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amnosxmatsujunPairing: Sakurai Sho x Fictional Female (Reader) *see note below
Rating: R for whole series, R for Ch.8
Genre: Romance, Drama
Word count: 5,520
Plot: A 33-year-old singleton, Nijishima Kokoro, finds herself at a host club where she meets the club's most popular host, Sakurai Sho. The encounter propels Kokoro to explore a different kind of love as Sho helps Kokoro discover herself.
NOTE: This story reads like a shoujo manga--it is written in a fictitious first-person narrative where the reader is the protagonist. Please proceed with caution if you are uncomfortable with JE members having relationships with fictitious female characters (even if that female is you!).
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
Chapter Eight: A Fair Exchange
“14th floor.” He pressed the button in the elevator shamelessly as if he were heading back to his own room. The rain made his shirt and jeans cling to his skin, accentuating the curves of his body and leaving plenty of room for my imagination to run wild. Droplets fell from his hair and onto his face, glistening skin inviting.
When we arrived at my floor, he let me lead the way, but not without a proper teasing.
“Do you need me to carry you to your room, Miss 33?” he proposed.
“…You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
A mischievous smile surfaced as we neared my door. “I think that memory is the least of your worries,” he reminded, his eyes twinkling. Right away, I knew what he was trying to say. Though I was fully clothed this time, I felt exposed and embarrassed.
After that fiasco, I had cleaned my living space quite thoroughly, and made sure that all my clean laundry was neatly folded and placed back in their proper dresser drawers. It wasn’t like I was expecting him to return. Or at least, not in this way. Still, a part of me was thankful the rain worked in my favor.
“Wait here,” I instructed. Making my way to my room, I grabbed a clean bath towel and the largest, non-feminine shirt and shorts I could find. Oh. These are Ryota’s. I thought I had given back everything that was his, thrown away anything that held sentimental value from that relationship. I felt a tinge of pain as the memories insisted that I pay attention to them. It’s either this outfit or girly pajamas, Kokoro. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I made my way back to the living room.
“Where should I put this?” There he was, standing there, shirtless. His hair was starting to dry off ever so slightly, his eyes playing hide and seek behind his messy bangs.
“Aah…!” I close my eyes immediately and look away. “Y-Your shirt…”
Unfazed, he walked over, once again standing in my line of vision. “It’s not your first time seeing a man’s body now, is it?”
The line of his neck followed down to a pair of exposed collarbones, accentuated with each inhale. His broad shoulders gave way to defined arms, and as he swept the bangs away from his face, I could see the curves of his triceps and the tuft of armpit hair peeking at my rosy cheeks. His chest was muscular and porcelain smooth, and his abs showing slightly with every exhale. I even noticed the trail of hair leading down from his belly button and into his jeans. It was hard to fight it; his seductive body played games with my weak-willed mind.
“Mind if I take a shower first?” He loosed his belt and looked me straight in the eyes. All I could manage was a feeble nod.
“Thanks.” He grabbed the towel in my hand and closed the bathroom door behind him. Meanwhile, I was still trying to recover from what I had just seen. Snapping out of the daze, I noticed that I was still holding something in my hands. Oh, crap. His change of clothes. Behind the door, I could hear running water as it hit the tile flooring. I imagined the water dripping off his silky skin, shampoo suds trickling down, not missing a single crevice on his body. My mind liked what it saw and ran with the imagination.
Should I go in there to put this down?
I stared at the dry clothes and weighed my options. It would be awkward if he noticed I entered without warning. Besides, I wasn’t like him; I wasn’t going to get a look of his naked body without his consent. Okay, I thought. I’ll just wait until he’s done showering to give him these. That’s the decent thing to do.
Thinking I should busy myself while waiting, I headed toward the kitchen and placed the clothes on the counter. I mindlessly grabbed the kettle to boil some water and recalled the events from the day. There were parts I did not understand, like why he chose to keep his relationship with Shun a secret, or why he treated Reiko and Juri so differently. And what about this Maki girl? His photography career? His past?
“Oh, shoot…!” I look down at the sink and realize that the kettle has been full for quite some time, excess water overflowing on the sides. I quickly turn the faucet off and wipe the outside of the kettle before placing it on the stove. I ready two teacups, just in case he wants some after his shower. It felt surreal in a way. The last time I served tea for a man was for Ryota, but such memories were starting to loosen their grip on me. They no longer suffocated me like they had before, and I felt freer knowing I could let go.
“That’s unfair.”
I jump, startled by his voice. “I-I didn’t hear you come ou…t…” My voice trailed off as my eyes took in the view. His hair, still wet, looked cleaner and combed through. With nothing to wear, his upper body was bare, his skin slightly red from the hot water. A thick, cotton towel was the only thing blocking my view of everything else. His knees and muscular calves peeked from underneath it, bare feet a little wrinkly from walking in the rain. The same body wash I always used smelled differently on him, and like sweet nectar, his body let off a tantalizing fragrance. The towel fit snugly at his waist, and I could make out the curves of his hips and thighs, among other things.
“You readied a change of clothes but didn’t bother to give them to me?” He teasingly accused.
“Wha…n-no, I just… forgot.” I shifted my gaze away from his body and grabbed the clothes. “Here.” I stared at the floor.
“Oh?” I saw his feet draw nearer. His hand reached out toward my face and effortlessly flicked my chin upward with his fingers. My gaze rested on his shiny lips. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
“Let’s be honest, Miss 33,” he smirked. “You purposefully withheld this so you could see me like this.” He paused. “Right?”
“N-No…!” I gasped.
“Then, why didn’t you just come in and leave it in the bathroom?” His face inched closer.
My heart was beating so loudly I was afraid he could hear it, too. “Because…” I gulped. “I don’t go looking at someone else’s naked body without their consent.”
He nodded as he smiled mysteriously. “And? What do you think you’re doing now?” His body was almost touching mine, and I could feel the heat emanating from his bare skin. Snickering at my reaction, he backed off and watched me unable to move.
“Aren’t you going to get that?” He took the clothes from my weak grip.
“…H…uh?” Dumbstruck and mind foggy from his magic, I could barely make out a one-word sentence.
He took his free hand and pointed behind me at the kettle. “That.”
The lid shook violently as steam escaped furiously from the spout. Breaking away from the spell, I rushed over to turn the stove off and set the kettle aside.
“Tea?” he guessed.
I nodded shyly.
Not bothering to change, he opened a cupboard where I kept my tea. “How about this one?” It was my favorite green tea.
“…H…ow did you know—”
“Where you keep your tea?” He closed the cupboard and looked at me with curious eyes.
I nodded shyly once more.
“It’s not my first time inside your apartment,” he chuckled innocently.
My jaw dropped. “I didn’t say you could go and snoop around my kitchen!”
“You didn’t say I couldn’t, either.”
Great. He found a loophole in my argument again. Defeated, I snatched the tealeaves from his hand and started to prepare for two.
“Did these once belong to that cognac guy?” He looked at the clothes in his hand.
