Chapter 11

Misunderstanding

The night is near now. The cloud is so grey. It looks like it's going to cry of rain tears, as expected for an autumn season. The sun already set down and the violet-ish sky is hanging up. It almost looks like the sky is gloomy. So does Akihiko. A thud sound is heard from the bed that he falls unto. He is so tired from the book signing event. He is not happy at all, considering that it was his own event. In fact, he thinks that this is the worst day that he ever had. First, his demon-woman-editor, Aikawa, yelled him first thing in the morning. Only to brag about today's book signing. Second, he had to sign hundreds of his fan's novel. Although it was his own novel, it was really boring; he was forced to smile in every single signing. Lastly,…. As he counts out bad things that had happened today, he sighs loudly and mumbles his crush's name.

"Misaki…"

He remembers every single detail that had left his mind. Misaki's shock and also hurt face engrave deeply in his mind. Misaki's fast escaped that left a pain trail in the author's heart. Misaki must have heard everything back then, Akihiko thinks while he closes his eyes slowly. I must apologize to him tomorrow, but where can I find him?

All the thinking makes Akihiko feels a bit dizzy. Not only that, it's not even night yet, but also he feels very, very tired from today's activities. In the next minute, Akihiko drifts off into deep sleep.

*****

The sound of cell vibrating and ringing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' tone, awakes Akihiko from his slumber in the midnight. On that moment, he curses his bad day, also the person who invented cell phone. He was having a very good dream about Misaki becoming his real lover. It was so good that it really felt so real. And when he just about to fuck the hell out on Misaki, the damn phone wakes him up. He wants to shut the phone and goes back to sleep, but the name on the screen prevents him to ignore the phone. He answers the phone lazily, but tries to manage a focus-like voice out of him.

"Hello? Usami's here."

A cheerfull voice is heard from the other side, "Ah, Usami-sensei. It's me, Kirara."

"Yeah, I already know. Is there anything I can help you with?" Akihiko doesn't like to play polite and prefers to jump straight to the point. But, he usually does that only to the people that already know him well enough.

"I'm sorry to disturb you in the middle of the night. I remembered that Usami-sensei wanted to see the shooting for the next scene?"

"Yes. If it's not a bother…"

"Of course not. In fact, there are some changes for the next shooting schedule."

Akihiko, knowing that he must write the schedule for the next shooting, picks up the nearest paper he can find and a pen from his pocket. Just then he realizes he hasn't change his clothes from this noon.

"Tomorrow's shooting will be changed from noon to night at about 8 p.m. The place also change, it's in the CLAMP School General Hospital, 3rd floor." Kirara pronounces it almost slowly, to give Akihiko a time to write the place and time.

"Hospital?" Akihiko asks suddenly and confusedly.

"Yes, The CLAMP School General Hospital. The main scene in your novel is in the hospital right?"

Oh yeah, the blind and unable to walk-woman is always in hospital. How can I forget that? Akihiko thinks. He's always like this, still connecting after he got up from his sleep. That's why; he's always in the bad mood if someone wakes him up early or something is disturbing his sleep.

Suddenly, a realization struck his head. To make sure that his thought is true, Akihiko asks Kirara, "In tomorrow's shooting, will Misaki be there?"

"Of course, since Misaki is our lead actor. Is there something you need from Misaki?" Kirara's voice emits a curious tone; even people can recognize it from the other side of the phone.

"No, it's nothing. Just wanted to know." Akihiko lied. Well, half lied, since he really wants to know whether Misaki will be there tomorrow.

"Ok then, I think that's all the change that I can give you for now. See you tomorrow, Usami-sensei." Kirara ends her call, making Akihiko slaps closed his cell.

This is a great chance, Akihiko thought. He will be able to meet Misaki tomorrow, and apologize to him. All he can do now is closes his eyes and crosses his finger; hope that Misaki will accept his apology.

*****

Tep… tep… tep… tep… tep…

For some reasons, this sound can't stop its voicing. It's morning and quite a bright day for a day in autumn season. Many people at the hotel restaurant walk back and forth, taking their breakfast from the exquisite food in separate large table. But it's not them that annoys Hiroki, but rather the person who sits in front of him. Akihiko feet can't stop making these fast worried-like steps. He is now sitting with his hand supporting his head, with a pissed-off face. Akihiko and Hiroki just finished their breakfast meal and are now sitting with each a cup of coffee on the table.

"Akihiko, can you stop your damn steps? I'm trying to read a book here." Hiroki says annoyingly and glares at Akihiko for a while until the author stops his feet's action.

"You aren't bothered by people steps that walk through here, so why you care about my steps?" The author asks with a flat face.

"Because your steps is right in front of me an my ear, you damn idiot!" Hiroki holds his urge to slap Akihiko in the face with a book in his hands. "And why can't you calm down a bit? You look pissed off ever since I saw you this morning."

"And whose fault is it that I become like this?" Akihiko asks with an upset tone.

"Pardon?" Hiroki feels like Akihiko refers his sentence to him.

