The rustling of the leaves and the sound of birds chirping filled the quiet air. Ren was staring at his wife with a clear shock written on his face. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before he shook his head, trying to recompose himself.
"You said..." Ren's brows were almost knitted together as he tried to speak again, "You have read the postcards? When?"
She was always stuck close to him in these two days. When did she find the time to read them? Her mood within these days also didn't show any unhappiness. If she had really read them, shouldn't she feel... sad?
"I read them the first night you got sick," Tsubaki told him truthfully. She averted her gaze from his eyes and her voice turned quieter. "I know I've asked you to accompany me when I wanted to read them but... I think after seeing you got sick changed my mind. So... I went ahead and read them."
Ren silently listened to her short explanation. He caught the hidden guilt in her voice. A soft sigh escaped his lips. He carefully brought her back in his arms. His long hands gently rubbed her back as he brushed his thin lips on her forehead.
"Don't blame yourself about me getting sick," Ren lifted her chin, trying to make her look at him again. He saw a layer of translucent moisture covering her eyes. "I've always been working without stopping so it's not because of you I got sick."
He knew what had been bothering her in these two days. Even though he didn't point out what did he see in her excessive care for him, he knew she had been silently blaming herself.
She thought it was her fault that he couldn't get enough rest because he needed to worry about her matter but little did she know after meeting her again he had slowly learned to trust his subordinates and let them handle the company instead of only relying on himself.
The him from the past would not leave the office until midnight approached. Even when he returned home he would focus back on his job instead of resting properly. After years of living like a humanoid, he would eventually meet the consequences. The time he was close to fainting increased year by year. Only Toshiro, Matsuzaki and Hibiki knew about this.
After meeting her again, she had been taking care of him greatly.
Tsubaki pursed her lips, his words did little to ease her guilt. She held back her tears as she answered him, "I feel like I've always been taking and taking from you instead of giving you the same amount of care you have shown to me. So..."
As she met his deepened gaze, she closed her mouth without finishing her words. Tsubaki freed her chin from his fingers, she once again turned her eyes away from his.
Ren could only smile faintly. Her emotions had been too sensitive after getting pregnant. It wasn't easy for him to convince her so he knew he shouldn't speak in a rush.
He traced the small of her back until his fingers landed on her forearms. He slowly brought down her hands until they encircled her delicate wrists. Her hands were so small, he sometimes wondered how did these small pairs of hands could exert great pressure every time she needed to knead the dough?
Tsubaki let her husband twirled her hands. She even shuddered under his warm touch. The air around them was solemn.
After a moment of silence, Ren parted his lips to speak again. His voice was as clear as a stream as he gently coaxing her. "As much as you feel guilty, I'm proud of you for taking the next step by yourself. I know it's hard for you to read the postcards but you've done well, sweetheart."
Tsubaki pursed her lips into a tight line. She didn't speak nor look at him but after some time, she gave a small nod.
It was as if the grievance she had kept for these two days faded away after hearing his words.
She wanted to show him that she was strong but the turmoil inside her heart didn't let her. Even though now she could hold back her tears unlike before, his words still brought a sense of comfort to her.
Tsubaki slowly lifted up her face. Her clear eyes were searching for his face. A faint smile hung on her lips. "Could I hug you?"
Ren laughed softly. He immediately brought her inside his embrace.
"I've said it before, you don't need to ask."
Tsubaki nodded, she buried her face on his chest. The stuffiness inside her heart gradually vanished as she snuggled in his arms. Since the first time he hugged her, she had grown used to the security he provided in his embrace. Nothing could be compared to this.
She smiled softly. No tears were shed today.
The husband and wife continued strolling until the sun started setting. Once they returned upstairs, Tsubaki started preparing to cook dinner. Before she could leave the bedroom after washing up her face, the man gently grabbed her wrist.
"Darling, yes?" Tsubaki tilted her head, looking at him with a confusion.
Ren wanted to say something yet as another thought popped inside his mind, he closed his lips. His face held a faint smile. He shook his head.
"Nothing, be careful when you're cooking."
Tsubaki giggled, she patted his cheek with the sound of her voice lingered in the room. "Alright. Please rest for a bit, okay? I'll call you once I'm done."
"En."
Ren watched her leaving the room. The hand that held her wrist earlier hung in the air as uneasiness spread in his heart. Once he heard her footsteps reached the last stairs, he immediately sneaked into his study.
By now, he had just realized the position of the paper bag changed slightly. If Tsubaki didn't confess that she had already read the postcards, he would never think of such a possibility.
Ren sat on the swivel chair and unlocked the last drawer at his left. A white envelope came into view. His brows furrowed.
This was the letter given by Nagao Yuuto. He still didn't tell Tsubaki about this letter's existence.
What would be written inside?
After contemplating for a while, Ren decided against it. Although she remained cheerful even after reading the postcards, it didn't mean her heart wasn't in pain. His wife had become stronger but she still needed to heal herself.
Ren locked the drawer again. He would tell her later.
Later.
The next day, both of them got ready to go to the old house. Even though Grandma invited them for dinner but they decided to go early as to spend more time with the old lady. Hibiki drove them to the old house since Tsubaki had sternly reminded her husband to still take it easy. Under her cute glare, he nodded and smiled helplessly.
