The steam from the uncovered pot of rice cleared away to show Nami nodding with approval at the progress. It was her turn to prepare dinner today and she decided to go all out. Coincidently, everything was coming together nicely.
"The food smells great, Nami. I can't wait to dig in."
"Thanks mum."
"I invited Luffy over. Hope you don't mind."
"For dinner?"
"Yes."
Bellemére smiled as Nami who was now a nervous wreck hastily checked the taste of the food to make sure everything was good. One thing about her was that she hated to disappoint and Bellemere shook her head at her little perfectionist. She turned to leave but remembered to ask her something important.
"Did you get enough sleep, dear?"
Nami stood straight like a pole. A ball of sweat ran down her face. Staying in was unusual for her and she didn't wake up till 10:00am.
"You're not getting sick, are you?"
Bellemére checked for a temperature and Nami insisted she was fine.
She thought about saying that she was up studying but hated lying to her mum. If she got the truth out of her, Nami hadn't a clue how she would react. But Bellemére's show was back from commercial break and she dropped the topic much to Nami's relief.
Luffy was arriving soon and with that predicament in mind, Nami double checked the meat wondering if she needed to add anything to enhance the flavour but deemed it fine.
Luffy had never tried her food before. Not once. It was nerve wrecking because though she wasn't a terrible cook, there was no way she could top Sanji-kun's dishes. His skills were near perfected. She just cooked every now and then.
Her overthinking made her lose track of time. Didn't even notice when their pending guest arrived.
The floor boards creaked and Nami snapping out of her daydream said,
"Nojiko? Tell mum the food's ready. Did you set the table?"
Luffy caught the exact moment she removed her apron and turned around to realize her mistake. Her face lit up right away and his heart went crazy. The smell in the kitchen was amazing but didn't compare to his dazzling smiling girlfriend who received him warmly in a hug.
"Earth to Luffy."
Luffy snapped back to reality and saw that all he had done was stare at her for who knows how long.
"Hungry?"
Nami blinked after him and turned her head to the doorway at her mother's call to hurry and bring the food before it gets cold. And Luffy whose arms dangled like a Muppet's at his side, held her and kissed her rosy cheek. It was noticeably warmer when he gave her a second and a third.
Still anxious about the food, Nami handed him the serving of meat and bowl of salad and with the roasted potatoes and rice in tow, she lead him to the table.
Though her clothes were mildly stained from the ordeal, changing was out of the question. They scored her a total of three kisses and at the end of the day, Nami was happy Luffy was here.
Her euphoria tripled when he took the anticipated first bite and reacted as if fireworks were set loose in his mouth. He wore the hugest smile and cleaned his plate in a matter of minutes- and she made sure to pile it high too.
After dinner, they all decided on two movies and were all bundled up on the sofa in the living room. Bellemere only made it through the first and before heading to bed, she gave Luffy a big hug. Nami's heart fluttered at the interaction. Slowly but surely she and Luffy had gotten close. It was the sweetest thing.
Before the second movie could begin, Nojiko, even though she was the one who decided on it, was out cold on Luffy's shoulder. Nami did not mind however, and snuggled against his opposite side; she and Luffy wanted so badly to hold hands so they did.
The movie was dull and boring and as Luffy yawned, Nami used the opportunity to turn it off.
It was a chick flick and though Nami liked some of them, this one in particular was a letdown.
"Ready to go?"
"I guess. I was hoping to get back in time to meet my dad. He's flying back tonight."
"Why didn't you say something, Luffy?"
He squeezed Nami's hand and shrugged. His dad was probably stuck at the office like always.
Nami followed him to the door and she marveled at the decorated sky. The stars could be seen as plain as day. Nights like this were rare.
She got Luffy to sit on the steps with her and taught him some of their names, showed him constellations and they got to see shooting stars race in the sky.
Luffy smiled throughout. He, Ace and Sabo used to do this all the time as kids. They would point out the pictures in the sky using their imagination but he never knew they had actual names and meaning.
Nami continued looking at the stars with her face in her hand, eyes glued to the heavens, slowly blinking as if imagining herself among them.
"What are you looking at, Luffy?"
"You."
For a whole five minutes, she must have been quite a show.
"The stars are prettier."
"Not true. You are brighter than all those stars combined."
Nami scoffed and looked away.
"It's true, Nami."
"Brighter than the moon?"
"Yeah."
"What about the sun?"
"A thousand times brighter than the sun."
Nami checked him for blond hair. There was none and his declarations not only made her cringe, they made her giggle and laugh too- music to Luffy's ears.
He leaned into her and planted a fourth. Next, he held her chin and silenced her with his lips.
When he ended it, Nami cupped his face but before she could put her lips to his,
"She's going to break up with you."
Luffy pulled slightly away feeling a twist in his stomach. The air had changed and Nami with her eyes still closed, hugged his neck and exhaled slowly.
Luffy looked straight ahead.
