"I have a confession."
Sakura's voice echoed in the empty hall, quiet but firm.
Haru turned to her, a small amused smile playing on his lips. "Pray do tell?"
She hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I don't really need to go to the bathroom."
Haru chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Well, obviously. You know, I've noticed something about you when you're lying—you lift your chin a little bit—like you have to muster up some courage. It's cute."
His words sent a sharp pang through Sakura's chest, and suddenly, she wasn't standing in the hallway anymore.
She was somewhere else.
That day. That moment.
The memory crashed over her like a tidal wave.
…
The evening of Haru and Mia's wedding.
She had knocked on his door, intending to check in on him, only to be greeted instantly. He had looked breathtaking—dressed in white, his black hair neatly styled, his grey eyes locked onto hers. He had smiled, but it hadn't reached his eyes.
"Wow, look at you!" she had said, playfully.
"Look at you," Haru had countered, his voice quieter, more intense. "You look... gorgeous."
Her breath had hitched, but she ignored it, forcing a smile. "Just wait till you see your bride tonight. She's definitely more beautiful than me."
Haru had barely whispered his response. "I highly doubt that."
It was the way he had said it—like he wasn't just talking about appearances, but something deeper.
Something he wished he could say out loud.
Later, when they were alone, he had asked her, "I'm guessing you don't like my suit?"
She had forced herself to lie. "Of course I like it. It suits you very well."
But Haru had caught her immediately, his voice teasing but laced with something else. "Sakura Suzuki, I've known you for nine years. And I know that when you're lying, you lift your chin a little bit—like you have to muster up some courage. It's cute."
She had tried to deflect, but he hadn't let her. "If you don't like it, just say it."
Frustrated, she had finally snapped, "Fine, I hate it. I think the colour doesn't suit you, and you should've gone with black. Are you happy now?"
But the truth was… the suit wasn't the problem.
It was the fact that he was wearing it for another woman.
She hadn't understood it then, why her chest had ached, why she had wanted to cry.
But now… now she knew.
She had been jealous.
…
The memory shattered like glass, bringing Sakura back to the present.
And now that Sakura was given a second chance—now that Haru was finally her's all she'd been doing was taking—never giving him anything in return for all the times he had helped her.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Haru was watching her carefully, concern in his eyes. "Sakura? Are you not feeling good?"
She didn't answer. She couldn't. The emotions crashing inside her were too overwhelming.
Without thinking, she moved—closing the distance between them in one desperate motion. She threw her arms around his neck, catching him off guard and sending them both tumbling to the floor.
And then—she broke.
"No—no, I'm not feeling good!" she sobbed. "I'm not feeling good because you keep lying to me! You say you're okay when you're not! I'm not stupid, you know?! I know there's something going on that you're not telling me! And I just—I just wish that you would tell me!"
Haru tensed beneath her, his hands hovering uncertainly at her back.
Then, slowly, gently, he wrapped his arms around her.
His voice was quiet, pained. "I'm sorry. It's just that this was your first day back after what happened with Kenji, and I knew today was going to be tough on you. I didn't want to worry you."
Sakura sniffled against his shoulder. " If you don't want to worry me then tell me. Let me help you the way you help me."
Haru hesitated for a moment, then exhaled, the weight on his chest finally breaking free. "The thing is… I saw Aoi and Mia lying in bed together last night."
Sakura stilled. Her breath caught.
Haru swallowed hard. "T-they said they're dating now. I couldn't believe it, so I drove to Kei's house that night and—"
Sakura's grip on him tightened.
He let out a broken laugh, shaking his head. "I—I can't believe Aoi would betray me like that. He knows how much I hate that woman—she was terrible to you. I don't trust her one bit. And yet… Aoi went behind my back and pursued her."
His voice cracked on the last words.
Sakura felt her heart twist painfully.
She had been so caught up in her own feelings that she hadn't noticed—Haru was hurting too. He had been carrying this burden alone, suffering in silence just so she wouldn't worry.
She pulled back just enough to look at him, her hands cupping his face.
His grey eyes, usually so steady, so full of warmth, now held a pain that made her stomach sink.
Sakura inhaled shakily.
"You don't have to carry everything alone, Haru."
Her thumbs brushed away the tears he hadn't realised had fallen.
His hands found her waist, his grip firm, grounding. "Sakura…"
She smiled through her tears, her voice gentle but firm. "We're together now, aren't we? So let me carry some of this pain with you."
For a moment, Haru just stared at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Then, slowly, he pulled her closer—his forehead pressing against hers, his breath uneven.
And for the first time since last night, Haru let himself breathe.
Because she was here.
And maybe, just maybe… he released all the emotions he had bottles up.