I stepped even closer to Haruna, my voice dropping to a whisper so low it was almost lost between us. The air between us felt electric, charged with years of unspoken pain and longing.
"So how can you guarantee that you won’t push me away like before?" My fingers hovered near her cheek, not quite touching, but close enough that she could feel the heat of my skin.
Haruna’s breath hitched, her chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven gasps. Her hands trembled violently at her sides, her fingers twisting into the fabric of her dress until her knuckles turned white.
"I won’t," she swore, her voice trembling with desperation. She lifted her gaze to mine, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"I swear it, Jack. I’ll never push you away again." Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard, her throat working against the sobs threatening to escape. "And if I ever do something to hurt you..." She took a shuddering breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "You can beat me. Scold me. Punish me however you want. I’ll take it all. I’ll endure anything, as long as you stay with me."
My hand finally moved, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face with a tenderness that belied the storm of emotions inside me. "Haruna..." I murmured, my voice soft but laced with a sadness that wasn’t entirely an act.
"You’ve already hurt me more than anyone ever has." My fingers lingered near her temple, my thumb tracing the path of a tear as it slid down her cheek.
She flinched as if I’d struck her, her entire body trembling. "I know," she whispered, her voice raw and broken. "I know, and I hate myself for it." Her hands reached up, gripping the front of my shirt as if she were afraid I’d disappear if she let go. "But I’ll spend every day of my life making it up to you. Just... please, Jack. Give me one more chance. I’ll do anything."
The room felt heavier, the weight of our shared history pressing down on us. Before I could respond, Yuko’s voice cut through the tension, warm but laced with amusement. "
Congratulations, Haruna." She stepped forward, her arms crossed over her chest, a small smile playing on her lips. "You finally told the truth. Do you have any idea how much work it took for Hannah and me to get you to this point?"
Haruna’s head snapped toward Yuko, her eyes wide with shock. "Sister..." she breathed, her voice trembling. "Aren’t you angry?" Her grip on my shirt loosened slightly, her fingers trembling as she searched Yuko’s face for any sign of betrayal or resentment.
Yuko let out a soft, knowing chuckle, shaking her head. "Why would I be angry?" She unfolded her arms, stepping closer to Haruna, her expression softening.
"Haruna, you’ve been so blind, so wrapped up in your own pain that you couldn’t see what was right in front of you." She glanced at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of affection and exasperation. "Jack planned everything. Every single moment was calculated to make you realize what you truly wanted."
Haruna’s confusion deepened, her brows furrowing as she looked between Yuko and me. "But... the café..." she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "I saw you two together. I saw you kiss her!" Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails biting into her palms.
Yuko’s smile faded slightly, her expression turning serious. "That’s just it, Haruna. You didn’t see what you thought you saw." She sighed, reaching out to place a gentle hand on Haruna��s shoulder.
"Hannah pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend, the scene where you saw me with him—it was all staged. He never kissed me. He never even touched me. It was all an illusion, Haruna. A performance to make you face your own feelings."
Haruna’s mouth fell open, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. "So... all of you were in on it?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of betrayal and dawning realization. "You all lied to me?" Her eyes flickered with hurt, her body swaying slightly as if she might collapse.
Yuko’s grip on Haruna’s shoulder tightened slightly, her voice firm but gentle. "We didn’t lie, Haruna. We showed you the truth in the only way you’d believe it." She paused, her gaze softening.
"Hannah went through all of this for you. She let you believe she was betrayed, all because she knew it was the only way you’d finally admit how you feel about Jack."
Haruna’s eyes welled up with fresh tears, her voice breaking. "Hannah..." she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "She did all that... for me?"
Yuko nodded, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "She did. Because she loves you, Haruna. More than you realize." She glanced at me, her voice taking on a teasing edge.
"And as for Jack..." She smirked, her eyes twinkling. "Well, he��s not so bad either. I approve of him being your husband."
Haruna’s face flushed a deep crimson at the word "husband." "Husband?!" she squeaked, her voice cracking in shock. She stumbled back slightly, her hands flying to her cheeks as she stared at me, her mind racing.
"Sister, what are you talking about?!" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, her entire body trembling with a mix of shock and something else—something warmer, something hopeful.
Yuko laughed softly, stepping back to give Haruna space. "You heard me," she said, her voice warm. "If you’re going to marry Jack, then that’s what he’ll be your husband." She winked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And trust me, I’ll make sure he treats you right. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to answer to me."
Haruna’s eyes darted to me, her breath catching in her throat. "Jack..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is this... is this really happening?"
I reached for her hand, my grip firm but gentle, my thumb tracing circles over her knuckles. "If you want it to be," I said, my voice steady and sure. "But no more lies, Haruna. No more running away. If we’re going to do this, it’s for real. No more games, no more excuses."
She nodded frantically, her fingers tightening around mine as if she were afraid I’d slip away. "For real," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "I promise, Jack. No more lies. No more running." Her eyes searched mine, her expression raw and vulnerable. "I love you. I always have. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you."