Chapter Three
A few days later, Tsukushi clutched her shoulder bag close to her as she slowly made her way down the deserted corridor leading to the alcove. She had not told Makiko about the secret place that she found, as she wanted it to be a secret between her and Rui.
Tsukushi silently opened the door and peered in. To her disappointment, Rui was not there. For the past few days, Tsukushi had been coming to the alcove during lunchtime, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rui, but so far luck has not been on her side.
With a sigh, Tsukushi closed the door. When she turned around, Tsukushi received the shock of her life. Staring right at her was Hanazawa Rui!
" Hanazawa Rui..." Tsukushi said, almost inaudibly.
But Rui heard. " So you found out my name." he said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Ah...ah..." the normally quick-witted Tsukushi was tongue-tied.
Rui then reached behind her and pulled open the door. He stepped in but Tsukushi just stood at the entrance, not knowing what to do.
Rui looked over his shoulder and asked. " Aren't you coming in?"
Tsukushi was jolted out of her trance and she quickly stepped in and shut the door. But once inside, Tsukushi did not know what to say of how to act. As she opened her mouth to say something, Rui walked over to the window and pressed his forehead to the glass, seemingly deep in thought.
Not wanting to bother him and also wanting to savor this chance at meeting him again, Tsukushi sat on one of the large cushions and settled herself against the wall. She made use of her prime spot to study his back, and a slow blush crept up her cheeks.
After fifteen minutes, Rui still had not moved from his position. So Tsukushi reached into her bag and pulled out her sketchbook and pencil. Her hand flew over the paper, and a rough design of an outfit appeared. Tsukushi was so engrossed that she did not notice that Rui had moved and was now standing next to her, peering over her head.
" You are quite talented." Rui suddenly commented, startling Tsukushi.
" Ah...Tha...thank you." Tsukushi stammered.
Tsukushi glanced at her watch and realized it was the end of her lunch break. She hastily stuffed her book back into her bag and stood up.
" I got to get back to work...so bye..."
Rui just nodded his head. Tsukushi slowly made her way to the door, not wanting to leave. At the door, Tsukushi turned and asked, " I didn't bother you did I? By the way, could I come back here? I like the place as I can draw in peace."
Rui then smiled, " You don't talk much so you aren't a bother. You are welcome to do your drawings here. This place is a really nice retreat to let the imagination flow."
" Thank you." Tsukushi replied, bursting with happiness.
As she was about to leave the room, Rui said a final last sentence. " You've got guts."
" Huh?"
" Tsukasa." Rui said simply.
Realization dawned on Tsukushi as she realized that Rui overheard her screaming at Tsukasa. With colour flooding her cheeks, Tsukushi hastily left the room.
Alone in the elevator, Tsukushi clapped her hands to her cheeks, willing them to cool down. She groaned as she realized how embarrassing it was to let Rui hear her being such a screamer. " How am I going to face him?" she thought.
Back in the alcove, Rui let out a small laugh. " Interesting girl." he thought, and he started to laugh all over again when he recalled her embarrassed face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week later, Tsukushi was busy adjusting the fit of the gown on a model when Miss Kurota sent her on an errand.
" Makino, go to the twelfth floor, to room D, and inform the photographer Doumyoji-san that the models are ready."
" Doumyoji-san! Erm.maybe you should send someone else."
" What's wrong?"
" Erm, nothing.."
" Then go quickly! We are on a schedule here!" and with that Miss Kurota sent Tsukushi on her way.
Outside Room D, Tsukushi raised her hand to knock but hesitated. " How am I going to go about this?" she thought. Then shaking her head to clear her mind, Tsukushi rapped the door sharply.
" Come in."
Tsukushi pushed open the door and stood at the entrance. Tsukasa was standing at the table packing his camera and he looked up when Tsukushi entered.
At seeing Tsukushi, he betrayed no expression, but just waited for her to speak.
Directing her words to the ground, Tsukushi quickly said, " Miss Kurota sent me to tell you that the models are ready."
" Ok. " Tsukasa acknowledged.
