Chapter 9- Love Me?

Chapter 9- Love Me?

"Father..." Aya's voice interrupted, trembling with a mix of urgency and vulnerability. "Father... I have fallen in love with Yuuki." At the next moment, she turned towards me, her eyes brimming with hope and uncertainty. "Yuuki, will you marry me? I may not be perfect, but I promise to always be there for you. Please take care of me."

A wave of emotions washed over me, as her words hung in the air. her emotions laid bare before us. The weight of her confession settled upon me, and time seemed to stand still for a moment. “Huh?”

"So, Yuuki. You're marrying Aya, right?" My mother teased, her voice filled with mischievousness. I was caught off guard by her sudden question. "Huh?" I stammered, struggling to gather my thoughts.

Aya's mother intervened, her tone calm and composed. "If Aya doesn't have any objections to marrying Yuuki, and Yuuki doesn't have any reservations, then we can consider it. It all depends on their mutual agreement." Her words held a sense of fairness and respect for our individual choices.

My mother, with a playful smile on her face, joined in. "Now, now, Yuuki. You wouldn't have any objections to marrying Aya, would you?" Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

Caught in the moment, I replied without thinking, "Of course, I don't have a problem." As soon as the words left my lips, I realized the weight they carried. What had I just said? Why did I say that so easily? Panic started to well up inside me as I questioned my own response.

Aya's parents exchanged glances, their faces reflecting a mix of surprise and delight. Aya herself looked at me with a mix of hope and uncertainty. The room fell into a momentary silence as everyone processed my impulsive declaration. The weight of the situation settled upon me, and a sense of sadness and anger enveloped me. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret and anger. "That's what happens when you follow your father's path," she said, her voice mixed with empathy and happiness.

“So, is the engagement confirmed.” Her words echoed through the room. Her question hung in the air, laced with a bittersweet undertone. Her smile, though seemingly sweet, appeared forced, hinting at a hidden turmoil within her.

"Oh, yes! Dear," my mother chimed in, her voice filled with a deep smile that adored her face. It was a response that carried a sense of satisfaction as if she had already anticipated this outcome all along.

"So, is it okay if I take Yuuki with me for dinner?" Aya's voice was soft, her words gently tugging at my attention, like the ties of her bangs. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she leaned closer, her hand lightly gripping my sleeve.

"Yuuki, will you come?" Aya's voice carried a hopeful tone as she extended a warm smile, reaching out to me. But as she drew closer, my inner thoughts started to spin with resistance. I couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped, of needing to escape from this situation. The words echoed in my mind, "To close." I silently pleaded for some distance. "I have to run away. The words reverberated in my mind like a warning, "Yeah sure, why not," I responded, my voice laced with hesitation. The words slipped out reluctantly, driven by a desire to maintain peace and avoid confrontation. What do you plan to do Yuuki now?

Aya's hopeful gaze still lingered on me, her hand still gripping my sleeve, awaiting my response. It was clear that she longed for my agreement. Agreeing with her, will allow me to get out of this situation, and plus there is nowhere in the world, she likes me, she is doing this just to get something, but what?

Summoning every ounce of courage within me, I mustered the strength to speak up, my voice trembling slightly with a blend of sincerity and hesitation. "I... I suppose I can give it a try," I replied, my words carrying a faint undertone of uncertainty. Well, in the end, this is all but an act.

“Okay, then let’s go!!” Aya added in a loud tone, Aya's exuberant voice filled the room, and her determination seemed unwavering. Aya's grip on my arm tightened as she propelled us forward, breaking free from the confines of the room and into the hallway. Closing the Shouji, blocking us from our parents.