Tiring thoughts filled the room, making the air heavy:
"Is this really the right thing to do?" Sayuri murmured, hugging her pillow. "I feel like I'm giving false hope to someone so kind…"
She closed her eyes for a moment, sighing:
"This isn't what my heart wants…"
The clock seemed to be mocking her.
3 p.m…
4 p.m…
5 p.m…
And she was still there, sitting, trapped inside her own mind:
"Should I call and cancel…?" she thought. "But if I do that, I'll hurt him… Better get up and get ready…"
At Kenji's house, the atmosphere was completely different:
"Wow, my son smells so good…" his mother commented, watching him with an amused smile. "Are you going to rehearsal today?"
Kenji adjusted his shirt collar confidently:
"No, Mom… today I have a special date." He smiled slightly, applying more perfume. "Maybe… with your future daughter-in-law."
She let out a light laugh, crossing her arms:
"Future daughter-in-law? I think I've heard that before…"
Kenji laughed.
"This time it's different."
And he truly believed it. Humming, he grabbed his car keys:
"I have to go. I still need to buy flowers."
"Be careful… and enjoy yourself."
In front of Sayuri's house, his heart was beating faster:
"I like her, right?" he wondered. "Or is it just pride…"
He stayed in the car for a few minutes reflecting:
"I should go…"
He stepped onto the first stair and rang the bell:
"Good evening, Kenji. Come in, Sayuri will be down soon," her mother said as she opened the door.
He walked in and sat on the sofa, carefully holding the flowers. Her father approached:
"So… what are your intentions?"
Kenji swallowed hard:
"The best ones, sir. I care a lot about Sayuri… and I respect her too."
The man simply removed his glasses and started cleaning them in silence.
The tension was inevitable, but before Kenji could say anything else, Sayuri appeared:
"Kenji…"
And he lost his breath:
"Wow…" he murmured. "You look beautiful."
She smiled shyly. The delicate green dress shaped her soft figure, and the sneakers with a black jacket gave a special touch… she looked simple, but perfect. She took the flowers and handed them to her mother:
"Please put them in a vase."
"Don't be late," her father said seriously. "I don't want you out at night with this boy."
"Dear…" her mother interrupted, "she knows how to take care of herself."
"I trust my daughter…" he said, standing up and leaving the room.
"I'll bring her back early and promise to take good care of her," Kenji assured.
On the way to the restaurant, Sayuri was nervous, and amid all her thoughts… Jun still took up too much space.
She felt guilty, as if she were doing something wrong, as if she were betraying something that didn't even exist:
"We're here."
Kenji got out and opened the door for her:
"Wow… what a beautiful place…"
A seafood restaurant, softly lit, filled with flowers—almost like a garden:
"I knew you'd like it."
He gently held her arm:
"Table for two?" the waiter asked.
"Yes, I have a reservation."
They were led to their table. He pulled out her chair for her; he was so attentive… everything was perfect, too perfect.
He ordered wine, and Sayuri ended up drinking one more glass than she should have, and for a few minutes, she managed to relax. After dinner, Kenji took her to a nearby amusement park.
A charming little place, but Sayuri felt uncomfortable with how close he was getting. His advances were becoming more and more intense:
"Look… a Ferris wheel," he said excitedly. "Let's go?"
"Let's…"
Up there, the world felt distant. The snow-covered mountains in the background created a romantic atmosphere.
Kenji moved closer and hugged her.
"What are you doing…?" she asked, surprised.
"I wanted to hold you and never let you go."
Her heart raced. He touched her face.
"Sayuri…"
He leaned in slowly, confidently.
But before their lips could meet… she lowered her head:
"Sorry… I can't…"
"Just one kiss…" he insisted.
"I can't… if I do this… I'll never forgive myself."
He frowned:
"Forgive yourself…? For what? For Jun?"
"Kenji…"
"You don't see it? I want you more than he does," he said, his voice more intense. "I try so hard for you… and still… you only think about him."
"Sorry… I can't control my heart…"
His expression changed. It looked more possessive.
"I didn't want to tell you this…" he said, hesitating for a moment, "but he likes someone else."
He moved closer to her.
"And I think about you. I want you for myself."
Sayuri felt a chill. That… didn't sound romantic. But the only thing she heard was: "He likes someone else…"
The next second, he laughed.
"Sorry… it's just that I really like you… and I want something serious."
He sighed.
"And it hurts to see you suffering for someone who is probably with someone else right now, having fun."
That hit her hard.
"I don't want to hear it…"
"But it's the truth. You need to see it… Jun likes someone else. He just doesn't have the courage to tell you, maybe because he likes the attention you give him…"
A lie. But a well-placed one.
"I don't want to talk about Jun… please."
"Okay… sorry."
He smiled, pointing downward.
"Let's go play ring toss? I want to win you a plush toy."
But after that conversation, nothing felt the same anymore. Sayuri couldn't enjoy herself anymore.
In front of her house, Kenji moved closer again. But this time… differently.
"Can I…?" he said, touching her face again.
She didn't hesitate. That lie was still echoing: "He likes someone else…"
She closed her eyes, hurt by that revelation, and let Kenji kiss her, in a desperate attempt to forget Jun.