Chapter 8: Midnight Rush
After their conversation, Eri and Miyazawa got out of the restaurant. It's already dark outside so Miyazawa offered to take Eri home and she agreed. When Eri was about to ride Miyazawa'a car, someone grabbed her wrist. She turned her head to have a look at the person who grabbed her wrist. A surprised look overtook her face when she saw Kirihara.
"Kirihara, what are you doing here?" asked Eri.
"May I be the one to take you home, please?" asked Kirihara. "I just want to talk to you."
Kirihara gave Eri a pleading look. Eri was about to say no but the look in Kirihara's eyes made it look like he really wants to take her home.
Eri sighed. "Okay Kirihara, you may take me home."
"Is everything okay there?" asked Miyazawa.
"Uhhmm… yeah, well, you see, my classmate here offered to take me home because we need to talk about something really important regarding school matters." Said Eri. "So is it okay with you if I go with him, Miyazawa san?"
Miyazawa Nodded. "Just make sure you'll bring her home safe, young man."
Kirihara nodded. "I will bring her home safe, I promise."
"Okay then, I have to go because I have a lot of paper works to do, just be careful you two," said Miyazawa as she enters her car.
Both Eri and Kirihara nodded. When Miyazawa's car was out of sight, Kirihara stared to Eri's bespectacled dark eyes.
Eri looked the other way, breaking their eye contact. "What is it that you want to talk about?"
"I'll just tell you when we get to my car," said Kirihara. He then smirked at her and pulled her gently as they walked toward his car.
When they got in into his car, Kirihara started driving. Everything felt awkward for Eri as silence dominates. She had the feeling that she already knows what he wants to tell her.
"So what do you want to tell me?"
"I still want to convince you to go to the ball with me."
"What? I knew it and I thought I made everything clear that I'm not going."
"Why? I need a valid reason. Is it because of your stepmother and stepsister? Well I can help you get away with it because I can see it in your eyes that you don't dislike going."
Eri just kept quiet. She knows he is right, she doesn't really dislike going to the ball. In fact, it intrigued her to go with him. It is weird but she wants to go with him but also scared what she might feel if she goes with him.
"So why are you rejecting me?"
"Sorry but, my answer is final," said Eri, then Kirihara stopped driving. She can see that they are already in her place.
Eri was about to open the door of the car when Kirihara pulled her strongly. She was surprised when he crushed his lips on her strongly. Then he surrounded his arms on her waaist holding her tightly. A moan of protest escaped her mouth as she tried to push him but he was just too strong. Eri was shocked that she's starting to give in to his kisses. They both relaxed and she felt lost but realized what they were doing. When she came back to her senses, she pushed him with all her might, breaking the contact between them and then she slapped him.
"Why did you that?" asked Eri with anger and shock in her eyes and Kirihara just kept quiet.
"That's it! My decision is final, I'm not going with you."
Eri opened the car's door and before she step out, Kirihara grabbed her elbow. "Sorry for what I did. It's just that I feel really frustrated that you rejected me and it is like you're driving me crazy!"
Kirihara's statement made Eri confused as she just gave him a puzzled look. They were staring at each other so deeply again as they feel some kind of tension rising between them.
Eri sighed. "Sorry but I have to go. I'm not really going. Hope you understand and that, you would just respect my decision.
Eri then closed the car door and walked inside the gate of the house. Kirihara just eyed Eri as she enter the gates then started the engine when she was out of sight.
Eri entered the mansion. She could tell that the two witches were out.
"Probably out to get Yuki one of the best dress for the ball tomorrow," muttered Eri as she enters her room and close her bedroom door.
Eri walked towards her bed. She sighed and fell on her bed with her back. Her heartbeat racing as the incident with Kirihara is being reminisced into her mind. She can't help but blush as she touch her lips. It's official, she lost her first kiss to Kirihara because he forced himself to her. But what's really bad is that, even though she slapped him, she can't bring herself to hate him and her lips seems to like the feeling of his kiss.
Eri whimpered. "I can't just like that kiss! He's a jerk for doing that!"
It made her feel even worse when she remembered that she almost gave in to his kiss.
"That's it! That kiss won't happen again!" she said to herself. "From now on, I will ignore that jerk."
