•MAROON• .RIN ITOSHI.

|Chapter Twenty|

And I chose you
The one I was dancin' with
In New York, no shoes
Looked up at the sky and it was

.|†|.

"Mistress?"

He breathe out shakier curling his fingers with mine. The kind of strange hollowness in his eyes, screaming some pain. He gulped, putting his chin on my head.

"This place, this house— my mother's memories live in here and then the mistress walked in."

I felt his veins popping out of his arms, as they coiled around me. I rubbed his arm, with my palm to ease his pain. "Rin..?"

"Yes, doll?" He hummed, his vibration, ran across my body. My back on his chest, while he's holding me closer.

He tilted his chin, to look at my face. "If you don't want to hear, I may stop." I let out a low chuckle, "I want to, Rin. If somehow, I can understand you more, I'll be happy."

He exhaled running his hand on my thigh, as I brought them closer to my chest. "God! I adore you, so much, sweetheart." He tilted my face, planting as kiss on my forehead.

"You really want to hear me?" I nodded. "When you can design the entire library just for me, this is the least I can do." He smiles, "How you know that?" I shook my shoulders, pursing my lips, "Not everyone knows about my sickness to the color red."

He visibly rolled his eyes, and the crimson blush, scattered across his face. "You're smart, doll." I chuckled.

"So, what happened to your mother?"

He let out a tight breathe, "My father brought the mistress, in the house. Mom was furious. The fights, the cryings, the drama, but nothing stopped dad for going with the woman. Mom gave up on him after a lot of worthless tries. She decided to live for us, my brother and me. But that bitch, wanted something more. She wanted us to throw out of dad's life entirely. One night, something happened, and it was horrific. I was very young, but I have the vivid visuals of that night. I remember dad pulling out the gun, and he pointed it at us. The next thing was, the bullet, flying out of the gun canal. It was definitely not going slow, but I was able to see it clearly nearing us. I was froze. I closed my eyes shut, holding my brother's arm, ready to  get hit by it, but nothing happened. All I heard a loud crashing sound, and when I opened my eyes, I saw mom, on the floor."

My eyes widen, staring at his face. His face was so calm, but his voice was hoarse. The way he was forcing himself, I wasn't able to see him. Filled with remorse. Red roots rising in the corner of his eyes, but instead of hiding them, he looked at me, blankly staring.

"The bullet went straight into her neck. She breathed heavily, before shifting her eyes from me to my brother. Her eyes wide open, looking straight at us, as if she's telling, not to end up like her. She stayed like that, motionless. I don't even know, was I hallucinating or did she really smiled at me.... closing her eyes...."

"...I just stood there, blankly staring at her. Not moving an inch, like a coward. Sae pulled me closer to him, taking me back in the room, but my eyes stuck on my mom. A tear dropped from the corner of her eyes, gliding down her nose."

I put my arms, around his shoulder. The way he's speaking, without blinking, emotionlessly. It's scaring me. "He actually aimed for me, but my mother came in between." He lets out a shakier breath, continuing. "The mistress wasn't bad, actually. She uses to put her marks on places no one can notice."

Those marks on his back.

"She separated me and my brother. So, it was most me with her. Sae was sent to London, and I was wondering why I was kept behind. I heard that woman saying, that my face reminds her of my mother... That much she hated my mom."

"11 years.i lived lifelessly. I know, many people would judge me, over my cold behavior, but i had no one, to talk, to share my thoughts, to cry. It was all inside me, and I created myself so tough, that I felt nothing for anyone. It was my 18th birthday, on that day, I bought a gun, for killing myself..."

I gasped clutching over his shoulder.

"...but Maria eventually stopped me, that's when I realized it's not me who should die. I don't deserve to die, it's her and I shot two bullets inside the woman's chest, without even giving her any chance."

He exhaled sharply, "She had a lover, I framed him into the murder. My father. When Sae came back from London, the world was already changed here. At the age of 20 I was the youngest CEO of the one of the most successful company."

His eyes drilling in the wall to the front. "He confronted me. But unlike anyone, Sae never left me to myself. He wanted me to go with him but, I denied, I wasn't going to leave you behind, right?" He looked at me, the emotions coming back to his eyes. He just stared at me. His eyes  filled with tears, but not a single drop, slide down his face. "Rin? Snap out of it, please, love" I shook him, holding his shoulders.

He blinked his eyes, closing them tight. The train of tears flowing down his cheeks. He wasn't holding himself anymore, he surrendered to me, laying his head on my shoulder. I hugged him tightly. His face dug in my neck, holding me clumsily. His hands, are so cold against my skin, he is trembling, shaking in my arms, falling apart. My arms wrapped around him. Gently running my palm down his back and shoulder.

His hands, holding me closer to him, as if he'll break any moment if I left him. He's shaking, his pain is shaking his entire existence. His voice his hoarse, as he's trying to hold his breath.

I lifted his face to look up at me. His blue orbs, tinted with red veins. The way my entire body is shaking, like an earthquake felt inside me. My heart felt ripping out of me. My all hatred was already gone, and now regret started swarming inside. How much I hated him for his reasons.

I realized. Rin and I have been living the same lives, in just two different routes. I chose to accept my destiny, and he chose to change it. We both were two different sides of the same coin. The wave of emotions hitting the shore of my heart, was making me feel more unconditionally weak.

But I can't afford to give up my love and concern, when Rin needs it the most. I can't afford to lose myself, over my delusional interior aftermaths.

"Shh... it's alright, honey. Everything is over. Come back, now love. Come back. You aren't suppose to stay like this longer....but you may also take your time. I'll be always here, for you. Waiting for you. Please, come back to the reality, Rin. Come back to me."

I cooed, holding him closer. His head on my shoulder, his hands around my waist, pulling me closer to his tall stature, while he is sitting, whereas, I am kneeling, to reach his height.

At this moment I realized. We were meant to be together. From the very start. I was made him and he is made for me.

I kissed his temples, now and then patting his head. "Calm down, love. Please calm down. I can't see you suffering anymore. Stop torturing yourself..."

He sniffed, quietly, lifting his head, from my shoulder. I swiped my fingers, across his face, and eyes, wiping his tears. I took his face in my palms.

He smiled weakly, wiping his tears.

"Let's get married, Rin."

The visible surprise in his eyes, as he shot them up to me. I nodded, kissing his forehead. "Yes, love I want to marry you. Let's just stop running alone now, I want to stay with you. Live with you. Love you. I can't wait anymore."

I put my forehead against his. "Remember, you said, we are good people and we suffered a lot. Let's end this suffering and live."

I smiled, at him. Not a word left his mouth. Just staring at me, completely shocked. "Really?" I smiled. "Yes, really." I parted to see his face. He pulled me closer to him, putting his lips in mine and broke the kiss, speaking, "Look for the best bridal house. I can't wait to marry you."
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JW.