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— In Flight Obsession —
#10. When it Comes to Claiming,
Warnings and Delayed Gratification.
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"Nothing is wrong, Shintani-san," Usui asserts smoothly, stepping up and sliding the chair next to Hinata back. When he eyes me intently, I realize that he pulled it back for me to sit.
I grab his forearm and push it away.
"I can sit alone, thank you." I whisper harshly in my breath.
He simply shrugs and smile, pulling back his own chair.
For the rest of the night, I build a solid wall between Usui and me, giving him my back as I mostly lean towards Hinata's discussion. If I thought that the blonde co-pilot would try to keep taunting me all through the dinner, my presumption turned out wrong.
He doesn't say a single word my way.
The gossip girls of the cabin staffs are all enamored of him, squeaking, shrieking and wailing at anything that comes out of his mouth.
"What school did you graduate from, Usui-san?" One asks dreamily.
"ATS Oxford Academy." He answers curtly with a small smile.
They all squeal like fan-girls.
I clear my throat, clearly disgusted by the male pheromone he seems to exude. Hinata takes the opportunity to slide me a question.
"I didn't expect you to come, Misa. But where were you all this time?"
"True, true! I was looking for you everywhere, Misaki!" Sakura claims heartily.
"I was... In my room. ―I was checking my room," I answer, hastily taking a sip of the white wine to cover for my weak lie. Kei's eyes linger on me, but he remains silent.
"Oh? Did you manage to get one for you alone?"
"Uh, yeah?" I don't exactly remember the details, but I'm pretty sure that I have a private room since I was the one who made the reservation back at the airport. "There was a little issue with room arrangements, hence why it took a little while," I lie pleasantly.
"Usui-san!" A woman says, eyes full of promises. "What's your room number?" She asks innocently, batting her eyelashes.
I almost spit back the savory wine in my mouth but I don't. Instead, I quietly cough, swallowing the liquid that went down the wrong way.
"Ah," Usui says slowly, perhaps feeling a bit cornered with the plenty of eyes aimed at him. "I don't... remember?"
An altogether disappointment falls on the left area of the table. Murmurs rise in, and the two sitting in front of me catch my feigned attention. A short haired woman named Hana elbows her friend ―who had asked the question― in the ribs.
"Ouch," the said-friend winces in a whisper. "What was that for?!"
"Why the heck did you ask him!" Hana ushers to her friend's ear. They warily eye Usui, before exhaling in relief seeing that his attention is set on the busty woman beside him.
" I was just trying to confirm it, since you said that he was gay... So I just thought if he declined―..."
"―Shhh!"
Speak of the devil, and here he comes. Usui's sharp stare zooms right in front of him, landing on Hana and her friend.
"Excuse me, ladies. Would you care to repeat?" He conversationally asks the two petrified girls.
Their eyes twitch my way before they look at each other, their mouths sealed tight.
Seeing that no answer arises, the woman on his left tugs at his shirt, bending him closer to her. Her eyes meet with mine as he leans in, and she whispers something in his ear. I watch him from the corner of my eye, before noticing a faint smile dangerously curling his lips.
Dangerously so.
"Really?" He leans back and asks the woman.
She nods feverishly, her eyes sliding over mines again. A pause ensues before he leans back onto his chair and eyes the crew.
Then, he drops the bomb.
"Does anyone know who's been telling around that I am gay?"
The impact of his words is brutal; all conversations cease in a heartbeat.
Few are shocked to the bones.
Others are bewildered, lips parted.
Kei seems overjoyed.
Sakura's eyes are wider than saucer cups.
Hinata's jaw is hanging down wide.
"G...Gay?!"
My eyes cross with one of my crew member. She warily glances at me before looking away to another girl, somewhat feeling guilty... As they exchange glances, it feels as if they all knew who it is.
... And my breath slightly hitches, reminiscing those words I've carelessly uttered to Sakura.
