Erika stood outside the bar in the cold and dialed Kirito's number.

"It's Kirito. Leave a message'

"Fuck you! Where are you, Kirito? Why didn't you come when I asked you to? Why aren't you picking up?!" Erika was annoyed and dialed again.

Mr Kurosava had Kirito's phone in his hand which was buzzing again and again.
"Who is calling him?"
He looked at the caller ID and smirked.

'Well well, what do we have here, Mr president? Vivian would be very unhappy.' He thought.

"Tanabe, let's go to Kirito's place."

Meanwhile, Kirito looked down at Vivian as his greenish blue eyes gave a vivid shine. She tried to get up slowly but he pushed her on the floor and got on top of her.

"I think I told you something"
"Yeah but I don't want to do that?"
"Then what do you want? Seducing other men?" He said, coldly.

"Seducing other men? But I didn't seduce anyone!"
"Then why does he wants to sleep with you?"
"Who?"
"You must be so happy, right? Being popular among rich men--you whore!" He shouted.

"I don't know what you're talking about"
"You know damn well! Stop the pretense!" He grabbed her collar and pulled her up. She looked into his eyes.
"So, that's how characterless I am in your eyes."
"You're worse. You haven't seen yourself from my eyes."

He left her collar and stomped into the bedroom. He slammed the door and left her sitting on the cold floor.
'I'm getting used to this and I guess it's bad' She got up and heard another doorbell.

"Yes?" She said as she opened the door and looked at the meek man in front of him.
"Is Kirito home?" He asked.
"Yes, he is. Who might you be, sir?" Vivian asked.

"I'm Keta Tanabe, the personal assistant of Mr. Ellois Carter Kurosava. Kirito forgot his phone at office today so I came here to return it." He handed the phone to Vivian.

"Thank you. Why don't you come in, Mr Tanabe? I just prepared the dinner" She offered with a smile.
"I'm afraid I can't accompany you. I've got some other affairs planned tonight. Enjoy the evening, Mrs Hiomi."

Vivian laughed "Yeah, how polite. I'm not quite used to this accent too,"
"Yeah, I'm from Oksaka, actually."

"Who is it?" Kirito asked as he came towards the door.
"But you're really pretty."
"Why thank you."
"I should go now." He bowed and went away.
"See ya," Vivian smiled amd closed the door. She turned back and found Kirito right behind her.

"Oh! I didn't know when you came"
"While you both were flirting, I guess" Kirito said "Why was he here?"
"He came to return back your phone."
Kirito quickly snatched his phone from her hands and glared at her "You didn't look inside, did you?"

"I don't know the password." Vivian said.
"Yeah, I remembered." He smirked. "Anyways, why did he call you pretty?"

"I don't know. He just said that out of nowhere."
"You know what, I've got a great idea. You won't leave this house anymore"
"Why? And what about groceries and--"

"The maid can do it for you."
"We don't have one."
"Then you can just order it online."
"But I don't know how that works."

"You know how big of a pain you are. Fine then! Dress stupidly and look ugly as you always do.I'm going to sleep now. If someone else comes, don't open the door before asking me."
"Okay."

Kirito was definitely acting in a weird way. But Vivian didn't pay much attention to it. She slept on the sofa while Kirito lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep again.

The next morning, Kirito looked into his phone and read all the messages Erika had sent while he sat in his office. He decided to call her. She picked up and started shouting at him.

"Are you ignoring me?"
"Why would I call if I was ignoring you?I just forgot my phone at the office. I won't be able to come today. Let's meet up some other day"

"Am I not important to you anymore?"
"Of course you are."
"Then, were you with that bitch? Don't tell me you fell for her ugly ass already!"
"What? You're jealous of a country girl? How cheap."
"Yeah, atleast I'm not married to one!" She shouted and hung up.

He took a deep breath
"So much for going home early" He threw his phone aside and looked into the file.
"Mr Hiomi, you didn't went to meet Mr Scruton yesterday. He called at the office." The Secretary informed him.

"I had something urgent come up yesterday." Kirito replied.
"Okay. How is Mrs Hiomi by the way?" She asked with a smile.
"Why do you care? Do you know her personally? Have you ever even met her or talked to her?"
"No,"
"Then shut up and focus on work."
"Yes, sir. I just got the revenue file of Ms Erika. She is really talented, she had a shoot in London last week and it went really well!"

"Yeah" Kirito smiled.
"She's both beautiful and talented. We're so lucky to have such an amazing model working under us."
"We are. I'll go on a round to see how everyone is doing. Get me the printouts of the next shoot till then."
"Yes, sir." Kirito left the room.

'Weird' She thought 'He isn't so happy while talking about his wife but he's all gala when it comes to Ms Erika. Pretty suspicious'
    
Kirito walked inside the office and everyone bowed as they passed by him.
"Oh hello sir," A young man bowed to him. He had black hair, enthusiastic black eyes and a wide smile. He gave out a fresh, youthful air.
"Hi Fudou. How did you like it here? It's been few months since you joined." Kirito asked.