"I'm going to the movie shooting again tonight." says the author, avoiding eye contact with Hiroki.

"Oh… Akihiko… I… I'm sorry about yesterday. I…" Hiroki can't finish his sentence and just sighs along the way. There is a one-minute silence following them, until Akihiko diverts his eyes to Hiroki again and says, "No, it's ok. Anyways, it's my fault in the first place. If only I don't left my cell in the first place, you probably wouldn't have to says things."

"That still sound it's my fault." Another silent aluminates the atmosphere and the situation go on until they go back to each of their respected suite. The rest of the day, both of them don't go to the book fair at all. Instead, they just read whatever book they already bought yesterday.

Finally, the night has come. Akihiko comes about 20 minutes before the shooting time, but the crews seem had already been there for some time because the camera and the lighting already been set up. In fact, it looks like they are in the middle of break. Akihiko glances at his wristwatch, thinks that he does arrive in the right time. Akihiko steps into the crews set. The first crew that sees him, tell them that the author has come. The nearest crews start to welcome him. Akihiko and the crew exchange greetings and chat for a while.

"Usami-sensei!" A girl's voice is faintly heard from the author spot. Akihiko turn his head to the voice source. The blonde girl with a nurse outfit and the black-haired girl with a patient outfit approach him with sparkling eyes, excited to meet the novelist. Their outfit are definitely for the scene takes.

"Good evening, Usami-sensei. I thought sensei wouldn't come to this time shooting." Kotori said with happy tones. I wouldn't come? Why? Akihiko thinks. "The shooting will begin in 20 minutes from now though. If you want, we can show the shooting set." Monica informs Akihiko with cheerful voice. No wonder they excited, they are meeting the author himself.

"Ah, no. It's ok. I prefer waiting here, rather than making any problems in the set."

"Oh, of course not Usami-sensei." Said a woman from make-up crew. A man from the other crew also jumps into the conversation, "It's ok to survey the set first, and we'd like you to comment about it in fact." Guess the guy is from the setting crew, Akihiko thinks. Accepting the offer from the crew, Akihiko is being guided now to the set.

Today's set is the hall of third floor hospital and also a patient room also from the same floor. All the equipment that supports the scene is originally from the hospital. The crew had successfully borrowed it for the shooting.

"Actually, we aren't allowed to borrow it. They're afraid the tools will break or something." Kotori explains clearly and thoroughly to Akihiko about everything that relates with the set.

"That's why, we can only borrow the equipment, not to mention the setting for only ten days. It's really crazy! We are speeding in every take." Monica says with a bothered tone in her voice.

"Yeah, not to mention, most of the scene is set in the hospital. They should've given us about 3 weeks at least!" Kotori follows Monica's sentence.

"In 10 days huh? That is really quick." Akihiko finally replies in the conversation. Since he is taken to the set, his eyes are all over the place, trying to spot the brunette, Misaki. Knowing the author strange behavior, Kotori asks him, "Is there something wrong, Usami-sensei?"

"Ah… No, it's nothing." Akihiko covers his impatient behavior, but is discovered by Monica who blurts out a question. "You seem to search for somebody, who is it?"

Feeling it's not worth to cover up since it wasn't even a secret, Akihiko answers the question by asking a question too, "Have you girls seen Misaki?"

The two girls glance at each other for a moment, their face look like they hesitate to answer. Suddenly, another voice is heard from behind, "Usami-sensei, good evening! I thought you aren't coming." Kirara walks toward the author with a script in her hands and asks the group when she sees the faces of the actresses, "What's wrong here?"

"Oh, I just want to know if Misaki is here." Akihiko says to Kirara.

"Eh? Misaki? Didn't he tell you anything?" Kirara answers with confused tone, that only responded with an "Eh?!" by Akihiko.

"Yes, actually Misaki can't come at 8p.m. So, we changed the time to 5p.m. When I told him that I would contact you again, Misaki volunteered to tell you himself. That's why I thought you are in the middle of some work and you aren't coming for today's shooting. Misaki just left half an hour ago." Kirara explains the whole things while Akihiko is in shock in his own mind. But then again, Akihiko expression actually pretty easy to be read.

"Didn't Misaki call you, sensei?" Kirara asks again. Akihiko shakes his head from left to right slowly, meaning a no-call-at-all from Misaki. Misaki volunteered to call him, but he didn't get any call from the brunette.

Did Misaki really hurt that much, that he actually doesn't want to meet me anymore? Akihiko thinks while the girls can only look at his painful face. Akihiko can't stand this misunderstanding anymore. He will take action himself and explain all to Misaki.

"Where does Misaki live?"

Wow, it's already chapter 11! Sorry for the slow update, being a design student is really tiring. Everyday is tasks day, there is no time for continuing the story, although I write this chapter little by little. Not to mention there's a writer block… Sorry… Sorry… Anyways, I will switch to Egoist pair for the next chapter. I really need an idea for the Egoist pair, so I think it'll be a long time again before the next update. Please review! ^___^