As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Every step Jun took to his condominium unit was heavy. His shoulders slumped down, showing the weight of the burden he carried in his heart.

Earlier, he just quietly watched Himari walking farther and farther from the residential building, heading to the front gate. Never once did she turn back and find him staring at her.

He might not be able to see her from up close but, he knew that she was happy right now.

Even after months had passed, Jun was still reminded of the day Himari truly ended everything between them, leaving no loose string for him to hold onto.

The same scene kept haunting his nights, leaving him sleepless.

The same scene of her looking at him with only indifference in her eyes.

Jun slowly unlocked the door of his unit, shoved the door open then slammed it shut behind him.

With every movement of his, her voice that sounded so determined on that day echoed in his mind.

"Jun, please learn to accept that our past has indeed been a past. You might be my first love but, you won't be the last."

Kicking off his shoes at the entryway, Jun wore the home slippers. He unbuttoned the jacket, feeling stuffy all of a sudden. The briefcase was left lying on the floor.

His silhouette fell on the floor, stretching behind his back as the lights shone on him.

"I won't deny that you've given me good first love but, an end is still the end. If we got back together again, I'm afraid both of us would be hurt. At the very least, I don't want to tarnish your good image inside my memories."

The spacious and luxurious unit was bare with only a few pieces of furniture. Its condition was still the same as the first time Jun moved in here.

He stood opposite the coffee table. The crystal home set was still placed on its surface, sparkling every time any light shone on it. A transparent box-like cover shielded the crystal home from any dust.??

"Jun, no matter where you are, I hope you'd be able to meet a good young lady. If you fell in love with her, don't repeat what happened to me."

His dream to have her decorate this place and call it their home shattered.

"Shield her well, make her feel secure to be with you. And, the most important is... You have to unchain the shackles your parents put on you. You are an adult now."

That was truly the end.

Jun threw the jacket on the box cover, concealing the beautiful crystal home set from his eyes. Without caring about anything, he lied weakly on the long couch next to it.

"She didn't even notice me..."

A heavy sigh was audible in the cold and glum living room. Placing one hand over his eyes, all he could see was darkness.

The unbearable guilt that engulfed his heart made him unwilling to face the present. Even after that day at the restaurant, there were times when Jun secretly followed Himari. He only did so on the days he wasn't busy at the university.

But, after a few attempts, he stopped.

Himari was clearly happy with that man. Every time he saw them together, there were only smiles lighting up her face.

And...??

Even though Jun didn't want to admit it, that man, Hayashi Kazuya, was perfectly able to make Himari tasted happiness. His family condition didn't hinder him from prioritizing Himari.??

In fact, it seemed like Himari was really close to the two children.

She was really at ease with the man and the young siblings, unlike how strained the relationship between her and his parents.

It was something that he could never do.

He couldn't even make her felt secured with him. Moreover, his mother was still kept butting into his affairs although he was already a capable adult.

"Forget it..."

She had made it clear that they should treat each other as strangers.

He was reluctant, so reluctant about it but...

Maybe, that was the only thing he could do for her.

Ring~ Ring~

In the next second, a loud sound kept ringing from the phone. Jun didn't even have time to let his thoughts sink properly.

Turning over on one side, Jun reached out for his phone. The blaring sound of the ringing sounded ominous to him. His brows almost merged together the moment he saw the caller's name.

"...hello, Mother."

Concealed by his half-open eyelids, no one knew of the raging storm in his eyes. Jun's tone was still polite to his own mother even though it had turned more distant over time.

"Jun, your father has received an invitation to the engagement banquet of the Kashino household. Why don't you go over there with Kikyo?"

Jun forced down his frustration.??

Until now, his mother had yet to give up to pair him with Kikyo, no matter how many times he had explained to her that he didn't see Kikyo in that way.??

This was one of the things that made Jun ridiculed himself. He couldn't even solve this problem with his own mother even though he had made his stance clear to Kikyo's father.

"Father's the one who got invited. You should go with him, Mother. I don't know much about business."

Their family was only slightly lower in standing compared to the Kashino family and his father was a greatly respected figure in his field. Many young people sought his advice.

Without any doubt, his father could easily secure an invitation although from what Jun had heard, the Kashino family would only hold a small-scale engagement banquet.

"That's why you should go there. Haven't you forgotten that you'd only be a lecturer for two years? Two years are not long. Without you realizing it, the time would pass quickly!"

This was it.

The reason why his parents allowed him to be a lecturer was that he would still be tied to the family business in the end.

At first, three years ago, his parents opposed Jun when he said he wanted to further his studies to be involved in education. They only relented after Jun made a compromise, saying that he just needed two years to taste the sweetness of his dreams.

If not, how could they allow their only son, their only heir, to work as a lecturer, a job that they deemed lowly in their eyes?

No one else knew about the promise.

Not even Himari.

The cramped feeling in his heart intensified. Jun's eyes dimmed even further. He unconsciously gripped the phone tighter.

"I'll think about it. Mother, I'm tired. I'll call you again."

"What? Jun, I haven't..."

Tutt.

Jun tossed the phone aside, falling on the opposite couch. He rose to his feet, let out a deep sigh then he scratched his head.

All of these things made him wanted to just run away.

But, where to?

Leaving his phone in the living room, Jun made his way toward the kitchen. He opened the tap, letting the water gushing out of the pipe then he splashed the icy cool water to his face.

His muddle-headed mind sobered up in an instant.

"...Kashino family?"

Jun's face paled.

If it's an engagement banquet, it should be one of Nanako and the Second Young Master Kashino Ryota, shouldn't it? Their high school friends were busy talking about it because all of them didn't have the luxury to be invited there aside from Kikyo's family.

If his mother and father attended the banquet...

They might run into Himari!

Jun slapped his forehead, feeling helpless all of a sudden.

There would be no way for Himari to not be invited to the banquet since she was Nanako's best friend. The possibility of his parents meeting Himari there twisted his gut as he understood it might not end well.

Jun shook his head.

He had to delve deeper into details. But, to be safe, it seemed like he had to attend it instead of letting his parents went there.

Jun ran to the living room. He lunged forward, anxiously grabbing the phone. With a press, he made a call to his mother.

"I'll attend the banquet. You and Father don't have to worry. I'll conduct myself well."

The very instant the call was connected, a string of words rushed out of his mouth. His breath was shaky.

"Ah, you agree? That's good!" Elated, Mrs. Fujihara's voice brightened up, "Mother will let your father's assistant arrange your flight. You can..."

"I can arrange it myself, Mother. Just send me the details later."

He was not a child who couldn't even arrange for his own transportation. He had even lived alone abroad for nearly three years.??

"Okay, okay. Don't forget to come home this weekend. We have to tailor a suit for you. You can't possibly wear the previous one at the banquet. It's a really important event!"

"You can do as you see fits, Mother," answered Jun, his voice was heavy with exhaustion.??

Tutt.

Once again, the phone was thrown to the couch.

Jun moved away from the spot, his feet brought him to the floor-to-ceiling windows. As his face and figure were reflected on the glass, he saw how exhausted he really was.

The traces of a confident young man he once was had gradually left him, only showing a pathetic shell on the outside.