I tiptoed as I entered the dorm room, careful not to make any unnecessary sound that would alert my ever so light-sleeper roomate. Complete silence descended upon the whole room as I saw Ino already wallowed into the comfort of her cozy bed.

I put my key on the nightstand and turned on my crescent moon-shaped bedside lamp. A sigh slipped off my parted lips.

"This is a mess," I breathed out as my finger came to pinch the bridge of my nose, reducing the bottled up tension I'd been holding there.

My body felt so sore like nothing else before. The 'sinful' red dress clung onto my body like my second skin crumpled as if it had been abandoned and picked up again in such a haste.

Well, it wasn't really a lie, was it?

I really felt like a modern cinderella, dolled up so prettily for a one night occasion and left after the time was up. But the difference is, there won't be prince charming looking for me, asking my hand for a convenient life filled with happiness without any worry–just like a miniature of heaven I'd always been imagining.

And another big difference is, even though he will really look for me, I will be the one running away from him. At all costs. I don't want something more than what has already happened. Because that would certainly be something beyond what I can handle.

Another sigh and another wave of headache.

I closed my eyes when the abrupt tide of memories came surging like madness inside my head, keeping it replayed on repeat like a broken record refusing to stop.

I felt throbs on my nerves as my body tensed. Peeking hesitantly through the slight slit from my eyes, I saw them–red blotches scattered all over my neck, the physical evidence of my highly questionable sanity for acting on impulsive desires like never before. Like I wasn't myself.

I have always been the careful type. All my schedules are perfectly arranged in such high precision. Thinking over hundreds of times whenever a decision needs to be made, weighing all the pros and cons, even going as far as listing all the worst case scenarios to prepare my arsenals if things really hit rock bottom eventually.

Life has never really been easy for me and it shaped me into being this over-meticulous self. Not that I hate it. Being well-prepared gives me a sense of security in this life of mine in which I could never predict what the very next second carries.

But this one night, only this one night, desires ate me whole as I let all my reasonable thinking go into complete tumult. I felt feverish as the wild beast in me took control over everything, leaving me surrendering like an obedient dog to its master.

Do I regret this? Yes, a lot.

But, is a one time thing supposed to be so deeply engraved to my very bones like this?

That, I wonder.

That question binding me after that night got left out of my heed when regrets backfired ten folds after our second unexpected (or expected from his part) meeting at campus today. I should have backed off right then and there when I saw him pulling over his Bugatti right in front of my eyes. Or maybe when he took me to his private yacht for a dinner I never imagined I'd be having in my broke, college life.

Oh no, I should have said no to Ino in the very first place after knowing he came from that old money family. Tangling up with rich people never really did good to me. Maybe I'm always meant to stay away from any lux in this world. Though money is good, but the cost of living such luxury is something I'd kill to be kept away from. Even having my body beaten to pulp by endless labor hours still sounds better.

The librarian is good enough to keep the book for me until I get my student ID back.

"But I'll only manage to keep it until tomorrow morning, Hinata. You know how long the line is to borrow this book," she said.

I agreed without any complaint, at least there's still time–and chance–for me to get my ID back. I'll get it back no matter what it costs.

I keep my stride at a fast, certain pace. I've calculated all possible tricks this man might pull off later when we meet. If he, with such a blatant move, dared to take things into his own accord just so it will go as he wants it, is there really anything that could stop this man from doing more crazy things in the future? Highly doubtful.

He is dangerous. I don't even dare imagining all the things he might hold behind his alluring smile, or his honey-dripping voice, or that aggressive dominance emitting from his mere presence.

"Hinata!"

I halt when somebody called my name. Turning around, I see my pink-haired classmate comes jogging toward my direction.

"Oh, Sakura! What's up?"

"Don't you remember? I'm gonna treat you to your favorite cafe for helping me with my last practicum report," she says with a big grin on her face. "Thanks to you, I got an A from Prof. Tsunade's class!"

I see her making some small jumps along with her high-pitched squeal. is widely known in our department for being so strict with her class. And getting an A from her is like a fast-pass ticket straight to success in her next semester's class.

"I'm so glad to hear that! But I'm afraid I can't make it right now." I flash her a smile.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes, there's a problem I need to take care of."

"You need more hand with it?" she offers.

"No, it's okay. I can handle this." No when I have to tell you all the crazy stuff I did this past week just so you can understand the problem.

I see her mouth slightly puckered by my answer but then in a flash, her face lits up again. "Then, take this!"

She places something in my palm. "Bubble tea?"

