I’M A BRAT AND I’M IN LOVE
(No more broken hearts ?? ?)
Chapter 26
??? Grand finale ????
(Baby only you???)
The Sato family mansion’s gates loomed, tall and imposing.
Rika stood before them, swallowing hard and summoning up as much courage as she could.
She wanted to be completely free.
And there was one thing left that she had to do.
She felt movement by her side and turned.
Levi was standing beside her.
He watched her softly, the look in his eyes giving her strength.
She hadn’t told him what had transpired just four days ago, and how he might have lost her to de@th.
She hadn’t told him yet how God had saved her.
All things would fall in place eventually. For now, she had to set her life in order first.
She had to break free from her father.
Even though he hadn’t been completely there when she needed him the most, Rika didn’t blame Levi. What she had told him was a lot to process, and then asking him not to do anything about would strain even the strongest of men. She knew he cared for her, and tge guilt of feeling helpless to her situation made him keep his distance.
She knew though, that even if he had been there that day, no one else could have saved her but God.
But at least here he was now, standing eith her when she needed him.
Even though he was only human, he always went the extra mile for her. For that, she would be forever grateful.
She hoped, that someday when her life was settled, they would give their relationship a second chance.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the mansion.
Walking through the halls brought back many memories, and Rika winced in pain. Her legs shook as she walked, and she felt strength leaving her body. Her chest constricted, and she began to lose her nerve.
A small voice in the back of her head reassured her, and she felt Levi’s palm on the small of her back, steadying her.
She breathed in and out slowly, steeling herself for the task ahead.
As they headed for her father’s study, Greta accosted them.
“Rika! When did you get back home?! Why haven’t you been calling?! Señor Levi! What brings you here?” She asked rapidly, sl@pping Rika’s arm.
Rika smiled, holding the old woman’s hands.
“My dad’s in his study, right?” She asked softly.
Greta’s eyebrows creased, finally noticing their solemn demeanors.
“Yes, he is. Is….. everything okay?”
Rika sighed, still smiling. “It soon will be.”
When they finally arrived at the study, she hesitated at the door.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Levi asked behind her.
“Yeah. I….have to do this alone.”
“Okay. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Rika faced him, smiling warmly. “I know.”
And with a deep breath, she knocked on the doors, and pushed them open.
The memories flooded her mind with the push of the door.
It all came rushing in so fast, it was a miracle she didn’t have from the weight of it. This was where it all began, and it would be where it would end as well.
How ironic.
She wondered, how would things have been if she had had a normal childhood?
Would the air not feel so heavy and crushing with every breath she took?
She sighed, her resolve thickening.
It was time to let go of the past.
The man she called father looked up at the intrusion from his desk.
He was always bent over it, a slave to his work and his company.
In the end, we are all slaves to life in some way.
The only way to get true freedom was through Christ.
“Rika,” he called out, standing up from his desk, and Rika planted her feet on the ground.
He smiled triumphantly.
“I’m glad to see that you’ve come to your senses.”
His eyes widened in h0rror as he finally took in her appearance.
“What….did you do to your hair?” He asked, his voice straining to a low growl.
Rika bit her lip. She had cut her beautiful, long , blonde hair shoulder length. It was one of the many things her father loved about her, so she got rid of it. She could feel the anger blazing in his eyes.
She faced him.
“When I was coming here….I had no idea what I would say.” She began. “I mean, what do you say to the person who tormented you all your life? It would be such an absurd conversation.”
She swallowed, breathing steadily.
“Daddy….I know that….deep down…you probably really loved me. But somewhere along the line, that love got so twisted, and maybe, maybe if I had spoken up when you had started…. maybe…I could’ve saved you.” She swallowed the lump in her throat, tears falling from her eyes. Pain accomapnied each word she spoke.
“I’m sorry daddy. You were sick….and I was too weak and scared to save both of us. I’m…so sorry.” She gasped, her vision being blurred by tears.
“I wanted to hate you. For so long you made my life miserable. I want to shout at you, to scream, but…. I just can’t. There’s too much in this world that will make me happy. I have so much to be thankful for. There’s no room in my heart for h@tred anymore. I simply don’t have the strength left to hate you. So….” She sniffled, laughing bitterly.
“I forgive you daddy. And I do love you, no matter what. But I have to drop the weight of the past. It’s holding me back, hurting me too much. I’m moving on. I’m….no longer yours Mr Sato. This…is goodbye.” She said firmly, the tears drying on her cheeks.
A look of pure desperation settled on Mr Sato’s face. He grabbed her hand.
“Rika….!” He choked out, knowing in his heart that what she had said was final, that she wasn’t the little girl that he knew anymore. The words died in his throat.
She gently removed his hands from hers, and he was powerless to stop her. She placed her palm on his cheek tenderly.
“Let’s both be happy now daddy. Let me go.” She said sadly, then turned around and pushed the doors open, leaving her father and her past behind her.
????
Levi watched her step out of the study. Tears had dried in her face, but she looked relieved and at peace.
“It’s done.” She said softly. He sighed.
“Funny. I expected more shouting and cu.rsing.” He said and she laughed.
“Yeah. Until a week ago I did too.”
He watched her carefully. He knew the strength she had right now was not her own. It was God’s.
He couldn’t have been more proud, or more in love with her as he was now.
????
Two days after Rika’s confrontation with her father, they were met with dev@stating news.
Mr Sato had c0mmitted su!c!de.
Rika was heartbroken. She cried all day, and Levi marvelled at how she could still feel sadness for someone that had caused her so much p@in.
The funeral was a grand affair, will people from far and near in attendance.