I remained quiet. They belonged to no one at this point, really.
“I’ll go change.” He asked no further questions. It was like him; not once did he probe me to divulge more than I felt comfortable. Then again, he was so good at guessing that perhaps, I’ve never had to verbalize anything. I poured tea in both teacups and brought them over to the coffee table. I took a seat on the floor and took a deep breath. To distract my mind, I turned on the TV and pretended to pay attention to some unentertaining program.
“Thanks for letting me wash up.” He returned to the living room wearing Ryota’s old clothes. To my surprise, he made it look stylish, so much so that I couldn’t even recall how the original owner looked in it.
“…No problem,” I replied, clearing my throat. “There’s tea if you want it.”
He took a seat on the couch behind me. His hair was almost completely dry, and in this light, looked soft and silky to the touch.
“Aren’t you going to take a shower?” he asked.
“Oh…” With so much on my mind, I had totally forgotten about that.
“Go ahead. Don’t worry, I won’t go looking through your stuff.” He chuckled and took a sip of the tea.
Like a marionette, I got up and did as I was told. Closing the bathroom door behind me, I took another deep breath to calm my nerves. In my dirty clothes hamper, I found his shirt and jeans. Everything he had been wearing seemed to be soaked in rain. For a moment, my heart fluttered at his kindness. My clothes are barely wet. He didn’t complain about the umbrella being too small, or how drenched he got walking me home. If I hadn’t noticed, he would have gone home in these wet clothes.
I took off layer by layer, unhooking my bra and kicking off my undies. Funny how, when I decide to wear decent underwear, no one else is here to see it, even accidentally. The hot water relaxed my tense muscles and calmed my breathing. I let it trickle down my face. Suddenly, I realized my current situation. There is an attractive man in my living room sipping on tea I poured for him. The clothes he has on now are much too embarrassing to wear out in public. It’s still pouring outside. If I wanted to, I could probably ask him to sleep with me. If he wanted to, I would probably say yes. The thought alone made the steam rise from my body.
I turned off the water and grabbed my towel to dry off.
Knock, knock.
I could hear his breathing on the other side of the door. “Y-Yes?”
No answer.
“Can I help you?” I asked, but still no reply.
“Uh…m, okay, give me a second…” I rushed to dry my body off completely and reached for my pajama top.
Click.
The door opened and he entered the bathroom dragging his feet.
“AHHH!!!” I screamed as I frantically covered myself with the towel. But his expression didn’t change. Instead, he drew closer to me, eyes glazed over, clearly unlike his usual self.
“E-Excuse you! As if last time wasn’t enough, you’re going to barge in on me taking a shower?!” I backpedaled into the wall. There was nowhere to run.
Heavy, deliberate steps made their way to where I was standing. I held my towel close to my body, making sure he couldn’t see anything. Then, his eyes focused on his prey. His breathing was heavy and coarse. An arm swung upward as his hand hit the wall right beside my ear.
“W-Wha…What are you doing?” My heart pounded against my chest.
He opened his mouth to say something, but his arm collapsed and he caught himself against the wall with his elbow, body leaning against mine. His hot breath hit my ear, making me quiver all the way down to my toes.
“H…ey! Don’t…” I felt something searing my neck. “Oh, my god… you’re burning!”
His eyes were closed and breathing, irregular. His lips were nestled at my neck, and with every exhale, I could feel him shiver.
“You have a fever,” I alarmed. “Come on, let’s lie down.” I tried pushing his body away from mine, but he didn’t budge at all. “All right, stay right there…” He leaned on his arm as much as he could while I strategically wrapped the bath towel around my body and secured it. Then, using my body weight, I pushed him away from the wall. His arm fell over my shoulders, bare skin touching bare skin. This is an emergency. I push aside indecent thoughts and haul him over to my bed.
“Nnngh…” he moaned as I placed him down on my bed.
“Are you cold? Can you eat?” I pulled a spare blanket over his body. He nodded once, but I assumed his answer was for both questions.
“Give me a few minutes.” I grabbed a fresh face towel from my dresser and rushed to the kitchen. After placing a few ice cubes into a bowl, I filled it with water and placed the towel inside. I checked my rice cooker and luckily, there was enough for two or three servings. I filled a pot with water and while I waited for it to boil, I took the ice bowl into his room. In my other hand, I held a glass of water with a straw for easy drinking.
“Here, you need to stay hydrated.” I leaned down to look at his face. “Can you sit up at all?”
He opened his heavy eyelids and slowly propped up onto his elbow. “Sorry.” He took a few sips of the water.
“This isn’t time to be apologizing.” I wasn’t going to accept his apology. There was nothing for which he should be sorry. I wrung the face towel and placed it on his forehead.
“Mm…” His eyebrows furrowed for a moment from the cold cloth, but his expression slowly loosened into a faint smile.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” I got up to return to the kitchen. “I’m making you some porridge.”
The water in the pot had started to bubble just as I returned. From the fridge, I grabbed an egg and some green onions. As I prepared the food, a concerning thought crossed my mind. He’s so busy taking care of other people, who takes care of him? I put the remaining rice into the pot and flavored it with soy sauce and dashi. It was how I remembered my mom making it, and the simple recipe stuck around for another generation. I also prepared miso soup just in case he wasn’t too hungry. I feel like a housewife. I chuckled to myself as I placed all the dishes on a tray. Lastly, I reached into a cabinet for the bottle of Tylenol, and headed back to my room.
“34?” Is he sleeping?
“Hm?”
I guess not. “I brought you some food. You need to eat something before taking medicine.”
He propped himself up on his elbow again and sat up on the edge of the bed. The towel fell off his forehead, so he picked it up and placed it back in the bowl. He seemed a little better already.
“There’s some rice porridge if you can manage to eat. If not, there’s miso soup. But please try to eat something; it’s not good to take medicine on an empty stomach.” I sat down next to him on the bed and placed the tray on my lap.
He reached for the bowl of porridge and held it in his hand. Then, he looked my way. “Thanks.” Though faint, the smile on his face reassured me that he was going to be fine.
“T-This is kind of funny, isn’t it?” I joked. “Who’s taking care of whom now?”
His smile grew a little bit wider and his eyes arched sweetly.
“Usually, this is the part where you tease me by saying things like, ‘Aren’t you going to feed me?’” I chuckled and waited for his reaction.
“Aren’t you?” His eyes glistened ever so slightly.
“What?!” His unexpected response shocked me silent.
Still smiling, he reached for the spoon in the bowl and took a bite. “Just kidding. Mm…” He pointed to the bowl with the spoon. “This is good.”
I couldn’t believe it. He managed to tease me even in this state. “…I’m glad,” I said, slightly annoyed.
Next to me, I could see him carrying successive bites to his mouth. Soon, the bowl was empty.
“Are you still hungry? There’s more,” I offered.
He shook his head, but reached for the miso soup and chopsticks. He continued to finish his meal, cleaning the last drop from the bowl.
