A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 249: Quiet Contentment ( 249 )

Chapter 249: Quiet Contentment ( 249 )

Haruki stepped inside, smiling.

"I’m home," he said softly.

Kyouko reached for his bag with one hand, and his chest with the other, then leaned up and kissed his cheek.

Inside her mind:

See, Satoshi?

This is how it should be.

Not cold silence.

Not hollow touches.

But this.

A man who looks at me like I’m his whole world.

A home that feels alive.

A love that doesn’t need to be forced.

This is my life now.

That night.

Haruki had long since fallen asleep.

breathing softly, peacefully beside her after utterly ravishing her.

Kyouko stirred quietly beneath the sheets.

Still tired.

Still sore in the most delicious way.

But seeing his face in the soft glow of the nightlight...

She couldn’t resist.

She leaned over and gently kissed his cheek.

"I’m going to the toilet first," she whispered faintly against his ear.

She slipped from the bed quietly, wrapping a robe around her.

Her bare feet padded across the floor as she stepped toward the small toilet near the kitchen.

Ping.

She noticed the notification flash on her phone, left on the counter.

She picked it up and blinked.

She opened the message.

Hanako:

Kyouko? Your father been asking and keep asking to call or message you~

When you coming back home? (ง •̀_•́)ง

Since you already divorce... where are you living right now??

Don’t tell me~ (≖ᴗ≖✿)

Kyouko blinked... then softly smiled.

Typical mother.

Even her teasing came with layers of care.

She typed back slowly with one hand while the other hand rubbed her belly softly.

Kyouko:

I’ll call tomorrow morning, Mother

I’m living somewhere safe. Quiet.

Tell Father I’m okay, alright? (˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

I’ll visit soon.

Then after a pause...

She hit send.

Hanako’s "read" notification appeared almost immediately.

And then came the reply.

Hanako:

Aha~ So it’s like that huh?

Who is this "someone"?

Is he tall? Handsome? Rich? Nice?

Wait—

Don’t tell me it’s THAT man we already suspect? (￣ー￣)ﾆﾔﾘ

I KNEW it.

Kyouko let out a breathless chuckle.

She shook her head fondly.

Her phone buzzed again.

Hanako:

Oh—by the way...

Your father said if you could contact Haruki-kun

,since you’re no longer living in the Harusawa residence~

...he’s sure Haruki’s living somewhere (¬‿¬)

Kyouko blinked, then let out a quiet laugh.

She brought a hand to her mouth, trying not to wake Haruki in the bedroom.

Mother... you’re too obvious.

Just as the corner of her mouth curved upward—

Another message came in.

Hanako:

Your strict father also said

If you do come back to Okinawa,

bring Haruki with you next time, okay?

We’ll prepare the garden for dinner (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Kyouko stood still for a moment, smiling at the warm glow rising in her chest.

Inside her mind:

So even Father said that...

She shook her head softly, gaze turning toward the dark hallway,

toward the room where Haruki slept.

Where her new life... quietly bloomed.

She typed slowly.

Kyouko:

I’ll bring him.

And yes... he’s living somewhere.

She hit send.

The breeze from the open window brushed past her cheeks.

And for the first time in years...

she felt completely at peace.

Ping.

Another message arrived.

Hanako:

Ara~ my daughter is bold now~ (ღ✪v✪)ღ

My, my~

Kyouko couldn’t help but chuckle.

She shook her head, thumbs already typing.

Kyouko:

You all already knew, didn’t you?

The three dots appeared as Hanako typed her reply.

Then—

Hanako:

I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kyouko-chan~ (⁄ ⁄)♡

Who is this mysterious "someone" you keep mentioning?

Could it be... the kind, tall young man who helped your father drink too much last time? (¬‿¬)

Kyouko let out a small laugh under her breath.

Inside her heart, she felt the warmth.

Not just of love,

but of finally being seen.

And quietly supported.

She smiled, leaned against the wall with the phone in her hands.

Kyouko:

I’ll call you tomorrow morning, Mother.

And yes...

That "someone" is doing very well.

Thank you. ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

Just as Kyouko lowered the phone, another message appeared.

Hanako:

Don’t forget to call tomorrow~

You know how strict your father is. (ーー;)

No matter how adult you are...

You’re still our baby daughter~ (づ￣ ³￣)づ♡

Kyouko smiled softly.

She typed gently, heart warm.

Kyouko:

Yes, Mother. I’ll call tomorrow.

Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll tell you right away.

Goodnight, Mother.

Just as she was about to lock her phone again.

Ping.

Another bubble popped up.

Hanako:

Good grief...

Are you drunk? (¬_¬")

It’s dawn already, not night! ＼(≧▽≦)／

Kyouko covered her mouth, holding back a quiet laugh.

She shook her head.

Then typed her final message:

Kyouko:

Fufu~ Sorry.

You’re right...

I’ll say good morning, then. (⁄ ⁄)

Good morning, Mother. I love you.

She pressed send, placed the phone down...

and turned toward the dark hallway.

Haruki was still asleep.

She could hear his breathing, slow and deep.

Kyouko walked softly back to the room,

pulled the covers gently,

and lay beside him.

Her hand slid into his...

and she smiled.

Yes... this is where I belong.

Meanwhile, back in Okinawa...

Hanako sat up slowly beside her husband, brushing her long, graying hair away from her cheek.

A small smile played on her lips.

Next to her, Kitayama was already asleep—his deep, steady breaths filling the quiet room.

She turned to look at him fondly.

After all these years... he still had needs.

And with today’s medicine.

Hanako chuckles. Well, let’s just say modern science had its uses.

As a wife, she saw it as her quiet duty, her pleasure... and her joy.

To support her husband.

To love him.

To let him know he was still desired, even in his late sixties.

And truth be told—

Even though she was well past sixty herself...

and long past menopause...

Thanks to her good genes and naturally youthful face,

people still often mistook her for someone in her forties.

No, her skin wasn’t as smooth as it used to be.

Her body had softened in the ways time allows.

But her husband?

He still wanted her.

Every day.

And she?

She still responded.

Still felt it.

Still climaxed—softly, deeply, sweetly.

There was no shame in that.

No embarrassment in being an older woman with a heart.

Hanako gently pulled the blanket up over both of them.

Inside her mind:

This is what it means to grow old together.

To keep loving... not just out of habit, but with real warmth.

She smiled quietly to herself.

Kyouko... if Haruki truly loves you...

Then even decades from now, may you still look at each other the way I look at your father.

( End Of Chapter )