A/N: Got a variety of responses from the last chapter!I'm really sorry for the cliffhanger, I just couldn't think of any more ideas. I just had to take a break, and now I'm back!
It was an unexpected kiss and Usagi had no idea how to react. At the back of her mind, she couldn't help thinking how good Mamoru kissed, but propriety asked that she retaliate from her teacher's aggressiveness.
And so retaliate she did.
SLAP!
Mamoru jerked back from the slap Usagi had delivered him, his cheek still stinging from the force of her hand.
Usagi looked at him with tears in her eyes, "How…how… could you?" she said brokenly.
Before Mamoru could even come up with a response, she had fled from his apartment. He was left dumbstruck, devastated that things had ended up the way they did.
"Dammit! I should have restrained myself!"
Indeed, a wrong first move could kill a relationship before it could even get started. Mamoru was fervently hoping that the repercussions of his mistake won't be too great to mend.
Upon reaching home, Usagi fled straight to her room. She fell face down on her bed, burying her face in her pillow.
She cried, hollered and bawled out all of her frustration on the poor unsuspecting pillow.
"Damn him!"
"How could he!"
"I can't believe he stole my first kiss!"
She felt angry, frustrated, confused but a part of her was also…thrilled. Thrilled that he had kissed her.
Mamoru, her long lost love, had kissed her.
This realization sent her thoughts careening into another direction entirely.
Wasn't it rather crude of her to slap him if she had wanted him to kiss her in the first place?
Her answer bordered somewhere between yes and no.
She was ruminating on other possible things that she might have done and what would've happened if she had done so when she heard someone knocking on her door.
"Usagi?" her mom's soft voice called from the other side of the door. "It's time for dinner."
"I'm not hungry." She answered from the bed.
Her mom opened the door and saw Usagi sitting on the bed with her head on her knees. She looked very much the picture of depression.
"What's wrong, dear?" she asked in that sweet voice that moms always used to soothe their children.
Usagi raised her head, her eyes rimmed red from crying. "Nothing," she answered, too embarrassed to share what had happened.
"Come on, you can tell me." Her mom coaxed gently, sitting next to her on the bed.
"Mom, have you…" Usagi sniffled, "have you ever had mixed feelings for someone?"
Her mom smiled, "Is this about a guy you like?" she asked teasingly.
"No!" Usagi replied hastily. After a pause, she changed her mind. "Well, maybe... It's just that when I'm around him it's either I get angry with him or I get attracted to him. I'm not sure how I feel anymore."
Her mom laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Well, if you really like him, you have to tell him how you feel first. Believe me, after you've done so, you'll be a lot less confused."
Usagi hugged her mom in gratitude. "Thanks for the advice, mom."
"You're welcome. Now, come down and have dinner. You'll feel much better after you've eaten." Her mom said, knowing how much Usagi loved to eat.
"I'll come down in a minute."
When her mom had left her room, Usagi laid back down on her bed, having made her decision.
"I'll tell him on Monday."
Come Monday morning, Mamoru was busy checking test papers in his empty classroom. It was his vacant period and he had wanted to be productive. Mind you, he had tried but it was futile. His thoughts kept veering off to a certain a blonde attractive young woman. He had no idea how he could rectify what he had done. He had to act soon or else he'll lose her, just like what happened last time.
He was too preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice the door open and then close quietly. The person who had just entered locked it with a soft 'click'.
Mamoru's keen ears picked up the discreet sound. He looked up from his paperwork.
Usagi was leaning on the door, a shy expression on her countenace and her hands tucked behind her. She looked beautiful as ever with her face devoid of makeup. Her cheeks were blushing and her sparkling blue eyes were staring back at him.
"Good morning," she greeted, her voice barely audible in the expanse of the empty room.
Mamoru laid down the pen he was holding, "Good morning to you too," he replied rather awkwardly, not knowing what to expect next. What was she doing here? Wasn't she angry with him?
Her blue eyes locked with his brown ones.
"I can't take it anymore," she whispered.
He wasn't sure what she had said. "Pardon?"
She strode over to his desk. "I can't take it anymore," she said it louder this time.
"What?" He was only getting confused with her bizarre attitude.
"This." she answered as she leaned forward and kissed him full on the mouth.
At first, Mamoru was too perplexed to realize what was happening. Nevertheless, shock had soon abated and easily gave way to desire. He kissed her back passionately, opening his mouth, inviting her to do the same. She responded, tasting him while roving her hands over his broad back.
When they had parted, Usagi's face was flush with emotion. "I want to be with you, Mamoru." she said with heart-felt sincerity.
"You don't know how badly I've wanted to hear you say that," he replied, caressing her cheek.
She stilled his hand by covering it with her own, the pad of her thumb brushing over his knuckles.
"What are we going to do?" she queried, her eyebrows meeting in anxiety.
He gathered her close to his chest, resting his chin on her head.
"We'll make it work, I promise."
He kissed her again. It was a kiss full of passion, a promise of love that was yet to be fulfilled.
Yay! They're finally together. Well, not officially (that will come later) but still... It's some sort of progress, isn't it! Happy Valentines everyone! (hugs and kisses to all)
Don't forget to review...