“…Are you sure you don’t want more? Here, let me refill—”
He grabbed my wrist and shook his head. “This was perfect.”
“O-Oh, okay…” The hand that held my wrist was gentle but focused. As he loosened his grip, he looked into my eyes in a way he never had before. His gaze seemed to be hiding something, like they wanted to tell me a secret but he wasn’t letting them. I was no psychic, and certainly not a good guesser. The moment was fleeting. He reached for the medicine on the tray and took a dose with the water.
“Hey…” I let the word slip out.
“Hm?” He cleared his throat.
“…I was wondering,” I continued. “Who takes care of you? I mean, as a nightclub host, you tend to your clients’ needs, right? You told me that there’s nothing wrong with someone taking care of me.” I fidget with the chopsticks now back on the tray. “What about you? It’s almost like you avoid it.”
He blinked a few times. “That never crossed my mind.”
“Really? Because, I mean… you wouldn’t give me that advice if you didn’t believe it yourself.” Could it be that I had finally ‘won’ an ‘argument’ with him? I waited for his reply.
His fingers started playing with his lower lip. “Well, aren’t you Miss Smarty Pants.”
“Huh?”
“But, don’t you think you’ve answered your own question?” He pointed at the tray full of empty dishes. He let out a long exhale and waited patiently as I decoded his cryptic message.
“Wait…” Still confused, I pleaded for more time to think.
“You’re the first woman to see me like this.” He lied back down on the bed and covered himself with the sheets.
Watching him close his eyes, I realized that in those few words, he had entrusted me with a different side of him, a vulnerable side he doesn’t show anyone else. It was so endearing that I sat there for a few more minutes just letting the words echo in my head.
“Aren’t you going to sleep, too?” I flinched. I thought you were already asleep.
“Y-Yeah,” I stuttered. “I’ll just take a blanket and sleep on the couch out there.”
“If you’re more comfortable with us sleeping separately, I’ll take the couch.” He opened his eyes and got ready to get up.
“No, no,” I stopped him, waving my hands in disapproval. “You’re sick. You need the bed more than I do.”
“Fine, but I’m not going to let a woman sleep on the couch,” he asserted.
…With what option does that leave me?
“Also,” he continued, “You should probably change into real clothes before getting into bed. You’ll catch a cold, too.”
I took a quick look at what I was wearing. “Ahh! Oh, my god!” I cover myself with my arms. I must have been very preoccupied looking after him. The damp bath towel hung a bit loosely around my body now.
“You’re lucky I’ve got a fever.”
“Excuse me?”
“I may be a gentleman, but I’m still a man.” His voice was deep and coarse. “And men can take advantage of situations like this.” He suddenly grabbed my upper arm and pulled me down onto the bed beside him.
“Kyaa!!” My world turned sideways in a flash. I held onto my towel tightly to preserve any remaining decency.
I could hear him smirk behind me. “See what I mean?”
Flustered and feeling just as feverish as he, I hurried back up to my feet. “D-Don’t toy with me,” I warned. “Taking advantage of your caretaker is cruel.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “But don’t tell me you didn’t half expect this.”
“You may be a good guesser, but you’re wrong this time,” I huffed.
“Says the girl who decided to wear revealing underwear today.” He chuckled through his nose.
I could feel my cheeks turning redder and redder. Mortified was an understatement. “Were you looking? Pervert!”
“Do you remember what I told you last time I was here?” he inquired.
“…Huh?”
“The next time we spend a night together, remember every detail,” he reminded.
“Oh… and? What about it?” I eyed him suspiciously.
“Do I seem like a peeping Tom to you?”
“I… wouldn’t put it past you.” I knew what he was trying to do. I stood my ground.
“Don’t lie.” But he could see right through me. The same man who didn’t bother to take advantage of the previous situation…wouldn’t have tried the second chance he got, either. Plus, he’s sick, I reminded myself. He doesn’t have the energy for that. I knew I had lost the argument; I was defending him for crying out loud.
“I saw them in the bathroom hamper earlier,” he clarified. “I really needed medicine, but I didn’t know where you kept it. I tried waiting for you to come out, but I was getting lightheaded.”
“Sorry…” I had accused an innocent man again.
“Now is a good time to remind you once more. The next time we spend a night together, remember every detail.” He turned around on the bed to face away from me. “I don’t need a new accusation in the morning about something I didn’t do.”
I cleared my throat. “R-Right…” And bit my tongue. “Sorry.”
The medicine seemed to have kicked in. He didn’t reply. His broad back rose and fell with each breath, highlighting his shoulder blades and the beautiful contour of his waist. Although I knew he couldn’t see me staring, I felt rude not being able to keep my eyes away. What are you doing to me…? I leave my room quietly to change. When I returned, he hadn’t moved an inch. This meant that he was facing my side of the bed.
I carefully lifted the covers and snuck in. Looks like he’s a deep sleeper. I allow myself one last peek before falling asleep. In the moonlight, his facial features blurred a little bit. I can stare all I want. It was a small victory. There were so many things I didn’t know about him yet. I started with his hair, the golden strands glowing like a halo. Then, the forehead hiding behind his bands, the artistic arches of his brows, the slender slope of his nose, the surprising length of his eyelashes, the fullness of his cheekbones, the prominent grooves of his philtrum, his sultry lips… I lingered here a while, noticing that they were slightly dry, giving them a rosier hue than usual. They looked so soft and supple with a kind of buoyancy about them, elastic but full. I was overcome by a desire to caress them, my hand answering to a mind of its own. Softly and carefully, I placed the tip of my middle finger on his lower lip. As expected, they were dense and soft. Did I really kiss these…? I moved my middle finger across his lips. Was he real? I had never laid eyes on a man more divine. When I retracted my fingers, his lips curled upward into a faint smile. I smiled back, feeling unworthy but exceptionally lucky.
--
The thing about maternal instincts is, even if you think you don’t have any, they’ll emerge on their own given the right circumstances. This morning was one of such circumstances. I had absolutely no problem waking up. 5:30AM. Geez, having a man in my bed is a much better alarm clock. I turned to my right side to find him still sound asleep, and wondered if his fever had gone down. But, he looked so peaceful sleeping that I couldn’t bring myself to touch his forehead to check. Instead, I snuck out of bed, tiptoed out of the room, and made my way to the kitchen.
I turned on the gas stove to reheat the porridge, but instead of the leftover miso soup, I decided to make him some chicken soup. If I had more time, I’d make it from scratch, I thought. But luckily, I had some chicken stock and breast strips in the fridge. While I waited for the water to boil, I cut up some vegetables to throw in the soup.
Some time had passed before I heard footsteps in the other room. Everything was prepared and ready to serve. I hope he likes it. Though 33, I felt like a giddy teenager giving a boy chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
“Hi,” he mumbled as he combed through his bedhead with his fingers.
I bit my lips to try to stop myself from breaking into a smile. “Morning. Are you feeling any better?”