"Taro bubble tea! I know it's your fav!"

I can't hide my happy face as I reach out to take the drink she hands me. "Thank you! I'll definitely enjoy this!"

I press it against my cheek as a pleasant sigh escapes my lips. Today is especially hot and is there really anything better than having my favorite iced bubble tea for free? Definitely not.

"But this doesn't count, ok? I'll look forward to treating you to the real deal next time!" she grins widely as I nod in agreement before we bid our goodbyes.

It doesn't really take long for me to find where to find him. Who doesn't know about the UK Group in this city? It's one of the few skyscrapers towering over the city, the highest that is. And anyone who doesn't know is either blind or dumb.

And apparently Uzumaki Naruto works there. Ah, correction: he practically owns that fucking place. So, can you imagine why I try so hard to not make any further contact with this man, other than our first dinner date last week?

This man is just…not right for me.

I look up to the tiny dot of the building's top peak. The sky looks especially so bright today, fluffy clouds float like flying cotton candy, drifting by the wind in such a gentle fluid movement.

The bubble tea is still securely gripped in my palm, saving it for later to boost my mood that may or may not be ruined after my business in this building is done. In any case, this little cup of bubble tea will be my little gift for the day.

There's really no guarantee that he will be here around this hour but I've prepared any possibilities and how to dodge them once I take my first step into this place. Some workers are spotted here and there, but it's not as packed as I've anticipated before given this building is the headquarter of the UK Group.

I see somebody, possibly not one of their workers, is talking to the receptionist as she gestures to him something that looks like a direction.

Okay stay calm. This is my chance. Just walk through it like you've been here before–

"Excuse me, Miss? May I help you?" Ugh dammit.

"No?" I said briefly over my shoulder. Passing the front desk without being questioned is what I'm aiming for. Things might get more difficult if I need to explain myself as to why I come here.

"May I know what business you have? I'm afraid I need to confirm your appointment first."

Ugh, 'I'm here to get my student ID back after your damn CEO stole it from me'? Do I really need to say that?

She's still looking at me politely, waiting for my answer as I finally turn to face her. I can understand that she has her doubts about my presence here. Even from a brief glance of my appearance, question marks might have been popping inside her head that lead to suspicion.

Would anyone who has business in one of the biggest car and tech company headquarters come in such plain pastel hoodie, sneakers, tote bag, and a freaking bubble tea in her hand? Who in their right mind would believe that I'm going to directly see the CEO?

I try to maintain my composure as calmly as possible under her subtle scrutiny, as if threatening me 'you better not lie or else you'll face the security guards within seconds'. I've calculated the guards' position when I entered the building; there are 4 in front and one in each corner. The lift isn't far from where I stand and that is where I'm aiming now.

I flash her a smile when I notice her making eye contact with one of the security, as if giving him cue to get ready to take action anytime she gives the clue. "Umm actually…" I trail off as I think of a way to get her attention solely on me, "I was wondering if I can use the restroom here."

"Oh, my apologize but I'm afraid we won't be able to allow you to do th–"

"OH MY GOD! A CATERPILLAR!" I throw my squeezy caterpillar toy I've prepared right at her direction and bless it for sticking on her hairpins.

"WH–AAAAA WHERE IS IT?!" she panics and moves around trying to get it off her. I use that chance to dash as fast as I can toward the lift, leaving the panicked front desk lady screaming and wriggling like a maniac.

Ding!

My ears perk when the lift dings and the door slides open. Oh praise all heavens!

I speed up, using all my power to focus on my feet and run like my life depends on it. With the final push, I glide inside and bump against the wall. I'm only about to take a breath when I see two security guards are already halfway running after me, with their comical expressions and gritted teeth.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

I know it's not the time or place to laugh but the faces they are making are so hilarious like they've been tricked by a mere college girl.

Hahaha you eat this!

I poke my bubble tea with the straw and squeeze it hard enough until it spurts right to their face, the bubble hits their eyes like bullets. Perfect score!

"YOU LITTLE–!" their curses are booming in the air as they stumble right in front of the door.

I flash them a cocky smile when the door closes before they even get the chance to get up again, leaving their faces so red like it's about to explode.

"Haaaaaaa~" I let out a long sigh. "What a crazy day!" my shoulders heave up and down as I try to even my breathing. I really should have listened to Ino's nagging about me barely working out. It's only at times like this that I regret that.

But then, a pout appears on my face when I notice there's only half of my bubble tea left for me, though it's still worth the price of not getting caught by the security.

A ding alerts me as the little monitor on the elevator's wall shows the 20th floor. It's the CEO's floor–or so the written information tells me.