"Tsubaki! Ren!" Grandma called out to them in joy once she saw them gotten off the car. She quickened her steps to their direction. Aunt Kasumi stood behind her with a smile on her face.
"Grandma! How are you?" Tsubaki laughed happily as the old lady hugged her. Ren could only smile when he saw how his grandmother hugging Tsubaki with a wide smile.
"I'm good! Are you in good health?" Grandma shifted her attention toward the tall man standing beside the young lady in her embrace. "And you? Have you recovered, you brat? Making me worried, you really need me to scold you?"
Ren let out a loud laugh. He easily enveloped the two ladies in his bear hug. "Don't be mad, Grandma. I'm alright. Tsubaki took great care of me."
"You really should be grateful to have a wife now! You..." Grandma continued to nag at Ren, making Tsubaki laughed funnily.
"Don't just stand there!" Aunt Kasumi's voice brought them back to reality. "It's hot outside, Aunty. Let them enter the house first."
"Oh! Yes! Yes!" Grandma pushed Ren away and swiftly held Tsubaki's hands, pulling her to follow her inside. "Come! I've asked the kitchen to cut the fresh watermelons after lunch. They're tasty!"
"Thank you, Grandma!"
Ren eyed the leaving figures of the two ladies. Slight displeasure glinted in his dark eyes. Aunt Kasumi who saw the change in his expression laughed, she knew he was feeling displeased of being abandoned by his grandmother and wife.
"Don't brood by yourself, Ren. Otherwise, your wife would really be snatched by your Grandma!" Aunt Kasumi crossed her arms over her chest, with a smirk she left Ren at the main doors.
Great, Ren sighed. I should have seen this coming.
With an annoyed face, he followed the three ladies from behind.
True to her words, fresh and juicy cut watermelons were sent to the sunroom after they had their lunch. The sunroom of the old house was far more spacious than the one in Spring Garden, overlooking Grandma's flower garden. It was built according to traditional Japanese tatami room. All of them sat on the tatami floor with two plates of cut watermelons on the table.
"Your Aunt Kasumi has showed me her ideas for your wedding reception. Do you want to see them now?" Grandma was so excited when she thought back of the upcoming wedding.
Her grandson had finally has a wife! She could gloat over the old ladies who had constantly doubting her grandson's sexuality! Let them see her precious granddaughter-in-law with their own eyes!
"We've already prepared," Ren answered casually after he took a bite of the watermelon. "We know you want to talk about the wedding so we came early. We would spend the night here too."
"That's great!" Grandma exclaimed in joy. "It's better if we finalized everything as soon as possible! So, it is decided you would hold your reception at Garden of Sakuya?"
"Yes," Ren nodded. He exchanged a glance with Tsubaki once before he continued, "Before that, we have something to tell you guys."
"What it is?" Aunt Kasumi was intrigued with the way the couple interacted just now. It was like they were going to tell them a big news.
Ren smiled at the nervous Tsubaki. With a nod and a soft smile on his face, he encouraged her to break the news to the ladies sitting with them.
Tsubaki smiled nervously. As she raised her eyes to meet Grandma's and Aunt Kasumi's, she felt a warm palm gently patted the back of her hand.
"Grandma, Aunt," At this moment, nothing could suppress the pure joy carved on her delicate face as she added, "I'm pregnant."
As expected, Grandma and Aunt Kasumi were totally caught off guard with the news. Their eyes widened and their mouths parted, both of them stared at Tsubaki with a shock in their eyes.
"You... you..." Grandma stuttered, she wanted to speak but no words came properly to her mind. "You say..."
"Congratulations!" Aunt Kasumi was the first one to recomposed herself. She immediately stood up from her seat and went to Tsubaki's side. She brought the young lady into her embrace. "Wow! I can't believe I'd receive such a good news today!"
Tsubaki laughed happily, she returned the woman's hug. "Thank you Aunt Kasumi."
After the two ladies pulled away from each other, Tsubaki slowly went to Grandma. The old lady's eyes were already filled with tears as she looked at Tsubaki. Tsubaki smiled softly, seeing Grandma like this made her feel like crying too.
"Grandma," Tsubaki extended her arms, she gently embracing the old lady. "I'm pregnant. You're going to get a great-grandchild soon."
"Congratulations,Tsubaki!" Grandma snapped out of her senses. She quickly hugged her precious granddaughter-in-law. Her body shook slightly as she tried to recompose herself. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Ren shook his head when he saw the tearful scene in front of him. When he spoke, it was like he was being wronged by them, "Grandma, it seems like you forgot that I did a lot of work too to give you a great-grandchild."
Tsubaki threw a glare at her husband, her face reddening as she heard his remarks. How could she wish to pinch his cheeks for saying such a thing!
Grandma let go of Tsubaki, she eyed his grandson with contempt. "Yes, yes, I acknowledge it. But, don't forget that your wife needs to suffer for almost 9 months before the birth so your little contribution is almost nothing!"
Ren was speechless. How heartless was this petite grandmother of his to disregard his hardwork?
He worked hard, alright!