I Love To Hate You - Chapter 2- She is back

The worst part of being a corporate slave, even if you were dumped yesterday, is that you have to push yourself off the bed the next morning and get ready for work.

I slowly got up and found Kazu working in the kitchen.

“Making breakfast?” I asked, ruffling his hair, “Sorry…”

“Get ready. Don’t you have to leave in an hour?” His words brought my focus to the clock.

It was seven. I need to leave at eight to arrive on time. My office was very far, but since rental houses were cheap in this area, I had to travel two hours up and down every single day.

Groaning, I made my way to the bathroom and got freshened up.

Getting out of the bathroom, I opened my cupboard—only my focus landed on the black cup I kept inside the cupboard

And inside the cupboard was a hairpin.

A soft smile extended my lips as I took out my clothes and started to get ready.

Kazu arranged food on the table. Nothing fancy, just eggs, rice, and soup.

“Thank you for the food,”

We had food, and by seven thirty, Kazu left for school.

“No need to worry about dinner. I will prepare it after coming back.” Without listening to what I was about to say, he walked out.

I sighed. Disappointed in myself.

Kazu was wasting his high school years by doing part-time jobs and also taking care of the house.

And I even made him make breakfast today.

We have only a few loans that could have been managed with my wages. But next year, Kazu would start college…that’s why, he said he would do a part-time job at a bookstore to ease my load.

There was nothing hidden from him, so I wasn’t able to convince him otherwise.

‘Dad…you have raised a very good child.’ I smiled to myself as I stepped out of the house.

Our Mom died when we were very little. Kazu was only one year old at that time. So all our lives, it has always been Dad.

However, a few years ago, he also lost his life in a hospital bed.

Ever since, it has only been me and Kazu.

Thinking about the past, I soon reached the office where I work.

“Hello, Ryuuta-san.”

“Morning.”

“Good morning, Ryuuta-kun.”

I greeted fellow employees as I made my way to my desk, only to pause in shock upon seeing the piled-up flowers waiting for me. And on each of them, a congratulatory message was tagged.

How can I forget? They all knew about it.

“Come on, don’t be shy and tell us how it went, Ryuu~” my senior, Nakamura-san elbowed me from the side.

He is the reason why the whole department knows about me and Yumi.

I glanced at him, and then took a step back and called out, “I am sorry to say, but Yumi-san and I are not together. Thank you for the flowers though.”

My words stole the smile from Nakamura-san’s face.

A few people started to mumble and look at me pitifully.

My senior hurried toward me and asked “You can’t be joking about something like this…then…”

I softly smiled, “Yup, she dumped me.” I sat down at the desk and took out a paper bag before collecting the flowers in it.

A stunned Nakamura-san stood by my side for quite a long time until I cleaned my desk.

Finally, I turned to look at him and told him, “Isn’t it better this way? Rather than regretting things after getting together, she realized her feelings early.”

He frowned, “Stop pretending it doesn’t bother you.”

I chuckled, “Of course, it does. But…keeping a gloomy face would only distract the people around me. I wouldn’t have told them about the breakup either if not for your loud mouth during the last gathering.”

He opened his mouth and then closed it.

Resting his hand on my shoulder, he spoke in a quiet voice, “I am…sorry, Ryuuta. If I knew…”

“It’s okay, Nakamura-san. You were just happy about me.” With my shoulders losing strength, I added, “Maybe I shouldn’t have gone ahead of myself and assumed that we are already a couple.”

Nakamura-san didn’t say anything and after giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, he walked away.

I rested my hands on the table and took a moment to collect my thoughts.

But just as I was about to switch my working computer on,

“Nakamura Ryuuta, the director would like to meet you.” I was startled to be called out by the lady.

I slowly got up and asked, “The director?”

She didn’t say anything and just kept sternly looking at me.

I soon got up and approached her.

She wordlessly stepped out and approached the elevator.

I stood on the side and checked myself.

Neat shirt. Polished shoes. Trimmed beard and nails. I brushed twice in the morning, so no problem there.

‘But damn…why the director?’

I didn’t do anything worth getting noticed by him.

And who is this woman? While I could tell that she was an important person, I hadn’t seen her near the Director before.

*Ding*

My train of thought broke as the elevator dinged and she stepped out.

I followed her to the big door across from the elevator.

I took a nervous breath as she opened the door for me, “She is waiting for you inside.”

Huh? She?

Despite my confusion, I didn’t make her wait for long and stepped inside.

The office was huge.

On the left, the floor-to-ceiling glass allowed a full view of the city. But my gaze didn’t remain there for long before I turned towards the desk.

The chair was turned to the other side so I couldn’t see the Director.

“Good morning, Director. Yamamoto Ryuuta, reporting.” I gave a brief bow.

*Scuff*

I heard the chair moving.

“Raise your head.”

Came a voice.

My heart skipped a beat.

….I prayed I was imagining things.

I really was.

While I knew that this company was owned by ‘her’ father, she couldn’t have started working here all of a sudden, no?

Yes…it can’t be possible.

Right?

Not.

Once I looked up, all my prayers were betrayed.

Sitting there with a smile on her face was the same woman whom I once loved.

My first girlfriend and…also the girl on whom I cheated.

*******

A/N:- Thanks for reading.