Japan, Twenty-Seven Years Ago
Haruka Tanaka had always wanted to know what it felt like to do as she pleased. She wanted to know what it felt like to contravene rules and orders, to simply relax and not be on guard, to shield herself from the hurt of criticisms and expectations. She wanted to know what it felt like to not have to tolerate and accept those suffocations as something normal, as something a part of her life, as she worked hard to meet those goals that had already been set for her even before she had been born. She wanted to know what it was like to live on the other side of the line, where one could simply be oneself, where one could simply enjoy one’s life. Most of all, she wanted to be free.
At least for a little while before she was put into a cage again—a beautiful birdcage filled with luxury and fine things. A birdcage with high decorum and expectations that were suffocating her and tearing at her heart.
As of last week, Haruka had just turned nineteen, and she thought she was old, and independent, enough to make her one and only dream come true. After all, she desperately wanted to taste that feeling called freedom before it was too late. Furthermore, she knew time was not on her side. She knew her esteemed father was growing tired of her excuses. It was expected of her since birth that once she turned eighteen she was to be wed to her fiancé, Kenji, the eldest son of the wealthy, noble Suzuki family. Haruka, however, had made one excuse after another since that eighteenth birthday.
Thus, as she sat there under the beautiful sakura tree, which had just started budding with little leaves and pale-pink flowers, she thought of how she should approach the subject of freedom to her fiancé, Kenji, who, at the moment, was with her.
Indeed, the young pair looked picture perfect together in the garden as spring began to stir into life: Kenji in formal black trousers, blue shirt, and topped off with a black jacket that fit his body perfectly, Haruka in her pale-blue and yellow kimono.
Kenji, a year older than Haruka at twenty years of age, was a handsome young man with black hair and dark-brown eyes. As the eldest son of the Suzuki family, and heir to the family line and vast wealth, he carried himself with dignity and pride. He was a perfectionist and a hard worker, and he expected the same from his future bride.
Haruka glanced at the man beside her as she handed him a piece of strawberry shortcake she had baked that morning for their afternoon tea together. She had worked hard on it, making sure it was soft and moist, and at just the right amount of sweetness he liked, for Kenji did not like his cake to be too sweet nor too bland.
The young man took the mouthwatering offer and thanked her politely. He took a bite and, after a moment, nodded to tell her it was to his liking, to which Haruka sighed with relief.
“Kenji-san?” she said, trying to sound as at ease as possible. Her heart, however, was pounding furiously within her chest.
Would he once again accept her excuse for the postponement of their marriage? She knew he, too, was getting tired of her excuses.
Kenji glanced at her. “What is it, Haruka-san?”
After all these years, Haruka thought, he still hadn’t bothered to become friendly with her. To be sure, Kenji Suzuki was a very hard person to get close to. He was always so distant, even with his own family, unlike his younger brother Sho who was friendlier and more outgoing. Then again, Sho wasn’t expected to carry the weight of the family’s name and reputation forward to the next generation.
Haruka released a deep sigh and said, “I was wondering about our wedding.”
Kenji raised his brows. “What is there to wonder about?”
Haruka became stiff and closed her eyes for a few seconds. You can do this, the voice in her head said.
When she opened her eyes again, she smiled. “I was thinking of going to America for a bit before the wedding. That means our marriage will have to be postponed.”
“Oh?” Though he made that sound as if he were interested, he still looked stiff and unaffected. “How long are you planning to be away?”
“Three months,” she said. “Kenji-san, I want to have some time away, a break…I mean a holiday before we, erm…get married.”
Kenji took a sip of his green tea, taking his time while Haruka waited for his verdict. When he put the delicate china cup down, he nodded.
“Very well. But we cannot postpone the inevitable after that, Haruka. You know our parents are getting rather tired of us delaying our wedding date. Not to mention, I will have a lot to do after the ceremony, as then I will become the president of the company. It will be a lot of work.”
Haruka nodded. “Yes, I understand.” Then she thought perhaps she was too selfish in taking this trip just to have a taste of freedom. Yet again, the thought of not at least trying to fulfill her dream tore her heart to pieces.
