Chapter 79: The Things We Couldn't Keep
The chandelier lights above the grand hall shimmered like stars trapped inside glass. White roses lined the aisle, expensive curtains draped the walls, and soft classical music echoed across the empty venue.
Noriko stood quietly in the middle of it all.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Perfect.
At least that's what everyone always said.
James walked beside her with a polite smile, hands tucked into his pockets as he looked around the massive wedding venue.
"So," James asked gently, "what do you think about the venue?"
Noriko forced herself to look around.
"It's good," she answered softly. "I think it's good, James."
James smiled warmly.
"It's 'honey,' right?"
Noriko froze slightly.
James laughed awkwardly and reached for her hand.
But before he could touch her—
Noriko instinctively stepped away.
Silence.
James' hand remained hanging awkwardly in the air before he slowly lowered it.
"…Right," he muttered with a bitter smile.
Noriko looked away immediately.
"…Sorry."
James shook his head quickly.
"No, no. It's okay."
But it clearly wasn't.
The distance between them remained.
A distance James could never seem to close no matter how kind he was.
Noriko sighed softly and turned toward the large glass windows of the venue.
Outside, families walked along the streets below. Children laughed while running around their parents.
Then—
A little boy passed by holding his father's hand.
Noriko's eyes widened slightly.
"…I think Kota is around that age now…"
A tiny laugh escaped her lips unconsciously.
And then—
Memories crashed into her heart all at once.
Kota running around the bookstore.
Kota calling her "mom" in broken baby words.
Max chasing him while panicking because he almost climbed a bookshelf.
The tiny apartment.
Their dinners together.
The warmth.
The peace.
The happiness she once thought would last forever.
Her vision blurred.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
James immediately noticed.
"…Noriko?"
But Noriko wasn't there anymore.
Her mind drifted years back.
Back to the moment everything changed.
---
The moment she arrived in America, her life stopped belonging to her.
Her mother wasted no time.
School.
Etiquette.
Social gatherings.
Private tutors.
Business dinners.
Every single day became a schedule.
Wake up.
Study.
Smile.
Repeat.
Noriko was pushed endlessly toward perfection.
Toward becoming someone "valuable."
And her beauty only made things worse.
Suitors came constantly.
Rich sons.
Young businessmen.
Politicians.
Men who looked at her like she was some kind of trophy.
But her mother rejected most of them immediately.
"Not rich enough."
"Not influential enough."
"Not useful."
Noriko stopped counting after a while.
Then—
James appeared.
Young.
Wealthy.
A rising businessman with powerful connections.
And worst of all—
He genuinely fell for her.
Love at first sight.
That's what people called it.
James saw Noriko at a formal event and immediately decided she was the woman he wanted to marry.
Meanwhile, Noriko's mother practically celebrated.
Finally.
A perfect investment.
Meetings were arranged constantly.
Calls.
Dinners.
Private outings.
No matter how busy James was, he always made time for Noriko.
And James truly tried.
He was patient.
Gentle.
Kind.
But no matter how kind he was…
Noriko's heart remained somewhere else.
Somewhere far away.
Inside a small bookstore in Japan.
---
Ring… Ring… Ring…
Noriko blinked and looked at her phone.
"Aiko…"
She answered immediately.
"It's you," Noriko said quietly. "Did you find your son?"
On the other side, Aiko sighed dramatically.
"That mole is really hiding deep inside his cave."
Noriko shook her head tiredly.
"You're still searching?"
"Obviously."
Aiko laughed lightly.
"Anyway, enough about me. Can you at least act excited about your wedding?"
Noriko looked around the beautiful venue again.
The flowers.
The lights.
The expensive decorations.
And yet—
It all felt empty.
"…Can you at least come?" Noriko asked softly.
"Yeah, sure."
Aiko's voice became quieter.
"You know… when we were little, I hated you."
Noriko blinked.
"…What?"
"Mother always picked you over me."
