Episode Eight: Truth Revealed

Hate is such a strong word.

Mama used to tell me that but, seriously, Hayama was someone I fumed about and wondered about…why the hell he didn't have a girlfriend? If he did, she could be his toy, fuck buddy, and even learn to accept him for who he is!

A horny, effed up, mofo, bastard.

Yeah…who am I kidding? That wouldn't happen!

Yes, that is merely putting it simply. And still, I could not get over that only outside of work he would treat me like a normal human being and of course, back in work, we would be back to our usual fooling around "harmlessly" and ugh, oh god, he probably doesn't even really care that I have a brain in my head. I may not be the brightest bulb but, I do think for myself and he can't even realize that. He really is demoralizing the female community.

That probably explains the lack of girlfriend in tow.

Oh, jeez.

But I'm the next best thing.

Seriously, thinking about all this fucked up shit just makes me hate him even more. I didn't even know that was in any way possible.

So, I stopped, sighed, and wished I could live my life differently.

Anyway, the day ended, abruptly and suddenly and nothing else happened after the meeting occurred and ever disbanded. By five, I was relinquished from all duties as assistant and went on my merry way. I said bye to Sugita-san and left the office with a pain tugging at my heart. I tried ignoring it because usually, I escaped my problems easily. Not thinking about them definitely helped and I thought of Fuka, instead. My other problem, in other terms. As I walked home from the 'L' Train, I followed the normal streets, crossing over by the usual bakery, and indie store. Unnoticing of the particulars and just following the routine. My life fell into place and I realized how unsettlingly boring and mundane my life had become. How did it even get this way? I used to lead such a fantastic, whimsical life. I wondered what happened to that me. It was him. Most definitely him.

After that film and when I traded movie scripts for mandatory summer reading books. I sighed, reminiscing on my own before I skipped up the stairs to me and Fuka's loft, on the second floor. I turned the key into the lock and noticed the lights were off. I flicked them on as a second nature, assuming Fuka was out somewhere. Maybe the convenient store picking up tooth paste or whatever. Suddenly, the key fell out of my hand, clamoring to the floor and the lights were bright and the moon light shone in from the half open door. I stood in the frame, watching the scene before me. Most of Fuka's clothes were scattered on the floor, leaving a trail to the raised living room. Then there were men's clothes too, I soon realized, following the same trail. And at the end of the line of clothing were a very naked (except for her bra and panties) Fuka and some half naked guy. But I knew that guy. I saw him somewhere….

I racked my brain for who he could have been. The nakedness had me stumped for awhile. Don't get me wrong.

But then Fuka cut in, grimacing at me.

"Hey, Sana," She nodded. "This is…Takaishi Yuta…."

Takaishi…oh my god, like Takaishi-san, her boss! Except no…this was her boss! Naked! Almost naked…whatever, same difference!

"Hi," He stuck up a hand in partial greeting.

"Uh, hi," I managed, putting the pieces of the puzzle together in my head. Gee, this was freaking awkward. And I still could not relieve myself of the feeling I had known this was Takaishi Yuta from the start. There was something strangely familiar about him and I couldn't place him, which sucked.

"Who needs a drink?" Fuka asked, wriggling out of Takaishi-san's arms, which were tangled around her waist. She put on her skirt and her blouse like it was nothing and as if this were pretty normal. Takaishi-san soon followed.

"Let's head out for some," Fuka offered.

"On me," Takaishi-san added. Oh yeah, definitely, on you, I thought sinisterly. Now I knew, more than ever, I deserved an explanation. And free drinks! Who could resist that?

Nearby was that bar Fuka and I ended up at after our grueling first day of work. All of us ended up there, starting off with some dirty margaritas and apparently, Takaishi Yuta was a scotch guy. Who knew? More importantly, who cared…. But then again, apparently this was the guy Fuka had eyes for. The one she made goo-goo eyes at and the one who mysteriously turned Fuka into a secretive, fooling around, horny version of my best friend. I sighed; the remaining redeeming factor was that Takaishi-san said the drinks were on him! Couldn't forget that.

