[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Thirty - Four: Half the Burden
Did you all missed me? :))) I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I was strike by writer's block. Boo me. :( But worry no more, I'm back with a new chapter now. I hope you all didn't forget about this story yet. :)))
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Words: 1,801
Chapter Thirty - Four: Half the Burden
With the recent unexpected turn of events, even the usually adept Sakurai Sho can’t get his thoughts together and worst, it’s only eight in the morning. There are still a lot of things to be done for the rest of the day and his mother’s sudden appearance at his doorstep is definitely not part of it.
Sitting on the plush leather sofa is his mother, still gaping in shock at what she just discovered inside his apartment. It’s not so often you see a Princess shabbily dressed only in your son’s clothes and from the looks of it, seems like she has spent the night over.
Sayumi has sensed the atmosphere right away with the way Sho’s mother was looking at her with judging eyes and uncomfortably excuses herself to go and put on her own clothes from yesterday. Sho stealthily told her to stay inside the room until he says so and she obeyed with a nod before closing his bedroom door.
The shock in his mother’s face is instantly replaced with an accusing look as soon as Sayumi is out of sight.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” She started her rant she’s been dying to say as soon as she saw the Princess but holding herself back to say anything in front of Her Imperial Highness. “Both of you are all over the news and the media are fabricating stories about her running away and eloping with you. Apparently, they say that she didn’t come home yesterday at the palace. Everything has gone insane, you have no idea!” Her voice is full of anxiety and disappointment.
“I never thought you’d bring her in your apartment, Sho. I thought you’re better than that.” She accuses him with disdain and Sho can’t help but feel down that his own mother is thinking so lowly of him. “She’s not just some ordinary girl you met on the streets. She came from a much respected family and I expect you to treat her and the rest of her family members with respect.”
Sho sighed as he placed both his hands on his waist, momentarily closing his eyes to calm himself down to avoid erupting in rage before his mother.
His parents have high expectations on their children, especially with him being the first born son. They raised him to be all moral and dignified, hoping that someday he’s going to be just like them- respected and admired on their respected fields. Growing up, he thought that he should be one and there’s no other choice. But as he gets to explore the world outside the wall his parents have created around him, he realized that there’s so much more life has to offer. Little by little, he tried it out, not minding the meddling eyes and premature judgments of the people around him.
And that what makes the person that he is today - unrestrained, successful and contented. He was glad he have found that another world, he might still be stuck inside those walls obeying everything his parents ask him to do if it wasn’t for that.
“She’s my girlfriend, what’s wrong with bringing her to my house?” Sho reasoned out coldly, dropping an impassive stare at her.
His mother’s eyes widen in horror. “Look at the words coming out of your mouth!” She stood up and pounds her knuckles into his chest. “She may be your girlfriend but she’s still the Princess of this country! Are you not even thinking about what can happen with your impulsive decisions?!” Her voice rose up in exasperation.
“You’re going against the Imperial family! Against the Emperor! Do even know what that means, Sho?”
Sho can’t help but answer back in the same tone. “Do you think I want all of this to happen?!” He shouted, louder for everyone outside his door to hear. “I wanted to protect her from everything! From the media, from the fans and most especially from her grandfather!” The veins on his neck are popping out as he yelled and his face is red with anger.
“The only way I can keep her safe is to be by my side. It pains me every time I think about her leaving my sight because I fear that I might not see her again, that they might take her away from me.” His voice got softer thinking about that possibility.
“You have no idea what we’ve been through together.” He returns to her with the same cold eyes he gave her earlier. “You don’t have the right to lecture me on this. I allowed you to call the shots all my life and now I will never let you teach me on how to handle my relationship with Sayumi.” He added with full annoyance on his voice it looks like he’s not talking to his own mother.
The look on his mother’s face is a mixture of shock, disappointment and sadness. The trembling of her eyelids suggest that tears are about to come out of her eyes.
“Sho…” Sayumi’s calm and soothing voice echoes from behind as she stood from the bedroom door, dressed in her own clothes and her hair neatly tied up in a ponytail.
