Chapter 71: Quiet Desperation ( 71 )

Chapter 71: Quiet Desperation ( 71 ) Several days later. The sun had barely risen, its golden rays spilling gently into the kitchen. Kyouko sat alone at the dining table, a quiet cup of tea steaming in front of her. The breakfast she prepared, perfect as always, still remained untouched. Satomi had already rushed out with her coffee. Satoshi followed a moment later, face focus in his tablet as usual. Neither of them even glanced at the food. But Kyouko wasn’t surprised. She was used to that. They only really ate when Haruki was home. It was never about the meal. It was about his presence. She stirred her tea slowly, lips pressed in a thin line. But what irritated her wasn’t the wasted breakfast. Not the silence. Not the usual routine of being ignored by two people who claimed to be a family. What made her blood simmer, was the fact that Haruki hadn’t called. Not a text. Not a voice. Not even a message with his usual teasing tone. Kyouko exhaled sharply , crossing her arms under her chest. "Ugh!" she muttered. Her brows furrowed. It’s like he’s trying to make me wait. Trying to make me call first! She picked up her phone. Checked it. Again. Nothing. No missed calls. No messages. Her fingers hovered over the screen. Then stopped. I’m not calling. I’ll wait. If he thinks I’m going to chase him. Kyouko walked through the quiet house. She double checked every window.And make sure the front door is locked. But her chest wasn’t calm. It was tight. She climbed the stairs slowly, and when she reached the landing, she stopped in front of Haruki’s door. She stared at it for a moment, then looked down at the phone in her hand. Still no call. Her brows twitched. Her lips tightened. "...Ugh!" She turned around, pacing once, twice. "Stupid boy... acting like I’m the clingy one," she muttered under her breath, cheeks a little flushed. Her thumb hovered over his name. And then , she tapped. The call screen lit up. The dial tone echoed. And she held her breath. Kyouko stood in front of her bedroom door, glaring down at her phone as the call rang. Haruki’s room was directly across the hall. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for him to answer. Then... A muffled ringtone. Kyouko blinked. She froze. The sound was faint coming from Haruki bedroom. "...Huh?" She ended the call. Silence returned. Just to be sure, she tapped his name again. The dial tone resumed. There it was again. The ringtone. From inside Haruki’s room. Her expression shifted from irritation to confusion. Slowly, cautiously, she stepped forward. Her hand reached for the doorknob, twisting it open gently. The door creaked. She peeked inside. And then her eyes landed on it. His phone. Sitting quietly on the nightstand beside the bed. Still lit up. Still ringing. She ended the call, exhaled deeply, and narrowed her eyes. "Ugh! Why didn’t you bring your phone?!" Kyouko crossed her arms, staring at the device like it had personally betrayed her. Her lips curved into a pout. She took a step closer, standing beside the bed, glaring down at it. "Stupid Haruki..." she muttered. Her cheeks flushed. She blinked. And suddenly remembered. That morning. Their last round. The couch.ƒгeewёbnovel.com Her skirt still hiked up. His mouth still on hers. His hands still all over her. "Ah—!" Kyouko clutched her head. Her face was bright red now. "Of course he forgot... We were busy... having sex before he left..." She groaned quietly into her hands, then smacked her forehead with her palm. "Stupid Kyouko!!!" She flopped onto his bed, burying her face into his pillow. It still smelled like him. Her frustration melted into longing. Lying on the bed, still staring at his forgotten phone, Kyouko grumbled into the pillow. "I wonder if he even remembers my number..." Silence answered her. She rolled onto her back, arms crossed. "No.He definitely doesn’t remember." She let out a quiet breath. "Baka..." she whispered under her breath. Her eyes wandered toward the ceiling. How was she supposed to contact him now? Get his office number? From where? She sat up, ruffling her hair in frustration. "And where is he even outstationed?" she muttered. Her jaw clenched. She never asked. Not because she didn’t care. But because... She groaned again. "Ugh... because I was too busy letting him enjoying my body." "Stupid. So stupid. Now I don’t even know where he is." She looked around his room one more time. The scent. The pillow. The air still heavy with his absence. Then, with a sigh, she stood up and began adjusting the sheets. Neat. Perfect. Like no one had touched it. Once satisfied, she gave the room one last glance and closed the door behind her. Then she headed downstairs, calm on the outside, but still burning inside. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Kyouko’s phone buzzed. "Hmm?" She picked it up casually, glancing at the screen. Her eyes widened. "F-Father...?" she whispered. She answered the call. Before she could even speak, a loud voice boomed from the other end— "KYOUKO!!!!" "A-ah... fa—father!!" she flinched, holding the phone slightly away from her ear. "Why didn’t you call me?!" "Ah... umm... sorry..." she stammered, trying to collect herself. "I... I was busy..." "Busy with what?!" the voice barked again. Kyouko gulped, eyes darting to the side. "I-I was... cooking... cleaning... things... around the house..." A long, heavy pause. "You always say that! Every time!" Kyouko exhaled slowly, gripping the phone tighter. You have no idea what I was really busy with, father... she thought bitterly. "I’m sorry..." she said again, voice much quieter. "How long has it been since you came back to your hometown?!" Her father’s voice thundered through the phone. "Did you forget already, city girl?!" Kyouko winced, holding the phone away from her ear for a moment. "Ah... Mom..." she tried to soften her tone. "Don’t ’Ah Mom’ me!" her mother snapped from the other end. "Before, you used to call every week! Every week! Now we’re lucky if we hear from you once a season!" Kyouko looked down at the floor, rubbing her temple. She couldn’t exactly say I’ve been busy being ravished by my son-in-law. "Umm... I’ve just... been busy with things. House things." "Busy? Busy?!" her mother echoed. "You always say busy! What’s got you so busy you can’t call your own mother and father?!" Kyouko exhaled slowly, resigned. "I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to—" "Where’s Satoshi? Let me speak to him! Your father wants a word." "He’s at work." A pause. Then, an explosion. "WORK AGAIN?! That man is always working! Even machines take a break!!" Kyouko just stood there, holding the phone, letting the wave crash over her. ( End Of Chapter )