บท 272: They Would Walk Side-by-side, Hand-in-hand While Embracing The Four Seasons For The Rest Of Their Lives
Once they were done walking around the yard, Ren brought his wife inside the cottage. The interior was almost bare except for a long couch and a cabinet in the living room. Seeing the white walls of the cottage Tsubaki didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
These pristine white walls would become their children's painting canvas in the future!
"There's nothing much in here but the electricity and water work fine," Ren slipped out of his shoes before he pulled Tsubaki to the living room. As they walked, he introduced the inside of the cottage to his wife.
"This cottage has one living room, one lounge, four bedrooms and three washrooms upstairs. Oh! There's another room downstairs near the kitchen and a separate washroom. This place is okay, right?"
Tsubaki was speechless. This place is more than okay! Actually, she had expected to choose a three bedrooms house. This house is far more spacious than she had imagined.
"But, darling... what about you?" Tsubaki looked at the man who was now massaging her feet.
"Me?" Ren asked in light confusion. "What about me?"
"You said you wanted to hand your position to Takuma later. Doesn't it mean you would resign from the company? I'm just wondering what are your plans."
"My plan?" Ren's eyes glinted with suppressed excitement. His smile spread widely on his face as he tried to contain the joy from overflowing in his heart. "I'd show you some other day. I think you'd love it."
"Alright~"
The sun penetrated through the glass doors at one side of the living room, basking them under the warm rays. Ren was still diligently massaging his wife's feet. His skillful actions showed that he had done it countless times. Tsubaki hummed happily as she was enjoying his doting.
"But, sweetheart," Ren stopped suddenly, he lifted up his eyes from her small feet to her smiling face. His brows were knitted together before he added reluctantly, "Actually, even though I haven't resigned, I am a man with no money. Especially once I have no job."
Tsubaki smiled teasingly at her husband. She knew what did he mean. Since the day he transferred his shares and assets to her name, right now he was practically being raised by her!
"Em~ What should I do? Should I continue raising you?" Tsubaki tilted her head, one of her hand gripped her chin as if she was thinking about something serious.
Ren laughed deeply as he heard her teasing tone. "Why? Don't you want to raise me?"
"Of course I would~" Tsubaki giggled, she raised up her hands and placed them around his neck as she looked at him coquettishly. Soft light flickered in her eyes, she added, "As long as you would continue pampering me, I'd set aside some money to raise you~ I'm not that stingy!"
Hearing her cheeky reply, Ren couldn't control himself from laughing out loud. He immediately peppered her little face with small kisses. Tsubaki giggled happily. She tried to evade from his attacks yet he knew where would she dodge.
As the husband and wife were enveloped in their pink bubbles, a sudden ringing burst it. Tsubaki laughed guiltily as she realized it was her phone. Ren narrowed his eyes, displeasure was clearly written in them as he reluctantly parted from his wife. He firmly placed his hands on her waist, refusing her from going elsewhere.
Tsubaki quickly took the call without seeing who was the caller.
"Hello!"
"Tsubaki, where are you?" A familiar voice entered her ears.
"Oh! It's you, Kanako?" Tsubaki straightened her back, she glanced at her husband who was still sulking. She extended her free hand and patted his head gently, trying to appease him. "I'm out of the city. Why? Do you want to meet me?"
"Oh..." Kanako's voice sounded far off as if she was hesitating over something. "It's okay. Tell me once you're back. I just want to have a chat with you."
"En?" Tsubaki squinted her eyes, she was sensing something was different from the way Kanako talked to her. "Are you okay? Are you sick?"
"Haha! It's nothing..." Kanako quickly waved the suspicion off. Her laugh sounded so awkward through the line. "I still have work to do. Gotta go!"
Before Tsubaki could reply, the line had been cut off.
"Why?" Ren asked as he saw Tsubaki looked blankly at her phone screen. He changed his seat from the coffee table to the couch where she sat.
"Oh... I just think that Kanako acted weird," Tsubaki couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong but right now she was worried about her friend. She tried dialing Kanako back but only the voice of the operator greeted her.
"Maybe she's just stressed with her job," Ren took the phone from his wife's grasp, he quickly placed it on the table. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Let's go and eat outside."
"Oh..." Tsubaki glanced at her wristwatch. It was a little over 4 PM. "I'm hungry."
"More the reason for you to eat," Ren curled up his lips into a small smile. Dark waves were swirling in his eyes as he swept a glance at Tsubaki's phone. Retracting his gaze from the phone, he pulled her from the couch. "There's a restaurant overlooking a lake near this place. I heard their food is good too. We should go over there."
