I decided not to do anything about that family. I left them what matters right now. The future that holds on to me, I let hang like a gloomy cloud floating up in the sky, following me around, and I'll never look it up until it rains on me. For now, just let the present wind take me.
"Miss Zephyra, we're here."
The wind is hot like fire.
I look at him and nod to him.
The chauffeur gets out to open the car door for me. When I step out, all I see was fresh green scenery.
"Wow."
"…"
"Are we in the bamboo forest?"
I ask.
"You can say that."
He answers.
He leads the way to his house, I guess. I am trying to follow him, but my eyes are surrounded by this green air. It's very refreshing, fresh to my nose and fresh to my eyes.
"Miss Zephyra."
He calls me.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I just..."
"…"
He says nothing, and he lets me walk in front of him. Is he afraid of me getting left behind?
He uses his left hand to swipe the bamboo leaves out of the way and uses his right hand to support my back. I can tell he's trying not to touch my back fully. And finally, I see the light brown, almost cream-coloured wooden gate.
And the gate door is opened for us.
Calm down, just get inside. I'm hesitant, but I can't run back. I don't want to go back. And then the body behind me gets inside first and offers the hand to me. I put my left hand on his hand, and he helps me get inside the mystery.
The huge lawn is nicely put together, with traditional plants that I have seen only in books. There's a little fountain, and the green grass is mixed with tiny white cream stones all over the floor. There are paths to walk over the hard rocks.
"It's quiet."
And It's very peaceful.
Inside the house, there isn't a lot of furniture. The clean floor is covered with a brownish mat. And before I step on the mat, suddenly, several men approach me.
"!!"
And kneel before me, and one person gently touches my ankles.
"Wh..."
I am startled.
Then Mr. Kaiza steps closer to me, kneels next to that man, and glances at him.
"I apologize, Master."
Mr. Kaiza touches my left ankle and takes off my left shoe, and then he does the same for the right one. But I lose my balance a little, so I grab his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
I say with a little embarrassed.
"Please, I don't mind."
He finishes taking off my shoes and gets up while holding my left hand. I look down at his feet, and he has already taken them off.
"We take off our shoes before entering the house."
He explains.
So, there are the workers or the maids who do it for him. But why didn't he let that guy do it for me? Why did he do it himself?
Speaking of workers or even the maids, I see no one, only all the guys in black suits, and there's no one in the house. We're walking to the big center. It's a significant garden in the middle of the house, with no roof to cover it.
"It's very peaceful here."
I'm mumbling to myself.
"Are you alright?"
Mr. Kaiza asks me since I pause myself.
"I'm just admiring the house..."
I answer and point at the big garden.
"I'm glad you like it...straight ahead, it's your room."
It takes about ten steps to reach my room.
"Ah…"
I make a sound after I see my room.
"I can change the room."
"No, no, it's fine, it's more than fine."
I walk inside, look around the room, and slide the door ahead of me.
Oh my god, it's another garden.
"It's fantastic..."
"Mr. Kaiza, is that a waterfall?"
I continue.
"Yes."
He steps inside and answers me.
"And your clothes and your stuff will be in there."
He pushes another door for me. It's huge.
"How about yours?"
"..."
"You sleep here with me?"
"Erm, no, My room is across from yours."
He says, turning his eyes to the waterfall garden. So, his room is across from mine.
"Is that alright?"
"Yes, it's your house. You can choose to sleep anywhere you like..."
Why do I feel so awkward?
I glance at him to see his reaction. He secretly smiles in the corner of his mouth.
"If there's nothing else, I'll let you rest. And If you want any help, you can tell me."
"Tell you directly?"
"Yes."
Typically, the host would say, 'You can tell the maid or the butler.'
"Umm, are we only two here.. in this house?"
"In this zone, yes, only us."
"I see..."
"My grandfather is in the north zone."
"Ahh."
"No need to worry, Miss Zephyra. I don't do…anything..yet."
He speaks with a mischievous smile.
Yet?
"We're not married yet, and my grandfather insisted you should live in this place. Of course, I didn't want to…until then, we move out."
"Move out?"
"To our own place."
"Why didn't you want to live with Mr. Takaki? You seem very close to him."
I ask out of curiosity.
"Because…"
He comes closer.
"I want you all to myself."
He whispers.
"!!"
"You should rest. You must be exhausted."
He says the last words and leaves me here, blushing and confusing in this room.
"Oh God..."
I slide back the garden door side and lay my back on the softest bed ever.
*Sigh
In fact, I have many questions in my head, but I choose not to be exposed at this moment. The questions about the agreements of my father and Mr. Saya Takaki. The old deal was done by this engagement, and the new one was recently created by whose side? Why did they need to have a new one? And I also have loads of questions about Mr. Kaiza. Why did he say he was the one who chose me? Why did he persist in engaging me? And try to make all my wishes come true?
