Roommates
Chapter 3: Accidents happen
5:32 pm… she is not at home…
Where.
Is.
She?
Like If I mind… she is an adult and I'm not her father. And it's only half past five…
I'm hungry, if I knew that she is not coming home early, I should have gone to eat something outside.
6:23 pm
Where.
Is.
She?
It's getting late. Why does it annoy me that she is not here? She is only my roommate. We are individuals and I will never intrude upon her privacy.
She is so… weird… and puerile. Her whole body and soul imbibed chastity and straightforwardness. I'm sure she was scared last night… after all I was half-asleep. I sensed how she covered me with the blanket. She was so cautious and caring. Hino doesn't even know me and she felt responsibility. Her touch was like an electric shock… like a swarm of bees was lightly stinging my skin. It was hot, soft and… ? What was that sensation? Her fingers sent shivers through my whole body… started from my face, down on my neck… meandered on my throat then stung my chest so hardly… breathing was almost impossible… but the worst part was the floating butterflies in my stomach and the heat in my veins.
Ding-dong…
And why does the fact disturb me that Hino didn't defend me against Tsuchiura's statements? He pesters me even he is not around…
Ding-dong…
Oh the door! She has arrived.
"I thought that you didn't want to let me in. " She smiles with a complaining face… what a paradox…
"Sorry. I didn't hear the doorbell. "
She went shopping. She was carrying like five huge and heavy bags. Now she believes that I'm a jerk. But she didn't call me to go and help her. So, it is not my fault.
"I know, I'm late. You must be really hungry. "
I nod…
Should I ask where she was… what did she do… with who she was? Bah… why do I care? She doesn't need to share with me her… private life. Probably she was with that blonde woman… the journalist. She approached Hino after our last class… then I discovered Kazuki and that pianist to run after them… So she had a great company. Amazing how she made new friends so easily. I would need years to achieve the same… of course, If I want… I'm satisfied with my life and I don't need anyone else in it!
"Kazuki told me that you like sugar-free yoghurt. I bought some! "
Did I hear well? She said: Kazuki! After less than a day she is calling him by his given name… what a record. Whatever… I must mind my own business.
She did a monthly shop… I've never seen this mass of grocery in my kitchen.
"Thanks for the yoghurt. Hino, let me pay the half of the groceries. "
"No need for that, Tsukimori-kun. Oh and take this money. I'm really bad at managing money so it's safer with you. Just let me know if it's over and I give you more. "
She winks and places five thousand euro on my palm. Where the heck did she get this much money?
"Why? "
"Because I would spend it or lose it. So, please. Take care of it. "
I see clearly: she is not reliable. Who would spend or lose money… this is unexpected. Or maybe not, she is just like a big child…
And my assumption was correct. She was with Kazuki and probably with that annoying…
"Do you like sweets, Tsukimori-kun? "
"No, I don't…"
"What a waste… haha… just kidding. It means it's more for me. "
She stomps with her feet and jumps up a little. What? She has an entire cheesecake? How will she consume all of it? Don't even mention the calories…
"I feel like helping you with that cake, but… just after dinner. "
If this will go on, I should change my daily schedule and visit the swimming pool more frequently. With the best benevolence I cannot protect my body against sugar if she remains my roommate.
The dinner is delicious. She prepared a fresh salad with baked chicken. Until now, we are eating in silence. I have a feeling of frustration… anyway, I got used to eat alone… in complete silence. It is really odd having someone sitting in front of me and dining together.
"Do you like the food? " Thank you God! She has broken this awkward atmosphere.
"It's delicious. " I forgot to compliment the chef…
"It's delicious." She remarks the same sentence with the same tone… Is she mocking me?
"So… Tsukimori-kun… tell me about yourself… " She has sparkles around her… Her palms are crossed and placed under her chin. She is patiently waiting for my answer.