So, here it is.

The door slides open, revealing the modern-minimalist interior in sight with black and silver dominating the color scheme. There's a wall which contains various car designs pinned on it and later I understand that it's also used as a partition of the office. The vibe itself is so calming and quiet, yet there's this weird, subtle feeling that this place can be quite dangerous somehow. It definitely reminds me of the one owning the place.

I keep standing still even after the lift slides to close again. My eyes are cautiously roaming all over the room, taking in every detail to better understand this place as a whole before calculating on my next move.

I've been the type to be extra careful when I'am faced with new things, but after meeting Uzumaki Naruto–or literally anything related to this man–I never thought I'd ever unlock a new level of this meticulous self before.

I manage my calm and assured stride when I make my move to venture deeper into the room and once the partition is passed by, my eyes finally find him.

With a laptop wide open on his desk, a cup of coffee seems to already turn cold by the passing time it sits devoutly there, and him sitting behind his desk in his white shirt topped with navy vest, a serious expression rests on his entire face and…glasses?

Wow.

Wow.

Never have I ever imagined him and glasses being combined together. And I highkey admit that he rightfully can claim his free-pass of those who can pull off wearing glasses to be not at all nerdy–suck it, even sexy is still a blatant understatement of how he looks right fucking now.

Cut it Hinata! He's the one gravely responsible for your ruined bubble tea party! Remember what you came here for!

He still doesn't seem to notice my presence standing here staring at him keenly.

"Ahem." I attempt to get his attention. Wow, so lame.

"What now?" he doesn't even bother to look up as he replies. "Didn't I tell you to send the report to my email–"

That's right. Look at me you b–uhh I need to stop calling him names.

He doesn't finish his sentence once he looks up, which, instead of finding his–supposedly–workers, it's me staring back at him with as reserved face as I can pull.

We stand still within our clashed gaze for a few seconds in complete silence until he flashes me a smirk, just as fast as I lose some heartbeat for some unidentified reason right there and then.

"Look what we've got here," he says as he puts his glasses down on the desk. "I must admit that I'm a bit too excited to meet you tonight, too, but 'Nata…" he stands up, walking in detour to reach the front of his desk and leans slightly there, both hands dip into the security of his pockets, "...you completely, utterly leave me at a loss for words just by knowing that you turn out to be this eager."

He crosses his legs, head tilts slightly as his eyes caging me inside his insanely sharp scrutiny.

Ugh, fuck. He clearly knows how to play me just by using his mere gaze and he uses that card so so wickedly well.

"Had I known you're coming this early, I would have pushed all my schedule and freed this day to focus solely on you."

"Please give my student ID back," I say as calmly as I could possibly muster.

"So what do you want for dinner?"

"My student ID. Please."

Now he chuckles, "How cute. But that's not how we do business, baby girl." He brings his arms to fold them across his board chest, a smug grin on his lips, saying, "Give and take."

Holy hell, that fucking arms again. And that cocky face. And that overbearing confidence. How long would I stand this view until I'll finally fold? Even God wouldn't know.

I muster all my courage to take steps towards him and stop at a relatively safe radius. Being too near won't do me any good for sure.

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid you are the one taking my student ID without permission. I can file a report of you stealing. Just so you know."

"Ouch, I'm hurt." He puts his palm to rest on his chest, with a pained expression playing on his (goddammit) handsome face. "Is that all you take me for? An ID stealer? After all the things we went through together?" He deliberately emphasizes the word together. And I blush–so stupidly.

Goddammit. He's saying like we've been through some grandiose things in life together. We just spent one fucking night–oh fuck.

…

Damn.

It's really a deep, grandiose shit we did right there you dumbfuck.

I sigh, though I try to make it as subtle as possible. As memories of that night come flooding in an overwhelming tide, I bite my lips to calm my nervous self. I can't think straight with this much torture inside my head.

"Don't bite your lips." My body flinches when a soft caress lands on my lips, stroking it gently until I absentmindedly surender into that touch and release my teeth from biting them anymore. "Good girl."

When–how did he come to stand here?! All of a sudden?! I didn't even notice his footsteps–

I hold my breath as he moves even closer, pressing his body against mine, and making me sooo self conscious of this dangerous proximity. Just as suddenly as his towering body now literally sticks onto me, he slips his hand to securely wrap it around my waist, not leaving me a chance to back away. Not that I would anyway. Wait–what?!

