Revised Edition – Chapter 21
“Ah—I didn’t mean to make you cry, brother-in-law… I’m so sorry. I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”
My former cousin-in-law, startled by my sudden tears, hastily stood up and quickly left the café.
And there I was—
a middle-aged man in his forties, left behind and crying.
Damn, I couldn’t have looked more pathetic if I tried!
If my ex-wife had known about my flings,
well… this is just karma.
Serves me right.
But that night, the only thing that kept circling in my mind was—
my ex-wife’s current lover.
Wh–Who the hell is that guy!?
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
There was one person I wanted to tell first that I had divorced my husband.
That person was Ren-san.
Before I knew it, he had become both my emotional support—
and the person I’d fallen in love with.
And when I realized it, I didn’t just want to tell him in words—
I wanted to throw myself, heart and body, straight into his arms.
…Of course, that’s only how I felt—
we hadn’t even held hands, nor shared any physical touch.
From the very next day after my divorce,
I began visiting the temple where Ren-san lived more frequently than ever.
Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Then one midsummer day—
when the cicadas were shrilling noisily around the temple grounds—
I climbed up a stepladder inside to retrieve some kitchenware stored high above my reach.
The temple master’s wife had asked me to get it, since Ren-san happened to be out.
Just as I was searching, Ren-san returned home.
When I turned toward him to greet him—
“Welcome back”—
I lost my balance and fell.
The moment I began to fall until I hit the ground—
it was like time slowed to a crawl,
and I could see myself falling in slow motion.
While I was still strangely impressed by that,
Ren-san rushed forward to catch me.
I landed against his chest,
and the two of us tumbled together onto the floor.
When I came to, I was lying on top of him.
I hurried to apologize and tried to get off him—
but Ren-san pulled me close and kissed me deeply.
It was the kind of kiss that made my head buzz—like electricity running through me.
I was so happy I thought I’d die of embarrassment.
Seeing my flushed face, Ren-san smiled and said,
“You’re adorable.”
Then he held me tightly in his arms.
That was it—I was done for. Too happy, too overwhelmed. My heart couldn’t take it.