He nodded as he rubbed his neck. “Not feverish anymore.”
“I’m glad!” I replied cheerfully.
“You’re awake this morning.” He stepped toward the kitchen and peeked over my shoulder. “Wow.”
So far, so good.
“Go and relax. I’ll bring out breakfast.”
He stood there for a few seconds looking at me before heading to the dining table. There was a gentle smile on his face. It seemed like time moved slowly around us.
“Here we are. This is leftover porridge, but this is a special chicken soup by yours truly,” I giggled.
“I didn’t get to tell you this last night, but you’re a great cook.” He waited for me to sit down before picking up his chopsticks.
I couldn’t contain the joy and broke out into a big smile. “Thanks…” I blushed.
“This is way fancier than the breakfast I got for you last time,” he joked. “Do you cook often?”
“Maybe you should stick around and find out. I’ve got a huge repertoire.” I was feeling more confident this morning.
“Hm…” He placed his fingers to his lips. “Maybe.”
“Let’s eat!” I waited for him to take the first spoonful of soup.
“Did you just make this?”
“Yeah, I didn’t have time to make it from scratch so it’s not my best batch…” I bit my lips in anticipation.
“That cognac guy is an idiot.” He took another sip and kept his eyes on the food.
“Hm?”
“For cheating on you.”
I held my breath. My heart was bursting in my chest, those cathartic words soothing old wounds. And then, it hit me: How did he know that?
“U-Uh…” I laughed nervously.
“How did I know that?” He put down his spoon and lifted his head.
“…Um… yeah.” Really eloquent, Kokoro.
He licked his lips and looked my way. “I told you I’m a good guesser.”
My lips part slightly to make way for the exhale. I don’t know how he does it, but this time, I was thankful he guessed correctly. It wasn’t a part of my past I felt super comfortable talking about, and in a way, I believed he knew that.
After breakfast, he put on his dry clothes and packed up his things to get ready to leave.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wash those?” I pointed at his wrinkly clothes.
“Do you think I should walk around town in these?” He held up Ryota’s clothes and expressed his disapproval.
I giggled back in agreement. The air around us was sweet and honeyed. I wished this morning would never end.
“I need to run some errands today, so I should get going.” He placed the loungewear on the sofa.
“Oh, okay…” I bit the inside of my lips. I had no right to keep him here, but oh, how I wished he could stay.
He didn’t miss the disappointment in my voice. “Is Miss 33 growing fond of 34?” He tilted his head and flaunted his charm.
“E-Excuse you,” I stuttered. “Someone thinks very highly of himself.” Getting defensive was my defense mechanism. I knew it wasn’t original, or effective, for that matter.
I walked him to the front door and watched him put on his shoes. They must still be wet. You should stay until they’re dry. My mind was thinking up any excuses for him to stay.
“I have a favor to ask you.” He turned to look at me.
“…What is it?”
“I need you to never come to Akatsuki again.”
“W…Wait, why?” Akatsuki had become a special place in my heart. How could I forget the very first release? Our very first meeting? I needed a good reason to comply. That place was worth fighting for.
“Because I no longer want you as my client.” His reply was resolute.
“Hold on,” I interrupted. “Why are you being so cold all of a sudden? I happen to love that club. Is it because I don’t pay you? Am I a cheap client? Are the other women more entertaining?” It was a slew of questions, and some of them stemmed from my insecurities. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. I’m just his dispensable plaything.
There was a slight curl at the edge of his mouth, but his eyes were gentle, as if he were gazing at something precious. But in my desperation, I wasn’t able to decipher his expression.
“What?” I accused. “Is this funny to you? Is this some sick game you—”
His hand reached for my cheek, and his fingers found their way to the nape of my neck. My spine tingled all the way down.
“I don’t date any of my clients.” His thumb caressed the corner of my mouth. “Remember?”
My eyes widened with full realization of his proposition. His four fingers softly massaged the back of my ear and I was beginning to feel dizzy. Is…he really saying what I think he’s saying?
“Are you going to do as I say?” His expression mocked my hesitant one.
“So… you’re saying…”
“Are you going to do as I say?” he repeated, this time putting more pressure on his thumb.
I nodded weakly in defeat.
He smirked and the next thing I knew, his lips were pressed against mine, enveloping my lower lip. The hand at my neck drew me nearer to him as I melted into the kiss. My eyes closed slowly, letting go of the fears that had gripped me just moments ago. He pulled his head back to break the kiss, lips lingering just millimeters away from mine.
“Good,” he whispered. His breath was warm and fuzzy on my lips. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed that his were already open, gaze cast down toward that which he had just kissed. He released the hand from my neck and gradually stood back up straight.
My eyes followed his movements. His lips were puckered outward as if he were whistling, and there was a slight bounce in his movements, like he was humming a tune in his head. All I could do was stand there watching, reveling silently.
“I guess that was our second kiss,” he grinned as he pulled gently on his upper lip with his fingers.
“Heh…” I nodded, embarrassed.
“You’ll remember this one though, right?” His eyes glimmered mysteriously.
I laughed nervously. How could anyone forget a kiss like that?
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.” He opened the door to leave. “I’ll call you later,” he waved.
“O-Okay…!” I curled my lips over my teeth to hide my excitement.
“Be good,” he smiled. The door closed softly behind him, just like last time. But I knew this time was different. He would return. He would return, to me.
I broke into a big smile and squealed as I jumped up and down and twirled in place. I had forgotten what it felt like to be in love, to be completely enraptured by the feeling of happiness. I wanted to share these feelings with someone. Reiko and Juri! Rushing to my phone, I press the home key to turn the screen on. Hm? There was a text from a number I didn’t recognize. I tap on the message icon.
Kokoro. It's Ryota.
Can I see you? I want to talk to you about something important.
I put the phone down. You always had terrible timing. I glanced over at the loungewear on the sofa and let out a sigh. Now, I really wished 34 had stayed. It was time for an emergency meeting with the girls.
Rating: R for whole series, R for Ch.8
Genre: Romance, Drama
Word count: 5,520
Plot: A 33-year-old singleton, Nijishima Kokoro, finds herself at a host club where she meets the club's most popular host, Sakurai Sho. The encounter propels Kokoro to explore a different kind of love as Sho helps Kokoro discover herself.
NOTE: This story reads like a shoujo manga--it is written in a fictitious first-person narrative where the reader is the protagonist. Please proceed with caution if you are uncomfortable with JE members having relationships with fictitious female characters (even if that female is you!).
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
Chapter Eight: A Fair Exchange
“14th floor.” He pressed the button in the elevator shamelessly as if he were heading back to his own room. The rain made his shirt and jeans cling to his skin, accentuating the curves of his body and leaving plenty of room for my imagination to run wild. Droplets fell from his hair and onto his face, glistening skin inviting.
When we arrived at my floor, he let me lead the way, but not without a proper teasing.
“Do you need me to carry you to your room, Miss 33?” he proposed.
