Blushing
Heavy footfalls sounded as Ichika raced down the stairs.
She came to a stop and saw a man still dressed in casual wear helping the kids to carry in the items.
“Aunt Ichika, we’re having a fashion show today. Are you going to watch us?” Right away, a perceptive
Vivian noticed Ichika spying at them, still in her pajamas.
Ichika was stunned speechless and didn’t utter a response.
Before she could hide, the man in the garden had heard Vivian and glanced toward them.
“You’re awake. Breakfast is ready in the kitchen. Freshen up and have some.”
“What?” With a head still muddled with sleep, Ichika’s eyes widened comically like saucers.
He made me breakfast?
Oh, my goodness!
My husband actually made me breakfast.
That simple gesture had instantly mended her broken heart from the night before, and her face lit up
with joy, her eyes sparkling like the stars in the night sky.
“Okay, Darling,” she answered meekly before turning to skip away.
A girl like her was pure and innocent. She was easily hurt, but conversely, it was easy to cajole her, too.
It was like giving candy to a kid. With a few coaxing words, she would be right as rain in no time.
That day, Ichika had been particularly active on WhatsApp.
She had been taking pictures and sending them to the group chat, giving tips on how to strut on the
catwalk to the girls, and taking selfies with everyone.
Sasha chortled as she scrolled through the messages. “Ichika finally sent some pictures. It was strange
that she had been on radio silence these two days.”
Not far away, a man who was sprawled on a chair reading a book observed her quietly.
He couldn’t be bothered to remind her because he was of the same mind as Sasha. As long as Ichika
didn’t harbor ill intentions, all was good with him.
He would turn a blind eye to anything else.
Everyone’s lives returned to normal, and Ichika in Avenport got closer with Solomon under the same
roof.
One morning, after Solomon had finished his breakfast made by Ichika, she stopped by his side
abruptly with bright, hopeful eyes and blurted, “Darling… my mom said she is coming to visit me. Is that
okay?”
Solomon’s hands stilled while he was cleaning up the table.
“When is she coming?”
“These two days, if you’re okay with it.” Ichika sounded hesitant, afraid that he would disapprove.
As per the customs in Jetroina, if one wanted to visit a son-in-law’s home, his permission was needed,
no matter if the mother-in-law was an elder. Unexpected guests were considered impolite.
Solomon was conflicted.
After all, he was so used to living alone that it took him close to two months to habituate himself living
with Ichika.
And now my mother-in-law is showing up…
“Okay, I’ll book the tickets for her.” In the end, he chose to be a filial son-in-law and arranged for the
trip.
Ichika almost burst with joy.
“Thank you so much, Darling! You’re the best!” Impulsively, she took a few steps forward and rose on
her tiptoe before pressing a kiss on his cheek.
For a moment, deep silence hung in the air, and every sound was suddenly stilled. All that was left was
the two people who stood there. One of them picked up a frantic heartbeat while the other was
motionless.
It was as if they were frozen.
Oh, no, is he mad? Was I too reckless?
Bright red splotches appeared on Ichika’s cheeks. As reality started to creep in, her thoughts were in
disarray, and remorse plagued her.
“Darling, I-I…”
“All right, you should go tidy up the room for your mother. I’ll be heading off to work now,” Solomon
interrupted.
Then, he took a handful of dishes and cutleries to the kitchen before grabbing his keys and driving off.
Ichika was silent the entire time.
What does he mean by that?
He didn’t seem to have much of a reaction. Does this mean he’s angry?
Her thoughts started to run amok, and she felt bad after Solomon left with unnatural calmness.
Does his impassivity toward my kiss mean he doesn’t have feelings for me? A little temper tantrum
would have been fine by me, too.
Puzzled, her brows knitted together.
What Ichika didn’t know was the man who had just left had done so with quickened steps. He was
usually a calm and steady person, but all he wanted to do at that moment was to flee.
In Frontier Bay, Wendy found out from Vivian’s loose lips that Ichika’s mother was paying a visit.
Startled by the news, she failed to keep the information to herself. In the end, the Hayeses found out
about it, too.
Sasha texted: Her mom is coming? Should we go back?
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