Chapter 2: Smooth Operator
Another two weeks have gone by, almost hitting the one-month mark since the beginning of my long forgotten single life. The days are now starting to go by at an observable pace, some being fast while others passing painfully slow. Which isn't so terrible, since I know I'm adjusting to my new lifestyle. Soon, It'll be as if it was always like this; just me, myself, and my roommate. On that note, concerning my roommate, our relationship is stable and mundane. We both keep to our work schedules and hardly see each till late afternoon each day. I've noticed there have been times where I don't see him at all. I assume he leaves for missions, which I know can range from a few days to even a few weeks. I relish the time that he's gone, not because I dislike him (far from it), but because I can relax just a little bit more than usual. I don't have to worry so much if I leave my underwear on the bathroom floor, or forget to put on a bra when I walk out of my room in the mornings. For those very few days, it almost feels like I live by myself.
It's a Sunday morning and I sigh in frustration at my reflection in the mirror. My caramel brown locks resemble an abandoned birds nest, too much in ruin for any bird in the animal kingdom to want. Jeez—I'm such a wreck. I say to myself, wringing my hair into a loose and sloppy bun. Luckily, it has been almost a full week since I've seen my roommate, and I'm taking full advantage of my situation. Walking out of the bathroom in only my white camisole that barely grazes my upper thigh, I'm greeted to a comfortable silence. My skin shivers, not used to wearing such flashy sleeping wear. Usually, my pajamas resemble what twelve-year old boys wear to sleep overs, just the regular long shirt and long pants combination. However, this camisole was conveniently poking out of my underwear drawer.
So, why not? I'm alone and feeling a little daring.
I stifle a yawn, unsure if I should relax on the couch till I have some energy to make myself breakfast or just brew a quick cup of coffee. I convince myself a nice cup of joe will perk me up faster. As I make my way to the kitchen I hear the house phone ring and I groan. Ugh, I'm just so lazy right now. I ignore it and allow it to ring and go straight to voicemail.
"Sho? Are you there? It's your mother."
My head turns and I instantly regret not picking it up. I scuttle like a kitten on waxed floors towards the house phone resting at one of the couch arm tables. My hand reaches to grab the receiver, but hesitates. Both my mind and body know what's about to ensue.
"Sho, if you can hear me please—"
I snatch the phone and press it to my ear, "Sorry, mom. I was in the bathroom."
"That's fine, I was just worried if I had the right phone number," she speaks from the other end, completely falling for my lie.
There's stillness between us, and I can't control my fingers wrapping around the phone cord nervously.
"Sho," her voice is penetrating, and my whole body reacts as if I had been slapped, "Why didn't you call me the moment you decided to look for another place to stay? Do you know how worried I was when I called that idiotic 'boyfriend' of yours, telling me you didn't live there anymore? It was only until I called Haruka that I was finally able to get a phone number."
My lips are a perfectly pressed line, but I manage to squeeze something through, "Sorry, I was going to call you but—"
"But what, Sho? What could possibly be the reason?"
I don't give an immediate reply, still playing with the phone cord between my fingers. This conversation is just silly. I feel like a teenage girl who ran away from home to elope with a boy I'm head-over-heels in love with, which is hardly the case. My life was anything but a picture-esque adult soap opera.
"I just…didn't want you to tell me, 'I told you so'."
What was supposed to be a remark of indifference turned out to be completely the opposite. As much as I wanted to say, 'because I'm a twenty-two year old adult capable of making my own choices', it just didn't happen. I could never say that to my own mother. Granted, she has always had this way of speaking to me that I simply cave to. Such parenting is customary of a single-mother supporting a house and child.
"Oh Sho," I hear my mother breathe, causing some static to tickle my ear. "Was that all? Even though, I admit it, I'm extremely happy that you are finally done with that boy; your safety was always my main concern."
I nod even though she can't see me, "I know. I'm really sorry. I was just being childish, but I'm fine—really."
"Alright, I can see that now. That's good," my mother pauses, thinking of more to say. "Are you living with anyone?"
