Disclaimer: I do not own anything but this chapter is mine.
A/N: I'm back. LOL. So I started writing this chapter on August 25th at 2:55 AM Philippine Time while I'm working. Hopefully, I wouldn't get caught (LOL) and hopefully, I finish this chapter in time (and not after three months :/)
Anyway, let's get this show on the road!
-A
-;-
No one was able to know how much pain Ayuzawa Misaki has seen, how much torture she had undergone and how many deaths she had witnessed.
-;-
Fourteen:
Everything was… very intense.
It was as if simply touching was not enough. It was as if simply holding his hand will not be adequate. The strong urge to not just touch him but devour all of him was so dominant and intense it's almost as if it was coming off my skin in rolls of heat waves.
And if I were being honest, it was even harder for me to focus right now while Usui Takumi was dragging me across the hallway—ignoring the see of stupefied faces of students glancing our way in equal amusement, shock and envy.
After all, what is an Authority doing dragging behind a troublemaker?
But the curious students were miles away from my mind. The main thing in my head was the fact that I was feeling so… heated when he's simply holding my wrist. It was hard enough to focus when he's looking at me with those penetrating eyes but when his skin was touching mine? It was hell. And I was so afraid that he would notice how hot my skin were that I was equally confused as well why he wasn't pulling his hand back.
Couldn't he feel the rise in my temperature? Couldn't he feel the heat waves rolling out of my skin?
Couldn't he feel that there's a predator behind him that might jump him anytime soon?
When I tried to yank my hand back, he didn't budge. Instead, he simply gripped my wrist tighter and dragged me closer; as if he wanted to bury me on the wide expanse that was his back.
Darn it…! What in the world is happening to me? I wanted to frickin' jump him!
"Not here, you fool." He says without looking back at me; indicating that he had heard—again—my thoughts. "At least, not yet."
My lips nearly bled over how hard I bit it. It was terrible—and confusing. Whatever he's doing to hear my thoughts is something I didn't want to happen all the time—or even forever. It was a complete invasion of my privacy. It makes me feel more… vulnerable than I already am. And what's worst is the fact that it felt as though it was the most natural thing to happen.
As if we've been connected for so many—for thousands of years.
"W-Where are we going?" I couldn't resist asking as he continued dragging me all over the place. "People are going to notice…"
"That's why we're getting away from here." He says; obviously pissed. "People in here can't seem to mind their own frickin' business. And you can tell Kaga and the others as well that they can follow us without hiding. I can frickin' see them."
I wondered what he was so mad about… and couldn't help but think if he was experiencing the same frustration as I am of wanting to actually touch him—even though we're already touching—but couldn't since we're in a public place. When we are finally out of the building, he dragged me all the way to the parking lot and into a black car that can fit around six people. I was momentarily terrified. If I didn't want to be seen with him in public, all the more I didn't want to be locked in a small place with him without any possible means of escape.
Not when I'm feeling all hot and rattled and frustrated for some reasons I could barely understand.
"I-I'm not going in that car alone with you."
"Get in, Ayuzawa." He says without preamble; opening the door and ushering me inside. "I'm not going to kill you. I'll tell Kaga and the others where we're going."
"B-But—"
He didn't wait for me to finish anymore as he grabbed me by the head and almost shove me inside the car. I didn't speak anymore when he slammed the door shut and stared helplessly at Shizuko and the others as Takumi spoke with them; probably providing instructions on where we're heading. I wanted to run away. I didn't want to be trapped in such a tiny space with him by myself. But my limbs wouldn't move no matter how much I willed them to until it was too late to escape.
When Takumi occupied the seat next to me and started the car, I was left with no other choice but to comply.
"W-Where are we going…?" I asked again when we approached the main gate of the University because, as far as I know, no one is easily allowed to step out of school premises.
