Snap!
"En?"
Tsubaki blinked, a light confusion flashed in her eyes before she stared blankly at Kanako in front of her. Her friend was leaning over, her fingers stopped right before Tsubaki's face.
"What?"
"What?" Kanako asked in disbelief. "You've been daydreaming and you asked me what? What are you thinking about? You didn't even hear me called you."
"Oh," Tsubaki smiled sheepishly. She lowered down her cup of tea to the saucer, the tea swirled in the ceramic. "Nothing. I'm just thinking of something."
Kanako raised one of her eyebrows. She leaned back against the chair, she crossed her arms as she stared at Tsubaki. "Is there something troubling you?"
"It's just..." Tsubaki tilted her head, looking outside the windows toward the clear summer sky. The light was so bright, bringing her a sense of peace. "You know, during this time last year, I was still working nonstop for my brother. It feels weird when I get to enjoy this summer with my husband. Never did it cross my mind that I'd be with someone."
Kanako smiled, a hint of tease glinted in her eyes. She rested her chin on her right hand, her smile could only turn wider and wider, earning Tsubaki's curious glance.
"What?" This time it was Tsubaki's turn to question her.
"No~ I'm just could be in awe with the way you guys love each other. If only my love story is as smooth as you guys," Kanako replied in envy. She looked at the man in black through the corners of her eyes. "I've done myself disfavor by liking some wooden block guy like him."
Tsubaki stifled a laugh. She eyed the guy standing under a tree. She had yet to have a chance to properly analyze the man who had caught Kanako's heart but she knew he was a good guy despite his cold appearance.
He somehow reminded her of her husband. Both of them appeared so detached from the world, deterring people from coming close to them. But, once they opened up their hearts, only warmth could be found in them.
They chatted for a while longer before Kanako took her leave around 6 PM. Tsubaki wrapped up a box of pastry and a box of cakes for her to be brought home. Kanako accepted the free desserts wholeheartedly. Tsubaki walked her until she reached the car waiting for Kanako at the side of the street.
"I'll call you later, okay? Be prepared to hear my good news," Tsubaki curled up her lips, her face radiated soft glow under the light cast by the sun.
"You're really making me intrigued," Kanako pouted, clearly dissatisfied with Tsubaki's decision to hide the news from her. "If you're making me wait for a long time, don't blame me for punishing you for it."
Tsubaki let out a laugh, she pushed Kanako slightly for her to enter the car. "Don't worry, it'd just take a day or two. Off you go. Don't delay any longer. Didn't you say you have to attend a dinner with your parents?"
"Ha! Dinner? It's obviously a match-make session," Kanako scoffed, she rolled up her eyes. "Forget it, I'd rather be late anyway. Alright, call me later, okay? See you soon."
"Take care!" Tsubaki waved goodbye to Kanako who had already gotten into the car.
Kanako wound down the window at her side, she waved at Tsubaki back. Tsubaki stood at the side of the road, watching the car left. Her smile faltered when she suddenly caught a sharp glare through the side mirror, coming from Saito Hajime who was driving the car.
Eh? Did I mistake something?
Tsubaki rubbed her eyes, when she looked again, the car had already turned at the intersection ahead of her.
Well, I might look at it wrongly.
Tsubaki shook her head. She glanced at her wristwatch. It showed 6:25 PM. The roads had been filled with cars, their occupants were on their way home from works. Tsubaki stared at the sun slowly setting on the horizon. She curved up a smile before she stepped inside the bakery.
She wondered what was her husband doing at this time? She really wanted to see him.
Fuse Corporation.
Two light knocks resounded on the wooden doors of the President's office. Ren lifted his gaze from the documents in front of him, a tall figure with low ponytail entered his view. Takuma lazily walked toward Ren. He placed two thick files on the wide mahogany table.
"You're very diligent, cousin. It's already 7:05." Takuma whistled slightly when he looked at the wall clock. He then leaned sideways against the table, his eyes squinted mischievously at Ren who was still reading the documents. "Aren't you going home soon? Won't my cousin-in-law nag you for coming home late? Don't make yourself sleep on the couch, okay?"
"She won't have time to nag at me even if I came home late," Ren closed the last document, he put it on the pile on his left side. The piles of documents would be handled by Matsuzaki tomorrow morning. He looked at Takuma, his gaze was profound as he added, "Because she's busy missing me. And she can't sleep without me by her side so your worry is unwarranted, cousin."
"Duh!" Takuma's face turned black. "I should have known better than provoking you. Alright, I'll stop. I don't want to hear your lovey-dovey love story. Okay, now tell me about your plan. Do you say you want me to be in charge of the collaboration with A-W Group? About the new project?"
