CHAPTER ELEVEN

Preparing for a date was harder than what the movies showed and I wasn't even the one paying!

I kept on asking myself why I was bothering with all this when I should be avoiding Haru but here I was already dressed and waiting for Haru in the shop.

"I'm sure he won't take his eyes off you when he sees you." Kana said excitedly before Momo nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure you guys can handle everything?" I asked as they all raised a thumbs up.

"It's not the first-time your leaving us alone plus Kaoru is here so we won't have to worry since she's excellent at coordination." Momo said before I sighed and slumped in my chair in relief.

I was still talking with the girls when the door opened and Haru walked in with his serious look.

He was really handsome for someone who was two years older than me and seeing him in casual was something more refreshing.

"Hey. You look amazing." He said before I stood up and then bowed my head.

"You're not bad yourself." I responded before pulling my hair into a ponytail.

"I got you this." He said before he removed his hand behind his back and gave me flowers and chocolate.

I took the chrysanthemum rose and the chocolate before he nervously scratched his head.

"I don't know what to give you so I stuck with simpler gestures." He said before I smelt it and smiled.

As a cook and baker, my sense of smell heightened that I could smell scents that were far away.

That was why even before Haru entered, I knew he had the flowers but it would be a bummer if I told him I knew.

"Help me take care of these." I instructed Momo who nodded and took them.

Haru and I entered the car and started to drive around town, sightseeing and taking pictures which was exciting.

"Here we are, the perfect romance spot." Haru said as he revealed to me the aquarium like a magician in a kids cartoon.

"Really? You should see how you look when you do that." I said before I laughed and he started to laugh too.

After buying tickets to seeing the dolphin show which I very much enjoyed, we went around looking at species of fishes that were around.

"That could make a very good miso soup." I whispered making Haru look at me in surprise.

"You're a weird one." He said with a smirk on his face making me blush in embarrassment.

"N-not t-true. I just think their tasty looking." I said shyly before I quickly walked pass him and he held my hand before pulling me into his chest.

"I never said that I don't love weird. It's a unique look on you." Haru said making me to blush before I buried my face in his chest.

"Stop saying...embarrassing things." I complained like a child before moving away from his warmth.

"That was fun but if you want a second date, then you have to work harder." I said as I looked at him before he laughed and opened the car door for me.

"This is so cliché." I said with a smile on my face before he laughed and leaned on the car door.

"Then should I make it vanilla?" He asked with tiny devil horns popping out of his head making me to keep silent while he laughed.

We drove off to an amusement park making me to pause my movements when we were at the front gate.

I was silent as pleasant sad memories of how my whole family would come here every two months just to have fun.

My mom called it bonding.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he gently took my hands in his.

"Nothing. Just memories I rather not talk about." I said before he took his eyes off me and looked away.

If that I hadn't been distracted by cheerful screams of some kids; I would know that something was definitely wrong.

We first took a ride on the roller coaster and it was fun till we got on ground and Haru hurled.

Unfortunately, speed that requires flying around in loops were not his thing and he was more of a land spirit as he told me making me laugh.

We also played bumper car and it was fun especially how Haru would tease me whenever he bumped into me. He really was a funny guy, different from the one that scares me.

After playing several almost never games, we decided to eat lunch at a restaurant nearby before shopping for souvenirs for Takato.

"So tell me more about yourself." Haru requested before I dropped my chopsticks on the table and started to think.

"Well I like swimming, cooking and baking. It gives me the chance to experiment every possibility. It's so obvious that I love my Tokata and my siblings even Rin."

"How long have you known Rin?"

"Longer than Akio. We spent our diaper years together, she's like another elder sister."

"Tell me more."

"Well, she was always a worrywart even now. I always used to get in trouble because I was an airhead and she would scold me along with Hinata and Shino. Rin has five elder brothers so that's why when she found out that I was younger, that habit they exhibited rubbed off on her. She seems strict but she's actually a softie, a total tsundere." I explained not minding how I was getting into the conversation.

I told Haru a lot about my childhood and how I was the surprise of the family.

After all, my mom wanted two kids and then pop, I came along.

"There was also this one time when..." I paused looking at Haru who seemed dazed with his eyes never leaving mine and a smile on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked before I picked up my chopsticks to eat. He blinked like he was out of a trance before placing his hands on his chin.

"You're so beautiful when you smile. I wish you could smile like that all the time." He said softly before something strong flashed on his eyes before disappearing leaving me flustered.

"Don't say...cheesy things." I said softly.

Because your making me fall for you and I don't want that. I thought before I stood up.

"Let's go." I said before I turned my back and left the restaurant trying desperately to calm my heartbeat.

Something was wrong yet something was so right.

I only pray that it wasn't what I think it was because Haru is married even if his my son's father.

"Tomoki do you want to go home?" Haru asked before I looked at him. I was ready to say yes but something pushed me to say no.

It was already getting dark and Haru was still on the road driving before he stopped the car under a bridge that is no longer in use anymore.

"Can you trust me, even if it's just for today?" Haru asked as he stretched his hands towards me.

He must have noticed that I was already cautious but after seeing his warm smile, I decided to give in to feelings.

I was walking with a blindfold on my eyes before we came to a pause and Haru removed the blindfold.

Immediately my eyes fluttered and adjusted, I saw the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.

The most beautiful lantern river.

Haru took my hand and then he stretched it to collect one of the lantern which came towards me from the movement of the water.

"Read the paper inside." He said before I looked at it and then took the paper attached to it. I opened it carefully before my eyes widened.

I love you with every of my being. Thank you for taking care of the emptiness in my heart.

Reading those words moved me to tears that I dropped the lantern and the paper before falling on my knees and crying.

I had finally found out the truth, the truth I had been constantly denying.

Haru was my fated mate. The mate I was supposed to spend my life.

I was one of the lucky few to find my fated mate.

I was still crying when I felt two warm hands on my face making me to look up.

I saw Haru smiling softly before he cleaned my tears with his thumb.

"You're the strongest person I've ever met but..." He said before his eyes met mine. "If I could, I'll kiss away all your scars."