Providence:
-;-
At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself, talking to the moon.
Trying to get to you. In hopes that on the other side, you're talking to me too
Or am I a fool who sits alone, talking to the moon?
-;-
Unleash your imagination and let the words flow.
_ FFN & FP_
If there ever was a time that we cannot be together, put me in your heart and I'll stay there forever.
Chapter Two:
"So how's your date with your special woman?"
I ignored Kaon who was also on the same History such as I before transferring my eyes on Misaki who got out of the room along with Sakura—her friend. I didn't know she had History period with me until I saw her seating all by herself near the window staring out into nothing in particular. I was about to approach her but Kaon and Aoi appeared—and Shintani, another acquaintance and Kaon's cousin—that I was no longer able to get away from the until Sakura arrived while dragging some guy with her; a certain someone named Kuuga Sakurano. Until the period started and ended, I was no longer able to speak with her.
Kaon spoke again. "You seem interested on her, Jedwin."
I turned back to her. "Am I?" when she nodded, I shrugged. But then again, the ache on my shoulder bothered me. "Doesn't look that way to me." I told her. "I just think she's friendly. I like friendly people, I think." I got my bag and strapped it on my healthy shoulder. And she's mysterious, too. She exudes off that aura while I was speaking with her during our free period in the library.
"Takumi's really interested on Misaki, Kaon." Maria—who, again, wasn't supposed to be in our period—said loudly which pissed me off again. "He's been staring at her during Gym class and even stalked her during free period on the library."
"Maria?" I called out.
She grinned at me. "Hmm?"
"Shut up. Can you do that?"
She merely shrugged. "Hold your breath while I try." Aoi and Shintani laughed while Kaon and I remained as though someone died. Well, if Maria doesn't shut her mouth on the arriving second, I swear I'm going to kill her.
"No wonder she disappeared during our Lit. period." Kaon spoke again. "She was skipping."
"She didn't skip classes." I shot back at Kaon, my annoyance reaching its zenith since they are all so annoying and it's pissing me like crazy. "She went to Gym to hand over something to Hanazono." I hissed at her since their boisterousness and intrusiveness is getting into my last sane nerve. Half pissed, I gathered my things and stalked out of the room.
"What's his problem?" I even heard Shintani asked I don't know whom—and I could care less whom.
I shake my head and went towards the elevator and punched in the floor I was off to. When the elevator doors slide open, I stepped in without waiting for Kaon since she had Business Math with me.
.
"She's a Psychology student." Aoi placed down his books on the dining table and gave me a goofy grin. Shintani and Maki—another friend of mine—gave me their own versions of their mischievous grins. They have been persistent that I'm crushing on Ayuzawa Misaki thus, they decided to tease me whenever the topic about her is to be brought up.
I rolled my eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Ignorance is unbecoming of you, Takumi." Aoi said with that usually playful grin of his. "Why are you denying that you like her? Usually, when you're crushing on someone you'd go straight to the woman and ask her name? Why are you playing the coward Lion now?"
"Takumi doesn't usually do that because crushing on someone isn't his thing." Shintani said, matter-of-fact. "That's the reason why rumors about you being his lover spread around campus. Someone said they caught the two of you kissing."
I stared at Shintani in disgust. "Disgusting."
"I know, right?!" Aoi screamed. "Me?! Kissing Takumi? Me being his lover?! That's flippin' gross!"
I kicked him from underneath the dining table. "Shut up."
He winced. "If you were to become my lover, you're too cold. I'd instantly break up with you."
"You're disgusting."
"Whatever."
Maki laughed. He was a grade higher than us but since I was already taking advance placement subjects of Math and Science, he became another acquaintance. Maki Kanade is the son of the conglomerate owner of Kanade Dining. Like Aoi, and myself he also works undercover to protect his parents. "But really, crushing on someone must be so hard." He says. "Because for Takumi, liking someone is a first."
I snorted at him. "Don't jump into your own conclusions. I don't like that woman." I reached forward for a loaf of bread and wrote the answer to the test II problem on the advance Math level when I was reminded of Misaki Ayuzawa again. Without thinking, I laughed.
The others gazed at me in amusement. Aoi spoke first. "What's the matter?"
