A grin plastered on Hiroyuki's mother's face. Two phones. Didn't this mean one was for Hiroyuki, while the other was for someone else?
"Is one for you?" his mother innocently asked.
Knowing where the conversation was going, Hiroyuki said, "Yes, one is to replace my current phone and the other is for the landscaping maintenance worker in my apartment complex."
"Oh," his mother said, disappointed.
"I heard from Risa's mother that the two of you broke up."
"Yes, it was her decision," Hiroyuki said, unaffected with any emotion.
"Such a pity. She was a nice girl."
"Yes, one who only coveted my money. She was unable to wait for me to return."
"I know," his mother interrupted. "Yet, I don't see how you can blame her. When you met, both of you had financial stability. For you to expect her to wait around until you're done experimenting with your life is a bit callous. Don't you think?"
Hiroyuki, sighed. "Mom, I know I am to blame for the breakup. But if she really liked me, she wouldn't have broken up with me. She knew it wasn't forever. I was just taking a break from my usual life. I wanted to experience what it is like to be financially dependent on my own."
"I know, it's just, I can't help but feel sorry for her." His mother's words made Hiroyuki think about the good times he had with Risa. They grew up attending the same school. And there was a time when Hiroyuki thought he might have married her. However, things aren't always as one imagine them to be.
What Hiroyuki wanted was someone who would stick by his side, regardless of his financial worth. Who is to say in the future, with one bad mistake, he wouldn't lose the entire fortune entrusted to him by his ancestors? The weight of this fear had always lingered in the back of his mind. It was a blessed curse to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Hiroyuki suddenly thought of his brother.
Abruptly, Hiroyuki's mother's words cut into his thoughts. "I have to hang up now. Your father is home. I'll have someone send you the phones."
Click! The line went dead.
Hiroyuki knew his mother had quickly hung up because she didn't want Hiroyuki's father to find out she was speaking with him. His father had always disagreed with his "life experiment" and this had caused the father and son relationship to sour.