"Don't hold your breath everytime we get this close. I might end up choking you." His whispers sound like silk and his words–I swear–are dripping with the rawest honey I've never heard before. But then I think about the implication those words carry and I feel like my feet would buckle right then and there.

His left hand still faithfully rests on the small of my back and starts drawing circles there, meanwhile the other hand is now caressing my flushed cheeks–despite my desperate struggle to hold any heat wave surging toward my face.

It's only now that I realize, controlling my body around Uzumaki Naruto is such a work going straight into complete futile. It's not my brain anymore who takes control, but it's this body language that speaks louder than any word could possibly convey.

"Just to make things straight," I pause while mustering all my might to land my eyes on his eagle eyes, "I sincerely, wholeheartedly grateful for the things you did to me just by our one night occasion last week."

"Because of that, I can peacefully study for my exam without worrying about going to part time jobs for a while. But.." I pause when I notice how his fingers are busy playing with my hair; twirling, caressing, feeling it slips through his fingers with the utmost ethereal touch.

"Are you listening?"

"I surely am."

"Highly questionable."

"But?" he cues for me to continue.

"But…that was a one time thing." Just as fast as the word slips out of my mouth, his fingers stop. He stares at me, as if he has trust issues with his own hearing by the words I just said. There's hint of different shade of blue beneath his gaze and it's almost impossible for me to get the grip of what they try to translate through.

"And why is that?"

"That was my final resolve. Even before I agreed to meet you."

"And why is that only a one time thing?" he urges. I avert my gaze as his intensity becomes heavier. But only for a brief second my eyes drop to the floor, he grazes my chin and pushes it up so that our gaze connects again.

Naruto takes his steps forward, his gaze never leaving mine as he pushes me back until I feel a soft bump on my back against the wall. He cages me between his arms.

His face comes closer, his breath plays ticklish on my skin, and his lip is hovering over mine. It's so dangerous. There's a big lump in my throat yet I don't even fucking dare to swallow my saliva, afraid that the weight of my nervousness will alert him aware.

My gaze becomes hazy as the weight pressing down my eyelid gets heavier by every passing seconds we stand still within that much intensity. Then, for a very brief flash, I see him veering his eyes to drop on my lips and right then…I utterly lose it.

My eyes are closed, heart beating so loudly I'm afraid that he would hear just how much it rages under his influence. But the thing I'm waiting for doesn't come. That soft, gentle lips pressed against mine–it doesn't come.

Instead, I hear a breathy laugh fans on my face and my eyes snap open.

"Unlike you, 'Nata, once I know what I want, I will never lie to myself and do whatever it takes until I get it within my very grip," he pauses, "I will do whatever it takes. With all my might. To get it."

Hearing what he just said, something within me flames. I steel my gaze, challenging his, "And unlike you, Mr. Millionaire–"

"Billionaire. Just so you know."

I roll my eyes, not finding it in me to conceal it anymore. "As you wish, Mr. Billionaire," he flashes me a tiny grin of satisfaction, "Because unlike you, I've calculated all my decisions with so much consideration, deep thinking, and rasional judgements. I don't do jumping straight into my wants and desires. I can't."

"Why are you denying so hard? What are you trying to protect?"

"Myself."

His face turns more solemn. "From what?"

"Something that might end up hurting me."

"But I never plan to." He cups both my cheeks within his warm palm, his forehead rests against mine, as if assuring me that his presence means no harm–that there's no malice in all its clarity.

"But the weight of the things you carry on your shoulders might."

There's this sudden wave of understanding dawning upon his eyes. It might sound crazy–even to myself–but why does he suddenly look…melancholy?

There's no way he would understand. He doesn't know my upbringing, my stories, my life. We are basically just two strangers having the chance to meet by my pitiful fate which is the complete opposite of his.

We are just as strangers as two people merely knowing each other's name.

That's all.

But…what is this feeling weighing down my chest? Am I…hesitating?

I'm not that stupid to not understand what this feeling is. I want him, yes. My desire yearns for him. My body aches for his touch. But there's always a limit of how far I can let my desire go. Because in life, there are people who never hold the freedom of acting upon what they want 'til their heart's content. No matter how much that life belongs to them. No matter how they bleed for it.

Freedom isn't just bestowed upon anyone. They own their life, yet they are caged. And I'm one of those.

The closer he brings his face to mine, the thicker my hesitation grows. I feel how delicately his nose tip grazes against mine, how we breathe in the same air, or how…there's a faint sound thrumming just as hard as my own as if they are competing with each other.

Should I just…give in–

Ding!

"I'm sure she ran off this floor–"

"But it's the president's office!"

