7 IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!

...

The ride stopped, they got out and headed to the car, clasping each others' hand. Ame kept looking at the ring as she smiled to herself. She seemed truly happy to know that they are going to get married. Was this a normal feeling for someone who was supposedly forced to get married?

Was she still forced at this point?

It didn't look like it. It seems that she was more willing to be wedded to him. And looked forward to their days together. Her heart raced at the thought, but she shook the feeling off...

She still hasn't move on, she couldn't possibly have fallen in love so soon again right? She thought.

Haru noticed she was silent in the car the whole time.

"Did you regret your decision already?" He asked, not taking his eyes off the road. "You said you'd be responsible. I'm looking forward to that, whether you like it or not, you can't escape your responsibility for me."

"No, I was just thinking too much." She said as she smiled. "Don't worry, I don't feel the slightest bit of regret when I said yes. I'm happy that I said yes."

"If there's something bothering you, tell me." He said. He must've seen through her eyes, she had something in mind that she couldn't quite shake off. "I'll listen to whatever you have to say." He said as he placed his hand on Ame's and drove with the other.

"It's nothing really. Focus on driving, we're almost home." She said as she pulled her hand and squeezed Haru's.

...

"I'll tell the maids to show you around tomorrow. Just rest for now." She said as she placed a hand on her head.

They arrived home. "Where is my room?" Ame asked upon entering the house. All she could think of was sleep. She was tired.

"It's that one up there." He pointed to the room in the center of the hallway up the staircases. "Come on, I'll show you." He said as he led her by hand. As they entered the room, the first thing she noticed was the size of it. It was huge! Then she noticed there were couple slippers beside the bed, two bedside tables opposite each other, there were men and women skincare products on top of the dresser and most of the things in the room came in pairs. Then she realized...

"We're going to share a room?!" Ame said. Loudly. Startling Haru and making him drop the boxes he was carrying onto his toes. "Ah!" He said as he removed his toes from underneath the boxes. She ran to him.

"Oh no! Were you startled? I'm sorry." She said as she knelt down beside him, pushed the boxes away and helped him hop his way to the bed. "Well this seems familiar." He laughed as Ame pushed him to the bed. "Hey! Why so rough?"

"Well, boxes are heavier than just a spatula. I was quite alright. You on the other hand..." She said as she knelt down beside the bed inspected his toes. They were Red and a little swollen.

"What was even in those boxes?" He asked looking at the box, then his foot.

"I don't know. I forgot what I put in those." She said as she crawled her way to the boxes and opened them. One contained comforters and the other contained a pair of two pound dumbbells and a pair of five pound dumbbells. She showed them to Haru.

"Oh, so that's why." He said as he sighed. "Don't worry, it's not that bad." He said

"Who said I was worried?" She said as she stood up and pushed the boxes aside."

"How cruel."

...

"Slow down, there are still a lot of food on the table. No need to scarf them all down." Haru laughed as he watched Ame stuffing her mouth full of food.

"Don't judge me. I'm hungry you know?" She said with her mouth full.

After dinner, Haru immediately headed to he study.

"You're not going to sleep yet?" She said as she stopped on her tracksand turned around.

"No. Why? Do you want me to accompany you?" He said as he approached her and slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey! No!" She said as she tried to push him off.

"I was just gonna say, I'll read you bedtime stories, maybe sing you a lullaby, coax you to sleep. Want me to tuck you in as well?" He said as if he was talking to a baby and messed with her hair.

"I'm going to sleep! Go back to work." She said as she struggled out of his embrace.

"No goodnight kiss?" He said as he pouted.

"No. Goodnight." She said as she finally escaped and started walking back to their room.

"Goodnight, I hope I'll be in your dreams!" He said as he smiled, she looked back then went back to the room faster than before. Her heart was racing.

'Goodnight, I hope I'll be in your dreams!' She shoved a pillow to her face at the thought of what Haru said. 'He's too cute... Wait, what?!' Ame struggled to go to sleep. She couldn't take Haru off her mind. She kept rolling around the bed, kept changing her position, threw the blanket off and covering up again. She screamed at a pillow and tried to lay down on her tummy. 'I think this is the most comfortable it can get.' She looked at the clock. 'What? It's already 11 PM? And he's still working?' She thought. She quietly walked towards the study and stood at the doorway. She looked through the slightly opened door and watched him typing away. She smiled. 'He looks handsome when he's serious.' She thought. 'Wait, what do I keep thinking about?!' She shook her head. She looked at him again but she didn't notice that he was already beside the door, looking at her.

"You're still up? What are you doing here. It's late already." He said as he stretched out his arms and yawned. "Were you scared?" He said as he chuckled and pat her on the head.

"I--No! I couldn't sleep and noticed it was late. I came to check on you, if you were still working." He said as he looked at down and fiddled with her fingers.

"So you were worried about me? Awww, how sweet!" He said as he bent down to look at her face.

"You wish! Come on! She said as she walked to his desk and closed his laptop, she quickly tidied up the papers on his desk, kept the pens, returned the books on the shelf and switched the lights off as Haru watched her by the door. "It's late, we should go to sleep." She said as she closed the door to the study and led him by his hand to the bedroom.

They lie down and switched off the lights. They face opposite to each other. "Why couldn't you sleep?" Haru asked.

"It's all because of you!" She said as she shut her eyes. Then, Haru faced her and embraced her from behind. She was surprised, but smiled like a fool. She felt comfortable and she snuggled into Haru's arms as both of them fell asleep.