“…You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
A mischievous smile surfaced as we neared my door. “I think that memory is the least of your worries,” he reminded, his eyes twinkling. Right away, I knew what he was trying to say. Though I was fully clothed this time, I felt exposed and embarrassed.
After that fiasco, I had cleaned my living space quite thoroughly, and made sure that all my clean laundry was neatly folded and placed back in their proper dresser drawers. It wasn’t like I was expecting him to return. Or at least, not in this way. Still, a part of me was thankful the rain worked in my favor.
“Wait here,” I instructed. Making my way to my room, I grabbed a clean bath towel and the largest, non-feminine shirt and shorts I could find. Oh. These are Ryota’s. I thought I had given back everything that was his, thrown away anything that held sentimental value from that relationship. I felt a tinge of pain as the memories insisted that I pay attention to them. It’s either this outfit or girly pajamas, Kokoro. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I made my way back to the living room.
“Where should I put this?” There he was, standing there, shirtless. His hair was starting to dry off ever so slightly, his eyes playing hide and seek behind his messy bangs.
“Aah…!” I close my eyes immediately and look away. “Y-Your shirt…”
Unfazed, he walked over, once again standing in my line of vision. “It’s not your first time seeing a man’s body now, is it?”
The line of his neck followed down to a pair of exposed collarbones, accentuated with each inhale. His broad shoulders gave way to defined arms, and as he swept the bangs away from his face, I could see the curves of his triceps and the tuft of armpit hair peeking at my rosy cheeks. His chest was muscular and porcelain smooth, and his abs showing slightly with every exhale. I even noticed the trail of hair leading down from his belly button and into his jeans. It was hard to fight it; his seductive body played games with my weak-willed mind.
“Mind if I take a shower first?” He loosed his belt and looked me straight in the eyes. All I could manage was a feeble nod.
“Thanks.” He grabbed the towel in my hand and closed the bathroom door behind him. Meanwhile, I was still trying to recover from what I had just seen. Snapping out of the daze, I noticed that I was still holding something in my hands. Oh, crap. His change of clothes. Behind the door, I could hear running water as it hit the tile flooring. I imagined the water dripping off his silky skin, shampoo suds trickling down, not missing a single crevice on his body. My mind liked what it saw and ran with the imagination.
Should I go in there to put this down?
I stared at the dry clothes and weighed my options. It would be awkward if he noticed I entered without warning. Besides, I wasn’t like him; I wasn’t going to get a look of his naked body without his consent. Okay, I thought. I’ll just wait until he’s done showering to give him these. That’s the decent thing to do.
Thinking I should busy myself while waiting, I headed toward the kitchen and placed the clothes on the counter. I mindlessly grabbed the kettle to boil some water and recalled the events from the day. There were parts I did not understand, like why he chose to keep his relationship with Shun a secret, or why he treated Reiko and Juri so differently. And what about this Maki girl? His photography career? His past?
“Oh, shoot…!” I look down at the sink and realize that the kettle has been full for quite some time, excess water overflowing on the sides. I quickly turn the faucet off and wipe the outside of the kettle before placing it on the stove. I ready two teacups, just in case he wants some after his shower. It felt surreal in a way. The last time I served tea for a man was for Ryota, but such memories were starting to loosen their grip on me. They no longer suffocated me like they had before, and I felt freer knowing I could let go.
“That’s unfair.”
I jump, startled by his voice. “I-I didn’t hear you come ou…t…” My voice trailed off as my eyes took in the view. His hair, still wet, looked cleaner and combed through. With nothing to wear, his upper body was bare, his skin slightly red from the hot water. A thick, cotton towel was the only thing blocking my view of everything else. His knees and muscular calves peeked from underneath it, bare feet a little wrinkly from walking in the rain. The same body wash I always used smelled differently on him, and like sweet nectar, his body let off a tantalizing fragrance. The towel fit snugly at his waist, and I could make out the curves of his hips and thighs, among other things.
“You readied a change of clothes but didn’t bother to give them to me?” He teasingly accused.
“Wha…n-no, I just… forgot.” I shifted my gaze away from his body and grabbed the clothes. “Here.” I stared at the floor.
“Oh?” I saw his feet draw nearer. His hand reached out toward my face and effortlessly flicked my chin upward with his fingers. My gaze rested on his shiny lips. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
“Let’s be honest, Miss 33,” he smirked. “You purposefully withheld this so you could see me like this.” He paused. “Right?”
“N-No…!” I gasped.
“Then, why didn’t you just come in and leave it in the bathroom?” His face inched closer.
My heart was beating so loudly I was afraid he could hear it, too. “Because…” I gulped. “I don’t go looking at someone else’s naked body without their consent.”
He nodded as he smiled mysteriously. “And? What do you think you’re doing now?” His body was almost touching mine, and I could feel the heat emanating from his bare skin. Snickering at my reaction, he backed off and watched me unable to move.
“Aren’t you going to get that?” He took the clothes from my weak grip.
“…H…uh?” Dumbstruck and mind foggy from his magic, I could barely make out a one-word sentence.
He took his free hand and pointed behind me at the kettle. “That.”
The lid shook violently as steam escaped furiously from the spout. Breaking away from the spell, I rushed over to turn the stove off and set the kettle aside.
“Tea?” he guessed.
I nodded shyly.
Not bothering to change, he opened a cupboard where I kept my tea. “How about this one?” It was my favorite green tea.
“…H…ow did you know—”
“Where you keep your tea?” He closed the cupboard and looked at me with curious eyes.
I nodded shyly once more.
“It’s not my first time inside your apartment,” he chuckled innocently.
My jaw dropped. “I didn’t say you could go and snoop around my kitchen!”
“You didn’t say I couldn’t, either.”
Great. He found a loophole in my argument again. Defeated, I snatched the tealeaves from his hand and started to prepare for two.
“Did these once belong to that cognac guy?” He looked at the clothes in his hand.
I remained quiet. They belonged to no one at this point, really.
“I’ll go change.” He asked no further questions. It was like him; not once did he probe me to divulge more than I felt comfortable. Then again, he was so good at guessing that perhaps, I’ve never had to verbalize anything. I poured tea in both teacups and brought them over to the coffee table. I took a seat on the floor and took a deep breath. To distract my mind, I turned on the TV and pretended to pay attention to some unentertaining program.
“Thanks for letting me wash up.” He returned to the living room wearing Ryota’s old clothes. To my surprise, he made it look stylish, so much so that I couldn’t even recall how the original owner looked in it.
“…No problem,” I replied, clearing my throat. “There’s tea if you want it.”
He took a seat on the couch behind me. His hair was almost completely dry, and in this light, looked soft and silky to the touch.
“Aren’t you going to take a shower?” he asked.
“Oh…” With so much on my mind, I had totally forgotten about that.
“Go ahead. Don’t worry, I won’t go looking through your stuff.” He chuckled and took a sip of the tea.
