Chapter 5: Lay all your love on me

“It’s clear you like me, I’m still a bit shook at how you said it just then but in honesty I’m glad you did” I tell Sara saving her a long and dragged-out confession.                                                  “Wait, do you mean…?!” Sara responds in a shocked state blushing.                                                  “That’s right I like you also, I’ve really enjoyed our time together even if it has been short and I’m not just saying this because of your contract, it is all genuine from my head and my heart”. “Oh Isaac, but what will others say, they know it won’t be right if the daughter of a wealthy family dates a commoner, no offence”. “None taken” I respond.                                                     “Great, like I said I feel safe with you, and I won’t go back to the loneliness I had in my past” Sara exclaims. 

“Then allow me to show you what this world has to offer, I will keep you as far away from the Ito family as long as we’re together, I will take all the pain you’ve suffered till now, you won’t live in fear with me!” I tell her practically confessing as the trees sway in the night and the cherry blossoms glow and fly off the branches. “Of course! You don’t understand how happy this makes me” Sara says not until I catch her off guard with a kiss as she is in my arms in the night to confirm our new relationship. “So did you really want to show me something or was it just an excuse to get away?” I ask as a few blossoms fly into my face with one ending up in my mouth.

“I did wish to show you this tree as my grandmother planted it with me when I was a child, every time I feel angry or feel the need to escape from harsh reality, I come and sit underneath it and let my worries drift away, I wanted to show you because I thought we could make this our spot, my grandmother even named it Sara’s little garden but I would love nothing more than to share it with you, you know for when we have stressful days” Sara says. “It would be lovely to have a little spot just to relax, what a great idea Sara” I respond as I can’t help but admire my lover in the night and just hoping it all works out as we smile and stare into each other’s eyes. “You know you can always tell me when you’re scared or worried, believe me I feel it all the time as I’m around Kyle 24/7” I say still staring into her deep blue eyes. “Hey, I can hear you both you know!” Kyle says through the window which was left open as I spot his head peeking out the window after returning from a piss. “Can a man not piss in private without being insulted” he follows sounding upset. We both begin to laugh apologising in advance as Sara says “I promise you from now on I will come to you first with any worries”, Sara follows up.

“Isaac…. What is your dream?” Sara says staring at the night holding my hand. “Honestly I don’t know yet, it’s changing every minute, but we’ll start with keeping you safe and happy, you said you hardly experienced the world when you were young, well I’ve still got a lot left to experience, how about we do it together, me and you?” I offer to her as she smiles and leans on my shoulder accepting my offer.

27th October 1992 and 5-year-old Sara was with her grandmother on the hill next to the mansion which was owned by her before passing it down to her only son Hozumi, the hill felt lonely and isolated so Sara’s grandmother decides to plant a seed which will blossom soon alongside Sara when she grows up.

“Grandma, can I plant the seed right here?” kid Sara asks. “Oh, I wouldn’t put it there dear, I know what you and your creative mind can do but it won’t reach its full potential there” Grandma says as she digs a hole at the top for Sara to plant the seed. “Why don’t you place it here for everyone to see” she follows with. “Sara dear, I know you don’t like doing lots of stuff with others and there’s nothing wrong with that so why don’t we look after this tree together and we can name this hill Sara’s little garden, sooner or later it’ll grow into a magnificent tree and will make you feel safe from any troubles you may have in life” Sara’s grandmother says.

“Grandma, I don’t want to go to school, it sounds scary” kid Sara says quite sadly as she sits down and puts her arms on her knees as Grandma sits next to her. “Yes, I know you don’t sweetheart, it may seem tricky but you have your family’s support and love, in time you’re going to meet some lovely people who want to help you, you’re going to achieve great things and these special people you meet will follow you towards the end, think of our tree like the circle of life, it will never fully blossom and grow without care, hard work and most importantly, help from others. If you ever feel like you are drifting further and further from what you wish to do, just give the tree a little water and be patient, I’ll speak to your mother and make sure to walk you to school, that way you’ll feel much safer and you can show off that lovely smile of yours” Grandmother says to Sara as she smiles telling her she loves her as they agree to get some lunch together with the family and decide on a good school for Sara with her parents.

4 months went by, and Grandma had fallen ill and peacefully passed free from her pain at the age of 71 leaving the whole family distraught but Sara feeling the worse impact from her death. As she was starting school, Grandma’s promise to walk her has faded completely and all child Sara could do was be nervous over the thought of being around new people which only worsens her anxiety to do new things as her once bright childhood evolving around her grandmother fades into a void of emptiness and sorrow. Back to the present time and Sara is still hugging me tight after after I confessed to her saving her the embarrassment of messing up her words. Sara deep into her thoughts says, ‘I feel at ease right now like a huge weight has been taken from my shoulders, I get it now, a man like Isaac will keep me safe from my problems, Grandma… I wish you could see me now’ returning to her senses. “Well, we should probably make our way back inside, we did leave the table in a disrespectful manner” Sara offers. “Yeah, you did put on quite the performance after all, I did see your mother in the window looking for us, after you” I tell her. Walking down the hill towards a backdoor in the mansion as Isaac asks her; “By the way what room are the fellas in?!”. “The one right next to us actually” Sara says as the two walk past back to the room. “I hope it’s not too chaotic in there”.

Meanwhile, Nathan and Kyle are presented with a mountain of food with soup and a serving of red wine by Yukia wearing a suit to look the part and hopes to receive a good report on it but tells her it’s not her best work as Ena sometimes cooks but it was her turn tonight but Nathan compliments it and asks hopefully she can cook for him personally sometime leaving Yukia as hot as fire cleaning as Kyle tells her it’s lovely with a grotesque face as Yukia closes her eyes telling herself she knew she did a good job but Kyle spits it into a napkin cleaning his tounge quickly not to be rude but he simply cannot digest it as Nathan asks. “Do you not like cooking Ena?” Nathan directs to her. “Cooking’s not really my forte, music is more my passion” as she points to her electric guitar on charge. “Are you in a band?!” Kyle says finally cleaning off the food from Yukia. “I wish, being a lead guitarist or a solo act is the dream for me” she says looking in a bit of disappointment at the guitar until Akari walks in and asks-

“I’m sorry to interrupt boys but did you see where Isaac and Sara went off to? They left the table in a bit of frustration and can’t seem to find where they ran off to” Akari asks. “Unfortunately not Mrs Okamato” Nathan says. “Oh please call me Akari, from your accent I can tell you are English, very charming by the way, we’ve never been blessed with the company of anyone from your land so this fills my heart with joy” Akari says as she directs her attention to the half drank bottle of wine. “I’ve told you silly girls to stop using this certain wine, we have plenty in back” Akari distraughtly says. “Ah well it was Kyle’s recommendation to get on the wine for this occasion” Nathan and Yukia say together pointing in his direction. “You fucking sell-outs!” Kyle screams as Akari laughs caught off guard. “Actually, I’ve got some time seeing as my husband and son are at each other’s throats, may I have a glass? I’d love to know more about you guys and your journey ahead” Akari asks. “Not at all, please take a seat” Nathan offers as she leans one arm over the table genuinely intrigued over the boys’ stories past as Kyle attempts to wow Akari with his nose spoon trick and fails miserably as she takes her first sip of wine.