Chapter 18

A lot has happened after that day... Dad forced me and Kazu for an interview before my flight. He really announced our engagement to the media, in return, he showed me proof that he kept his promise.

His mother is now a manager in a hotel earning six digits a month. Luna and Mana are now in grade school, studying in a private school and him... I flip the page of a magazine, there's an article about him as the rising designer of his generation at his age 22 he designed clothes for the famous actors and actresses in Japan,

My tears fell on that page. He chased his dreams and he got them, the cost of it is me, hurting him but it's okay... it's fine for me, as long as I see him strive higher. He deserves all of that.

My plane landed. I stepped outside and saw Kazu waiting for me with flowers in his hand. His bodyguards took my luggage. He instructed them to place my luggage at my place, they took a bow and walked away.

"Hey! Welcome back." Kazu welcomed me with a hug.

"I expected more than just a bouquet," I said, teasing him.

"Well, this was last minute, I totally forgot that you're coming home."

"You just party all night and sleep all day. You haven't changed Kazu." I said, laughing.

"I know," He chuckled. "Five years eh?" he started to walk.

"Yeah, time flies," I replied and walked by his side.

"Are you ready for the storm?"

I sigh and put on my glasses. "Bring it on."

Kazu and I became close after I moved to the states, He came with me for a year and a half as my roommate, at first we fight like a married couple but as time goes by, we both began to know each other and became good friends. Turns out, what I said to him five years ago was true, He just wants a genuine relationship.

"Your welcome party will start at 6:00 pm. What's your plan?" Kazu asked after we settled our seats in his car.

"Wanna ditch?"

"Yeah! That's my girl." He chuckled. "I know a bar but aren't you tired?"

"I'll be more tired if I see my family's faces. what a bunch of assholes. I can't believe I wasted my youth to them."

"Nah, you just want to be accepted. Not your fault." He said, glancing at me, then he smiled.

We stop at a local restaurant, this is where I eat when I was in high school. I miss this place! The smell and the design are still the same.

"What are you going to do? Your father is in a hurry for our wedding because his health is deteriorating." He said. My head stops from looking around and faces him.

"Stall. wait for him to die then I will break our engagement."

"Sinister."

"I will never forgive them for what they did." I spin the straw on my iced tea. "How about you, did you find someone?"

"Nah, Once they know my family name, they become a different person."

Kazutora

She holds my hand and brushes it with her thumb. I stare at them. "Don't worry, You'll find someone and if you do, Treasure her. don't make the same mistakes I've made."

"Yeah," I paused. "yeah." I watch her remove her hand. I look at her and she drinks her iced tea.

"Oh, do you have news about Toman?"

"I was informed that they disbanded."

"What?"

"Their leader, Manjiro... right? I heard that he got heartbroken or something like that, then he disbanded his gang before high school graduation and focused on his study so he could find the girl... I think? I believe that he owns a bar now."

"Wow. Never thought that Mikey will go crazy for a girl." She paused to think. "Do you know the bar's name? Let's go there!"

"There's a high chance that you'll see your ex there, even though he disbanded his gang the captains and vice-captains are still close." She froze for a while. She stopped drinking her iced tea but the straw is still on her lips. She spaced out quickly.

"Oi!" I said, snapping my finger in front of her. She snaps out from thinking and puts the drinks down.

"Right, Maybe next time." She fake a smile.

y/n

I got excited to see Toman that I have forgotten that I abandon them. Up to this day, I have this regrets and what-ifs in me. What if I fight for Takashi? But it will destroy his future. I know dad will do anything to ruin him.

Enough y/n! You did what you have to do so he won't suffer. Just move on with your life and face the next months of hell.

After we eat, Kazu drives us to a small bar. it's better this way because in luxury bars people that dad and my brothers know might spot us.

"Tequila pls!" I said to the bartender.

"Wow, start strong, end wasted." He said as he drank his whiskey.

"That's why you're here, my dear friend," I said as I tapped his shoulders.

"Ah yeah, I'll drag you by your feet if you sleep in this bar counter."

"Mean as always, Kazu." She chuckled. The bartender hands me my order.

