Takagi Ryuuji changed into slippers, placing his oxfords at the getabako . It has been long since he was called into the old house of the Igaras.h.i.+s .

Two nights before, he received a call from the lady of the house .

"h.e.l.lo, Takagi-san . "

"Ah! Ko-konbanwa, Madam Xiu . " He was fl.u.s.tered to receive a call from Midori's mother .

"I'd like a meeting with you . "

Takagi Ryuuji could still remember how the iron lady of the Igaras.h.i.+ clan begged him for help .

And, there he was, still having no idea what to do .

Standing at the end of the hallway was Aoi Xiu, cradling an infant in her arms .

Takagi Ryuuji remembered her words the day before .

"Midori's husband died a month ago . They have a son . "

He could not let the words sink in, not until now that he saw the child .

When he reached the lady of the house, he greeted, "Madam Xiu . " He bowed .

"Takagi-kun . " She recognized back .

He avoided looking at the child .

Aoi Xiu noticed this . "This is Dmitri Zhou . . . Midori's son . " she declared .

Takagi Ryuuji gulped . He was still bitter of the fact that Midori married another . It was even harder for him to accept that she now has a son .

"Hmn . " He nodded in recognition, still avoiding to look closer on the features of the child .

Aoi Xiu observed him closely . Maybe it was too early for him to be alright with her grandson .

"Madam, where . . . where is Midori?" He tried looking around .

"Behind the door . " Aoi Xiu moved from her place to unblock the door behind her .

It was the only bedroom door in the old house which had a solid wooden door .

Aoi Xiu strode away with her grandson after gesturing Takagi Ryuuji to come into the room .

He sighed heavily and braced himself . He opened the door gently, causing a slow, a bit eerie creak of the old, but st.u.r.dy wood .

He gaped at the scene before him .

On the bed lied Midori, not moving an inch, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling .

Aoi Xiu's words echoed in his mind .

"She lost him for a month now, but her grief was too much . I understand that the sudden loss would be hard to accept for such a short amount of time, and I do not expect that from her . It's just that . . . she can't even take care of her son anymore . It's like she lost the will to live . If . . . if she could at least talk to familiar people . . . I had asked her friends, but still . . . not even a reaction was seen . Can you . . . at least try . . . to breach her walls?"

If he could not see her breathing with the movement of her chest and the hands resting atop her abdomen, Takagi Ryuuji would really think that Midori Xiu is dead on the bed .

"Midori . . . " he walked towards the bed .

Silence answered him . He continued his monologue .

"So, Aoi-bachan told me that you were married . " He had a chuckle . "I met your little boy along the hallway . He's adorable . " He came closer and decided to sit on the side of the bed .

"You're mean! You know that? Didn't even invite me on your wedding!" He pouted like a spoiled kid .

Still, no reaction .

"Midori, can you tell me about your son? Was it hard for you when you were pregnant? Come to think of it, if he is here now, then, you were pregnant when you were still working in the Igaras.h.i.+ group?! Oh wow, how did you keep it a secret?!"

Midori stayed still, no matter how enthusiastic he sounded .

"Midori, I believe you owe me a lot of explanations . After all, you rejected me for him, didn't you?"

________________

On a tropical little town, a lady carried a rattan basket filled with fruits, vegetables, and some eggs .

She entered a nipa hut by drawing its curtains made of sh.e.l.ls hanging from strings .

"Louella!" She called out .

A little girl of about five years old hurriedly came running towards her .

"Ma!" The girl hugged her mother .

"Did you watch over your father?"

"Yes! I even cleaned his wounds!"

"Good! Now, help me in the kitchen . "

The mother and daughter cooked together, happily laughing and singing as they did .

A pair of hazel eyes were reavealed by lids that parted after hearing their songs .