CHAPTER 53
Haruhi sits down on the lone king-sized bed, tired from the journey.
Hikaru is on the phone to reception, urgently inquiring for another room with two separate beds.
Really, Haruhi doesn't care. All of them are aware that Hikaru has integrity, and – well, Tamaki-san might balk a little, but if asked whether he honestly thinks they'll do anything other than sleep in the bed, he'd say no.
She sighs. "Hikaru, I'm going to have a bath."
"What? Now?" he squawks. He glances at the clock on the bedside table and gets a terribly helpless look on his face. "Yeah… yeah, I guess you should. Go; I know we have to wake up super early tomorrow. I'll try to sort this out."
"It doesn't matter, you know. You need rest, too."
"How can it not?!" Hikaru stands in agitation, dropping the phone back into its cradle with a clack. "Haruhi, do you even know that you're in a relationship with someone else?!"
She shrugs, plucking her nightwear out of her bag. "You've shared a bed with Tamaki-san, haven't you?"
Hikaru splutters. "Nothing happened between us! It's not the same thing!"
"Nothing will happen between us either," Haruhi points out rationally.
"It's not right!" Hikaru snaps. "At the time when I shared a bed with him, neither of us were in a relationship with someone else!"
"Hikaru, you've dated multiple people before," Haruhi replies dryly. "At the same time. Isn't it rather late for you to start thinking that it's wrong?"
"Haruhi." Hikaru's voice is low and dangerous with barely contained fury. "I would've thought you knew how to value your partner's feelings. I can't say I don't care what you think of me, but stop bringing it up as a reason or an excuse. If you make my mistakes your own, you're an idiot. Don't wreck your relationship."
Haruhi stares at him, feeling a stir of anger. "So Hikaru does think that Tamaki-san is worth holding on to?"
He laughs, an ugly sound. "Don't even. Either way I answer, you win."
"Since I win either way, you might as well answer truthfully."
"Haruhi!" Hikaru stalks over to her, grasps her shoulders and gives her a proper shake. "Is he worth so little to you?!"
"No," she says bluntly. "It's that you're worth more than you think to me."
Hikaru blanches, releasing her and consciously moving to a distance where he cannot reach her.
She hugs her clothes to herself. "If you liked me before Tamaki-san came to the shop, why don't you show me how you feel? Why haven't you ever asked me what I think about the three of us in a relationship, or whether I am willing to work with you to make it happen? If I give you permission now, will it change anything? Isn't it that you think I can't make up my mind or I'll lie to you to make you feel better?"
"No!" Hikaru denies hotly. "I don't want you to regret anything!"
"My decisions are mine to regret," Haruhi tells him. "So long as I actually get to make the decision."
Hikaru tries several times to speak, only to close his mouth again each time. He runs his hand through his fringe in frustration.
"My answer is yes, Hikaru. I'm willing to try. Now it's up to you to decide whether you'll give me a chance."
He looks like he's about to fall over. Haruhi doesn't go to him; she thinks it is better for him to reflect on everything by himself. Turning on her heel, she heads for the bathroom.
.
05/12/12
