Tanabata 愛 << It's time to make a move>>
Chapter 3
Unfortunately, the interest towards the rumour were bigger than Sho expected. Marriage between two tycoons families surely made a good headline. Nino came to fetch them since Satoshi might be followed. Surprisingly, no respond frome his parents to either deny or confirm it made Sho suspicious of the source of this story. Especially, the dinner where the photos were taken was a private meeting and he was sure no one was able to spy on them. Nino sent him to his grandparents’ house where Satoshi had waited for him. Masaki dropped by to greet them. He pulled Sho into Sho's room and passed him, his birthday gift. “Happy Birthday Sho-chan. May God bless you with all the happiness in this world. I’m sorry we can’t celebrate it as we always did. Take care.” Masaki turned to leave. He won’t be able to hold his tear if he stayed even a second longer but Sho’s grip was too strong for him to resist. His tears fell as soon as the other hugged him. “Masaki!” Sho pat his back to calm him but it made him cried harder. “I’m scared Sho-chan, I’m scared of losing you” Masaki continued to cry. This is the first time Sho seen him this broken in their 15 years relationship and it broke Sho’s heart to million pieces. “You won’t Masaki, no one can do that to us. We are married, and no one can break us apart.” "We are married in Hawaii but we are not here, Sho-chan." Sho tried the hardest to control his tears and calm his love, he needs to be strong to protect his love. Masaki left the room after he was calmed and stop crying. “Don’t worry Masaki, we are on your side.” Masaki hugged Sho’s grandfather. If his grandfather was around, he will be there to comfort him. “Thank you, Jii-chan”. Sho left with Satoshi before Masaki left with Nino. “Your parents wanted me to bring you back to the main house. Seems like they prepared a surprise celebration for your birthday. It’s a family affair but with a special guest.” Satoshi passed him an envelope. They are photos of his father’s secretary meeting the magazine’s editor. Sho’s suspicions was right. The photo source was indeed from an insider. It must be the work of his parents to trap him into marriage without breaking their promise to him. “If they think this will make me surrender to their plan they are perfectly wrong.” Sho said. “They are a lot of reporters waiting in front of the main house and your personal apartment. If you go back to your parent’s house now, it will only confirm the rumours especially with that family were there as a special guest and I believed that is what your parents hoping for” Satoshi explained. “Do you have another plan Satoshi? I’m sure my parent had sent someone to my apartment to makes sure I came home” Sho asked. He was fuming with anger with his parents’ plot but he will do his best to protect his love. “Protect what you need to protect if you think it is right and it will bring you the happiness of your life.” His grandmother’s words before he left the house just now came to his mind. “They already did” Satoshi signalled him to look at the back. There was a car waiting in front of his apartment. Both Sho and Satoshi were welcome by reporters at the lobby, asking if the rumours are true, but he couldn’t answer when he heard someone shout his name. He was surprised to see his kouhais and senpais are waiting for him in the lobby. “Finally! We had been waiting to celebrate your birthday with you.” Sho look at Satoshi who wink at him. This is the best way to overturn the event. There is no way his parents can force him to go back to his main house when his friends are there in front of the reporters and they will be confirming the rumours if his family came with their special guest. Sho really wanted to see his parents surprised reactions for their failed surprised.
News of him celebrating his birthday with his high school friends at his penthouse made a new headline. He was praised for his humbleness and sincerity in friendship without looking at their status. It seemed some reporter managed to catch some of his friends for an interview. Sho was happy but also curious of his parent’s next step. He was also sure his parents won’t stop their plot and he guessed it right. His mother insisted on having dinner with him but once he reached the private room only the girl was there waiting for him. “Where is my mum?” No answer. Sho received a message from his mother asking them to have fun together. Sho didn’t wait any longer and called Satoshi to pick him up. The girl tried to stop him by pulling his arm and made him almost bump into someone. “Sorry!” Sho froze at that voice. He turned to look at the one he almost bumped into, but he was gone. He looked at the girl “It’s better for you to leave now if you don’t want to shame yourself. For your information, I will never be trap in my parent’s plot” She had no choice but to leave when she realized some eyes were on them. Sho went back to the restaurant looking for the owner of the voice. He was sure it was Masaki. He remembered the other had informed him of his meeting with Jun and a new investor for their new branch of their French restaurant.
Masaki threw water on his face and let the tap running. His heart clenched when he saw his love with that girl when Sho told him he will be meeting with his mum for dinner. The other had never lied to him and yet tonight he did. “I’ve never lied to you Masaki, it was not what you think?” Masaki looked at Sho through the mirror. He indeed his husband since the other manage to find him and knew what he was thinking just by looking at his face. He wants to answer but stop when someone entered the toilet. “I don’t think we should be talking here. Sorry! I still have discussion to continue.” Masaki passed by him and walk back to his table where Jun and another man were talking. “Drive me to the main house.” Satoshi didn’t ask much and drove to their destination.
“What is the meaning of this father, mother? You had promised that I have the right to choose my own life partner” He tried to be calm and not to be rude to his parents. “Yes, we promised but that doesn’t mean that I will agree to your choice.” His father threw photos of him and Masaki at their grandparents’ house. “I’ve always known that you are different, but I thought you will change once you realized your positions in this family. Just because your grandparents back you up, it doesn’t mean that I will accept it. I will never allow you to pull down Sakurai reputation with your flings.” So, his parents yet to know the truth about his relationship with Masaki. “Is the reputation so important to you that you willing to let me sacrifice my life and be the father of the child of an unknown man?” He can’t hold his anger any longer. “I will do whatever I need to keep the reputation of Sakurai family and the kid is a bonus to cover your sickness. You can keep him as your bitch if you want, but I will never except him into this family” “Father!” Sho shouted, he can’t bear to hear his father insulting his love. “So, my love to a guy is a sickness for you? What could I expect of someone who only loves status and wealth. You are sick father.” He slammed the doors and left the house. He stopped when his brother called. He hugged his brother. “I’m sorry nii-chan for taking too long to learn. I know you’ve been patience and waiting for me to take over. I’m ready now nii-chan” “Shu” “Nii-chan, you’ve had done enough for the family. It’s time for you to run for your happiness” “Don’t you feel disgusted with me?” Sho asked. “disgusted? Just because you love a man. You are the best brother that I could asked for and you have your own right to find your own happiness.” He hugged his brother again. “Thank you, Shu and please take a good care of the family.”he said and left. “Satoshi! It’s time for us to make a move.” Sho said once he sat on his passenger's seat. Satoshi nodded. It may be harder, but he knows his best friend will soon be happier.
