Ren narrowed his eyes dangerously, his thin lips turned downward as he continued staring at his wife who was sitting with her legs tucked sideways in front of him. Tsubaki blinked a few times and looked back innocently at the man's face marked with black lines.
They were currently having a staring contest on the bed.
"Darling, why?" She deliberately asked in a coquettish tone while her inside was already bursting with laughter.
Ren touched his face. He still felt the stinging sensation from earlier on both of his cheeks.
"My cheeks are red," He complained. He was still showing his domineering and dark aura yet none of it seemed had shown any impact on his wife.
"Oh~ I wonder why is that?" Tsubaki tilted her head, she fluttered her lashes and smiled sweetly toward the man who was still sulking.
"You pulled my cheeks... hard!" answered Ren while gnashing his teeth.
How could she isn't affected by my oppressing vibe? I have always used it on my subordinates and so far no one dares to talk back to me! Yet... she still makes fun of me?
"En..." Tsubaki crossed her hands, she lightly pinched her chin, assuming a thinking posture. "I pulled your cheeks? Why did I do that? En... Ha! I know!"
Tsubaki clapped her hands once, her face brightened as if she was enlightened.
"You played around too much so that's why I pulled your cheeks!"
Tsubaki ended up laughing happily, she bent down and pressed her tummy. The sound of her laughter filled the room, her delighted face was a stark contrast to her husband's black as a bottom of the pan expression.
"Sweetheart..." Ren gritted his teeth, feeling wronged all of a sudden.
"Humph! Serve you right!" Tsubaki pouted, she eyed him with displeasure. "I wanted to have a relaxing bath yet you insisted to play around. It's a given that I pulled your cheeks hard. It's not like I could punch your chest, it would hurt my hands instead. That's your punishment, alright!"
"But, if it's a punishment, why you didn't just bite me?" Ren arched his brows. He pulled down the collar of his pajamas, showing his skin under the black cloth. "You could bite me wherever you want."
"Darling!" Tsubaki couldn't believe that this man wouldn't learn his lesson!
"Yes, sweetheart," Ren lowered his face to align with his wife's. He pouted and looked at his wife with puppy eyes. "I have prepared such a grand surprise for you tonight, you couldn't indulge me yet for a little? Do you know my cheeks and heart hurt right now?"
Tsubaki pressed her lips, she was trying to not laughing right now. Her husband was acting so childish she couldn't help but want to laugh out loud.
"Alright~ Let me see your cheeks~"
Tsubaki carefully placed her palms on both sides of Ren's face. His cheeks were indeed red yet they weren't as hurt as he had claimed. This man was just toying with her!
Well, to compensate for his surprise tonight she would just pamper him.
Tsubaki leaned closer and smooched his right cheek before her lips landed on his left one. Ren smiled inwardly, feeling satisfied with the sensation of her soft lips on his face. He then puckered his lips, indicating her to kiss there too.
Tsubaki laughed in glee. Her husband was so cute and annoying! She then pressed her petal-like lips on his.
"Do you feel better?" Tsubaki smiled sweetly, her eyes twinkled, signifying her happy mood right now.
"A bit," Ren cast an indifference gaze, showing that he was yet to be pleased with his wife's effort to cheer him up.
Tsubaki curled up her lips. Without a warning, she pounced on her husband, making both of them fell on the bed. Ren was shocked, he quickly seized her waist to avoid her from falling over.
"Sweetheart! It's dangerous!"
"No~" Tsubaki giggled as she nuzzled close to his neck, her warm breath spreading on his skin. She looked like a cat as she lazily rubbed her head on her husband's chest. Her eyes closed, her lashes trembled slightly.
Ren stifled a laugh. He ran his fingers over her long hair that was still damp. He leaned over and tenderly kissed her forehead. It was a really blissful feeling to be able to hold on to her in a peaceful night like this.
"Darling?" Tsubaki called out, her voice was soft like the spring breeze brushing his ears.
"En?"
"You said you would tell me, the story of your confession?" Although she was being lured by her sleepiness, Tsubaki was still insisted to hear it. She opened her eyes slightly, her index finger traced circles on his strong arm. "Would you?"