"Yes." Ren stood up from the swivel chair, he gathered his belongings and rounded the table to leave the office. "Prove your worth to me. I might hand you this position even before the completion of this project."
After he finished speaking, Ren strode toward the doors. Takuma was baffled, he turned around, looking at his cousin's broad back. "Hey! You do not have any intention to give further instruction to me? You just want to leave it completely to me?"
"If the project fails, I'd just hold you accountable," Ren paused before the door, his hand holding the doorknob. He turned his head slightly, his dark eyes focused on Takuma. One of the corners of his lips lifted up, his eyes were mocking the man standing near the wide table. "Easy, right?"
Ren proceeded to open the door before waiting for Takuma's reply. A silhouette figure in white dress appeared in his view. His eyes widened slightly when he saw who was standing before him.
"You!" Takuma was at a loss of words. Before he could refute, his words fell back in his mouth as he stared at the petite figure outside the door. His eyes lit up. "Cousin-in-law!"
"Oh! Hi, Takuma!" Tsubaki cheerily waved at the man who was standing a few feet behind Ren's back. Her eyes went back to her husband's face. She smiled guiltily as she said, "I called Hibiki and he said you're still working. So, I asked Kaede to bring me here. Is that okay?"
Ren's lips curled up into a handsome smile. He raised one of his hands, rubbing the side of her head. "Are you tired? If you're hungry, we could head to a restaurant first. You don't have to cook tonight. Or do you want me to cook for you?"
Ren's suggestion to cook for her was tempting but when Tsubaki saw the dark circles under his eyes, she didn't have the heart to agree. She shook her head, her eyes looking into his. "It's okay. We could go to a restaurant. After that, we could just rest early at home."
"Alright," Ren nodded.
The husband and wife had completely forgotten the existence of another person in their close proximity. Even the remaining employees who had just started to knock off work saw their sweet interaction. Takuma harrumphed in dissatisfaction, he walked toward the couple with a dark expression on his face.
"You guys are so heartless, forcing me to watch you guys so lovey-dovey in public," Takuma stopped beside Ren. He looked with anticipation in his eyes when he asked Tsubaki, "Cousin-in-law, could I eat your cooking again? If not today, maybe some other time?"
"Shameless." After Ren uttered the word, he wrapped Tsubaki's shoulders with his long hand, leading her to the elevator.
Takuma was speechless. He stared incredulously at Ren's back.
Tsubaki let out a laugh. She turned her head behind, looking at Takuma. "Some other day, okay? I promise!"
"You better hold onto your promise!" Takuma said quite a bit loud.
Tsubaki raised her hand, signifying okay.
Once they stepped inside the elevator, Ren didn't wait until the doors closed properly before he slumped his head on Tsubaki's shoulder. Tsubaki smiled sheepishly when she saw the shock in Takuma's and the employees' eyes. She was willing for the doors to slid shut as soon as possible.
"Darling, you're so tired," Tsubaki ran one of her hands on the arm that was hugging her waist. She could feel the stiffness of his muscle. His warm breath landed on her neck. "Why don't we order a takeaway? We could return home soon that way."
Ren raised his head slightly, his lips created a beautiful curved as he pecked her lips. "No. We could go to your favorite restaurant. Besides, it's still early. I promise I won't touch my work after we get home."
Tsubaki nodded, she just followed along with his request.
Since Tsubaki was safe in her husband's protection, Kaede had been dismissed. Hibiki had been waiting for the couple inside the underground parking lot. After giving him some instructions, Ren closed his eyes once he leaned on Tsubaki's shoulder. Both of his hands wrapped around her waist.
After a minute, the sound of his steady breathing resounded in the car.
"Hibiki," Tsubaki called out softly to the man who sat behind the wheels.
Hibiki turned around, waiting for his Madam to continue speaking.
"Just drive on the road first, I want him to sleep for a bit. Maybe we could stop at the restaurant around one hour later. Or we could just order takeaways." Tsubaki was really hoping for the man beside her to get some rest. Since the interior of the car was top-notch in terms of comfort, she didn't have to worry about him being uncomfortable.
"Alright, Madam."
Hibiki swiftly drove the car, leaving the tall building. Tsubaki glanced down at her sleeping husband. She smiled instinctively when she saw how peaceful he looked when he was deep in sleep. She carefully reached out for the folded blanket prepared for her to cover him with it. Ren snuggled under the crook of her neck once he felt comfortable under the warmth.
Tsubaki softly patted his head, trying to ease him.
The car drove under the lights of the city while the husband slept peacefully on the wife's shoulder.