Is it just to lure me in? Lure me into his trap? Does he want me to be on his side because of the ugly hidden fact that he would like to destroy the Stygians? And he found the way. Besides, I have hatred for my own family. So, he thought that I must do some revenge or avenge them for my mother.
Well, those are my imagined mind maps or clues as to why he determinedly chose me. Deep down, I knew myself that I really wanted to get even, but how fairly even did I want to because my mother was dead?
To be evenly even, he must die desperately and lonely, away alone. But do I really want that? Because I just want to breathe the fresh, different air without any Stygian's breath floating around.
And if he really wanted Stygians death, he could do that easily. The Takaki family is the legend of all the highly privileged classes in society, the most powerful of them all. I had heard this name for so long but never experienced it. And I could tell from the manners and the reactions of my own family toward them, even if it is just a surface. I barely know the Takaki family, their real legend, the cruel stuff behind these peaceful gardens.
It's better to keep these questions and predictions in my head. I agree to this agreement for only the engagement period; they haven't said how long it will be or when I will get married. And just wait and see; the truth will come out sooner or later.
I will rest for now.
*Sigh
Everything was different from what I expected. I didn't expect anything from them because I didn't know them. The house, the furniture, the decoration, and so on, but everything is so contrasting from the way they are perceived. The mutual colour of the house contrasts the signature red of their hair, their eyes, and even their clothes. Everything is natural, quiet, and zen, less and cozy.
Come to think about it, Mr. Saya Takaki is quite simple and genuine but a bit scary, and his grandson, Mr. Kaiza, is quiet, straightforward, and a bit intimidating. Well, it's just like their house. Like they say, people's personalities can be told from their houses.
I did miss dinner last night.
I was woken up by a man's voice outside the room. He told me that it was breakfast time in 20 minutes. If he hadn't called for me, I would probably have been asleep and woken up past noon.
"Good Morning, Miss Zephyra."
Mr. Kaiza's low voice greets me while he's standing.
"Good morning."
I greet him back and walk into the eating room.
Where should I sit?
"Here, you can sit here."
He pulls out the seat mat beside him on the right.
I nod and sit right next to him. There's an empty seat on the head of the table. And there's no one across from us.
"You look great in yukata."
"Yukata?"
"It's summer clothes mostly we wear at home when we are chilling."
"Ah, It's very comfortable. I like it."
I say while raising my hands and flowing the clothes left and right.
"Mr. Kaiza, I know I told you I don't need my stuff at the Stygian house, but.."
"..."
"But I don't have anything here at all."
"Don't worry, I'll let someone get your stuff."
"I don't need all of them, just..some of my.."
"You can list the names...you don't have to go there."
"Thank you, Mr. Kaiza."
"Good morning."
The other low voice of this family, Mr. Saya Takaki, walks in and greets us with his smile.
Mr. Kaiza stands up, so I follow him, but I get up too fast. I almost fall, but Mr. Kaiza holds me first.
"Heh."
The old man chuckles.
"Sit, sit."
He says.
It's pretty hard to sit on the floor like this.
"Are you scared of me, young lady?"
"Hmm...No, not at all."
"Then why do you sit far away from me?"
"Oh, Mr. Kaiza."
I'm about to explain.
"Hem.. I want her to sit here."
But Mr. Kaiza uses his throat to stop me.
"Oh...haha, of course, let's eat."
The old man opens the table.
"How was your night?"
"It's great, Mr. Takaki. I slept very well."
"I can tell because you missed dinner last night."
"Hehe..heh."
I laugh at hiding my blush cheeks. Mr. Kaiza glances at me, and then I turn my face to my food instead.
"I haven't slept well for quite some time...I think this place makes me feel comfortable."
I explain.
"I'm glad to hear that. Young people should rest well."
He answers and then drinks his tea.
As Mr. Kaiza picks his piece of food from his plate and puts it on my plate, I look up at him with a question.
"It's good for your health."
He explains my thoughts.
"Hmph."
I tilt my head and look deep inside from my eyes.
"It's delicious."
He convinces me. Well, whatever he chooses for me is very tasty. I've experienced that before, and I eat it willingly.
"Umm, very nice."
I mumble.
He smiles not fully but smiles.
"Wahh...It's very nice seeing a young couple in love."
The old man speaks up.
"!!"
I almost choke on my food.
"But if you're not comfortable in any way, please do tell because this house is full of men, and we don't have many women guests. Don't speak of the lovely young lady like you."
Mr. Saya.
"I hired some maids for Miss Zephyra."
"For me? No, it's fine. Really, I'm comfortable on my own."
"You need someone to help you prepare for the day and night."
Mr. Kaiza explains.
"It's fine. I can help myself and share it with your butler or anyone."
"They are all guys."
Mr. Kaiza looks at me with his scary eyes.
"Then..."
"Or should I wash you? I can help you day and night."
He turns to me and uses mischievous eyes, but his voice still seems upsetting.