"Mhm," I answer meekly.
"Is it another boy?"
"Mhm," I mumble again.
My mother's silent, probably imagining plenty of skewed images of my possible roommate. Whatever she's mustering in her parental mind, it's probably far from the actual thing, way far from the actual thing.
"Alright, just be careful. If you have that kind of relationship with him, it's none of my business."
I shake my head, "Mom, It's nothing like that. We're just roommates."
"Okay, I believe you." Her tone says otherwise, but I don't seek to argue.
I'm starting to wonder if the whole world expects me to sleep with every man I come across, now that I'm single. That or cling myself to the next available suitor, hoping they will accept my inner maiden and support me for all my days.
What a humorless joke.
By a stroke of luck, I hear a pair of keys jingle just outside and the opening of the apartment door. I turn my head, and I'm mortified. Those familiar orbs greet my light violet eyes. They're large, intense, and staring directly at me. Wasn't he on a mission? I thought he'd be back...well, later! My assumptions won't help me now and a pink hue catches my cheeks. As I tug at the length of my camisole, effortlessly trying to stretch it, Lee's complexion flushes as his mind catches on to the situation.
"Sho, did someone walk in? Is it your roommate?"
I try to swallow the lump of embarrassment in my throat, realizing my mother is still on the other line. Lee, on the other hand, looks as if he's about to burst with apologies or some sort of non-coherent rambling. I quickly make shushing gestures, waving my hand in font of my neck to signal for him to restrain himself. The thought of having to explain to my mother exactly why I was exposing myself to my roommate would encourage her previous assumption even more.
"U-Um," my voice quivers as I turn away from Lee and peek through my peripherals, catching sight of him almost throwing himself into the bathroom. I hear the shower turn on almost instantly, and even though he's out of sight, my heart still struggles to calm down. I try to cover it up by speaking lower than usual, "That was just the neighbor's door. Sorry, but I actually have to go."
"Wait, Sho," my mother resists. "I would like to see you today. I want to go grocery shopping for you. I have a feeling you've been living off of ice-cream, coffee, and instant miso soup."
The woman who gave birth to me knew me all too well.
"Sure, how about today at two o'clock?" I say rather quickly, wanting desperately to rush into my room and put on some actual clothes. "I'll pick you up so we can walk there together. Sound good?"
"Alright, see you later, Sho. Love you." I hear her blow kisses through the phone.
"Love you too, mom. Bye," I reply, skipping out on the embarrassing gestures.
o o o
The kitchen is silent, only the sounds of my coffee brewer gurgling and the clinking of Lee's chopsticks as he eats his breakfast are heard. I'm struggling to maintain a straight face. Even though my back is turned, I feel my cheeks flush. This is too awkward; I have to apologize. Though my mind tells me one thing, my body doesn't listen. I wait for the coffee brewer to turn off before I grab the mug underneath. Quietly, I stride across the kitchen, keeping my eyes away from Lee siting at the kitchen table. I take my powdered cream and sugar from one of the cabinets and fix my coffee to my liking.
I grip my mug and gulp down any nervousness. You have this, Sho. I repeat the encouraging words to myself, taking a seat directly in front of my roommate. I'm a bit stiff, but I take a sip of my hot drink and inhale slowly as the warmth hits the bottom of my stomach, making me feel more at ease.
"Lee-san." I start off strong, but feel as if I'll choke any second. I stare down at my coffee, trying to find the words inside the cup. "I'm so sorry for what happened. I shouldn't have—"
"Yamada-san, you do not have to apologize."
His voice cuts me off, not allowing me to finish the apology I had literally spent most of the morning trying to perfect. I'm at a loss for words, mostly at how quickly he was able to dismiss it and continue eating. Was this his way of saying he forgives me?
"R-Really?" My voice cracks, like I knew it would. "It's just that, I thought I made you uncomfortable this morning and I just wanted to apologize for it."