I pointed out the math equation and inwardly laughed again before they could even notice that I'm thinking about her again.
"But don't you think she's a bit too old-fashioned?" Shintani mumbled in between mouthfuls of rice.
I frowned at him, and removed the bits of rice coming from his full mouth that landed on my clothes and books. "Despite being old-fashioned, I think she's beautiful in her own way."
"Woo, Usui Takumi admitted it!"
Damn. That was such a wrong move. The three mouse-keteers laughed as they bump fists and gave each other a high five. And I mean, seriously? Who cares if I admitted that she's beautiful? "It's just a simple complement." I told them.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Shintani muttered while grinning idiotically.
"Ooh, what is this, Maria-sensei emailed me." Aoi said all of a sudden and started waving his iPhone on my face. I frowned at him and he ended up raising both his hands in resignation. "Fine. She told me that while she was doing the grocery, she caught some familiar face whom she considers as your first real crush."
I exhaled. "She should be careful of Maria."
Maki frowned. "Why?"
"As if you don't know that she likes women. Tell her to buy me some breadsticks." That and I abandoned my place on the dining and went straight to my bedroom before heading off straight to the floor-to-ceiling window to put on my safety harness and wordlessly jumped off my pad and down to the ground. The valet-in-waiting seemed startled at the sight of me but I merely nodded at him in acknowledgement. I release the harness as it got pulled back up to my pad before I started jogging towards the Central town where I hope I could still see her.
I checked out my wristwatch which reads 7:45 PM and started to think I wouldn't catch him anymore when a flashed of raven and light brown—always her hair—flickered on my peripheral view. I didn't really know the true reason why I came here. All I know is that there was this strong urge to see her after I found out that Maria is bugging around her.
I decided to roll my eyes. Who am I kidding? I want to see her, of course. That was the only acceptable reason. I wanted to see her. Period.
"Usui-kun?"
Automatically, I snapped out of my trance and looked up to the owner of the voice and saw her standing right in front of me. Looking so pale and tiny on her loose long sleeve sweater and pants, Andy stood before me carrying heavy plastics of groceries—proving Maria's email to Aoi to be the truth. Her hair was in a messy braid that rested on her right shoulder and probably due to the coldness of the night, blood colored her prominent cheeks.
Once again, the only thing that I could do is be tantalized by her innocent charm.
Misaki walked towards me with that playful grin plastered on her lips. "Why, good evening to you, Usui-kun. What are you doing here?"
I decided to avoid her questions in fear she'd realized that I actually came here for her. "What about you? What are you doing here?"
"Hm, I was about to go home." She pointed the groceries she was holding and looks back up at me; her beautiful amber orbs big and too innocent. "I'm to prepare dinner since Sakura and Kuuga-kun are going to visit me tonight." Suddenly, blood colored more of her skin she when she raised her head to meet my eyes. "I know I'm not someone whom you can call your acquaintance but, is it all right if I invite you to come join us for dinner?"
Damn, why did she have to look so cute asking that? I've never met someone blushed easily by simply inviting someone for dinner. "Wouldn't it be awkward on your friends and family?"
Instead, Misaki laughed. "Sakura and Kuuga-kun, they won't mind. And my parents," there was some recognizable emotion that flash with such fleetness in her amber eyes before she spoke again. "—I don't live with them so I guess they don't know count."
What? She lives alone?
I pointed out her groceries with a smug expression. "Need help with that?"
Again, she laughed. "Do I look breakable to you?" yet, even if she refused my offer, I was still the gentleman that I am so I wordlessly snatched the heavy grocery bags from her and arched an eyebrow at her as though I'm not interested on knowing every single thing about her. "So, where to?"
Finally, she gave that smile she only shows whenever she's with me. "My place."
Damn, why did she sound so provocative when she said that?
I followed her in silence as she blabbed on about chicken enchiladas and chocolate pudding while her free hand waved dismissively showing how much of an expressive person she was. She's probably the most expressive person I've ever met since she was using her hands and eyes and lips and shoulders and almost every part of her body in order to express what she was felling as of the moment. She was someone whom I consider utterly funny.
"—So, here we are."
