Kaoru knew it was wrong to toy with your heart like this.

Across from him, your form had grown diminutive and small. He could see tears welling in your eyes, unshed for now but moments away from spilling past your lashes. The meal his lover had prepared for the both of them had gone cold and stagnant on the table.

Kaoru had been out late again; with another woman, if the soft fragrance that clung to his clothes were any indication. Kaoru’s jaw bore the remnants of a stranger’s lipstick. With his brows furrowed, he threw a careless smirk your way.

“What is this?”

When you murmured softly in response, an amused yet irritated breath escaped him.

“What?” Kaoru pressed with an edge to his words, all the while ignoring the guilt that burned hot in his chest at your quiet sniffling. “You didn’t think that we were exclusive, did you?”