"Cheers to our twisted family fuckers!" I said as I raised the shot glass and before Kazu raised his, I drank the tequila. A warm liquid traces my throat and it's soothing, I felt the feeling of comfort in just a single shot, If I could just drown myself in alcohol so I could be numb I'll do it, every day the pain is just getting worse to the point that I don't want to feel anything anymore, If it wasn't for Kazu I might jump off the building to end this.

I put some salt on the back of my hand and lick it then I put lemon on my mouth. One shot became two, three, four... now I don't know how many.

"y/n let's go. You're drunk-drunk."

"No, I'm not. I can still recognize you Kazuya."

"Oh boy, Here we go again." He said.

"I see you rolling your eyes at me."

"No, I'm not. let's go!" He helps me stand up, his hand is around my waist, I lean my side to his body.

"God, you're heavy."

"Shut up, Kazuma." I try to walk straight but my vision is not straight. "I don't want to go home, my place is... the silence..."

"Don't worry, I'll watch over you, you big baby!"

"Thank you, Kazehaya! Your future wife will be lucky."

"That will be you." He said and we stopped walking. I snapped my head at him and he just stared at me. I stared back because I'm competitive as fuck.

"Oh! yeah, We're engaged. silly me I thought that you're starting to like me." I chuckled.

"Yeah." I heard him reply in a weak tone.

"y/n?" We both snap our heads to the front. it's Mikey!

"Mikey!" I said and stand straight. I wobble and Kazu's reflexes try to catch me but I stand straight again, I step my foot forward and cross it to my other foot to balance myself.

"I don't know that you're in Japan."

"I just arrived today." I smiled at him. "How-How are you? The Toman? Why are you here?" I aggressively bow in front of him. Fuck! I'm acting stupid right now! "I'm sorry for leaving Toman without a word."

"It's a long time, y/n. it's fine. Toman is fine we're still friends and this is my bar."

I stand straight and snap my head back to Kazu, my gaze is asking him What the fuck? he just shrugged his shoulder. I look back at Mikey and he's looking at Kazu.

"Oh, this is Kazu, my..."

"Fiancé" He added and extended his hands.

"Yeah," I mumbled in a sad face. Mikey's staring at me as he accepts Kazu's hand.

"I see... I'm Mikey. Nice to meet you."

"We have to go, I'll be back here! Nice to meet you again, Mikey." I pull Kazu's arm and walk past Mikey.

"You too, y/n. Take care!"

"You too." I look back and wave at him.

After we stepped out of the bar, I let go of Kazu's arm. "What the hell! I thought that we were friends. why did you bring me here?"

"I know that you got excited to see your old gang then got sad after so I thought that if I bring you here, you'll be happy."

My eyes soften and mess his hair. "You!" I chuckle. "But thank you, talking to Mikey makes me feel happy, knowing that they are not angry."

Kazu smiled and started to tap his pockets. "What?" I asked.

"Shoot! My phone! wait here." He said and I nodded. He quickly ran back inside. "Don't sleep on the ground y/n!" He shouted.

"I am not drunk!" I shouted back and chuckled. I took my phone from my bag, there are fifty missed calls from dad's secretary.

"Fuck you," I mumbled. I scroll my feed to check if there's any news at the welcome party.

Moments later, I hear a faint sound? I look around me. Wait? is there a ghost? are ghosts exist?

I heard rustling it made me flinch. I walk where the sound is coming from, I even open the flashlight of my phone to see a good sight because it's dark in this parking area.

"Hnnggg~ ahhh~" The sound is getting louder and behind the car, I pointed my phone, there, I saw two people making out, The girl is leaning at the car and the guy's hands are inside her skirt.

"What the fuck!" The girl said and pulled her top down.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I thought the sound I heard was from a ghost. I'm sorry. It's fine, in states they're doing that everywhere I'm used to it. it's no big deal, please continue." I said in a panic.

The guy is not looking back. maybe he's embarrassed. I was about to turn my flashlight off when I noticed his hair... it's a silver-lilac colored hair but it's long.

He then slowly faces me. the spirit of liquor instantly yeeted its way out of me. I almost got a heart attack after I saw his face and the phone I was holding fell to the floor.

Tears are starting to build up. Our eyes met under the moonlight and I can tell, those lavender eyes are not the same as before, It's empty. 

(credits to the amazing artist: @/nappru  on twitter)

"Holy fuck." I mumbled.