Masaki was grinning when he saw the other shoes at his genkan. He felt guilty when he realized he has misunderstood the other after Satoshi told him the truth “He need you Masaki” Satoshi said before they hang up the call. Sho never changed and never lied to him. “Tadaima!” Masaki shouted. “Okaeri!” his lover hugged him. He turned to face him and claimed his lips. “I’m sorry” Sho smiled happily seeing the other smiling again. He knew Satoshi must had informed the other about the dinner. No matter what his father thinks, this is his happiness that he needs to protect. His sunshine that brightens his life, “I love you, baby” “I love you too Sho-chan”
Masaki looked at his husband sleeping soundly next to him. It felt like a dream to see him there. It was the first time the other came to his house as his husband and slept in his bed. Even after they were married 6 years ago. The other was always cautious of his moves. At time he felt sad because they can't love freely like others but he knew the other did it to protect him and their love. He felt guilty for doubting him when the other loves him more than his own life. He can feel his love in his every kiss and every move. Masaki traced the other's back with his finger and laughed when the other started to react. He loves to see him pouting in his sleep. Sho is not a morning person but he needs to wake the other up since both have to work. "It's time to wake up Sho-chan" Masaki tried to shake him, "Five minutes Masaki, give me five minute" Sho said hiding his face under the pillow. "Sho-chan, you will be late if you don't wake up now." Instead of waking up, he pulled Masaki to his arm. "Sho-chan!" Masaki tried to free himself but Sho stopped him. "Just stay like this for a while." Sho playing with his hair, Masaki felt sudden pinch when he thought of all this may be taken away from him and he can't leave without him. He tried to blink away his tears. He knows he was being selfish, but he wanted to feel this every day, wake up by his side cuddling to him every night instead of only during their own tanabata period. Sho moved on top of his love, he know the other tried to hold back his tears. "Why are you crying baby?" Masaki shook his head and not looking at him. "Nothing, I'm just being emotional". Sho didn't believed him "Masaki!", “Don’t leave” Masaki replied but still avoiding to look into the other eyes. Sho turned Masaki face forced him to look at him “Masaki!” His heart clenched when he saw the other glistening eyes. “I don’t want you to leave Sho-chan. I know I’m being selfish, but I want to spend every moment with you. I don’t want to be separated from you.” Masaki can’t hold his tears anymore. Sho lied to his side and pulled him into his arms. He felt guilty for making the other suffering and crying. “I know you did everything for us but when I see you in my bed, I realized this is what I want. I don’t want to be Hikoboshi, I want to be Masaki that belong to his Sho not Orihime” Sho wiped the other tears with his thumb. For the first time Masaki voiced his sadness and Sho knew it must be too hard for the other to hold it longer. “I want it too Masaki and trust me this will end soon.” Masaki wiped his own tears and moved a bit, so he can look at his husband face. “What do you mean Sho-chan.” Sho explained to him about how his parents found out about them and his parents plot which included last night incident. Masaki was surprised although Satoshi had told him last night was a trick by Sho’s parents, he never imagined the latter seriously wanted to break them apart.
“But I don’t want you to leave your family because of me.”
“Masaki! We are married so you are my family. I didn’t leave them but just stay away from them. We have different views in life and I can’t sacrifice our happiness just to fulfil their hunger for status and power.”
“What about the company? They need you too Sho-chan”
“Shu will be there to take over my position. He is capable to do it now. He is the one who asked me to run for my happiness and you are the biggest happiness in my life.”
“But Sho-cha...” Sho put his finger on the other lips.
“Things may be noisy, and it may cause you trouble but please trust me and believe in me Masaki. I will end our misery. The time for us to love freely like others will soon turn into reality” Sho kissed both of his hands, wipe Masaki's tears which started to fall again with his thumb. He promised to himself not to let the other cried for him again.
Satoshi passed him a big envelope once he entered the car. “this will be published in two days in the same weekly magazine. They planned to create more rumours and slowly turned it into reality.” Sho look at the photos of his childhood friend came out from gynaecologist. From the angle where the photo was taken, it looks like a perfect paparazzi photo and no one will be able to guess that it was made up. The article will be about the possibility of the girl pregnant with Sho’s child and their marriage. The said magazine belongs to one of his father’s schoolmate and he was indebted to him, so it won’t be surprising if that friend decided to return the favour and he will use the same method with different channels to stop them. “they did plan it well. What about ours?” Sho asked. “Don’t worry Sho, I believed Nishiki got the best shots of you and Masaki.” Sho nodded his head. He never thought what his grandfather scared of was becoming into reality. He always thought, when Shu capable to lead the company, he will confront his parents and will be able to persuade them to accept Masaki. He realized how naïve he was to think that way. “He may be my son, but at times I felt that I’ve lost him, and I don’t to lost you too.” That is what his grandfather told him after he introduced Masaki to them. “When things become noisier and harder, make sure you bring Masaki to my grandparents house. He will be at ease there,”