10th Chapter

It was quite surprising to me that Mugen didn't say a single word and just let Shinsuke leave easily. Last time I checked, he and my friend are not exactly on friendly terms. I was so busy looking at Shinsuke that I didn't notice that the ruffian has already gone inside my own home.

"So. Why in the blazing hell did you just waltz inside my home?" I asked, placing my hand on my hips.

"Just wantin' to see Jin's house, that's all."

My eye twitched. "You've seen it. Now get out."

He chuckled and flopped down on the tatami mat, "I'm just messin' with you Girly. Fish-face sent me."

What? Jin sent him of all people? Is Jin's father instincts kicking in again that he sent this bastard to look after me? He's breaking out of character again.

"Why? It's not like I'm going to be assaulted inside my own home. If ever, the one I need to be protected from is you." I glared at him.

"Oh don't flatter yourself, Flatty. There's no way in hell that I will want to have sex with you."

I frowned. Oh really now? Isn't he contradicting himself from what he said last night? Though there's no way I'm going to say that someone overheard their bickering. Who knows what will happen if I bring that up. I'll just pretend that he's really saying what's on his mind.

I was distracted that I didn't notice Mugen has opened my television. He even asked me if I have some booze.

"What are you? Stupid? Do I look like someone who drinks alcohol to you?"

This good-for-nothing jerk. Not only he invaded my home, he even had the nerve to feel like this is his house or that he's welcome to be here! I really want to kill this guy to end my suffering once and for all...

I just sighed and abandoned that urge. What am I thinking? I can't do that. I don't have the guts to kill a person, much less someone that really irritates me and making my life miserable. I guess that I'll just let this go and continue on my life. It's not like I'll be stuck with him every day, right?

Why do I feel like I'm jinxing myself?

Hours have passed when I left Mugen by himself while I do my homework inside my room. By the time I went downstairs, he's already asleep with a plastic cup in his hand, and a bag of potato chips with the remote on the floor. The moron got hungry that he stole my snack. Sucks for him all he could drink is water.

I walked up to my television to turn it off manually. There's no way in hell that is going to make me go near within 1-meter radius from him. Last time I let my guard down around this sleeping man, I almost lost my innocence.

"Maybe I should cook some food for dinner."

Before I could step inside the kitchen, I felt a hand grabbed a hold of my ankle. Next thing I knew, I am under the sleeping man that I was avoiding earlier.

"What do you think you're doing?" I hissed, forcing myself to be calm.

He didn't answer me and just stare at me with his glassy eyes. All of my remaining composure diminished in a second, making me gulp in fear.

I know this kind of gaze. It was the look of a drunk man, hungry for a woman's taste. I've encountered numerous of men with the look similar to him matching with flushed cheeks from too much alcohol intake. Though it wasn't evident from his tanned cheeks, I can confirm that this man on top of me is drunk.

I looked around the living room and just noticed 5 empty bottles of booze that lied quietly on my white and cold tiled floor. Where the hell did he get that much booze?

"Where did you get those bottles of booze?"

"Do you like him or some shit?" he asked out of nowhere.

I clicked my tongue. "Don't change the subject and answer me properly."

"Then answer my question."

"Why would I answer such irrelevant question?"

"I could ask that question to you myself."

Okay. I had had enough conversing with this stupid drunkard. Talking to him right now will get me nowhere out of this mess, it's like talking to a rock. Looking at Mugen again, I think I'd prefer to talk to a rock than talking to this man on top of me.

I glared at him, "Get off me!"

Mustering all off my strength, I tried to get him off me but he's stronger than what I perceived him to be. He has lanky arms and he's somewhat skinny. I can't help but to think and assume that he's not that strong despite of the fact that he wields a sword. But that didn't stop me from prying him off me.

"Just get off me, dammit!"

In a flash, my hands were subdued by him, using only one hand. A cold shiver was sent down in my spine. He just kept looking at me with glassy eyes. When I thought he's going to do the unthinkable, he just fell ungracefully on top of me and started snoring.

"Mugen!" I yelled his name, with flushed cheeks but not from embarrassment but with anger.

Mugen didn't say anything and just kept sleeping like a log while I'm under him, still stuck and squirming like a worm.

For the second time, I squirmed again, hoping for his grip to loose and him to move his hip for me to kick or knee his junk. I found an opening and was about to do my thing when he rolled away from me and continued with his slumber. I immediately jumped away from the couch while glaring at him. The door opened before I could yell at Mugen for what he did.

It was Jin. My racing heart slowed down its pace and calmed me down a bit just by being in his presence. I was so fixated on how to escape from being entrapped under his sleeping body that I didn't hear Jin coming.

Jin raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth from me and Mugen, who snored ever so loudly than earlier. This jerk. I think he's pretending to sleep to make it appear that I was glaring at him for no reason.

