Haruto looked at me with disbelief. Part of me did feel guilty. He had done so much for me. And for me to just turn myself in? It must have felt like a slap to the face.

I guess you could say it was unwise of me to bite the hand that feeds me. But I know this is the right thing to do. It's about time I started protecting him for once.

As I started to walk towards the officers, I full-heartedly accepted my fate. And yet, I felt my heartstrings being pulled apart when I heard Haruto call out to me.

"AIKO! Don't do this!"

I stopped in my tracks. I turned to Haruto to give him that all-to-familiar smile. That painstaking smile of parting ways.

The officers didn't delay in quickly apprehending me. It's not like I would have resisted. I don't plan on running away anymore. If I want to oppose the plan that my Father has articulately mapped out for me, then I need to face him head-on and change it myself.

After I was safely secured, Haruto was pinned down by multiple officers. I felt my heartache once more, but this time tears were swelling up in my eyes.

"DON'T HURT HIM!" I desperately yelled.

The last thing I saw before being escorted into the police car was Haruto attempting to outstretch a hand to me one last time.

I'm unsure if reflection can be considered a good thing every time without fail. I believe that the more I dwell over the events that have transpired, the more critical I become of myself.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think I faltered in my decision making. If I rationalise everything I've done so far, this was definitely the best decision I've made since coming here. I'm taking ownership, something I should have done a long time ago. It would have been in my best interest to be upfront with my Father and Kaoru about the marriage. But I cowered away from voicing my opinion on the matter. And now I've made Haruto a wanted criminal. He killed someone because of me, and it wasn't in self-defence. And for that, I feel utterly guilty.

Father finally decided to take a seat beside me once he was done with his pacing. His lack of words gave me the time to ruminate about all these bustling thoughts running rampant in my mind.

"You've jeopardised your entire future if what you said is true-"

"It is true." I interject snarly.

Father paused for a moment before he clenched his hands. "I'm not certain that you will receive marriage proposals from the well-established gentlemen I had anticipated previously."

Of course, he still only cares about the prospects of my future marriages. He wasn't concerned about my personal well-being after I ran away.

"I'm not even entirely sure if Fujiwara-kun is interested in the marriage anymore..."

Father briefly paused. He hesitated in elaborating further.

"Considering his current mental state, it's unlikely that he will properly recover-"

"WHAT HAPPENED TO KAORU?" I ask demandingly.

Before Father could reply, we were interrupted by one of the doctors entering the dark-lit room.

I expected the doctor to share with us both the results of my test. But instead, he beckons my Father to step outside with him.

I felt a little irritated that they wouldn't share my own results with me. It was completely ludicrous! They were keeping me quite literally in the dark...

I want to scoff at the whole principle of taking this test, to begin with. The idea of a virginity test is completely flawed. I'll abide by it for the sake of appeasing others and being with Haruto. But it holds no real substance in my eyes. Its validity is arbitrarily ineffective.

The results of the test do not necessarily reflect the accuracy of such things. But knowing my Father, it's useless to try and argue otherwise.

After what felt like ten minutes, Father returned with a sour face. He was clearly trying to hide his feelings. Oddly enough, I wanted to gloat and revel in my truthful integrity.

I told him that I was being honest. There's no way I would have the nerve to lie about something like .

"So, it seems as if you've soiled yourself."

Are you kidding me?

"Luckily, you're not pregnant."

I guess I am lucky. I don't think I'm prepared to be a Mother just yet. At least give me another year to live out my fleeting youth!

"The fact that you were indeed being truthful, only makes matters for your future worse."

"I disagree. If this means I get to live alongside the person I truly love the most, then I regret nothing." I respond with a hint of venom in my words.

"I wouldn't be so certain if I were you. That man is after killing the head chief of police. The severity of his crime accompanied with kidnapping could mean that he is locked up indefinitely."

No...

To think that everything would pile up against Haruto like this. It's completely unjust!

I lowered my head in shame as everything finally sunk in further. I need to make things right. And fast!

Without looking at my Father I calmly asked "Where's Kaoru?"

"..."

"He's been admitted to the psych ward."

My breath hitches. I can't just leave Kaoru there. If I want to fix everything, that means starting with him first!

I silently rise from my seat and make my way towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Father demands.

"I wish to speak with Kaoru."

Not waiting to hear what I assume would be a protest, I swing the door open only to be greeted by two guards. Both of which act apprehensively about me leaving the room.

To my surprise, Father signals them to lower their guard.

"Escort her to patient 1308's room."

I guess you aren't a total monster, Father. I'm coming to see you Kaoru. I just hope you'll let me in...