Ren laughed, his deep voice sounded so husky in the quiet time, stirring her heart.
"Alright, I'll tell you."
Ren carefully supported her waist as they laid on their sides. He rubbed her tummy, his dark eyes filled with tenderness as he remembered seeing her baby bump in the bath earlier. Their child was nursed in her womb right now, little by little he would grow and eventually met them in the world.
"It was a summer day like this, autumn was approaching," Ren began, the corners of his lips curved up as he reminisced the past. He held her close, letting her hear the sound of his heart beating. "I was too scared yet, I took the step to confess to you. Because I was afraid I would miss you to another man."
Tsubaki looked at her husband quietly, she could see the trace of longing in his eyes. She waited patiently for him to continue.
Ren smiled again seeing the anticipation in her clear eyes. He stroked her face, his mind wandered to the past. Even to this day, he could still vividly recall the mixture of excitement, fear and anxiety mashed up together in his heart as he waited to confess to her.
It was a funny experience instead of a romantic one.
That day.
"Are you serious?"
Ren didn't want to admit but he knew how foolish he looked like right now as he asked Satsuki for confirmation. He could feel cold sweat start forming a layer on his forehead despite the hot weather.
"Yes!" Satsuki said firmly, he stared straight at the taller man's face. "I heard with my own ears that the skinny guy said he wants to confess to my sister today. Do you really think you could keep still and do nothing?"
"I..."
Ren was at a loss of words. He hung his head low, his gaze went to the empty mug that was still held between his hands.
He had just returned from the hardware shop he had worked for these few months. His body still carried the faint scent of sweat and oil. While he was drinking in the kitchen to quench his thirst, Satsuki suddenly dropped a bomb to him. His mind turned blank all of a sudden.
On his left side, Satsuki was shaking his head in indignation.
"It's not like you do not know that my sister has a lot of admirers but do you really want to keep letting them confess to her? What if someday Sister accepted one of them? Can't you just be brave and confess to her?"
Satsuki felt like pulling out his hair in frustration. He had already known this man who he had regarded as his brother actually had feelings for his sister yet this man did nothing about that! If he didn't push him, he knew this stupid man would just foolishly suppressing his feeling without doing anything.
"Brother, that skinny guy couldn't be compared to you in appearance but he's the best student in this district. It's a given for him to get a spot in the top university in our country. Being his future wife means any woman would get a bright future ahead of them. Even though my sister might not like him, she might consider to reciprocate his feelings, don't you think?"
The skinny guy's name was Hiroto who lived near the center of the village. His father was the headteacher of one of the high schools in the district. His life was pretty good if one wanted to compare it with most of the villagers' lives.
Satsuki looked at the man's pale face while crossing his hands over his chest. This little brother here was just trying to help, couldn't he see it?
Sigh... Sometimes, my future brother-in-law could be so useless.
Ren gripped the mug, his heart was enveloped by something unpleasant. If what Satsuki said became reality, he was the one who would wallow in self-regret.
But, how could he take the first step when he was still fearful? His situation right now wasn't so promising. Would she accept him?
"En? I remember that Sister said she would knock off early today from the bakery," Satsuki glanced at the wall clock. It was showing 5 PM. "I wonder if the skinny guy would take the opportunity while Sister going home. He might have already waiting for her at the bus stop. Well, it might be since I've always seen him near the bus stop these few days."
"!"
Without thinking, Ren dashed out of the house, leaving Satsuki speechless. The mug that he had abruptly placed on the dining table almost rolled over. Satsuki grinned, he shook his head while staring at the man's disappearing figure.
Ren ran and ran, he didn't mind how frantic he looked like at the eyes of the villagers who met him on the road. Satsuki had successfully riled him up, making him afraid of the guy's words coming true.
Satsuki was the one who pointed out his feelings toward the young lady and had been silently supporting him yet it looked like the teenager had had enough of his indecisiveness.
