49 How Could I Not Notice This Man Is Actually A Rogue?

"You're a kindergarten teacher?" Shouko was in awe, her eyes lit up once she knew what Akari did for a living.

She had always had a soft spot for anything related to children.

"Yes! But, I've just started teaching in less than two months. I still have lots to learn." Akari laughed while wiping the beads of sweat on her forehead using her sleeve. She was still focused on the task at hand.

While their two men were grilling some meat and vegetables on a spot near the lake, the two ladies chatted while frying some rice at the fire ring built by Shouko. The tantalizing fragrant coming from the grilled meat floated around, making one drool by its scent.

"I thought you're doing photography. It's true that the photos you took earlier are great," Shouko recalled the photos that had been successfully bought by her husband. Even though they were taken using a polaroid camera instead of the professional one, Akari knew how to play with the composition and the natural light.

"It's my hobby even though I didn't expect to be offered such an amount for them," Akari laughed again.

Seeing the man was persistent in buying the photos, she finally sold them to him. At first, she just wanted to give them as a gift but Shouko's husband refused. Thinking that she could earn some extra pocket money for this month, she offered them at a low price but, what awaiting her in her bank account was an amount she had never imagined to have!

Even by roughly counting in her head, it was easy to see that she could pay her apartment rent for three months using the money.

Shouko smiled awkwardly, she was still baffled by what Kyoya had done. She herself was shocked to know how much money her husband had paid for the photos.

Her frugal heart hurt thinking about it.

"The meat and vegetables are done."

A voice sounded near them. A series of footsteps approaching the two women.

It was Akari's fiance, Masaaki. True to the meaning of his name, he appeared wise and intelligent. He was two years older than Akari, the same age as Shouko.

"Wow~ They look so juicy!" Akari exclaimed.

The oil coming out of the grilled meat was still sizzling by the leftover heat. As the light of the fire fell over them, they looked lustrous, tempting them to immediately feast on them.

"Ah, Shouko, you could leave this to me," Akari still remember that she had a companion beside her. "Go to your man. I bet he's lonely right now."

Shouko chuckled looking at the girl winking at her. She passed the task of frying rice to Akari. Her steps were nimble as she ran to her man.

"Kyoya, do you need my help?" Shouko looked at him once before her eyes landed on the meats and vegetables laid on the grill.

"Be careful," Kyoya glanced at his wife. He couldn't resist smiling once he saw her standing right next to him. "It's too hot here. I'm afraid you'd get burned."

Shouko shook her head, feeling helpless by the way this man constantly pampering her.

The autumn night was cool but if one was continuously exposed to high heat coming from the barbeque grill, it was impossible to not sweating. She looked over at his forehead. Her man was beading with sweat.

Shouko reached out for a handkerchief inside her pocket. She lightly pressed it on his face, letting the cloth to absorb the drops of moisture. Kyoya chuckled in a pleasant mood. He deliberately bent his legs to help his wife reaching for him.

"This meat has cooled down," Kyoya picked a piece of grilled meat and brought it to her lips. "Try it. It's well marinated."

Shouko opened her mouth, biting on the meat. The juice burst once she took the bite, spreading the flavors of seasoning inside her mouth.

"It's great! Have you tried it?"

Shouko reached for a fork, picked one and fed him without waiting for Kyoya to answer. He gladly accepted the meat from his wife. His eyes never darted away from her smiling face.

"En, it's delicious." His eyes bent as he smiled foolishly. They glinted with a mischievous hint. "But, it's incomparable to your lips."

Shouko was stunned. Her mouth parted open in disbelief. Pink color started spreading on her cheeks as she stared dumbly at the laughing man.

How could I not notice this man is actually a rouge?

Their dinner tonight was scrumptious although they appeared plain looking. Grilled meats and veggies, fried rice, scrambled egg and chickpea salad. They ate in front of the campfire while sitting on the dead tree trunk and rocks.

"Your wedding is in spring?" Shouko spoke after swallowing the grilled veggies. She had yet to taste the fried rice but her husband kept on adding food on her plate. Ignoring the man beside her, she looked at Akari. "Have you started the preparation? What about the venue and the wedding dress?"

Akari smiled sweetly as she looked at her fiance. There was only love in the pair of her round eyes. Masaaki reciprocated her loving gaze, their engagement rings flickered under the glow of the campfire.

"We booked the hall near the kindergarten where I worked. I planned to let the girls in my class to be the flower girls. Their parents have agreed," Akari was so lively as she began sharing their wedding plans. Nothing could conceal her excitement.

"That's good," Shouko said with a smile. In the dim environment, no one saw the almost indiscernible layer of sadness in her eyes.

They chatted until the night was late. Almost all of their food was wiped clean. The four of them separated all of the trash according to their classes and filled three garbage bags with them. Afraid they would miss each other tomorrow, Shouko exchanged her contact information with Akari.

"We have just met but I really want to befriend you," Akari smiled happily seeing Shouko had approved her request on the messaging app. She placed her phone inside her jacket. "Maybe we could go out together sometimes, have some tea and cakes?"

"I would love that," Shouko agreed without thinking much.

Her circle of friends was almost non-existent. It was great to have a new friend.

They bid each other good night before Akari and Masaaki walked back to their tent. Shouko remained stood on the same spot, her hands were clenching the phone. Although she was happy, she couldn't ignore the faint sadness she felt in her heart.

The mild change of her feeling was perceived by the man standing behind her.

"Shouko," Kyoya slowly approached her from behind, he placed his arm around her shoulders. His peering eyes scrutinize the tiny emotion that she tried to hide from others to see. "You look upset. What's wrong?"

Shouko's eyes quivered, she was surprised he could tell that her mood had changed. She pursed her lips, closed her eyes to think before she looked up to meet his gaze.

Should I tell him?

With tiny guilt and helplessness spreading within her, she said in a very low voice.

"En... I'm just thinking about our wedding."

Kyoya stiffened for a moment. He unconsciously tightened his hold around her shoulders. He gently pulled her to face him. Shouko obediently followed his silent movement.

"What are you wondering about?" His low voice with a hint of tenderness drifted within their close proximity.

Shouko blinked once, her heart shuddered to see him looking at him with the utmost patience.

Their wedding... what did it feel like?