"Jin! You're here! Did you already eat something for dinner?" I asked him, shaking off the tension and anger swelling inside of me. He shook his head. "I was about to cook some. Wait here. It won't be long."

He nodded at me and sat on the tatami mat, distancing himself from Mugen, whose ears perked up when he heard me saying that I'll cook some food. He must be still hungry despite of eating a big bag of chips and drinking many bottles of booze.

You pretending to sleep is so not good.

After letting out a big sigh, I focused myself with cooking a dinner for us. Maybe, this way I will be able to calm myself and even just for a few minutes. I could forget the fact that Mugen actually tried to do something to me. It has been a while since I cooked something beside for myself and share with them. Jin's barely at home and when he is, we either order fast food or Jin was the one who does the cooking. To be honest, I don't like how he cooks. It's so bland and I can't complain about it. But I guess what's important for him is that that our stomachs are filled.

So much time has passed that I wasn't aware of it after I started cooking. When I went out of the kitchen with the bowl in my hands, I saw that the table was already set up whereas Mugen and Jin are already seated on their chair. I smiled at this.

I placed down the bowl on the table and sat on my own chair. Like a pig I imagine him to be, Mugen started stuffing himself while Jin normally ate his food and scolding Mugen at the way he ate. I smiled and closed my eyes to pray, like I always do. When I opened my eyes, I was taken by surprised; Mugen has stopped from gobbling the food and seemed like he was waiting for me. He asked if I am done, I just gave him a nod, I was speechless. Jin nodded too and continued on eating his dinner.

It had been a while since I've had this kind of lively dinner. I can't remember when I last had it, if it was when mom was so energetic or when my father was still with us.

When I moved in with Jin, some of the stuff from my previous house was also brought here, one of the is this dinner table. Jin insisted it.

I thought that this dinner table in front of won't have any more use to me since I've assumed I will never have any use to it. We seldom use it anyway and when we do, it felt so big. So what was the point of keeping this big table when I don't get to use it all the time? That was the question that always pop in my head whenever my eyes land on this big table.

Looking at us now, as we eat, we looked just like a family. From my point of view at this moment, it looked like Mugen is the stubborn father who doesn't have a concept of 'table manners', Jin is the nagging mother who constantly reprimands her husband about his table manners and I'm their daughter who just watch them as I eat my own food. I can tell, we are a very loud family. Not my ideal family to be honest. I can see it at another angle wherein; Jin is the strict and conservative father and Mugen is my annoying and perverse brother. Both are extremely accurate. But despite of all the flaws of the family, I'll still be willing to take it.

It's been years. Ever since dad left, I've been unconsciously wishing and looking for a family since I only had a short time experiencing it. Although I have Jin as my brother or as a father-figure, I just can't help it. Truth to be told, the main reason I want to sell this is that I don't like seeing this table, much less sitting on one of its chairs. It reminds of the days when dad was still us and my mother's sweet smile. Looking at this table has always made my blood boil but now, somehow it was different.

Maybe it was because the pain and fury I feel for my father has left heart for now or maybe it's because I'm creating new memories with these two bozos in front of me as we eat using this table.

...It really warms my heart.

"Darn! You have no more for seconds!"

"What do you mean seconds? You've been eating non-stop like a pig."

"Shut up Fish face. Hey it looks to me you're not hungry, can I ta-. Why are ya crying flat board?"

I was so immersed at being sentimental that I didn't realize that the tears I've been holding in just came flowing out my eyes. What made it worse is that I'm crying in front of them. In front of a man I've barely known him no less. I first looked at Jin and then to Mugen. I was surprised that there was a hint of concern at the ruffian's voice.

"No, nothing. It's been a while since you've eaten any food I've cooked and sat down and have meal together, hasn't it Jin?"

Jin just looked at me and replied 'hnn'. I saw the corner of his lips curved upward, evident that he too is remembering the last time I've cooked for him. I giggled and wiped the tears off my face.

"What, you've cooked for Fish-face before?" The ruffian asked while giving his bowl to me.

"Naturally, we do live together. However, both of us had become busy with our own works and agenda that we didn't have the time to eat home-cooked meals together." I closed my eyes, reliving those memories I had in my mind. "Somehow, I feel like what is happening now will be a greater memory to keep."

"What?"

"Nothing." I replied as I gave back his bowl with a smile plastered on my face.


Dang... long time no update. It seems like I've been neglecting my responsibilities for updating this fanfic just because my head is on the clouds lately because of the otomes I've been playing these past days. But, no worries, I've always writing drafts for this fanfic whenever an idea pops up!

Btw, thanks to SifTheGreat for adding this story to their favorites and following it (also for following me, thanks man.) and also thanks to aditi (guest) for saying that they like this fanfic so far... really appreciate it uwu

Also also... I have a new SC fanfic that is also set in modern times~ check it out~!

r&r

Date of revision: 11/14/2022