A primrose evening!

WAKE YOUR DREAMS

A primrose evening!

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Kiyoko had planned to stay in Tokyo for two weeks. But due to her parents returning home earlier she had to go back to Tokyo.

Her mother called her to come home at once.

Zehan and Kiyoko were waiting for their train to Kyoto. Zehan was also coming with her. He said that he has to get some of his stuff which he had left back in the art club.

"You should have told me to bring them when I was coming. Idiot…!" Kiyoko grumbled.

"That's okay. In this way I can assure that you have safely returned back to home."

"That's such a waste to time and money. I can go back just the way I came here on my own."

"It's never a waste of time and money when I am with you."

"Why did it sound a bit cringe to me?"

"I can be a lot cringe but only for you." Zehan chuckled.

"Stop talking already!"

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Kiyoko woke up rather late the next morning.

They had reached home late last evening.

She walked downstairs.

Kiyoko's father was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking his tea while reading the newspapers.

Although they met after a long time, neither she nor her father talked to each other. She was just like her father in this aspect.

"Son, eat your breakfast properly. My son has become so thin. Eat properly and drink the milk after you are done."

Kiyoko's mother kept the glass of milk in front of a young boy, who was reluctantly eating the sandwiches kept before him.

The young boy was Kiyoko's sibling brother.

Kazuke Watanabe.

He was six years younger than Kiyoko. He is the most talented child of the Watanabe household, that's what Kiyoko's mother always liked to say.

"Oh Kiyoko you are awake. Come have your breakfast?"

"Yes." Kiyoko wanted to go out but hesitantly sat down on the chair, the farthest one from her father.

"Where is Zehan?" Kiyoko asked.

"He said he was going to his art club."

"Oh!"

"Seriously that boy is wasting time chasing such a wayward passion. He should have focused on his studies. Instead he is going to an art college." Kiyoko's mother rumbled on.

"I am not hungry. I will get going." Kiyoko stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"I am going for a walk."

Kiyoko strode out of the kitchen.

"That girl does whatever she likes huh? My son is the best. Here have another sandwich."

Kiyoko's mother patted Kazuke on his head gently.

Kazuke looked at the chair opposite him where Kiyoko was sitting just a few seconds earlier, and then continued eating his food.

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Kiyoko was sitting on the lakeside, under the sakura tree.

There were some benches which were placed a few months ago but she preferred sitting on the grass.

The sakura tree cast a shadow upon her, protecting her from the strong morning sun.

She sighed and leaned her head backwards and lied down on the grass.

But when she did so, she viewed something….Pink!

"Ahhhh…!" A voice pierced the silent morning. The girl covered her skirt with her hands.

Kiyoko shot up and sat down.

Sakura Nakamura. What was she doing here?

"Did you see anything?!" She asked. Her face was all red.

Kiyoko never expected to see such an expression on Sakura's face.

Sakura's comments at the hospital were still fresh in her mind. Of course she felt bitter for two weeks after hearing Sakura. She had even cried.

"Whatever!" Sakura said and sat down beside Kiyoko on the grass.

"Yes I saw your panties. They were pink." Kiyoko said with a straight face.

"What the fu*k…! How can you even say that so shamelessly?"

"Yes I am a shameless bitch just like you had said." Kiyoko said and smiled.

"Fu*k…! I am sorry I should not have said that. I was hotheaded that day."

Kiyoko remained silent. She never thought of such a change in this person and such a drastic one at that.

'What should I say?' She thought.

Sakura signed when Kiyoko remained silent for a long time.

"That's what I wanted to say. Goodbye!"

"I think I don't want to forgive you."

"That's your choice. I just said what I wanted to say. That's it! Goodbye. You don't have to see my face anymore, as I am leaving for the States next week."

Sakura got up and slowly walked up to the road.

She turned back once and waved back.

"Good Luck, girl"

And then she walked away.

"What a weirdo!" Kiyoko mumbled.

A smile appeared on her face.

Kiyoko went to the library and then headed home.

She really did not want to return back home. It was nauseating.

She felt depressed just thinking how she would spend the rest of the summer in that house after Zehan would leave for Tokyo the next day.

She signed and opened the front door.

She entered the kitchen to get some snacks. She was quite hungry as she did not have the breakfast earlier.

She heard a clatter sound and what followed then after was a yell.

Kazuke, her younger brother, came running downstairs.

"Ane-chan…Dad is quarrelling with Zehan."

"Zehan…" Kiyoko was stunned.

She at once ran upstairs, shocked to see Zehan and her parents standing at the corridor.

"How dare you…Are you out of your mind?" Kiyoko's father bellowed.

Kiyoko's mother was sitting on the chair with her hands on her forehead.

Pieces of broken ceramic ash tray lay on the floor.

Zehan kept his head down as Kiyoko's father screamed at him.

"I will beat you up, shameless boy."

At this point, Kiyoko's mother tried to calm Kiyoko's father.

Kiyoko's father could no longer hold back his anger; he lunged forward in an attempt to slap Zehan.

Kiyoko hastily ran towards Zehan and stood between Zehan and her father.

"Please…Stop it!"

Zehan was flabbergasted when he saw Kiyoko in front of him.

Kiyoko's father was shivering with anger.