For a brief moment, she exchanged an assuring look with his mother.
“This is between me and my mother, Yumi.” Sho replied softly. “Go inside and wait for me.”
“But Sho-” She stepped forward but he cuts her off even before she makes her second step.
“I said go inside.” He repeated firmly, almost yelling while he stared coldly that it scares her.
Sayumi obeyed half-heartedly as she went back inside the bedroom, taking another look at the mother and son before she gently closes the door behind.
His mother walks back to the sofa to get her handbag before she returns to him.
“Maybe I don’t have the right meddle into your own business. Afterall, you’re an adult now, you’re thirty years old and you don’t need your mother anymore because you have a life of your own now.” She forced a smile. “But one day, you’ll realize why I’m doing this, why we’re being hard on you and why we are so strict with you. Maybe one day, when you have your own children, you’ll understand. By then, I hope you regret this day that you talked down on me.”
His mother stormed out of his house like a silent breeze and he realized he was alone in the living room when he heard the door shuts close.
A soft and comforting hand touch his shoulder and he before he know it he is wrapped into a consoling hug in Sayumi’s arms.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” She said softly, running her hand on the back of his head.
He shakes his head. “My mother is different from yours and my parents are different from your parents, Yumi.”
“But she’s still your mother. I saw the pain in her eyes when you yelled at her.”
Sho breaks away from the hug and cradles Sayumi’s face on his hand. “Thirty years’ worth of suppressed anger and frustration… It’s even just a small part of it. I still got lots of grievance inside me that I wanted to convey. Maybe if she came with my father I’d gone all out.” He tried to smile but Sayumi can only see the grief on his face.
“I’m sorry if I scare you earlier. I didn’t mean to raise my voice on you.” He apologizes recalling the change on her face when he suddenly yelled at her to go back inside.
She shakes her head in reassurance that she understand.
“Our parents may have raised us differently. Yours might be extra strict while mine are supportive and understanding but amidst that different they only want one thing for us.” Sayumi said meaningfully while taking a good look on the reaction on his face. “They only want the best for us because they love us.”
Sho shakes his head vehemently. “They only want me and my siblings to be the best so they can boast to everyone how great their children are. They didn’t want it out of love.”
Sayumi curled eyebrows. “That’s not true. What kind of parents are they if they don’t love their own children?”
He slowly runs his fingers on her smooth cheek. “You don’t know my parents, Yumi.” He said quietly before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I’m going to be late for my schedule. I’m taking a bath.” He quickly strides off to the bathroom, indicating that their conversation about his parents has come to a close and he wishes for her to never bring it up again.
“Sho…” Yumi called from behind and Sho stops his tracks while clenching his fist. “At some point in your life you know that you’re going to deal with this still, you know.”
“Maybe… but not today, Yumi.” He answered firmly. He sighed after seeing her raised her eyebrows in disappointment. “What do you want me to do?” He asked impatiently as he walks back to her.
“You never told me about them.”
“Because there’s nothing worth knowing about them.” He answered exasperatedly. “My family is not all colorful and happy like yours. My siblings maybe but not my parents.”
“I’m not asking for a perfect family from you, Sho.” Sayumi answered meaningfully. “If I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, which I would, definitely...” She steps forward and placed her hand behind his ears. “I would like to know about them because somewhere along the way, they’re bound to be my family too.”
Sayumi lifted his head up until their eyes met each other. “Knowing and meeting your family will never change what I feel about you. I just hope that you let me share half the burden you feel in your heart. Because after all, that what married people do, right?”
A small smile appears on the side of his lips and she was glad that she’s able to put that on his face. “We’re not yet married.” He puts in carefully.
“We will soon be.” She replied beamingly.
Sho softly laughed and quickly pulled her in his arms for warm embrace. “I love you.” He whispered tenderly which sends shiver down her spine and butterflies in her stomach.
“I love you too.” She replied just as affectionate as the smile on his face grew bigger until his ears.