"Please, you do not need to apologize again," he answers, but notices my concerned frown begging for more reassurance on his end. He gulps down a fresh piece of egg, shyly turning a cheek as he brings up the memory, "Well, I was a bit surprised. Something like that has never happened to me before, but quite honestly, I am more worried about how you are feeling."
"How I'm feeling?" The question feels foreign to my tongue. Once again, I'm met with a rare occurrence among men. How I'm feeling? The question lingers in my thoughts until a formidable answer reaches my mouth. I keep my attention fixed on my mug, feeling my face heat up once more, "Then, to be frank, I'm feeling incredibly embarrassed and a bit ashamed."
"Yosh! Then I will gladly rid myself of the memory with my fist, if that is what it will take to make you feel comfortable."
"W-What?" I almost spit out the sip of coffee I just took. I look up, and sure enough I see Lee staring confidently at me with a raised fist. He wouldn't actually do it, would he? I don't want my question to be answered and I vigorously shake my head, "It's fine, Lee-san. I appreciate it but you really don't have to do that. How about we just pretend like it never happened?"
A sigh of relief escapes me when he nods in compliance. It's official; I have the most strangest and oddly considerate roommate ever. I think this to myself, while rudely catching myself staring at him. I busy myself with another swig of my coffee.
"Anyway," I start, firmly wanting to change the subject now that it was settled. "I'm going grocery shopping in a bit. Do you want anything in particular? I don't mind paying."
"Thank you, Yamada-san, but that will not be necessary," he answers with that broad smile of his. "I will be out today as well, so I can easily pick it up myself if I needed to."
"Oh, okay. Then, I guess I'll leave to my room now and get some grading done."
He nods as I lift myself from the kitchen table, taking my coffee with me.
That went decently well, I think.
o o o
The Konoha fresh market is packed, and I'm afraid to drop anything in fear of having my hand stepped on if I try to pick it up. Both my arms are occupied, carrying two large bags of locally grown foods, but this sight doesn't stop my mother's consumer fever. She tugs at my arm, dragging me from vendor to vendor. I can barely make out any complaints since all my energy is focused on keeping the groceries from falling on my toes.
"Mom, I think I have enough food," I manage to finally voice out.
"What? Did you say something, dear?" Her voice rises above the markets loud clamor. My face twists into one of discomfort, and I can see her click her tongue. "Sho, we have to take advantage of the Sunday sale. You know everything is on discount since all they're going to do is throw it away later today."
"I know, but you have to understand," I take a moment to shift the bags in my arms. Seriously, am I carrying fruits or rocks here? "I have a roommate. And that means we have to share everything. This includes refrigerator space."
A sigh of defeat escapes my mother, and I have a momentary victory dance inside my head. "Alright, then that's that," she submits, returning a bag of whole grain noodles to its place at the stall.
A grateful smile appears on my lips, relieved that I won't have to carry these heavy bags for much longer. Making my way through the crowd with my mother, I'm soon able to see a clearing that marks the end of the market. Slowly approaching the last of a few food stalls, I'm met with a familiar sight.
Lee?
My eyes have to squint to get a better look, but there's no mistaking that bobbed hair cut and green suit. He's farther away and seeming to be occupied with something, or rather, someone. It appears to be a young woman no older than him or myself, with stunning green eyes and fair pink hair. By her attire and the way she carries herself, I can safely assume she's a fellow ninja. Her air is graceful, successful, and…dangerous. I have to gulp down a lump of intimidation wedged at the back of my throat. Where can I get that kind of confidence? I wonder to myself. And that's all I can do as I keep walking while eyeballing them through my lashes.
"Sho, watch your feet or you'll—"
Huh? I'm not able to make out the last of my mothers sentence as I stumble upon a cat. I gasp, turning on my toes to avoid stepping on it. It hisses at me and scurries away just as I slip on my heel and fall right on my rump. I wince at the discomfort of the ground meeting my tailbone.
"Yamada-san! Are you alright?"
As predicted in this ever so cliché world, my eyes roll upward to take in Lee's presence hovering over me. My mouth is chalk full of humiliation, and words clumsily fall from my lips as my roommate eases me onto my feet, "I-I'm fine, thank you."
