--- Outside the house---
"Gals! They take forever to prepare." Kenshin grumbled as they waited for the door to be opened.
"Hey, I think it is great that they do that. At least you know that they are dressing up for you."
"Right, Meia never dresses up. Want to bet whether Natsumi is still busy changing?"
"I am hoping that she does that. I hope she will remember this day."
"What are you intending to do?" Kenshin asked. However he never know the answer as the door opened.
"Hey! Sorry, but you all have to come in and wait. I occupied the bathroom for too long. That is why Nat is still changing. Sorry for the delay." Meia started rattling. When the guys didn't move, she stared at them. "Hey, come in!"
Both of them did nothing else but stared at Meia. Annoyed, she questioned, "What are you looking at?" When none of them answered, she snapped, "FINE! Come in unless you intend to freeze outside." With that, she went into the living room
* Baka! Baka! Baka! * She mentally cursed herself. She recalled the surprise look on their face when they made eye contact. * I shouldn't have dressed up for today's date. As if he takes it as something more than that! *
"Wow!" Yukito spoke after Meia stomped off. "She looks like Natsumi when she dress up." Kenshin could only nod. Meia reminded of his first love. Both of them made him think of wild flowers, untouched and fragile.
He shook his head. No point dwelling in the past. It wouldn't bring Dita back. Now he has to concentrate on helping Yukito and Natsumi patch up. * Sorry gal! I think it is better if you are with Yukito. * He mentally apologized to Natsumi as he followed Yukito in. He recalled the little talk he had with Yukito a few days ago.
~ ~ ~ Flashback~ ~ ~
"Hello, Kenshin. Do you want to go double dating with Natsumi and I this Saturday?"
"Isn't she supposed to be going out with Meia?"
"That is why I need you to come along."
Kenshin thought for a while. "Has Natsumi agreed?"
"Nope."
"Then why should I help you?"
Yukito took a deep breath. "Because I love her."
"After running away for five years, you only realized that you love her? Tell me, why should I help you when you will break her heart again?"
"Look! I am wondering now whether you love her, since you are so defensive."
There was silence for a while. "No, I am not in love with anyone."
"So, are you a friend or foe?"
"A friend if Natsumi's happiness is assured. Convince me why you need my help."
Yukito soon told him everything from the time Eriol's father entered his life five years ago. After he finished, Kenshin couldn't help but query.
" Will you leave her again?"
"No." He replied without hesitation.
"You better not! Now, tomorrow come by the office and invite her. It will help if you have a bouquet of roses. It will persuade her to accept the invitation."
"Right, Kenshin, I need to say, even though you might still be wary of me. I would like to say, thanks for trusting me. See you tomorrow then."
"Bye."
~ ~ ~ End Flashback ~ ~ ~
During the ride to the house, Kenshin was even more sure that he made the right choice. Yukito kept talking about his past with Natsumi. Despite being away for five years, he could still remember trivial details of Natsumi like the necklace she wore on her birthday. He was amazed at how aware he was of Natsumi. No one was capable to shower so much concern on her like the way Yukito did.
"Kenshin, take a seat." A feminine voice broke his thoughts.
He glanced at Meia who was serving Yukito refreshment. He studied her back profile. Her hair was untied, tempting him to touch and see whether it was as soft as it looks. Her tank top and tight fitting jeans emphasized her figure. Although she was not wearing anything feminine except for her earrings and necklace, her own sense of style made her look elegant enough.
"Here is your tea." Meia offered, trying once again to break his chain of thoughts. Without thinking, he covered her hands as he took the cup. He felt a shiver going through Meia. Surprisingly, he was as affected as her. He never imagined that he would be so bewitched by her.
He made eye contact and his gaze roamed her face. He was intrigued by it. He noticed everything. From the way her eyes widened and her cheeks grew red. He saw from the corner of his eyes her attempt to dampened her lips rather nervously. She quickly broke contact but not before she felt her hands trembled.
"Nat will be coming down soon. I heard her turned off the shower. Seat down and wait for a while longer. I go and check and see whether she needs any help." Meia said and fled up the stairs. Kenshin followed her movements until she was out of sight.
"You don't love anyone? That was a really big lie. You are sunk big time my friend." Yukito smirked.
"Meia is a very interesting friend."
"That's all? Are you sure? Come on, I would say that you are aware of her feelings for you."
"Well, I cannot deny it. However, whether I want to take a step further is another matter all together."
"Don't ever let her hear that. She doesn't fall in love easily. But when she does, she falls hard. If things don't work out, she will cry for months!"
"She will get over me easily." Kenshin said, although he was afraid that he does have that power over Meia.
They drank in silence. Both of them knew the untold truth.
Soon, they heard them coming down. Natsumi came in view, wearing a yellow spaghetti top with a white mini- skirt and a matching set of necklace and earrings. Yukito's eyes shimmered with hope as it was the same set that he bought for her on her 19th birthday. Meia came down after that. Although she looked physically the same, there was something in her eyes that bugged Kenshin.
"Let's go!" Natsumi said and walked towards the door. Yukito followed her, Meia walked with Kenshin. However, mentally, isolating Kenshin for some reason. As they walked toward the car, never once did she turn to him.
* Hope she is alright. * Kenshin could only think as they drove to the restaurant.
