Rainy Days (Shun x Umi)

Tick…
Tock…
Tick…
Tock….

The clock ticked endlessly as it always had, but for Umi, time seemed to coalesce into nothingness, something that didn’t matter. It seemed that when he left, everything lost its meaning, its radiance. So she just watched the raindrops collect at her window today, the little droplets trickling down every now and then, much like the tears on her face earlier. Her eyes were puffy and red from weeping for days on end, and the hair on her forehead stuck from sweat.

Absentmindedly, she picked up a picture that was on the table before her. It was taken while they were still both in high school. Shun’s arm was about her hips, holding her close to him as he wore his trademark goofy smile. Her face was red as she tried to smile sheepishly, hands clasped in front of her. Umi had been looking at the picture repeatedly for days, and it always brought pain to her heart, yet she couldn’t stop looking at it. It reminded her of happier times, before her world came crashing down.

Shun had been asked by some of his friends to go on a boating trip. They were just going to hang out by the sea, perhaps catch some fish. Just some guy time he said, but he’d be home in a couple of days. Umi agreed, of course, and bid him a safe return. She watched as their little fishing boat disappeared in the sunset, and went home, anticipating his return.

However, those days turned into a week, and weeks turned to a month, and Shun still hadn’t returned. Umi started to get really worried. Then one day, a coast guard went to their home and told her he saw a boat sinking, and it looked like the one Shun and his friends were on. He said the reason for his absence was that there was a possibility they could have died. She had sunk to her knees and wept.

Umi changed that day. She left the house less often, and rarely talked to anyone, even her siblings.

Umi traced her finger across the picture, and when she hovered over Shun, tears started to pool again. Then, she looked to the ring on her finger, and she wept again. She clutched the frame to her chest, as if it were a lifeline.  

She had been so happy to finally be together, without the obstacle of incest in the way. She knew he couldn’t have possibly been her brother, it had to have been a mistake. When they found out that it had, in fact, been a misunderstanding, she was so overjoyed. Not long after the ordeal was over, they started dating, and she couldn’t have been happier. The next few years had been pure bliss for her.

Then about a year ago, while walking by the harbor where she had first confessed her love to him, Shun had proposed to her, asking for her to spend her life with him. That had been the best moment of her life, and she quickly said yes as she embraced him tightly.

He had been so handsome on their wedding day. He wore a navy blue tuxedo, and tucked a white rose on his front pocket. His usually messy hair was sleeked back for the occasion, and he wore the softest smile as she walked the isle.  She had to refrain herself from crying as he said his vows.

Now, however, he was gone, and her happiness with it too. She can’t hold her tears anymore, even though she wanted to. She had to be strong. When she finally had joy, when she could finally get over her father’s death, the sea swallows another important person in her life. Umi couldn’t bear losing someone else. She had had enough. All she could do now is sob.

Then, there was knock at her door. She stopped crying, confused because she didn’t expect anyone to be out in the rain. Wiping her eyes against her sleeve, she slowly got up to answer it. Grabbing the doorknob, she slowly turned it to greet the person.

“Yes?”

……

“Hey Umi, I’m home. Sorry I’m late.”

Time stopped, as well as her heart. Her eyes widened, and she froze. This had to be a dream right? Just an illusion of her imagination. She must have finally gone crazy. She must have fallen asleep crying again.

“What’s the matter? It’s me, Umi.”

It couldn’t be a dream, his voice sounded too real. Could it be?

“I’m so sorry, our boat capsized and we had to row back on a lifeboat to the nearest land, and it happened to be really far from here. It took me a while to get home, I know, but I’m home now.”

Shun then cupped her face with his palms, and bore his eyes into hers. His gaze was so sincere, she couldn’t deny it anymore. It was really he, alive and safe.

Then, she threw herself into his chest, and wept again. Her sadness, anxiousness, anger, joy and all of the emotions she’d kept inside poured out from her as she clung to him. He hugged her just as tight, and kissed the top of her head. Shun rubbed one of his hands soothingly on her back, then pulled her away from him. He gave her a peck on the lips and wiped the tears away from her face, saying,

“Don’t cry anymore, I’m home Umi.”