How was he able to notice me this quickly? D-did he see me trip?
Ugh. Ninjas.
"Oh, honey. Are you hurt?" I hear my mother's worried voice trail to my side, feeling her aged hand on my back. I shake my head, answering her question. Her head then turns towards my roommate's direction, who has already taken the initiative to pick up the toppled grocery bags, "Thank you so much, young man. It's very kind of you to help my daughter."
"It is no trouble at all, ma'am," he replies with a grin, handling all the grocery bags with ease in his arms. "As a man and Yamada-san's roommate, it is only acceptable that I should do this."
"Roommate?" My mother repeats, glancing from my awkward form back to Lee. A small chuckle escapes her, possibly at my expense, "Oh! What a coincidence, so you're Sho's roommate. It's so good to meet you, I'm her mother, Yamada Romi."
"Pleasure is all mine, Romi-san," he says with a polite bow.
I feel my arm being nudged, and I see that it's my mother giving me the 'I-like-him-already-you-two-should-date' elbow work. Just as I'm about to bring up the idea of heading back to the apartment I spot the pink haired konoichi making her way over.
"Is everything alright? I saw what happened." I bite my lip at her statement, coming to the realization that I had quite the audience. I stiffen slightly as her green eyes penetrate mine, easing over my figure, "If you're feeling any pain in your lower back I'll gladly take a look. I'm a certified medical-nin at the Konoha Hospital."
"Oh, you don't have to. I appreciate it but I'm fine," I dismiss the kind offer.
"Ah, Yamada-san, Romi-san, this is my good friend Sakura," as Lee begins to speak, my head tilts at his absence of honorifics when gesturing to the konoichi. It's apparent by the lack of titles that they have known each other for a while and are at the point where honorifics are pointless. Still, I can't help but be a little surprised to meet the first person my roommate has a close relationship with. Said person being a woman; an extremely good-looking woman. "Sakura, this is my current roommate Yamada Sho and her mother, Yamada Romi."
"Nice to meet you," Sakura smiles, and it's pearly white.
Likewise, my mother and I return the gesture and bow our heads slightly. After exchanging a few words my mother is the first to speak.
"I hate to be rude, but I should be going now. I have some paper work to do at home."
"Don't worry, I actually have to head back to the hospital to do the same. A doctor's work is never finished, unfortunately," Sakura replies.
Nodding, my mother smiles and excuses herself.
"Well, It was nice meeting you, Sho-san. Hopefully we can talk more sometime," Sakura says, turning to face my general direction.
"It was nice meeting you too," I respond with a small smile of my own.
"Oh, and Lee," Sakura addresses me roommate, batting her curled eyelashes profoundly. "We're still on for tonight, right?"
"Yes! I would not dream of doing anything else," Lee readily replies without any restraint.
I can tell he's excited by his tightening hold on my grocery bags. With an additional expression that practically drips with infatuation. I blush at the subtle connotation, more from my imagination than anything else. My head is buzzing, but I'm pulled back when Sakura waves good-bye. She's walking away, and before I know it, its just my roommate and I.
"Shall we head back, Yamada-san?" I hear him question down at me, and I look up and nod my head.
Maybe I'm thinking too much into it, they're probably just going to do some night training.
Shaking my head, I attempt to clear any assumptions. Regardless, it's none of my business, "Do you want me to carry a few bags? I feel bad having you carry them all the way back to the apartment."
"I am perfectly fine, and more than happy to assist you. Besides, it is the least I can do for you after your help a few weeks ago."
"Right," I say sheepishly, recalling the nosebleed incident not too long ago.
I'm waiting for the day he'll storm into the living room red faced, demanding an explanation as to why I used my tampons instead of something less invasive. Oddly enough, I can't really picture Lee getting down right mad—furious even. Maybe he's more of the 'pouty-ignore-you-all-day' type. It's funny, I'm realizing there is so much I don't know about my roommate, and for some reason I'm curious to see every side of him.