"Did you get home okay?" he asked.
"Yeah."
Nami's brows furrowed deeper. He had called her in the morning to ask her the same thing. He must have forgotten.
"I wasn't thinking. I should have walked you home."
"That's okay, Luffy. It's a safe neighbourhood.
Nami did return safely home with no problems. She also made it in time before her mother or sister woke up. She was lucky but wouldn't dare pull a stunt like that again. It was she who wasn't thinking.
Luffy's mouth brushed her shoulder and she reached up to run her fingers through his hair.
"Be honest with me."
"Sure."
"Whose cooking is better? Mine or Sanji-kun?"
Nami straightened up to see his eyes. She wanted the cold, raw truth.
'Shishishishi' "You don't have to ask, Nami. Yours."
She sighed in expected defeat but her eyes widened.
"Liar."
"Why would I lie? I like yours better."
"Because I made it?"
"Yeah. And your cooking's delicious, Nami. It honestly is."
Nami rolled her eyes and smiled. Her boyfriend was as biased as they come.
"Thank you."
"I should go."
"Wait Luffy."
Luffy looked at her downcast eyes and admired how they blazed when they shot back at his.
"Can I kiss you?"
"If you want to."
"Of course."
She cocked a brow at him and his serious face cracked with a little curve of a smile.
"Do you?"
"Always."
Not wasting another second, Nami kissed his forehead.
She never had to ask for permission before but despite finding it displeasing, it excited her at the same time. He made her beg and Nami never thought she'd live to see the day.
She peered into his deep brown eyes and secured the next between his brows.
Nami was slightly shaking. Luffy had a brilliant way of making things hard for her. The way he looked at her was a way most girls craved to be looked at. As if more precious than diamonds.
He had successfully set her on fire but then again, that flame was lit ages ago.
"You know... some days you're all I think about," Nami said.
"Don't you get hungry?"
Nami giggled at that statement. It was such a typical Luffy thing to say.
"Yup."
Luffy nodded satisfied with her answer and Nami continued.
"I think about your handsome, boyish good looks, your warm hugs, this:" she pecked his lips. "Your stubbornness, our stupid fights... Us. How every second with you makes me the happiest I've ever been. How good you are to me."
Luffy's smiles split his face in half and his big, round ears turned red at the tips.
In conclusion, Nami pressed two lingering kisses to his mouth and sent him off with the words: "Whatever happens, Luffy, please don't hate me."
Luffy walked home that night with an evident frown on his face.
"I know you can't be that stupid."
When home, he received a text from his dad. As predicted he had some work to do at the office.
Luffy sat on his porch and while acknowledging the stars, remembering every detail he was previously taught, his mind wondered back to this morning.
He was visiting Zoro who stayed in a room at the dojo he trained at. He was far away from home but came to this town a long time ago to pursue his passion. Regardless of his bad sense of direction, Zoro was well verse on being independent to a huge extent.
"Why are you here, Luffy?"
Zoro did not mind his friends' visits from time to time. But he was in the middle of training and preferred to do so without an audience. Full concentration was a must.
"It's Nami."
Luffy was sprawled out on the swordsman's bed.
Zoro stopped his swinging and wiped the sweat off his brow.
"What about the witch?"
"Does she seem different to you?"
"I've known her since middle school. She has a reputation for working hard for what she wants and refuses to let anything stand in her way. Since the two of you got together, she has been a lot different. I've never seen her depend on or look out for someone so much other than herself. She cares for others but not like how she cares for you.
She had her whole life set in stone but then you came along, became a part of the equation and turned her world upside down.
"What does that mean?"
"I know you can't be that stupid. Try seeing how things are through Nami's eyes. What would you choose? The person you love or your dreams?"
Luffy thought the answer simple but found himself hesitant.
"I'm sure that she would do anything for you, Luffy but the future isn't guaranteed. I know the truth hurts but she's going to break up with you."
It was as obvious and Zoro knew that Nami didn't have the guts to do it. Least not yet but he had a good idea when.
Luffy was now sitting up. It was a lot to take in but Zoro could tell that he managed to connect the dots. His calmness was telling. He had known all along.
"Thanks Zoro."
"My advice is to break up with her first but I have a feeling you won't listen to me.
"You're right. I won't."
"Why?" Zoro smirked.
"Because I'm not the type to give up so easily."
Author's note
The Bomb has dropped! PLEASE leave me a review. Not sure why I have to grovel but this chapter in my opinion took a toll on me. I changed the flow over three times. Third time's a charm, I guess. The break was to only be one month but life came to play and this chappy gave me serious writer's block. I hope to God it's received well.
Corona Virus: Hope all you are well and making use of social distancing. I'm from the Caribbean and so far, there has been only one confirmed case from someone travelling from the U.K. It would get worse but we should learn from not only our mistakes but from the mistakes of others. Be safe and please be mindful.
-Awsme Grl