Kirihara finally arrived at his house. The incident with Eri earlier seems to replay all over again in his mind. He touched his cheek, the one she slapped. It really hurt but it's nothing. What was hurt the most was his ego. He went to the wine cupboard to get a wine and a wineglass then walked upstairs to her room.
He sat on a couch beside his bed with a coffee table in front of him. He drank the wine really hard. This was his only way of coping, coping from the frustration and disappointment. Eri really hurt his ego or probably even worse, he just can't tell yet.
"What is it with her?"
Kirihara drank another glass. He can feel his head hurting. Until now, he still can't comprehend why is he doing this. Eri is just a girl and girls don't make him behave this way. Eri rejected him but so what! She can ask other girls who are more willing to go with him yet, at the end of the day, he still doesn't like to ask others because he only wants her to be the one to go with him and she rejected him. The rejection is driving him crazy, she's driving him insane and he doesn't like it. This all started when she punched him for ditching her. It must be karma for playing with girls that the only girl he asked sincerely rejected him.
"What's with that girl?" he asked himself with rage. "Am I really much of a jerk to her that she rejected me?"
Kirihara whimpered and threw the glass in his hand. He heard the sound of breaking but ignored it and made himself fall on the bed. He grabbed the pillow and cuddled it. He is very frustrated right now but felt really tired to mind it and decided to close his eyes and put the frustrations to rest for now.
It was already morning. Kirihara felt the sunlight hurting his eyes so he covered it with his arm. He looked at the clock and saw that it's almost time for school. He got up and went straight to the bathroom. As he looked at the bathroom, the reflection of the mirror revealed bulging eye bags. He wasn't able to sleep well and his eyes say that everything is not fine with him.
After getting ready for school, he walked downstairs and saw aunt Shizuka cleaning the floor with a vacuum.
"Good morning Akaya sama, I just arrived this morning and I already prepared your breakfast." Said Aunt Shizuka and bowed at Kirihara.
Kirihara nodded and went straight to the dining table for he was really hungry. He ate his breakfast very fast so that he can leave as soon as possible and avoid to be late. As he passed by aunt Shizuka going to the door, he stopped by for he was called by her.
"Are you okay Akaya-sama?" asked Aunt Shizuka. "You don't look okay to me."
Kirihara nodded and continued okay. He lied because he knows that he's not okay.
Eri was sitting with Mako and Kuki at the school garden's restaurant. All her classes ended and she feels really sleepy. She was lucky that she doesn't have class with Kirihara today. She didn't get a good sleep last night. What Kirihara did, although she tried to stop it, is starting to have an effect on her. She can't get Kirihara out of his mind and the more she tried to snap out of it and tell herself to stop thinking about that jerk, the more he stays inside her mind.
"Looks like someone didn't have a good sleep last night," teased Mako. "What's wrong with you? Your eyes are bulging and your hair is a bit messy."
"I guess I just woke up at the wrong side of the bed," answered Eri.
"Why what happened?" asked Kuki.
Eri sighed. "Nothing."
"Is it me or I'm having the feeling that you are hiding something from me," said Mako.
"Look, I wish I can tell you right now but I just can't right now because even I am confused and I can't explain to what's happening to me," said Eri. "I'll just tell you if I figure out what's wrong with me."
"Are you in love with someone?" asked Kuki.
"No! I'm not in love!" Eri declared. "What made you ask that?"
"Well you look confused in a way that lovesick people act," answered Kuki. "It's like the facebook status…it's complicated."
Eri rolled her eyes. Then he saw Kirihara walking towards the garden. She felt tense, she really doesn't want to see him right now. She doesn't know what to do if they meet up.
"I have to go, I still have work," she said to her friends and stood up.
"So you really are not going to the ball," said Mako.
"No I'm not and that's final," said Eri. "You guys just have fun."
Eri walked away from Mako and Kuki. Kirihara heard her and eyed Eri's back as she walks away from the garden.
Eri felt awkward walking away. She can feel Kirihara's eyes on her back. She wanted to look back but decided not to and just shrugged the feeling. Right now, all she has to focus is how to find proof against her stepmother not the ball, not Kirihara or other things.
