Ch. 42 - Misaki : Wrong assumptions.

The sun goes down and slowly disappears as the night sky begun to settle in. The breeze of the wind got colder, as the hours pass, streetlights turns on one by one, illuminating the darkening streets.

"Well, I will be going now."

Masahiko says as he went through the door.

"Okay, take care~ Will I see you again?"

Misaki worryingly asked.

After what he told her, she is troubled whether his boyfriend would have any spare time to be with her, with his new schedule now that he is learning to become a chef like his father.

*Laughs* "Of course!"

He replied.

She hugged him better allowing him to depart and leave her grasp. He waved at her before turning at the corner of the street, leaving her sight. Even though she let him go, she isn't satisfied with his answer and it fails to make her feel assured, or to keep her worries at bay. She knew he never answers to bluntly, he always had a short explanation or give an exact time and place when asked. She went inside, her heart, tarnished with a feeling of frustration and disappointment. She laid down on her bed, endlessly starring into her ceiling, troubled over the matter.

*Knock knock*

She heard a knock on her door, assuming with was her beloved, unable to carry the guilt and came back to apologize, as he had done so several times, tracing back at the time when they were kids. She rushed through her door, excitedly smiling and holding back her tears. Wanting to hear his voice and craving the warmth of his arms, she hastily opens the door.

"Masa- Fuyuko?"

Her emotions were rattled when she saw a different person.

"Hello~"

Fuyuko wave at her, Misaki looked at her and she was holding books on her hand. She remembers that she invited her to study together, which she forgot because of her overthinking with Masahiko.

"Oh, right. Come in."

"Pardon my intrusion."

Fuyuko says as Misaki invites her in, they went to her room and lay down all the study materials they needed.

"How have you been, Misaki?"

She asked.

"Im fine, just a bit tired."

She replied, trying to hold back the sadness in her mind.

"Akagi, came here right?"

Misaki's face lightens up hearing his name come out of her mouth.

"Huh? How did you know?"

She asked Fuyuko.

"I've past by him on my way here, I greeted him but he still can't recognize me. Did something happen between you two? He looked so happy."

Misaki's confident plummeted, she got drowsy and intrigued. Hearing how Akagi wasn't bothered at all, not even worrying about her feelings, despite the fact that he knew how hurt she was. It was like nothing to him, as if he doesn't care.

"Misaki, is something wrong?"

Fuyuko gently asked.

"Nothing, im fine, its just...im just shock that Akagi finally met and got reunited with his father."

She told Fuyuko.

"Wow! Really?! That's good news! Well for him atleast, shouldn't you be happy about it? You look so gloomy."

Fuyuko replied.

"Yeah, im happy for him. He said its been 2 weeks since they met, but I just he'd told me sooner and didn't hide it from me."

She expresses her feelings about Masahiko, how she felt like she's been cut out from possibly one of the best moments of his life.

"Im not asking him to celebrate it with me."

She told her.

"But we've made plans for our future, we both planned everything and we work hard to achieve it. But then he suddenly change it, willing to work for his father somewhere else. He made the decision without informing me, it feels like he cut me off his plans for the future...or his life."

She carefully said with a gloomy voice, the feeling of loneliness in her heart and the thought of potential abandonment by her beloved, dwells her thoughts.

"Maybe he has a reason?"

Fuyuko responded cautiously.

"Knowing him, you knew he won't do something for no reason right? Maybe he's just as puzzled as you are now."

She told Misaki.

"He probably wasn't optimistic about the offer, maybe he wanted to make sure to make sure it would be a success, then he might surprise you!"

She attempts to cheer her up, but Misaki was desolate about the situation.

"Fuyuko, my Masahiko isn't like that..."

She responded.

"He always had a way of alluding me, making me feel his presence and care everyday. He is always so open with me, and he doesn't trust anyone easily, he would always let me know what he's up to, to make sure my worries would be at ease. But the fact that he didn't talk to me or even texted me for two whole weeks, makes me feel like im being ignored. Then suddenly he stated that his father showed up and offered him a better job somewhere, I dont mind it at all but what bothers me, is that he didn't inform me about it."

Misaki told her.

"Its suspicious that he didn't bother informing me about altering the plans we made together, he didn't even explain it to me in details. I never hid anything from him, so why would he hid something from me?"

Fuyuko felt Misaki's frustration and feeling of despair, she had seen how pretty much Masahiko ignored her.

"I am wrong to expect much?"

She asked her.

Thinking carefully, Fuyuko responded in a way to encourage her.

"No, you aren't expecting much, you only expect him to treat you with the same honesty and respect you are giving him. You aren't demanding anything more than what you deserve in this relationship, he's wrong to keep it from you especially if there was no harm in it, why would he intentionally hid it from you?"

