I Planned My Escape Because I Knew Her Secret - Episode 36

I temporarily let go of Madoka’s hand and took out a small cloth pouch from my pants pocket.

When I opened the drawstring pouch, I had taken out, there was a pearl ring inside.

“Madoka, this time I will keep my promise to marry you. Let me put this ring on your finger myself.”

“When did you bring this?”

“Just before leaving the room. While Madoka was holed up in the bathroom doing her makeup, I secretly borrowed something from Madoka’s bag and slipped it into my pants pocket.”

“Hmm, Masa-kun, you said yesterday to keep it for now.”

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Even a bald guy like me can pull off a little romantic surprise, right?”

“Understood. Please put the ring on my hand, Masa-kun.”

“Okay, leave it to me.”

Since Madoka extended her left hand towards me, I carefully slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

“Phew, I got a little nervous there.”

“Geez! This isn’t romantic at all! But, thank you. I’ll cherish it forever.”

“Yeah. I’ll cherish Madoka for life too.”

The moment she heard my words, Madoka hugged me silently.

It’s been five years.

Madoka’s embrace.

On a February morning, feeling Madoka’s body heat in the chilly air.

“Madoka’s body is warm.”

“Masakun, you’re warm too, you know?”

There was a sense of reassurance, as if we were able to confirm each other’s existence.

“I’m really sorry for everything. And thank you for finding me.”

“Uuuuu”

This morning, I ended up making Madoka cry, even though she hadn’t cried yet.

“I’m glad I didn’t give up. I’m glad you’re alive. I’m glad I can hug you again.”

“・・・・”

“I love you so much, Masa-kun, I love you so much” Waaaah

“Good, good,” she said, patting his back gently.

We walked home holding hands as well.

“Masakun, you were really angry with me five years ago and disappeared, right? So why did you forgive me?”

“Hmm, it must be thanks to time and the environment here. If I had heard about Lady Karen from Madoka five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to bear it and wouldn’t have forgiven her. I actually thought about trying to reconcile once, but in the end, it didn’t work out. However, I’m not trying to justify her disappearance, but as I’ve been living a peaceful life here, my anger towards Madoka has faded away. Even when I remember her, I just think, ‘I hope you forget about me and find happiness.'”

“Hmph, there’s no way I’d forget!”

“Yeah, I already understood that well enough. And I think it took time to reach that state of mind. After that, when I met Madoka again and heard her story, I felt a huge sense of guilt myself, and I could reflect on it with an honest heart. There was still a bit of stubbornness left, but when I saw Madoka genuinely angry, I got scared and gave in.”

“Indeed, time was probably necessary. Back then, I thought I could never tell Masa-kun about the part-time job at the store, and it drove me a bit crazy mentally. But after being alone and experiencing various things over time, I think I was finally able to talk about everything today.”

“After that, it was ten years as lovers. Back then, the length of our ten-year relationship was a factor that amplified shock and anger, but now I think that the bond we built over those ten years is not something to be taken lightly. Like how she could tell it was me just by looking at my bald head, or how I instinctively sensed danger when Madoka was seriously angry and immediately surrendered. I think it’s because we understand each other so well.”

“You keep saying I’m seriously angry, but I’m not seriously angry, okay? I’m just in work mode for a bit, okay?”

“Huh? Work mode, Queen Karen?”

“That’s not it! I’m in work mode at the company! You know, I’ve been called the woman whose fiancé ran away on her wedding day, and I’ve stuck around the company until this age! Compared to the sexual harassment and power harassment tornadoes in the office, a sulking Masa-kun is nothing at all!”

“Eh…?”

Well, that’s true.

I gave up right away, so maybe I’m too easy to deal with right now.

“But I had my own struggles too, you know? I was starting to become a bit distrustful of people, and on top of that, the shop owner and the landlady were trying to set me up with their daughter. And then there were the landlord and the customers bringing up arranged marriage talks. It’s super hard to refuse, you know?”

“Yeah… there are a lot of things, right? But are you really okay with it? You’ve been getting a lot of help from the store, haven’t you?”

“Oh, it’s fine. Your daughter is already engaged and it’s decided she’ll be getting married this summer.”

“I see. Also, about the trust issues with people, are you okay with that now?”

“Hmm, honestly, I don’t know. But I think the feeling of wanting to trust is stronger than the fear of being betrayed again. Plus, since reuniting with Madoka yesterday, I’ve been feeling so guilty that I’m in the mindset of ‘I need to show my sincerity properly without thinking about unnecessary things,’ so right now, whether to trust or not is secondary.”

“Well then, I guess it’s up to me to do my best from now on. I’ll love you with all my heart so that Masa-kun won’t feel anxious.” Hehehe.

“That’s scary in its own way…”