It was already 5 past 8 when Kogure arrived home. He was so exhausted; imagine you walking for the rest of the day checking out different universities in Tokyo. That was really tiring and somehow rewarding; he had a chance to pass by different stores in different shopping malls.
He went to his room to fix a couple of things regarding the basketball club, school and etc, when someone knocked at the door.
"Sumimamisen, demo someone's at the phone looking for you, Kim…" her grandma said.
"Ahhh… I'll be there in a minute, arigatou baa-san…" he said as he gave her grandma a sweet warm smile.
So, he left what he was doing then came down to answer the phone. He picked the phone up; surprised that it was Miyagi on the other line, which was unusual. Miyagi told him to come at their house tomorrow at exactly 6 in the evening because tomorrow is his birthday.
When their conversation came to an end, he sighed then again went back to his room. He sat on his couch then turned the television on. He scanned the television for a couple of minutes then decided to turn it off when he saw nothing good to watch. He turned to his shelf, picked up the latest edition of a sports magazine then turned the pages listlessly.
He paced across the room several times, and then walked towards the window. He took his time to reflect on what had happened to him on the past few days. He recalled of few things like, not paying attention on their literature sensei one Tuesday afternoon, then accidentally raising his voice at Akagi which gave him crepes when he taught that the guy will sooner corner him and bully him, then the theater play, then shook his head to push that thought away and finally him being cold at Ayame.
He even took this time to evaluate his feelings for the girl. He admits that the girl preoccupies him, yes, every time even during practice. He even recalled that he glared at the girl one time, one afternoon, practice, so he made a mental note to say sorry about this. He even glared on one of his juniors one time when he saw the girl with the guy from the theater club walking side-by-side, which was very very unusual for Kogure to do.
After pondering over his thoughts he concluded that he has this strong liking for the girl even on their first date and it really hurts him to think that after months of knowing each other, both didn't have relationship with each other but simply, friends.
Kogure glanced on his watch, then walked faster until he reached Miyagi's house, he almost forgot that today is the birthday of the latter and he agreed to arrive 6o'clock sharp.
He pushed the door bell which made a soft ring inside the house then someone shouted. "Coming! "
Music filled the air as the door slammed open, Miyagi stood there wearing a polka dotted apron around his waist. "6 o' clock sharp… ne?" Miyagi said teasingly.
"Gomen ne… I almost forgot…" he said as he rubbed his temples.
No one was there yet except for Mitsui and Miyagi. Kogure plopped himself at the sofa, picked a magazine then turned its page showing some interest on it.
"Miyagi, you really suck…throwing a boring party…" Mitsui said sarcastically. "You call this a party?"
"Just wait for a few minutes and you'll see… this is the most electrifying party ever…" then peaked at Kogure. " You too Kogure sempai…"
The door bell rang furiously, Miyagi opened it, when they heard someone scolding the latter. "Can't you open the door quickly?"
"Gomen ne, Lin-chan, I was at the kitchen…" Miyagi mumbled apologetically.
"Enough of your excuses… are they here yet?" now in a more gentle manner.
"They who?" another voice answered which Mitsui recognized quickly.
The door gently closed, Aylin and Shi entered the living room. Mitsui stood up then mumbled something like he needs to go at a comfort room. And there, the two girls sat together with Kogure at the living room.
"Hi!" said Kogure as he gave the two a warm smile. Both girls bowed in response.
No conversation was made until Miyagi came out of the kitchen to join them. He took the apron of placing it on the table.
"Yo! Where's Mitsui-Sempai?" Miyagi asked sitting beside her girlfriend.
"He went at the comfort room…" Kogure said pointing his thumb at the door of the said room.
"Nani?." Miyagi looked at the two when he noticed that they were supposedly three "Ayame-chan didn't tag along?" Miyagi took a glance at his Sempai as he asked the others. He saw the senior check his watch, then uncomfortably fidgeted on his seat.
"Iie… she said that she'll be late for a couple of minutes, she'll just be checking something at the bookstore." Lin said.
Again silence filled the room; Mitsui finally came out after 15 minutes of staying inside. Who knows maybe the guy took a nap in side that room or what.
Miyagi felt the tension between Mitsui and Shi that he thought of a good plan.
"Guess what?" Miyagi said ecstatically.
"What?" They all chorused.
"After eating and, waiting for Ayame-chan, let us play…" Miyagi didn't tell them what the game was.
7:05, 7:07 the clock ticked restlessly and loudly, everyone yawned, even Miyagi. They aren't still eating, what kind of party is this anyway.
The door bell rung, Miyagi dashed off to answer the door. And finally after 10 years of waiting, the other girl arrived. She sat beside Mitsui, Miyagi smiled evilly as he hid his excitement and clever plan.
"I didn't know that you cook so well Miyagi-san…" Ayame said as he took ramen inside her mouth.
"Whoever objects in my cooking ability, will certainly die and get lost…" he said proudly, but was cut off by Aylin.
"Even if I do say so…" she gave his koibito a glare. Everyone laughed at this, Miyagi shut his mouth easily upon hearing her.
"Eheheh… just kidding…" Miyagi said as he scratched his nape.
"Ayame-chan can also cook well…" Aylin took a sip on the soup. "Even bake."
"So does Kogure-Semapai…" Miyagi looked at the reaction of the senior then at Ayame. Kogure laughed softly then said…
"How did you know, you haven't visit my house yet…"
With this Miyagi blushed and was caught lying. He diverted his direction with the ex-couples Mitsui and Shihaya. He saw Miyagi taking a glance at the said girl. He knew from this that the latter still has feelings for the girl.