Misaki looks at her steadily and nods.

"You should trust him for now, dont come to different conclusions on your own. Talk to him about it."

Misaki rubs the sadness on her face away and smiles.

"You're right, maybe I was overthinking too much."

Later that night, Fuyuko made sure to drown Misaki with their studies, to keep her busy and to keep her from having insecure thoughts. Keeping her company to relieve her from her anxieties, Misaki tried to put on a fake cheerful persona, to keep her friend from worrying too much. But deep inside she stil felt gloomy and apathetic, even though this is such a small issue and possibly just a misunderstanding between the two of them. She couldn't help but feel dejected, occasionally feeling rational jealousy, she only desired to get her beloved Masahiko's time and attention. She cut off on other things and barely met or talk to other people, committing all of her time to be with her boyfriend. She sacrificed alot, she had hope for Masahiko to do the same, naturally as they've both committed their lives to one another.

She felt betrayed that her boyfriend would hide something from her, she is willing to do everything for him as long as he is honest with her.

She soon would lay down on her bed as the cold night settles in, in the utter darkness of her room. Preparing to fall sleep, she doesn't have anything to look forward to for tomorrow, as her days are all spent studying in a dull environment. Looking out the window, she projects herself, deep into her own thoughts. Creating a scenario, where she and his beloved would finally settle down and live happy lives.

Trying to let go of today's misery, if she wanted to rest through the night then she should let go of her anguish. She only hope to see Akagi Masahiko again.

The next morning, she woke up with frizzy hair and feeling empty inside. She got up and just sat on her bed for moments, glancing around her room. Wondering if anything is going to be fine, she grabs her phone, hoping to see a text message from Masahiko. She saw none and begun to feel the same pain last night, a slight feeling of sting on her chest.

She got ready for her morning classes, trying as hard as she can to shrug off her insecure thoughts. As she walks towards their campus, her hand firmly on her handbag, holding her phone. Waiting to hear a beep, waiting to feel a vibrate, waiting to receive a message from her beloved. As she got closer, she begun to lose hope that Masahiko would even text her, she couldn't wait any further. She needs to receive a text from him as reassurance to make her feel like he still cared, to ease her worries and pain. She decided to take the initiative and texted him.

As she sent the message, she didn't bother to wait for a reply. Dispirited, she decided to go on with day and not allow her negative thoughts take control of her head. Hoping it will all be a huge misunderstanding and his boyfriend would return to her loving arms. Meanwhile Masahiko, now with less working hours, woke up well rested with extra hours of sleep as he slept peacefully. With his father helping him with financial expenses, the burden on his shoulder started to lighten up, reducing his stress and anxiety.

More enthusiastic and optimistic, he started his morning with a jog on to the park he and Misaki stood before. Still debating what to do with his spare time, he decided to do some exercises to cope with his mental and physical health. Feeling the morning breeze blows on his hair, running on a green field of grass with the sun on his face. He reached the tree on top of a small hill, remember how he use to run upwards with Misaki, he hastily ascended it. Reaching the top he let out a loud applause and stretched his body, he decided to exercise under the tree after some warm up to improve his physique, he remembers how he use to climb mountains and swim at the seashore with his aunt, as he always had to accompany her and help her lose weight. He loves the outdoors, but only when he is improving his endurance and molding his body structure to his desires. Eager to have a muscular body. He paused as he saw the sun fully rose up, smelling the fresh air while admiring the pleasant scenery. He imagined going back here with Misaki, running on the green grass while holding hands. Just the thought of being with het beloved makes him overflow with happiness, the overwhelming positivity he feels is reflected on his smile. After a while, he decided to run back home and get ready for work. While he is being more active today, Misaki is being lethargic, the message she sent remains unread as he left his phone at home.

"Where did you ran off to this early in the morning?"

Miss Kanae asked, as she saw Masahiko running in the vicinity towards her direction, sweating, while she is tending her garden.

"I just jog for a bit."

He replied, still panting and trying to stabilize his breathing. He walk pass her and heads towards his room. He sat down, resting for a little bit before taking a shower. He grabbed his phone and smiled as he saw a text message from Misaki, it read.

"Good morning, handsome. Are you free later?"

He was flattered and text right back, saying "I always have time for you, beautiful." While giggling. He planned to bring her to a place where they've always wanted to visit, with the allowances his father is giving him, he decided to spend some of it to compensate for the past week of being splited.

He texted if Misaki would like to go out together at the weekend, he didn't told her of where he planned to take her. Keeping it a secret so she would be surprised. He knew Misaki was already at class at this hour, so he walk to the bathroom and showers, preparing for work.