The Last Time

Utahime woke up early today and wanted to pick some fresh vegetables, but fate decided to pick on her. Her supposedly normal day was suddenly turned upside down when she saw again someone she had long buried. And no, she didn’t kill anyone. She just buried the man standing before her in the deepest corner of memories, but he somehow manifested in real life.

Gojo Satoru.

Utahime didn’t think she would see him again after five years. In her defense, she had been careful. She cut all ties with everyone and moved away from the bustling city to settle in the countryside, where she found clean air, organic vegetables, and, most significantly, peace.

But this very peace is shaking at its balance, and she doesn’t know how to keep it steady now that she’s facing the man she wanted to forget. She didn’t move to Shikoku, the second-smallest main island after Okinawa, for Gojo fucking Satoru to stand before her.

“Money can really do anything,” she thought to herself. Utahime did not know what he was going to do, but she also couldn’t deny the anger she was feeling.“After five years, why now?”

“Utahime?” Gojo’s voice was unsure. He could see her tremble not because of fear but of resentment, and he understands why. He hurt her. He broke the woman’s heart who only loved and wished the best for him because of his selfishness.

At the age of twenty-eight, Gojo has achieved everything he wanted in life. He was born of poverty but worked his way up, and now, he’s one of the richest and most influential men in the country. Until he got everything he wanted in life during his hustle, Utahime has always been by his side. She never left him but loved and supported him in her way.

Gojo didn’t know when it started, but money and power dramatically changed how he sees the world. The money gave him more autonomy and control over his own life. He became complacent and selfish. It didn’t matter to him in the beginning because he has everything, especially the woman he loved since he was seventeen.

He became obsessed with being on the top of the food chain. He didn’t want anyone to surpass him, and it didn’t matter if he has to get his hands dirty to get what he wants. Gojo was a greedy man.

Gojo bought every fancy item he can think of to make it up for the days that he can’t be with Utahime. He thought materials things are good enough to keep her by his side; after all, this is his way of spoiling her since he didn’t have anything back when he was younger. Utahime means so much to him that he would give her anything she wants as long as it makes her happy.

It was after Utahime left him, Gojo realized what a fool he was. He looked for her everywhere but didn’t succeed until today. He almost gave up, but he chose not to stop searching, and now he has in front of him the woman he loves most—his heart hammering with excitement and longing.

She’s still as beautiful as she was five years ago. No, she has always been beautiful. Gojo wanted to reach for her and enveloped her in his arms, feel the softness of her body, and smell the lavender scent he has always loved.

Utahime glared at Gojo; if looks could kill, he wouldn’t breathe the same air with her. She did not speak. Too angry to say something.

Utahime turned her back and went inside a small tea shop. Gojo followed her quietly and watched her work in silence. According to his investigation, Utahime owns this shop. Two years since it opened, it has become popular among the locals of Shikoku. She runs the shop with two full-time workers, and on the days it closed, Utahime volunteers at her own dojo near the shop to teach children kendo.

Gojo wondered if he can watch her teaching the kids. He wants to see how the kids act towards her. Maybe he wasn’t in the place to say this because they also hadn’t met for five years, but he thought that Utahime’s students probably love her because she is one of the people you can’t help but love.

His mind wandered elsewhere. He imagined picking her up after work, teasing her on how the kids are giving her wrinkles, she’d pout slightly, and he will kiss her worries away, just like he used to.

“She’ll be a great mother to our kids,” he thought, then came the urge to punch himself in the face. “As if she’d take me back. I hope she takes me back.”

He knows she deserves a better man but the thought of her in love with someone else enraged him. She may deserve another man than him, but he is willing to work to gain her affection every day to prove his worth. He promised not to waste her love again. Utahime is his endgame. It’s her—no one else but her.

Utahime carried a wooden tray with mochi and red tea. She placed it in front of Gojo, and with a cold, distant voice, she spoke, “Leave after you eat.”

Gojo ignored her tone and asked, “How have you been?”

“Just fine.”

“Shoko misses you. Try to give her a call, and she’s worried about you.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t you miss the city?”

“No”

Gojo smirked, “How about me? Did you miss me?”

“No”

He expected her reply, yet it still hurt. Then Gojo whispered, “I missed you.”

Utahime completely ignored his words and said, “It’s Friday today. The last boat leaves for the mainland at twelve noon. You should leave while it’s still early.”

She was about to leave to collect her thoughts when Gojo spoke with a shaky voice, “Hime, please.”

Whatever strength she had left to ignore him suddenly disappeared to thin air. No one else calls her by that name except Gojo. Like a pandora’s box, the memories she had buried in oblivion returned. Utahime remembers how they first met and when Gojo confessed under the beautiful cherry blossoms in Spring.

She remembers how he would always make time for her no matter how busy he got while juggling work and studies. She remembers how he would always give some of his favorite sweets to her to help her relax, even if he knows she dislikes them. And when they started living together, he would always wait for her to get home no matter how late it gets.

Utahime has seen him at the lowest and highest points of his life, just like how he has seen hers. She remembers how he worked hard to achieve everything he has now.

Utahime will be lying if she says she didn’t check the local newspaper to check on him every once in a while, even after leaving him.

She loved him—a lot.

She looked him in the eyes, the bluest of blues she has ever seen, “Why are you here? What do you want?”

With no hesitation, Gojo replied, “You. I want you, Hime. I want you back.”