After a few more minutes of basking in her fantasies, Hannah lifted her head up and looked towards Mika. She was smiling at her but there was also a hint of sadness in her eyes. Both of them knew that the joy of this moment wouldn’t last for too long.
Mamoru shifted his head to the side and slowly sat up. With a slight groan, he twisted his head side to side in an effort to loosen his stiff muscles.
“Sorry Ha-chan,” he mumbled, his sleep-thick voice sending shivers down her spine. “I am sleepy,”
“That’s okay. You’ve had a busy day.”
“Mmm,” he agreed as he reached for his drink. Hannah was surprised to see he was using his left hand instead of the right one. She was certain that as soon as he sat up he would take back his hand from hers. But the two were still joined on his knee.
One of Mamoru’s friends came over to tell him that their taxi was here. A cold chill ran through Hannah as he detangled their hands and rose to his feet; she wasn’t ready for him to leave yet. But there was nothing she could do. With a small wave and a “see you next time” he was gone.
Maybe it was the alcohol in her system, not that she drank a lot since she has to work tomorrow, or maybe just the stress of the week, but Hannah finally lost the battle with the tears. In the corners of her eyes a pinching feeling began to form and trails of hot water ran down her cheeks. Normally the weight of everyone’s eyes on her would be unbearable but tonight she didn’t care. She was tired of playing games with that man. But no matter how hard she tried to quit him, she continued to go back for more. Tonight was no different. In her mind, the tears were justifiable.
Suddenly the bar door opened and Mamoru stumbled back in with a laugh. His cheeks were red with embarrassment as he spoke to one of the bartenders. But all emotions except for shock fled his face when he laid eyes on Hannah.
“Ha-chan! Are you okay?”
As much as she wanted to assure him that she was fine, Hannah couldn’t lie to him anymore. Fighting to keep her sobs suppressed, she squeezed her lips together and shook her head from side to side.
Dropping his bags, Mamoru rushed over to her and crouched down at her side.
“What’s wrong?” he questioned as he placed a hand over hers.
Closing her eyes in an effort to regain control, Hannah scrubbed at her cheeks with her shirt sleeve. Never before had she felt like such a child.
“I’m fine,” she said although the thickness of her voice implied otherwise. “Don’t worry. Oh! You have a taxi waiting for you. You should go.”
Frowning, Mamoru turned and spoke to someone behind him and then gently grasped Hannah’s hand.
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