He didn't answer me; at least not until he reached the guardhouse, showed his ID and drove off at full speed as soon as his car can safely go through the heavy, steel gates. "We're going outside." He says without preamble; at least, that's what he's trying to look and sound like. But his face was hard; his lips were pursed into a tight line while his knuckles were almost white for gripping the wheels tightly it might almost break at his touch.
Practically automatic, my hand moved on its own and reached out his tense forearm, trying to do what I can to relax his violin-string nerves. "Relax."
"I won't be able to if you keep touching me like that." He says; still pissed but his back had relaxed and his crouching position seemed to have disappeared. "And don't blame me if ever we got into an accident. You're practically to blame for seducing me like that."
"I didn't know the great Usui Takumi can get seduced."
He rolled his eyes at that. "I am only human. I don't usually get seduced but… I guess, you're an exception to that rule." He shrugged again. "I wonder why that is?"
I was practically blushing like a tomato when I clamped my mouth shut and focuses on the greenery around us. This wasn't supposed to be like this—not with Usui Takumi. I don't mind being placed in awkward situations just like these again and again so long as it's not with Usui Takumi. And I have to be honest with that.
Heaving in a deep breath, I turned to him again. "I—"
"I don't want to hear it—if you're planning to reject me, that is." He says almost casually. But I think I can hear the tell-tale signs of stress in his voice. "I don't want to hear that you don't want it with me."
I was momentarily confused. "What's it exactly?"
"Providing me an answer for my questions." He replied; matter-of-fact. And then, I was momentarily stupefied when he gave me a sideway glance; emerald eyes molten like green lava. "Trying things out with me. I wanna try things out with you."
"I'm not even… human to begin with."
'Then… explain everything to me… so I can understand." I was startled when he hit the gas pedal at full speed; running at full pace and swerving left and right until we seemed to have totally lost the car behind us.
I started to hyperventilate when he turned off the engine after parking behind a huge unknown tree. And when he turned to me, eyes determined to choke the truth out of me, I was speechless. He really was determined to know the frickin' truth. Regardless, I did my best to stall—a technique Shizuko taught me when faced into a stressful and exposing situation.
"S-Shizuko and the others might be—"
"I don't give a damn about them." Takumi interrupted; still facing me—his face breathlessly dark and handsome. "I want to know the truth behind this claim."
"You wouldn't believe me." Damn, Ayuzawa, lie!
"Try me."
"Maybe I don't want to."
"Do I have to throttle your lovely neck just so you'd confess?" his voice was dark and dripping with the sort of danger that made me shiver. And regardless if I'm faced in a deadly situation, I thought I didn't mind giving up my life for him—to him.
And I didn't know if it's a good thing or not.
My hands twitched on my lap. And dammit I wanted badly to touch him.
"Then touch me, dammit."
Alarmed, I snapped my head towards him. "How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Hear my thoughts." I was slightly confused—and flustered again. Why in the world is this happening. "Only my Mom and Dad—"I paused automatically. That's right. This wasn't a new thing. When I was a child, my mother use to tell me that, before I was born, due to some inexplicable phenomenon, my father can hear her thoughts. It stayed like that until I hit five and the curse got transferred to me.
And even the generation before us claims that their partners who are unaffected with their curse say that they can hear their thoughts as well—and vice versa. As if it was the most natural thing to happen.
Then… does that mean…? I turned to Usui again. "No way…"
"What?"
"N-Nothing." No way is this nothing. But definitely impossible. "I still think you'll be much safer not knowing what… w-what I am."
"That's not for you to decide."
"Usui, I—"
"If you're not going to tell me the truth when I'm asking you nicely… then I guess I have no other choice but to force it out of you."
"How are you—" I let out a startled yelped when the backrest of the seat suddenly gave up and I was suddenly facing the ceiling of his car. Before I could even come up with a reaction, Usui Takumi has already climbed up above me; him and the seatbelt restraining me from making any movements of some sort. "The hell are you doing, you bastard—"
"You're not giving me any other options here, Ayuzawa." His eyes, once again, were a compelling shade of emerald. "And I think it's much safer to assume that when I do this, you have no other choice but to surrender."