"Kiyoko…Is it true that you two are in a relationship? Is it true?"

"Kiyoko tell your dad that it is not true. How could my daughter does like that?" Kiyoko's mother pleaded.

Zehan tried to intervene when Kiyoko said," Yes. We are in a relationship."

A slap resounded.

Kiyoko's father slapped Kiyoko on her right cheek.

"You…ungrateful child..."

Kiyoko's mother fell on her knees and broke into tears.

Kiyoko touched her cheek and smiled.

"Yes I am in a relationship with him." She said proudly. She can tell it hundreds of times.

It was the first time she voiced out her own feelings. It felt great.

"Don't call yourself my daughter anymore." Kiyoko's father snapped.

He continued. "Get out of this house. Go wherever you want. Just don't come here." He stormed into his study room and closed the door behind with a bang.

Kiyoko's mother glanced at Kiyoko and Zehan and then knocked the closed door.

"Honey, please open the door."

"At least Kiyoko can live freely outside this home! Did you ever act as a father to Kiyoko for once, uncle?" Zehan yelled at the closed door.

Kiyoko held Zehan and pulled him into her room.

"Help me pack my bags."

"Kiyoko…" Zehan mumbled.

His body shook. He could hear the sound of the slap which fell upon Kiyoko's cheek in his mind.

"I should get the laptop, the charger…those books. Thank god I have not unpacked my bag earlier."

Kiyoko was busy moving to and fro throughout her room to gather all the necessary stuff. She knew if she stood still she will break down in tears.

The door opened with a small creak.

It was Kiyoko's brother, Kazuke.

His face was red and his eyes were damp with tears.

"Ane-chan…Are you really leaving?"

"Oh yes I am."

"Don't leave…" His voice shook.

Kiyoko came forward and patted him on his shoulders.

She was envious of her younger brother but she cherished him a lot. They were not able to spend much time together but she made many memories with this younger sibling.

"Silly boy, don't cry? It's not like that I am going too far away isn't it. We can always visit each other. We can talk over the phone…" Kiyoko's voice broke.

Kazuke hugged her and patted her back.

"I am not crying. You are the one who is crying." The boy was trying his best to hold back his tears.

"My brother has grown up a lot."

Kiyoko's mother called for Kazuke. She looked at Kiyoko like she was a stranger and meant harm for her son.

"Mom is calling, Kazuke." Kiyoko gently brushed his hair.

Kazuke reluctantly went over to his mother.

Kiyoko smiled bitterly.

'Her mother was protecting her dear son from her so that her son does not get bad influence from her.'

Kiyoko turned to look back.

Zehan was looking back at her. She went over to his side and leaned upon him.

Zehan quietly hugged her.

'Of course…If I leave this family nothing will really change. Was I ever a part of this family?'

Her brother was the most cherished child and will remain so. Nothing will change.

'I was only an unwanted good-for-nothing person in their eyes.'

'And Kazuke would slowly forget her air-like sister!'

'That's how it would be.'

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Kiyoko and Zehan were walking through their most familiar road. It was the road to they used to take when they travelled to school together.

It was not because he left something behind that Zehan came back to Kyoto. The sole reason was to tell Kiyoko's parents that they were dating. And which he did it. But the result was not what he had wished for.

Hiroshi told him that he should tell Kiyoko's parents about it before they get to know about it. And that might happen Kiyoko would be all alone. At least if Zehan tells them he would get all the bashing.

But the result only worsened.

His heart shook every time he saw Kiyoko's red cheek.

"I am sorry." Zehan said.

"What are you sorry for?"

"I am the reason you got that slap and uncle told those stuff…"

"I was mad at you at first but after some thought I realized that it is better that they know we are together. It's stuffy staying at that house."

She continued," I thought I had to spend the summer vacation with them."

Kiyoko smiled gleefully.

"I know you are pretending to be cool. Don't hold back your tears? My chest is all yours. Come here and cry your heart out. You will feel calm."

"Naah I am really fine. I had already planned that I will leave that house once I have graduated. It's a bit earlier. That's it."

"Kiyoko…"

"Let's go on a tour to our school. It has been long since you came back. But will the guard allow us in?"

The guard allowed them at once. He recognized Zehan and gladly allowed them to take a look inside.

They stood on the terrace of the school building.

Kiyoko had never been on the rooftop before.

The lake was visible from up there. It dazzled with a reddish hue as the setting sun fell upon its water.

She climbed upon the bench to take a good look.

''It is really high up?''

"Be careful. Don't lean closer towards the corner."

''I can even see the big apartment from here. Our home is just beside that. Wow…"

Kiyoko who was jovial just a moment ago stared at the direction of the apartment blankly.

She signed and smiled bitterly.

"I forgot it's not home anymore." She mumbled.

Kiyoko slowly sat down on the bench.

Zehan hugged her tightly.

She could no longer hold back her tears.

"It's okay…You can cry. Don't hold it back, Kiyoko."

Zehan clenched his fists.

He felt guilty leaving for Tokyo eleven years ago.

He felt guilty leaving behind a small girl, who had to bear with such loneliness.

Did she cry all alone?

Zehan promised to himself that he would never let Kiyoko experience that sort of feelings again. He would always be by her side.

Always…!

A primrose evening!

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END OF CHAPTER 20