บท 68: Wife, I Didn't Expect You To Have Grown Daring Now

The vibrant tones of the orange roses appeared as if they were fiercely blooming in her hands. The small and cute lily-of-the-valleys dangled as she walked with spring in her steps. Shouko couldn't resist herself from smiling sweetly as she held onto the bouquet of flowers.

Not far from where she was right now, a small yet cozy cafe appeared in her line of sight.

The cafe was painted white with the carving of roses on the walls outside. It was a familiar cafe.

Shouko paused her step as she hid behind a lamp post. She stealthily peered inside the cafe through the glass windows.

There were not many people inside right now. After a few seconds, she finally saw who she wanted to see. The smile on her lips deepened.

He was really here.

Kyoya was sitting on a table for two near the glass windows. He would occasionally look at his watch and his phone, looking listless for some reason.

"Hehe, you sneaky," Shouko let out a giggle. "Ditching work to come to play, eh?"

Shouko came out of her hiding. She quickly made way toward the cafe entrance. The bouquet was hidden behind her back with one hand before she grabbed the doorknob. The bell hung above the door chimed once she pushed the door open.

Ding!

The moment the bell tinkled, a certain someone quickly looked at the direction of the entrance. His usually cold and dark eyes brightened as the person he was waiting for appeared in front of him. He quickly stood up. In just a few moments, she was now standing in front of him.

Shouko giggled seeing the man's cheery look. "I heard someone is playing truant."

"It's not ditching work when you're the boss," Kyoya replied with a smug smile, making Shouko laughed more.

Then, the vivid blossoms of orange roses came to his view, sending along with them their sweet fragrance.

"This..." Kyoya was astounded. He looked at the bouquet before his eyes returned to his wife's smiling face. "Orange roses and lily-of-the-valley?"

Shouko laughed easily. "Do you know, in the art of courtship, orange roses imply that the sender is fascinated and admired the recipient while the lily-of-the-valleys mean the return to happiness?"

Kyoya was once again stunned. He was really tempted to hug his little wife hard but he was afraid if he would crush the bouquet. His hands reached out for the flowers with a smile.

"I really don't know what to say... Thank you, wife," Kyoya rubbed her head with a loving gaze, smoothening a part that was messy due to the wind outside.

Shouko smiled brightly. She was happy with the way he looked at the small bouquet with appreciation in his eyes.

Kyoya pulled up a chair and gestured for Shouko to sit. They sat while facing each other. He placed the bouquet on the table, appearing so satisfied with the gift from his wife.

"En, I finally see the changes here," Shouko turned her head to look at her surroundings. This cafe still maintained its cozy ambiance but there were small additions here and there. "At first, I thought this cafe is no longer here."

Kyoya laughed lowly. "Even after we got married, you'd still come here to write."

"Then, did you always come here too?" Shouko was intrigued to know. "Grandpa said you are at a place that I know so I could only think of here. Since this is the only place I frequented five years ago."

Kyoya nodded, his gaze softened seeing her returned his smile. "Whenever I'm not too busy, I'd come here to accompany you."

"Oh..."

Shouko covered her mouth as she suppressed her laughter. Happiness kept on building up within her, sometimes it made her felt like floating on clouds.

As they were talking, a faint shadow fell over them. Shouko tilted her head, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"You're here," The kind owner, who looked as if he was nearing his seventies came to greet them. "It's great to see you again, Shouko. Your husband even came first this time."

"That... I..." Shouko was at a loss of words. She didn't know what to say.

Kyoya smiled, he kindly reintroduced the old man to Shouko. "Old Daizo has been worrying about you."

"Oh, I... thank you."

Old Daizo nodded, affirming Kyoya's words. "I've heard of what happened to you. I'm glad to see you're good and healthy again. I did wonder why did you stop coming here."

"Thank you for your wishes, Old Daizo," Shouko accepted his well-wishes with all her heart. This old man had always been kind.

"Alright, I won't interrupt you two any longer. Do you want to order anything?" Old Daizo looked at Shouko and Kyoya.

He had been seeing hearts popped up from their eyes from the moment Shouko came inside the cafe. How could he have the heart to disturb their lovely time together?

"En," Shouko thought back of what she had been speaking of with Grandpa earlier. Suddenly, she felt like wanted to eat that thing. "Do you have raspberry cheesecake?"

"We do," Old Daizo answered swiftly. "Do you want anything else?"

Shouko turned to look at Kyoya. He smiled helplessly before he took the task of ordering food. "A pot of Earl Grey and macaron, please."

"Alright, please wait for a moment."

Old Daizo was getting ready to leave when Shouko called him back. The old man turned back and asked, "Anything else, Shouko?"

"En, do you remember anything about the raspberry cheesecake?" Shouko asked in hesitation. "Something related to me?"