They never let go of each other for few more minutes, spending a little more time alone together in that embrace before they face the world waiting for them and with high hopes that before the day ends, they can be able to put on a conclusion on all the drama outside.
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Words: 1,801
Chapter Thirty - Four: Half the Burden
With the recent unexpected turn of events, even the usually adept Sakurai Sho can’t get his thoughts together and worst, it’s only eight in the morning. There are still a lot of things to be done for the rest of the day and his mother’s sudden appearance at his doorstep is definitely not part of it.
Sitting on the plush leather sofa is his mother, still gaping in shock at what she just discovered inside his apartment. It’s not so often you see a Princess shabbily dressed only in your son’s clothes and from the looks of it, seems like she has spent the night over.
Sayumi has sensed the atmosphere right away with the way Sho’s mother was looking at her with judging eyes and uncomfortably excuses herself to go and put on her own clothes from yesterday. Sho stealthily told her to stay inside the room until he says so and she obeyed with a nod before closing his bedroom door.
The shock in his mother’s face is instantly replaced with an accusing look as soon as Sayumi is out of sight.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” She started her rant she’s been dying to say as soon as she saw the Princess but holding herself back to say anything in front of Her Imperial Highness. “Both of you are all over the news and the media are fabricating stories about her running away and eloping with you. Apparently, they say that she didn’t come home yesterday at the palace. Everything has gone insane, you have no idea!” Her voice is full of anxiety and disappointment.
“I never thought you’d bring her in your apartment, Sho. I thought you’re better than that.” She accuses him with disdain and Sho can’t help but feel down that his own mother is thinking so lowly of him. “She’s not just some ordinary girl you met on the streets. She came from a much respected family and I expect you to treat her and the rest of her family members with respect.”
Sho sighed as he placed both his hands on his waist, momentarily closing his eyes to calm himself down to avoid erupting in rage before his mother.
His parents have high expectations on their children, especially with him being the first born son. They raised him to be all moral and dignified, hoping that someday he’s going to be just like them- respected and admired on their respected fields. Growing up, he thought that he should be one and there’s no other choice. But as he gets to explore the world outside the wall his parents have created around him, he realized that there’s so much more life has to offer. Little by little, he tried it out, not minding the meddling eyes and premature judgments of the people around him.
And that what makes the person that he is today - unrestrained, successful and contented. He was glad he have found that another world, he might still be stuck inside those walls obeying everything his parents ask him to do if it wasn’t for that.
“She’s my girlfriend, what’s wrong with bringing her to my house?” Sho reasoned out coldly, dropping an impassive stare at her.
His mother’s eyes widen in horror. “Look at the words coming out of your mouth!” She stood up and pounds her knuckles into his chest. “She may be your girlfriend but she’s still the Princess of this country! Are you not even thinking about what can happen with your impulsive decisions?!” Her voice rose up in exasperation.
“You’re going against the Imperial family! Against the Emperor! Do even know what that means, Sho?”
Sho can’t help but answer back in the same tone. “Do you think I want all of this to happen?!” He shouted, louder for everyone outside his door to hear. “I wanted to protect her from everything! From the media, from the fans and most especially from her grandfather!” The veins on his neck are popping out as he yelled and his face is red with anger.
“The only way I can keep her safe is to be by my side. It pains me every time I think about her leaving my sight because I fear that I might not see her again, that they might take her away from me.” His voice got softer thinking about that possibility.
“You have no idea what we’ve been through together.” He returns to her with the same cold eyes he gave her earlier. “You don’t have the right to lecture me on this. I allowed you to call the shots all my life and now I will never let you teach me on how to handle my relationship with Sayumi.” He added with full annoyance on his voice it looks like he’s not talking to his own mother.
The look on his mother’s face is a mixture of shock, disappointment and sadness. The trembling of her eyelids suggest that tears are about to come out of her eyes.
“Sho…” Sayumi’s calm and soothing voice echoes from behind as she stood from the bedroom door, dressed in her own clothes and her hair neatly tied up in a ponytail.
For a brief moment, she exchanged an assuring look with his mother.
