Chapter 67: At the Dining Table
Everyone was already in their seats, and I’m seeing all of them for the first time which makes me dizzy. If it wasn’t for Night, I would still be standing in front of the door staring at all of them. "Good morning, Noelle." I heard Shiho saying after Himari informed her of my presence.
"Good morning." I greeted her back.
"What’s this? The sister-in-laws already met?" A man wearing casual clothes said. By casual clothes I meant, a sweater and pants. ’I didn’t know we can just wear casual clothes. It’s hard moving in this kimono.’ I thought. "Hello there, I’m Makoto. Nice to meet you, beautiful." The same man wearing casual clothes approached me and even kissed the back of my hand.
’I-I don’t know what’s going on at all.’
"Makoto." A man in his mid-40s called for Makoto’s name. "Behave yourself." He said in Japanese which I didn’t understand.
’Wait, Tomoe should have thought me how to speak Japanese so that I can understand them! How come she didn’t teach me any of that at all?’ I’m feeling frustrated because of that, but I can feel Tomoe’s piercing gaze on me causing shivers down my spine. ’Let’s not meet her eyes.’ It was stupid of me not to realize the things I needed to learn.
Night and I sat beside each other while Shiho was sitting on my other side. ’I’m so glad Shiho doesn’t hate me.’ I thought.
When grandpa Kenta arrived, he was greeted by everyone so I stood with them and greeted him too. "My, my. You look amazing in that kimono, dear." Grandpa Kenta complimented me as he sat in the biggest chair here.
Unlike the low table back in the Yamaguchi household in the Philippines, this one resembles the table we have back at home. By home I meant in my parents’ house.
"Thank you, grandpa," I said which immediately made everyone look at me. ’Oh shoot. Was I wrong to call grandpa Kenta like that? Should I have called him oyabun or something?’ This is making me insane! It makes me wish I’m not here anymore.
We all started eating, but I can feel another piercing gaze on me. It doesn’t belong to Tomoe because she’s only looking at Night, and I can’t have the courage to look up and figure out who it belongs to. ’I feel like I’ll be getting indigestions.’
I can’t even taste the food anymore and I’m just swallowing all of it. Even so, no matter how much I tried to ignore the feeling that someone was staring at me, I couldn’t. I looked up and saw that man who called out Makoto’s name. He has his forehead creased while staring at me making me gulp my food without even chewing properly.
’I want to cough!’ But I didn’t so I swallowed again but with water this time. ’That hurts my throat oh god.’ The man’s still staring at me.
I don’t know what his name is but if I’m making assumptions, I think he’ll be uncle Ichiro. "Father, stop staring at Noelle," Himari said which made uncle Ichiro flinch. "You’re glaring at her, didn’t you know that?"
Uncle Ichiro became flustered causing me to feel confused. "I apologize for that. I forgot my glasses that’s why I can’t see well." He said in English for me to understand. ’These people are all bilingual. That’s so amazing.’ I thought. That also explains why his forehead was furrowed. ’So he doesn’t hate me. I’m so glad.’
The breakfast finished well but grandpa Kenta has other plans with his children, it’s connected with their work so I was left with Night’s cousins. "It’s great that Night finally found a bride. I didn’t expect him to do so since we all thought he’ll end up with Tomoe right here." Makoto said while we eat our desserts. "Don’t you think so, little Mizuki?" He turned to the little girl beside him who was busy eating her treats.
"Stop disturbing my little sister, you freak." The teenage girl sitting beside the little girl said.
Makoto then groaned causing me to panic. "That hurts, Misumi. When did you become so mean to your older brother?" I can’t really tell if this person named Makoto is someone older than me or someone younger. He’s frivolous and acts kind of flirty, and the way he stares at me makes me uncomfortable. "How did the two of you even meet? Don’t tell me, you’re being forced into this marriage, Noelle-chan?"
I gulped due to nervousness. How am I going to answer that if all I would tell is lies? "Makoto, shut up," Himari said, but Makoto didn’t stop there.