"You usually scowl when you meet a guy. Unless he's gay... ―Wait." She gasped at me, back in the plane. Her brown eyes were wide open. "Don't tell me he's gay."
Who knew? And did it really matter? All I wanted was a glimpse of his hands. And maybe to cope a feel of two, but that was if I was lucky. Else, I'd just have to drop it.
And I replied... " ―He might be gay, actually."
I had been so pleased to find a way to counter Sakura's relentless attacks back then, plainly thinking that maybe ―maybe― she'd be less wary of those glances I occasionally threw his way.
When Usui's eyes fall on me, I simply gaze back at him before shrugging. As careless as the motion might seem like, I'm in truth holding my breath with dread, my heart hammering in my chest.
His eyes narrow for a skip, before he reverts his focus elsewhere. Then, I discretely meet eyes with the girl that sold me out for whatever the reasons. My stare's heavy with meaning, and she suddenly looks sheepish. But before I can throw her some daggers, I'm cut short in my action...
A rough palm slides over my thigh, down my left knee. I instinctively jerk but his hand clamps down harder, keeping me in place.
Left...
My eyes shoot up, searching for his face.
Usui.
What the damn hell is wrong with him? I want to scream, but my heart's in my throat.
I glare at him, but he looks unfazed, still eyeing the people as if I didn't remotely exist.
"Please, Usui-san, who could ever say that to such a handsome man?" Hana laughs, coming to my help with a nervous and tiresome grin stretching her lips.
As everybody laughs along ―cold sweat dripping down their forehead― my hand slides down to his, trying to pry him off me.
To no avail do I succeed to.
His gaze leisurely lingers on everyone's features, probably expecting a better answer as he doesn't let go of me.
"Yeah, who could say that, Usui-san," another girl laughs, features tensed. Other giggles, desperately approving her words. Everyone's hum comes to him, trying to deceive him, but he knows they're up to no good.
The rough pad of his fingertips sinks in the sensitive flesh of my kneecap.
Full of warning.
"Of course," Usui murmurs lowly. "I'm sure no one would say this... Right, Ayuzawa-san?" His last words are a whisper only I can hear.
The smile plastered on my face falters.
"Right... Nhh..." I quietly gasp in a breath, his fingers pressing deeper on that spot in my knee.
My legs are all jelly I'm not even sure I could even walk. If the pressure he exerts is anything to go by, the mark of his fingerprints would clearly show tomorrow.
And damn if that doesn't do something to me...
"Then, it's all settled," he says more loudly to the table. Atmosphere going in reverse, the merry chitchat resumes, through it remains at arm distance from any topic about Usui.
"As a reminder..." He murmurs darkly, speaking of the bruise that is bound to show in a few hours.
Loosening his hold, he skims the length of my leg one last time before setting me free. "And don't think you're getting out of this, Ayuzawa-san."
I blink at him, my mouth dry. Words are uncooperative, pooling in my throat and unwilling to come out.
"...W-what?"
His hands are fully within eyesight as he leans upon his elbows. One of his finger brushes his lower lip, skimming upon the spot where I bit him.
"You owe me some debts."
He gives me a last glance, eyebrows arched with expectations and that faint grin pulling his lips. Just like that, he turns away and smoothly gets back into the lighthearted conversation with the crew while I sit there, drowning in despair.
One minute after, when I make sure he's not looking, my hands slowly creep under the table, tentatively rubbing my bruised knee. A sharp tinge shots right down my belly, hot, slick and something... more. Just when I think no one is looking...
I peer up, naively expecting no one to glance my way... But here he is, eyes half-lidded, dark emeralds fixated over my features all too knowingly... My lips slightly part with dread and shame.
'As a reminder... Ayuzawa-san. You owe me some debts...'
And my knees eventually squeeze together as he smirks.
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Author's note:
Ughh! The word punishment itself isn't anywhere near sensual, and yet, given a context, it turns into such a hot promise ;p!
Starting next week: I'll be on HOLI-DAYS :D *jumps and squeals like Usui's fangirls*