Tsubaki's hands that were holding the comforter stiffened before she quickly reacted to reach for the phone from the table beside the bed. It was an unfamiliar number.
Who was it? Her fingers were trembling as she tried calming her heart. She accepted the call and brought the phone close to her ear.
"Hello?" Her voice was a soft whisper against the receiver.
"Tsubaki."
Tsubaki's eyes widened when the familiar voice greeted her. She wanted to speak but the overwhelming feelings that overtook her made it hard for her to even utter a single word. Her free hand subconsciously covered her lips. Her mouth opened and closed for a few times before she could finally speak.
"Ren... It's you?"
Her tears fell.
"Sweetheart, it's me."
The calm and mellow voice of his was what she would always remember. The affection hidden in the deep voice, the love and warmth that he radiated every time he spoke to her. She remembered them all.
"Are you safe? Are you okay? Matsuzaki said you're injured. It is safe for you to call me now? Where are you?"
Tsubaki continuously asking questions as her mind was filled with countless thoughts. He chuckled beside her ear, lowly and calmly. The sound of it dispelled her worries.
"I'm safe, love. I'm just slightly injured. As for where I am now, I'm at a house at the outskirts of the city. Akashi has made sure the connection is secure before I could make a call to you. You're in the old house, en?"
"Yes..."
Tsubaki answered weakly. When she thought she had successfully stopping her tears from falling, her frustration intensified suddenly. She tried to hold them back but it was so hard. Pursing her lips, she covered her mouth with a hand. She didn't want him to hear how weak she felt right now.
"Sweetheart, you're crying?"
Of course, she couldn't hide it from him.
"You're the one who made me cry." Tsubaki said exasperatedly. She wiped her damp cheeks with the edge of the sleeves. It was so frustrating when the tears refused to stop falling.
"I'm sorry." Ren replied. His tone sounded heavy. "I don't want to make you worry so I make this call. It seems like this is not enough, right?"
"You know that it's not enough." Tsubaki didn't stand on ceremony as she kept whining. Her tears had stopped temporarily. Her voice lowered as she continued, "Can't I see you?"
Ren went silent for a moment. His low breath resounded from the end of the line. Tsubaki's heart was beating fast when he finally responded. "I'm going to make a video call. Is this okay?"
"Yes!"
If she couldn't go to him, at least the video call was sufficient for tonight. Tsubaki ended the call without waiting for Ren to do so. It was only a few seconds away before the number called her back. Tsubaki accepted the request for a video call as she fumbled with the remote controller to switch on the light of the dark room.
Tsubaki squinted her eyes as she adjusted her sight due to the bright light. When she could finally focus properly on the phone screen, an image of a man appeared before her. His handsome face looked ragged, the usual healthy glow on his face was nowhere to be found. There were dark circles under his eyes and Tsubaki noticed a faint cut on his left temple. He was leaning against a chair. His black suit from this morning had been changed to a white T-shirt.
"Are you okay? What about the injuries?" Tsubaki asked frantically. She glanced around her. The soundproofing of the room was good so she didn't fret over being eavesdrop.
"Easy, sweetheart." Ren chuckled as he watched how her face etched with worry. "I'm okay. How about you and Grandma?"
His dark eyes took in every inch of her face. She looked weary and it was his fault. He noticed that she was wearing his pajama. It was so big for her petite body. A small smile bloomed on his face as his mood being uplifted. He really wanted to pull her to him and hug her tightly.
But it had to wait. He still had important things at hand.
"Don't worry about us." Tsubaki eyed the man anxiously. "Grandma is a bit shocked but she's fine now. I'll accompany her to the meeting tomorrow. What's your plan? Matsuzaki told me you want to reveal Mr. Sagara's crimes but he didn't say how you would do it. He just said something about a foreign company."
"I don't want to involve you any deeper." Ren refused to tell her his plans. His voice was still calm as ever. "He won't be able to escape anymore. You just need to make sure that you and Grandma are safe. Only then I could I proceed without worry."
"You're so unfair!" Tsubaki suddenly vented out her frustration much to Ren's surprise. Tears started brimming her eyes again. Her lips trembled in anger and fear. She stared angrily at her husband's face. "You always want to put all the burden on yourself. You don't want me to worry but... I can't do that!"
"Sweetheart..."
The calm on his face cracked when Tsubaki started crying. Her shoulders trembled as she continued to sniffle. Her cheeks were blotchy as more tears trickling down her face.
"I know that you need to be secretive but... I can't help but worry..." Tsubaki lowered her head, trying hard to control herself from crying but she failed miserably. More tears running down her cheeks as her voice turned hoarse.
"I felt like my world has ended when Matsuzaki told me about the crash. I didn't want to break down so I tried to not believe the news. Only when Matsuzaki said that you're safe, I could stop pretending to be strong. I know I'd ruin your plan if I insist to meet you, so I didn't dare to press Matsuzaki about your whereabouts. And now I'm being greedy... I want you here... right now..."
Tsubaki knew she was talking nonsense but the words had just kept tumbling out her mouth. She kept on crying and crying while Ren didn't say anything. He let her pouring out all the negative emotions she had kept inside her heart. Only when her tears started to slow down did she raise her head and stare straight to Ren's face.
"If you still didn't set things straight after tomorrow, don't blame me for ignoring you." Tsubaki threatened him as she wiped her damp cheeks furiously.
Ren smiled wearily as he nodded his head. He really needed to reward his little wife for being able to tolerate with his stubbornness. Seeing her crying her heart out made his own heart ached, yet the pain doubled when he realized it was because of him.
"I know." Ren said in a low voice. "I'll end it all tomorrow. Go to sleep, love. Don't hang up the call, I want to see you sleeping a bit longer."
Tsubaki was too tired to continue arguing with him. Thus she pulled the comforter over her as her phone being left beside the pillow. Ren watched as she slowly fall asleep, curling herself under the comforter. He didn't hang up even after she had fall asleep.
"Master." Hibiki's voice came behind him. "Mr. Walker called earlier. He asked for you,"
Ren nodded without saying anything. He reluctantly ended the video call. His slender fingers dialed an international number.
If his little wife had insisted, he didn't have any choice but to yield to her. After all, he had owed her so much.