As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

What should you do when your boyfriend's ex came looking for you? Obviously, she sought you out because she wanted you to leave your dear oh-so-awesome boyfriend.

A; turned around and ignore her.

B; talked some sense into her head.

C; kept bragging about the man that she wanted back.

D; called the guards and reported there was a sighting of a madwoman.

Himari blinked, she inwardly shook away the questionable thoughts from her mind. 

Geez, what made her think of those?

"Miss Ito, I do not want to talk to you," Himari bluntly voiced out what she felt, "Nor do I want to see you in front of me again."

Why must this woman come to her?

To force her to leave Kazuya?

Did this woman watch too many sappy dramas?

Himari actually wanted to think of nothing prejudice but, it was hard to do so in this kind of a situation.

The way Sayuri was staring at her also made her blood boil; it was an unkind gaze that you often gave to the people you found unpleasant or hate. This woman didn't even bother to hide that she disliked her.

Sayuri maintained her cool smile. Her lips were painted in glossy ruby color. The beige dress accentuated her slender figure and long legs, resembling a model.

"We have to talk," insisted Sayuri. She paid no heed to Himari's rejection.

Himari was annoyed. She put on a fake smile.

Certainly, if Himari met this Ito Sayuri outside, she won't be stingy and praise her beauty but, she couldn't do so because this woman was her man's previous lover.

Because this woman was taller, added with those 10 inches high-heels, Himari had to lift up her chin if she wanted to look at Sayuri properly.

Ugh...

Himari, calm down.

Don't think of anything. Remember that your man told you that you're the most beautiful to him.

"Sweetheart, don't ever compare yourself with anyone. No matter what, you're the most beautiful and precious to me."

Kazuya's words echoed gently in her mind. They settled down the slight inferiority Himari felt while facing Sayuri right now.

"Since you're so stubborn, let me hear what you say," replied Himari after thinking for a moment longer.

This woman was as tenacious as Jun when he tried forcing her back to him. Himari lamented the fact that both her and Kazuya's luck regarding their ex was just the same; a bad one.

"Chiharu, Aunt would sit there. I have to talk to someone."

Himari didn't forget to notify Chiharu who was still eager to play.

"Okay, Aunt," answered the dumpling sweetly.

Himari walked to the nearby bench after asking for help from a few mothers.

She didn't want to sit too far from Chiharu.  The dumpling should remain in her line of sight for her to feel at ease even though the mothers were glad to look after Chiharu alongside their children.

"Seems like Kazuya's niece has started calling you Aunt," Sayuri made a remark. A faint trace of self-mockery flickered in her eyes, unaware to Himari.

"I have told you, didn't I? When you came harassing my boyfriend, I've said that we would get married soon. Better to have her and her brother get more familiar with me."

Himari didn't have any qualm as she told the white lie. 

Although Kazuya had been actively talking about life after marriage with her, the actual matter might take longer than that.

Sayuri couldn't think of any rebuttal. She bit her lower lip hard, suppressing the bitterness from soaring within her.

When they got to the bench, Himari sat at the farthest right side while Sayuri sat on the left. Two more adults could sit between them.

The happy laughter of the children floated to where they sat but the atmosphere around Himari and Sayuri was too heavy.

"Why do you come here? Speak now if you want. I have to go back and prepare dinner for the children soon."

Himari felt that she was acting a bit childish by saying that but, she couldn't stop herself. She was annoyed enough by having to face this woman today.

Nothing good would come out when your man's ex looking for you. In most cases, the meeting won't end well.

Unless this was a scenario when the ex wanted to warn the man's new girlfriend of how much of a scumbag and a cheater that man was. 

"You should be aware that both of you are not suitable, don't you?"

Sayuri's first sentence had successfully riled Himari up. 

"Why is that? Are you trying to drag my self-esteem down?"

Yet, Himari won't easily succumb to what Sayuri might want. She continued keeping on a fake smile while dealing with this woman. 

Sayuri drew a smirk on her meticulously made-up face, "Although Kazuya doesn't seem like it, his father is a successful businessman while his mother is a famous jewelry designer abroad. They won't agree to accept a woman who's just an elementary school teacher as their daughter-in-law."