My eyes nearly bulged out of my sockets when he started unbuttoning the top three buttons of his uniform and, shameless as I am, I ended up ogling the pallid and usually unexposed skin underneath. And for some odd reasons, it felt as though my heart was finally at home. I couldn't find the exact approach to this sort of situation. The only thing registering in my head as of the moment was the fact that my hands were tingling and my lips were shaking and I'm starting to see hazy shadows that can only belong to my ancestors inside my messy head. And why I am seeing them, I didn't have the slightest idea.
My love… I've missed you…
And he seemed to have heard that as well because his eyes were confused for a moment. I was confused for a moment as well—hearing these voices, seeing memories that are mine—but he was asking for the truth. And even if I didn't want to, my body was screaming at me to just simply exposed everything to him—as if this is what I've been waiting for my entire life.
We've finally met again… after so many lifetimes…
"Who are you?"
I've been waiting for you for a very long time…
"Why are you waiting for me?"
I was quite certain it wasn't my voice that he was hearing. But at the same time, I was aware that this was the main of the many voices and memories that I carry with me—memory of my ancestors whose lives were affected by the curse.
I've missed you, my love…
Through his eyes, I could almost see my eyes flashing—exposing my inhumanity—and, before I could even stop myself, remind myself of what's proper and what's not, my hands shot up to reach both sides of his face and dragged him down.
Takumi seemed to have willingly complied as he allowed himself to be dragged down towards me. We both hesitated for a moment, wondering if this was truly the path we are ready to walk on and, before despair and hesitation and regret could even take over, he captured my lips with his for a searing kiss… while I started to open the door between us—showing him the dark and ugly truth he so wanted to know. His body went stiff for a moment as loads of memories and information were dumped into his knowledge and when I thought he was going to run away or cursed at me for bringing along with me such a curse, I was even more startled when he pressed his chest to mine, his hands gripping my arm and the side of my neck in order to hold me down in place as waves of memories rolled into his mind…
.
"Where have you been?! I was frickin' worried!"
I kept my eyes on the ground as Shizuko went on and inquired us on our whereabouts. When I risked a glanced at Usui Takumi who seemed to have also darted a quick glance at me, I flushed like an angry tomato and was quick to divert my eyes somewhere else. Everything was all very… intense. Before I could even realize what's happening, I've been sharing everything to him—and not just the truth and the memories. Stupid as I am, I shared it to him physically which made the exposure more overpowering and intense than necessary.
"Is everything… alright?" It was Hideki-kun who asked that while looking at me. "You two are not fighting, right?"
I mentally wondered if he truly meant what he was asking or if he was wondering if I hypnotized Takumi's ass into submission so he'd stop pestering me. I exhaled. "W-We're not—"
"We're not fighting." Takumi interrupts with a roll of his eyes. "Ayuzawa here just told me what's been going on—and your involvement."
Nobody said a word. After all, he had every right to be mad. Something… deadly serious has been going on within the University grounds and nobody told him anything. Before I could even utter an apology, Shizuko was quick to cut me off.
"It's not really something that we can easily share, Usui."
"You shared it with Aoi and you didn't tell me?"
"They didn't share it to me!" Aoi quickly defended. "I was simply… I was just…" he shot a quick glance at my direction and at my nod; he let out a defeated sigh. I knew that he wouldn't lie to him and I've already prepared myself to be exposed down to the core. "I forced it out of her."
Startled, I glanced up at him. That wasn't a response I was expecting. Frankly speaking, I was all prepared that he would abandon me—that he would rat me out. "No, you didn't."
"I did." His eyes were on the ground; hands tightly balled into fists while his face was red due to anger or embarrassment or probably a mixture of both. "Ayuzawa didn't want to tell me—so was Shizuko. S-She… saved me… and I forced the answer out of her—even if she didn't want to. She wanted to protect everybody from the truth… and I forced it out of her because… I was scared of her."
