Forbidden

"Do you hate me, Yuito?" she asked, her voice cracked at the end, unable to coherently finish the sentence as if using 'hate' and 'Yuito' in the same sentence was something she never imagined doing.

'What the hell is going on!?'

"H-Huh?! What are you talking about?" I said, surprised and confused.

Her arms tightened around me just a tiny bit and her body shook. "Tell me." she said, "Do you really hate me that much?"

Then she cried.

I didn't know why she was crying but it crushed my heart. I cursed whatever made her cry like this.

Sumire didn't cry often. She had always stayed strong infront of me, like a mother should to her child.

So whatever was bothering her, I knew it was serious and it was not just because I was hurt.

I hugged her back - something I should've done way before - and I felt her tense body loosening up with my touch. As if handing over complete control to me.

She trusted me and so her body trusted me.

I didn't speak as I bent down and put my arms under her knees. I scooped her up from the ground and carried her like a princess.

She did not resist even a tiny bit. Her body was obedient to my every move, as if scared of disappointing me.

I walked inside the house, closing the door with my legs. I slowly went to the living room and head towards the largest couch.

My footsteps were the only sound in the empty house. My footfalls echoed as Sumire did not let out a single sound. But I could feel wet patches forming on my chest meaning she was crying.

Silently.

Then I sat down on the couch and also sat Sumire's surprisingly light body on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her, making sure that she knew that she was in my embrace.

Her body was so soft that it felt like her bones were made of cushion.

She still buried her face on my chest. She would not look up. Whether she was scared, embarrassed or unwilling to do so was a mystery to me.

I soothe her, "I don't hate you."

She shivered and gasped in a huge breath when I said that.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't know why you are like this but I don't hate you at all.." I said, "..mom."

The word mother felt foreign coming out of my mouth because it has been some time since I called her that.

And because I didn't see her that way anymore.

"You are just saying that because I am crying." she said, still refusing to look a me. "You were always kind like that."

It was not true at all. People crying saddens me, I admit but seeing you cry hurts me.

There was a big difference.

"I know you hate me because I have been avoiding you." She said, "I know you hate me because I have been pushing you away."

I paused and let her words sink in. I wanted to know exactly why she was like this. I wanted to find out the root of the problem.

"How do you jump to that conclusion?" I rubbed her shoulder and whispered in her ears, "I may have been a little upset but hate you? Never."

I waited and caught a long and lazy breath, "You are the person I love the most after all." I confessed.

And it was true.

What Marin and I had was something precious and I would cherish it forever. But if I was forced to choose then the answer would always be Sumire.

She, who had loved me from day one. The girl who brought me in this world. The one who was always there for me.

She trembled in my arms and she looked up at me. Wide teary purple eyes stared at me in shock and I couldn't help guilt from swallowing me.

'Why are you so shocked?'

'Have I not shown you how much you mean to me through my actions?'

"No." She said, as if something was stopping her from believing that she was loved that much by someone.

"I love you." I told her again. Whatever you have experienced in the past to not believe me, I will take it away.

"Don't say that."

"I love-" I was about to say it again but then I felt her lips smashing on mine, sucessfully stopping my words.

She sucked on my lips as if trying to suck the words out of my mouth.

She pulled back with a shocked jolt. Her face paled and she looked horrified with what she had done.

"No. I-" I stopped her again with a kiss of my own. I tasted her plump lips which looked so tender that I couldn't help nibbling on it.

She tasted sweet.

And forbidden.

'I love it.'

I pulled away and she leaned forward as far as she could to not be separated. But after I did, she regained her sense and began breathing heavily.

Her cheeks were red and her eyes were hazy and dreamy. She looked out of breath and out of her sense.

"I love you too." She finally said and I couldn't help but smile at the confession.

Operation : MMM was also a success. What's up with today? Why am I so lucky? I got two beautiful birds with one stone.

What date was today again? Whatever it was, it is my favourite day from now on.

"I know its wrong..." she said and her voice was low.

So low it was only whispering.

"But I don't want to lie anymore."

She then pulled away from my embrace and straighten her back to seem confident and determined.

Her eyes became firm and soft at the same time. Like love.

Her face was pretty and she seemed to glow when she said......

Actually.

I didn't know what she said.

Because I just kissed her.

And never heard it.

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