“Thank you, Kenji-san,” she said.
Kenji nodded. “Please, enjoy yourself while you are there.”
Smiling, she softly murmured, “Yes.”
***
New York City, United States, Present Day
Sakura watched her biological mother, Haruka Suzuki, from a distance, wondering what was on the woman’s mind. She had been sitting there in the Princeton brothers’ private garden for a while now, with a faraway look in her eyes. Sakura noted the mixture of happiness and sadness playing about her features and wondered if she herself was the cause of such conflicting emotions.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked a few moments later, as she took a seat beside the older woman.
“Of the sakura flower,” Haruka replied promptly. “Of the time that has passed… Of the things that I have done… Of Kenji.”
“Mono no aware,” Sakura said.
“Yes.” Haruka nodded.
Sakura thought that soon, in only a few more weeks, the beautiful flower would die down again. Its life span was very short, yet in that very short time it bloomed gloriously, bringing so much joy and beauty to this world.
“Do you miss him?” Sakura asked. “Err… Kenji?”
Haruka nodded. “Yes. I was his wife. He was kind to me.”
“Was he…” Sakura took a deep breath, unsure how to ask the question that was burning within her mind, the question that reflected her own dilemma. “To you…was he the one?”
Haruka turned to look at her daughter for a moment and noted the quandary playing about her pretty face. She chuckled. “My, my, Sakura, where is this coming from?”
Sakura blushed. “I…I want to know how you can tell… I mean, how do you know which one is the one?”
Haruka couldn’t help herself and laughed, which immediately made Sakura a little upset at her mother’s inconsiderateness.
Once Haruka managed to calm down, she said, “I’m sorry, darling. That was uncalled for.”
Noting her mother was only teasing, Sakura relaxed and smiled. “It’s okay,” she said.
“I will be honest with you, Sakura,” Haruka began, her tone sober and serious, her eyes rather sad. “As a matter of the one, I don’t actually know, because Kenji was chosen for me even before I was born. It was decided the Suzukis and Tanakas would join bloodlines through marriage. It is the way of our heritage. The way we strengthen our families’ wealth and power.”
“I see,” Sakura said, nodding, suddenly realizing her mother had had no choice in the matter of choosing her own husband. Unlike her, who had more than one to choose from as her potential other half. Should she consider herself lucky?
“Are you perhaps finding it hard to decide?” Haruka asked, looking at her closely. “Between the brothers?”
Sakura hesitantly nodded.
“My advice would be to get to know them deeply and see how it pans out. See which one your heart tells you that you need and want most.”
Sakura frowned. “That’s easier said than done.”
“Of course, love. I never said it was easy.” Haruka chuckled. “But no matter which one you choose, Sakura, they are all good men, the Princeton brothers, Sosuke included.”
Sakura blinked at her mother in confusion, and the woman simply chuckled.
“Sakura-chan, don’t tell me you didn’t know.”
Sakura shook her head.
Haruka sighed. Her daughter was really quite oblivious to the fact that many men were attracted to her. She knew not only were Sebastian and Darcy two of the top contenders, but Tristan, Logan, and Hayden weren’t far behind. Not to mention Sosuke. Hayden was, of course, the black sheep of the family and the one to watch out for. He’d pounce when he was ready, and she felt he was ready. Sebastian and Darcy had better watch out and step up their game if either of them was to secure Sakura’s heart.
Nicolas, on the other hand, was too complex for her to judge. He had shown a lot of interest in Akira, but then again, that could be a decoy to get Sakura’s attention. Nicolas, after all, was a very intelligent man. On the contrary, Conrad, the youngest of the Princeton brothers, was simply that. He was kind and had no hidden agenda. Haruka could see he loved Sakura deeply and took every chance to dote on her.
Indeed, her daughter was a very lucky girl where the heart was concerned.
“Well, I shan’t say any more,” she said a moment later, chuckling.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mom,” Sakura said hesitantly. “That is why… Oh, I don’t know.”
“There you are.”
Sakura felt her heart race with delight the moment she heard the deep-timbred voice calling out to them. She turned to see Sebastian Princeton at the door.