Ah, dammit. I hate this politeness. "You didn't seem scared of me."
"I'm very good at hiding it." Aoi was sad again for reasons I couldn't understand. "But probably, I decided to be more afraid of… what you are instead of believing that I was afraid that you'd leave because of us."
I have no answer for that. I didn't want to leave. But if it would mean their safety, I'd gladly pack my bags without batting an eyelash. In front of us, Takumi exhaled. "Well, rest assured that's nobody's going to leave this place now that the secret's out. Did you have so little faith in me that you didn't want to let me in on this secret?"
I frowned at him. "This is not child's play, Usui."
"You're right. You made that very clear while you were spilling everything to me a while ago."
I flushed scarlet red. I wasn't a very violent person but as of the moment, I really and truly wanted to smack him on the face. But Usui Takumi rooted me to the ground when he gazed down at me—eyes green and wild and penetrating. And almost instantly… my body reacted positively. I could almost smell and hear and taste everything around me—all because of a single gaze from him.
And that odd… feeling pooling inside my chest and crawling down to my stomach was all very new to me. And it made me so frickin' uncomfortable that I thought I wanted to throw up.
Whatever it may be, Usui Takumi is the one causing it.
"What… the hell…"
We all snapped our heads to Hideki's direction and were startled to see him flushed and breathless. He was heaving out deep breaths and when Shizuko went to his side to check if he was okay, he was quick to grip her forearm and started distancing himself from me. It took me a moment to realize that he was being affected by whatever's happening to me. And although Aoi and Sakura were being affected as well, it wasn't as strong as the effect on Hideki—and they seemed unaware of it as well.
Shizuko glanced at me; grey eyes sharp and threatening. "Misaki."
I quickly understood what she meant and hurriedly glanced away; trying to control whatever it may be that I lost control of. I tried finding my core; calming the beast inside me—and wondering why it was suddenly on rampage—when I felt something cover my head.
Takumi's voice appeared right next to me. "Does it help if I do this?"
It was Hideki who responded. "She's still inside my head but it helps since I couldn't see her anymore. I'm sorry, Misaki-san."
"I-It's my fault—"
"Let's go." Before I could even finish my apology, Takumi had already started dragging me somewhere. I struggled to keep up with him but I couldn't since my sight was being blockaded by his sweater. When he realized that, he removed his sweater off my head and dragged me again towards his car parked nearby. "Let's all meet up at the dorm."
The thought of being in the car with him alone instigated more embarrassing memories. I couldn't possibly stay in that car with him without remembering those things we did. Although kissing is probably not a new thing to him—to us—still, kissing him was something I have never thought of doing after the announcement that we both hated each other.
"I-I think I'm going with Aoi and Sak—"
"Are you an idiot? They use Hideki's car to follow us. You think he'll be comfortable driving with you behind him?" his voice was dripping with sarcasm. "You'll be staying with me from now on… indefinitely."
"No way."
"What do you mean 'no way'?" when we reached his car, he faced me again. And I was too startled by the sudden movement that I wasn't able to immediately prepare my heart. He was so, so near. I couldn't bear it if he was that near. It felt as though my heart was going to explode. "From what I see, I'm the only one completely not affected by you."
You probably have a loose screw somewhere in your head.
He glared at me. "I heard that."
"Stop listening to my thoughts!" I nearly screamed at his face. "Whatever you're doing, you better stop it now, Takumi."
He had paused momentarily; eyes wild and surprise and, much to my frustration, he chuckled darkly.
I got even more pissed. "What's so funny?!"
"You are." He chuckled darkly again and opened the door for me; the sort of gesture I didn't know he was capable of doing. "Even under frustration, I couldn't help but wonder how you can still look so lovely."
Blood rushed up to my face over his words. Even the others who were ready to mount Hideki's car pause on their tracks and stared at our direction. Concealing my embarrassment, I allowed anger to color my voice. "Stop making a fool out of me."
