7 Chapter 6

March 2, 2017



"Good morning Ai." I was lost for words. My eyes tried to focus on him but I was too fixed on what he was holding. I covered my mouth in disbelief.

"Ryu! Ah-" I trailed off. "What a HUGE surprise." Literally he was carrying a 'huge' bouquet of white and red roses. He was already hugging it sideways and his face seemed crushed by the number of roses.

I walked near him and removed my disposable mask placing it in my pocket. I just came from the operating room and I'm tired as fuck.

"You are not gonna hand it to me right?" Judging at how huge it is, it is clearly unlikely that I will carry that with my own two hands. It's just impossible to start with. He looked at the bouquet and then at my thin arms and his mouth gaped.

"Ha, of course not! I will just place it here in your table." I nodded when I noticed how he sighed and placed it nicely on my desk. My fingers acted immediately and brushed off the remaining petals, leaf and some brown fragments on his Italian suit. I smiled up to him and surprised him with a kiss on his cheek. I left my lips linger on him for a while and leaned back

"Salamat sa bulaklak. I love it." His face became red and more so his ears. His pair of dimples appeared as he smiled shyly and his arms made his way to my hips, securing me in place.

"I'm glad you loved it Ai." He leaned in and I immediately stepped back, unclasping from his arm. Lumabi ako at tsaka lumapit sa mesa na nakatago sa bulaklak na inilahad ni Ryu. Yumuko ako at inamoy ang mga rosas. Agad na napakunot ang aking noo at nagkasalubong ang aking kilay sa amoy nito.

"Hindi amoy rosas." I retort. It stench familiarity all over  it.

"That's because that's my scent." And here's my answer. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na pala siya, his scent made their way in my nose as I inhaled.

"You sprayed your cologne on my roses?" Unbelievable, natatawang napailing ako at hinarap siya. Tinagilid ko ang aking ulo at tinaasan siya ng isang kilay. He gave me a very cute smile that made me smile even more.

"Before that, why did you bother to buy me roses?" For the past week this has been the very first time that he gave me roses, usually when we're free we would just go out and have coffee, dinner and just talk. He would also give me some jewelries that he think would match the rose pendant that he previously gave me.

"May I have this honor to take you out?" date? I looked at the roses again and back at him. I'm sure this is not just a normal date, he wouldn't give me these roses if it was.

"What kind of date?" he smiled at me. His strong and firm hands made their way to my shoulders and gently caressing it.

"I want you to meet my parents." Halos lumuwa na ang mata ko sa biglang imbitasyon nito. May kumalat na nyerbos sa aking sistema. Biglang bumilis ang pagtibok ng aking puso, naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng aking mukha. I stayed still first, hindi muna ako nagsalita at sinigurado ba kung nagsasabi siya ng totoo. When I saw that his face was still and serious I knew I was fucked.

"R-Ryu, we are not yet official." I tried to reason out. We just went out for a few dates and kissed is that considered the duty of a couple? Pero I haven't even responded yet to him, he kept asking me I admit it but I didn't give the final answer.

"It's okay, I just want youto meet them. I'm sure Ai, it's you who I want to be with. You are the first and the last." His eyes were looking for any response from me. I took a huge lump on my throat and gulped. Is he sure of this?

"I'm not sure of this idea Ryu. W-What if we don't work out?" I don't want his parents to see him as an indecisive guy who plays around with girls. If he is to let a woman meet his parents then it should be the one who will stay with him 'til death.

"Ai, remember what I said? I'm willing to risk my heart." He is really persistent and he won't give this idea another time for thinking. Hesitantly I slowly nodded.

"Okay."



I wore a bloody red dress and just let my hair fall freely while Ryu was wearing his yukata. I felt so different, it's like we are living in two divided world. Ryu was the first one to get out of the car and he helped me get out. I inhaled a huge amount of air and sighed.

I kept on pulling the cloth upward to cover my cleavage.

"Is my dress alright?" I asked him with a worried look.

"You look beautiful Ai." He replied as he snaked his arms to my waist and guided me to their mansion..

My eyes wandered all over the landscape and to the exquisite Japanese inspired modern villa.It is a large, traditional Japanese-style home located in an elevated mountain-side position with over an acre of freehold land and forest.

The environment was giving out a cooling air and it helped me relaxed a bit. I continued breathing deeply while pursing my lips. Napansin iyon ni Ryu at hinawakan niya ng maigi ang kamay ko, he gave strength in holding my hand. I nodded at him and smiled meekly.

