"Playful Love"


Chapter Eleven:

Few days passed since the argument and right now, Kaho is yawning widely as she looked sleepily at her alarm clock. Her eyes widened. "Waah! It's been 20 minutes since it alarmed!" she gasped and quickly stood up. Fixed her bed and ran towards to the bathroom.

She tripped with her own foot and slipped inside the bathroom. "Ahh!" she screamed as she fell.

"Kahoko!" her mom scolded from downstairs.

Kaho giggled and stood up carefully. "Sorry Mom!" she yelled and started to take a short shower.

I'm loving Len more and more as days passed. I hope this pretend-thing won't end forever.

She chuckled as she started to clean herself and visualize seeing Len later at school. Such a pervert.

After she fixed herself; she hurriedly ran downstairs and found Len sitting at the couch comfortably like he's used to it. Oh, he is used to it.

"Len?" she gasped, half-surprised and half-excited.

He looked up and frowned. "When will we go to school half an hour before time?" he muttered under his breath and sipped at the cup of tea her mother gave to him.

She grabbed a toasted bread and as quick as Len placed the cup of tea in the table—she dragged him outside and caught him off guard.

"Ja ne!" Kahoko bade and went inside the car with the dizzy Len.

"Ja ne, Kaho; Tsukimori-kun!" her mother bade back as she waves at the disappearing figure of the car.

Len sighed angrily as he glared at the innocent eating girl beside him. "Why did you drag me for? I can walk or run by myself." He protested.

Kahoko giggled. "If you walk or run by yourself—you will take five minutes of our time." She teased.

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Are you saying that I am slow?"

She shrugged. "You were the one who assumed that." She replied still chewing the bread between her lips.

He huffed and pushed the whole bread inside her mouth.

She choked and kept on coughing as she searched for her bottle of water. Kahoko found it inside her bag and quickly drank half of it. She panted and sighed, "Phew."

Len, nonchalant with what's happening, only stared outside with a blank expression. An expression which Kahoko never understood.

There was a long silence which made her heart beat faster than normal. The earlier event was common with them. Arguing, fighting and teasing each other but this silence is not usual. Len often smile this few days but since earlier until this moment…he's deep in thoughts and she hates how mysterious he can be.

"Len?" she called as she tugged at his uniform.

He looked down at her. "What is it?"

She frowned. "Did something happen?"

He turned his attention back outside and shook his head. "Nothing unusual. Woke up, took a shower, fixed myself, ate breakfast which was already prepared by the maids and then took off towards your home and lastly here." He enumerated sounding bored.

She blinked. "You didn't mention greeting your…parents."

"They aren't home. And if ever they were—I wouldn't be able to greet them. I have things in mind." He explained.

She gulped as she continued to ask him questions, "What?"

He shut his eyes. "It's none of your business, Kahoko." He snapped.

She bit my lower lip and pulled the edge of his uniform.

He frowned. "What on—"

Kaho clenched her teeth. "Am I untrustworthy? Is that the reason why you don't like saying the truth to me?" she shouted and opened her door as soon as the car stopped in front of Seiso.

"Kaho!" he called after her and sighed. He took his and her belongings and went out of the car as he quickly looked for her all around.

He went to the garden where the bells rang when they were chosen as participants in the concours then, in her classroom but she wasn't still there. Next are the practice rooms—he searched each one of it and then when he was almost giving up and heading towards the Music Department; he saw that there's a light coming from the open door of the rooftop.


He hurriedly went upstairs and opened it widely and looked around the whole place and heard someone mumbling in the dark shadows. He slowly looked at it and saw something crimson. As soon as the golden eyes he wanted to see looked up—she was on his arms. She threw herself on him and clung on him tightly. "Len!" she exclaimed.

Caught off guard, he tripped with the foot of the bench and landed on the floor. He and Kaho sitting on the floor while he wraps his arms around her waist and her arms snaked around his neck.

She eased away but never releasing him and giggled as their eyes met each other. "You are also clumsy." She accused.

He poked her forehead. "It was an accident and there was a reason. Unlike you who trips over her own foot. Which is more embarrassing?"

She pouted, glared at him and stuck her tongue out.

Few moments later; they finally realized their position and stood up quickly as Kaho blushed and Len composed himself by clearing his throat.

Len glanced at his watch. "Now look what you have done. I missed my first period." He accused with stern tone and sighed again.

She pouted again. "That's alright. At least it's only first period."

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "And how will I explain, hm?"

"Simply say that you forgot where you placed your violin and looked for it." Kaho suggested.

"Quite reasonable even though I never lost my violin."

She smiled proudly.

"But you are good in lying so, it only means you lie often." Len stated.

She reacted like she was hit through the bone.

He smirked.

She glared and punched his arm. "Shut up!"

Few more minutes later, Len stood up and looked at his watch. "I will go now. Second period will be starting."

She nodded and smiled. "I'll be eating with my friends here at the rooftop later at lunch. Just go upstairs if you want to join."

