Chapter 14: Meeting in the future

**Nat**

I hugged him tightly. I really wanted to stay with him forever. But that was impossible. He was leaving. I was going to college. We stopped at a big mall.

" Let's have lunch and I'll tell you the news". — He said.

I followed him, as was our custom here. But he grabbed my hand and pulled me to his side.

" I think you can choose the restaurant and the food. I’m a bit lost here."

"Mateo, I can have a hamburger if you prefer."

"No, food for us. Show me a dish you really like."

I remembered a place Haruto had taken Yuki and me to once. I smiled and pulled him into the restaurant. We took off our shoes and were led to a small space enclosed by screens. Lantern lights and bamboo gave it an intimate atmosphere. The table was low and we sat on the floor.

I ordered a tasting combo with several mini dishes for him to try and choose the one he liked the most. We drank sake and skipped dessert because it was definitely not his type of food, but he loved the sweets.

I didn’t realize when I ended up on his lap and we were already kissing when the bill arrived. I blushed with embarrassment. He laughed and let me go.

" I want to buy you some presents. Let’s go to a clothing store."

" No, Mateo. I can’t accept anything else from you. You don’t have to spend any more money on me. Please."

" But what if I want to, Nat. You didn’t ask me for anything."

"I can’t repay you. That makes me inferior to you. I don’t want to be in your debt. I want to be with you because I want to."

" I won’t be back in Japan for a year."

That made me sad. But it also meant that we could see each other in a year.

"I’m going to study technology and take some courses here. Or I could be in some championship game. I'll give it a shot. So, you have a year to work and pay me back if you want or feel better that way. Let me give you some presents so that I can be happy like you make me happy?"

"What do you want to give me?"

"Some clothes and shoes, that’s all. I know you didn’t bring everything from your house."

" In a year, will you come back and look for me so I can pay you?"

"Promised."

"Then, I accept."