Ren took two days of leave. Even though he would receive calls from Matsuzaki occasionally, the rest of his time was still relaxing. Tsubaki would always stay by his side, offering help whenever he needed it. Once he saw how restless his wife was even when he had slowly recovered made Ren wanted to laugh helplessly.
She would cover him with a blanket, occasionally wipe his face with wet towel cloth, persuade him to eat cut fruits and medicine on time and even massage his temple and aching limbs.
He could say he got a treatment like a king from his dainty wife.
"Sweetheart," Ren pulled Tsubaki to his chest, not letting her go to the kitchen to get fresh fruits and honeyed daikon for him for the nth time. "I'm okay. Do you want your husband to die because eating fruits excessively?"
"Don't talk like that!" Tsubaki pouted, she tried to get away from his arms yet he persistently held onto her waist. "Well... it's true that you've recovered but your throat is still sore, right? Honeyed daikon is good for you."
Ren watched at her face carefully before he stifled his laugh. "It's good for me but overconsumption is bad too, right?"
Tsubaki pursed her lips. He indeed had a point.
"Instead of moving around so much, just stay with me," Ren placed his wide palm at the back of her head, bringing her face closer to his neck. Her breath blew warmly on chest. "It's rare for us to have a time like this."
"Okay..." In the end, Tsubaki admitted defeat. She leaned comfortably in his embrace. Both of them were sitting on the couch inside the sunroom.
"You're such a worrywart, don't let our child inherit that," Ren eyed her meaningfully. One of his brows lifted up.
"You're the one to say!" Tsubaki refuted back, feeling wronged with the accusation. "I remember you didn't want me to kiss you because you're sick. Even before that, you've always worried about me even though it's just the smallest issue."
This time, it was Ren's time to shut up.
He couldn't debunk her. It was true that between the two of them, he was the one who had always been worried while she always took the relaxing approach.
"I'm bored," He said suddenly as they watched the sun from the glass walls. "Let's take a stroll downstairs."
"Okay," Tsubaki agreed immediately.
In these two days, both of them mainly stayed inside their home. The doors would only be opened when Old Yuuzo came to deliver herbal soup from the old house. Other than that, they spent their time watching TV or playing board games he brought out from God knew where inside his study. Having a change of scenery would do them good.
After forcing her husband to reapply the sunscreen and wore a light cardigan, the husband and wife exited the lobby to head to the garden surrounding the luxurious condominium complex. The temperature dropped down a little bit today, making it easier to walk under the sun. Since it was still early, there were not many people outside. They walked slowly on the cobbled path, enjoying the greenery in front of them.
"Sweetheart," Ren averted his eyes from the view of the path in front of him, looking at his wife who was much shorter than him. The evening breeze drifted the sound of his deep voice behind. "Would you mind if we live in the suburbs?"
"En?" Tsubaki retracted her gaze from the hydrangea flower bed near the pathway. Their pink and purple petals appeared soft in her eyes, she could only sigh seeing their beauty. "What do you mean by the suburbs? Is this about your plan after leaving the company?"
Ren nodded once. He paused his steps, making Tsubaki stopped too. Their hands intertwined with each other. He lowered his gaze to the sparkling diamond ring around her finger. He seemed like he was deep in thought before he opened his lips again to speak.
"It's just a plan. I want to ask for your suggestions, first. Even though you've lived in this city for 4 years, I know you didn't really enjoy your life here," Ren carefully voiced out what was bothering him. He locked his dark gaze on hers. "So, we could move from this place if you want."
Tsubaki silently looked back at him. He had done a good job analyzing her. The city had everything she could have but she still missed living surrounded by peace and greenery instead of gray skyscrapers and the loud honks of vehicles.
"Well, I'm really tempted to move someplace quiet," She answered after a period of silence. "But, what do you want to do? If you leave the company, do you have any dream you want to pursue?"
It was one thing she still didn't know about him.
He had said he left the city because he wanted to escape from his family's prestige. A man as determined as him, it was impossible to say he didn't have any interest in mind, right? In the few months she had lived with him, he had never shown her anything that could be related to his passion.
What was it?
When he heard her question, his eyelashes fluttered slightly. He didn't expect her to ask him that. Her clear bright eyes were silently peering into his dark gaze, making the words he wanted to say faded from his mind.
