DISCLAIMER: I DON NOT OWN SKIP BEAT
Author's Note: Okay, I've promised from chapter 3 that I will update my story faster, but I have a very reasonable reason on why I updated chapter 4 after a month. You see, life is pretty hard right now and we've got an internet disconnection so I'm unable to upload it even though I've already finished it a few weeks ago.
You'll probably think why I didn't go to a computer shop? Well, I just don't like crowded place like computer shops. Anyway, please enjoy reading.
WARNING: English is just my second language so do not expect something perfect. If you encounter some grammatical errors, please forgive me. I'm just an Asian who struggle hard to learn English.
CHAPTER 4: A sudden visit
After the released of the video promo of Sho, they received a lot of comments and reviews, mostly from the fan girls. They even made a survey which resulted to a second part of the music video. But that will only be possible if the other party would accept the offer. Adding another series of the music video won't make any difference on the promo, but it can make a larger impact on the viewers and can increase Sho's popularity. And speaking of another party, Shoko doubted that Kyoko will accept the offer. Firstly, Kyoko hates Sho and that is an unchangeable fact. Second, Kyoko will gain nothing but angry mobs since she is the antagonist on the video, although she looked beautiful in her costume. Lastly, she doubted that Tsuruga Ren will not be involved in this kind of matter. But Sho needed this chance. Entering the room with a glum expression on her face, she found Sho lying on the black couch reading another magazine.
"Sho, I need to ask you a favor."
Sho didn't respond and continue to grip at the magazine that it might already tear apart. "This is a complete lie!"
"Eh?"
Sho stood up and showed to Shoko the list of top ten hottest men on Japan on that month. Searching for Sho's name, she found it beside the number 5.
"This is great Sho. You already ascended to rank 5. Congratulations!"
And Sho began to tear the magazine into pieces "What is great about this? I can't believe that I'm only ranked 5! I'm hotter than that Mr. Idol from XXX Production Company and the worst part is, how can that Tsuruga Ren be in the highest rank when he's already old and out of youth?"
Shoko thought that it's better to keep silent about it. She doesn't want to involve herself to Sho's pouring of anger when it comes to his rival Tsuruga Ren. This is the last chance she got to make a livelier mood.
"You can still ascend to number 1 in a month Sho."
"What are you talking about? My song release is due for three months and I think it will not be enough."
"That's why I'm telling you, you received another offer."
Sho's head abruptly turned to Shoko "Offer?"
"Actually, your fans love your video promo so they asked for a continuation. Adding another plot won't be a problem."
Sho presented a victorious grin on his face "Then I'll accept it."
"The problem is...we didn't have a hold on LME so I'm not sure if she will accept it."
Staring at the silent Sho for a few minutes, she wondered if persuading him like this will work.
"Don't worry."
"Eh?"
"I'm sure she'll be glad to accept it"
Ren gave an abrupt press on the brake which almost buried Yashiro-san's face on the glass. He can't take it anymore. The jumpy emotion, his different expressions, it's driving him mad.
"So, are you ready to spill?"
He let his heart calm for a minute before answering "I think we need to get back to LME. I forgot something on President's office."
Ren saw Yashiro-san pout like a dog "Unfair! How can you be so cruel? I can't believe you're hiding something important from your manager. Don't you trust me?" and he gave out a comical tears.
"Yashiro-san, can't we just drop it? I might be distracted while working." And looking at Yashiro-san with gentle eyes like saying 'Have mercy on me' Yashiro-san nodded.
"Okay. Fine. Sorry about that."
That made Ren relieved. He doesn't know what to do if Yashiro-san kept insisting. And he hoped that Yashiro-san will refrain from teasing him. Without striking any conversation, Ren headed back to LME.
"Oh, can I borrow your phone?"
"No, I already learned from past mistakes."
