A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 155: Breaking Pretenses ( 155 )

Chapter 155: Breaking Pretenses ( 155 )

Kyouko noticed his lingering gaze and the faint shadow in his expression.

She smiled gently, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead.

"What’s with that look?"

Then, standing on her toes just slightly, she leaned in and kissed him—soft, slow, and full of unspoken warmth.

Haruki closed his eyes for a moment, letting the kiss settle into him.

When they parted, he smiled—but didn’t say anything.

Kyouko reached up and cupped his cheek, still smiling.

"Don’t overthink it."

Her voice was quiet, but firm.

"We both still have spouses."

"And for now... I’m happy with our relationship just the way it is."

She leaned her head briefly against his shoulder, her voice dropping.

"Don’t make Satomi sad, okay? She’s still my daughter~"

Haruki stayed silent, arms tightening just slightly around her waist.

He understood.

Kyouko wasn’t rejecting him.

She was protecting what they had.

Haruki’s gaze lingered on her—soft, steady, almost vulnerable.

Then, quietly... he spoke.

"What if... one day... things change?"

"What if life gives us a moment—a chance to choose freely, without guilt or hiding?"

He paused, searching her eyes.

"If that day ever comes... if there’s a path where we don’t have to keep this love hidden... would you take it?"

Kyouko looked up at him, her eyes calm but shimmering with something deeper.

She reached out and laced her fingers with his, holding his hand with gentle strength.

Then she whispered,

"When that day you’re hoping for comes..."

"I’ll be here."

Her thumb brushed over his knuckles.

"And I’ll give you my answer then."

Kyouko gave his hand a light squeeze, then tilted her head with a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Are you really sure... you’re going serious for this old lady?"

Haruki blinked, and she giggled softly.

"What will people say, hmm?"

She leaned in just a little, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"A young man—handsome, tall, charming..."

"You could have any girl you want. Even those fresh out of high school~"

She made a dramatic sigh, feigning mock despair.

"Ahn~ what a waste~"

Haruki stared at her for a moment, lips twitching into a smirk.

Then he stepped in closer, cupped her cheek, and said low and steady.

"They are not you."

Haruki leaned in and kissed her forehead gently.

"They can’t compare to the woman who makes me want to come home every day."

Kyouko tilted her head, her smile deepening with that soft, teasing glint in her eyes.

"Are you sure? Hee~"

She let her fingers trail up his arm slowly, voice lilting with mock innocence.

"Those girls out there are fresh... young... tight~"

She leaned in closer, her whisper brushing his ear.

"They have that sweet, sweet scent of youth, hmm?"

She giggled softly, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes.

"Isn’t that more tempting? So easy to touch. So easy to... break."

He stared at her, his hands found her waist again, and he drew her in close, his voice low and certain.

"They may be sweet."

"But they’re not you."

"They don’t know how to look at me like this."

"They don’t know how to touch me like you do."

Kyouko lightly tapped his chest with her fingertips, her lips curved in a playful pout.

"Dummy~" she whispered.

"Don’t tease this old lady too much~"

Her voice dipped, half warning, half flustered.

"Or you’re gonna make me break right here..."

Haruki smiled, eyes never leaving hers.

"Didn’t we both already break?" he said softly, teasing.

Kyouko blinked, then slowly lowered her gaze.

"Mm~" she nodded, shy, sweet.

The air between them stilled, charged with everything left unspoken.

And in that quiet second...

They both knew.

No matter how far they tried to stay within the lines—

They had already stepped across them.

Haruki’s voice was quiet, but every word struck deep.

"We can’t pretend anymore."

"That we don’t need each other."

He looked down at her, his voice steady.

"Because I really do need you, Kyouko."

Kyouko didn’t respond right away.

She simply stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him—slowly, gently—resting her head against his chest.

He felt her breath against him.

Felt her hands clutching just a little tighter.

And then... a faint tremble.

She wasn’t crying.

But her eyes welled.

And a single tear touched his shirt.

"Kyouko?" he whispered, placing a hand on her back.

She shook her head and pressed her face into his chest.

"Don’t look," she murmured, voice barely audible.

"Please... don’t look."

Inside Kyouko’s mind...

Why... why did you say that?

The more you say things like that...

The more I want to stop pretending.

The more I want to be honest... to be open...

But it’s hard.

Because I know—it’s not that simple.

Everyone might think it is.

Just divorce Satoshi.

Just make Haruki divorce Satomi.

But it’s not that easy.

It never is.

Not when families are tied.

Not when guilt still lingers.

Not when a mother falls in love with her daughter’s husband... and starts to want something she was never supposed to reach for.

Haruki looked down at her, brushing a thumb gently against her cheek.

"What are you thinking?"

Kyouko hesitated for a moment.

Then she smiled.

Soft, calm. Practiced.

"N... nothing," she said, voice light as she stepped back.

"Really."

She smoothed her blouse, straightened her posture.

"Now~" she added, with a playful lilt,

"Let’s go before my parents start questioning why we’re late."

Haruki chuckled softly.

But as she turned toward the door, he could still see it in her eyes.

That flicker.

That sadness tucked carefully behind her grace.

Kyouko’s thoughts, as she stepped quietly.

I’m happy to have you, Haruki.

I really am.

I want you... all of you.

Not just your body, not just your warmth at night.

But your name.

Your future.

To become officially mine.

To walk beside you—not as your secret.

But as your partner.

She glanced at Haruki from the corner of her eye as he fetched the keys, her smile lingering—but it didn’t reach her chest.

But I know... I really know.

Even if my skin is smooth...

Even if my face still looks young...

Even if my body still makes you tremble...

I’m still older.

I’m still... me.

And the world will never understand.

They won’t see the woman you love—only the one you shouldn’t.

Her fingers brushed the doorframe as she paused, just a moment.

We can only be together...

Where no one sees.

We can only love each other...

Behind closed doors.

( End Of Chapter )

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