Like a marionette, I got up and did as I was told. Closing the bathroom door behind me, I took another deep breath to calm my nerves. In my dirty clothes hamper, I found his shirt and jeans. Everything he had been wearing seemed to be soaked in rain. For a moment, my heart fluttered at his kindness. My clothes are barely wet. He didn’t complain about the umbrella being too small, or how drenched he got walking me home. If I hadn’t noticed, he would have gone home in these wet clothes.
I took off layer by layer, unhooking my bra and kicking off my undies. Funny how, when I decide to wear decent underwear, no one else is here to see it, even accidentally. The hot water relaxed my tense muscles and calmed my breathing. I let it trickle down my face. Suddenly, I realized my current situation. There is an attractive man in my living room sipping on tea I poured for him. The clothes he has on now are much too embarrassing to wear out in public. It’s still pouring outside. If I wanted to, I could probably ask him to sleep with me. If he wanted to, I would probably say yes. The thought alone made the steam rise from my body.
I turned off the water and grabbed my towel to dry off.
Knock, knock.
I could hear his breathing on the other side of the door. “Y-Yes?”
No answer.
“Can I help you?” I asked, but still no reply.
“Uh…m, okay, give me a second…” I rushed to dry my body off completely and reached for my pajama top.
Click.
The door opened and he entered the bathroom dragging his feet.
“AHHH!!!” I screamed as I frantically covered myself with the towel. But his expression didn’t change. Instead, he drew closer to me, eyes glazed over, clearly unlike his usual self.
“E-Excuse you! As if last time wasn’t enough, you’re going to barge in on me taking a shower?!” I backpedaled into the wall. There was nowhere to run.
Heavy, deliberate steps made their way to where I was standing. I held my towel close to my body, making sure he couldn’t see anything. Then, his eyes focused on his prey. His breathing was heavy and coarse. An arm swung upward as his hand hit the wall right beside my ear.
“W-Wha…What are you doing?” My heart pounded against my chest.
He opened his mouth to say something, but his arm collapsed and he caught himself against the wall with his elbow, body leaning against mine. His hot breath hit my ear, making me quiver all the way down to my toes.
“H…ey! Don’t…” I felt something searing my neck. “Oh, my god… you’re burning!”
His eyes were closed and breathing, irregular. His lips were nestled at my neck, and with every exhale, I could feel him shiver.
“You have a fever,” I alarmed. “Come on, let’s lie down.” I tried pushing his body away from mine, but he didn’t budge at all. “All right, stay right there…” He leaned on his arm as much as he could while I strategically wrapped the bath towel around my body and secured it. Then, using my body weight, I pushed him away from the wall. His arm fell over my shoulders, bare skin touching bare skin. This is an emergency. I push aside indecent thoughts and haul him over to my bed.
“Nnngh…” he moaned as I placed him down on my bed.
“Are you cold? Can you eat?” I pulled a spare blanket over his body. He nodded once, but I assumed his answer was for both questions.
“Give me a few minutes.” I grabbed a fresh face towel from my dresser and rushed to the kitchen. After placing a few ice cubes into a bowl, I filled it with water and placed the towel inside. I checked my rice cooker and luckily, there was enough for two or three servings. I filled a pot with water and while I waited for it to boil, I took the ice bowl into his room. In my other hand, I held a glass of water with a straw for easy drinking.
“Here, you need to stay hydrated.” I leaned down to look at his face. “Can you sit up at all?”
He opened his heavy eyelids and slowly propped up onto his elbow. “Sorry.” He took a few sips of the water.
“This isn’t time to be apologizing.” I wasn’t going to accept his apology. There was nothing for which he should be sorry. I wrung the face towel and placed it on his forehead.
“Mm…” His eyebrows furrowed for a moment from the cold cloth, but his expression slowly loosened into a faint smile.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” I got up to return to the kitchen. “I’m making you some porridge.”
The water in the pot had started to bubble just as I returned. From the fridge, I grabbed an egg and some green onions. As I prepared the food, a concerning thought crossed my mind. He’s so busy taking care of other people, who takes care of him? I put the remaining rice into the pot and flavored it with soy sauce and dashi. It was how I remembered my mom making it, and the simple recipe stuck around for another generation. I also prepared miso soup just in case he wasn’t too hungry. I feel like a housewife. I chuckled to myself as I placed all the dishes on a tray. Lastly, I reached into a cabinet for the bottle of Tylenol, and headed back to my room.
“34?” Is he sleeping?
“Hm?”
I guess not. “I brought you some food. You need to eat something before taking medicine.”
He propped himself up on his elbow again and sat up on the edge of the bed. The towel fell off his forehead, so he picked it up and placed it back in the bowl. He seemed a little better already.
“There’s some rice porridge if you can manage to eat. If not, there’s miso soup. But please try to eat something; it’s not good to take medicine on an empty stomach.” I sat down next to him on the bed and placed the tray on my lap.
He reached for the bowl of porridge and held it in his hand. Then, he looked my way. “Thanks.” Though faint, the smile on his face reassured me that he was going to be fine.
“T-This is kind of funny, isn’t it?” I joked. “Who’s taking care of whom now?”
His smile grew a little bit wider and his eyes arched sweetly.
“Usually, this is the part where you tease me by saying things like, ‘Aren’t you going to feed me?’” I chuckled and waited for his reaction.
“Aren’t you?” His eyes glistened ever so slightly.
“What?!” His unexpected response shocked me silent.
Still smiling, he reached for the spoon in the bowl and took a bite. “Just kidding. Mm…” He pointed to the bowl with the spoon. “This is good.”
I couldn’t believe it. He managed to tease me even in this state. “…I’m glad,” I said, slightly annoyed.
Next to me, I could see him carrying successive bites to his mouth. Soon, the bowl was empty.
“Are you still hungry? There’s more,” I offered.
He shook his head, but reached for the miso soup and chopsticks. He continued to finish his meal, cleaning the last drop from the bowl.
“…Are you sure you don’t want more? Here, let me refill—”
He grabbed my wrist and shook his head. “This was perfect.”
“O-Oh, okay…” The hand that held my wrist was gentle but focused. As he loosened his grip, he looked into my eyes in a way he never had before. His gaze seemed to be hiding something, like they wanted to tell me a secret but he wasn’t letting them. I was no psychic, and certainly not a good guesser. The moment was fleeting. He reached for the medicine on the tray and took a dose with the water.
“Hey…” I let the word slip out.
“Hm?” He cleared his throat.
“…I was wondering,” I continued. “Who takes care of you? I mean, as a nightclub host, you tend to your clients’ needs, right? You told me that there’s nothing wrong with someone taking care of me.” I fidget with the chopsticks now back on the tray. “What about you? It’s almost like you avoid it.”
He blinked a few times. “That never crossed my mind.”
“Really? Because, I mean… you wouldn’t give me that advice if you didn’t believe it yourself.” Could it be that I had finally ‘won’ an ‘argument’ with him? I waited for his reply.
His fingers started playing with his lower lip. “Well, aren’t you Miss Smarty Pants.”