Eri had been working at the coffee shop for hours and it's already dark outside. She is planning to work till midnight since she has no class tomorrow because it will be rest day, and classes will resume in two days. Her stepmother will just pick her up after picking up Yuki from the ball. She is now assigned in the counter with her friend and co-worker Nana. It's already eight-thirty and the ball in the university ball will start at nine.
"Aren't you going to the ball in your university," asked Nana.
Eri just shook her head. "It's just a waste of time because those are not my kind of things."
"Oh too bad," said Nana. "Because I would really love to see you go there.
The door opened. It is Miyazawa who is walking towards Eri. "I thought tonight is your Ever After Ball. How come your working and not dressed."
"I'm not going," answered Eri.
"If what you're going to wear is the problem, I could help you out," said Miyazawa.
"No thank you. My decision is final, I'm not going. I can't just break my word."
The door opened again and Eri was shocked to see Mako and Kuki enter. They walked towards the Eri. Kuki was dressed in a black tuxedo while Mako is in blue satin knee length dress with her hair down and curled.
"The two of you are looking great, what are you doing here anyway?" asked Eri.
"We're picking you up," said Kuki. "The gang won't be complete without you."
"So true," agreed Kuki.
"I'm not dressed and I already said to Kirihara that I'm not going."
"Well you can go but for us and not for him," said Mako.
"I'm not going," insisted Eri. "And I won't change my mind."
"You really are stubborn are you?" said Kuki.
"Good that you figured out because I already made up my mind."
"Oh come on girl! Just do this for us," pleaded Mako.
No matter how Eri try to insist she's not going, the twins plead continuously. She just sighed and gave up. "I don't have anything to wear."
"No problem, like I said earlier, I will help you," said Miyazawa.
"Great," said the twins in unison. "We'll wait for you so we can go together."
"But you'll be late."
"We don't mind as long as we go together," said Mako.
"Well let's go to my place and hurry so you'll be in time," said Miyazawa.
Eri turned to Nana, giving her a questioning look.
"Go Eri, like I said, I really want you to go and have fun on that ball," said Nana smiling.
"It's settled then," said the twins.
"Thanks Nana."
Have fun Eri."
Eri and the gang went to Miyazawa's place and was really shocked at how big her place was. It's actually a mansion and she even has her own parlor, stylists and beautician.
"They will be in charge of what dress will look good on you and your make up," said Miyazawa. "So we will leave you with them. And as for you two, let's wait at the living room and have some tea or coffee or sandwiches. I asked the maid to prepare snacks."
The three left her with the stylist. She checked the time and it's already nine thirty.
Miyazawa and the twins waited for Eri for at least thirty minutes. Eri finally appeared in front of them and their jaws dropped upon seeing her. She wore a black taffeta knee length dress with a golden belt on her waist and a golden pair of shoes. Her make-up was nicely done and her hair was tied up in a simple pony tail. She looked really beautiful.
"So what do you think?" asked Eri.
"Wow! Is that you girl?" asked Mako. "You looked really different! No one would really notice that it was you. You look really different when you wear your glasses from when you wear none."
"You look really beautiful," praised Kuki.
"It's ten so we have to go there," said Eri. "We better get to the coffee shop before midnight coz my stepmother will pick me up."
"You three better hurry up," said Miyazawa.
"No problem," assured Mako.
The three stepped in to the twin's car. Eri was surprised to see it was Mako driving and not Kuki.
"How come you're the driver and not him?" asked Eri.
"Coz he's a wimp," answered Mako.
The three of them arrived at the ball for fifteen minutes thanks to Mako's fast driving. There were a lot of students dressed up. The girls were really pretty and the boy were really handsome. The students dance to the beat and she felt really uncomfortable.
Kirihara was not really in the mood. His friends told him to relax but just ignored them. He had been drinking and his buddies told him to take it easy. He has high alcohol tolerance so he doesn't really get drunk easily. While grabbing a shot from the waiter, he saw girl wearing a black dress. He smirked for he felt an attraction towards this girl so he walked towards her. Looks like this night doesn't seem so bad than what he had expected at all.
Eri saw him walking towards her. She panicked.
