Showdown - Chap 52

Zaire sighed as he approached his house. He needed to get more clothes if he was going to stay longer at Hinako's place.

As he opened the door and stepped inside, he collided with Hana who was standing at the door, removing her shoes. "Ah! Z-Zaire, you scared me." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading for the kitchen. This was the first time they had seen each other in two weeks, and before that, it had only been an hour of time together before she had left. She was never home these days.

She hummed to herself as she opened the fridge and began to rummage inside. She could sense that Zaire had followed her into the room.

Zaire had followed her to the kitchen, just watching her. She seemed unphased in his presence. Did she not notice what this constant separation was doing to him? "H-Hana...?" He squeaked a bit as he spoke up.

"What?" She asked as she came out of the fridge with a half-eaten sandwich in her mouth.

"We...need to talk..." He frowned.

"We do?" She blinked, swallowing her bite.

Zaire nodded. "Yes...We do..."

"About what?"

Zaire frowned as his eyes turned blue. "Us..."

"I don't understand..." She breathed.

Zaire looked at her. "You're never home...I feel like you're abandoning me..."

"Well... I have a job." She stated.

"And so do I..." Zaire nodded. "But I've never put it before us. The only reason why I'm working so much is because you started working so much."

She sighed. "What do you want me to do, Zaire? Quit my job? They need me. I'm good." She stated.

"Same with me..." Zaire nodded. "However...I need you more..." He frowned.

She sighed. "I can... try to cut back on my hours, I guess..."

"I...would appreciate that...Do you even realize that I haven't been home for a whole week?" Zaire asked her.

"No. I had no idea... where you been?"

“I've been staying with my sister...I can't be in the house alone, Hana...It's too painful." Zaire shook his head.

She frowned. "I... had no idea..."

"My mother has noticed my pain and has asked for me not to come back to work until I worked out my personal problems..." Zaire breathed.

She blinked. "You're... not working?"

“No..." He frowned.

"I.. had no idea..." She sighed and moved to wrap her arms around Zaire. "I'm sorry... it's all my fault..."

Zaire hesitantly wrapped his arms around her as he nuzzled into her neck. He was having a hard time holding back his tears. "I...I hurt so much..." He whispered.

She closed her eyes. "Zaire... I'm sorry... I... I had no idea..." She pulled back to kiss him hard.

Zaire kissed her back as he lost his hand in her hair, tangling his fingers. He couldn't bear to lose her. Not ever.

Slowly she broke the kiss and smiled weakly. "I have to go... but when I come back... I'll take a week off... I promise..."

Zaire frowned slightly but nodded. "Okay...I'm...going to stay with Hinako then..."

She nodded. "I love you, Zaire... I really do..." She breathed.

"And I love you too, Hana..." He kissed her temple.

She smiled weakly as she moved to grab her bag. "I promise... a week we'll have when I come back." She said before leaving the house.

Zaire waved after her. Once she was gone, he sighed and frowned. "Only a week...?"