Love Blooms; Trouble Nears

Still taken aback by what's happening, Rairi stood quiet there. Her eyes about to tear up, her heart beating really fast. She looked at Shizuno and smiled.

"I like you too." She said with tears in her eyes.

Shizuno almost jumped up and down upon hearing this. He finally found the girl he's been thinking of for ten years. And to think that they feel the same way about each other.

It really was a work of fate. It almost feels like a dream. A magical and enchanted one.

"REALLY!!?? IM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT!!!"

Shizuno exclaimed with happiness, completely forgetting about the fact that they were in a library.

"Ssshhhh!!" The librarian hushed him with scary looking eyes.

"Oops.." he said while smiling shyly.

"Well, are you on your way home soon? Do you want me to take you home? I can walk with you."

"Yeah. I just have to grab some books for the lessons tomorrow." Rairi continued on browsing the shelves.

"For tomorrow? Why's that? Why do you have to study in advance?" Shizuno asked with his face full of curiosity.

"Well... It's just my parents-"

Rairi was about to say something but she stopped. As if remembering a rule where she's not supposed to talk about these things.

"It's nothing. I just like reading." She said and then smiled to remove Shizuno's doubt about her answer.

"Hmmm. Okay then! If you say so!" Shizuno said with a smile on his face.

His personality really is something.. He is still as cheerful as I remember from ten years ago.. it's like he never changed at all. I envy him.

Rairi was lost in her thoughts. She kept on thinking about that. She had doubts if she should tell Shizuno or not. After all, they're a couple now.

Shouldn't they be honest with each other?

"I'm done. I guess we can go home now." She said, trying to change the topic.

"Sure! Let's head home!"

As they were walking, they started talking about different things. Stuff that they like, their past experiences, and their future dreams.

Shizuno noticed that Rairi didn't say much about herself. She just listened to Shizuno most of the time. And she only answered questions when asked, but never really talked about herself voluntarily.

He then wondered if she was keeping something from him. Maybe something she didn't want him to know.

But it was too early to doubt. They just started dating after all. He thought that maybe she's still getting used to it. So he just let it pass.

Before they noticed it, the sky was already starting to get darker.

"Hey- it's okay here. Uhm.. I can go home by myself from here. Thanks for walking me back."

Shizuno stoped on her feet as if trying to avoid being seen by someone.

"Are you sure? It's getting dark and it might be dangerous out alone. It would be better for me to bring you straight home."

Shizuno insisted, feeling worried about her.

"No no. It's fine really. Thank you."

"Okay then. If you say so. Well, take care then. See you tomorrow!"

Shizuno waved goodbye and headed home. Rairi waited for a while and made sure he was already gone before finally heading home.

After a few more steps, she finally arrived home. She opened the door and what welcomed her was a cold stare from her dad.

"D-dad.. I'm home." she said in a quiet voice.

"Where have you been? It's late. You know you should be home at exactly 6:30pm."

Her father's voice was deep. His tone was strict and scary. He seemed like a man you wouldn't want to mess with. He's tall and has a muscular build. He's wearing glasses and a suit. As if he just came home from work.

"I dropped by the library to get some books so I can study in advance for our lessons. I'm sorry.."

Rairi apologized but she sounded scared.

"I see. I'll let that pass this time. Go up to your room and get changed. Then come down for dinner. Your mom has finished preparing."

"Okay dad."

She immediately went up to her room and changed. She couldn't stop thinking about what happened that day. It was insane. And totally unexpected.

She felt her cheeks burning and tried to think of something else. But she just keeps on coming back to it and unconsciously smiling.

"Rairi! Come down at once! What's taking you so long!?"

The deep strict voice echoed in the whole house.

Oh crap.. I shouldn't make him mad. I'm gonna be in trouble. I better get going.

"Coming!!"

She rushed downstairs to join her parents for dinner.

It was an ordinary day for them at the house. Not much talking. Not like other households where families talk while eating.

Asking each other about their day. What happened and how they're feeling. As for Rairi's family, they weren't the same. They just sat there quietly, eating as if someone's dead.

After dinner, she washed the dishes and went up to her room to prepare for her bath.

Suddenly her door opened. It was her dad.

He closed the door behind him and locked it. He sat on the bed and called Rairi to his lap.

"You know what to do." He said. His tone a little demanding and scary.

Rairi froze. She knew what was gonna happen. After all, this has been happening for a few years now. And she is well aware of the consequences if she doesn't follow.

Should I tell Shizuno...?