A small bitter laugh came from the phone.
"But now I just pity you."
Noriko stayed silent.
"Because you became exactly what she wanted."
Aiko sighed.
"A marriage mule."
The words stabbed deeper than expected.
"We're kinda the same," Aiko continued. "But at least I'm getting something from my marriage. You? You just surrendered."
Noriko forced a weak laugh.
"Yeah… yeah…"
"I'll visit soon," Aiko said. "And continue the search."
Noriko lowered her gaze.
"…Okay."
"Bye."
"Bye…"
The call ended.
Silence returned.
Noriko slowly sat down near the empty aisle.
Her chest felt heavy.
So heavy.
"When did things go wrong…?" she whispered weakly.
She stared blankly ahead.
"I knew it…"
A trembling laugh escaped her lips.
"I knew happy moments never lasted forever…"
Her fingers slowly tightened together.
"…I miss the library."
Her voice cracked.
"The smell of books…"
"The children…"
"…Kota…"
Tears rolled down her cheeks again.
And then—
"…Him."
Her breathing became shaky.
"…Max."
The name alone destroyed her completely.
Noriko slowly touched her lips.
And suddenly—
Memories flooded her again.
Max smiling while covered in paint.
Max laughing helplessly because Kota drew on the wall.
Max kissing her softly late at night.
Max holding her hand.
Max crying when she disappeared.
Noriko covered her mouth immediately as sobs escaped her.
"How can fate be this cruel…?"
Her shoulders trembled violently.
"I just wanted it to stay that way forever…"
Her tears fell endlessly now.
"Why did it have to become like this…?"
She lowered her head completely.
"Why can't I just be happy…?"
Her voice shattered.
"…I really just want to di—"
"Noriko?"
She froze.
James stood nearby, looking worried.
"…Why are you crying?"
Noriko quickly wiped her tears away.
"…Nothing."
James slowly approached.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
James hesitated before speaking carefully.
"I know this marriage is arranged…"
Noriko looked away.
"But you can lean on me," James continued softly. "You can tell me what's wrong."
His eyes were sincere.
"I really want you to open up to me and—"
"IT'S OKAY!"
Noriko's voice suddenly rose sharply.
James froze immediately.
Noriko looked horrified at herself.
"…Just… leave me alone."
Silence.
James looked lost.
Confused.
Like he wanted to understand her but simply couldn't.
"…Okay," he whispered quietly.
Then he walked away slowly.
Noriko watched him leave before breaking down again.
She hated herself.
James wasn't a bad person.
That made it worse.
Much worse.
Because no matter how kind he was…
He wasn't Max.
---
Back in Japan.
The house felt unusually cold.
Max sat alone in front of his laptop.
The commission request remained open.
That picture still sat on the screen.
Noriko smiling beside his brother.
Max stared at it for a long time.
Then slowly—
He closed the file.
Cancelled the order.
His hands trembled slightly.
"I can't…"
He laughed bitterly.
"How the hell am I supposed to paint the face I still love?"
Silence.
Then—
Max leaned back and covered his eyes.
His chest hurt.
Everything hurt.
But slowly…
That pain transformed.
Not into sadness.
Into resolve.
Max lowered his hand.
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…No."
He took a deep breath.
Then another.
He stood up slowly.
Gathering himself.
Gathering courage he didn't even know he still had.
"…I'm going."
The words felt heavy.
Terrifying.
But real.
"I'm going to that wedding."
Even if it destroyed him.
Even if seeing Noriko again shattered every part of him.
He needed answers.
He needed closure.
Or maybe…
A miracle.
---
Far away.
Inside a filthy apartment filled with empty beer cans and cigarette smoke—
A man zipped up his bag.
His beard was cleaner now.
His eyes darker.
Colder.
He picked up a plane ticket.
Japan.
A twisted grin slowly spread across his face.
"…Time to go home."
The room echoed with his laughter as the screen slowly faded to black.
End of Chapter.