Her question made him thought back of what he had suppressed in his mind all these years.
"I do," He answered briefly. He raised his free hand and gently rubbed one side of her head. His gaze softened under the bright light of the sun. "It's something I've stopped doing all these years. Later, I''ll show you some other day, okay?"
Tsubaki nodded with a cheerful smile.
Both of them resumed their stroll. Ren had deliberately slowed down his steps to match her little feet catching up to him. The view of the greatly maintained garden was spectacular. It was actually a blessing for him even though he had to suffer with a mild fever. Within these two days, he could really enjoy his time with her.
In the past, he would still be entangled with work like the time they went to the beach. But, this time, most of his time was for both of them.
"Oh! I forgot!" Tsubaki suddenly thought of something. She quickly looked at her husband's questioning eyes. "Grandma invited us to the old house tomorrow. Do you want to tell her about our baby? Aunt Kasumi wants to meet us too. She gave me a call when you're still sleeping this morning."
Ren swept his gaze over her flat tummy before it landed on her face. He smiled faintly yet the way his dark eyes gleamed made her heart skipped a beat. After a while, he nodded.
"Let's tell her and Aunt Kasumi," Ren took a step closer toward her. He brought her in his arms. "We still have a wedding to prepare so we shouldn't delay telling them our good news."
Tsubaki's eyes widened once she heard what he had said. Her lips parted yet no sound came out of her mouth. There was a restrained excitement as well as surprise clearly written on her face. She looked so funny until he couldn't resist pinching her nose.
"What are you thinking?" One corner of his lips curled up, forming a crooked smile. "En?"
"You! You mean...!" Tsubaki grasped the lapels of his cardigan, she was practically jumping in his embrace. Her eyes lit up as she asked him in an excited voice. "You mean we could hold the wedding? Really?"
A wide smile broke on his handsome face. He was totally infected with his little wife's enthusiasm as he laughed loudly. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he continued to laugh. The peaceful garden was filled with laughter.
"Don't laugh!" Tsubaki pouted slightly. "Tell me! We could hold our wedding?"
"Yes, sweetheart," Ren gently placed his palm at the nape of her neck, lifting her face up to meet his eyes. "We would hold our wedding according to our plan."
Tsubaki parted her lips in joy before she pounced on him. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, her smile was so bright as if it could blind him. "Yay! Thank you, darling!"
Ren swiftly caught her in his arms, her little feet dangling in the air. He frowned purposely and said, "Sweetheart, you can't always jump like this. You're carrying our little bean now. What if you fell?"
Tsubaki wasn't affected by his stern voice as she knew he had deliberately did so. Her lips curled up beautifully as she fluttered her long eyelashes in a coquettish manner. "It's okay. You'd always catch me so I won't fall."
Ren was stunned. He was really in a loss of words.
Her reply has become cheekier! Don't tell me she learned this from me?
As Ren didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing if he continued influencing her, Tsubaki wiggled free from his embrace. Ren had no choice but to slowly lowered her down until her feet touched the ground safely. He didn't let go of his arms around her waist even after she had properly stood beside him.
"Darling, do you have any hope for our child?" Tsubaki peered into his dark eyes, her fingertips were lightly touching the lapels of his cardigan. Her voice carried a sense of uncertainty.
Ren silently stared back at her. He knew why she asked him that. She was someone who lacked security, especially with what had been happening as of late. Even though people could be deceived by her strong appearance, he was the only one who had witnessed the tears she had shed.
"My only hope..." Ren gently pinched her chin, lifting her face up slowly. "...is for us three to live in blessings and happiness."
Tsubaki teared up, his words was so warm. They touched the softest part of her heart, making her so much in love with him. She tip-toed and closed the distance between their lips.
The evening breeze softly caressed the two souls, as if afraid of disturbing the two of them.
A moment passed, Tsubaki pulled away from him. She contemplated on how she should tell him. Ren knew there was something bothering her mind yet he patiently waited for her to open up.
"Darling, I..." Tsubaki pursed her lips. She looked into his eyes, trying to find courage in them. In the end, she spoke again, "I've read the postcards. All of them."
"Huh?"
A look of surprise flashed on his face. His hands that were holding her petite frame stiffened slightly.
"You did... what?"