"Wait, we haven’t introduced ourselves to Noelle-chan yet," Makoto said with a smile. "Again, I’m Makoto Yamaguchi. I’m the son of that guy who was looking at you with furrowed eyebrows. His name is Ichiro."
"Makoto," Himari called for his name again. "Do not call father ’that guy’ again." She said as a warning. ’I don’t think I like where this is going. I want to leave.’
Makoto sighed as he swallowed his mochi whole. "Fine. That stoic girl is my younger twin sister, Himari. She always takes care of Night’s younger sister, Shiho." He said while pointing to Himari. ’So that’s why Himari keeps calling his name. It’s because they’re siblings.’ "You already know Tomoe, right? That little guy beside Night, his name is Takahiro. We call him Taka. He’s Tomoe’s younger brother."
I looked at the person beside Night. ’It feels like Makoto will lash out at me if I don’t pay attention to what he’s saying.’ "He’s a judo athlete just like this sassy girl. She’s Misumi, uncle Masashi’s second daughter." Makoto said, pointing to the girl who called him a freak.
"Stop pointing at me with your filthy finger," Misumi said in Japanese. ’I didn’t understand at all but it looks like it doesn’t sound good.’ She was glaring at Makoto with her cat-slit black eyes.
"See that? She’s really mean." Makoto said. He’s the only one that keeps talking inside this huge dining room. ’I somehow feel kind of bad for him.’ "This little one here is Mizuki. She’s the youngest daughter of uncle Masashi. Say hi to Noelle-chan." He said the last sentence in Japanese, and that’s how he made Mizuki look at me. Her face was flushed as she took a little bow, it was adorable!
Makoto smiled at me. "Oh, right. That other guy is Junichi, and the one beside him is Junpei." He quickly introduced those two other guys without even saying anything more about them.
The guy named Junpei stood up. "I’m done hearing Makoto’s voice." He said in Japanese as he left the room.
"Why are everyone so mean in this place, right?" Makoto turned back to me. "Does Yoru act mean towards you Noelle-chan?" Yoru? Does he mean Night? Do they call him Yoru? Is that Night’s Japanese name?
I didn’t notice that I didn’t answer which is why everyone was already staring at my face. "N-Night doesn’t act mean at all." What a bunch of lies.
"Heh? Don’t you think I look better than Yoru? I’m even a better man." The silence after that caused me to panic. ’W-What should I say? Is he joking with me?’ "It’s a joke. Calm down." Makoto said soon after. Did he notice that I was panicking because of his question?
Before Makoto could say anything else, Night stood up from his seat. "Let’s go." He told me as he reached his hand out. I was dumbfounded that I only stared at his hand for a couple of minutes. ’Shoot! I forgot that we must act lovey-dovey to make his cousins stop doubting our relationship.’ After realizing that, I accepted Night’s hand and I stood up from my seat.
"If you’ll excuse us," I said. Shiho bid me goodbye and so did the others.
As soon as Night and I got out of that room, I felt my knees getting weaker and I almost fell to the floor if it wasn’t for Kenji’s fast reflex. ’I’m so glad he’s still outside.’ "What happened, milady?" He asked with a worried tone. Before I could even answer, Kenji immediately let me go which made me lose balance and I was about to fall on my butt.
Night caught me before I fall and I looked up at his face. "Stop playing around." That’s what he said as he helped me stand. "Accompany her to her lessons." He said in Japanese and after that, he left. ’I’m not the one he’s supposed to scold. It was Kenji who let me go.’
"What was that for?" I turned to Kenji but he scratched the back of his head.
"I’m sorry, I felt scared touching the lady," Kenji said. "I even felt shivers down my spine. It was scary." What is he talking about?
My forehead creased. "After all this time? What’s with that?"
"It’s the first time the young master glared at me like that." I raised an eyebrow hearing that. "You know, the young master’s been possessive since he was a child. Even though he was kind not to tell it to me, I know he hates it when other people touch the things he owns."
I don’t even know what he’s trying to say. "Yeah, right. Let’s just go already."
I thought it was only Night who could make me feel so drain, but I guess his cousins are the same.
