Chapter 500: Past Reality

After stopping at that particular crossroad, I moved us to the nearby park where I always come to see her; a different park than the one where we start our race near our middle school.

It was the park where I would always go to chance upon her when I was still trying to steal her. The one near her house.

Well, we couldn’t just stay in the middle of the road, huffing and puffing for breath. Moreover, it was also for us to talk properly.

Once I send her back to her house, it would mean that our time for tonight would be over.

At the moment, we’re sitting on the bench where I always sat when I was waiting for her to show up. With her head leaning onto my shoulder, we’re reminiscing about our past.

And it’s about our past seen through her perspective that was quite colorful than what I could remember.

Despite my claim to not be any better than her ex, Aika found it different. Perhaps it was because of how I dedicated my time for her wherein that guy couldn’t do the same because of baseball.

However, when I asked her to elaborate, she simply told me that it wasn’t about me being with her during the times that she needed companionship. It’s about how I never gave up on her.

According to her, that guy never truly heard her woes. They might have been in a relationship but every time she was with him, their topic would always start with him and his Baseball. And whenever her turn would come up to bring up what happened or the happenings on her side, the guy would have the attitude of ‘in one ear and out the other’ before offering lip service without doing anything else to ease what she’s feeling whenever she felt troubled.

They did have romantic compatibility, otherwise, she wouldn’t be in a relationship with him but Aika found herself longing for more that he couldn’t give.

And that’s when I showed up in front of her.

Back then, I acted as if I was only here at this park purely for jogging and exercising my body. We would often make eye contact because she could always see me sitting on this bench we were sitting at right now.

I never initiated a conversation with her and just did my own routine. I also restricted myself to look at her at that time to not be mistaken for being a stalker.

I was like a regular guy anyone could see in a park.

That’s how patient I was back then. I changed my morning routine for her. But for the first week or two, I never interacted with her.

However, as days passed, we got acquainted with each other’s eyes and we started greeting each other good morning.

Once that happened, I began the next step of ‘unintentionally running into her at school. At first, we both acted surprised and went on our way without greeting each other but the next morning, we began talking about that encounter.

And from there, it just became a downward or perhaps upward spiral in her eyes until I successfully stole her from that guy.

“I really love being this close to you. I really love it when you’re listening to my rants and not saying anything to stop me. And I really love it whenever you’re holding me like this while carefully helping me sort my mind.”

With the sad expression on her face replaced by this longing one wherein she kept on bringing about our past, I held her as closely as possible.

Well, not that close as earlier but if someone saw us here, we would automatically be recognized as a couple.

“You know, I am afraid to ask you, girls, directly about what happened to you when I cut you off. I am afraid to hear about it because I will once again hate myself for doing that. Even if I attributed it to my desire, it’s still me who did all of that to you.”

And the thing I was most afraid of is that none of them would blame me for it. They would accept it as if it’s a normal thing for me.

Perhaps this was also the reason why I chose to take them all back rather than put closure to our relationship.

Although my greed was a larger part of it, I also wanted to do the right thing for them.

I would never recognize what I did before as taking care of them no matter how colorful it became in their eyes. Because in my eyes, I was only doing all of that for my desire, not for them.

This time, I will be loving them dearly and it will never be about satisfying my twisted desire anymore. This is my genuine feelings for them.

It’s will be seen as sick, stupid, unloyal, or anything negative in the other people’s eyes but that’s just how it is… as long as they allowed me to do it… I will.

“What happened to me when you cut me off? Hmm… Let’s see. I spent my first year in high school and before I reconnected with you, always dreaming of the day you will show up here again, every morning.” Aika lifted her tear-stained face and smiled beautifully. “Just seeing you at this bench, waiting for me to greet you is probably enough to ease my longing for you… However, now that you’ve taken me in again, that will not be enough anymore.”

She then raised her body to plant a kiss on my lips to which I responded passionately.

While she dreamt of that every day, I was surely busy stealing someone else at that time. That’s how cruel the reality of my past was with them.

Without meeting them again, I doubt I would remember our past or that I once spent my time by their side.

“I do mind that you have other girls, all of us do. We all have the same desire to be your only one. But that’s something impossible. Even Akane cannot get it, what more us who were only subjects for your desire? That’s the reason why we settled in this… somewhat messy but fulfilling relationship with you. Now it’s your turn to take care of us as you promised.”

After our lips separated, Aika began caressing my face gently as if it’s the most precious thing for her.

“Understood, ma’am.”

I playfully smiled which resulted in my cheek being pinched by her. “Idiot. Don’t joke at this moment.”

And after a few laughs, I held her hand tightly and said in a somewhat serious tone. “Aika, do you want to meet my parents? They will be coming home next week and I want to introduce you to them.”

“Only me?”

Aika’s eyes glimmered brightly from what I said. However, I shattered that instantly.

“Unfortunately, no. All of you.” I shook my head and answered.

My parents already knew about my desire and the change that happened to me. That’s why before meeting their parents, it’s probably better to let them meet mine.

Well, they would probably leave again after staying at the house for a few days or perhaps they wouldn’t really stay so that would be the only chance.

“Won’t that be… chaotic?”

“I guess it will be. I will be bringing you all one by one or by group. Of course, I won’t force you if you don’t want to.”

“I want to! I want to meet them and have their blessings to bring you home with me!” Aika stood up enthusiastically and did a pose that she always did whenever she was about to run in an official race.

“Alright. I will contact you when but for now… Let’s savor this time we have left…” I laughingly pulled her back down and this time I put her on my lap.

“I love you, Aika,” I whispered as I covered her lips with mine.

Although she appeared to want to respond to it, she had no chance to do so when I deepened our kiss and held her close.

This time, if someone saw us here, they wouldn’t just think that we’re a couple. They would think that we’re a perverted couple who would be doing it in the park.

In any case, since I got my first paycheck, I better make it a bit special for her and not do it in this brightly lit park.

A few minutes later, we entered a famous establishment for couples, a love hotel.