And then, there was the story. Of all stories, the one of how Takaishi and Fuka started dating.

Fuka smiled, dazedly at Takaishi before beginning, "It was the first day of work…" The gleam in her eye unforgettable and one I hadn't seen since college. This was the real deal that was for sure.

"We both…glanced at each other," Takaishi continued. So they were that kind of couple! The ones that could finish each other's sentences. I bit the inside of my cheek, refraining from yawning.

"And at that moment, we knew it," Fuka gushed, so un-Fuka like it was scary.

"Knew what?" I asked, maybe it was the whole Sana hasn't been in love in awhile thing getting to me.

"That we were more than just soon to be co-workers. Boss and assistant," She explained, still gazing into Takaishi-san's eyes.

"No doubt," Takaishi thoughtfully added. Probably reminiscing about the scene. I could only imagine…two unknown, unquestioning people meeting in the most unlikely of situations. Of course it would only look weird to say they would soon be boss and assistant and could not lapse into that at the pressure and brute of facing judgment. It would be too obvious and painful to bear if Fuka would soon be promoted because if the other office workers knew of their relationship it would only seem like it was happening because of their foreboding relationship., It seemed complicated and no wonder Fuka was being so silent about it these past days…months, perhaps. I provoked the thought in my head of the future that lay ahead for these two. It seemed that everything was happening far too fast and I could only see fear in their future. So thank god for the honey moon state.

"So…," I circled my glass in my hand. "How long have you guys been together?"

"A month," Fuka dreamily said. Yup, honey moon state for sure.

"How come you never…um, wanted to tell me?" I asked, darting a look at Fuka, in particular.

"I don't know," She brushed a hand through her cropped, barely shoulder length hair. "We were being so secretive at work and in general. I didn't think to bring it up with you. And, I'm actually sorry about that, Sana-chan." Fuka sincerely said and I could see it, as she averted her glance toward me instead of her apparent lover.

"It's okay," I assured. "I'm just glad you guys are telling me now."

"You know, Sana…, I just can't shake the thought that…maybe," Takaishi-san suddenly appeared hesitant. "…maybe I have met you before. Is that possible?" His dark brown orbs stared into mine, memorizing me as I memorized him back.

"Huh?" Fuka remarked, sipping from her glass.

"Omigod! I was thinking the exact same thing!" The words came out skittish and quickly.

"No way!" Takaishi-san looked just as shocked as I was.

"So…then, we have met," I tried thinking back to the other years of my life. All twenty-two years of them. The alcohol was slightly affecting my memory, temporarily.

"I believe we have," Takaishi nodded, taking a large sip from his scotch. Almost downing the whole thing. "I lived in Tokyo for a few years, when I was younger." He offered.

"I grew up in Tokyo!"

"Then…in Tokyo?"

"Really?" That was said incredulously.

"Probably…. But, where?"

"Omigod!" I screech, coming to the sudden realization despite the blur and the fogginess the alcohol is causing.

"I can't believe you two know each other…," Fuka pondered, running her finger on the granite of the bar.

"School!" I blurt out, semi-ignoring Fuka's minor comment. "We went to the same middle school before we switched into high school." I realized at long last.

"That's right!" Takaishi-san agreed. "But then, I moved out to Osaka when my dad's company expanded." I laughed, agreeably.

"Now it all makes sense," I decided with a big grin.

"Yeah, it's good to see you again, Sana," Takaishi nodded.

"Yeah, totally," I smiled again, unable to resist. No wonder Fuka liked this guy so much. He was sweet, sincere, nostalgic, and totally somebody I could see her with. This was just another plus on his cool point's card.

"Well, by the way…I enjoyed the realization but, I'm happy for you guys," I concluded, seeing the bottom of my glass in my almost polished off second drink.

"Yeah, we're happy too," Fuka smiled that 'I'm in love'-one as she stared into Takaishi's eyes.

"I'm happy," came another voice, wavering over our seats at the bar.

"I knew it was you!" I turned around at that moment, dreading as my eyes laid sight on none other than….