I paused walking and was surprised to see that we are now standing in front of Ethereal Skyscraper, another of the many buildings and condominiums that my family owned. I followed her in shock inside the main lobby and swiftly shake my head to the receptionist who seemed as though she recognized me.
I walked beside her since she was walking too fast and elbows her. "You live in a hotel." It wasn't a question but rather a statement.
"Basically, yes." She proceeded to the elevator, pushed the button to the last floor which is the thirtieth before grinning back at me. "As you can see, my Uncle is a member of the board of directors of this hotel building. As of now, he was the person who stands as my legal guardian after my Mom and my sister died of an accident. He gave me the pad here when I couldn't find a place to stay after my arrival here."
I caught on the worst that bothered me the most. "No place to stay?"
"Well, after I got out of the hospital, my Dad's new family doesn't want me to live them because they think I'm still dangerous and all. I hope this wouldn't bother you but after Mom and my sister died, I got a little, you know, crazed." Blood colored her cheeks once again when she checked me out, measuring my reactions. She looked worried enough that I began to worry about her health too.
So, I decided to play dumb, "What kind of crap are you talking about? Who cares if you're hospitalized? You're in good health now are you not?"
My heart swelled when she beamed with such enthusiasm. "Yes. I'm in good health now, thank you." She laughed almost affectionately; as if I've said mattered massively to her. As if whatever it is that I'd say is something of importance to her. I shake my head before I could even stray away from sanity. She went on with her story again. "So, they didn't allow me inside the house because they fear that I wasn't in good health yet. Instead, I asked my Mom's relative to take me but they couldn't too since there weren't any space for me in their houses. I never really wanted to burden Dad so I told him that I could rent a small apartment while doing part time job but then, my Uncle learned of my situation so he took me in. Now, here I am, living in this mansion like establishment. But of course, I don't want to burden any of them with my financial needs that's why I decided to work part time."
The elevator door pinged open and she smiled at me before walking out of the elevator while getting her unit keys inside the pocket of her tight-fitting jeans.
She's so small and tiny… and she already lost everything.
She placed down her groceries in the carpeted floor, inserted the key into the knob before twisting the latch and pushed the door open for me to have a view of her neat and in order apartment. "So," she said while grinning childishly at me. "—this is it."
.
"Takumi, I heard you went home late yesterday. Why is that?"
I ran a hand through my already disheveled hair and risk a glance on the clock before I yawned. It didn't matter that I was still sleepy. All I know is that last night; I had lots of fun enjoying Misaki's company. Like me, she was also the daughter of the woman her father was having an illegal affair with. But her mom died when she found out that she was nothing but a mistress thus resulting to an unfortunate car accident back when they were in Hokkaido. Her father wanted her to live with them but the legal wife wanted her out. And so, her Uncle—the brother of her dad—came and asked her to live with him instead. But she was so considerate that she refused because she didn't want the sons of her Uncle to share a room to make room for her arrival.
Thus, it resulted to her living in Ethereal Skyscraper. As obvious as it were, she wasn't in good terms with her stepsisters and stepmom and it lead to her being maltreated right after her hospitalization. It was already a good thing her Uncle arrived to take her away or her mental health might have worsened. Again, she was a very expressive expression. Whenever she's telling me stories about her Mum and sister, she'd always have this goofy grin plastered on her lips as though that memory was playing live before her eyes. It was funny to watch and I couldn't help but be amazed at how easy-to-read she could get. Her interest includes writing and reading and anything that has to do with Literature. She loves sweet foods too and she has a thing on baking even if she wasn't such a good cook.
I prove that kind of thought when she tried baking English muffins and ended up burning it all.
It would already have been a great night until Sakura and Kuuga arrived. They were her best friends ever since she was eight. They stuck with her on every challenge that arrived in her life and even told me that they were present during the accident of her Mum that lead to her immediate death along with her little sister. She told me that once we have the time, she'd introduced me her to Mum and sister who was buried in a private lot her Dad had specifically bought for them about twenty miles off the main town of Tokyo.
And much to my surprise, I seemed to have looked forward it so badly.