Sooner everyone finished dinner. They sat around a small round table, at the terrace of Miyagi's house. Gentle night breeze caressed each of them, making them feel really comfortable. Miyagi placed an empty bottle on the center then showed them another bottle full of Champaign. He then declared that they are to play truth or consequence and whoever the muzzle of the bottle stops at will take a gulp of Champaign then choose whether Truth or Consequence.
"What do you say?" Miyagi said as he waits for other's confirmation.
"No problem…" Aylin answered.
"As long as it won't hurt me… I'll go…" Shi said.
"I say yes…" Mitsui responded.
"I'll try…" Kogure balanced his weight from one foot to another.
They all looked at Ayame as they wait for her answer. She too looked at them.
"I don't know about that… but… okay… I'll go..."
So the game begun, the game started so easy questions that are so easy to answer. So the score was Miyagi with 2 gulps, Mitsui 1 gulp, Kogure 1 gulp, Shi 2 gulps, Aylin 0 gulp and Ayame with 3 gulps.
The bottle spins again, each prayed the bottle to stop at the others. Everyone concentrated on the bottle as it begun to slow down, eyes followed the motion of the bottle, slowly, slowly, slowly, and voila the result, Ayame with 4 gulps. She giggled softly, her cheeks revealing a little shade of pink, effect of the Champaign.
"Truth or Consequence?" Miyagi asked.
"Does this bottle like me or what?" she eyed the bottle suspiciously. She blushed furiously and was tanked-up.
"Truth or Consequence?" Miyagi asked again.
"Consequence…" she said, scratching her head.
"Okay… let me see…" Miyagi thought of a good punishment. He came up with a good topic which will hopefully enlighten them. "If you are to tell something to someone here, what and who would that be?"
Her eyes darted suspiciously at Miyagi, then stood up groggily reaching the other chair..
"They say that when you are drunk you have the tendency to say something weird, unbelievable…ne?" she walked sulkily towards the brown haired senior.
She stood in front of him then lapped him on his face. Everyone was surprised even Kogure was, everyone doesn't have any idea why the girl slapped her, did the boy do something wrong ,or what.
"Do you think you deserve that slap ?" she paused then continued. "You were a nice person, so I took that date with you. I thought that we are going to be good friends, I even thought more than friends, what hurts me so much is to know that I'm merely nothing to you but a little girl which you can just glare at, you don't even pay attention to me, am I nothing compared to others, or is it about Ken? He's nothing compared to you, he's my friend and I like being just friends with him… nothing more nothing less…" Kogure didn't know what to say at all, he was speechless, he stood up carefully inserted both hands on each pockets of his pants.
"I don't know, but I think even if I tell you how much I love you , nothing will change… nothing… nothing…we are just friends… you are hard to reach…" tears blurred the girls vision she tried to hold her feelings back, but she can no longer do it… "I know how useless words are… and I know that I don't deserve you… but please…" Even Kogure was touched by the girl's words he didn't know that his feeling for the girl is reciprocated. He didn't notice that tears slowly trickled down his face. He enveloped the girl on his arms.
" I wasn't so sure of my feelings, I even thought that I might be too old to court you or something…" He looked at the girl whose beautiful face rests on his broad shoulder; her eyes were closed so Kogure continued what he was saying. "… so I took my time to sort out my feelings… I wasn't surprised of what I found out… I really like you, I love you, I really do…" he hears a soft snore, she was asleep.
"Guess you must tell her that when she is sober." Miyagi smiled at the two sweetly, plan a successful, just one more left.
Kogure gently carried her. He didn't know if the girl's cousins mind what he was doing, so he looked at them.
"Ryota-kun, can my cousin rest on one of your rooms?" Aylin asked Miyagi in a sweet manner.
"Hai, the room beside mine is the guest room…" Miyagi pointed his finger on the corridor.
Kogure walked silently, staring at the girls face. Sleeping like babies he thought to himself. Then whispered, "I hope I can always see you like this…" He opened the door with his left hand then entered. A typical bedroom setting, except that there were two single beds and in between is a small table with a lamp on it. He laid her on the first bed, and then turned the lights on. The girl squirmed; the air conditioning unit was placed at the bottom of the wall across the bed where she lying, so Kogure pulled a comforter to somehow warm the girl. Still not contended he looked at her for the nth time then caressed her soft skin, kissing her on her forehead.
Kogure sat on his seat, the game still continued. The bottle spanned slowly then stopped in front of him. He wasn't that intoxicated so he took a gulp of it.
"Truth or Consequence?" Miyagi asked his senior.
"Truth…"
"Do you really love her, then what can you do for her?" Mitsui stole the chance of Miyagi to ask a question.
"Hey, I should be the one to ask…" the latter mumbled.
"Hush…" Aylin said.
"Of course I do… I can prove her that by making our relationship stronger. I can prevent small arguments and put my trust on her. And I'll do whatever she asks me to…" he said with glittering eyes.
"Then you are a good koibito…" Shi said. "You are the prince on every princess' dream." she continued.
"Hontou?" Kogure raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, I admit it it's my fault, I'm sorry…" Mitsui said as he gazed up up the sky. "I don't know but I can't take this anymore, I didn't mean what I said to you. I love you because of what you are not because of anything." He said, then gave her a glance. Noticing that the girl paid no heed he called her. "Oi! Shi am talking to you…"
"Nani?" she said mustering all her senses. Did Mitsui tell her all those things or is she day dreaming. She admitted to her self that she felt empty for the past weeks of not having Mitsui with her.
"Never mind, will you forgive me…" he walked towards her lover, then gave her a soft peck on her forehead.
"…" the girl looked at him with passion on her eyes "… of course I will…"