“This is between me and my mother, Yumi.” Sho replied softly. “Go inside and wait for me.”
“But Sho-” She stepped forward but he cuts her off even before she makes her second step.
“I said go inside.” He repeated firmly, almost yelling while he stared coldly that it scares her.
Sayumi obeyed half-heartedly as she went back inside the bedroom, taking another look at the mother and son before she gently closes the door behind.
His mother walks back to the sofa to get her handbag before she returns to him.
“Maybe I don’t have the right meddle into your own business. Afterall, you’re an adult now, you’re thirty years old and you don’t need your mother anymore because you have a life of your own now.” She forced a smile. “But one day, you’ll realize why I’m doing this, why we’re being hard on you and why we are so strict with you. Maybe one day, when you have your own children, you’ll understand. By then, I hope you regret this day that you talked down on me.”
His mother stormed out of his house like a silent breeze and he realized he was alone in the living room when he heard the door shuts close.
A soft and comforting hand touch his shoulder and he before he know it he is wrapped into a consoling hug in Sayumi’s arms.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” She said softly, running her hand on the back of his head.
He shakes his head. “My mother is different from yours and my parents are different from your parents, Yumi.”
“But she’s still your mother. I saw the pain in her eyes when you yelled at her.”
Sho breaks away from the hug and cradles Sayumi’s face on his hand. “Thirty years’ worth of suppressed anger and frustration… It’s even just a small part of it. I still got lots of grievance inside me that I wanted to convey. Maybe if she came with my father I’d gone all out.” He tried to smile but Sayumi can only see the grief on his face.
“I’m sorry if I scare you earlier. I didn’t mean to raise my voice on you.” He apologizes recalling the change on her face when he suddenly yelled at her to go back inside.
She shakes her head in reassurance that she understand.
“Our parents may have raised us differently. Yours might be extra strict while mine are supportive and understanding but amidst that different they only want one thing for us.” Sayumi said meaningfully while taking a good look on the reaction on his face. “They only want the best for us because they love us.”
Sho shakes his head vehemently. “They only want me and my siblings to be the best so they can boast to everyone how great their children are. They didn’t want it out of love.”
Sayumi curled eyebrows. “That’s not true. What kind of parents are they if they don’t love their own children?”
He slowly runs his fingers on her smooth cheek. “You don’t know my parents, Yumi.” He said quietly before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I’m going to be late for my schedule. I’m taking a bath.” He quickly strides off to the bathroom, indicating that their conversation about his parents has come to a close and he wishes for her to never bring it up again.
“Sho…” Yumi called from behind and Sho stops his tracks while clenching his fist. “At some point in your life you know that you’re going to deal with this still, you know.”
“Maybe… but not today, Yumi.” He answered firmly. He sighed after seeing her raised her eyebrows in disappointment. “What do you want me to do?” He asked impatiently as he walks back to her.
“You never told me about them.”
“Because there’s nothing worth knowing about them.” He answered exasperatedly. “My family is not all colorful and happy like yours. My siblings maybe but not my parents.”
“I’m not asking for a perfect family from you, Sho.” Sayumi answered meaningfully. “If I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, which I would, definitely...” She steps forward and placed her hand behind his ears. “I would like to know about them because somewhere along the way, they’re bound to be my family too.”
Sayumi lifted his head up until their eyes met each other. “Knowing and meeting your family will never change what I feel about you. I just hope that you let me share half the burden you feel in your heart. Because after all, that what married people do, right?”
A small smile appears on the side of his lips and she was glad that she’s able to put that on his face. “We’re not yet married.” He puts in carefully.
“We will soon be.” She replied beamingly.
Sho softly laughed and quickly pulled her in his arms for warm embrace. “I love you.” He whispered tenderly which sends shiver down her spine and butterflies in her stomach.
“I love you too.” She replied just as affectionate as the smile on his face grew bigger until his ears.
They never let go of each other for few more minutes, spending a little more time alone together in that embrace before they face the world waiting for them and with high hopes that before the day ends, they can be able to put on a conclusion on all the drama outside.