"What do you want to know… "
"Hmmm… let's see… why don't you want to smile? "
"Thanks for the dinner, I'm going to take a shower. "
"Bleah… don't run away, Tsukimori-kun! "
She is running after me… and grabs my shirt. Hino is standing on her tiptoes and she is glaring at my eyes. Her hands are on my shoulders. What is she doing? I try to avert my face but she blocks me with her hands.
"Look at me, Tsukimori-kun! "
"Leave me… alone…please… "
"No… this cold attitude of yours is killing me. Just be a little polite with me… "
"You accepted to be my roommate. If you don't like it, you have the freedom to leave. I'm not going to stop you. "
"See…this again… I heard that those people who smile they live longer… Smiling is healthy. I don't ask you to laugh but just a little smile won't hurt… pretty please! "
Why does she have to torture me with this topic? "This is me! Take it or leave it! " Did I say it out loud…? Looking at her expression, yes… I did…
I sense her pulse through her palms on my cheeks. Then without warning, she casts aside my face.
"That's OK… I rushed it… I'm sorry. It's enough if we just start calling each other by given names. What do you think of the idea? " Incredible, she still has the spirit to grin. After my hurting words… she is amazing.
"I can agree to that… "
She is fiddling with her fingers… scrutinizing the white carpet under our feet.
Out of the blue, she scares me with a bold movement again. She jumps and hugs me… Her arms are wrapped around my neck… should I hug her back? Without rethinking my acts, I place my hands on her tiny back… this feels so… pleasant… I also hear the buzzing bees in my throat and stomach… but I have a feeling that this will be an everyday sensation…
"Thank you, Len! " She whispers against my shirt.
She is the only person who could make me exasperated then suddenly calm me down. Her little nerve-wrecking questions drive me crazy… then her smile… those lips… those sparkles in her bullion orbs… I'm not able to comprehend… yet… but wait a minute… do I want to understand her?
The heat of her body was hotter than this shower…. I wonder if she placed all of her stuff in the cabinets. It's more comfortable for her having those things near…
Ah… I left my pajamas in my room…
I open the door then close it… I get my pajamas and go back to the bathroom. I still have to shave…
What is this noise?
Is it a scream?
Why do I hear it so close to my ear?
…
Why.
Is.
Kahoko.
In the bathroom?
And why… is she…
ON ME… ?
and why do I have a DULL PAIN in my HEAD?
She is blushing… furiously… her face has a crimson color. Probably, I'm in the same state… Am I angry? No… not really… OF COURSE I AM! Why does she have to break all of my rules within 1 day?
She is scared… and embarrassed. I'm not surprised. I feel the same.
"Len… I'm so sorry… I thought… "
"Just stand up… You are heavy… and we didn't even eat the cake… "
This is a predicament. She puckers up her lips and tears well up in her eyes…
Splendid…
Officially… Hino Kahoko is the first girl who I made cry. Congratulations Len!
"You are mean! " She whimpers and continues. "And I'm sorry but I can't stand up because the floor is slippery! You made a pool of the bathroom! "
Tentatively, I look around and explore the surroundings. She has right. But it is still not an explanation why did she come in…
"Why did you come in if you knew I was here? "
"Because I heard that you came out… I swear I heard the door… "
She is sobbing…
"OK, I believe this is not the proper… po… position to discuss this… I recommend that I sit up with you and slowly, you lean on your knees. "
She nods between some whines.
This is working… you are doing great Tsukimori Len. She is not that heavy and your hands are not slippery… Don't even think of her body… how she has become your personal blanket… her petite figure and how her chest is pressing against yours… these are not important right now… you are an ice cube and don't change your expression. Ah, one more thing… don't think of… what? Where is the white towel which was wrapped around my waist not long time ago?
Len… don't panic! It's just a towel…
But… but… it's not on me!
Len… calm down… look to the right!
It is there… it's lying on the floor… so proudly… like nothing has happened. Darn it… Now I understand why I sense her body so close…
"Len, why are you blushing? "
Am I blushing? Please God, I plead for mercy, I, the Ice Prince, Tsukimori Len. I don't need anything else right now… just let me keep my calm and cold attitude. She is just a roommate and after this incident I will recommend her to leave my house. It was also my mistake but she is at fault, too.