…..

My boss.

Gee, that was just the freaking cherry on top of the oh-so perfect day!

"Hey there, personal assistant-chan," Hayama Akito, my uber pervert boss, cooed in a fake endearing tone. He had a beer in hand and another guy, in glasses, wearing a collared shirt and dress pants at his side.

"Hi, boss-san! Out on a date…with your boyfriend?" I stared into glasses' eyes.

He chuckled hoarsely, "Always the funny one, aren't we?"

"Mhmm," I downed the rest of my drink, thinking how much I needed it. Maybe even a third! "Someone has to be," I swirled around on my bar stool. He eventually caught me, mid turn, and braced the chair on either side with his arms.

"'Eeeeyyyyyy," I smiled, noticing my drink was refilled. GO REFILLS!

"So, you're the funny drunk, are ya?" Hayama cornered me and I barely noticed but I did notice that Takaishi and Fuka were stuck in their own lovey dovey world.

"And you're my boss at the bar!" I chorused back.

"And you're my assistant! Drunk at the bar," Hayama said back, cheesily. He's so cheesy. Like those puffy, twisted cheetos! Oh boy…I've really fallen off my high horse haven't I?

"Can I borrow her?" Hayama looked over my head and toward Takaishi and Fuka.

"Sure," They both said in unison. Probably too intoxicated and in love to care that I was being kidnapped…by boss-san! Woooowww, thanks for the support, guys. Then he grabbed my wrist in his firm grip and dragged me along. I saw blurry blobs of people pass by. Or I was passing them by and then I was in a room. Much quieter than the bar. I missed the loudness. The sounds and the reverberating music. It was all gone.

And in its place was a stench. Like eggs and pee.

GROSS! I wanted to scream but bit the inside of my mouth to prevent myself.

Hayama's boyfriend was gone too. Darn! Two hot guys…making out. That seemed hot. Too bad I would miss it. I frowned at this and then saw Hayama appear again in my field of view.

"Boss-san!" I loudly announced.

"Hush," He put a finger to his lips.

Yummy….

I noticed for the first time he was dressed casually in Rock & Republic jeans. The only kind he wore, apparently. (I learned that by seeing him on Casual Fridays.) He was chic that way and had on an Acid tee-shirt. Over the shirt was a collared one with all the buttons undone. No fun! He, then, proceeded to pick me up and place me on some sort of table or ledge. Afterward, he positioned himself in between my legs and his hands were on either side of my waist.

This looked promising.

"Kiss me," Hayama ordered.

I smiled, closing my eyes and then reopening them, bracing myself for his cold, anxious, and stoic hazel eyes.

Mhmm, here they were. Right in front of me. I locked in on them, grabbing his head, nearing it toward mine.

He waited and I held him there for a moment. Only centimeters away from my lips. We were so close.

In only seconds, I smashed my mouth against his. Forcefully and hard and passionate, as if I loved him that much.

Au contraire,

I hate you…

But, I really thought, I hate you for making me this way. His mouth devouring mine and mine devouring right back. Either this was hell or heaven, I couldn't tell. The thin line blurring into ash.


A/N - Wow, I can't believe we're at episode/chapter eight and summer's almost over! Makes me so sad to think I'll be back at school in a few weeks. At least summer's been good to me. Gotten paid lots (go work!), hanging out left and right, and listening to pretty awesome music in my down time. I hope everyone else has been enjoying their summer as much as I have! We still have like...three (or so) weeks left! (If you're in this whole hs thing like me)

Anyway, I think the characters are moving along pretty well. Sana still hates Akito. Akito is still a mega-perv. Sana's got some secret actor-ex. Ooooh. Fuka's secrets are out. Takaishi and Sana are besties from some, way long time ago. (No, nothing happened then, by the way) And, Sana's still dealing with the difficult task of falling in love. It shouldn't be a task but she can't understand it. Which is really cute. P.S. the lemon is coming soon. (or lime) Guess you'll have to wait and see and read, eventually to find out!

Till next time, enjoy the rest of summer! :)