Just as Tsukushi was about to leave the room, Tsukasa stopped her.
" Hey, can you help me carry that bag on the floor? My hands are full and I have no idea where Kazuya is."
Tsukushi hesitated, but slowly walked over and picked up the bag. Millions of thoughts raced through her head. " He doesn't seem to be angry, in fact his tone is almost friendly." She thought.
Tsukushi was so busy keeping her head facing the ground that she did not realize that Tsukasa stopped walking. She slammed into his back and would have tripped if not for Tsukasa's steadying hand.
Tsukushi was about to thank him when Tsukasa interjected fiercely, " The equipment in the bag you are holding costs a lot of money, so be careful!"
Alone in the elevator, Tsukushi gripped the bag handle nervously, and kept her face to the ground.
" What's so interesting about the floor? You can't seem to take your eyes off it." Tsukasa asked dryly.
Tsukushi just shook her head and kept her head down.
" Don't tell me you don't dare to face me...are you afraid of me?" Tsukasa sneered.
At this, Tsukushi's head shot up and she glared at Tsukasa. " I'm not afraid of you!" she shot back.
Tsukushi's eyes bulged wide when Tsukasa started laughing.
" That's better. I prefer to see you with fire in your eyes." Tsukasa said. " No one dares to shout at me because of my background. I respect you for standing up for your friend, so always keep that chin up."
Tsukushi was so shocked at Tsukasa's words that she couldn't come up with a suitable reply.
" Please tell your friend I'm sorry if I frightened her. I was in a bad mood that day as several rolls of film were damaged due to careless mishandling by my subordinates. As for shouting at you, I can't help it. When someone screams at me, I automatically yell back. That's my nature." Tsukasa explained simply.
Tsukushi broke into a grin and stuck out her hand.
" Let's start over. I'm Makino Tsukushi."
" I'm Doumyoji Tsukasa. Pleased to meet you." Tsukasa said, shaking her hand firmly.
* How do you like this chapter? I particularly like the end where Tsukasa and Tsukushi start over and become friends....Please give me your valuable comments! Thanks.
A few days later, Tsukushi clutched her shoulder bag close to her as she slowly made her way down the deserted corridor leading to the alcove. She had not told Makiko about the secret place that she found, as she wanted it to be a secret between her and Rui.
Tsukushi silently opened the door and peered in. To her disappointment, Rui was not there. For the past few days, Tsukushi had been coming to the alcove during lunchtime, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rui, but so far luck has not been on her side.
With a sigh, Tsukushi closed the door. When she turned around, Tsukushi received the shock of her life. Staring right at her was Hanazawa Rui!
" Hanazawa Rui..." Tsukushi said, almost inaudibly.
But Rui heard. " So you found out my name." he said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Ah...ah..." the normally quick-witted Tsukushi was tongue-tied.
Rui then reached behind her and pulled open the door. He stepped in but Tsukushi just stood at the entrance, not knowing what to do.
Rui looked over his shoulder and asked. " Aren't you coming in?"
Tsukushi was jolted out of her trance and she quickly stepped in and shut the door. But once inside, Tsukushi did not know what to say of how to act. As she opened her mouth to say something, Rui walked over to the window and pressed his forehead to the glass, seemingly deep in thought.
Not wanting to bother him and also wanting to savor this chance at meeting him again, Tsukushi sat on one of the large cushions and settled herself against the wall. She made use of her prime spot to study his back, and a slow blush crept up her cheeks.
After fifteen minutes, Rui still had not moved from his position. So Tsukushi reached into her bag and pulled out her sketchbook and pencil. Her hand flew over the paper, and a rough design of an outfit appeared. Tsukushi was so engrossed that she did not notice that Rui had moved and was now standing next to her, peering over her head.
" You are quite talented." Rui suddenly commented, startling Tsukushi.
" Ah...Tha...thank you." Tsukushi stammered.
Tsukushi glanced at her watch and realized it was the end of her lunch break. She hastily stuffed her book back into her bag and stood up.
" I got to get back to work...so bye..."
