The Importance of Being Responsible: Chapter 4
Let Me Sleep
*** the Sunday of two weeks later *** (I'm sure this is grammatically wrong)
"It's healed," Said the doctor, sounding pleased.
"Really?"
"Yes, d'you want to take a look at the scar?"
"Yes please."
The doctor got Shina a mirror, and she peered into it. There was a thin scar of about 5cm on her left cheek.
"It isn't that bad," Rukawa spoke. The doctor was taken aback. After two weeks, he'd thought that Rukawa was probably a mute.
"Well, it's quite obvious," The doctor said matter-of-factedly.
(( Rukawa: Stupid doctor, making things worse. ))
Shina failed to hide her dejection, and handed back the mirror.
"Actually young lady, you could go for dermabrasion to remove the scar."
"But it's an expensive operation, isn't it?" She asked skeptically.
The doctor didn't deny the fact, and said, "But it's the only way out,"
Shina contemplated.
"I think you'd better go for dermabrasion, or no one might want to marry you," The doctor said jokingly.
Shina gave a little laugh. "No, I'm not intending to ever – "
"I would." Rukawa challenged. The stupid doctor was making a lot of unnecessary statements. And anyway, he didn't mind to just give her the title of 'Mrs Rukawa'. It's not like he was ever going to get a wife, and if he did he couldn't care less who it was – just as long as she didn't bother him.
Shina gave him a look he thought said, "Are you mad?"
True enough…
"Are you mad?" She asked.
Rukawa's POVWhen we had left the hospital, I suddenly said awkwardly, "I'm not mad."
"It doesn't matter if you're mad or not, because you know you don't want to," She said dryly.
A tense silence ensued. I had to admit she was right – I hadn't given it much thought.
She didn't have to work today at the music store, so it was a long ride from the hospital back to her house. By the time we'd reached, all I had on my mind was sleep. I think she noticed, for she invited me in "for coffee". I didn't give her a reply, and just headed in and fell asleep on the sofa.
*** 1am ***
"Time go home, wake up…"
She was tapping my shoulder. I pretended not to hear.
"It's late, go home," She said while knocking my head.
I'm sleeping, I'm not listening…
She sighed, and walked away. An idea formed in my head, in my semi-dreamy state. She was probably going to fetch a pail of water to drench me with. Maybe I should just wake up and go before she resorts to drastic measures. I was about to "awake" reluctantly, when the warmth of cotton descended upon me. A blanket. She got me a blanket. Oh.
*** 4pm the next day *** (Shina's POV)
It's already 4, and he's still sleeping! Should I wake him up? Of course I should, he doesn't belong in my house. Why, he's so thick-skinned! I invite him in for coffee and he falls asleep, refusing to wake up.
But he's sleeping so peacefully… maybe he's genuinely tired.
*** 5pm *** (Rukawa's POV)
Yawn… What time is it? I'd better go home…
*** 8pm ***
Shina was off from Checkers today. She returned home, and half-expected to see Rukawa still asleep on the sofa. But he was gone. Finally! Then she gave a melancholic glance at the food packet she'd brought home for him, in case he woke up and was hungry. Somehow, she felt a little sad about his departure.
While he was supposed to be fast asleep, Rukawa felt like cycling over to Shina's place and fall asleep on her sofa. Then, she would ever so conscientiously pull a blanket over him, making him feel warm all over, and when he awoke, he would be invited to stay on if he'd like…
Author's note: Just a note to say that Rukawa doesn't really want to marry Shina, it was just an impulse thing because he couldn't stand the doctor. That would be too OOC.
Oh and, I think I forgot to add, Shina's first name, or last name, or surname (I'm really bad at these things, like Kaede Rukawa – Rukawa is his first name, or last name?) is Tatsuya because she took her mom's first/last/whatever name.
Also, you haven't seen the end of Maki! He appears in the next chapter with his (and Shina's) dad.