Chapter 4 "Did she find out what I did with her mother last night?"

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of her voice gently calling my name. 

She came to wake me up, and for a moment, it felt like I was still dreaming about the night before. 

I sat up, dazed, trying to gather my thoughts, but the memory of what had happened overwhelmed me.

I made my way to the dining hall where she handed me a cup of coffee. 

The warmth of the cup in my hands contrasted with the cold feeling of shame that had settled in my chest. 

I couldn't process it all—I had no idea how to face her after what happened. I avoided her gaze, my eyes fixed on the table, unable to lift my head. She, on the other hand, was smiling, as if nothing was out of place, which only made it worse for me.

I felt a knot in my stomach as I mumbled my thanks and finished the coffee as quickly as I could. 

My face burned with embarrassment, and the air felt heavy between us. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I excused myself and headed back to my home, my mind still reeling. 

As soon as I closed the door behind me, I exhaled a shaky breath. What had I done?

It did not take long for me to reach my house 

"Oh! Ryo, you're Back," my mom said as she spotted me as she was standing outside of the house.

"you came back at right time i was just about to come and pick you up because your father and I have some urgent work, so we can't leave the house alone."

I nodded quickly, trying to mask my embarrassment. "Yes yes Mom Ill head back to my room i am still kind of sleepy."

I quickly entered the house, rushed to my room, shut the door behind me, and fell onto the bed.

"Fuck… What just happened last night?" I muttered, frustration evident in my voice. My thoughts flashed back to the charged atmosphere, the closeness, the sweet floral scent that still seemed to linger still remembering touch to almost silk like skin.

If only it hadn't been interrupted, he could have done so much more, and his relationship with Miss Aiko might have been different.

It had been a perfect opportunity, or at least, that's how it felt in the moment. The interruption had shattered the mood, leaving me both confused and disappointed.

I tried to shake off the memories, focusing instead on the uncomfortable mixture of embarrassment and regret that filled me. My mind wandered to Miss Aiko's calm and welcoming smile, which had only heightened my nervousness.

I rolled over on my bed, trying to get comfortable, when I heard my phone ring. I slowly picked it up, wondering who it could be.

"Huh, Yumi? Why is she calling?"

My thoughts wandered, "Did she find out what I did with her mother last night?"

I hesitated before answering, my mind racing. "Hello?"

On the other end, Yumi's voice came through with a mix of concern and confusion. "Hey, it's Yumi. Are you alright, Ryo? I just woke up, and Mom told me you left for your home. I wanted to check if everything's okay."

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling some of the tension ease. "Oh, hey Yumi. I'm sorry for not mentioning it earlier. Actually, my parents have some urgent work and will be leaving soon, so I came back home early. Otherwise, I would have loved to stay for another 2-3 days."

Yumi's voice softened. "Oh, okay. So, you'll be alone at home for now? I'll ask Mom to prepare some extra food for you, and I'll bring it over when I come by. We can use that time to catch up on some studying."

"I don't think you sh—" I started to say, but Yumi's words interrupted me.

"No worries, Ryo. I insist. It's no trouble at all," Yumi continued cheerfully. "Besides, we only see each other once a week. With this, at least we can see each other more often, and it'll be nice to spend some time together. I'll make sure to bring enough for both of us."

I wanted to protest further but realized it was pointless. Yumi had made up her mind. "Alright, if you insist. Thanks, Yumi. I really appreciate it."

"Great!" Yumi's tone brightened. "I'll head over in a bit. See you soon!"

With that, she hung up, leaving me to ponder how to manage the rest of my day. I still couldn't shake off the uneasy feelings from the night before, but at least Yumi's visit would offer a distraction.

"Ryo, are you up?" My mom's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

I quickly sat up, running a hand through my hair to make myself look somewhat presentable. "Yeah, I'm up."

The door creaked open slightly as she peeked in. "Come downstairs. Your dad and I need to talk to you about something."

"Something" usually meant serious business. I groaned inwardly but nodded, following her downstairs.

As I reached the living room, my parents were seated together, their expressions calm but focused. I couldn't help but wonder what was coming.

Dad cleared his throat. "We've noticed that you've been spending a lot of time doing things that don't seem to have a clear path. 

Your mom and I believe it's time for you to consider a stable career. You know, something more secure like a government job."

I sat down, my parents' serious expressions making me uneasy. As they started talking about a government job, I felt my thoughts spiral.

A government job? Sure, it's stable and comes with benefits, but honestly, it sounds so uninspiring. Why would I spend all my time studying hard for an exam just to end up earning around $800 to $1,000 a month? To me, that doesn't seem worth it.

I mean, I get it. Stability is important, and they're just trying to look out for me. But my mind kept drifting to other possibilities. There are businesses and ventures I'd rather pursue, things that might be more exciting and potentially rewarding. Why settle for a mundane job when there are other ways to make a living?

Mom's voice cut through my thoughts. "You see, Ryo, a government job provides stability and benefits. It's a respected profession, and it would be a secure future for you. We just want to make sure you're set for life."

I sighed, feeling the pressure of their expectations. "Okay, Mom and Dad, I understand. I'll prepare for the exams and give it a try."

I said this not because I fully agreed, but because it seemed easier than arguing. Plus, if it didn't work out, I could always say the exams were rigged or something. It wasn't like I was committing to it for life. For now, I'd play along and keep my options open.

As soon as the words left my mouth, both of them lit up with instant relief. "Good son," Dad said, nodding approvingly. Mom gave me a warm smile, the tension in the room lifting, if only for a second.

But just as I started to relax, Mom's face became serious again. "Actually, Ryo, we need to leave immediately. Your grandpa had a heart attack, and he's been admitted to the hospital."

I froze, the news hitting me hard. "What? When did this happen?"

"Late last night," Dad answered, already moving towards the door. "We didn't want to wake you, but now we need to get going."

Mom was packing her bag as she spoke. "The doctors say he's stable for now, but we need to be there. We don't know how long we'll be gone."

"Wait, so you're leaving right now?" I asked, feeling a little lost in the sudden rush.

"Yes," Mom said, her voice firm but hurried. "We have to be there as soon as possible. You'll be okay here, right? We'll call and check in with you."

I nodded, though my mind was still racing. "Yeah... I'll be fine."

Dad gave me a quick pat on the shoulder. "Lock the doors, don't do anything reckless, and focus on those exams, alright?"

"Sure," I replied, though my thoughts were far from focused on studying.

Before I knew it, they were out the door, leaving me standing alone in the now eerily quiet house.

Just as I turned around, there was a sudden knock on the door.