CHAPTER 8 - ENGAGEMENT
I woke up the following day to the insistent ringing of the telephone.
"Hello?" I answered sleepily.
It was Tsukasa. He wanted to know why I left early the previous night. I lied and gave him the same excuse I had given Rui.
"You should've told me. I could've taken you home."
"Oh, that's okay. You looked like you were having a great time and I didn't want to spoil your evening."
"Silly. You wouldn't have. Anyway, I'm calling to ask if you wanna join me at the gym later."
Since I had not gone to the gym for a week, I readily agreed to meet him that afternoon.
As we were exercising at the treadmill later, I asked him what happened after I left the night before.
"Nothing much. I left a short time after you did."
"Oh. What about Umi?"
"I think Rui and Shizuka drove her home."
"I see." I murmured, wondering why he wasn't the one who drove her home. "She's cute, isn't she?" I asked him, wanting to know what he thought of her.
"Um-hmm."
"Do you like her?" I probed further.
"She's nice." His tone was non-committal. "Hey, wanna have dinner at my balcony later?" He changed the subject.
Before I could reply, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. It was an SMS from Rui. "Dinner tonight at Le Soleil with the gang. My treat," I read it out loud. Tsukasa's phone beeped momentarily with the same message.
"I guess I'll take a rain check on that balcony dinner," I told Tsukasa. I left for home shortly after that so I could bathe and change into something dressy for the dinner. I chose a beige silk halter top that was cut low at the back, together with formal black pants and black strappy sandals with stiletto heels.
I took a cab to the expensive French restaurant and found everyone there already when I entered. The first person I noticed was Shizuka, who was sitting beside Rui. There was a different glow on her beautiful face that night. Her smile was serene, and she looked truly happy. She looked ethereal in her delicate silk dress, her hair swept up elegantly in a French twist. Rui, Akira, Soujiro and Tsukasa each cut a dashing figure in their dinner jackets and silk ties in muted colors. It was refreshing to see everyone in fancy threads once in a while instead of the boring office attire we usually wear whenever we see each other.
"Wow," I exclaimed as Tsukasa pulled out a chair for me. "We're all dressed to the nines! And Rui is treating! I can't stand the suspense anymore. What 's the special occasion?"
Rui and Shizuka smiled at each other and then looked around the table at all of us.
"Shizuka and I are engaged," Rui announced with a big grin on his face.
Not a few patrons glanced our way when I shrieked in delight. The three guys all whooped and rose from their seats to give Rui a pat on the back and shake his hand. I gave Shizuka a hug and a kiss before standing up to hug Rui tightly from the back of his chair. When we had all settled down after we congratulated the happy couple, Shizuka held out her hand to me and flashed me her engagement ring. It was a beautiful emerald-cut diamond set on a platinum band.
"Wow man, I can't believe you're taking the plunge soon! Have you set a date yet?"
"How'd you pop the question?"
"Are you gonna have a big wedding?"
Rui and Shizuka were assailed with a flurry of questions from all of us around the table. Everyone was so excited that we were all talking at once. The couple answered all our questions one by one and when the chatter died down, Rui gazed lovingly at his bride-to-be before turning to address us all.
"The trip to Europe was like a dream. Sharing that experience with Shizuka made me realize I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. So after gathering up my courage, I popped the question last night when I took her home. I know now that I've found the right one."
Shizuka blushed prettily and squeezed his hand.
"Hmmm. I wonder if I'll ever find the right one for me." Akira mused.
Soujiro shook his head. "I'm not in a rush to go looking for the right one. I wanna enjoy being single for as long as I can. Right Tsukasa?"
Tsukasa was quiet but he looked up when Soujiro nudged him. He blushed then lowered his gaze again. "I think I've already found the right one for me."
Our jaws dropped collectively when we heard this. It certainly was a night of surprises.
"So, tell us about her, man! Is she someone from work?" Akira asked.
Tsukasa gave an enigmatic smile. "I'm not telling."
"Aww, c'mon! You can't just leave us hanging like that!"
"I'm not sure yet if she feels the same way. If I find out she does, then I'll let you know."
Tsukasa wouldn't budge even if everyone tried to coax the identity of his mystery girl out of him. Well, everyone except me. I didn't want to hear him say it out loud because I already knew who it was. My heart sank as the image of Umi came to my mind.
****************
A/N: Whew! Another chapter done! Okay, for all of you wondering how long this whole fic is gonna be, here's the deal. If everything goes according to plan, this'll be done in about 2 or 3 more chapters. For those of you who were expecting a longer fic, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. Sadly, I don't have the time nor the inclination to write a really long story. I'm just not as prolific as the other authors here on FF.net. Just think of this fic like it's a two-hour chick flick instead of a long drawn-out soap opera. Aaaaaaargh, I know I'm gonna lose some readers because of this but hey, so long as I retain a few loyal readers (and reviewers!), I'll be one happy chick.
venus_goddess: Awww, you flatter me with your praise. *blushes furiously*
shingo_emma, shortnsweet, and Chi5: Hi new readers! Thanks for checking out my story. I'm glad you're liking it so far.
Iceyflame and Sailor Angie: Here it is, an update for you. Hope you like this chapter!
Toinks, XxSwtDreamerxX1, and KyouFan17: Well, I included Umi 'cause I didn't want this to be just another crappy story with a happy ending. I want it to be a crappy story with a twist, LOL!
As always, let me know what you think by posting your comments. I love hearing from my readers!
