murakami, haruki - Norwegian wood

sort of responsibility in all this as a human being, and I can't just turn
my back on it. At least, that's how I feel about it now. Even if she isn't
in love with me."
"Let me just tell you this, Watanabe," said Midori, pressing her cheek
against my neck. "I'm a real, live girl, with real, live blood gushing
through my veins. You're holding me in your arms and I'm telling you
that I love you. I'm ready to do anything you tell me to do. I may be a
little bit mad, but I'm a good girl, and honest, and I work hard, I'm
kind of cute, I have nice boobs, I'm a good cook, and my father left me
a trust fund. I mean, I'm a real bargain, don't you think? If you don't
take me, I'll end up going somewhere else."
"I need time," I said. "I need time to think and sort things out, and
make some decisions. I'm sorry, but that's all I can say at this point."
"Yeah, but you do love me from the bottom of your heart, right? And
you never want to let me go again, right?"
"I said it and I meant it."
Midori pulled away from me with a smile on her face. "OK, I'll wait! I
believe in you," she said. "But when you take me, you take only me.
And when you hold me in your arms, you think only about me. Is that
clear?"
"I understand exactly."
"I don't care what you do to me, but I don't want you to hurt me. I've
had enough hurt already in my life. More than enough. Now I want to
be happy."
I drew her close and kissed her on the mouth.
"Drop the damn umbrella and wrap both your arms around me - hard!"
she said.
"But we'll get soaking wet!"
"So what? I want you to stop thinking and hold me tight! I've been
waiting two whole months for this!"
I set down the umbrella and held her close in the rain. The dull rush of
tyres on the highway enveloped us like a fog. The rain fell without a
315