บท 47: Live With Me
Ren brought a hair dryer from his room. He asked Tsubaki to sit on the vanity chair. She was still pressing the towel against her cheek. She stared aimlessly at the mirror before her. Ren carefully blow dried her long hair.
They sat in silence. Ren took his time to admire her silky strands. Smell of lavender shampoo wafted in the air due to their close distance to each other.
"I'm done." He placed the hair dryer on the table and picked up a comb, using it to entangle her hair. "Go to bed. I'll bring you a cup of milk. It's late already."
Tsubaki nodded. She just followed him when he led her to the bed. He went downstairs and returned with a mug of warm milk. She finished it and gave the mug back to him. He smiled seeing the empty mug.
"Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."
She mumbled her thanks. Ren forced himself to smile despite his heart felt tightened at the sight of her sad face. He rubbed her head lovingly before he stepped away from the bed.
Tsubaki turned to one side. She covered herself with the blanket tightly, as if it was her layer of protection. She heard his footsteps fading behind her. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth. Her voiced was shaky. "He tricked me..."
Ren stopped walking. He turned around and looked at the petite lady hiding under a blanket. He stayed silent, didn't want to interrupt her.
"He used a recording of my neighbour's voice. I opened the door and he attacked me. I wanted to escape, but he managed to hit me."
Her eyes felt hot. It was hard for her to recall the bad memory but she needed to let it all out for her to sleep in peace. She couldn't keep bottling it down. It suffocated her.
"I managed to fight back and escaped. I hid and tried to find someone to help me but I couldn't. I felt ashamed of myself and then... you called."
Ren slowly approaching the bed. He sat on the floor beside it, one of his hands wrapping her in a hug. She didn't flinch, resulting in him smiling in relief. He could feel her body shaking under the blanket.
"If you didn't call... I might still be hiding in the dark alley. I didn't know why but I was so relieved to see you. I couldn't deny that... I felt safe when you came..."
She peeked from under the blanket. Their eyes met. He was smiling but she could see the sorrow in his eyes.
"If I..." She choked back a sob. "... been raped... by that guy... would you still accept me?"
Ren didn't shake or nod his head. He placed his palm on her lips and leaned in to kiss it. Tsubaki was stunned. Their lips were separated by his palm but it still made her heart raced faster.
"I would still love you." He answered in honesty.
"But..."
"Live with me, Tsubaki."
Tsubaki blinked her eyes in confusion, suddenly taken aback with his request. She stared at him, couldn't form any words.
"Stay by my side as my wife, truly." His gaze locked firmly with hers. "If you still couldn't fall in love with me within a year, I'd let you go."
"Ren..."
"I won't touch you until you consent to it. And I am serious. If I couldn't make you happy and you want to leave, I won't forbid you."
It was hard for him to make this decision but he still wanted to prioritise her happiness. Loving her meant he wanted her to be happy. If someone else could make her happy, he would back away. But only after he worked for it.
"It's hard for me to stay calm, knowing you're in danger. At least, if I could legally protect you as my wife, I'd fell more assured."
His reasoning was logical. If something like this happened again, she knew to whom she could turn to. She had Satsuki but it didn't feel right to burden him with something like this when he could have his own little family in the future. A protective husband was a good shield for her to feel safe.
"Okay." She nodded, agreeing to his decision.
Ren smiled. "I won't let anyone hurt my wife." He held her right hand and brought it to his lips. His cool, thin lips touched her delicate fingers one by one.
"And I promise to let you go if you're not happy with me. But before that, I'd try my best to make you only look at me. For you to have me in your heart, regardless you'd regain your memories or not."
Tsubaki smiled, warmth filling her heart. "I'll try my best to be a good wife for you too."
As she had agreed, she would show him her determination.
Ren chuckled. He let go of her hand and pressed a warm kiss on her forehead.
"Good night, my wife. Sleep. We will talk again tomorrow."
Tsubaki blushed. "Good night... husband."
Ren carefully tucked her in before left with a wide smile plastered on his face. He was one step closer to his goal. He won't let this chance waste away.
He would work harder than before and made her fall in love with him again.
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