Text message – 8 PM
"Sayuri, meet me in the garden."
— Jun
She put on a coat and quietly crossed the street to Mrs. Midori's garden. As she stepped in, she saw a table with a rose on top; beside it, Jun stood, waiting.
"What's going on?" she asked, surprised.
"Come, sit here," he said, pulling out a chair.
She walked over and sat down, picking up the rose.
"Jun, why all of this all of a sudden?"
He sat beside her and took her hand. He seemed nervous.
"Well… I'm not very good with feelings," he laughed. "You already know that… and because of that, I hurt you, even though I didn't mean to."
"Jun… let's not talk about that now."
"But I need to." He took a deep breath. "There are things in my life that are very complicated. When my mom left me, I promised I would never love anyone… it was like a rule to me… until you showed up."
She squeezed his hand.
"You, with just a simple smile, broke that rule… and I couldn't resist anymore. I tried… I was scared."
"I know," she said, placing her hand on his face.
He looked deeply into her eyes.
"I can be complicated… maybe a little difficult."
"A little?"
He smiled.
"And you know that," he continued. "Well… I can't promise I'll never mess up… but I can promise I won't run away from you anymore."
He reached into his jacket pocket, slowly pulling out a small velvet box. Her heart started racing.
"What is that, Jun?"
"So…" he took a breath. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
And looking at him with teary eyes, she gave the easiest answer of her life:
"Yes… of course I will!"
He reached into his jacket pocket, slowly pulling out a small velvet box. Her heart started racing.
"What is that, Jun?"
"So…" he took a breath. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
And looking at him with teary eyes, she gave the easiest answer of her life:
"Yes… of course I will!"
He took her hand and fastened a bracelet around her wrist — a beautiful piece, with cherry blossom flowers encrusted with small crystals.
"It's nothing too extravagant… I just wanted you to have something from me."
"You really are full of surprises, huh?"
"And I'll say this… even I surprise myself sometimes," he said, laughing.
They spent the rest of the night enjoying the stars and drinking hot chocolate in the garden.
"Sayuri… now you have to talk to Kenji. Do you want me to explain everything to him?"
"No, no… I'll talk to him after New Year's. I know it's not right to hide this… but I need to handle it the right way."
Jun grumbled.
"So I'll have to stay away from my girlfriend the whole vacation… that's not fun at all…"
"Relax, you don't have to stay away… we just have to be careful until I tell him."
Jun made a face, but agreed.
"Alright, then…"
"Haha, you know you're really cute when you're jealous?"
"Jealous? Me? No way."
She moved closer and hugged him.
"I love you," she said, leaving him completely vulnerable.
She felt proud for saying it, but before she expected it, he whispered in her ear:
"I love you, Sayuri."
Now everything fit perfectly — no denying and no hiding what they felt. His world was her, and her world was him.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" Mrs. Midori asked, looking at the two of them hugging in the garden.
"Grandma, I thought you were already asleep."
"And may I know why you're hugging in the dark in my garden?"
Jun stuttered.
"Uh… well…"
"Inside, now! Have you lost your minds? You're going to catch a cold like this! Come on!"
"Yes, ma'am," Sayuri answered.
"I should go, Jun."
"No, stay… let's go to my room."
Mrs. Midori heard that and was horrified.
"No way, boy!" she gave him a light smack on the head. "Have you lost your mind? Inviting a young lady to your room?"
"Grandma… it's warmer in there…"
"Get inside, boy! And you, Sayuri…"
"Yes, ma'am," Sayuri said nervously. "I'm leaving."
"Grandma…"
"You're still here??"
Jun quickly went inside without arguing.
"Jun, come here."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
He felt embarrassed.
"Boy, do you have no manners? Didn't I teach you better?"
"Grandma… but we were just talking…"
"And is the garden a place for talking?" she took a deep breath. "Sit down."
"Jun… when did you grow up? It feels like just yesterday you were crying in the middle of the night because of nightmares… and look at you now, dating…"
Jun looked at his hands, sighed, and with shining eyes replied:
"I love her, Grandma…" he said softly. "But I'm still afraid of losing all of this."
Mrs. Midori smiled warmly.
"Then don't lose it, boy…" she said, holding his face.
His grandmother knew exactly what he was afraid of, and with kind words only she knew how to say, she calmed his heart.