To the Person I Love and Hate the Most…

Separated…

Our new life together has been completely turned upside down in just one day…

No matter how many times I messaged her, I got no response from Natsumi…

I’m so worried about her that I feel like I’m going insane.

If I don’t hear anything from her by tomorrow, I’ll head to Natsumi’s family home!

With this thought in mind, I can’t get a wink of sleep at night.

Then, in the middle of the night, I finally receive a message from Natsumi.

‘I’m sorry for the late response. I’ve safely arrived at my parents’ home. We were just having a family discussion with my roommate.’

I feel relived to know that she is okay.

‘You are okay, right? I’ll go there tomorrow.’

I replied so.

‘My family is already quite upset by the whole situation. If you come, it will only make things worse. Please wait for me at home. I promise everything will be fine.’

Despite her reassurance, I can’t help but to feel worried.

I’m worried of her, but as long as Natsumi is safe at her parents’ home, I think it should be fine.

I don’t want to cause any more trouble for her or her family.

So I just decided to wait for her and endure the situation.

I send her messages every day, but I only receive one reply each day.

I haven’t heard her voice in a long time. I miss her.

I can’t help but to call Natsumi’s parents house, I really want to hear her voice.

“Hello, this is Katagiri speaking.”

Someone from Natsumi’s family answers the phone.

“Umm…hello, my name is Makoto Taguchi. I’m the one who Natsumi-san dates in Tokyo. Can you put Natsumi-san on the phone for me. I need to talk to her.”

“Hello, my name is Kanna, Natsumi’s younger sister. I’m sorry, but I can’t pass the phone to her.”

Natsumi’s sister responded coldly.

I wonder what Natsumi’s parents would say about me.

I’m anxious, however, I can’t just back down so easily.

“Umm…can you at least tell me about Natsumi’s condition? I’ve been mentally torn apart these past few days. I’m worried about her well-being. Is she eating properly? Is she sleeping well? I’m really worried of her every single day…”

I’m on the verge of tears when I say so.

“Don’t worry, she is fine.”

Natsumi’s sister replied so.

Wait a minute, am I imagining things, or did her voice sound exactly like Natsumi?

“Natsumi?”

The moment I say so, she hangs up the phone.

Eh…? That wasn’t Natsumi’s little sister? But it was Natsumi herself?

Is there a reason why she can’t talk to me?

Is there someone watching her?

Is that the reason why you can’t tell me what’s happening?

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure it out.

But at any rate, I’m glad that you are safe…

I feel relieved and managed to get some sleep that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One week has passed since Natsumi went back to her parents’ house…

I continue to worry about her every single day.

It is winter break now, so I don’t have to go to work.

Honestly, I feel relieved that I don’t need to work during this time, but at the same time, I have nothing to distract me.

I have no appetite at all…

I have lost about five kilos in the past week…

I wonder if Natsumi will be okay…

I can’t think of anything but Natsumi’s well-being the whole day.

In the morning, as I’m thinking about such thoughts, my phone rings.

“Hello!? Natsumi!?”

“I’m sorry, Ma-kun! Things are quite hectic and I’m on the way right now, so I’ll make it quick. I’ll be taking a Shinkansen back to Tokyo soon. I should arrive there probably before evening. I want to have a discussion with my roommate and you. My family also insists that the three of us should talk about it. My roommate wants to discuss things with you as well…”

Honestly, I can’t keep up with how fast things are unfolding, but I decided that I should face the inevitable direct confrontation I have been putting off for a while now.

“…I understand. I will be waiting for you!”

I replied so.

…a direct confrontation with Natsumi’s roommate. Given how far things have escalated, I don’t think it’s not going to be just a calm discussion.

I slap my cheeks, gather my courage and prepare for the evening.