[Complete] Invisible Chains- Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Mariko sat quietly as she listened to all her father’s concerns and advice. Her father began to scold her for locking herself up for months and at the same time, told her that he was relieved to see her. I lowered my head and was keeping a distance from them. I figured that it would be best if I gave them some room to sort out their family problems. “Mariko-chan, let’s get a haircut tomorrow. Then we can go visit okaasan. We should let her know why we haven’t been there to see her for a few months.” Aiba-san said. I wanted to say something too but I felt like this wasn’t exactly the best situation where I could simply spill out the beans to her. So I decided to save it for another day. I was still happy that I got to see her and that’s all I wanted. Then I began to think about my father. I didn’t want him to know that I found her. I was afraid of what he was going to do now. I was determined to keep her a secret so she can stay out of the clutches of my father.
I walked out of her bedroom and leaned my back against the wall. I started to become worried about Mariko. Now that she finally opened herself back to the world, what will happen if my father and her meet? What will do to her already fragile heart? Also does she still have memories of us? She was taken away when she was a few months old so she probably doesn’t even know about our existence…
A hand touched my shoulder and I quickly flinched to see it was Aiba-san. He looked at me full of worry and asked. “Daijoubu ka? Is there something wrong?” I forced a small smile and slipped his hand off of my shoulder. “I’m fine. Just thinking about things. I should be getting home anyways.” I said and turned to head towards the stairs when suddenly Aiba-san grabbed my arm. “It’s really late. You should stay here for the night.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded and skeptical if it was really okay for me to stay over. It would be okay if I was a guy or a relative but I was a total stranger in the house, even to my sister whom I don’t even know if she knows of my existence. “I…” I opened my mouth to speak when Aiba-san’s father closed Mariko’s door behind him. “Mariko fell asleep.” He said while made a sad face. Then Aiba-san turned to his father. “Otosan, you don’t mind if Asuka-chan sleeps over?” His father looked up and noticed that Aiba-san was still gripping onto my arm. With a sigh, he nodded his head. “She can take your otouto’s bed.” Then he looked once more at Mariko’s door before he walked away.
I pursed my lips tightly and suddenly fell uncomfortable. Sleep in their house? I would rather get picked on from the stockholders than to stay in a stranger’s house. “Thanks but no thanks. I can drive to…” Before I finished my sentence, Aiba-san moved me with his hands on my shoulders so we were standing face-to-face. He looked into my eyes as he said. “It’s already 2 in the morning. I’m not letting you drive for two-hours. You can either sleep here for the night or I’ll drive you back.” I blinked at him. Why he is acting this way to me? Why can’t he just let me do what I want? I let out a sigh and decided to give up on arguing. I had a feeling that I was going to lose in the end anyways.
“Fine.” I said and Aiba-san smiled cheerfully. He began to walk down towards another door and opened it. “You can take this room. It used to be my otouto’s before he got married.” He said. I walked to it to see memorabilia and posters of cars and female idols. I grinned and stepped inside. “I’ll grab some pajamas for you and the washroom is right next door.” He said before he dashed out of the room. I sat down on the bed and started to scan the room. It wasn’t exactly a big bedroom but not a small one either. It was a good size for a boy to dream, mature into a man and make memories.
A few minutes later, Aiba-san came in with a pile of clothes in his hands. He then placed them on the bed beside where I was sitting. “I found some of my okaasan’s clothes. You look like almost her size. I also included a toothbrush as well. If you need anything else then my room is down the hall on the left.” When he finished speaking, we coincidently made eye contact. I looked into his eyes to see them glinting at me. I swallowed and hastily picked up the clothes. “Arigato.” I whispered and then got up to scurry into the bathroom.
I quickly shut the door behind me and had my back leaned against the door. My heart kept beating faster. Why’s wrong with you Asuka? He just gave you some clothes and looked at you! Why does your heart have to beat like that! He’s just someone you know. You shouldn’t feel anything for him! I let out a sigh and started to get dress for a long night.