"A lake?" Tsubaki's mind had instantly shifted to Ren's words. Her eyes gleamed as she jumped in light steps. "Let's go! Let's go!"
"Don't jump!" Ren swiftly caught her waist as he tried to stop her from jumping up and down. His voice was a bit stern as he added, "You're now going to be a mother, don't move recklessly."
"I give you a chance to catch me, can't you see it?" She retorted his remark.
Tsubaki wasn't at all affected by his stern voice. She had even fluttered her eyelashes and winked at him without even a faint hint of guilt, rendered Ren speechless.
This girl!
The restaurant was located near a big lake and it took the two of them only 20 minutes from the cottage. Since it wasn't a weekend, not many people occupied the tables inside the restaurant. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant created an illusion of being close to nature as the patrons could feast their eyes with the clear lake outside.
"Aa~ It's so delicious!"
Tsubaki closed her eyes as she savored the fresh taste of the grilled salmon in front of her. Her antics brought laughter to Ren. He shook his head helplessly, couldn't fathom how easy his young lady could be tempted with delicious food.
"Eat more, sweetheart," Ren pilled a shrimp and placed it in her bowl. "We've eaten quite late. You should replenish your energy."
"Okay~" Tsubaki gratefully accepted the juicy shrimp from her husband.
Both of them sat next to the glass walls. Tsubaki would occasionally turn her head toward the scenery outside. The sky was so bright today and a few families were playing with their children near the lake. Hearing their joyful laughter elevated her mood.
Tsubaki's eyes softened when a particular family caught her attention.
The father was coaxing his crying daughter while the mother was giggling happily at the sight, a baby boy on her hips. It was clear that the daughter felt wronged by her father over something thus inciting a funny situation in the mother's eyes.
Her lips curled up without her realizing it.
Ren noticed that his wife had been looking through the glass walls for quite some time. He followed where her gaze landed and saw a family of four.
It was a beautiful sight.
"Sweetheart," He gently called out to her, his voice was laced with indescribable love toward her.
Tsubaki retrieved her gaze from the family, her heart skipped a beat when she saw how his alluring eyes bore on hers, hooking her soul with it.
"Our small family would be happy and filled with love. Trust in ourselves, alright?"
Hearing his words, she was caught in a trance. She dazedly looked at him before a soft smile bloomed like a flower on her delicate face.
"Yes."
After their late lunch, the husband and wife took a stroll alongside the lake. Ren firmly held onto her hand as they walked in harmony.
The sun rays fell on the crystal clear lake, illuminating specks of lights in their eyes. A flock of birds took flight on the cloudless sky while the dragonflies skimmed the calm water surface, creating small ripples in between their legs.
It had been a while since the last time they felt so peaceful.
Walking with him hand-in-hand, Tsubaki let her mind wander.
When the autumn came, they could take a walk while stepping on the golden sea of the fallen ginkgo leaves.
Once winter arrived, having a cup of warm tea while looking at the falling snow outside in the shelter of the warmth restaurant appeared so tempting.
As spring melted away all the snow, they could lay a picnic mat and enjoying the blooming flowers.
During summer, lazing around while watching people playing ball could already bring content for them as they basked under the sun.
She was anticipating their incoming days together. They would walk side-by-side, hand-in-hand while embracing the four seasons for the rest of their life.
But, if she wanted to live in peace, she needed to pluck out the thorns that were deeply embedded in her heart.
Tsubaki raised her eyes, looking at her husband's side profile.
She had something to say to him.
"Darling."
Tsubaki paused her steps, she twirled around, facing her husband. Their hands were still linked together.
Ren stared at her smiling face. She was really like a blooming flower. He smiled quietly as he waited for her to speak.
"Do you remember the time we went to Kou-chan's house the other day?" Tsubaki spoke calmly, a far cry from how her heart was pounding profusely inside her body.
"Yes. Why?" Ren nodded.
"Actually, I..."
Tsubaki's smile fell as she thought of something. She was afraid to tell him, afraid if it was just a misunderstanding but even though Ren advised her to stop thinking of it her mind would always creep back to the matter.
Especially when she recalled the departing silhouette of a woman that she saw the other day.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Although Ren appeared calm, he still couldn't hide the hint of a panic in his eyes.
There was something amiss from the way she smiled.
"I have something to tell you," Tsubaki made a resolution. Even though she might wrong, she still wanted to tell him. "When you sent Kou-chan upstairs, I saw someone I'm familiar with not far from the flat."
Ren's pupils dilated slightly. His mouth parted before a question escaped his mouth. "Who... did you see?"
Tsubaki smiled, faint sadness fleeting in her eyes. "I saw Mrs. Souma."
Ren unconsciously sucked in a breath. His eyes widened at her answer.
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