Old Daizo paused to think before he gently shook his head. "Nothing comes to my mind. Is there something you seek about it?"

"Oh... nothing," Shouko quickly smiled. "It's alright. I just feel like having the cake. Thank you, Old Daizo."

After the kind owner left to attend to their orders, Kyoya looked at Shouko. "What's wrong, wife?"

"It's just... something he did out of kindness," Shouko replied. Her lips curved up as she recalled the particular memory. "Once, when I was down, he came and gave me a slice of raspberry cheesecake, telling me to cheer up. I still remember it but apparently he doesn't. Well, it has been five years so no wonder."

To Shouko who lost her memory of five years' worth, the touching matter was as if it happened just yesterday but it was understandable if Old Daizo didn't remember it.

Even the smallest act of kindness would be cherished by the one who received it. Some people even remember it for a long time. No matter if the one who showed them kindness remember it or not.

"It's enough that you remember it," Kyoya placed a palm over both of her hands, he gently twirled with her fingers. "Well, since you talked about it, I remember that you have once mentioned it to me."

"I did?" Shouko's brows rose in wonder.

"En," Kyoya nodded. "Only once. I think it was during the first time you brought me here."

To Kyoya, although it was a distant memory, it was something important to his wife. The memory was still there in his mind even though he needed to recall it a bit.

"When did I bring you here?" Shouko asked in curiosity. She couldn't help it. Since Kyoya brought up the topic, she might as well asked.

Kyoya curled up his lips. With one of his brows rose in a suggestive manner, he asked, "Do you want to know?"

Shouko quickly nodded her head, like a hen pecking on grains.

Kyoya's smile turned into a smirk. He wanted to laugh seeing how cute she was right now. He leaned forward, his hands were still grasping hers. "Kiss me first."

Shouko's eyes widened as blush smeared on her cheeks.

This man was really shameless!

Kyoya smiled again, his eyes were full of teasing, "Well?"

Shouko pursed her lips. Her eyes darted around, looking at the almost empty cafe. Under Kyoya's surprise gaze, she propped herself up and pecked his lips. Unlike last time when she quickly retreated back, now she let herself be bold for a moment longer.

Kyoya was still in a surprise when Shouko finally sat back on her seat.

"You've got your upfront payment, now tell me," Shouko tilted her head, her tone sounded demanding with a hint of coquetry even though her entire face had reddened.

Kyoya broke out of his stupor. In the end, he couldn't help himself from laughing. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand, the corners of his eyes crinkled as he laughed happily.

"Wife, I didn't expect you to have grown daring now," He teased. He originally taught she would at least kiss his cheek.

"Don't complain. You're the one who benefits from it," Shouko retorted.

Kyoya laughed again. He really loved seeing her so cute like this.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you," Kyoya relented.

It was the middle of autumn, like today. His dark eyes flickered with reminiscence. The scene from the past resurfaced in his mind.

He saw himself looking at his newly-wedded wife. She was busy packing her things inside her bag.

"Where do you want to go?" Kyoya approached her after thinking long.

"En?" Shouko raised up her head, she was confused to see him at home at this time. "I thought you've gone to work."

"I worked from home today," Kyoya answered briefly.

It was understandable if she thought he went to work as usual. They didn't have breakfast together today. He had a meeting so early in the morning with his partners overseas. Only now did he leave his study and find her getting ready to go out.

"Where are you going?" Kyoya asked again.

Shouko appeared perplexed with his question but, she still answered him, "I'm going to the waterfront."

Kyoya pursed his lips. He had heard Old Toshio saying to him that his new wife would always go to a cafe there.

They had been married to each other for two months and a half. Both of them still slept in different bedrooms and their communication was still limited. It wasn't too far to say they still acted as if they were housemates.

Kyoya thought back of the night when she started making him hot chocolate. Since then, she would always make him one or brew him tea whenever she was free. They didn't talk much, instead, they would just sit in silence.

"Can I come?"

His few words caught her off guard. From the way she looked at him, he understood she was surprised to hear it.

Well, he rarely took the chance to get to know her so of course, she would find it weird.

Kyoya didn't know why did he feel kind of dejected seeing her expression. He coughed awkwardly. Before he got a chance to ask her to forget it, her confused eyes suddenly beamed in delight.

"Let's go! I'm going to the cafe. It's a good one."

This time, it was Kyoya's turn to be dumbfounded.

Why did she look so happy? Kyoya was so confused but he didn't say anything.

Suddenly, he looked forward to the short outing with this young lady.

------------------------------------------------------------------

The author has something to say:

Ever since Shouko started making him hot chocolate, they would always spend short time together enjoying desserts. Sometimes, it was tea that accompanied them.

One day, Kyoya realized, the hot chocolate and desserts weren't as sweet as her smile.