That's it for now! See you at the next update!
I woke up the following day to the insistent ringing of the telephone.
"Hello?" I answered sleepily.
It was Tsukasa. He wanted to know why I left early the previous night. I lied and gave him the same excuse I had given Rui.
"You should've told me. I could've taken you home."
"Oh, that's okay. You looked like you were having a great time and I didn't want to spoil your evening."
"Silly. You wouldn't have. Anyway, I'm calling to ask if you wanna join me at the gym later."
Since I had not gone to the gym for a week, I readily agreed to meet him that afternoon.
As we were exercising at the treadmill later, I asked him what happened after I left the night before.
"Nothing much. I left a short time after you did."
"Oh. What about Umi?"
"I think Rui and Shizuka drove her home."
"I see." I murmured, wondering why he wasn't the one who drove her home. "She's cute, isn't she?" I asked him, wanting to know what he thought of her.
"Um-hmm."
"Do you like her?" I probed further.
"She's nice." His tone was non-committal. "Hey, wanna have dinner at my balcony later?" He changed the subject.
Before I could reply, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. It was an SMS from Rui. "Dinner tonight at Le Soleil with the gang. My treat," I read it out loud. Tsukasa's phone beeped momentarily with the same message.
"I guess I'll take a rain check on that balcony dinner," I told Tsukasa. I left for home shortly after that so I could bathe and change into something dressy for the dinner. I chose a beige silk halter top that was cut low at the back, together with formal black pants and black strappy sandals with stiletto heels.
I took a cab to the expensive French restaurant and found everyone there already when I entered. The first person I noticed was Shizuka, who was sitting beside Rui. There was a different glow on her beautiful face that night. Her smile was serene, and she looked truly happy. She looked ethereal in her delicate silk dress, her hair swept up elegantly in a French twist. Rui, Akira, Soujiro and Tsukasa each cut a dashing figure in their dinner jackets and silk ties in muted colors. It was refreshing to see everyone in fancy threads once in a while instead of the boring office attire we usually wear whenever we see each other.
"Wow," I exclaimed as Tsukasa pulled out a chair for me. "We're all dressed to the nines! And Rui is treating! I can't stand the suspense anymore. What 's the special occasion?"
Rui and Shizuka smiled at each other and then looked around the table at all of us.
"Shizuka and I are engaged," Rui announced with a big grin on his face.
Not a few patrons glanced our way when I shrieked in delight. The three guys all whooped and rose from their seats to give Rui a pat on the back and shake his hand. I gave Shizuka a hug and a kiss before standing up to hug Rui tightly from the back of his chair. When we had all settled down after we congratulated the happy couple, Shizuka held out her hand to me and flashed me her engagement ring. It was a beautiful emerald-cut diamond set on a platinum band.
"Wow man, I can't believe you're taking the plunge soon! Have you set a date yet?"
"How'd you pop the question?"
"Are you gonna have a big wedding?"
Rui and Shizuka were assailed with a flurry of questions from all of us around the table. Everyone was so excited that we were all talking at once. The couple answered all our questions one by one and when the chatter died down, Rui gazed lovingly at his bride-to-be before turning to address us all.
"The trip to Europe was like a dream. Sharing that experience with Shizuka made me realize I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. So after gathering up my courage, I popped the question last night when I took her home. I know now that I've found the right one."
Shizuka blushed prettily and squeezed his hand.
"Hmmm. I wonder if I'll ever find the right one for me." Akira mused.
Soujiro shook his head. "I'm not in a rush to go looking for the right one. I wanna enjoy being single for as long as I can. Right Tsukasa?"
Tsukasa was quiet but he looked up when Soujiro nudged him. He blushed then lowered his gaze again. "I think I've already found the right one for me."
Our jaws dropped collectively when we heard this. It certainly was a night of surprises.
"So, tell us about her, man! Is she someone from work?" Akira asked.
Tsukasa gave an enigmatic smile. "I'm not telling."
"Aww, c'mon! You can't just leave us hanging like that!"
"I'm not sure yet if she feels the same way. If I find out she does, then I'll let you know."
Tsukasa wouldn't budge even if everyone tried to coax the identity of his mystery girl out of him. Well, everyone except me. I didn't want to hear him say it out loud because I already knew who it was. My heart sank as the image of Umi came to my mind.
****************
A/N: Whew! Another chapter done! Okay, for all of you wondering how long this whole fic is gonna be, here's the deal. If everything goes according to plan, this'll be done in about 2 or 3 more chapters. For those of you who were expecting a longer fic, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. Sadly, I don't have the time nor the inclination to write a really long story. I'm just not as prolific as the other authors here on FF.net. Just think of this fic like it's a two-hour chick flick instead of a long drawn-out soap opera. Aaaaaaargh, I know I'm gonna lose some readers because of this but hey, so long as I retain a few loyal readers (and reviewers!), I'll be one happy chick.
venus_goddess: Awww, you flatter me with your praise. *blushes furiously*
shingo_emma, shortnsweet, and Chi5: Hi new readers! Thanks for checking out my story. I'm glad you're liking it so far.
Iceyflame and Sailor Angie: Here it is, an update for you. Hope you like this chapter!
Toinks, XxSwtDreamerxX1, and KyouFan17: Well, I included Umi 'cause I didn't want this to be just another crappy story with a happy ending. I want it to be a crappy story with a twist, LOL!
As always, let me know what you think by posting your comments. I love hearing from my readers!
That's it for now! See you at the next update!