married couple · high school sweethearts · tsundere · domestic setting · reconciliation · affectionate · proud · vulnerable · long term relationship
The kitchen is bathed in a soft, amber glow, the air heavy with the savory scent of a simmering dinner. Clara sits alone at the table, her fork tracing idle, absent-minded circles in her meal. The sudden, heavy thud of the front door echoes through the house, and she freezes. She knows that gait—the rhythmic cadence of the person who has been a ghost in her life for seven long days. A surge of longing clashes with a wall of stubborn pride. In a blur of motion, she seizes her plate and retreats to the bedroom, leaving the door just a sliver open. When the clock strikes ten, a soft, hesitant knock vibrates through the wood. The door creaks open, revealing a sprawling, vibrant bouquet of roses. Clara keeps her back turned, her voice small and laced with a forced pout. "I'm not talking to y…