"It's Kirihara, walking towards here," said Eri, trying to catch her breath. "Do you think he noticed who I am?"
"I don't think so, just relax and we'll leave you for now so that he won't recognize you," said Mako and left.
"Hey gorgeous, how are you?" asked Kirihara.
Eri swallowed her breath and tried to make herself calm down and hope that he won't notice her voice. "I'm fine." She smiled at him.
"Good, you don't go to this school right?"
"Yeah."
"So why are you here?"
"One of the organizers is my friend and invited me."
"Really? So who's the organizer so that I can thank him or her for bringing you here and meeting you."
The question made Eri panic inside. She doesn't even know one of thoe organizers. "Uhmm…it is…"
"Never mind!" said Kirihara laughing. "Who cares about those organizers. What's important is me and you. Mind if I ask you to dance with me?"
"I don't know how to dance, sorry," said Eri.
"That's all right, you'll be fine with me," said Kirihara, smirking arrogantly then he grabbed Eri's wrist and pulled her to the dance floor with him.
Eri turned her head to face Mako and exchanged glances. She just sighed. She really had no choice but at least Kirihara didn't notice her. She danced with him and even though she doesn't know how, he's really guiding her. She just relaxed while holding his hand as they dance with the beat but she never forget to check on the time on the wallclock.
Kirihara guided her as they dance while holding her hand and the other hand was on her waist. The feeling while holding her hand was weird. It felt really comfortable and familiar. He felt as if he had held her hand before but just can't remember when and where. If only he can just hold her hand forever.
He looked into her eyes and noticed how dark her eyes. Her eyes reminds him of the blackest pearl and it was beautiful. As he look into her eyes, he felt dejavu.
Eri noticed something different with the way his eyes looked into hers. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that your eyes."
"Why? What's wrong with my eyes?" asked Eri and looked at him quizzically.
"They are so dark. Probably the darkest that I've seen and they are beautiful and somewhat, familiar."
Eri's eyes widened upon the mention of the word familiar. "Oh no! He might recognize me."
"What do you mean by familiar?"
"It's just that I think I've seen it somewhere but never mind," said Kirihara and laughed very hard.
Eri sighed and laughed. Her laughed synchronized with Kirihara's laugh. She checked the time and it's past eleven.
"Let's go outside where it's just the two of us," whispered Kirihara.
Eri felt a chill down her spine when he whispered and felt his breath. Before she could say no, he already pulled her to go with him and she wasn't able to say no.
While they were walking outside, she saw a woman who happens to be familiar. It was her stepmother and their eyes met for a few seconds then Eri broke from the eye contact and followed Kirihara.
Yuko tried to look at the girl for one last time. She thought that the girl looked familiar and must have seen her somewhere. She pause from walking and tried to remember where she on earth did she saw that beautiful girl. Since she can't remember, she just shrugged it off and continued walking. She really needs to see her daughter.
Eri and Kirihara stood under the night sky with their hands locked with each other. The night sky was beautiful. The full moon was so big that it was shining brightly and the stars were twinkling splendidly. But no matter how lovely the night was, awkwardness is in the air as the deafening silence dominates them. She decided to break the silence.
"So why did you bring me here?"
"Because I want to spend time with you… alone."
Eri just kept quiet. She doesn't really know what to say. Her heart is beating loudly like a drum.
"You're so beautiful, probably the most beautiful girl I've seen."
Eri blushed with his praise and looked the other way to hide the blush. Her heart skipped a beat.
Kirihara put his hand on her chin and made her head face it. Their eyes met. Eri can feel Kirihara's head moving closer towards her, especially his lips. Her mind wanted to break free and push him but her body betrayed her. In a few seconds, she felt his lips on hers and it felt like it made her knees go weak.
Kirihara felt a chill down his spine. Her lips were so soft and comfortable to him. She put his hand in her neck. It's weird because it felt like he already tasted her lips and it still made him want for more. The bell rang.
Eri's eyes widened upon hearing the bell. She grabbed Kirihara's wrist to check the time on his watch. "It's midnight! I have to go!" Then Eri ran away from Kirihara as fast as she could.
"Wait! What's your name?" he tried to run after her but she was out of sight.
