After that night, more performances followed and the number of fans doubled. It was incredible how things were happening: the band, their friendship, and the relationship... everything felt so perfect.
"Where are you going?" the father asked.
"Meeting some friends from college."
Finally, the father stood up from the sofa and closed the newspaper.
"Don't you think you've been going out too much at night? What kind of studies do you do so late?" he questioned.
Sayuri was already tired of it, but she knew avoiding confrontation would prevent many problems.
"Book club... we meet and discuss different topics..."
He stared at her in silence for a few seconds, as if trying to figure out whether she was lying.
"And it's late because some members of the group work in the afternoon..."
"Dear, let her be. These are the last months of college, and it's good to make connections..."
"Fine, but come home. No more sleeping out again..."
Sayuri put on her coat and sighed.
"Got it, Dad..."
Applause. Lights. Shouts.
The crowd was euphoric. Jun tried to catch his breath while drinking a bottle of water.
"I still can't get used to this."
"I'm actually loving this fame," Kenji said, sitting down.
Sayuri fixed Jun's hair before he went back on stage.
"I'll be right back," he said, kissing her.
They finished the show perfectly and said goodbye to the audience. When the bar was empty, they started packing the instruments. Kenji closed the trunk and stretched his back.
"I'm exhausted, I just want to get home and crash in bed."
Jun said he was cold while hugging Sayuri, warming her under his coat.
"Let's go home?"
"Today I can't, Jun..."
He looked at her.
"Is something wrong?"
She let out a heavy breath.
"My father... he's very suspicious and keeps watching me all the time."
"You still haven't told him?" Kenji asked.
"Of course not. You have no idea how scary and controlling her father is," Yume said.
"But wouldn't telling him avoid a lot of problems?"
Sayuri gave a nervous laugh.
"Not really. It would only create more problems..."
"Complicated..." he commented.
Jun hugged her tightly against his chest.
"It's okay... I can wait as long as it takes."
Sayuri closed her eyes. Deep down, what scared her most wasn't telling her father about Jun... it was losing everything.
"Then let's go."
Jun started the motorcycle while Sayuri put on her helmet.
"See you later," he said, honking as he left.
Near her house, he parked at the corner. When she got off, she looked drained, and he asked what was wrong.
"Look at this..."
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Does this feel right, Jun? You automatically stop at the corner... without me even asking... it makes me feel bad..."
A pause.
"I'm tired of hiding like this, but I still can't face my family..."
"Hey, calm down, love, everything will be okay. Don't think like that." He got off the bike. "Look... you'll graduate soon and everything will get better..."
She looked at him, touching his face.
"Jun... since when did you become so mature?"
"Haha... but seriously, love, want me to go talk to your father? I'll ask permission to date you."
"Jun, don't exaggerate..."
"I'm going right now!"
She grabbed him from behind.
"You're crazy!!!"
He turned around and picked her up.
"I'm kidding..."
They both laughed, breaking the worried mood.
Sayuri entered the house smiling. Her parents had apparently already gone to bed. She went to the kitchen to drink some water before going upstairs, and when she turned around, she came face to face with her father.
"Dad... I thought you were already asleep."
"I came to get a glass of water..."
"Okay... I'm going to bed. Good night, Dad."
"Good night, Sayuri..."
As she passed by him, he caught a different scent and stopped her.
"New perfume?"
Sayuri froze.
"Yes... do you like it?"
Her father looked at her suspiciously. It didn't match the perfumes she usually wore.
"Interesting... vanilla?"
"Yeah... I'm going upstairs now. I'm tired, Dad..."
He said nothing, just stayed deep in thought. When Sayuri reached her room, she took off her coat.
"I didn't notice I smelled like Jun. It must have been when I hugged him under his coat... I need to be more careful."
On Sunday morning, her father left early for the market, and while choosing vegetables, he noticed that same scent in the air. When he looked to the side, he saw Mrs. Midori.
"Good morning," she greeted. "Buying some vegetables?"
"Good morning, ma'am..."
At that moment, he looked behind her and saw him: that boy with dark hair, buckle-style clothes, and a bandana.
"Jun, pick one of these," Mrs. Midori said, pointing at the stall.
When Jun came closer, he realized the scent was coming from him and couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible. He kept staring at Jun with an unfriendly expression. He was in denial, refusing to accept that his daughter might be involved with someone like that.
"No..." he muttered without realizing it.
"Did you say something?" Midori asked.
"Nothing. It was good seeing you. I have to go now. Have a good Sunday."
The man left quickly, slowly squeezing the shopping bag in his hands.
No.
It couldn't be.
His daughter would never be involved with a boy like that.
Back home, her father called for Sayuri, knocking three times on her bedroom door, but there was no answer.
"Where is Sayuri?"
"I told her to go buy coffee, we ran out... why?"
"I need to check something."
His wife kept watching him.
"Do you know what perfume she was wearing yesterday? I want to see the bottle..."
"Why?"
"I already said I need to check something..."
Curious, the mother texted Sayuri.
"Sweetie, what perfume were you wearing yesterday?"
"A new perfume, Mom. Why?"
"Your father wants to see the bottle. Where is it?"
She panicked.
"What do I do now?"
She grabbed the coffee and left the shop, trying to think quickly. That's when she saw Jun coming from the other direction.
"Jun!!! Thank God..."
"What is it? You look worried."
"Can you lend me your perfume?"
"My perfume?"
"Yes, please. I'll explain everything later..."
Jun didn't understand what was happening, but agreed.
"Here," he said, handing her the perfume at the corner.
"Thanks, Jun. I have to go, I swear I'll explain everything later."
"Okay then," he said, scratching the back of his neck, still confused.
She entered the house secretly, went upstairs to her room, placed the bottle inside the wardrobe, closed the door, and went downstairs.
"I'm back. Wow, the market was crowded today."
"Sayuri..." her father called.
"Yes?"
"Can I see that perfume?"
"Which perfume?" she pretended.
"The new one you used yesterday."
"Of course, I'll go get it."
She went upstairs pretending to be calm, but inside she was trembling. When she came back down, she handed him the bottle, which he immediately smelled.
"Hmm..."
"Can I smell it too?" her mother asked, curious.
The father handed it to her.
"Sayuri... wow... this is different."
"Different?" Sayuri asked nervously.
"It's not your usual taste..."
"Ah, Mom, I've been trying new things that match the season..."
"I see. Okay then, I'll make coffee."
"So, Dad, do you like it?"
He placed the bottle on the table and shook his head.
"It's not my type. Too strong. You shouldn't wear something like that. It doesn't suit you..."
Sayuri didn't really understand it. He had never cared about something so trivial as perfume before. Still, she said she would try not to use it so much.
She put the perfume back inside the wardrobe and slowly let out a breath.
"Wow... that was close..."