Kyoko is still having a hang over on the previous events that happened earlier that morning. Every time she remembered the President's actions and expressions, she momentarily laughed by herself. No one in their right mind would do something like that. Instead of romantic, it's more like comical and out of place. Turning to her right, she reached another hallway and saw a speck of blonde talking to one of the employees in LME.
"Impossible…what am I thinking?" she thought with an unbelievable smile on her face. Continuing her walk towards the elevator, she noticed the girl pointed at her and the said blonde automatically turned his head towards her direction. Not minding the two of them, she pressed the down button and waited patiently for the ride to come. Seeing from her peripheral vision, the blonde came walking towards her.
"That would be impossible! There's no way he would come in here" she chanted it in her mind for a thousandth time but every step of the figure coming, her intuition was prove to be right. She already felt nervous. No. She must stay calm and firm. She knew that when she turned around and looked at the face of the coming stranger, she will laugh to herself for thinking something stupid just like that. Breathing heavily for three times, she slowly locked her gaze on the guy. No matter how much she think about it, this is just…
"Impossible" she blurted out.
A mocking grin greeted her as if this would be the worst day of her life. Stopping in front of her, Fuwa Sho, her greatest enemy said "Hi, I'm glad I easily found you. Do you mind going for a quick bite?"
What's happening? Is the world turning upside down or did just her imagination deceiving her? This guy in front of him wouldn't just say hi and then asked her for a bite. Maybe she's still dreaming. That's right. She's still at her house and sleeping heavily that made her dreams looked like reality. She slowly reached for her right cheek and gave a rough squeeze.
"It hurts…" she said with a disappointed voice "It's not a dream."
Sho leaned to her "Of course it's not. Or did I just constantly appear in your dream?"
Kyoko swiftly turned her head away from the guy because she was blinded of too much charm and light. Her evil minions can't take it.
"Are you that idiot's twin?"
"Eh?" Sho replied while losing the charm smile pasted on his face.
"Of course not, he's a spoiled only child. Then, you're a huge fan that tried to be him!"
While waiting for a nod as a sign of agreement, Kyoko was once again disappointed.
"What did you say?" he said and an evil aura envelopes him. Not for so long, Sho exploded "Do I look like a crazy fan? Can't you even tell the real from fake?"
"How will I know? You're acting really stupid that didn't really fit you! Do you think your "Want to date me?" kind of charm affected me?"
"Why? Aren't you affected?"
Kyoko stopped for a mere second before replying "In your dreams! Besides, what are you doing in here?"
Sho snapped out to reality "Heh! You must be glad that I personally came here just to tell you that you're once again invited to my video promo."
"Huh? And why do you think I would accept it?"
"Amateurs like you shouldn't refuse requests. You're really naive."
"I refuse!"
"What?"
"I just accepted an offer. I will be busy afterwards."
At last, her savior came when the elevator door opened. She quickly strode inside hoping that his arch nemesis wouldn't follow her. So as fast as she can, she pressed the number three button. But it would take more than punches and slaps before Fuwa Sho gave up, especially if the thing he is pursuing to have can make a big hit in showbiz. As for Kyoko, she will never allow it. Sho followed her inside and she was thankful that there are no other passengers besides the two of them. She wouldn't want to make another commotion in regards to this guy beside him. If possible, she would like to end this issue now. When she saw him pressed the parking lot button, she felt great relief rushing in her veins. It is a good thing that her bastard ex-best friend wouldn't insist on using her for one more time as a steeping stone to fame. It is not that she gave up her revenge issues towards him but she pledged that she will not use acting as a tool to destroy his career. If the time came that many people already acknowledge her skills in acting, she will show it to this great selfish Fuwa Sho how much she improved in the industry (without his influence) that will make him realize how thankful she is for turning his back on her. For now, that is her greatest revenge. Unlike her earlier months when she entered LME, she wanted to learn acting to destroy him. Now, she wanted to learn acting to show him that she doesn't need him to be her happiness. Meeting everyone and acting because she loves it that is her greatest happiness. More importantly, she would like to show Tsuruga Ren that she is a deserving superstar.