He felt really disappointed for not getting her name. Now he's not sure if he'll see her again. Then he noticed something bright on the floor and picked it up. It was a golden locket.
"This probably belongs to her," he muttered then checked it one last time. "Wait a minute! This locket! It's…!"
Eri took off the high heeled shoes she's wearing to be able to run well. She's lucky to see the twin's car so she stepped in.
"Where have you been?" asked Mako.
"Long story but we need to get out of here, fast!" said Eri panicking.
"No problem," assured Mako.
It just took Eri at least ten minutes to get to the coffee shop thanks to Mako again. She waved them goodbye and went inside hurriedly.
"Did they, my stepmother, pass by here?" asked Eri panicking.
"No, so better hurry changing," said Nana. "I'll try my best to cover you up."
"Thanks," said Eri as she entered the dressing room.
She changed her dress into jeans and shirt and washed her face to remove all the make-up. She also had her hair down. Then she fold her clothes and put it in her backpack together with the shoes and the belt. She removed the contacts and wore her glasses. Nana joined her in the dressing room.
"They're here,"
"Thanks Nana, I really have to go," said Eri then Nana nodded and smiled.
She went outside the dressing room to meet up with her stepmother and stepsister. They got into the limo. They were just silent because Yuki seems to be not in the mood to talk.
"The ball was splendid, too bad you missed it," said Yuko looking at Eri straight in the eye with an eyebrow raised. Her gaze shifted from Eri to her backpack then to Eri again.
"It's okay, attending parties are not in my interest anyway," said Eri.
"If you say so," said Yuko still raising an eyebrow. "I'm sure you won't have any regrets."
"Right," answered Eri.
They already arrived at their mansion.
"Eri, you cook me something to eat," ordered Yuko. "I'm really hungry."
"Okay, I'll just put my bag in my room," sair Eri.
"I'm at my room," said Yuko. "Call me when it's done.
Eri nodded then went to her room. She put her bag on her table and went to the kitchen to prepare food for her stepmother.
Eri prepared the food and was done in thirty minutes. She went to her stepmother's room and knocked the door. She opened the door as soon she heard her say come in.
"Your food is rea-," said Eri but paused when she saw something on Yuko's hand.
Yuko was holding the dress she wore on the ball. It's obvious that she was caught. Though the situation was dreadful, she tried to keep her cool and faced her without fear.
"Perhaps, you could explain what's this?" asked Yuko showing her the red dress.
"You can already see that it's a red dress," said Eri sharply.
Yuko burst out in laughter. "So you think you could get away with it? Sneaking out and attending the ball. Sorry for you coz I caught you and I'm one step ahead. Deal with it."
Eri laughed sarcastically. "So what if I attended the ball without your knowledge. I have the right to do whatever I want. You don't own my life."
"I don't own your life?" Yuko laughed harder. "But you must remember, you should be grateful because I took you in my ward instead of sending you away. Fed you and even paid your school fees. In other words, you're indebted to me and that's reality.
"Oh come on, do you actually think I'm indebted to you?" said Eri bravely. "I don't owe you anything. Remember, this is not your money and property but my parents'. You don't own anything here coz it's still mine with or without proof and that's reality."
Yuko's eyes widened with Eri's words. She was speechless.
"But when a proof comes out you should be scared because you won't go anywhere but jail. So have fun while you still can."
Yuko's face was filled with rage. "That's it! you will clean that dusty old library yourself until all the corners, books and everything are one hundred percent free of dust!"
Eri just looked at her raising her eyebrow at her enraged stepmother. "Okay, I will. Goodnight." She just answered calmly then walked out of her stepmother's room.
When out of the room, she smiled victoriously. So what if she had to clean the library, she's used to those kind of work any way coz the witch trained her but the look in Yuko's face when she was confronted was priceless.
Eri went to her room and noticed that something was missing. She checked her neck but only to find out that the locket wasn't there. Then she went to check her bag and it's not there. Worry is starting to creep up into her face.
"Oh no! What if the evil witch has it?"
Very long chapter. Hope you like it. What do you think of Eri and Kirihara's first kiss?
I need reviews so please never forget to give mo one! Thanks for stopping by.
