Haruka Tanaka had always wanted to know what it felt like to do as she pleased. She wanted to know what it felt like to contravene rules and orders, to simply relax and not be on guard, to shield herself from the hurt of criticisms and expectations. She wanted to know what it felt like to not have to tolerate and accept those suffocations as something normal, as something a part of her life, as she worked hard to meet those goals that had already been set for her even before she had been born. She wanted to know what it was like to live on the other side of the line, where one could simply be oneself, where one could simply enjoy one’s life. Most of all, she wanted to be free.

At least for a little while before she was put into a cage again—a beautiful bird cage filled with luxury and fine things. A bird cage with high decorum and expectations that were suffocating her and tearing at her heart.

As of last week, Haruka had just turned nineteen, and she thought she was old, and independent, enough to make her one and only dream come true. After all, she desperately wanted to taste that feeling called freedom before it was too late. Furthermore, she knew time was not on her side. She knew her esteemed father was growing tired of her excuses. It was expected of her since birth that once she turned eighteen she was to be wed to her fiancé Kenji, the eldest son of the wealthy, noble Suzuki family. Haruka, however, had made one excuse after another since that eighteenth birthdate.

Thus, as she sat there under the beautiful Sakura tree, which had just started budding with little leaves and pale-pink flowers, she thought of how she should approach the subject of freedom to her fiancé Kenji, who, at the moment, was with her.

Indeed, the young pair looked picture perfect together in the garden as spring began to stir into life, Kenji in formal black trousers, blue shirt, and topped off with a black jacket that fit his body perfectly, Haruka in her pale-blue and yellow kimono.

Kenji, a year older than Haruka, at twenty years of age, was a handsome young man with black hair and dark-brown eyes. As the eldest son of the Suzuki family, and heir to the family line and vast wealth, he carried himself with dignity and pride. He was a perfectionist and a hard worker, and he expected the same from his future bride.

Haruka glanced at the man beside her as she handed him a piece of strawberry shortcake she had baked that morning for their afternoon tea together. She had worked hard on it, making sure it was soft and moist, and at just the right amount of sweetness he liked, for Kenji did not like his cake to be too sweet nor too bland.

The young man took the mouthwatering offer and thanked her politely. He took a bite and, after a moment, nodded to tell her it was to his liking, to which Haruka sighed in relief.

“Kenji-san?” she said, trying to sound as at ease as possible. Her heart, however, was pounding furiously within her chest.

Would he once again accept her excuse for their postponement in marriage? She knew he, too, was getting tired of her excuses.

Kenji glanced at her. “What is it, Haruka-san?”

After all these years, Haruka thought, he still hadn’t bothered to become friendly with her. To be sure, Kenji Suzuki was a very hard person to get close to. He was always so distant, even with his own family, unlike his younger brother Sho who was friendlier and more outgoing. Then again, Sho wasn’t expected to carry the weight of the family’s name and reputation forward to the next generation.

Haruka released a deep sigh and said, “I was wondering about our wedding.”

Kenji raised his brows. “What is there to wonder about?”

Haruka became stiff and closed her eyes for a few seconds. You can do this, the voice in her head said.

When she opened her eyes again, she smiled. “I was thinking of going to America for a bit before the wedding. That means our marriage will have to be postponed.”

“Oh?” Though he made that sound as if he were interested, he still looked stiff and unaffected. “How long are you planning to be away?”

“Three months,” she said. “Kenji-san, I want to have some time away, a break... I mean a holiday before we, erm... get married.”

Kenji took a sip of his green tea, taking his time while Haruka waited for his verdict. When he put the delicate china cup down, he nodded.

“Very well. But we cannot postpone the inevitable after that, Haruka. You know our parents are getting rather tired of us delaying our wedding date. Not to mention, I will have a lot to do after the ceremony, as then I will become the president of the company. It will be a lot of work.”

Haruka nodded. “Yes, I understand.” Then she thought perhaps she was too selfish in taking this trip just to have a taste of something called freedom. Yet again, the thought of not at least trying to fulfill her dream tore her heart to pieces.

“Thank you, Kenji-san,” she said.

Kenji nodded. “Please, enjoy yourself while you are there.”

Smiling, she softly murmured, “Yes.”