"Is your mind flying to Lala land again?" Sho interrupted
"The hell you care!"
The elevator door opened and Kyouko was about to leave when Sho grabbed her in the arm and pulled her back inside. "What's your problem?"
"We still need to talk!"
Kyouko's struggling to be freed from Sho's grip on her arm but she was disappointed to see the door closing in front of her very own eyes. She pulled her arm from him and faced him with great rage "What do you want? I already said no!"
"Just reconsider it. It will be a big hit"
"For you maybe but for me, I can't be sure about that. So if I were you, just leave me alone because I have still work to do!"
The elevator door slid open and Kyouko stormed out. Sho followed him coolly while she took huge steps away from him.
"Hey! Wait up!"
"Stop following me!"
"I said wait up!"
Sho successfully gripped her arms again "Let go of me!"
"I won't unless you accept it!"
"I said no!"
"Why? Is it because of that Tsuruga Ren? You're afraid that he will get angry at you?" the tone of his voice sounded like his mocking her and she didn't like it.
"I respect him more than you."
Sho snorted loudly "Can you hear yourself talking? You sounded like a big fan"
"So what if I am? Tsuruga-san is a great actor and a kind senpai. You have no clue how great his acting is and you've just easily insulted him. Your skill is not even enough to compare with him. I'm such a stupid girl for adoring you before but now I realized you're not even an inch closer to him. It will take more than a lifetime for you to take his spotlight!" Kyoko panted after those words burst non-stop from her mouth. She felt great relief after saying those words. When she looked at Sho, he was staring at her fiercely as if he's throwing daggers at her. She was suddenly speechless.
"So that's it then" Sho muttered after a few seconds of awkward silence "Your thoughts about him are really that strong?"
"What are you talking about?" Kyoko asked confusedly. Minutes ago, they're just shouting at each other but now, there is some kind of discomfort in the way Sho spoke that made her heart race.
Sho smiled wryly "Fine, if you don't want then I'm not going to bother you anymore."
"Good"
Sho took a few steps then stopped. "You must have like him so much for you to defend him like that."
The words hit her like a thunder. As she saw Sho walking away, she felt her body froze and her mind went blank. Her heart is tapping her chest like a hammer and whenever she remembered those words; her heart constantly skips a beat.
"Mogami-san, what are you doing here?" a known voice erupted beside her and it made her twitch. When she looked around, she saw a very handsome Tsuruga Ren with sparkles and flowers everywhere. Her mind seemed to shut automatically that she collided on her knees and sat at the ground.
"Mogami-san!" Ren gripped her shoulders so Kyouko can lean on his arms "Are you alright?"
She took a few seconds before answering for she is staring at his face wildly "Yes"
"You don't look like fine. I'll take you to the clinic."
"No!" Kyouko said as she snapped to reality "I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry." She hastily stood up and forced a smile on her face "I'm just hungry and feel a little faint."
"Then let's take lunch together"
"No, I don't want to bother you. You probably still have a lot of work. I'll be eating now so I'll be fine."
Ren eyed her for a couple of seconds before giving up for a lunch together. Kyouko can't look at him straight into the eyes so she avoided it by all means possible. Ren noticed her discomfort and her obvious way of hiding it "If you have something bothering you, just don't hesitate to call me"
"T-Thank you" she answered half-heartedly because even if Ren said it so, he will be the last on the list to call whenever she have problems. She doesn't want to disturb him and take his time for her problems. She considered it very selfish.
"I'll be leaving then" she bowed and ran towards the elevator.
Ren waited for Kyouko to get a lift on the elevator and decided that it's time to go. Turning around, he was welcomed by a fierce look of an irate Fuwa Sho.
Note: Please tell me if you think the development of the plot is too fast. But I just thought that it's already time for her to realize something. I'll be open to any comments. Thank you ^^