~*~
I climbed down the stairs cautiously as I didn’t want to wake anyone up with my steps. It was still early in the morning but I wanted to drink some water before I try to settle into bed. My throat had been parched ever since I spoke to Mariko in front of her door. I made my way through the house and tried to figure out my way as I walked when I noticed a dimly lit room nearby. I approached closer to the light to see Aiba-san drinking a can of beer in what looks like their kitchen. I stopped in my tracks as I thought about approaching him. I was desperate for a drink of water but at the same time, I noticed a different look in his eyes. It was something that I haven't seen before. It was a combination of relief, sadness and also hurt. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint where his feelings were as I saw his face but I could tell that he was thinking about Mariko.
I decided that I would try to tolerate my dry throat. I took a step back when I made a sound. I had accidently bumped into something that was on the floor. I bit my lower lip and winched my eyes. Baka! Baka! Now you can’t make an easy escape from here on out. “Asuka-chan?” Aiba-san asked as he tried to find me in the darkness. I pursed my lips. With no other choice, I stepped into the light to reveal myself to him. “Asuka-chan, how come you’re down here?” He asked. I forced a small smile and covered my neck with my hand. “My throat is dry from talking today. Can I get a glass of water?”
Aiba-san quickly nodded his head and scurried to get a cup of water for me. After pouring some water from a water pitcher, he handed me the glass of water. Then I noticed his hands were slightly shaking. I started to wonder why he was so nervous but then I realized at what I was wearing. Aiba-san had given me to wear his mother’s clothes. It must have made him remember his mother wearing these clothes. I took the glass of water from my hands and gulped it down. My throat suddenly felt refreshed and moist. Now I was ready to go to sleep. I looked over at Aiba-san standing solemnly, as he was lost in his own thoughts. ...Or time for more talking.
“Aren’t you curious about my relationship with Mariko-chan? Don’t you have any questions as to why I know Mariko-chan is my imouto?” I asked and then leaned my lower back against the kitchen counter. Aiba-san looked up and gave me a small smile before he lowered his head back down. He never gave a reply. I furrowed my eyebrows and thought that he wanted someone questions answered. Well I gave him a chance and he passed it. Well, if he isn’t going to give me an answer then I’m going to continue to talk. “I’m not going to steal her away from you if that’s what you’re thinking.” I said and looked at him with darting eyes. Aiba-san made a few nods and then sipped on his beer can.
I was right, definitely tonight was going to be a very long night for me indeed.
Mariko sat quietly as she listened to all her father’s concerns and advice. Her father began to scold her for locking herself up for months and at the same time, told her that he was relieved to see her. I lowered my head and was keeping a distance from them. I figured that it would be best if I gave them some room to sort out their family problems. “Mariko-chan, let’s get a haircut tomorrow. Then we can go visit okaasan. We should let her know why we haven’t been there to see her for a few months.” Aiba-san said. I wanted to say something too but I felt like this wasn’t exactly the best situation where I could simply spill out the beans to her. So I decided to save it for another day. I was still happy that I got to see her and that’s all I wanted. Then I began to think about my father. I didn’t want him to know that I found her. I was afraid of what he was going to do now. I was determined to keep her a secret so she can stay out of the clutches of my father.
I walked out of her bedroom and leaned my back against the wall. I started to become worried about Mariko. Now that she finally opened herself back to the world, what will happen if my father and her meet? What will do to her already fragile heart? Also does she still have memories of us? She was taken away when she was a few months old so she probably doesn’t even know about our existence…
A hand touched my shoulder and I quickly flinched to see it was Aiba-san. He looked at me full of worry and asked. “Daijoubu ka? Is there something wrong?” I forced a small smile and slipped his hand off of my shoulder. “I’m fine. Just thinking about things. I should be getting home anyways.” I said and turned to head towards the stairs when suddenly Aiba-san grabbed my arm. “It’s really late. You should stay here for the night.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded and skeptical if it was really okay for me to stay over. It would be okay if I was a guy or a relative but I was a total stranger in the house, even to my sister whom I don’t even know if she knows of my existence. “I…” I opened my mouth to speak when Aiba-san’s father closed Mariko’s door behind him. “Mariko fell asleep.” He said while made a sad face. Then Aiba-san turned to his father. “Otosan, you don’t mind if Asuka-chan sleeps over?” His father looked up and noticed that Aiba-san was still gripping onto my arm. With a sigh, he nodded his head. “She can take your otouto’s bed.” Then he looked once more at Mariko’s door before he walked away.