I bet that this is the time when she discovered… that I don't have anything on me…
Yes, she screams…
Yes… she stands up… I mean struggles to stand up….
Oh no… she falls… but she doesn't give up that easily. She continues her strife with the wet floor.
Oh… finally, she approaches the doorknob and with strawberry hue on her pretty cheeks, she leaves the bathroom.
Hopefully, she ran to pack…
Nice one, Len…
I'm still lying on the floor… hesitating to stand up and look for her…
Why?
Am I too embarrassed?
Am I… too scary?
Did… I… disgust her?
Am I annoying?
In half a tick I know the answer… All… I'm too abashed, I'm too scary and annoying and probably I disgusted her…
I feasted my eyes on her fugitive shadow… and she was still crying… I must go and apologize before she leaves.
I change to my pajamas and gingerly peek out… she is nowhere in sight.
Has she left already? I doubt that 5 minutes would be enough for her to pack and leave.
I check the kitchen.
Nope, she is not there.
I knock on her door.
No answer and I open it. She is not there, either.
I walk to the living room when I can hear sobs from the corner of the sofa…
There she is!
The strawberry haired girl is sitting on the floor and …. eating the cheesecake with desperate teardrops.
What may I do? …. Nope… What should I do or what must I do? I really don't have any experience in these situations.
I just sit next to her and grab a piece of cheesecake.
It's sweet… it's too sweet for my taste… and I would be such a coward if tell her to leave now…
Thanks for reading! It is well appreciated!
I know that this situation is classic but I just couldn't resist to write my own version of it. Sorry if you don't like it :)
I was so happy for the reviews! Million thanks for those who are reading my story and for those who left reviews!
If you can see, I'm changing the POVs in every chapter. For me it makes more sense that one chapter is Kahoko's POV while the next one is in Len's POV. Tell me if you don't like the idea!
To Jiyu22: Thanks for the review and I will correct those words that you discovered ;) I'm happy to please my readers and actually I accept my mistakes!
To Neko Meow: Thanks a lot for your support! I appreciate a lot! I know I tell you this all the time, but I'm sincere! Yes, she should have knocked. But for my logic, if she feels extremely cold and she just has reached his door… shaking body and soul… If I were here, I would have forgotten to knock on the door haha Really! Actually, Len's place is a lovely apartment but he is not concerned with the rain outside and didn't pay attention on the decreasing temperature. That's why it's cold inside :P Of course, Etou… I like him a lot and I would never leave him out :) About the preface, I'm going to change the tense into present as well… I feel kind of confused with it and I don't want problems :P
Yeah I know the feeling, irresistible to write something new. Keep updating girl!
To Amulet Crimson: Thanks for the review! I was thinking of putting the bodyguard… but I don't know yet how to mingle them into my logic and story line. Thanks for mentioning!
To Edogawa Ai-chan: Thanks a lot for your support! I will try to update my other stories as soon as possible. The only problem is that I'm facing an event right now (I'm moving to another state) and I don't know when I will have quality time to write :(
To yasnky: I'm sorry for the little confusion at the beginning of both chapters. It will make sense at the end of the story –Pinky promise! But, I'm going to change the tense to present, and it will be less confusing in this way. Thanks for your review! It means a lot to me!
To 4everhere: Thanks for the support! Hopefully, I'm not going to disappoint you! I will do my best!
To ashinat crimson flames: Thank you so much for the review! Development will occur soon enough! Be patient! Len is hard like a stone :P So he will need more time :P
To Moonlight Nocturne: Thanks for the review and the information about the university system! I've got to know something new now and I'm really happy!
Hey guys if you want me to answer for your reviews in PM just let me know. I don't know which is more appropriate… answer after the update or in PM… I really don't mind, I just don't want to hurt anyone! :(
Next issue: No one is born without faults.