He smirked. "As if," he retorted.

She pouted, giggled then ran towards her classroom.

Len stared where she was sitting earlier and placed his forehead in his hands. "If only I can say the truth to her…about my feelings. It won't be hard for me anymore to compose myself and act normal." He shook his head in disbelief and looked at the door. "Oh Kahoko, you don't know what you do to me." He mumbled.


At lunch, Kaho eagerly dragged her best friends to the rooftop so, they can talk privately like they usually do before Tsuchiura started courting her and now he temporarily stopped so she can do it once again.

They sat on the floor and placed their bentos on their lap and started eating and also began chatting.

"Ne, Ne, Kaho-chan why aren't you with Tsukimori-kun today?" Mio asked.

Kaho chuckled. "Oh, he just asked for this day to place his time on practicing like he usually does."

"But, you still, well continue to do the pretend relationship right?" Nao asked for they both know Kaho and Len's secret.

Kahoko nodded. "Yeah. We won't stop until Tsuchiura-kun declares that he will permanently stop bugging me." She answered and ate a piece of tempura.

"It's so nice for Tsukimori-kun to continue until this very moment, ne Kaho-chan?" Mio asked and smiled.

Kaho nodded with a warm smile that truly reaches her eyes. "Mm; it's very nice of him."

"Is he nice to you? What does he do to at least show others that he truly is your boyfriend?" Nao queried.

Kahoko thought of it for a minute and started to enumerate them one by one. "He picks me up from our house every weekday morning then, walks me to our class. At lunch, he eats with me or treat me lunch at the cafeteria. At our spare time before going back home, we practice in the practice rooms and he usually teaches me a new piece of re-teach me a piece I forgot. On weekends, sometimes, he invites me to their house when his parents are there and we talk about music, career, school and other things. He's very kind to me and I feel guilty for calling him 'Ice Prince' before, when we were still both participants of the concours." She giggled and her friends didn't miss her happy tone when she talks about him.

Mio and Nao grinned with each other and cleared their throats for the incoming question.

"So, Kaho-chan, do you like Tsukimori-kun?"Mio squealed.

Kaho blushed and ate one piece of onigiri. "No comment,"

"Kaho, do you?" Nao queried.

"I don't know." She stuttered and sipped her milk tea.

Mio grinned. "Maybe Kaho-chan doesn't like him. Maybe she loves him."

Kaho choked her drink and both Mio and Nao giggled then eyes sparkled. "Ah, you do."

"I-I don't!" she denied. Her cheeks as red as her hair.

Her best friends went to her opposite sides. "Oi, what will you—" she was cut off when they began tickling her.

"Say the truth or else!" they threatened at the same time.

Kahoko while laughing stood up and made few steps backward. "Fine! I do love Tsukimori Len!" she shouted.

Both her bestfriends gaped at her and when Kaho turned around; Len was there, opening the door of the rooftop. His eyes wide and his expression surprised.


-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Len went to the practice rooms exactly as their teacher dismissed them for lunch. He went there to practice a new piece but everytime he goes to another bar he makes a mistake.

He sighed and tried to continue when Kaho's face flashed on his mind.

"No," he muttered and was about to start again when his violin screeched. He stopped and shook his head. "Ugh." He grumbled and packed his things.

He picked his violin case then his bag and walked towards the rooftop. Behind the door he already heard familiar voices.

"Is he nice to you? What does he do to atleast show others that he truly is your boyfriend?" He heard Nao queried.

"He picks me up from our house every weekday morning then, walks me to our class. At lunch, he eats with me or treat me lunch at the cafeteria. At our spare time before going back home, we practice in the practice rooms and he usually teaches me a new piece of re-teach me a piece I forgot. On weekends, sometimes, he invite sometimes to their house when his parents are there and we talk about music, career, school and other things. He's very kind to me and I feel guilty for calling him 'Ice Prince' before when we were still both participants of the concours." Kaho answered and giggled.

So they know. Bid Deal. Kaho told them anyway.

Nuh-uh-uh, Len Tsukimori. Go in already and cover your ears to stop eavesdropping. His mind warned.

He huffed and opened it when he saw Kaho taking few steps backward laughing and confessed, shouting, "Fine! I do love Tsukimori Len!"

He froze on his place and his eyes widened in surprise. Did he just hear that right or are his ears playing with him?


-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Everyone froze and when Len was about to take a step forward—Kahoko quickly ran downstairs and left the three of them.

"Whoa, that was fast." Mio commented.

Nao shrugged. "That is Kahoko. She can run fast when she feels embarrassed." She added.

Len bowed and turned around.

"Wait, Tsukimori-kun!" Mio shouted which almost made Len fall down the stairs since his foot was already taking the first step downstairs. He stood up straight and composed himself as his cheeks turned a little pink.

"Yes?" he asked and turned.

Nao handed Kaho's bento in his hands and made a thumbs up. "Go for it. We know you like Kaho so, we'll cheer for you."

