2. The memory drifts into my head.
3. Her soulful dark eyes looking up at me like I was her savior, our pinky's locking together in solidarity.
4. Christ, we had promised that, hadn't we?
Memuatkan…Memuatkan…
1. The suitcase by the front door.
2. The fact that I'd turned thirty a few months ago.
3. All of it slams into me at once, and a panicky feeling presses against my chest.
4. "Actually... I'm married."
5. "Uh?"
6. "I'm currently stuck in a legal divorce fight."
7. "Except for this.."
8. "...I recently met someone in my life, someone I'm madly in love with..."
Memuatkan…Memuatkan…
1. "Who isn't here now because many bad things happened. It's complicated."
2. I decided to be clear on this topic...
3. ...I don't want to misunderstand my current heart's owner..
4. Especially now that the situation is delicate.
5. "Oh, I'm sorry, I assumed you were single."
6. I am.
7. "It is hard to explain."
8. "But I already have someone I'm waiting for."
9. "Mmh.. I see..."
10. I fill aoi in on the past fourteen years.
1. My mouth is saying the words, but my brain is still trying to wrap around the fact that she showed up here after all these years....
2. "So aoi..."
3. "Tell me what happened to you, what brings you here?"
4. I think it's time for me to tell her truth..
5. "I lost my job."
6. "I was fired actually."
7. Someone please shut me up.
8. "What did you do?"
1. She looks genuinely perplexed.
2. I'm sure the girl she remembers never would have been careless enough to get fired from a job.
3. I guess things change.
4. "I was an accountant."
5. "My boss framed me for embezzling funds. And I had no way to prove it."
6. The concern in her eyes tells me she'll help me if I want, in fact...
7. "There's always a way. I know several excellent forensic accountants. I could help connect you with one."
8. She'd always been protective of me, and I love seeing that side of her again.
9. But it isn't worth the trouble.
1. "It's not worth it."
2. "They kept my last paycheck to make up for the loss."
3. "It would have been enough for me to at least pay rent for a few more months."
4. "Anyway, I'm here because I needed a place to get a fresh start."
5. I take it as a not so subtle suggestion that it's time for me to leave.
6. Embarrassed for my failed accounting career, and the fact she's not so single I stand up.
7. "I should get going."
1. "Wait, sens-, aoi. Hang on, where are you going?"
2. I head out to the hall and the direction I hope will lead to my bag and the exit.
3. I may not have enough money for more than one night in a hotel, but I can't stay here.
4. Why did I even come here? Of course the gorgeous kir is all grown up
5. Why the hell did I come here?
6. It was obvious that the pretty little girl had grown up and had become an even more beautiful woman.
7. And clearly, there is no shortage of women around her.
8. "Wait..!"
1. I didn't want to look like a gold digger, but I had no other choice,
2. I didn't want to give her this impression, but I was really in trouble.
3. "Hey aoi, you don't have to go anywhere."
4. It's been a long time since she touched me so intimately,
5. Yet my body recalls that night with perfectly clarity.
1. "I shouldn't have come. You've got..."
2. Not sure what I'm referring to exactly.
3. It could be the amazing house, beautiful or perfect life.
4. Any one of these makes me feel small, but the combination makes me feel as if I could cry.
5. I swallow against the hard lump in my throat and force myself to look up at her..
6. "Nonsense. You came all this way. I want you to stay. At least a few days. We have fourteen years to catch up on."
1. "No really kir, I shouldn't have come here. I'm so sorry."
2. It was so stupid of me to come.
3. I wish I'd taken time to think about what I was doing instead of just rushing online to find the cheapest ticket.
4. "No, I insist."
5. She still has the look that makes me feel like I'm the only one who matters.
6. "Don't go aoi, let me help you."
1. I don't know, but I can't say no to her. Not when she looks at me this way.
2. Besides, the house is so big she must have ten extra bedrooms, it's not like I'm putting her out or anything, right?
3. "Okay. It sounds like we have a lot of catching up to do."