Ex-Girlfriend vs. Eiji’s Mother
She smiles her usual smile, but her eyes aren’t smiling.
I know immediately how Eiji’s mother feels about me.
Pure anger and disappointment. Why is it directed at me? No way, did Eiji tell her?
“Hello, Auntie.”
I returned the usual greeting as best I could.
I hope it was just my imagination. Shivering inwardly, I returned with a strained smile.
“Yes, hello. Can I help you?”
I flinched at the cold stare of the woman who would normally return a friendly smile.
Usually, when she sees me, she says, “It’s Eiji, isn’t it? I’ll call him right away.”
“Um, Eiji is….”
“He’s in there, what can I do for you?”
I got a cold answer in no time.
“That’s….”
The answer is so cold that I hesitate for a moment.
“I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t get involved in your relationship when I’m supposed to be a parent.”
I can’t help but cry when I see the woman who shows such a sense of businesslike rejection.
“What does that mean?”
“Ask yourself. Actually, I found out that you were having an affair before Eiji found out.”
These sharp words make my heart race. Having an affair. Before Eiji found out. What, what do you mean?
“…”
I heard the sound of my blood being drained.
“Actually, when I was having tea at a gathering in the shopping district, I saw you holding hands with a man who wasn’t Eiji.”
“…”
I shout inwardly. No. My aunt has always been good to me. She was always kind to me, and she cared more for me than for Eiji. That’s why I….
“Of course, as long as you are not married, you are legally free to fall in love. You are high school students after all, so you can hurt each other. You can hurt each other and things can happen. I thought Eiji was just being quiet because he didn’t want to bother me. That’s what I thought. It’s a shame, but you two have mutually agreed to part ways.”
With my back sweating profusely, I tried to form some words. But no words came out of my mouth.
“I found out something was wrong on the day of his birthday. He said he was going on a date with you and left the house. And then he came back with a desperate look on his face and locked himself in for a few days. That’s when I found out. I realized that you were cheating on him.”
I knew very well that no excuse could be accepted by an old woman who had more life experience than I had. I opened my mouth and let out a cry that can’t be put into words.
“No, that’s…”
“I guess you have a point. You may have something to say. But I have no obligation or duty to listen to you. I don’t want to hate you more than this, so can you please stop making up these ridiculous excuses?”
It felt like I was being slowly strangled.
I was constantly cornered.
“I’m sorry.”
That was all I could say, and I looked down to hold back the tears.
“I don’t want to hear those apologies. I’ve known you for over 10 years, so I’m going to give you one last piece of advice. Love is free. But no one has the right to play with or trample on the other person’s genuine goodwill. It may not be a crime. But I think it is a more serious crime. From now on, just be reasonable.”
“…Would you please let me meet Eiji?”
She replied with a bit of anger in her voice.
“I don’t want to. What kind of mother would allow an unfaithful woman to trample on the goodwill of her precious son? I’m not that good-natured. I think it’s a matter for Eiji to decide in the end. At the very least, I would like to ask you to stay out of my sight from now on. You are not worthy to be with my son.”
Her rejection left me an emotional wreck.
In a way, my aunt treated me like her own daughter. So did my late uncle. So did my brother …
People who treated me like family told me never to come back. These words of rejection trigger the crumbling of something precious inside me.
Like a broken toy, it crumbles on the sidewalk.
“Oh no, oh no….”
I sobbed like a baby and the woman came to finish me off.
“I’m sorry. This is the front of the store. If you’re crying, you’re interfering with our business. Please move quickly out of the way.”
When she closes the curtain at the end of the day, I’m greeted with a quick glance, “Goodbye, Miyuki!’’ and am confronted with the fact that I can’t go back.
Normally, there would be a “see you later” line.
I couldn’t move for a while. I couldn’t stop crying.