Len let out a tiny smile; nodded and took Kaho's bento. "Um, do you know any place were she'll be hiding right now?"

Mio tapped her chopstick in her lips. "Oh! The garden where the bells are placed. Sometimes, she's there."

Len quickly ran downstairs and forcefully stopped when someone called his name, "Tsukimori-kun."

He turned and saw sleepy aquamarine eyes. "Shimizu-kun," he coldly greeted.

"Are you…looking for something."

Len massaged his temples. "Actually I'm looking for somebody."

"C-Could it be K-Kaho-senpai?" Fuyuumi asked nervously as she went out of her classroom, where Len was currently passing through.

Len nodded. "Yes, her."

"I-I saw her running towards the bell garden." She stammered and hid behind Shimizu.

"Thank you," he mumbled and ran towards the place they all said and as he turned his head back. He's surprised to see the two freshmen smiling and talking with each other. More surprising is that, Fuyuumi doesn't look as nervous as before at all.


-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"How embarrassing, how embarrassing, how embarrassing." Kaho muttered over and over again as she placed her face on her hands. "That was so embarrassing. I shouted it and he's there!" she panicked.

"I shouldn't have done that. It was so embarrassing. Maybe he thinks that I am just like those other girls who likes flirting with guys and saying things to get them." She mumbled and shook her head. "That was so disgraceful of me. I truly do love him but, I didn't like how he found it out. It was so shameful. He's an amazing violinist and he became my inspiration to continue playing my violin. And because of this pretend relationship…my love for him grew. I can't say it in his face because I'll be surely rejected.

What should I say when I see him? 'Len! About earlier, it was all joke so, Mio and Nao will stop tickling me.' Or 'Len. I'm sorry about earlier. It was all a joke. Forget what I said ok?' Ugh! It's not as easy as that! I can't say those to him when I know I'm lying!" she grunted.

"Then, why don't you tell him the truth?" a voice from few meters away asked.

"I don't know if I can do it. And I don't know if he'll accept my feelings." She answered without looking who she's talking with.

"You won't know until you try." The voice suggested. "You are so dense."

She flinched. "And who are you to—" she stopped mid-sentence when she looked up and met golden-brown eyes. "L-Len?" she stuttered and stood up from her seat. "Why did chase me?"

"To know the truth," he answered and went near her.

She took a step backward. "About the things we said in the rooftop? Oh, it was all—"

"What? A joke? I heard everything you mumbled awhile ago and you said that you can't lie to him. And who is that him?" Len cut in.

She looked down. "….You."

Len grabbed her hand and her eyes widened as he leaned his lips on her palm. "I don't reject anyone's feelings but, I also don't accept quickly after the accident that happened with my true parents. I accused everyone around me, accused that they can't be trusted when you came and changed my opinion. You changed the way I look at everything and slowly I learned how to live my life. How to smile. And how to love. In everyone who confessed me their feelings there's only one I truly love." He muttered and looked at her eyes.

Is it me?

"I-Is it me?" she blurted out.

He shook his head in exasperation. "Oh, Kahoko. You really are dense. Of course it's you, isn't it obvious?" He mocked and, in this instant, he leaned his lips on hers.


-o-o-o-o-o-o-

In the shadows, "Oh my…am I too late?" a girl asked to herself as she watch the two cuddle with each other. She huffed and crossed her arms. "I thought Len will be my fiancé? What's happening here?" she demanded and narrowed her eyes. "I'll know the truth right this moment. Len is mine and no one else's." she muttered under her breath and walked away flipping her hair in the air.


A/N: Whoa! After almost 2 weeks I finally was able to update! Ok, so here is what you asked.

Sorry if I was kind of late.

Thanks for all your previous reviews.

And forgive me for all errors I made! I am in a hurry!

PLEASE REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! And I will update again!

PLEASE!

Want a sneak peek to know who that new girl is? Here it is:


Sneak Peek:

"Kaho!" Kaji shouted and hugged Kaho from behind. Len flinched and cleared his throat. The golden prince quickly stepped away and smiled apologetically. "Sorry just missed her."

He picked up Kaho like she is a sack of rice and placed her in his shoulder as he walked away. "Excuse us."

"Waah Len! My….they'll see my…!" Kahoko gasped and blushed.

"Your what?" he inwardly grinned.

"Ugh!" she grumbled and punched his back.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Len, continue this and I'll break up with you." She threatened.

"Ok, do so. And Tsuchiura will start bugging you again." He retorted.

"Come on Len!" she protested and punched him with all she got.

He flinched. "Ow," He smirked and carried her bridal style. "What's next?" he mumbled and hummed the Wedding March.

She poked his forehead. "Shut up." She replied and giggled.

"Len!" a girl squealed and both Kaho and Len were surprised when his lips were claimed by a kiss by another girl.

Who's that girl? I have no idea as well. We'll all know in the next update! Thanks! Review please!