Chapter 9

Ryoma was heading to Sakuno's room after he had bought foods for him and Sakuno and he also bought her medicine. He was planning to leave after he gives Sakuno her food. He'll just eat his food in his house. He knocked at the door but Sakuno did not answer so he decided to enter. When he got inside, he saw Sakuno sleeping at the edge of the bed, her feet still on the floor. He thought that he'll just leave the food for her in the fridge and go home. But, as he was reaching for the door's knob, he looked back at Sakuno and felt that he can't just leave her.

He thought of what to do. Then, Ryoma remembered the medicine he bought. He placed a glass of water on the bedside table and lifted Sakuno's shoulder.

"Ryuzaki, you have to take this."

With her eyes slightly opened, she swallowed the medicine and crept to the middle of the bed and then slept again.

She looks like a drunken woman. Others could make her do anything without realizing she had done it.He thought

Sakuno hasn't changed her clothes and Ryoma thought that it would be more comfortable for her if she will change her clothes. Something ridiculous entered his mind but of course he's insane if he'll do it. (Oh my, this is that pervert's fault!) He went out of the room and was lucky to see a chamber maid at the corridor. He told her about Sakuno's situation and the maid agreed to change Sakuno's clothes. Ryoma thanked the maid after she went out of the room.

He entered again and then decided on what to do next. He saw his food on the center table and ate it. Sakuno was lying comfortably on the bed so he thought again of leaving her after he ate his food. But seeing Sakuno's angelic face as she was sleeping made Ryoma thought of just staying there and look at her all night.

Sakuno looked confused as she saw herself not so far from an airplane. She looked around and realized that she was in an airport. Then she saw someone familiar carrying a tennis bag on his shoulder. "Ryoma…why are you here?" she asked the man in front of her. She did not get any reply and realized that Ryoma was heading to the airplane. "Where are you going?" But he just ignored her. "Please don't leave me again…" Sakuno said and then she unconsciously cried as she saw the back of Ryoma departing. "Please…" She burst out crying, pleading him not to leave her. "I love you! I love you! I love you!" She just heard herself say those words. She fell on the ground still crying with her hands covering her face, repeating those words. She cried so long but then, a hand move her chin up and wipe her tears away. "I love you too... and I won't leave you." "Ryoma!"

At that, Sakuno woke up.

"Whew… it looks so true," she told herself and then her teary eyes with the sleeve of her night gown. Wait… night gown? All she just remembered was entering and sleeping in the room. She's so sure she did not change her clothes. Then, as a horrible realization entered her… there… beside her… was Ryoma sleeping, she bellowed a gasp.

"Ryoma! Hey, wake up!"

"Huh?" he said still comfortably laid on Sakuno's bed.

"Wake up! What… what happened? Why are you here?" she knew he was a gentleman but she can't help feeling suspicious. She glared at him as he too sat up.

"Oh…" He forgot he's not at his house. "Well… you told me to stay, so I stayed."

"I did? I…"

"You had a high fever last night and you started crying." A smirk crept on his face. "You told me not to leave you so I just comforted you before anyone outside hears you and think that you're being harmed. You stopped crying when I embraced you and you didn't let go of me so I just fell asleep here."

She remembered her dream and her face reddened as if she'll burst into flame any time.

"At first I thought you're just taking advantage of…"

"I didn't!" she defended herself as Ryoma teased her. She then looked at her dress and back to Ryoma.

"The maid, she changed your clothes," he added quickly as if sensing what she was thinking.

"Right… Uhm… did I said other things last night?" She said nervously.

"Hmmm…" He smirked once again. "I'm sure you're hungry. There's food I bought in the fridge. Just heat it."

Even though she's thinking that it was unfair that Ryoma did not really answer her question, she just thought it's also good not to know what she said. "Ok."

"Do you feel alright now?" he asked her.

"Yes. Maybe I've been tired yesterday that's why I did not feel well. But I'm OK now."

Just at that time, the two realized that they were both still on the bed

Ryoma went out of the bed, quite blushing. Sakuno did that too.

"I'll… I'll just heat the foods" And she dashed off to the kitchen.

"Uhm… thank you… for taking care of me. I'm also sorry for being a burden to you," Sakuno said as they were eating breakfast.

"Don't apologize. I'll do that to anyone in your situation," he snapped.

"Yes, of course." Sakuno felt ashamed. Of course, how dare I think that I'm somewhat special to him? He'll do it toanyone.

They ate silently until they finished their food.

"Take a bath now," Ryoma commanded Sakuno

"What?"

"We'll go somewhere."

"Where? But I… I'm not allowed to go out… without permission…"

"Isn't that wig and sunglasses intended for you to go out without permission? Now, take a bath, change your clothes, and I'll wait for you outside."

But Sakuno just looked at him disbelievingly, thinking of how bossy he was. Seeing that Sakuno did not move, Ryoma snapped again.

"What? You want me to come with you?"

"Of course not! Just wait for me outside."

Ryoma left the room and waited outside. After almost one hour… Sakuno went out of the room wearing her wig and sunglasses.

"I'm starting to think the bathtub has eaten you," he said looking at her. "People won't really recognize you in that," he added referring to her wig.

"Yes, but people will still recognize you."

"I don't care. Anyway, let's go."

"I'll talk to Tomoka first."

Sakuno went to the door next to hers. She knocked but nobody answered.

"I wonder if she's still sleeping. Did you see her arrive here last night?" she asked.

"No."

Sakuno got her cell phone in her purse and dialed Tomoka's number.

"Good morning!" Tomoka greeted her.

"Good morning, too. Where are you?"

"I'm sorry I haven't called you. I'm here at Horio's house…"

"What? You spent your night with him? But Tomoka…"

"Hey, don't think we did anything wrong. We just watched movies here because we were late for the cinema. That's all."

"Right, but you can't blame me. I mean it's a man's house and you're…"

"Fine, I know what you're talking about but skip the lecture. I promise we just watched movies. That's all. Anyway, why did you call?"

"Uhmm… I'll go somewhere…"

"Is Ryoma coming with you?" Tomoka asked with a giggle.

"Yeah…"

"Just as what I thought. Anyway, Horio kept calling him last night but he didn't answer Horio's calls. What happened when he went with you there?"

"Uhm… let's just talk about it later."

"Yeah… OK, bye. Enjoy!" she said and went out of line.

She noticed Ryoma started to walk so she followed him.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"…"

"Where are we going?" She repeated.

"…"

"I won't come with you unless you tell me where we are going," she said, annoyed of being ignored, and stopped walking.

Ryoma took a deep breath, irritated. "You're so talkative. We will go to my house."

"What? In your house?"

"Are you deaf? Yes, to myhouse."

"Why?"

"I have some ingredients there for Japanese food. I missed those. Cook for me."

Sakuno opened her mouth to say something but Ryoma interrupted her.

"Now, don't ask me any more questions."

Seeing that it's no good to confront him, she just walked behind him. She noticed that Ryoma kept on snapping at her that morning and she felt guilty because maybe he's tired due to what happened to them the other day and he also took care of her the past night. She just followed him quietly.