Nighttime had arrived and since it would look really improper for me to stay late at a woman's house, I decided to finally set home even if my system insists me to stay so I could be there for her. She volunteered to send me home and when it was finally time to say goodbye, she smiled at me and said, "Be careful on your way back home, Usui-kun." Of course, I told her already that she could call me on my first name. Instead, blood colored her cheeks before she answered a, "Well, be careful on your way back… Takumi."
And that was the first time my name sounded so good in my own hearing. It's like she made it sound so magical and… and full of affection—
"Takumi, when someone asks you a question, it's common courtesy to provide a response."
I darted a quick glance over Satsuki, my adoptive mother who looks after me while I'm staying here in Japan, before taking a swift swig on my English tea. "Pardon me, Satsuki-sama, what was your question again?"
She arched an eyebrow at me in amusement. "Hm, this is such a rare day that you get absentminded. Is it because of that woman?"
My forehead creased. "That woman?" I asked back. "Who do you mean by that?"
"Aoi said—"
"Ah, that bastard Aoi." I interrupted her since she was beginning our morning by reprimanding me. "She's just a friend, Mom." I informed since it looked as though that question won't be going away for some time starting now. "A new… friend. We're not romantically involved with each other."
"My, my, why so defensive, my dear child?" I looked at her as if she had grown her second head. She sighed. "Fine. Fine, I was just worried at you, that's all. I don't want you involving yourself with some… situations," I snorted at her choice of words, which she ignored sharply. "—That you cant handle once responsibility comes haunting you in the near future." She hit my head with the mitten on her hand. "Listen to me when I'm speaking."
"And God knows I hate it when people speak nonsense." She frowned. I grinned at her. "Stop being a worry-wart, Mom." I put emphasis on the last word since whenever I'm reminding her how much I like her to be my Mom, it melts her maternal heart. "I can handle all these." I can handle her, in the least. Standing up since I'm done with my breakfast, I walked forward her and kissed her on the forehead. "Stop worrying about me. You know I hate it when you do that."
Satsuki exhaled through her nostrils. "I just want you to be happy, Takumi. Ever since the Walkers announced that you are to be the legal heir of their legacy, it felt as though they've been caging you."
"Stop thinking about it."
"Fine. You should get going now."
I acknowledgement that I'm being dismissed before I kissed her on the forehead again, got my bag from the floor and made my way towards the lot where the car awaits me. I settled inside, my thoughts bringing me to no one but to a female with tantalizing amber eyes and rich raven hair. My thoughts dragged me back to how… outstanding last night was when she told me every story about her that keeps my interest unappeasable to get to know her.
She lives all by herself in that huge apartment of hers apart when Sakura and that Kuuga guy come around to visit her. She told me about her Mom and sister, and how heartbroken her Mom was when she found out that she was nothing but a mistress and how that kind of challenge made her Mom drove herself to death. She looked lonely, that was obvious. But whenever she'd realized I could notice the sadness embedded on her alluring voice, she'd suddenly laugh and would wave a hand in dismiss as if she was trying to cover away her sadness with her enticing laughter.
And without thinking, I laughed.
The driver glanced at me from the rearview mirror before the sides of his eyes wrinkled since he had smiled too. "May I know what caused you to laugh, Young Master?"
I composed my face again and stares out into the background outside. "Someone who has got me so interested on her."
"Hm, that's very rare. The ingenuity of woman, don't you think?"
I nodded, and quickly ended the conversation by putting my earphones off when a flash of raven—always her hair—caught my attention. I snapped my head back, checking back whether it was really she before I turned back to the old driver. "Stop the car, Seiji."
Abruptly, Seiji pulled on to a smooth stop.
I didn't know what hit me because I suddenly felt as though I was looking forward to seeing her again as I got off the safety confines of the car. I watched her ran while braiding her long raven hair and balancing her bag that was slung across her chest and thought of ways of how I'm to greet her. She looked obviously as though she was in haste and when I risked a glance on my wristwatch; I wondered why she was such in a hurry when classes aren't beginning yet. But then again, it was the habitual latecomer speaking.
"Ayuzawa." I said when she was just a few footsteps from me.