"Don't be nervous. They will love you." He assured me trying to calm me down but it didn't work as I felt my heart beating stronger and faster. We went in and my jaw dropped when I saw how well-made everything was, it looked and feels like it's all millions worth! I have been used to seeing extravagant and expensive exterior designs but their mansion was indeed beyond those!

"Soryu" A mid 50's man stood out and by his side was a woman wearing a very beautiful japanese dress. They both look very intimidating and very beautiful. My nervousness shoot up when I realized that this pair could be his parents, I straightened my body and lifted my chin and became as proper as possible.

"Pa, this is Georgina." Ryu held me by the waist and pulled me next to him. His father clenched his jaw and looked at me from head to toe then shifted his gaze to Ryu.

"Good evening Mr and Mrs. Kugimiya." I greeted them and bent my head slightly.

"Let's go inside first." Ryu's mother nodded and smiled at me. Sumangayon ang ama ni Ryu sa suhestiyon nito at agad na pumihit nang hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin. Napayuko ako at nan-liit sa sarili ko, maybe it was the dress? Was his father displeased? I should've wore something more conservative, baka iba ang pagkaka-unawa nila rito.

"Pasok kayo Soryu" maamo na ngumiti ang kaniyang ina at pinatungo kami sa loob ng kanilang mansyon. I glanced at Ryu who was always by my side and took a deep breath.



We sat down in a wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a tabletop sits. Underneath is a heat source, formerly a charcoal brazier but now electric,  built into the table itself. I copied how Ryu's mother sat and God, it's so uncomfortable. I shifted my weight and tried to find the comfort that I've been searching this whole night.

"Ai, you okay?" I nodded and assured him with a small smile.

"What's your name." I stiffened when his father talked. I swallowed a big lump on my throat before answering him

"Georgina Sperbund, Mr. Kugimiya" He nodded and Mrs. Kugimiya poured tea for him. She looked at me and nodded as if she was asking me to go on.

"I am the daughter of Harold and Clarissa Sperbund, I'm a doctor at John Hopkins Hospital." He raised his eyebrow and drank his tea. I felt Ryu's hand above mine and he kept it there.

"Are you thinking that you can marry into our family with just that?" He asked

I stopped and my lips froze. My mind can't process anything to say to him. just that? What is he implying? I don't know...

"Pa. I don't think you are in the place to say that." His grasp on my hand strengthened and I felt the temperature in the room decreased.

"Did I say you can speak?" His father's eyes became dark and he became stoic.

"I don't think that we can measure my compatibility with Ryu with just that sir" I think after this, I won't be seeing this mansion again. His father's eyes turned to me with the same matching intensity.

"Then what will Ms. Sperbund?" He spoke as if he is in a business negotiation with me.

"For a start Mr. Kugimiya if Ryu and I can love each other, then that's that. No more setbacks."  If you know what I mean. 

He leaned back and crossed his arms. his broad shoulders were emphasized and that made him look like some wall that can never be destroyed.

"Mr. Kugimiya, a call from Takeshi." We all turned to the man who spoke, he was holding a phone and bowed down that we couldn't even see his face anymore. Mr. Kugimiya's lips rose. The stoic man was gone... Who is Takeshi?

--- 💔 ----

June 23, 2017

"Ryu!" I'm in front of his pent house and swiped his spare key card with excitement. Nagmadali akong pumasok at isinara ang pinto, tumunog ito na nag-iibig sabihing nasara ng maayos ang pinto. I carefully snuck in and poked my head to see where Ryu is.

Maybe in his room? It's still so early pa naman.

I missed him. It has been three days that I haven't seen him. After that God damn after-party at our hotel we didn't meet.

I placed the groceries in his island kitchen and put on my apron. Yes, I am finally gonna cook for him! Well, since birthday naman niya sa I decided to cook, it is a special day. I don't know what else to cook but my chicken adobo, 'yun lang ang nakaya kong pag-aralan for how many years. I got the ingredients and started to cook.

Lumipas na ng isang oras at natapos na rin ako sa pag-luluto and he is still not up, I made sure that the taste is just right for him, not too oily and greasy. I transferred the food, did my plating and removed his black apron with a big letter K on it. After washing my hands I went up to his room. There are only 3 rooms in his pent house and I had been to his room before when we had our small dates, nothing provocative happened, we just kissed and watch 'til the sun rose again.

