Jealous
A tired sigh escapes her lips as she finishes writing down the last question of the upcoming modern Japanese exam for her students. Riko then puts her fountain pen down, and begins revising the exam to make sure each one of the questions written on it are understandable and suitable to what she explained, until she's satisfied enough with it and puts it inside the drawer of her desk, locking it.
- Are you done?
One of her colleagues asks to what she can only nod.
- Yes. I think I've managed to make a suitable exam, not extremely difficult but neither too easy.
- Ah, I envy you then. I still have to think about a couple of questions more.
Riko can only giggle at this as she takes her purse and squeezes her colleague's shoulder encouragingly on her way out.
- Take it easy and don't worry about writing down some difficult questions.
She comments amicably, causing the other teacher to laugh.
- I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for your hard work and enjoy the rest of the day.
- Likewise. See you tomorrow.
Riko bids her farewell as she gets out of the teachers' lounge to then leave the school, taking a calm stroll through the streets while enjoying the nice weather.
She looks at the watch on her wrist and smiles, taking a small detour on her way to find herself in front of a quiet and small cafeteria. She closes her eyes for a moment and inspires deeply the coffee aroma floating in the air, before she pulls the door open and enters said cafeteria, hearing the bell ringing, signaling the arrival of a new client.
Riko finds the cafeteria almost empty with the exception of a small group of students sat close to the door and a couple at the background, before she spots Miyako heading to the back to get something from it.
Her smile only widens at the sight of her girlfriend as she begins to walk closer to the counter, when she hears something that makes her stop in her tracks.
- Did you hear the owner? She called me cute and said she remembered me!
Riko hears one of the students fangirling in a loud whisper as she passes by them, unable to stop the uneasy feeling that settles in the pit of her stomach at her words.
The uneasy feeling, far from disappearing, only gets worst when Miyako comes back with a food tray full of presumably coffees and some small pieces of different desserts to the student group's table and serves them with a soft smile playing on her lips, noticing how the girl that was called cute mere minutes ago blushes bashfully.
As Miyako turns around and leaves the table, Riko can observe said girl fangirling with her group of friends once again over her girlfriend, before her own girlfriend pulls her out of her reverie.
- Here I am, what do you want today, coffee or tea? – Miyako asks her sweetly as she winks at her, and Riko can only blush, yet still feel the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach.
- Ah, huh, nothing. I was just going back home.
She notices Miyako's smile dropping as a frown takes over her features, and can't help but feel terrible for letting her jealousy get the best of her.
- Are you sure? It seems like it was a tough day, you look tired.
Miyako points out as she leaves a timid but tender caress on her girlfriend's cheek, and Riko can only lean into her touch for a brief moment, before she realizes they're in public and blushes, pulling away from her as she clears her throat.
- I-it's okay, don't worry. I-I'll see you later – she stammers unable to look at her girlfriend's face, before she turns around to leave in a hurry.
- Wait, at least take…
Miyako trails off unable to finish her sentence, seeing Riko getting out of the cafeteria in a hurry. She furrows her brow confused at the strange behavior of her girlfriend, before she sighs and goes back to work.
- I'm so stupid.
Riko mutters as she walks back to their shared apartment, leaning against the front door as she closes it behind her.
- Stupid, stupid.
She repeats palming her face weakly, before she tosses her purse away and throws herself onto the couch, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she recalls what happened some minutes ago at the cafeteria.
- Miyako was simply being nice to that girl, so she and her group of friends can go back.
Riko murmurs as she takes the pillow resting by her side and buries her face into it, bringing her knees to her chest to trap the pillow between her knees and her as the feeling of jealousy comes back at full force.
- She still didn't have to call her cute though – she whines while pouting, still thinking about what happened not realizing Miyako is back at home.
- I'm home!
Miyako happily announces as she closes the front door, surprising Riko to the point of shrieking.
- W-what are you doing back so soon? – Riko squeals, looking at her wide-eyed, and Miyako can only laugh at her surprised expression.
- Well, I've decided to close the cafeteria sooner and come back home to make sure you're okay – Miyako says softly as she leaves a kiss on her girlfriend's head, before sitting next to her on the couch – so, tea or coffee while you tell me about you tough day and why you're acting so strange?
Miyako ends up saying with a tender smile adorning her face, and Riko can only blush, hiding her face into the pillow at how sweet her girlfriend is.
- Tea, please.
She mutters, hearing Miyako giggling, before she leaves another kiss on her forehead and gets up to go and brew some tea for them.
Riko can only watch her from the couch, observing how she brews the tea and puts the kettle to boil with a serene expression on her face as well as a fond smile plays on her lips as she does it.
- You called her cute.
She says aloud accidentally, clasping both of her hands up over her mouth as she realizes what she just said while looking wide-eyed, and the other woman can only look at her shocked yet amused.
- Who?
- You know who – Riko retorts quietly, seeing a mischievous smile taking over Miyako's features.
- I actually don't, so please, enlighten me – she answers, pestering Riko who puffs out her cheeks while looks away.
- You know… that teenager – Riko mumbles embarrassedly, hearing Miyako laughing as she finishes serving the tea in their mugs.
- Are you jealous? – Miyako teases her as she walks with the mugs to the couch.
- I-I'm not!
- Then?
- It's just… did you really have to call her cute?
- You're definitely jealous, how cute – Miyako giggles while she keeps teasing her, seeing her girlfriend puffing out her cheeks once again while glaring at her, accepting the mug to sip her tea, before placing her own mug on the table before them – I merely did it to have them coming over again.
- So you don't find her cute, or other girls for the matter? – Riko asks hesitantly, pouting, before Miyako takes her mug to place it on the table beside hers.
- No.
- For real?
- For real. You're the cutest and more beautiful girl and woman I've ever met.
Miyako whispers against her lips, looking into her eyes with nothing but utter love in them, and Riko can't help but blush deeply, feeling like an idiot for have been jealous.
- Sorry – she apologizes, getting a peck on her lips in return as well as a giggle.
- It's rare and cute to see you being jealous of others.
- It's not cute! – Riko quickly retorts completely embarrassed while Miyako keeps giggling upon finding her adorable.
- It is for me. But you know you don't have to worry, I only have eyes for you. I'm completely in love with you, Riko.
Miyako says seriously as she cups Riko's cheek, caressing it and Riko now allows herself to lean into her touch for several minutes, enjoying her warmth as she looks at her lovingly.
- I'm also completely in love with you, Miyako – she whispers coyly as she shortens their distance and kisses her deeply and sweetly, feeling the uneasy feeling of jealousy disappearing.
They rest their foreheads together, giggling, before Riko snuggles into Miyako, interlacing their hands as they drink their teas and talk about their day.