Himari inwardly shook her head.

Wasn't this seem like the classic lines for romance dramas?

"Then, would they accept you?" Himari asked Sayuri back, "Do you have the qualifications?"

"I don't want to brag but, I've been crowned as the new jewel in the fashion design industry. The awards that I won abroad are enough to set me apart from you."

Sayuri had confidence in her skills. 

Although Kazuya didn't want to get involved in his parents' businesses, he would just be harming himself by marrying an unimportant school teacher that didn't know anything. 

When the wives of the businessmen gathered together, won't this small teacher get ostracized because she wasn't on the same level as those successful wives?

"Either his parents accept me or not, the final say relies on Kazuya," Himari retorted, "His parents don't even care that he's struggling to raise the siblings up by himself. Do you think Kazuya would care about their opinions?"

Sayuri's smile stiffened.

Himari forced herself to not sigh. 

To her, this was not the same situation as Jun's parents' treatment toward her. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fujihara, especially the latter bore malice on Himari while so far, Kazuya's parents were so indifferent to their son. It seemed like they didn't even want to be involved in his life.

Although Kazuya did say that his mother was showing small changes as of late, Himari sensed that it was not something bad.

"I don't understand," Sayuri let out a repressed breath.

"Pardon?" Himari blinked.

What did this woman not understand?

"Three years ago, instead of chasing his dreams, he abandoned them just for the sake of his brother's family. Until now, he still lives for them. Why couldn't he see that what I did that year was for him to realize what's good for him?"

Sayuri was speaking without looking at Himari. Her tone was flat and subdued as if she was talking to herself. 

"Instead of me and his dreams, he chose his brother and the children..."

Even after what Kazuya questioned her back at the pavilion a few weeks ago, Sayuri was reluctant to accept it.

If she took up what had he said, wouldn't it mean that she was simply selfish and left when Kazuya needed her the most?

No.

She couldn't swallow that!

"I don't understand you either, Miss Ito."

Sayuri snapped out of her mind. She blankly stared at Himari who was frowning.

"You left him so why do you want him back? Three years ago, I've also dumped my boyfriend at that time but, even after he returned more successful, I don't go pestering him to get back with me."

Himari rose up to her feet. Her eyes remained on the little figure of Chiharu who was still playing with the slide.

It was time to go home.

Without looking at Sayuri, Himari spoke again.

"The moment you left Kazuya and the moment I left my ex, we're the ones who severed the ties. If we decided to leave, why must they weren't allowed to move on with their lives?"

If Jun ever fell in love with another girl after they broke up, Himari knew that she didn't have any right to meddle in his new relationship even if there was a possibility that she regretted the breakup later.

It was the same as Sayuri.

She was the one who chose to leave Kazuya at that time.

"Miss Ito, you've chosen your own path while Kazuya also has chosen his. I'm not saying this because Kazuya is my man. As a fellow woman, honestly, it's kinda degrading if you chase your ex back when he's already moved on and happy with someone else."

Himari adjusted the tote bag on her right shoulder. She gave a last look to Sayuri, lips smiling.

"To me, you're not really a bad person. You just make a momentary wrong decision. It's not too late for you to take a step back and focus on your present."

Flustered, Sayuri was dumbfounded.

"You... Why did you say that? To make me lower down my guard?" asked Sayuri.

Himari laughed softly, "If you're a bad person, I don't think Kazuya would date you before. Plus, you haven't done underhanded tricks so far. You came to see me face to face and you didn't try to drug Kazuya or something. You know, like in the dramas?"

"What? I won't do that!"

Sayuri abruptly stood up, eyes widened in shock.

Himari laughed again.

"Really. I won't do that kind of tricks!" Sayuri was firm as she spoke, "I have my own pride."

"That's good, then."

One arm waving at Sayuri, Himari walked toward Chiharu.

"Even though I said that but, I still hope to not see you again!" Himari yelled without looking back.

Sayuri was stunned as she watched Himari and Chiharu holding hands, heading to the bicycle parking area. 

The two figures, big and small were in harmony.