Rui just nodded his head. Tsukushi slowly made her way to the door, not wanting to leave. At the door, Tsukushi turned and asked, " I didn't bother you did I? By the way, could I come back here? I like the place as I can draw in peace."
Rui then smiled, " You don't talk much so you aren't a bother. You are welcome to do your drawings here. This place is a really nice retreat to let the imagination flow."
" Thank you." Tsukushi replied, bursting with happiness.
As she was about to leave the room, Rui said a final last sentence. " You've got guts."
" Huh?"
" Tsukasa." Rui said simply.
Realization dawned on Tsukushi as she realized that Rui overheard her screaming at Tsukasa. With colour flooding her cheeks, Tsukushi hastily left the room.
Alone in the elevator, Tsukushi clapped her hands to her cheeks, willing them to cool down. She groaned as she realized how embarrassing it was to let Rui hear her being such a screamer. " How am I going to face him?" she thought.
Back in the alcove, Rui let out a small laugh. " Interesting girl." he thought, and he started to laugh all over again when he recalled her embarrassed face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week later, Tsukushi was busy adjusting the fit of the gown on a model when Miss Kurota sent her on an errand.
" Makino, go to the twelfth floor, to room D, and inform the photographer Doumyoji-san that the models are ready."
" Doumyoji-san! Erm.maybe you should send someone else."
" What's wrong?"
" Erm, nothing.."
" Then go quickly! We are on a schedule here!" and with that Miss Kurota sent Tsukushi on her way.
Outside Room D, Tsukushi raised her hand to knock but hesitated. " How am I going to go about this?" she thought. Then shaking her head to clear her mind, Tsukushi rapped the door sharply.
" Come in."
Tsukushi pushed open the door and stood at the entrance. Tsukasa was standing at the table packing his camera and he looked up when Tsukushi entered.
At seeing Tsukushi, he betrayed no expression, but just waited for her to speak.
Directing her words to the ground, Tsukushi quickly said, " Miss Kurota sent me to tell you that the models are ready."
" Ok. " Tsukasa acknowledged.
Just as Tsukushi was about to leave the room, Tsukasa stopped her.
" Hey, can you help me carry that bag on the floor? My hands are full and I have no idea where Kazuya is."
Tsukushi hesitated, but slowly walked over and picked up the bag. Millions of thoughts raced through her head. " He doesn't seem to be angry, in fact his tone is almost friendly." She thought.
Tsukushi was so busy keeping her head facing the ground that she did not realize that Tsukasa stopped walking. She slammed into his back and would have tripped if not for Tsukasa's steadying hand.
Tsukushi was about to thank him when Tsukasa interjected fiercely, " The equipment in the bag you are holding costs a lot of money, so be careful!"
Alone in the elevator, Tsukushi gripped the bag handle nervously, and kept her face to the ground.
" What's so interesting about the floor? You can't seem to take your eyes off it." Tsukasa asked dryly.
Tsukushi just shook her head and kept her head down.
" Don't tell me you don't dare to face me...are you afraid of me?" Tsukasa sneered.
At this, Tsukushi's head shot up and she glared at Tsukasa. " I'm not afraid of you!" she shot back.
Tsukushi's eyes bulged wide when Tsukasa started laughing.
" That's better. I prefer to see you with fire in your eyes." Tsukasa said. " No one dares to shout at me because of my background. I respect you for standing up for your friend, so always keep that chin up."
Tsukushi was so shocked at Tsukasa's words that she couldn't come up with a suitable reply.
" Please tell your friend I'm sorry if I frightened her. I was in a bad mood that day as several rolls of film were damaged due to careless mishandling by my subordinates. As for shouting at you, I can't help it. When someone screams at me, I automatically yell back. That's my nature." Tsukasa explained simply.
Tsukushi broke into a grin and stuck out her hand.
" Let's start over. I'm Makino Tsukushi."
" I'm Doumyoji Tsukasa. Pleased to meet you." Tsukasa said, shaking her hand firmly.
* How do you like this chapter? I particularly like the end where Tsukasa and Tsukushi start over and become friends....Please give me your valuable comments! Thanks.