"It's really nice sir. I regret that I couldn't meet you on my very first day though" Fudou replied.
"I was busy that day"
"I know. I heard you had your marriage coming up back then so naturally you would be busy. How's your wife, sir? I hope you're living a happy married life--"

"See you later, Fudou. You just killed my motivation to talk to you." Kirito swiftly walked by him.
"Sir?" Fudou was confused.
"Good morning, Mr Hiomi" An old lady greeted Kirito.
"Good morning, Mrs Ochao" Kirito smiled.
"You look happy today. I hope your wife always keeps that smile over your face."

"Thanks-- I've gotta go. Bye"
"Hi Kirito"
"How's your wife sir?"
"Sir your wife must be really pretty!"
"Happy marriage, sir!"

Kirito decided to leave work early that day and go to Arata's bar. He groaned as he slammed the empty whisky glass on the table and took a breath. The bartender just polished the glasses as he stood before him.

"I don't understand it! Why?! Why is everyone so much into my wife?! Why are people so curious about other people's married life?! Can't they just mind their own damn business?!" Kirito said.
"Calm down. It's natural for people to ask about it since you were recently married. You're just overreacting" He made him another drink.
"But still! They're all just after her, friggin wolves!" Kirito looked at him.

"They are just being humble. It isn't like they want to get into a relationship with her." The bartender passed Kirito's drink.
"She's my wife. She carries my pride with herself too, as if I'd allow any random man to fuck her."

"But isn't that what you're exactly doing with her?" The bartender mumbled as he prepared another drink.

"She has fucked me up though! Thanks to her, Erika is mad. I couldn't meet up with her yesterday."
"Why?"
"That bastard Kurosava said some unnecessary stuff and you know how short tempered I am."
"You shouldn't drink more. You need to drive."
"Shut up, just do your job!"

The bartender chuckled and said "And what is my job?"
"To hear me complain and pour me some more goddamn whisky!"
"You're not gonna get more. You've had your part of alcohol today."
"Well fuck you too then!" Kirito got up and walked out as he threw a blank cheque at the bartender.

"Fill your belly with this shit! All you people care is money anyways! Lowlife douchbags!" Kirito stood at the door and started laughing. The bartender just looked at Kirito and then at the cheque.
"All you could earn was this bar, you loser!" Kirito left the bar.

The bartender moved towards the cheque and picked it up. He smiled as he looked at it "It's funny how you've changed, Kirito. You've become someone you feared the most when you were a kid."
He tore the cheque and threw it into the dustbin.

"Arata Mizuru." He heard his name and turned back. Jericho stood there with a card in his hand "Ah! You're Arata Mizuru? My name is Jeroboam Hatsugu. Someone recommended me your bar. I've heard you make the best cocktails in Tokyo."

"I do,"
"I'd like to grab a quick drink,"
"Welcome." Arata bowed.

Kirito drove on the road as he looked ahead.
"I can't believe it, I hurt him. I ended up hurting my only family." Kirito drove faster.

He remembered how Arata was the only one who cared about him without expecting anything in return. His dearest childhood friend.

"I can't look at him in the eye anymore. I've finally done it. I end up hurting so many people altogether, just like that man. I proved that I've inherited him. And it hurts to live with this reality" Kirito said to himself as he bit his lips and his vision turned foggy. His grip on the steering wheel got tighter.

He halted the car and pressed his head on the steering wheel. His face was wet from all the tears he had cried. "What should I do? I have to end this pain anyhow. It's running out of my tolerance and you aren't here, Erika. You always say you'd be by my side but you're never there when I need you.

I'm surrounded by people otherwise but when I really need someone, I have nothing. And now it's getting to me."

He remembered some haunted faces and became quiet "I don't know what to expect. I just want this to end. Someone. Anyone. Please take the pain away. I wish to die."

Jeroboam closed his eyes as he sat in the bar. He took a deep sigh and with a smile, he said: "When the first snow hits the ground, your wish will come true."

Kirito got up and began driving again. As he drove ahead, all the streetlights suddenly went off.

"What the--" He began slowing down the speed of his car. Suddenly, he felt something hit him and lost control of the car. The car went rolling over on the street and finally crashed into the footpath. Kirito slowly opened his eyes as he hung upside down on the car's seat by the seat belt. Drops of blood fell from his head. He saw a white light ahead of him.

A silhouette of a person stood in front of the light. It was Jericho. He went closer to him and sat in front of him.  Kirito looked at him through his half dead eyes.

"It's okay. Life is hard, it kills you afterall." He smiled. Kirito slowly closed his eyes and everything went dark thereafter.

- To be continued

My Heart Hates Me

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Note from author
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Thank you for 25K reads within just 17 chapters!! Wow! I love you all very much! Please give the book your support. Of course, I'd be much happy if you recommend it to your friends because you know- views and human greed is unending lol.

Lastly, I want to thank my team for working so hard on this project with me. I'll try hard to present my best! Honestly, I'm very lazy but you guys have motivated me pick up this book again. I love you all so much!

Treasures
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