Media outlets carried news coverage on what Mr Sato’s death meant for the future of Sato Enterprises, and Mrs Sato spentost of her time doing damage control.
The only time Rika had gotten to speak with her mother was immediately after the funeral, and Mrs Sato only said one thing to her.
“You wtch. You killed my husband.”
Rika had sighed solemnly, then left the house,and the air of sadness that hung over it.
She spent the remaining of her holiday at Hunter’s house. Her mother had taken full reign of Sato Enterprises, as expected, and she had managed to pull the company out of the drain that her father’s death had thrown it in. Her faults aside, Rika knew that her mother was a more than capable woman to run the company, and she had a lot to live up to.
Things went well with Levi, although never going beyond that. Too much had happened, and Rika needed to get her life back in track first before anything else.
?????
The months rolled by and another Christmas came. Rika travelled back home to celebrate with her family.
She no longer had any reason to stay away from home.
Over the semester in school, Rika had constantly made efforts to reach out to her mother. At first they had proved futile, but soon her mother began to respond. They began to talk a little more often, and Rika felt at peace with the growth in their relationship.
While at home for the break, they had dinner together every night, and Rika was happy that her mother’s heart was changing towards her.
They were still a long way from perfection, but at least it was a start.
On Christmas day, there had been a party at Hunter’s house, and everyone had been invited, even Levi. She wasn’t staying in Hunter’s house though, she spent her holiday at her own house.
The mansion scared her no more.
She also began to attend church regularly, and studied the word as much as she could.
With great courage, she had spoken up to a mentor who had gone through the same situation about her sxual ab.use.
This was just another step towards her healing.
Talking about the past no longer hurt her, or made her feel guilty.
As the party was rounding up, she found Levi sitting in the garden where she had revealed everything to him. She quietly joined him on the bench, and he glanced up at her.
“I see your hair’s growing back out.” He muttered.
Rika touched her blonde locks.
“Yeah. I decided to let it grow again. I’m not really a fan of short hair after all.” She said lightly.
“Hm.” Levi responded, and there was short silence between them.
“You’re going to graduate and take over the company soon. You still planning on burning it to the ground?” He said again.
She laughed. “No. I’m going to build my own legacy. Do things my way. I owe it to my father and my mother.”
“Hm. That’s one of the smartest things I’ve ever heard you say.”
She chuckled.
Another silence.
“I’ll be turning forty soon.”
“That’s still a few years away, old man.”
“But won’t I be too old for you then?”
Rika bit her lip. “You’re not that old.”
Levi scoffed. “Of course you say that when it benefits you.”
She closed her eyes. What was this awkward conversation? She glanced at him with longing. She had so much more to say but didn’t know how.
“What?” He asked, noticing her staring.
I’ve missed you. I love you.
“Nothing.” She lied, blushing and turning away.
She turned back to stare some more and he caught her again.
“Would you quit staring at me?” He said gruffly.
“Sorry.” She muttered awkwardly, and turned away.
She waited awhile, and turned to stare again, but was startled to meet his face that was mow inches away from hers.
When did he get so close?
“I knew you wouldn’t listen to me, brat.” He said lowly, staring longingly into her eyes.
Rika gulped, her face heating up and tongue paralyzed.
Levi leaned in, and crashed his l!ps into hers, stunning her.
She regained herself quickly and began to kss him back.
The kss wasn’t tender or soft, but raw and needy, all the words they couldn’t say being poured out into it.
He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her body closer to his, and she gripped the front of his shirt, running her hands through his hair.
She knew that it was freezing outside but the air around them had grown significantly hot, and Rika tried not to pass out in embarrassment.
By the time he pulled away, they were both panting.
They both sat in silence, trying to process what had just happened.
“So…what now?” Rika asked breathlessly.
“Now, we both go home and get some rest, and then tomorrow we can go see a movie or something before you go back to school.” He replied casually, finishing his drink.
Rika scoffed and stood up.
“Is that how you ask me out? With just one steamy kss and that’s it?” She said, her words reminding her of the kss and bringing a blush to her cheeks.
Levi stood up behind her.
“You’re taking the kss quite well though. I thought you’d be a blushing mess.” He stated jokingly, and she cringed in embarrassment.
“Alright, let me try that again.” He faced her.
“Let’s date.”
Rika flushed crimson and turned away from him.
She was so weak!
She heard a soft chuckle from behind her and spun around abruptly.
Levi was smiling at her, the most beautiful and heavenly of smiles. His eyes sparkled softly, and her heart melted.
She had once been living in darkness, and God had sent her a light. He wasn’t so bright, but he was good enough for her. As expected she had chased that light, and it had been rough, but now here they were, shining together.
“Levi Akabane, I think I’m in love with you.”
Levi scoffed warmly.
“Well how about that. Rika Sato, I think I’m in love with you too.”
??
THE END???
That’s it my lovelies!!! I’m so happy to have shared and been in this journey with you guys!!! I hope you all were blessed by this story, and learnt a thing or two.
No matter how hurtful the past is, it’s best to let go.
God will never abandon us, He loves us too much.
The bad things that happen to us happen for a reason, even though it hurts, let’s stay strong and believe that we are destined for something bigger than ourselves. God is always there, in the form of a friend, a lover, who will tell you the truth and be there for you. Don’t take your body as a trivial thing. It’s sacred and even if it has been defiled in some way, God is there to make it holy again. You are not worthless. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Trust God, trust the process and have faith!!!
And remember that God loves you and so do I!!! Never give up!!! Even when things are bad, KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!!
Written by Authoress Covenant.
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