"Gals! They take forever to prepare." Kenshin grumbled as they waited for the door to be opened.
"Hey, I think it is great that they do that. At least you know that they are dressing up for you."
"Right, Meia never dresses up. Want to bet whether Natsumi is still busy changing?"
"I am hoping that she does that. I hope she will remember this day."
"What are you intending to do?" Kenshin asked. However he never know the answer as the door opened.
"Hey! Sorry, but you all have to come in and wait. I occupied the bathroom for too long. That is why Nat is still changing. Sorry for the delay." Meia started rattling. When the guys didn't move, she stared at them. "Hey, come in!"
Both of them did nothing else but stared at Meia. Annoyed, she questioned, "What are you looking at?" When none of them answered, she snapped, "FINE! Come in unless you intend to freeze outside." With that, she went into the living room
* Baka! Baka! Baka! * She mentally cursed herself. She recalled the surprise look on their face when they made eye contact. * I shouldn't have dressed up for today's date. As if he takes it as something more than that! *
"Wow!" Yukito spoke after Meia stomped off. "She looks like Natsumi when she dress up." Kenshin could only nod. Meia reminded of his first love. Both of them made him think of wild flowers, untouched and fragile.
He shook his head. No point dwelling in the past. It wouldn't bring Dita back. Now he has to concentrate on helping Yukito and Natsumi patch up. * Sorry gal! I think it is better if you are with Yukito. * He mentally apologized to Natsumi as he followed Yukito in. He recalled the little talk he had with Yukito a few days ago.
~ ~ ~ Flashback~ ~ ~
"Hello, Kenshin. Do you want to go double dating with Natsumi and I this Saturday?"
"Isn't she supposed to be going out with Meia?"
"That is why I need you to come along."
Kenshin thought for a while. "Has Natsumi agreed?"
"Nope."
"Then why should I help you?"
Yukito took a deep breath. "Because I love her."
"After running away for five years, you only realized that you love her? Tell me, why should I help you when you will break her heart again?"
"Look! I am wondering now whether you love her, since you are so defensive."
There was silence for a while. "No, I am not in love with anyone."
"So, are you a friend or foe?"
"A friend if Natsumi's happiness is assured. Convince me why you need my help."
Yukito soon told him everything from the time Eriol's father entered his life five years ago. After he finished, Kenshin couldn't help but query.
" Will you leave her again?"
"No." He replied without hesitation.
"You better not! Now, tomorrow come by the office and invite her. It will help if you have a bouquet of roses. It will persuade her to accept the invitation."
"Right, Kenshin, I need to say, even though you might still be wary of me. I would like to say, thanks for trusting me. See you tomorrow then."
"Bye."
~ ~ ~ End Flashback ~ ~ ~
During the ride to the house, Kenshin was even more sure that he made the right choice. Yukito kept talking about his past with Natsumi. Despite being away for five years, he could still remember trivial details of Natsumi like the necklace she wore on her birthday. He was amazed at how aware he was of Natsumi. No one was capable to shower so much concern on her like the way Yukito did.
"Kenshin, take a seat." A feminine voice broke his thoughts.
He glanced at Meia who was serving Yukito refreshment. He studied her back profile. Her hair was untied, tempting him to touch and see whether it was as soft as it looks. Her tank top and tight fitting jeans emphasized her figure. Although she was not wearing anything feminine except for her earrings and necklace, her own sense of style made her look elegant enough.
"Here is your tea." Meia offered, trying once again to break his chain of thoughts. Without thinking, he covered her hands as he took the cup. He felt a shiver going through Meia. Surprisingly, he was as affected as her. He never imagined that he would be so bewitched by her.
He made eye contact and his gaze roamed her face. He was intrigued by it. He noticed everything. From the way her eyes widened and her cheeks grew red. He saw from the corner of his eyes her attempt to dampened her lips rather nervously. She quickly broke contact but not before she felt her hands trembled.
"Nat will be coming down soon. I heard her turned off the shower. Seat down and wait for a while longer. I go and check and see whether she needs any help." Meia said and fled up the stairs. Kenshin followed her movements until she was out of sight.
"You don't love anyone? That was a really big lie. You are sunk big time my friend." Yukito smirked.
"Meia is a very interesting friend."
"That's all? Are you sure? Come on, I would say that you are aware of her feelings for you."
"Well, I cannot deny it. However, whether I want to take a step further is another matter all together."
"Don't ever let her hear that. She doesn't fall in love easily. But when she does, she falls hard. If things don't work out, she will cry for months!"
"She will get over me easily." Kenshin said, although he was afraid that he does have that power over Meia.
They drank in silence. Both of them knew the untold truth.
Soon, they heard them coming down. Natsumi came in view, wearing a yellow spaghetti top with a white mini- skirt and a matching set of necklace and earrings. Yukito's eyes shimmered with hope as it was the same set that he bought for her on her 19th birthday. Meia came down after that. Although she looked physically the same, there was something in her eyes that bugged Kenshin.
"Let's go!" Natsumi said and walked towards the door. Yukito followed her, Meia walked with Kenshin. However, mentally, isolating Kenshin for some reason. As they walked toward the car, never once did she turn to him.
* Hope she is alright. * Kenshin could only think as they drove to the restaurant.