Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Pretty Lady ❯ Vol Six, Chapter Thirty-Five: Free Bird? ( Chapter 35 )

Free Bird?

Mai has never felt like she was home since she made it back to Japan. She sat at the table with no emotion on her face. They insisted that she come home alone. Her father never really liked Nikita.

“Have you made up your mind?” he asked. Mai lifted her chin. She had done her best to stall with this. Her grandmother stared her down. Mai already knew what she wanted to hear. She knew why they called her home when she picked up the phone. The woman stiffened in place.

“I will not marry anyone else,” she said. “I already am married.” Her grandmother sneered. Her family had their opinions on Nikita. They were the ones who told her that she had to marry him because they slept together. Now, they wanted her back.

“I don't know what you are asking me,” Mai said. This was a lie. But by now, she didn't have any way to stall this anymore.

“Are you asking me to divorce him?” she asked. “Do you know how cruel that is?” She didn't have Takako with her this time. It wasn't like she was going to side with her sister this time. Their father didn't answer. Grandma stayed quiet the whole time. Her mother wasn't in the room. She hadn't been in the house for years. Mai couldn't help but envy her.

“Yes,” her father said. He never raised his voice. He didn't have to. You could feel his disappointment in his low tone.

“I won't do it,” Mai said. Her hand trembled before she tightened it into a fist.

“May I ask why?” her father asked. Mai lifted her head. No one was putting her up to this. She thought back to her phone call with Nikita last night.

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“Nikkita-kun, we need to talk,” Mai said in a whisper.

“What?” he asked. His wife looked over her shoulder. She reached over and drew the door closed. The woman knelt down in the corner.

“My family wants me to return home,” she said in a hushed tone. There was a pause on the other line.

“For how long?” he asked at last. Mai felt like she was about to cry.

“Forever,” she said. There was another pause over the phone.

“So… would I have to move to Japan?” he asked. Mai sniffled as she shook her head.

“No,” she said.

“What does that mean?” he asked. His wife lowered her head.

“I'm so sorry,” she whispered. Her eyes welled with tears.

“So that's it then? Are you going to leave me because your dad told you to?!” Nikita asked.

“No!” Mai shouted. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I don't want to,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”

“But you don't want to upset your folks?” Nikita asked. His wife shook her head. (She didn't know why she was acting like he could see her.)

“What are you going to do?” he asked. Mai lifted her chin.

“I don't know,” she said. Her heart twisted in her chest. She slept on it and didn't come out of her room for the rest of the night. A maid left her food by her door. That same maid had to pull Mai out of her room this morning.

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Mai closed her fists in her lap.

“I won't leave my husband,” she said. She jerked her head upward.

“I love Nikita!” she shouted. Her grandmother sneered.

“You can't keep playing house with that man!” she snapped.

“Why?” her granddaughter asked. “Because he's a foreigner? That's being racist! I'm not a child anymore. I can make my own decisions!” She felt herself trembling, not with fear, but with anger.

“I am going back home to my husband!” Mai shouted.

“If you leave, you will never be welcomed back,” her grandmother said. The younger woman sniffed as she kept her head held high.

“Fine,” she said. “I would rather have my husband than this cold family.” Her father bowed his head.

“I understand,” he said. The grandmother whipped her head around.

“Ichiro!” she said. The man held up his hand.

“That's enough,” he said. “She's made up her mind. They're children anymore. We can only have Takako-chan to look after her now.” The old lady started to open her mouth but bitterly closed her mouth. Mai bowed her head.

“Thank you, papa,” she said. Mai stood up and walked back to her room. She had some packing to do. She was going to be leaving for Moscow tomorrow morning.

Set Her Free