Ren was a determined man whose heart couldn't be sway easily by anything or anyone but right now, a few of Satsuki's words had sent his mind to a state of panic. Without realizing it, he had ran as fast as he could toward the bus stop.
His legs slowed down as he saw the bus stop a few meters from him. Ren bent down, hands on his knees as he was panting heavily. He could feel sweat had drenched the back of his shirt yet he still felt cold from the anxiety.
After catching his breath, Ren straightened his back. He was pleased to see there was a bus approaching toward the bus stop and he saw a young lady in a light blue dress was sitting near the driver seat. He took a step forward, wanting to greet her as soon as she alighted the bus.
But, from the corners of his eyes, he saw someone detestable walking toward the bus stop too.
It was Hiroto!
Ren was surprised. He quickened his pace, he needed to get to Tsubaki before the man did.
By the time he reached the bus stop, Tsubaki had just boarding off the bus. She was surprised to see him yet her smile easily spread on her face.
"Ren! Are you here to pick me up?" Tsubaki giggled, she looked up to look at the man's face. "En? Why are you sweating so badly? Are you okay?"
"Err... I just..."
"Tsubaki!"
Two pairs of eyes turned toward the voice. Hiroto was standing not far from them, he was dressed neatly with his shirt tucked in his pants. He appeared nervous as he looked at the man and the woman in front of him.
Ren's gaze darkened. He didn't expect that this man would still have the nerve to bother them even when he saw he had got to Tsubaki first. Ren clenched his fists, his clear displeasure toward Hiroto was evident in his eyes.
Hiroto gulped once he saw the expression of the young man's face. The temperature around them dropped several degrees, making him broke in a cold sweat.
"Hiroto? Do you need me for something?" Tsubaki who was oblivious to the tension between the two men, slightly turned his body to face the skinny guy. She had known Hiroto since her childhood so it was inevitable for her to greet him.
"I have something to say to you," Hiroto averted his eyes from Ren's dark face. He strengthened his resolve and looked determinedly at Tsubaki. "Do you have time?"
"I..."
"No!"
Ren cut him off. His eyes were blazing with fury, his voice turned wintry cold rendered Hiroto frozen. He immediately grabbed one of Tsubaki's wrists and walked away from the bus stop. Both Tsubaki and Hiroto were shocked by his action.
"Ren! What's wrong?"
Tsubaki looked at the back of the man's head before she turned to look at Hiroto who was standing like a statue behind them. He was still pulling her to follow his steps, hurting her wrist in the process.
"Ren? Why?"
Ren didn't answer. He kept on walking while trying to suppress whatever he was feeling right now. The beating of his heart was so loud he knew he couldn't hide it from her if they were in a quiet place.
Tsubaki was still confused but, instead of continually asking him, she pursed her lips to endure the pain coming from around the wrist that was held tightly by Ren. As minutes passed, the pressure intensified.
"Ren... my wrist hurts..."
Ren's shoulders jolted up. He immediately paused his steps and turned around to face her. He suddenly realized he had been holding her wrist with great pressure. He quickly retracted his hand, his gaze fell on the reddened patch of skin around her wrist.
"I'm sorry!"
Ren cursed himself inwardly. He seemed hesitant for a moment before he gently took her hand in his. He carefully inspected the place that appeared red due to his thoughtless action.
"I'm sorry..." He felt worthless all of a sudden. He eyed him with anxious clearly written in his eyes, afraid of her reaction. "Does... it hurt so much?"
Tsubaki looked back at him. Right the moment their eyes met earlier, she knew something was really bothering him. She curled up her lips, trying to ease his nerves.
"It's just slightly itchy, don't worry."
As usual, her soft voice was like the clear spring breeze, fluttering his heart thus calming him. In an instant, a thought crossed his mind.
He didn't want to see her smiling like this to another guy.
He couldn't bear to see her showing concerns to another guy.
"Tsubaki," Ren called out to her name, his expression turned serious. The nervousness in his eyes was replaced with resolution.
"En?" Tsubaki arched her brows, waiting for him to speak. Sensing the change in his mood, she waited patiently.
But, she didn't expect that his next words would strike a blow to her heart.
"I love you."