Kakatok pa sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. I smiled and prepared myself to greet him a happy birthday. Nang humantad sa akin ang isang eksenang nagpatigil sa akin. I don't know what to do, my feet were glued to the ground, I couldn't make any reaction, my heart just stopped beating. I searched his eyes for any emotions, any reaction, but he kept quiet.

"Oh bakit ka natigilan?" A woman's voice echoed my ears. It was just like she woke up from a deep slumber. I looked at her from behind, she has only a thin white blanket to cover up her body, her hair fell gorgeously on her face covering it slightly. I returned my eyes to his and knotted my forehead.

"R-Ryu..." I choked up. Pinilit kong hindi tuluyang lumandas ang nag-aabang na luha sa aking mata. Naging malabo na ang aking paningin at pinipilit ko paring tignan ang kaniyang mga mata para makakuha ng sagot. He remained hard, stoic.

He became someone like his father.

I lift my hand and touched his arms, nudging him.

"What is this huh?" tanong ko.

The way he looked at me made me want to fall to my knees. Nanatili itong tahimik. Huminga ako ng malalim at tsaka ngumiti.

"Explain..." Lumandas na ang luha na kanina ko pa pinipilit na pigilan. Agad ko itong pinunasan gamit ang dalawa kong kamay, sinundan ko ang gilid ng aking mata hanggang sa nawala ang tubig.

"I will only understand this situation if you fucking explain... Ryu, please!" Hiyaw ko.

"I'm sorry Georgina." At para naring gumuho ang lahat sa loob ko sa sinabi niya. Ano? Just Georgina? Walang Ai?

"Why?"

"Listen," he said, his face serious. He avoided eye contact with me while he spoke.

"I need to tell you something." and somehow, I knew what he was about to say.

I stopped him to say, "F-First, let me tell you how much you mean to me. I, I want to be with you Ryu! I love you!" Nanginginig na wika ko.

Ryu shook his head. "That's just it," – his dark chocolate eyes finally met mine- "I don't think we should see each other anymore. I'm bored, Georgina. So very bored. And I can't have my whole life, waiting for some girl who was fucking used already by another man." He tilted his head as if trying to predict what I would say next. Although, I didn't say anything. I remained silent.

My mind went black. I know he was talking about that night, that party... madali akong umiling, now I know the root of this misunderstanding.

"Hindi totoo 'yun Ryu! I never gave myself to another man! I only wanted to give it to you!" Huminga ako nang malalim para humugot ng lakas para ipagtapat sa kaniya ang totoo.

"That night, nothing happened! I was preparing to see you, to fucking propose to you! And... and I can't remember anything much! The moment I woke up, he was there beside me, but he didn't touched me! I am a doctor and a woman Ryu, I know my body!" I defended myself, I told him the whole truth, now it's up to him if he will believe it.

His eyes remained on mine and then he suddenly looked away.

Please, Ryu believe me. Please

"Will you stop fucking lying already?" The woman from behind went near us, he went behind Ryu with the blanket draped around her body. I wiped my tears and rose an eyebrow.

"Will you stop fucking butting in? Do me a favor and get the fuck out you slut." Instead of being insulted she gave me a smug smile and then her hand went all the way to Ryu's waist. It's just like a snake trying to eat its prey.

"Slut? Are you talking about yourself? I can't believe you can actually continue to lie when the evidence is pretty clear to all of us. Right s? " She withdrew from her hug and with her free hand, she got her phone and showed me a picture.

"Who's the slut again?" I snapped and threw her phone across the hallway, it smashed and the phone cracked. My eyes found his, I was pleading him to believe me.

"That's not true Ryu!" Patuloy akong umiling.

"Then are you saying the picture's not true?" Napatigil ako saglit at umiling.

"N-No. B-But nothing really happened! Why don't you believe me?! Bakit ang hirap para sa'yo na paniwalaan ako?!" naibulong ko nalang sa hangin ang sa huli.

He doesn't trust me. I saw the doors of his eyes closed before me.

At alam ko na 'yon na 'yon. He finally managed to shut himself.

Hindi ko na alam, humiyaw ako... hindi na kayang bumuka ng bibig ko dahil sa sobrang sakit na nadarama. Sabi sa akin ni Mommy noon na hindi mali ang umiyak lalo na kapag hindi mo na kaya 'yung sakit. Parang ulan lang yan, ibinubuhos na yung ulan kapag masyado ng mabigat... Sa sobrang bigat, nasira na ang lahat ng meron ako.

"Okay. If that's what you want."

I closed my eyes and turned around before I get completely destroyed