Her forehead was creasing when she look up and at the sight of me, she beamed. The reaction made my heart thud louder because I felt the annoying and confusing organ beating rather confusingly fast. "Oh, Takumi-kun, good morning." She brushed bangs off her face and I thought she looked so refreshed doing that. "You're early."
"You looked like you're running late."
"Oh, but I am." She adjusted the strap of her bag and turns back to me again. "I'm working as student assistant by morning. I'm currently running late on my six AM piano lessons."
Good thing I came in early today. "Wanna ride with me?"
She suddenly looked embarrassed. "Pardon?"
I pointed out the waiting car before us and smiled at her. "Come, I'll drive you to Providence."
"Er… is that all right with you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Please." I held her by the arm and pulled her towards the car before opening the door for her. "Get in." she blushed once again and I wondered what she was so embarrassed about as she entered the car.
She lowered her head down to Seiji. "Good morning, Sir. Sorry for bothering you early in the morning."
Seiji laughed and darted a quick glance on me before laughing. "It's no problem, dear."
"Let's go." I said as he sped off. I turned back to Ayuzawa during the drive. "So, you play the piano." I started some casual conversation. "I didn't know that. You didn't mention that, either."
Ayuzawa laughed, and it was the kind of laughter that reverberated all throughout the car. I thought I was even hearing bells ringing as she laughed. "Well, it's kind of a secret hobby. But if you have nothing to do this morning—you know, duties—you can come with me to the elementary department and listen to kids—and me—play the piano and different other classical instruments."
"I'll come with you." I'll come with you wherever you want. I ignored Seiji when he cleared his throat as if to suppress his laugher and focused my entire attention on Misaki. It's as if with her presence around, my attention cannot be divided. "I don't have any morning duties today."
She smiled that smile I was so accustomed to seeing. "Okay. That's a plan." She babbled about classical instruments again and how good it felt playing it and the only thing I could is listen to her. She was funny and well, I don't mind listening to her the entire moment since the world just seems so uncomplicated whenever she speaks. I like her and well, she's already someone whom I could consider as a close friend—but somehow, that tasted a little wrong in my mouth.
When the car entered the vicinity of the Academy, I got out and aided her out. Once again, she laughed. "Do you think I am that breakable?"
"Weren't you?" I mumbled under my breath.
She quirked an eyebrow at me. "What was that?"
I flicked her on the forehead. "Nothing. Come on." As if on instinct, I wrapped her tiny wrist with my huge hand and pulled her with me to the sky bridge that connects the college department into the high school area. We passed by a few more hallways until we reached the floor that leads to the preschool sector. As soon as we entered, preschoolers suddenly rushed towards Ayuzawa and flocked around her.
"Ayuzawa-sensei!" they screamed in unison while holding music sheets in their hands. "Help me play the piano."
"Accompany me in my violin lesson, sensei!"
"No, sensei is mine!"
"No, she's mine!"
Ayuzawa laughed as she tried to settle down the children who are already playing tug of war with her as the rope. "Settle down, kids. I haven't introduced you my friend yet." Eyes were suddenly on me. Once again, Ayuzawa laughed. "Kids, I want to introduce to all of you my friend, Usui Takumi. I've invited him to come and listen to us play every single music we are to play. Is that a good thing?"
"Hai, sensei!" they all said in unison.
Ayuzawa beamed. "Good. Now, come on everyone and let's play the instrumental version of Can't Stop from that program in the television you all love to watch."
"Hai, sensei."
Turning back to me, Ayuzawa beamed. "What about you? What kind of instrument do you play?"
.
"Here."
I snapped my head back at Misaki and accepted the canned Coke she handed to me before opening it to take small sips. She sat next to me as we watch the children run around the playground while we sat together in a nearby bench to watch over the kids; waiting for their official professor in charge.
She playfully elbowed me. "I hope I didn't bore you today."
Of course she didn't. Why would she bore me when it is only in her company that I was able to find absolute cessation of hostility? I looked back up at the background and took note of the two of us seated in the park bench together. Without feeling anything complicated, I could sit around here with her and still find her interesting even if she wasn't speaking sensible or nonsense stuff.
I turned back to her and sighed. "Today was a very interesting day." I was finally able to say. "I didn't know you played quite well. Who taught you to play the piano?"