I pursed my lips tightly and suddenly fell uncomfortable. Sleep in their house? I would rather get picked on from the stockholders than to stay in a stranger’s house. “Thanks but no thanks. I can drive to…” Before I finished my sentence, Aiba-san moved me with his hands on my shoulders so we were standing face-to-face. He looked into my eyes as he said. “It’s already 2 in the morning. I’m not letting you drive for two-hours. You can either sleep here for the night or I’ll drive you back.” I blinked at him. Why he is acting this way to me? Why can’t he just let me do what I want? I let out a sigh and decided to give up on arguing. I had a feeling that I was going to lose in the end anyways.
“Fine.” I said and Aiba-san smiled cheerfully. He began to walk down towards another door and opened it. “You can take this room. It used to be my otouto’s before he got married.” He said. I walked to it to see memorabilia and posters of cars and female idols. I grinned and stepped inside. “I’ll grab some pajamas for you and the washroom is right next door.” He said before he dashed out of the room. I sat down on the bed and started to scan the room. It wasn’t exactly a big bedroom but not a small one either. It was a good size for a boy to dream, mature into a man and make memories.
A few minutes later, Aiba-san came in with a pile of clothes in his hands. He then placed them on the bed beside where I was sitting. “I found some of my okaasan’s clothes. You look like almost her size. I also included a toothbrush as well. If you need anything else then my room is down the hall on the left.” When he finished speaking, we coincidently made eye contact. I looked into his eyes to see them glinting at me. I swallowed and hastily picked up the clothes. “Arigato.” I whispered and then got up to scurry into the bathroom.
I quickly shut the door behind me and had my back leaned against the door. My heart kept beating faster. Why’s wrong with you Asuka? He just gave you some clothes and looked at you! Why does your heart have to beat like that! He’s just someone you know. You shouldn’t feel anything for him! I let out a sigh and started to get dress for a long night.
~*~
I climbed down the stairs cautiously as I didn’t want to wake anyone up with my steps. It was still early in the morning but I wanted to drink some water before I try to settle into bed. My throat had been parched ever since I spoke to Mariko in front of her door. I made my way through the house and tried to figure out my way as I walked when I noticed a dimly lit room nearby. I approached closer to the light to see Aiba-san drinking a can of beer in what looks like their kitchen. I stopped in my tracks as I thought about approaching him. I was desperate for a drink of water but at the same time, I noticed a different look in his eyes. It was something that I haven't seen before. It was a combination of relief, sadness and also hurt. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint where his feelings were as I saw his face but I could tell that he was thinking about Mariko.
I decided that I would try to tolerate my dry throat. I took a step back when I made a sound. I had accidently bumped into something that was on the floor. I bit my lower lip and winched my eyes. Baka! Baka! Now you can’t make an easy escape from here on out. “Asuka-chan?” Aiba-san asked as he tried to find me in the darkness. I pursed my lips. With no other choice, I stepped into the light to reveal myself to him. “Asuka-chan, how come you’re down here?” He asked. I forced a small smile and covered my neck with my hand. “My throat is dry from talking today. Can I get a glass of water?”
Aiba-san quickly nodded his head and scurried to get a cup of water for me. After pouring some water from a water pitcher, he handed me the glass of water. Then I noticed his hands were slightly shaking. I started to wonder why he was so nervous but then I realized at what I was wearing. Aiba-san had given me to wear his mother’s clothes. It must have made him remember his mother wearing these clothes. I took the glass of water from my hands and gulped it down. My throat suddenly felt refreshed and moist. Now I was ready to go to sleep. I looked over at Aiba-san standing solemnly, as he was lost in his own thoughts. ...Or time for more talking.
“Aren’t you curious about my relationship with Mariko-chan? Don’t you have any questions as to why I know Mariko-chan is my imouto?” I asked and then leaned my lower back against the kitchen counter. Aiba-san looked up and gave me a small smile before he lowered his head back down. He never gave a reply. I furrowed my eyebrows and thought that he wanted someone questions answered. Well I gave him a chance and he passed it. Well, if he isn’t going to give me an answer then I’m going to continue to talk. “I’m not going to steal her away from you if that’s what you’re thinking.” I said and looked at him with darting eyes. Aiba-san made a few nods and then sipped on his beer can.
I was right, definitely tonight was going to be a very long night for me indeed.