"Yamada-san?" I snap from my trance and notice my roommates face leaning closer to mine. "Is everything alright? You seem to be staring off and I am afraid you will trip again."
I shake my head and shyly take a conservative step aside, "Mhm. I just thought I saw someone I recognized but it wasn't them. Sorry, I'll pay attention where I'm going this time."
I must be a chronic liar, that's the only explanation I can give for constantly having to hide what I'm thinking or doing. Never the less, Lee accepts my realistic explanation and motions us along the village street back to our quaint apartment that we share.
Maybe one day, I'll be able to open up…just a little bit more.
o o o
Night quietly falls over Konoha, ending my long afternoon spent reviewing lesson plans, grading a few papers and checking over extra credit assignments. I've already taken a shower and can fully enjoy the feeling of plush couch beneath my toes. Lee has already left the apartment, probably to enjoy whatever plans he made with Sakura earlier today. I take a relaxing breath. The kitchen and living room lights are off, and only a soft light is emitted from the television. It's the perfect scenario: I'm in my long pajamas, alone, curled up and drinking a hot cup of decaffeinated coffee, all the while watching a romantic drama I've seen more times than I should. It should be illegal at how well I know the entire script, word for word. And like always, I gasp and tear-up at every appropriate moment, as if my helpless romantic self just stumbled upon it for the first time. Either the director is incredible at what he does or my emotions are still in a rut by the break-up. I'm so wrapped up in the cliché plot that I don't even take notice in the apartment door opening.
"Can't you see he's perfect for you!" I've said this same line countless of times before, but I always feel the need to repeat it every single time during the same scene. I wipe a stray tear stinging the corner of my eyes, "You're such a dummy. If I was you, I would…I would…" my head rolls on the back end of the sofa, "choose the jerk too."
"Yamada-san?"
A voice rips me from my melodramatic episode, and my irrational human fear takes over me. I scream bloody-murder as my hands drop the half-cup of coffee on my chest and lap. I don't stop there as I scramble off the couch and face the shadowy figure by the entrance.
"I don't know how you know my name, or how you got in here, but stay back!" My shaking hands reach for a pen on the coffee table, and I extend it out in front of me like a deadly kunai. "I have this knife, a-and I swear, if you come any closer, I will stick it somewhere in your body, and it'll hurt!"
"Y-Yamada-san, it is me!" The adrenaline drains from my ears, and I can hear the familiarity in the person's voice. Oh jeez, don't tell me…
The physical world answers me before my thoughts can as the living room lights turn on, revealing a surprised Lee against the wall by the light switch.
"Lee-san," I lower my threatening hand immediately. "I'm so sorry, I thought you were some maniac who broke in."
"Yes, I can tell," he finally speaks; taking a glance at the pen I was about to use as the perfect murdering tool. I'm quick to place it back on to the coffee table along with the rest of my folders and such. His large eyes continue to blink; assessing the unexpected scene I welcomed him home with, "I did not mean to surprise you. I hope the coffee was not hot."
"H-Huh?" I tilt my chin down and see that my whole pajama top and part of my pants are completely stained brown. A groan of humiliation wants to come up but I swallow it hard, "No, it was already lukewarm. Um, I think I'll change now."
I pick up my mug that I dropped on the floor during my escapade and sigh in relief to find no stains on the couch. I keep my eyes fixed away from Lee as I scuttle to the kitchen, place the cup in the sink, and shuffle into my room. I change into a new pair of long pajamas and notice part of my chest and stomach smell of coffee. Guess it's better to smell like coffee than anything else.
I quietly walk out of my room and back out into the living room. I notice Lee has already taken a spot on the couch and I join him, taking a seat just a cushion away. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I try to start some form of a conversation.
"So, you're home earlier than I expected." I smack myself mentally, that sounded so rude. "N-Not that I didn't want you to come back or anything. Um, did training with Sakura end early?"
Yup, Smooth Operator Sho. That's what they call me. I inwardly roll my eyes at my self-induced mockery.
