“Is something wrong, Sakura?” Mary asked, sitting beside her at the picnic table outside.
The sun had already set, and the backyard garden was beautifully lit with glittering lights and colorful lanterns. They were currently having dessert after a hearty dinner, and as usual, it was lively with chatter and laughter. The men were sitting around the outdoor bar area, where Tristan and Logan were serving drinks. Meanwhile, the adults were enjoying their dessert at the other picnic table, along with Michael, Akira, Jane, and of course, Mr. Tachibana and Ms. Ruka.
Sakura looked up to her friend with raised brows. “What? Nothing’s wrong.”
Katherine cocked her head to one side. “You seem preoccupied.”
Sakura chuckled. “Do I?” she asked evasively.
Katherine nodded in the affirmative.
Mary said, “Or maybe you’re just tired from the modeling work. Speaking of which, I can’t wait to see the magazine. I heard from Jane that you were totally hot.”
Sakura chuckled. “I’m not so sure about that. It’s the makeup and clothes that did it. I mean, Mr. Tachibana’s designs are just so beautiful.”
Katherine nodded in agreement. “And expensive.”
Mary suddenly leaned toward Sakura and made a show of checking the girl’s neck.
Sakura chuckled with amusement. “What are you doing?”
“Just checking to see if there are more love bites today.”
Sakura’s smile vanished immediately, as Mary words reminded her of what had happened this afternoon. She wondered if she was going to meet that man again. God, she hoped not. But why did she have the feeling there was worse to come?
Katherine said, “Sakura, you’re pale all of a sudden. Are you okay?”
Sakura forced a smile. “I’m fine.” It was then she checked her watch and noticed it was nearly eight. She glanced around to the bar area and saw both Sebastian and Darcy leaving. Is it time already? Instantly, her stomach started fluttering and her heart racing.
Oh shit! She wondered now if she should run away and hide.
Mary saw her panicky face and giggled. “Hmm. Looks like your two Prince Charmings have left the scene. Are you going to go after them?”
Sakura licked her lips, her body tense with apprehension. “I’m going to freshen up.” With that, she hastily moved out of her chair and headed toward the house.
Katherine leaned toward Mary and said, “She’s acting a little strange today. Don’t you think?”
Mary nodded. “Maybe she has a lot on her mind.”
Inside the house, Sakura rushed up the stairs and then into her shared bedroom. There, she paced back and forth, her mind racing.
Oh God! Oh God! Have I made the right decision? Am I doing the right thing? Oh God!
Her hands were shaking as she opened the bathroom door. Inside, she stared long and hard at herself in the mirror, noting her large eyes and pale face.
Good Lord, she looked horrible, like a frightened girl. Shouldn’t she look beautiful and peachy when she was about to confess her feelings to the one she liked?
She ran her fingers through her long hair and then washed her hands very thoroughly. By the time she thought they were clean enough, her nerves had finally calmed down a bit. After drying her hands with a towel, she took a deep breath.
“It’s going to be fine,” she whispered to herself. “Everything is going to be fine.”
Moving back to the mirror, she applied some blush and lipstick to get some color into her face, hoping to appear less pale and frightened. After adjusting her summer dress, making sure nothing was out of place, she took another deep breath and then marched out the door and down the stairs.
She left the house via the side door, hoping no one noticed. Then she rushed down the pathway toward the beach, and it wasn’t long when she sighted Sebastian and Darcy waiting for her under the palm tree and bright decorative lights.
Shit! I want to turn back so bad, her internal voice shouted. Regardless, her legs kept moving forward, and all too soon, she was only a few feet from the two men, her heart pounding in her chest and the hole in her stomach getting bigger.
She licked her lips as she came to a stop in front of them, her hands shaking.
Sebastian was leaning his body against the palm tree when he saw her coming toward them.
Darcy was standing beside Sebastian, his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he stared off into the distance at the dark sea under the moonlight. When he sensed Sebastian straightening, he turned his gaze toward the house, and that was when he saw the figure of Sakura coming toward them.
She looked nervous, he thought, and why wouldn’t she be? She was here to confess to them, to tell them which brother she chose to date.
Sakura, on the other hand, was so tense that she couldn’t even make eye contact with either of the brothers. Of course, she could sense them watching her, waiting patiently for her to get started.
She swallowed, noting how dry her throat was.
“Sakura,” Sebastian finally said, drawing her attention to him, which pleased her because she didn’t have to be the one to start the conversation.
She smiled tautly at him and then shifted her gaze to Darcy, who was watching her intensely.
“Sakura,” Darcy said.
Sakura took a deep breath, determined to get this over and done with, since she couldn’t handle this suspense for another second. She tucked the strands of her long hair behind her ear as she licked her lower lip again. Then she said, “Sebastian. Darcy.”
The two men gave her their full, undivided attention as she continued. “I’m sure you know why I’ve requested to meet with you here.”
They nodded.
She chuckled. “God, I’m so nervous.”
Sebastian said, “You shouldn’t be. It’s only us.”
Darcy nodded. “We don’t bite.”
Suddenly, Sakura giggled. Really? They don’t bite, eh?Then what happened yesterday? With the hickeys they had given her? Weren’t those bites?
No. No. No time to think about that right now. Hickeys and love bites and whatever. She needed to clear her head and get this love confession over and done with. She simply must get it off her chest.
She looked up at Sebastian first, and with her voice soft and gentle, she said, “Sebastian, I love you.”
There, she did it. She’d told him that she loved him.
Sebastian nodded, a smile on his lips as his beautiful azure eyes bore deep into hers. “I know. I love you, too, Sakura.”
Sakura felt her heart melting at the sight of his warm grin. God, he was wonderful, wasn’t he? With his charming smile and good looks. She simply wanted to walk into his arms and let him embrace her tight.
No, no, she told herself firmly. This was not the time to succumb to desire. Right now, she needed to make things clear with these two men.
She then turned her attention to Darcy and said softly, “Darcy, I love you.”
Darcy nodded, and in his deep timbre that made her insides melt with ardor, he said, “I love you, too, Sakura.”
God, he was indeed passionate and mysterious. His mere presence made her want to throw herself into his arms and let him kiss her zealously. But of course, once again, she stood firm and reminded herself that she had a confession to carry out.
She looked down as she clasped her hands together. Now then. This time for real.
She took another deep breath, and once she was fully confident, she raised her head and said, “As you know, I love you both dearly, and choosing one of you to date, to get into a serious relationship with, it’s hard for me. It’s hard to make a choice.” She paused, her eyes wavering now, avoiding making any contact with them. “But last night, I finally made my decision. First, though, I just want to say that it might be a little strange. Weird even. I mean, I know I’m strange.” She chuckled nervously, having found she was actually horrible at explaining her thoughts and behavior to these two men.
“Sakura, you’re not strange,” Sebastian said. “You’re unique.”
“Unique?” She said the word softly under her breath. She was unique, and it was no wonder that her way of thinking was also unique. Different. Then perhaps her relationship, too, she supposed, would be unique.
Nodding at that idea, she smiled, and her eyes met with first Sebastian and then Darcy.
She licked her lips and then said, “I love you both. That’s why I’ve made up my mind…made this decision. I…”
She swallowed hard, finding it difficult to voice the words out loud. Of course, in her head, it came out smoothly. Then again, this scenario was completely different from the one she had played through repeatedly last night.
“I…want…” She licked her lips again and then blurted out, “I want you both as my boyfriends, as my partners.”