“Huh?”
“But, don’t you think you’ve answered your own question?” He pointed at the tray full of empty dishes. He let out a long exhale and waited patiently as I decoded his cryptic message.
“Wait…” Still confused, I pleaded for more time to think.
“You’re the first woman to see me like this.” He lied back down on the bed and covered himself with the sheets.
Watching him close his eyes, I realized that in those few words, he had entrusted me with a different side of him, a vulnerable side he doesn’t show anyone else. It was so endearing that I sat there for a few more minutes just letting the words echo in my head.
“Aren’t you going to sleep, too?” I flinched. I thought you were already asleep.
“Y-Yeah,” I stuttered. “I’ll just take a blanket and sleep on the couch out there.”
“If you’re more comfortable with us sleeping separately, I’ll take the couch.” He opened his eyes and got ready to get up.
“No, no,” I stopped him, waving my hands in disapproval. “You’re sick. You need the bed more than I do.”
“Fine, but I’m not going to let a woman sleep on the couch,” he asserted.
…With what option does that leave me?
“Also,” he continued, “You should probably change into real clothes before getting into bed. You’ll catch a cold, too.”
I took a quick look at what I was wearing. “Ahh! Oh, my god!” I cover myself with my arms. I must have been very preoccupied looking after him. The damp bath towel hung a bit loosely around my body now.
“You’re lucky I’ve got a fever.”
“Excuse me?”
“I may be a gentleman, but I’m still a man.” His voice was deep and coarse. “And men can take advantage of situations like this.” He suddenly grabbed my upper arm and pulled me down onto the bed beside him.
“Kyaa!!” My world turned sideways in a flash. I held onto my towel tightly to preserve any remaining decency.
I could hear him smirk behind me. “See what I mean?”
Flustered and feeling just as feverish as he, I hurried back up to my feet. “D-Don’t toy with me,” I warned. “Taking advantage of your caretaker is cruel.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “But don’t tell me you didn’t half expect this.”
“You may be a good guesser, but you’re wrong this time,” I huffed.
“Says the girl who decided to wear revealing underwear today.” He chuckled through his nose.
I could feel my cheeks turning redder and redder. Mortified was an understatement. “Were you looking? Pervert!”
“Do you remember what I told you last time I was here?” he inquired.
“…Huh?”
“The next time we spend a night together, remember every detail,” he reminded.
“Oh… and? What about it?” I eyed him suspiciously.
“Do I seem like a peeping Tom to you?”
“I… wouldn’t put it past you.” I knew what he was trying to do. I stood my ground.
“Don’t lie.” But he could see right through me. The same man who didn’t bother to take advantage of the previous situation…wouldn’t have tried the second chance he got, either. Plus, he’s sick, I reminded myself. He doesn’t have the energy for that. I knew I had lost the argument; I was defending him for crying out loud.
“I saw them in the bathroom hamper earlier,” he clarified. “I really needed medicine, but I didn’t know where you kept it. I tried waiting for you to come out, but I was getting lightheaded.”
“Sorry…” I had accused an innocent man again.
“Now is a good time to remind you once more. The next time we spend a night together, remember every detail.” He turned around on the bed to face away from me. “I don’t need a new accusation in the morning about something I didn’t do.”
I cleared my throat. “R-Right…” And bit my tongue. “Sorry.”
The medicine seemed to have kicked in. He didn’t reply. His broad back rose and fell with each breath, highlighting his shoulder blades and the beautiful contour of his waist. Although I knew he couldn’t see me staring, I felt rude not being able to keep my eyes away. What are you doing to me…? I leave my room quietly to change. When I returned, he hadn’t moved an inch. This meant that he was facing my side of the bed.
I carefully lifted the covers and snuck in. Looks like he’s a deep sleeper. I allow myself one last peek before falling asleep. In the moonlight, his facial features blurred a little bit. I can stare all I want. It was a small victory. There were so many things I didn’t know about him yet. I started with his hair, the golden strands glowing like a halo. Then, the forehead hiding behind his bands, the artistic arches of his brows, the slender slope of his nose, the surprising length of his eyelashes, the fullness of his cheekbones, the prominent grooves of his philtrum, his sultry lips… I lingered here a while, noticing that they were slightly dry, giving them a rosier hue than usual. They looked so soft and supple with a kind of buoyancy about them, elastic but full. I was overcome by a desire to caress them, my hand answering to a mind of its own. Softly and carefully, I placed the tip of my middle finger on his lower lip. As expected, they were dense and soft. Did I really kiss these…? I moved my middle finger across his lips. Was he real? I had never laid eyes on a man more divine. When I retracted my fingers, his lips curled upward into a faint smile. I smiled back, feeling unworthy but exceptionally lucky.
--
The thing about maternal instincts is, even if you think you don’t have any, they’ll emerge on their own given the right circumstances. This morning was one of such circumstances. I had absolutely no problem waking up. 5:30AM. Geez, having a man in my bed is a much better alarm clock. I turned to my right side to find him still sound asleep, and wondered if his fever had gone down. But, he looked so peaceful sleeping that I couldn’t bring myself to touch his forehead to check. Instead, I snuck out of bed, tiptoed out of the room, and made my way to the kitchen.
I turned on the gas stove to reheat the porridge, but instead of the leftover miso soup, I decided to make him some chicken soup. If I had more time, I’d make it from scratch, I thought. But luckily, I had some chicken stock and breast strips in the fridge. While I waited for the water to boil, I cut up some vegetables to throw in the soup.
Some time had passed before I heard footsteps in the other room. Everything was prepared and ready to serve. I hope he likes it. Though 33, I felt like a giddy teenager giving a boy chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
“Hi,” he mumbled as he combed through his bedhead with his fingers.
I bit my lips to try to stop myself from breaking into a smile. “Morning. Are you feeling any better?”
He nodded as he rubbed his neck. “Not feverish anymore.”
“I’m glad!” I replied cheerfully.
“You’re awake this morning.” He stepped toward the kitchen and peeked over my shoulder. “Wow.”
So far, so good.
“Go and relax. I’ll bring out breakfast.”
He stood there for a few seconds looking at me before heading to the dining table. There was a gentle smile on his face. It seemed like time moved slowly around us.
“Here we are. This is leftover porridge, but this is a special chicken soup by yours truly,” I giggled.
“I didn’t get to tell you this last night, but you’re a great cook.” He waited for me to sit down before picking up his chopsticks.
I couldn’t contain the joy and broke out into a big smile. “Thanks…” I blushed.
“This is way fancier than the breakfast I got for you last time,” he joked. “Do you cook often?”
“Maybe you should stick around and find out. I’ve got a huge repertoire.” I was feeling more confident this morning.
“Hm…” He placed his fingers to his lips. “Maybe.”
“Let’s eat!” I waited for him to take the first spoonful of soup.
“Did you just make this?”
“Yeah, I didn’t have time to make it from scratch so it’s not my best batch…” I bit my lips in anticipation.
