It was a sunny day as early summer had arrived. Kanako texted Tsubaki to ask the latter to join her shopping spree. When Ren knew about it, he immediately urged her to agree with Kanako's plans. He had even slipped his black card inside her purse.
"Aren't you afraid I'd max your card's limit?"
Tsubaki asked while they were cuddling on the couch. They had just finished their dinner and now both of them were relaxing in the quiet night. Ren had played a record of his favorite symphony. It was the same one he had played when they danced under the stars a while back.
"Sweetheart, I think you'd faint first before swiping the card once the salesperson shows you the price," Ren crooned beside her ear, his hot breath landing on her skin made her felt ticklish. "Do you want me to tell you?"
Tsubaki quickly zipped her lips. She shook her head profusely.
Whenever she saw the things he had bought for her, she would try to avoid to know their prices. Her small heart couldn't afford to know the tremendous amounts he had spent for her. She would feel guilty!
Ren laughed as he saw her reaction. He leaned down and peppered her face with light kisses.
"Go and have fun," he said, his face pressed against her neck. "My work will be done soon. We'll return to your hometown in a few days."
"Okay," Tsubaki answered meekly.
And thus, Tsubaki spent the day by following Kanako to Spring City. They met at the entrance since Kaede was the one who drove her there.
"Which shopping complexes you've frequented aside from this one?" Tsubaki asked in wonder. She knew there were a few shopping complexes that catered to the upper class in the city so she was confused why would Kanako come here.
"This place is the best," answered Kanako immediately. "I've been to Riverside Complex and Emperor Mall before but their selections are kind of lacking. Plus, the view here is better than them."
Tsubaki cast her gaze around her. What Kanako said was true. Even though she had come here for a few times already, she was still in awe seeing the design of this place.
"Hey, are you just accompanying me to shop? You don't have anything to buy for yourself?" Kanako shot one of her delicately trimmed eyebrows upward. She took a bite of the strawberry shortcake served before her.
Tsubaki smiled lightly. She stirred the cold juice before sipping it to ease her thirst. "I don't have anything to buy. My clothes are already sufficient, I think."
"Seeing how President Fuse dotes on you, it's not weird if he did prepare the summer outfits for you even before the spring ended." Kanako sighed exasperatedly. She leaned back and watched the bright sky from the glass ceiling. "Ah~ It's summer and I still don't have a boyfriend to go to the beach with."
Tsubaki laughed hearing her complaint. She leaned over and placed her arms on the table, resting her chin on one hand. Tsubaki hummed as she said, "I don't believe that there's no one takes fancy on you. You're just too choosy!"
"Of course I need to be choosy! I want to have someone who dotes on me as much as your husband does to you," replied Kanako with a frown on her face. "But, those guys are not good enough. They'd usually come to me and after showing some interest, they would ask about my father's company. Aiya~ It's so hard to find true love."
Tsubaki just silently stared at Kanako. She understood what her friend was worried about. As the sole heiress of her father, she couldn't blindly choose her life partner. He should come from the same background as hers.
"I don't want to think about it anymore," Kanako decided as she took another bite of her cake. "So, you really don't want to buy anything. Not even a really sexy lingerie?"
"You!"
Tsubaki's cheeks flushed red. She glared at Kanako who was already laughing at her. In the end, she joined her to laugh.
They were just done shopping when Kanako pointed out to the cafe they were currently having desserts at. It was a good and relaxing cafe. Kanako's shopping bags had taken the space around their feet. Tsubaki wondered how could she brought them home when suddenly two men walked over to them.
"Miss, we're here," one of the men dressed in black suits greeted Kanako.
Kanako immediately looked up. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw the man. There was a faint trace of red on her cheeks which it seemed she tried to hide.
"Great! Please bring these to my car. I'm still going to browse around," Kanako pointed her finger to the bags. She looked a bit flustered.
The first man nodded. Although he was expressionless, it didn't dampen the good looks of his. There was an aura of aloofness coming from him. He and his companion easily took the bags in both hands. In an instance, the floor around their feet was cleared from Kanako's shopping bags.