"Ahh, Yes, I can have some maids...but only one, please. I don't want to bother you."
I instantly surrender.
"...Only one."
Mr. Kaiza also surrenders
"That will be concluded."
The old man.
All the stuff I needed from the Stygian's Mansion was brought to my room. Most of it is books and notebooks about herbs, plants, animals, and biological and medical stuff. I don't need all of these anymore since my purpose is for my mother. And I mostly read them all. But it is going to be a waste if it's just lying down there in that hell mansion. Maybe I need it to recheck my intelligent memory.
I don't need those clothes; their styles are not my style. And the stuff I really need is in the Flower House. But I can't even step to the front gate. My father apparently ordered his men to guard the house since property has yet to be given to me.
I'm staying at a Bamboo house for a couple of days. There's nothing much to do, and I haven't been given any orders from Mr. Saya to do anything else.
'Just enjoy and rest.'
And with his usual smile.
I only see Mr. Kaiza in the morning. At night, he sometimes skips dinner because of his work. I got my time for myself, but I really need to figure out what to do with it.
I walk through the garden with very comfy house shoes. The sound of the fountain is very soothing. When I can't decide what to do, I come here, listen, and breathe some fresh water.
"Excuse me, Miss Zephyra."
One of the Takaki men interrupts.
"Hm, yes?"
"The Big master calls for you in the Zen room."
"Mr. Saya?"
"Yes."
He answers, and he leads me the way.
"Do you know when Mr. Kaiza gets off work today?"
"I can't tell exactly, but it might be after dinner, Miss."
"Ahh, thank you. He's working hard every day."
I'm mumbling to myself.
Should I prepare a meal for him? Eh, but the chef might prepare for him every night.
"*Sigh."
I sigh too loud, so the man before me turns to me.
"He might come back home… before dinner, Miss."
He pauses a little and changes his answer.
"Ah, sorry, I just...I don't want him to skip a meal…"
"Yes.. the big master's waiting for you in the room."
Zen room
"Mr. Takaki."
"Come on in, sit."
He says while sitting, giving his back at the room's entrance and facing the neat and clean garden. I sit across from him on the empathy mat seat facing the garden.
"How's your day?"
He asks.
"Good, Mr. Takaki. Nothing special."
"Is there anything you would like to do?"
"Hmm."
I make a sound.
"..."
"Hmm."
I still make a sound following the sound of the water dropping into the beautiful, clean bowl in the center of the garden.
"How about what would you like to do today?"
"Today?...hmm."
"Is there anything specifically you have thought..."
"Ah! I want to prepare a dinner meal for Mr. Kaiza."
"Ah.. that's unexpected."
"I don't need to do it myself if there's a chef. He might prefer the professional one, but."
"You don't want him to skip a meal."
He teases me with the sentence I have told the guy before. He might have heard our conversation.
"I want him to eat a delicious meal like I do...hehe."
"Then you should do it."
"Me cooking?..."
"When I told you to make yourself at home, I did mean it."
"..."
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Takaki."
"Kindness? not at all. You're my grandson's fiancé...and you are a member of the Takaki family. I want you to learn to be the Takaki."
"But I'm not yet married."
"You step into my house and sleep on the mattress under my roof, watching my garden and humming the song with my fountain...of course, you are the one with the Takaki, but not entirely. Lesson 2 of being Takaki…enjoy what you do...If you can't find anything you want to do, just pick one thing in a day and enjoy doing it."
"...What about Lesson 1?"
"You already passed.. rest and be comfortable with yourself or your own body."
"Hm? That's a lesson?"
"Of course, resting well is the best way to do any mission in life, even if it's just a simple task on a daily basis. And knowing your own body is also the best support. You know what tires you, what hype you up, and know when to eat and when to sleep. It's a basic, happy life."
"..."
"Don't you think so?"
"..."
"I do rest well the couple of days I've been here and eat well. I appreciate the delicious food, as I did with my mother. I do love the sound of the water drops and the breeze through the bamboo leaves. I really enjoy that."
I explain myself.
"Hmm, you sound like an old person."
"Hahahaha."
I burst out laughing.
"Hahaha."
And the old man joins me.
"If you couldn't think this place is yours, how about it's a place for enjoyment.. a place for education, a place for observation, you can turn to be anything you want by changing your perspective…"
"That means I can do anything in this place?"
"..."
He smiles.
"Please, just don't burn my place to the ground."
"Heh, I won't...I don't want to ruin your gardens. They are my paradise. How could I do that."
"Hmm."
"It might seem I'm exaggerating, but this place. I don't know why, but it feels like an escape to me. Do you have your favorite garden, Mr. Takaki?"
"Here."
"I can tell it's just like your personality."
"..."
He says nothing and smiles.
"Which day you don't have anything to do, you can come with me...but there's only old folks like myself."
"I'll be honored, Mr. Takaki."