"Surprisingly, it was not training," he answers with a half-hearted smile, unsure if he should believe what he'll say next. "It was a date."
"Wow! That's so great," I don't know why, but I'm excited. Partly from wanting to know more about my roommate's more personal life, and of course, me being right about them having more than a friendship relationship. Being a wallflower does have its perks, I say to myself.
Adjusting myself to a cross-legged position facing Lee, I shift forward as if I'm going to be told a wonderful love story, "How was it? Did it go well?"
A defeated laugh escapes him, and I can already tell where this is going, "It did not turn out well, or terrible for that matter, since the date did not even happen."
"What? How come?"
An audible sigh loosens his lips,"A situation came up for her at the hospital, and so, she was too busy to go out with me tonight."
Ouch. Poor thing.
"I'm sorry to hear that," I say faintly. "I'm sure you'll have another chance, Lee-san."
His circles are lowered to the ground and he nods his head reluctantly. He looks like a saddened puppy left in the rain, but this only spreads a smile across my lips. Is this what they call being a sadist? No, I'm definitely not one of those! I'm smiling because after a month of living with my roommate, who's usually chipper and polite, I think I'm starting to see something…different.
"You know what though?" I'm wearing a silly smile as Lee fixes his eyes on me, questioning eyebrow quirk and all. "I have a new box of comfort hot cocoa with our names on it. More for you though, but I'd like some too since you forced me to wear most of my coffee a few minutes ago."
His lips arch upwards at my comment, "I did not force you, Yamada-san. I remember you voluntarily decided to shower yourself in it. I think you enjoyed it even!"
I fake a hurt gasp, "Lee-san, I didn't know you were a man of cruel jokes."
"Not always, Yamada-san. But at this very moment, I am guilty as charged."
I giggle and he accompanies me with a laugh of his own.
"I'll be right back." I take advantage of the good atmosphere and hop to the kitchen to fix two cups of hot chocolate. Finishing up with the whip cream, I make my way back to the couch.
"Here you go," I say, gesturing a cup to Lee as I sit down. "I made sure to not make it too hot, so you won't burn yourself."
He smiles and takes the cup into his hand, "Thank-you."
"Mhm," I mumble against the rim of the mug. After taking a conservative sip, to avoid the whip cream catching my nose, I stare bemused at my roommate. It's plain as day that he doesn't drink hot cocoa everyday, and had no problem practically drafting it down despite the barrier of cream.
My teeth catch my bottom lip, to keep from laughing at his new profoundly sweet mustache. The giggle tickles my throat and his gaze falls on me. Okay, I seriously want to laugh right now.
"Is there something funny?" His question only makes my giggles worse, and I slowly shake my head disapprovingly.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
I take a courageous swig of my hot chocolate. Lowering the mug I feel the cool whip cake my upper lip, "Why, not at all my good sir. I was only admiring your perfectly groomed mustache. Do tell me your secret, and don't spare the details."
Lee gazes at me with brimming curiosity as to what exactly I was trying to get across. A shine of amusement suddenly flickers in his eyes as he catches on.
"Secret, you ask?" He replies, now aware of his fake mustache. Playing along, he pretends to stroke it with care, "My kind fellow, there is none. For you see, this is all natural!"
The building giggles in my throat leap out and I laugh—hard. Sure, I've chuckled, laughed lightly, but not this time. This time, it's a laugh that I can't control, to the point where I snort. Yes, that's right, snort. I quickly catch myself, and like the genius that I am, I slap a hand over my mouth and squish the whip cream all over and into my nose. I think I even see a bit of white fluff fly into the air. Immediately, I assume I'll be met with silence and a disgusted look. My stomach falls at the thought.
"You are too much, Yamada-san!" Lee laughs just as loud, if not more so. I'm pleasantly surprised by his reaction and smile as he levels out with a chuckle, "You are truly an interesting person."
"Thank-you," I speak feebly, timidly wiping my mouth on my sleeve.
My roommate's humble, but I know he's probably more interesting; I'll just have to be patient and maybe one day…
One day.