When Tsubaki finally woke up the next day, Ren was still by her side like always. It was 5 AM. The sky was still dark and the rain had just stopped falling. Her blurry mind tried to recall the events happening last night.
She remembered going inside his study, finding two envelopes, suddenly was startled when he unintentionally yelled at her and knowing the truth of her birth.
So much had happened last night.
"En..."
Tsubaki sat up, she gently removed Ren's hand from her waist. She rubbed her eyes to chase the sleepiness away. She could feel that her eyes were still puffy.
Looking down at the man beside her, Tsubaki smiled slightly. She bent down and placed a soft kiss on his temple. Ren's eyelashes fluttered as he recognized the touch. He slowly opened his eyes. Once he saw her smiling face, Ren responded with a smile of his own.
"How are you feeling?"
Ren lifted the comforter covering his body as he sat up from the bed. He looked at her wife's face. The evidence of her crying her heart out last night was still apparent.
"Better," replied Tsubaki sheepishly.
"That's good," Ren sighed in relief. He caressed her cheek and pecked her lips.
Tsubaki thought she was fine but, not until she saw the caring look on his face. Suddenly, a wave of emotions crashed into her. She quickly bent down and laid her head on his lap. Ren was startled when he saw her reaction but he just let her be. He moved his hand gently on her head.
"Do you want to stay home today?" Ren asked as he noticed Tsubaki was trying to contain herself from crying.
Tsubaki shook her head. She closed her eyes, feeling safe in his hands. "I don't want to make them worry. It's just the other day I was hospitalized. If I didn't show up again they'd think something else has happened."
Ren nodded in understanding. He looked at the back of her head. Tsubaki was facing the other side, avoiding him from seeing her teary face.
"I know you want to be strong and I admire you for that," he said softly in the quiet of the morning. "But, please remember that I could be your shelter too once things are too hard for you."
Tsubaki pursed her lips tightly. She remembered the things she would always say to him whenever he wanted to bear all the burden without sharing them with her. Now, he was conveying the words back to her.
"En."
In the end, she replied briefly with a small nod.
Ren persuaded her to sleep longer before he went downstairs to prepare breakfast for them both. Tsubaki obediently slept back as she was still feeling tired. It didn't take her long to fall back to sleep, much to Ren's relief.
Ren only grilled two salmons, prepared two vegetable salads as side dishes and cooked the rice. He used the soup she made last night to accompany the simple meal. His movements during cooking had become more skillful and quick.
Tsubaki woke up again when her husband coaxed her to go washed herself up. In her daze, he had even prepared a set of clothing for her. The rain showered the grounds again. She wore a light sweatshirt and a pleated skirt reaching her knees.
"If you want to tell Satsuki, call me first. I'll accompany you," Ren said once they arrived at the bakery.
Tsubaki thought for a moment before she nodded. "You said Satsuki knew that you made the test, right?"
"Yes. But, I haven't told him the results were already out," Ren replied with worry flickered in his eyes.
The young man was so afraid of knowing what the DNA tests would show him. He was half-heartedly agreeing to do the test but Ren knew the complex feelings whirring inside his brother-in-law's mind.
"I'll think about it. I still don't know how should I tell him," Tsubaki sighed as she was thinking of her brother.
"He's a strong man," Ren gently pinched her chin, turning her face to his direction. "As you want to be strong, I'll do the same too. I'll try my best to stop making you worry about me. And... I'm still sorry over what I've done last night."
"Darling, we've talked about it okay? Please don't blame yourself," Tsubaki was almost pleading when once again he looked guilty. "And even though you said you want to make me stop worrying, I can't do that. It's inevitable to worry over the dearest person in my heart. But, it doesn't mean we can't be strong."
Ren knew what his wife was trying to say. He smiled, agreeing with her points.
"We will be going through this together, okay?"
Tsubaki nodded cheerily. She was grateful over his attempt to cheer her up. She also hope he would get what she was trying to say.
Tsubaki spent her day by busying herself with the chores in the bakery. She didn't want to recall the sorrow and heartache from last night. It would hinder her activities for the day.
Ren had invited her out for lunch, asking her to not prepare his lunch box for today but Tsubaki refused. She had called Matsuzaki first and asked for Ren's schedule. The unassuming special assistant was under the pretense she would be coming for a visit so he unintentionally told her that her husband would have a video conference with a foreign company at 3 PM.
So, Tsubaki rejected his invitation. But, to save the poor assistant, she said she would come to him instead. Ren wholeheartedly agreed. He said he had even booked a meal from his favorite restaurant to be sent to the company during lunch.
"Sister Tsubaki!"
Tsubaki was startled. She turned around to look at Kohana.
"Yes? What's wrong, Kohana?"
Kohana pointed at something on the table. "Your phone is vibrating nonstop. I think it might be important."
Tsubaki quickly swiped on the screen. She gasped as she realized they were unread messages from Kanako. She opened the messaging app, reading at all of them.
Sweet Scent of the Dew: Tsubaki! I have a reallyyyy important matter to ask for your help! (ó﹏ò｡)
Sweet Scent of the Dew: Could you pretty please accompany me to an event?
Sweet Scent of the Dew: It's just a charity event! You don't have to worry about anything! Really! ( •̀ᄇ• ́)ﻭ✧
Sweet Scent of the Dew: Pretty pleaseeeee!!!
Tsubaki smiled helplessly as she read the messages. She rubbed her temple before she replied.
Camellia of the Spring: You are so ungrateful! You left me to save yourself and now you're asking for my help?
Kanako's ridiculous reply came instantly.
Sweet Scent of the Dew: Why? Your beauty trap didn't work? I thought the great, almighty President Fuse would admit defeat in front of your beauty trap? (●♡∀♡)
Camellia of the Spring: .....
Camellia of the Spring: Enough about that. I'd collect the debt from you someday. So, what's this charity about?
Sweet Scent of the Dew: Yessss! Thank you! I'll call you later to explain ! I have a meeting now~
Camellia of the Spring: Alright.
Tsubaki tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. Her eyes was staring at the phone screen while her index finger was scrolling the screen. She stopped at Satsuki's name.
Even though Ren said that Satsuki had already aware of the possibility, but for her to reveal the truth, she was afraid it would cause a blow to him.
If Mom wasn't my birth mother and Satsuki isn't... Sigh... What happened actually?
Tsubaki closed her eyes. She felt so down right now.
At a time like this, she really wanted to see him.