Chapter 5
Unspoken words burned in their shared moment. Longing and yearning laced around them, however it didn’t take long when it all disappeared like nothing had happened.
Kahoko’s hand glided to his chest, pushing him away as though an illness a health-conscious person couldn’t take. Her face plastered with both shock and regret, her hand mechanically covered her gaping mouth as she watched in all sorrow how his impassive mask crashed into oblivion of sadness.
Her heart came cracking, fissures opened in an upsetting way. “I-I…I-I d-didn’t mean to…” she bowed her head, tears welling in the brim of her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, running away.
Len could only do was look, stare how her form disappear in his bare eyes. Shock remained etched on his face, tracing with sadness in his dull eyes. He stood up, recalling everything that had happened earlier. Why did she push him?
Kahoko hurriedly went to Kallen’s room. It was a relief that the kid was still fast asleep as she wouldn’t question the flowing tears in Kahoko’s eyes. She wiped it away, striding to the kid’s side, lie and tried her best to sleep but no to avail she couldn’t.
“Hmm, Mama.” Kallen spun around, letting her little hand to hug the woman.
It was wrong, what she did was wrong. Kahoko’s mind cried out. She shouldn’t have kissed him, it was so wrong.
“I-Is something wrong?” Kallen woke up from her dream, looking her golden orbs anxiously, at Kahoko.
Kahoko hid her tears as she shook her head. “N-No, I’m fine, go to sleep Kallen.”
“Don’t leave us, Aunt Kahoko.”
What would she say? “I-I won’t, please go to sleep.” Kahoko said, caressing the kid’s face. “I won’t leave you.” half of it was true. She couldn’t leave the girl, especially since she needed someone this time. His father was distancing himself without his awareness. Kahoko couldn’t take it. If she could do something then she had to face it.
“You too, Aunt Kahoko, you have to take a rest as well.” Kallen hugged her tightly as she cuddled closer. “Good night…mama.”
The last word was a mere whisper in the air; it didn’t reach any other place but just mingled in the wind.
~NeKo Meow~
Three days more to go and its Christmas, Kahoko stalled in front of the Seiso’s auditorium, the place that gave her the chance to experience music. However, she was not there to perform, but rather to give a moral support for the kid she was previously accompanying.
“Aunt Kahoko, here!” the little pitch chirped at the side. Kahoko turned around and saw the girl in the dress Kahoko personally chose for her.
“Hello, am I late?” Kahoko kissed her cheek.
“Aunt Kahoko, is that a good way to greet people.” Kallen pouted but chuckled later. “You’re not. Actually you’re just in time.”
Kahoko smiled, looked around and saw Nami with Misa Hamai. Her shoulder stiffened when the old lady looked at her. “G-good evening ma’am.”
Misa smiled. “Likewise, it’s nice that you accepted my granddaughter’s request. She’d been meaning to see you.”
“Ahm…Grandma, where’s papa?” Kallen interrupted, wandering her eyes at the place.
Kahoko glanced as well; it was true that Len was not yet there. She hadn’t seen him ever since the day she went to have dinner with them, ever since the unexpected occurrence happened. She woke up early in the morning that day, but how early it might be, the man had already left for work. Her car already fixed and parked at the garage. She didn’t ask more about him but remained quiet until Kallen woke up. She didn’t take long as she bade her goodbye and went home. The latest conversation of her and Kallen must be just yesterday when she invited Kahoko to her recital.
“He’s still not here?” Misa muttered, hauling Kahoko out from her trance.
Kahoko glanced at them. “Does he know?”
“Neh, I told papa about it, I always say it to him.” The girl’s pink lips frowned.
“Oh! Don’t do that face. You need to be pretty in your pictures.” Nami consoled the girl, gesturing her friend to know what had happened to the said father.
Kahoko, quite hesitant, gave a dry nod at her friend. “You go first. I’m going to call him.”
“Papa should be here.” the girl sobbed, breaking Kahoko’s heart.
“Think about your play first, I will call your papa.”
“Sorry for the trouble, Hino-san, I’m going to contact him as well.” Misa patted her shoulder as she took her leave too.
Kahoko brought her phone and dialed his number. The first attempt didn’t work, she tried once more, this time it was the office.
“Hello,” Kahoko began when the seeming secretary answered her call. “I want to talk to Mr. Tsukimori—”
“Sorry ma’am but Mr. Tsukimori is not attending any call at this moment.”
“B-but it’s about…” the line broke. “Shoot!” Kahoko cussed, dialing his private phone, in about endless ring, at last he answered.
“What!”
“What what! It’s your daughter’s recital, where are you now?”
Silence followed as Kahoko heard creaking noise, perhaps, coming from his swivel chair. Footsteps were heard. Len sighed. “Can you tell her that I can’t?”
“What do you mean you can’t? You must be here!” Kahoko replied, increasing her voice.
Len grunted once more, it seemed his patience was draining as well. “Look, I’m on the middle of my meeting, if you just called to yell at me then you’re wasting my time. I’m going to end this call.”
“Wait, this is not a waste of time. It’s about your daughter.”
“I’m doing this for my daughter that is. I’m working for her, so if you don’t mind I need to go.”
“You can’t, she wan—” the line ended before she could finish her words. She tried to call him again but he already turned off his phone.
She was livid inside and out, she couldn’t explain the growing churning in her heart. What was more important for that guy? He should be there for his daughter but he rather chose that stupid business meeting of him. Kahoko sighed, emitting those inapt wordings she was using to describe the guy.
She walked, only to be greeted by a disappointed look of the kid. “He wouldn’t come.” Kallen mumbled.
Kahoko could only do was nod.
“I knew it, he always break his promise.” Kallen ran to her Aunt Kahoko and hugged her waist. “Aunt Kahoko, he’s so mean. I don’t want him to be my papa anymore.”