“That cognac guy is an idiot.” He took another sip and kept his eyes on the food.
“Hm?”
“For cheating on you.”
I held my breath. My heart was bursting in my chest, those cathartic words soothing old wounds. And then, it hit me: How did he know that?
“U-Uh…” I laughed nervously.
“How did I know that?” He put down his spoon and lifted his head.
“…Um… yeah.” Really eloquent, Kokoro.
He licked his lips and looked my way. “I told you I’m a good guesser.”
My lips part slightly to make way for the exhale. I don’t know how he does it, but this time, I was thankful he guessed correctly. It wasn’t a part of my past I felt super comfortable talking about, and in a way, I believed he knew that.
After breakfast, he put on his dry clothes and packed up his things to get ready to leave.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wash those?” I pointed at his wrinkly clothes.
“Do you think I should walk around town in these?” He held up Ryota’s clothes and expressed his disapproval.
I giggled back in agreement. The air around us was sweet and honeyed. I wished this morning would never end.
“I need to run some errands today, so I should get going.” He placed the loungewear on the sofa.
“Oh, okay…” I bit the inside of my lips. I had no right to keep him here, but oh, how I wished he could stay.
He didn’t miss the disappointment in my voice. “Is Miss 33 growing fond of 34?” He tilted his head and flaunted his charm.
“E-Excuse you,” I stuttered. “Someone thinks very highly of himself.” Getting defensive was my defense mechanism. I knew it wasn’t original, or effective, for that matter.
I walked him to the front door and watched him put on his shoes. They must still be wet. You should stay until they’re dry. My mind was thinking up any excuses for him to stay.
“I have a favor to ask you.” He turned to look at me.
“…What is it?”
“I need you to never come to Akatsuki again.”
“W…Wait, why?” Akatsuki had become a special place in my heart. How could I forget the very first release? Our very first meeting? I needed a good reason to comply. That place was worth fighting for.
“Because I no longer want you as my client.” His reply was resolute.
“Hold on,” I interrupted. “Why are you being so cold all of a sudden? I happen to love that club. Is it because I don’t pay you? Am I a cheap client? Are the other women more entertaining?” It was a slew of questions, and some of them stemmed from my insecurities. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. I’m just his dispensable plaything.
There was a slight curl at the edge of his mouth, but his eyes were gentle, as if he were gazing at something precious. But in my desperation, I wasn’t able to decipher his expression.
“What?” I accused. “Is this funny to you? Is this some sick game you—”
His hand reached for my cheek, and his fingers found their way to the nape of my neck. My spine tingled all the way down.
“I don’t date any of my clients.” His thumb caressed the corner of my mouth. “Remember?”
My eyes widened with full realization of his proposition. His four fingers softly massaged the back of my ear and I was beginning to feel dizzy. Is…he really saying what I think he’s saying?
“Are you going to do as I say?” His expression mocked my hesitant one.
“So… you’re saying…”
“Are you going to do as I say?” he repeated, this time putting more pressure on his thumb.
I nodded weakly in defeat.
He smirked and the next thing I knew, his lips were pressed against mine, enveloping my lower lip. The hand at my neck drew me nearer to him as I melted into the kiss. My eyes closed slowly, letting go of the fears that had gripped me just moments ago. He pulled his head back to break the kiss, lips lingering just millimeters away from mine.
“Good,” he whispered. His breath was warm and fuzzy on my lips. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed that his were already open, gaze cast down toward that which he had just kissed. He released the hand from my neck and gradually stood back up straight.
My eyes followed his movements. His lips were puckered outward as if he were whistling, and there was a slight bounce in his movements, like he was humming a tune in his head. All I could do was stand there watching, reveling silently.
“I guess that was our second kiss,” he grinned as he pulled gently on his upper lip with his fingers.
“Heh…” I nodded, embarrassed.
“You’ll remember this one though, right?” His eyes glimmered mysteriously.
I laughed nervously. How could anyone forget a kiss like that?
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.” He opened the door to leave. “I’ll call you later,” he waved.
“O-Okay…!” I curled my lips over my teeth to hide my excitement.
“Be good,” he smiled. The door closed softly behind him, just like last time. But I knew this time was different. He would return. He would return, to me.
I broke into a big smile and squealed as I jumped up and down and twirled in place. I had forgotten what it felt like to be in love, to be completely enraptured by the feeling of happiness. I wanted to share these feelings with someone. Reiko and Juri! Rushing to my phone, I press the home key to turn the screen on. Hm? There was a text from a number I didn’t recognize. I tap on the message icon.
Kokoro. It's Ryota.
Can I see you? I want to talk to you about something important.
I put the phone down. You always had terrible timing. I glanced over at the loungewear on the sofa and let out a sigh. Now, I really wished 34 had stayed. It was time for an emergency meeting with the girls.
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no subject
Date: September 9th, 2016 09:33 (UTC)You really write amazingly!!
It was soooo exciting!! :D
THE KISS!! THE KISS!! PERFECT :D
Hahahaha thank you for the chapter <3
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2016 12:24 (UTC).
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KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~ I'm all googly-eyed right now, I can't even deal. <3 You know, Kokoro sure is under his spell. I mean, I could've totally used the barging-in-the-shower thing to tease him and actually win an argument. xD Then again, I couldn't blame her. <3 Also, out with Ryota please! LOL thank you for this chapter, Emkay! Can't wait for the next one! :)
no subject
Date: September 10th, 2016 00:03 (UTC)thank you for letting me know about the new chapter, emkay! i *obviously* love it! xD
no subject
Date: September 10th, 2016 11:29 (UTC)This is sooo good. 34 is just too sweet. And the suggestiveness of everything adds up to the unsaid sexual tension between the two. Poor 34, though. No one takes care of him.
I wonder what will come. Ryota's timing though!
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Date: September 10th, 2016 19:30 (UTC)no subject
Date: September 14th, 2016 13:20 (UTC)Oh wow! This chapter was sooo good. It took me longer to get through it because I was reading everything at least twice.
Another well done instalment, Emkay. Thank you very much!
Aimee
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:24 (UTC)Ahhhh yes yes yes the KISSSSS *o*
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:26 (UTC)I know it's been a while since my last installment, but Ch.9 is up! You can find out what happened after 34 left Kokoro's place~
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:27 (UTC)I know it's been a while since my last installment, but Ch.9 is up now! Let's see what happens next, shall we...?
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:29 (UTC)I'm really glad you appreciate the "suggestiveness" of their body language and the words left unsaid. There's clearly something between them but right now, it's kind of floating about...
It's been a while since my last installment, but if you're interested in what happens next, Ch.9 is up now! ^^
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:31 (UTC)I know it's been a while since my last installment, but Ch.9 is up if you're interested~!
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Date: October 7th, 2016 06:33 (UTC)I know it's been a while since my last installment, but Ch.9 is up now if you're interested~! Thanks for waiting :)
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Date: January 10th, 2017 03:08 (UTC)