inside. After exchanging a few more words, both doctors left her alone waiting for the surgery to start. The lights was on. She sat down on a chair and muttered silent prayers.
This surgery would mark a new beginning for Satsuki. He could resume his study and achieve his dreams. He could try something new, could even travel around the world but the most important thing was he could be healthy.
Tsubaki hoped Satsuki would no longer live while counting days, as if his life was numbered.
"Tsubaki."
Tsubaki startled when she felt a hand was shaking her shoulder slightly. She looked up, meeting a man's tired face. She quickly stood up, hands touching the man's arms, forcing him to sit. Seeing the man's puzzled look, she released her hands.
"Oh... sorry! You looked tired and I..." She lowered her eyes, hands hidden behind her body. She just reacted when she saw him, way before her brain could think.
Ren smiled, warmth radiated from his face. It was just a short moment but he knew she reacted based on her habit. He touched her hand gently, pulling her to sit beside him. He didn't let go of her hand even after she had seated next to him. He held on her hand tightly.
"How long has he been inside?" He admired the sight of her blushing face in the midst of an important surgery.
"I think... around thirty minutes?"
Tsubaki stared at the floor, to shy to meet his dark eyes. She felt warmth from his hands enveloping her heart.
It was a nice feeling.
"Mr. Fuse, about us..."
"We'll talk later." He squeezed her hand. "After Satsuki wakes up."
"Okay."
He didn't let go of her hand. She didn't want him to either. They sat in silence, praying for the young man inside the operation theater.