Her words surprised them. Kahoko knelt down, wiping the tears flowing on the kid’s cheek. “Honey, don’t say that. Ahm, he has reason why he couldn’t come.”
“He always has. If he really wants to come he will do it but he really doesn’t want.”
Kahoko tried to hush the girl, lifting her up in her arm. “Don’t say such. Do focus in your play, we’ll be here for you.”
“But papa is not here.”
Kahoko sighed. “Honey, please play for us.” Kahoko knew what it felt, the feeling of expecting someone but he couldn’t come. Despite of it, she had to perform, she had to think like a performer, thus she played with all her heart, however this time it was a kid. Would she understand what she was trying to imply?
Kallen was reluctant; she gave a small nod before she tried to smile. “I’ll do this for you, Aunt Kahoko.”
The announcer announced her name. The kid smiled more, holding her little violin in her hand as she welcomed the audience.
Kahoko and the two women went to sit on their respective chairs, heart seemingly in unison and beating in a haste beat.
Kallen positioned her violin in her shoulder, resting her chin in the violin before she played.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D-major, the sound flowed freely in the air, notes dancing and bouncing as it twirled in every corner of the place. Audience hushed up, absorbing every bit of the sound the violin grazing to them.
It was ethereal yet wonderful, a tinge of sadness swirling around the note but the glamorous music overwhelmed the sentiments.
The music end, in chorus with a wave of silence as it followed with flooding applauses around the place. Kallen opened her eyes but still, she couldn’t see her father, the suspended tears in her eyes flowed down her cheek. She bowed to the audience as she ran back at the backstage.
Kahoko, Misa and Nami went to look for her, there they found her crying, hugging her violin within her arms.
“Papa didn’t come.” Kallen cried more.
Kahoko, knowing she needed to console the girl, did what she could do. She hugged the girl. “Hush, don’t cry,” Kahoko muttered, caressing the kid’s back.
“Aunt Kahoko.” Kallen sobbed, hugging the woman.
~NeKo Meow~
They went back to the mansion, Kahoko in tow since the kid didn’t want to let go of her. Kallen remained in her protective arms, afraid of Kahoko leaving her alone. Her eyes closed, her breathing calmed a bit as she started to sleep.
They got to the mansion, right enough before midnight. Misa ushered Kahoko to the kid’s room, resting the kid in her bed before Kahoko stood up. She slightly halted when the kid tightened her grip on her hand. Kahoko sighed, sitting once more at her side.
“Stay please,” the kid muttered while eyes fluttering.
Kahoko brought her hand on her cheeks, caressing it before she smiled. “Go to sleep, I’ll be here, don’t worry.”
The kid smiled as well, completely closing her eyes. “Hmn, goodnight.”
Hours later of staying in the kid’s room, Kahoko heard a car parking in the garage. Knowing that it must be the guy, the urge to confront him built within her. She freed the kid’s hand as she strode down to welcome him.
Both of them paused when they sense the presence of each other. Kahoko frowned more, bitter taste traced on her expression. “Why didn’t you come?”
Len impassive appearance looked back. “I’m tired, I don’t want to entertain any of your nonsense.” He tried to ignore her but she sustained.
“She was waiting for you but you didn’t come. You promised that you’ll be there but you just broke it, like you always do.”
“Can you stop relating it to the past. I’m doing these things…I’m working for her future.”
“She doesn’t need a money-maker or anything. She needs a father, a parent.”
Len’s face darkened. “Who are you to say what’s the responsibility of a parent. You don’t know how and what it feels to be one. You should not pry yourself in matter that doesn’t concern you.”
His words both surprised them.
“Right. It doesn’t concern me. Yes…” Kahoko shook her head in disbelief. “I’m nothing. Who am I to poke my nose in your life. I should not have done that in the first place.” She clenched her teeth just to stop the threatening tears in her eyes. “Everything has its limit; you’ve been blind the whole time, don’t be surprised if you wake up in the morning all alone.” She turned around. “It’s getting late. Please do tell Kallen I’m leav—”
“Aunt Kahoko!” the girl trailed.
Kahoko stopped, trying her best not to shed tears as she attempted to smile. “I have to go, Kallen.”
“Please don’t leave.” Kallen ran to her side and hugged her waist. “Aunt Kahoko.” she sobbed.
Kahoko sighed, kneeling down before she kissed the girl’s forehead. “It’s already late. I need to go home too.”
“You will return right?”
Kahoko’s eyes mechanically glided to the man. He looked away, eyes etched with regrets.
“Goodnight, Kallen.” She stood up and turned around.
“Aunt Kahoko.” Kallen sobbed.
Every step was heavy and difficult for her. The girl’s sobs seemed to pull her back however she shouldn’t. She must not.
~NeKo Meow~
The girl sobbed, looking how the woman walked and disappeared in her blurry vision. She heard footsteps behind her. She looked back.
“Kallen, stop it alre—”
“You’re mean!” she muttered running toward her grandmother.
Hamai Misa, standing in the stairs, saw how the scene unfolded bitterly. Her trance came to halt when the kid walked to her side. She lifted her crying granddaughter and glanced at her son. “Len, this is too much. What is more important to you, the business or your daughter?”
Why is it even his mother asked this question, why couldn’t they understand he was doing it for his daughter’s future? Len gazed back; neither of those words went out of his lips.
“I will take Kallen with me. She’ll be staying with us this Christmas.” Misa turned around “Think what you have done wrong. I hope you realized your foolishness.”
Len watched as his daughter distanced from him. Too far that he couldn’t reach for her.
He looked around; there was a deafening silence around the place. The cold atmosphere turned the place more remote and secluded.
He was alone…
The Nameless Bookworm 
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