"My Mom." She answered me with a smile on her face while looking out to the clouds. "I never really like the piano. But she like it so much that I just couldn't oblige myself to refused her. I wanted to please my Mom so much that's why I went on with playing the piano."
I eyed her. "You must have loved your Mom so much."
"You're right about that." She huffed breathlessly. "Did you really enjoy our activity today?"
I'd enjoy any moment so long as I'm with you. "Yes. Thank you for inviting me to listen to the kids play those instruments. When the annual Charity ball come around, I'd tell the Director to provide a number for them so they could participate on the event."
Ayuzawa smiled at me enthusiastically. "That sounds like a plan."
"A plan, indeed." I agreed with. When she raised her pinky finger, my forehead creased in confusion. "What was that all about?"
"Pinky swear to make sure we fulfill that promise." She waved her pinky finger in front of my face before grinning idiotically at me. "I'm sure the kids will be happy once they find out about it."
I stared at her waiting finger before my body moved on its own and intercepted with her actions. "Scout's promise." She giggled again before she stands, her skirt fluttering prettily against her thighs that shows a bit of her flesh. The wind blew on her hair that softly caressed her ethereal face before she hold out one hand to me. I accepted it and in time, she pulled me up and dragged me towards the playground.
When… since when did my heart started to beat this way whenever she's around?
.
"Spit it out."
Aoi laughed at me before flicking the bottle towards my direction with which I swiftly avoided. He even elbowed Shintani before grinning mischievously at me. "We saw that."
I decided to feign ignorance, until a flash of raven and dark brown—always her hair—flickered on my peripheral vision that my eyes automatically followed the owner. With books held close to her chest, I watched as Ayuzawa Misaki run across the room and into a table where Sakura and Kuuga awaits her. She smiled as she placed down her books and went on into an easy conversation with them.
"Hello, earth-to-Usui Takumi." Aoi spattered while I was too preoccupied watching the woman who was able to catch my entire affection. I glared back at him. "What do you want?" I asked in obvious annoyance.
Aoi merely laughed. "You like her."
"I like her who?"
"Ayuzawa," he put emphasis on her surname. "—Misaki."
I snorted at him. "I don't like her." I denied. Not yet, in the least. What I actually feel is that I wanted to stay by her side and not leave her lest she pushed me away.
"You shouldn't really like her, Takumi." Kaon, who appeared out of nowhere, suddenly said. "That girl has a bad reputation. Didn't you know that her Mom is actually the mistress of the leader of the Ayuzawa zaibatsu? She had such humiliating and dirty child birth secrets." She fished out something from her bag—a stack of papers compiled in a dark blue folder and slammed it on the table before me. "That woman is the daughter of the person whom his father is having an illegal affair with."
"Kaon," I said threateningly. "—I'm giving you one minute to get these papers back and burn them."
But she just went on. "Why should I? You should know that befriending someone like her has complicacies—isn't it that you hated to make things complicated? She's the epitome of humiliation and complication, Takumi. You shouldn't—"
"Shut," I stood up and loomed over her; anger was very much present on my eyes as it burned through Kaon. "—Up. Do you understand it?"
Kaon's mouth drop open. "What—but why? I was only thinking about your sake."
I glared at her. "By badmouthing the woman I like, it's as though you badmouth me already." I got the papers, removed it from being compiled in the folder before throwing it on her. "Pick it up and burn it. That's an order." I gathered my bags, ignoring the eyes of people on us before checking out on Ayuzawa who seemed to have heard Kaon and I's disagreement. She had that sad look in her beautiful amber orbs that made my heart skip painfully. I walked towards her, my eyes focused only on her and completely disregarding the others, before I stretched my hand out and pulled her up to me. "Come with me."
Blood colored her cheeks and embarrassedly, she darted anxious glances around us. "Er… where?"
We could go to anywhere you want to go… "Wherever you want."
"We could go to anywhere you want to go,"
—and I would still follow you.
"And I would still follow you."
I didn't know what hit me since she just voiced out what was going on inside my head that I couldn't help but give her a smile that can only be seen on my face when she's around. "Come on. I'll bring you somewhere." Somewhere where I can see that beautiful smile on your beautiful face.