Oh shit! It's the security guard!

In an abrupt movement, I get myself out from Naruto's hold and frantically look for a place to hide. When my eyes catch sight of his desk, I dash as fast as I can then roll myself into a small ball under the desk.

"What's it?"

I hear Naruto's voice impatiently strike them with question. He's irritated.

"We apologize Sir but there's a weird girl breaking through the office and I'm sure she went off this floor."

"Yes, we are here to check if she really sneaks here. She might be someone dangerous."

I hear footsteps come towards where I hide and suddenly Naruto comes into sight; he leisurely sits on his chair, spreading his legs wide they land on either side of my balled body.

"Hmm, she sure is dangerous," he mumbles.

"W-Wha–did something really happen Sir?"

"We deeply apologize, Sir! Please allow us to look around your office and catch her!" they reply with so much flames in their voice.

Ah, that's definitely personal, I thought, as I glance upon my half-left bubble tea.

"Go." I flinch when I hear the sound of his voice. It's dripping with venom, a striking contrast of how he sounded just a few moments ago when he talked to me.

"Y-Yes?"

"Go. Now. Before I fire you."

"W-Whaa–We apologize!" They sound so baffled by the sudden change of mood and the next thing I hear is their hurried footsteps running out of this place for dear life.

Naruto pushed his foot against the floor, sending the chair he occupied backward until I can see his face.

"Did they scare you?"

"Yes–No, I mean..I kinda deserve this."

He furrows, "You don't. Not within my sight you deserve to be crouching down like this, hiding." There's fire within his voice, utterly despises what I said.

His expression holds something…I can't decipher. He pokes his tongue against the inside of his cheeks as his eyes bore holes into mine.

"My student ID. Please. I need it to borrow a book."

"Really? You are thinking of a fucking book in this situation?" he sounds so annoyed, which lowkey kinda scares me–

"Never have I ever got jealous of a mere book." Ah, maybe not.

"We're not done with our discussion," he reaches out to me, a hand already halfway to catch my arm when suddenly a voice comes, stopping our movements all together.

"Let's go, dobe."

Naruto looks up and a sigh suddenly slips through his lips just as fast as we hear the voice.

"Seriously–" he runs his fingers through his hair–frustrated, "I'm trying to have my moment here!"

"What?"

"Whatever. Where to?"

"Usual place."

Naruto doesn't straight up reply, yet he glances upon me and suddenly a very subtle lift on the corner of his lips appears.

"I'm not sure~" he cooes and his eyes find the other man again, "what if somebody looks for me when I'm away?"

"Are you expecting someone?"

"Maybe…or maybe not?"

"Tsk, stop your nonsense and let's go."

"Hmm…should I?" he challenges. Though it's not directly aimed for me, I know what he's trying to say. Not to mention how he keeps glancing at me with that sly smirk on his face.

"Why do you keep looking down under your desk–tsk, are you hiding something–or–one?"

"No way, Sasuke. There's no way somebody is down there getting on their knees, doing a job for me, right? No freaking way."

"You can get it where we're going right now. Let's go."

W-Wait..what? They are leaving? Right now? No way! Not when I still haven't got my student ID!

Before even having a chance to get up, I clench my bubble tea before swiftly putting it in between his spread thighs. Getting on my knees, I put my lips on the straw then slurping it as I look up, clashing my eyes with his widen ones. He's baffled.

I smirk. Got you.

He snorts–a breathy one–as his gaze becomes darker. "What a naughty little girl," he breathes out. His hand reaches out to caress my hair, his fingers find their way to slip through the silk of my threads, gathering them within his touch to put them away from blocking his sight on me.

Drawing my lips back from the straw, I finish it with a lick on the top of it, chewing on the sweet taste of my taro bubble tea, then mouth him a 'don't go'.

We engage in an intense staring contest.

"You coming or not?" Sasuke's voice, once again, disturbs us.

"No." He replies straight and firm, without even bothering to look at him–his piercing gaze stays rooted on me. Me only.

We don't hear anymore of his voice–there's only silence engulfing the dimension where we're in. Sasuke's gone.

Naruto leans deeper onto his chair, his legs spread wider caging me in between them, both his hands snake their way into his pockets. He tilts his head, tongue slips out to lick on his lower lips, before saying with a dangerous smirk, "What am I going to do to you?"

I don't reply when he bends forward, his elbows rest on his thighs, and a thumb lands on my lips. He gently slips it in and I can't find it in me to deny anymore–his thumb successfully finds its way to rest between my parted teeth.

"Tell me."