Iwasaki Rei
"A family dinner at a restaurant. Haven't had one of those in a long time." My mother says as we walk into the establishment. "What friend of yours are we meeting, hunny?" My mother looks up at my father.
"You'll see." He answers quietly.
I see my mom roll her eyes, an irritated look coming over her face.
Today is the day. I couldn't be happier!
A man dressed in a nice suit waves at my dad and we quickly sit with him. My father and I sit on his side of the table while my mother is forced to sit across from us alone.
"Good evening, Iwasaki-San." The man bows his head towards my father then towards me, and finally my mother.
"Good evening." My father replies. "Let's order first. I'm starving."
My mother eyes the two men for a second before looking at me.
"Darling, why don't you come sit with me? It's awkward having three people on one side then just me on this side." She fakes a smile but I hold my menu up to block her face.
"No thanks."
Soon enough we order our food and it comes out relatively quickly.
Small talk is made and my mother asks how my father and this man met, which they dodge the question of.
As I eat, my eyes fly to the entrance where a guy and two other people walk in.
The younger one looks around and our eyes meet. He looks surprised but then gives me a small wave.
Oh my god. This is just great. Is that Suna and his parents?
"Sweetie, who was that?" My father whispers quietly and nudges my shoulder.
My cheeks immediately redden and I look away from Suna, keeping my head down.
"I don't know." I lie.
"Aww, look at you. Got yourself a little boyfriend." He chuckles.
"He's not my-"
"What are you guys talking about? It's rude to have a conversation amongst yourself." My mother scoffs.
My father sits up straight, sighing.
He turns to the man we met here and gives a curt nod.
"Hiroshi-San. I think we're ready." He says.
"Ready for what?" My mother crosses her arms.
The man takes out a packet and slides it across the table to my mother.
"Good evening ma'am, my name is Hiroshi Kai. I am a police officer and your husband has appointed me to serve you these divorce papers." He leans his hands on the table and laces his fingers together as he looks at my mother.
The smile that grew at the word 'divorce' wipes off my face as soon as I see the look on my mother's face.
Doing this in a public space was such a bad idea holy shit.
"Divorce?" My mother laughs. She slams her hands onto the table, making me flinch as she stands up, practically seething. "You want a divorce?!" She exclaims.
Almost everyone in the restaurant stops what they're doing and looks over at the woman causing a scene.
"Chiyo please do not do his in public." My father pleads quietly.
"Ha! What are you going to do without me?" Although she's not yelling, her voice is loud enough to be heard by everyone. Especially now that everyone has gotten quiet.
I shrink in my seat, completely and utterly embarrassed.
"Ma'am please sit down so we can discuss the specifics of the divorce." The police officer sighs.
"No! Why should I? What is wrong with you Yasushi?! We were fine yesterday!" My mother grits her teeth.
"Chiyo...we haven't been 'fine' for years. You aren't even a good mother." My father looks her in the eyes. "I can't do this anymore."
I gently pat my father on his back, knowing that his calm and quiet tone is just him trying to be strong.
Though my mother only grows angrier and she points an accusing finger at me.
"So it's your fault! You stupid little brat! I should have never had you! All you do is ruin my life! You've always been such a disappointment and now you're ruining my marriage too!" She screeches.
"Oh my god- how can you talk to your child like that?"
Everyone at our table turns and out of all people, it's Suna's mother who spoke up.
They're a few tables down from us now, and just like everyone else, they heard everything.
"Can you hear yourself? You sound crazy!" Suna's mother looks so offended.
"Mom, please don-" Suna tries to stop her but she holds up a hand to her son.
"It's okay baby, you'll understand when you're older. I just can't sit around and do nothing when a parent is being so disrespectful." She looks back over to my mother in distaste. "I think everyone in this restaurant can agree that you seem like an awful woman! Yelling at your poor family in public like that. Disgusting! You're a pathetic excuse of a mother and a wife." She huffs out a breath.
My mother is fuming by now, and she opens her mouth to say something but a few waiters come up to us.
"I'm sorry ma'am but you need to leave." They say.
Of course my mother throws a fit, but eventually she gets out.
Everyone around us is throwing looks of pity and I can't even bring myself to look over at Suna or his parents anymore.
Embarrassing.
"Sweetie I'm so sorry." My father groans, running a hand down his face.
"It's not your fault." I give him a small smile. "I'm going to use the bathroom real quick." I say and quickly rush off.
Once I'm in the bathroom I lean over the sink and take a few deep breaths.
Gosh. It's finally over.
I don't know how long things will take, or how much more I'll have to see of my mother.
But things will finally get better.
With that in mind, I splash some water on my face and dab it dry with paper towels before walking out the bathroom.
I come to a stop once I see Suna facing away from the bathroom. He turns around once he hears the door shut.
"Here to harass me some mo-"
My words get cut off when he grabs my hand and pulls me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
"Are you okay?" He asks. "I'm sorry about my mom. I tried to stop her but she's really...uh adamant?" He clears his throat.
A sigh leaves my lips and I put my hands on his chest to push him away but he holds me tighter.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for saying all those things. I was upset and angry and I thought you were using me. I thought you were cheating on Kita too. He didn't even deny or confirm that you guys were dating for so long so I just kept assuming that you guys were. I said so many hurtful things out of anger and it was wrong. I don't expect you to forgive me at all, but I needed you to know how sorry I am. I promise I'll never do that again. I'll never ever assume anything or be mean to you without hearing you out first. I regret it so much. I'll never hurt you again." Suna squeezes me again.
His words come fast and tumble out of his mouth as if his life depends on it.
I don't say anything but I raise my arms to gingerly hug him back, laying my head on his shoulder.
"You're annoying." I say quietly.
"I know." He sighs.
"You really hurt my feelings." I mumble, burying my face in his chest now.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I don't forgive you." I gulp, wrapping my arms tighter around him.
"I don't expect you to." He breathes out, laying his head on top of mine.
We stand there for a few seconds before I pull away and take a deep breath, smiling up at him.
"Oh my god I missed you." He pulls me to his chest again and my eyes widen.
"We need to get back to our seats." I chuckle a bit, pushing him away.
"But can we talk again? I really am sorry and I feel horrible. I want to make it up to you no matter what. Please?" He asks and I nod.
"Okay. I'll text you later tonight." I say and he perks up.
"Okay. Cool."
We agree to have me leave first so it's not suspicious.
I walk back out to where all the tables are and my jaw almost falls to the floor when I see that my dad and Suna's parents have now integrated to one table.
The police officer is gone and my father sits on one side of the booth as Suna's mom and dad sit on the other.
I slowly walk over to the table and bow at the two before sitting next to my father.
"Hello..." I clear my throat.
"Hi! My name is Suna Aiko and this is my husband Suna Ōmura!" The woman smiles brightly.
Suna joins us, sliding in next to his mother. He looks just as confused as I do.
"Just in time! This is my son, Suna Rintarō. I heard you guys go to the same school?" She looks at me and tilts her head.
Suna's expression is blank like normal, so I don't know if he wants me to say anything or not...?
Oh well.
"We share the same class." I give a polite smile. "And I was manager for the volleyball team for a little while."
A gasp leaves her lips and she just absolutely beams.
I look over at Suna's father whos now conversing quietly with my father.
Yeah, Suna definitely got his personality from his dad. Though, sometimes he's a little like his mom.
"That's wonderful! So you're well acquainted?" She chuckles.
Oh lady...if only you knew.