.
I watched as the wind blew on Misaki's hair and gently caressed the pale complexion that was her prominent cheeks. She smiled at me and run forward, the tall grasses stoking her smooth thighs as we went deeper into the grassland that would eventually lead us to a nearby and local beach. She ran off ahead of me while laughter bubbled out of her throat over the joke I recently told her before she bent forward to acknowledge the importance of a wild flower and glances up at me.
"You're so slow." She commented playfully before ushering me with her hand and continues off with the slow running. "For someone so tall, you sure are slow-witted."
I snorted at her. "Slow-witted doesn't have any connection whatever with being tall." I answered and took long and powerful strides until I was standing right before her. I craned an eyebrow. "What were you saying again?"
Misaki laughed. "Dork." She spun around, meaning to run off ahead again but I swiftly caught her by the elbow and shakes my head. Her forehead creased. "What is it?"
"Don't run away from me."
She laughed again. "Fear you'd get lost?"
I fear that when I lost sight of you, you'd suddenly disappear in my life like a bubble in the ocean. "You might trip."
"I'm not an idiot—oof!" I was instantly alarmed when she—indeed—trip while walking backwards. I help her up since she was able to escape my firm grip before dusting dirt off her knees and legs.
I glared up at her. "Idiot. You should pay attention more on your surroundings."
"Why should I when you're already around to pay attention for me."
"I can't be around you forever." Even if I want to.
Her frown made my heart skip a beat. "You're leaving me?"
That's the fact, I don't want to. "No, I was merely kidding."
She beamed before she turn her back on me again and continued off walking ahead—always ahead—while her raven hair was dancing wildly in synchronization with the wind. When she heard the sound of waves crashing against one another, she turned back to me and smiled widely. "Takumi-kun, the ocean."
Ocean… a visualized image of limitless and borderless freedom.
I watched her as she run forward and stop midway to undo her shoes before running towards the waves. By heart melted by the sight and I wondered how long this kind of happiness will last until reality comes chasing us again until we tire. Both of us are very much alike with the familial stuff, we're both the outcome of an illegal affair. But I could surely handle my demons. What I worry about is her. Surely, she had heard the gist of Kaon and I's disagreement, and I'm quite certain that it had bothered her.
What should I do now to comfort her?
"Did you know that my mother loved the ocean? I remembered her telling me that when she gave birth to me, she and Dad are on a vacation at a beach house." I snapped my eyes back at her and watched her as she walked forward me and sat next to me on the sands. "She loved it so much that she thought of building a house near the ocean, but Dad, of course, refused because it will be too dangerous come storm days."
I nodded. "I see. You're Mom is as reckless as you."
Once again, she huffed a breathless laugh. "I guess that's the reason why she fell in love with a married man." My face turned serious, and when she saw that, she stretched the corners of my lips to form and coerced smile. "Come on, now, it isn't like we're strangers. We're friends now, aren't we?"
I leaned away and continued frowning at her. "In a span of two days, yes."
"That means we're no longer strangers."
I rolled my eyes. "Obviously."
She smiled idiotically at me. "I'm happy that you were able to understand me, Takumi-kun. I'm quite thankful that God gave me you for a friend."
We could be more than that if you want—wait, where did that come from?
"Thank you." And with that she laid her head on my shoulders and sighed. "Thank you for bringing me in this place. You don't know how much you were able to comfort me by bringing me here after that scene in the cafeteria."
I remained silent… deeply focused on the harsh and confusingly fast beating of my heart.
.
Chapter 2 done!
By the way, to answer some of your question, Blue Mirage—becoming Amber Mirage soon—isn't yet becoming a story lest Heiress finally reaches it's denouement. What I've posted two years back is nothing but sort of a preview of the story's précis. I hope you understand. Heiress is a very strenuous novel and I'm using up all of my imagination to finish that story so I wouldn't be able to finish BM first.
Thank you.
By the way, what do you think? Does this chapter lack romance? Because you know what, I don't think it does. (Laughs). Anyways, I hope you like this and thank you for reviewing on the first chapter.
And as always, do tell me what you think.
Hit the button now. :D
_Andy
