-Chapter 121: Your Star is Me
"So, you have a chip in your head that he can control?" Aruto asks me, turning off one of his clocks. Just how many clocks does one man need?
He just woke up, but I've been awake for a bit watching him. I did clean up a bit though. Not like I needed to since he's pretty neat so far.
"Yeah, he can control it if he wants to. He has made it clear that he hasn't done it for a reason." He doesn't find the idea of sleeping with someone who can't consent all that fun for him. At least he's not that kind of man.
I pick up a pitcher and hold it over a cup, pouring him a glass of water. I brought some water in here so he can have some when he gets up. I'll prepare him something else eventually because water probably isn't all that exciting to him.
"I am glad he won't do anything sexual to you that you don't agree with. I always worry about that happening to you again."
"I worry about it too, but I would actually prefer it if he did that instead of controlling what I do. It is so suffocating to not be allowed to live freely at all," I say, looking off to the side as I put the pitcher down. "Do you want some water?"
"That would be nice."
I look back at him and pick up the glass. I hold it out to him and he takes it slowly, staring at me softly. He's the ideal man for me and I hope that I can make this time together last longer.
"Thank you, Mari," he tells me and I smile softly. I love it when we're together like this. I feel so cozy in his place so far.
"No problem, Aruto." I love him, so I enjoy doing things for him. "I want to make you happy."
I want him to become the happiest version of himself he can be when he's with me. I want to see him smile brightly for me and to always be a warm cloud I can wrap myself in. He shouldn't be have to be upset about anything. I'm going to do my best to keep him from ever being upset with me.
"Mari, can I ask you something?"
"Sure." I wonder what he wants to ask me right now.
"Do you hate your face right now?"
That is a difficult question for me to answer. I do hate that I have this face because Gai decided it, but there are good things that have happened because of this face. Aruto started to have feelings for me because of my face. He is into my personality, but it is the face that made him stare at me in the first place. He only looked my way because I stood out from the others.
"It is a complicated thing for me right now, Aruto. One moment I do hate my face and the other I don't. It is strange." I wanted Gai to hit my face so he couldn't feel so happy about what he has made. I wanted him to destroy it.
"I hate to imagine everything you've been through. You just wanted a good life and you couldn't get that."
"What matters is that I have a decent life to look forward to once I'm free from Gai's hold on me completely. Once we're divorced, I will be able to be happy and live my dream life I had before this all happened. Of course, I'll still assist you and Halo Horizons to the best of my abilities." My limited abilities. Not much I can do without transforming.
I look forward to a life where I don't have to look over my shoulder and worry about what will happen to me if I get caught. I want to live a life that is worth living. I deserve that. No one deserves to be treated like property.
"You're being awfully bright about the dark things that happened to you."
"I need to be bright so I don't drag you down in the darkness with me. Aruto, I don't need you worrying over my entire past when we can look forward to our future." As much as I want him to know everything about my past, it just isn't something he should constantly be focused on.
He nods his head and smiles. "You're right about that. We have to look forward to our future together once your marriage is over."
"I just don't want you to see me as someone who was wronged all the time. I want to be seen as the woman you love and only as the woman you love."
"I see all sides to you and that is what matters. I am truly sorry for not objecting at your wedding with Gai. I should have."
I shake my head. "No, you were right not to," I tell him. "Gai would have ended you right there and then."
I'm sure Gai was hoping for Aruto to cause a scene. He was aware of Aruto's feelings for me before I noticed his feelings for me. I was such an idiot for ignoring such an amazing person for all the crappy guys in the universe.
"Mari, I love you," Aruto says and I look down, smiling a little bit. "You're so cute!"
My face starts burning. "Aruto, you don't have to compliment me so early in the morning."
"But I have to. I love you a lot."
I look back up and grin. "I love you too, President Aruto Hiden."
"Don't be so formal."
"I just have to mess with you. I know you don't have the title since Gai has it, but I still love referring to you as it. It is a sexy title to have isn't it?" I still have that fantasy of him bending me over a desk and having a good time with me.
"Sometimes you're too much for me, Mari," Aruto replies, laughing a little bit.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Aruto..." I look over towards the exit of his room. "Do you think that is Gai?" My smile drops as my heart sinks. What if he is here to come and force me to come home with him?
"I don't think he's at my door. He probably thinks he is too high and mighty to come here," Aruto tells me, reassuring me of my safety. "I'll check who it is and then come back. Is that alright with you?"
Aruto heads to the door and leaves me alone in the room. He is so calm about what is going on and I don't blame him. One of us has to be. I know I should be the one who is, but I'm still weak and pathetic right now. I want to learn from Aruto how to become a stronger and better person.
I just want to be someone Aruto can look at and go 'Hey, she can defend herself' and be proud of that. I want him to look at me as someone who is absolutely the strongest person she can be. That is what I want him to see when he isn't staring at me with heart eyes.
"Mari, come out here and see who is here! Don't worry, it isn't anyone I'll consider dangerous to you right now!" Aruto exclaims and I swallow hard. Alright, I can go out there and see who it is.
I move to the room's exit and look into the living area as Allen stands there staring at me. He smiles and looks over at Aruto, giving him a soft stare. I think he is very aware that we're in a good place with each other.
"What is it, Allen?" I ask as my heart pounds a bit. "Did something happen?"
He shakes his head. "No, that isn't it."
"Ah, then what?"
"Aruto, I think we should talk outside," Allen says, his eyes going to over to where Aruto is standing. He wants to speak with Aruto? About what? "Mari, it isn't anything to worry about. I just want to speak with him."
"You want to speak with me? Alone?" Aruto asks him and I look over as he stares at Allen in shock. I know Aruto was listening to us speak together, so maybe it is about that.
"Yes, alone," Allen responds. "Mari, please make something nice for dinner. We're going to talk for a good amount of time, alright?"
"Alright." I wonder what they need to talk about. "Aruto, do you have anything that I can use for cooking or do I need to order some online?"
"I might have a few things. Make what you can," Aruto tells me, sounding a bit nervous. He holds out his cup to me. "Mari, can you hold onto this for me?"
"Alright, I'll take that with me into the kitchen. I'll give it back to you once you two are done talking, alright?" I smile.
"Alright." He nods and his eyes go to Allen. "We shall go and talk now. Let's do it outside away from Mari. Just in case it is business related and all, okay? She doesn't need to know what is going on with that since it isn't involving her."
"It is business related." Allen turns. "Mari, please make whatever you deem worthy of serving to your guests. You're allowed that."
"Right." I am now. "Thank you."
I guess I'm making something like ramen or rice. I don't know what he has, but I'll find out in a moment. He might even have something for side dishes. If not, I'll order something to be delivered as soon as possible.
A/n: What do you think Allen and Aruto went to go talk about?
Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with an update to this story.
Also, my updates might be a bit slow for the next few days. Not feeling so hot (not because I'm sick, but for other reasons). Thanks again and I hope you can understand!