"Please call us if you have any assignment, Miss."
"Okay... "
The two bodyguards swiftly left the cafe. Kanako was still staring at their retreating figures. Her eyes looked dreamy. No, not on theirs. It was...
"Do you like the first guy?"
"...! Cough!"
Kanako was almost choked on her saliva. She coughed a few times before she could get a hold of herself. Tsubaki quickly handed her a tissue.
"You! How... How could you tell?"
Tsubaki hummed as she looked at Kanako with a teasing smile.
"So, how long have you like him? He's one of your bodyguards, right?"
Kanako asked in a quiet voice, her face was still red, "It's so obvious that I like him?"
Tsubaki quickly nodded her head. "That guy would be too dumb if he didn't realize it."
A heavy sigh escaped Kanako's lips as she admitted defeat. "It's nothing much. It's not like we could be together."
Tsubaki pursed her lips. Even though she seemed like an outgoing girl who didn't care too much about what others would say but, she was still being realistic. With a father like President Esumi, Tsubaki knew why she didn't dare to approach the guy.
"How long you have like him?" Tsubaki's eyes softened when she thought of how this young lady before her was like any other maiden once she fell in love. No wonder she didn't take notice of her husband before even though he was a powerful man who could bring more money and fame to her family.
She was already in love with someone else.
"About... 2 years?" Kanako timidly raised two of her fingers upwards.
"Oh my! It has been such a long time!"
The maiden could only nod her head timidly.
Tsubaki chuckled softly. She placed her hands around the cold glass of her juice. The water came from the condensation damped her fingers. It felt so cold.
She suddenly missed the warmth of his hands holding hers.
"You know what, Kanako," Tsubaki looked straight at her. "If you could suppress your feelings for him for a long time, I'm afraid it might take time for you to recover from it once it erupts. You deserve a chance to choose whoever you love. At the very least, I hope you could tell him instead of silencing it in your heart."
Kanako lowered her gaze to the surface of her drink. Tsubaki was being thoughtful of her. A broken heart couldn't be mended overnight. She knew he didn't have the responsibility to answer to her feelings but, as Tsubaki said, she wanted him to at least acknowledge her.
Even though it was hard.
Tsubaki sighed softly. She placed a hand on Kanano's thus added, "It's my advice as a friend. I want you to be happy."
Kanako swallowed down the lump that formed in her throat. She nodded slightly, "Thanks, Tsubaki. I've never talked about him with anyone."
Tsubaki smiled. Just as she wanted to speak, her ring tone rang off. She quickly opened her handbag to retrieve it. Tsubaki's pupils dilated slightly as she saw the name appeared on the screen.
Director Ayanokouji.
"Hello! Director Ayanokouji!"
"Mrs. Fuse," the older woman's voice could be heard through the phone. "I'm sorry for taking a long time to contact you but I've finally found the logs. Would you come here today? Or at a later date?"
"I'll be coming right now!" Tsubaki quickly stood up from her seat. The calm of her face had been replaced with panic.
"What's wrong, Tsubaki?" Kanako was confused with the sudden change. "Did something happen?"
"I..." Tsubaki paused before she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kanako. It's something personal. I need to leave now."
"Do you want me to give you a ride?"
"No, thanks. Kaede is here," Tsubaki rejected the offer. She looked apologetically to Kanako. "I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you somehow."
"No! No! It's okay," Kanako waved her off, didn't want Tsubaki to feel guilty. "Go quickly. Contact me if you need anything."
"Okay!"
Before she exited the cafe, Tsubaki swiped her card to settle the bills. Kaede had been waiting outside the cafe. She immediately ran to Tsubaki.
"Madam, what's wrong?"
"Please bring me to a place. It's urgent!"
Kaede didn't ask for further instruction as she swiftly went to get the car. Tsubaki waited for her at the entrance. She felt fidgety. Her heart was beating furiously.