"Ah, dammit. You're so goddamn stupid I'm starting to wonder if it's an inborn trait." I almost jumped out of my skin when he slammed the door shut. "And I was an idiot to believe you'd caught on. What was I thinking?" he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me from head-to-toe. "I can't believe I ended up liking someone who's incredibly stupid and naïve."
"W-W-What—"
"Shut up, Ayuzawa." He glanced away as if to compose himself. But I swear I could almost see the side of his neck turning dark pink and up to the tips of his ears. "I was an idiot to think you'd really caught on despite your anger at me. When I offered to give you that ride when you were at our department, I thought you somehow… realized. I'm glad that you're not the type to jump into conclusions like that but it was frustrating knowing you'd never think that way. I'm not very sure if I should thank or hate that blockhead of yours."
"W-What are you talking about…?" I was hyperventilating. I wanted to hit him so he would shut up but my body won't move. His penetrating gaze was enough to nail me to the ground. "Stop joking…!"
Behind me, I could almost feel Shizuko fuming over what she considers as an idiotic response, Aoi rolling his eyes, Hideki-kun looking equally shocked and amused and Sakura squealing like an idiot.
Takumi rolled his eyes. "I'm not joking, you fool. I'm serious. If you can't believe it, did you think I cope with it that easily? I've been thinking 'not you, not you' but I still ended up doing the one thing I didn't want to do. At all." When he lifted one hand to reach out to me—to touch me—I idiotically cringed away. He rolled his eyes again and drops his hand to his side. "I told myself to stay away from you. I wonder why I couldn't do that. But then I'd see you walking down the hallway while wearing such an idiotic expression or see you eating or reading your stupid books and those thoughts of wanting to touch you would start running wild in my thoughts again. You would never understand how much I've been trying my best to not… touch you whenever I'd see you."
W-Why…?
He paused for a moment; his eyes and face strained and I knew immediately he had heard my thoughts again. Whatever is happening, we still didn't have any explanation to compensate for the confusion. Takumi exhaled. "I wanted to touch you ever since the first moment I saw you—and I couldn't even explain it to myself. You think I have the power to just explain that to you?"
Confusion was still etched on my face. If I were being honest, I didn't have the slightest idea what is happening—or why it was happening. "I-It… can't be me."
"Who said so? Was there a rule that says I couldn't?"
"I-I'm not even…" when he lifted his hand to touch the side of my face, I ended up flinching though I didn't cringe away. It was as though my body is screaming at me to not do anything stupid that might drive Usui Takumi away just because I did a lot of stupid things in my life. Regardless, "I'm not even…"
"Did you think that would stop me from feeling anything?" when his hand touches the side of my face, I let out a soft sigh.
Darn it, why does this feel so… right?
"I'm not asking you to give me an answer now." He said after an intense moment of silent. "I just want you to realize… what I feel—and that I couldn't hide it any longer. Do you understand?"
Helplessly, I nodded. Darn it, I'm truly helpless around him.
"Good." He withdraws his hand from my face and turns to his car again to open the door for me. When I didn't move, he let out a patient exhale and grabbed the top of my head to pushed me down inside.
I frowned at him. "You're not very nice."
"That's how we've always been, isn't it?" he made sure that my entire body was safely deposited inside his car and slammed the door shut. He turned to Shizuko and the others—who I totally and completely forgot about—and probably gave them instructions on where to meet up before rounding the car and occupied the main seat.
When he was finally inside and the soft hum of his engine was the only noise between us, I summoned the courage to ask him the inevitable question. "You're not afraid of me?"
"You don't even look like you can kill people."
I was instantly reminded of the memories I've shown him and wondered if those are all nothing but my imagination. "Didn't you see the…?" I trailed off; not certain how to ask him without sounding crazy.
He shot me a quick glance. "I saw everything… if that's what you're meaning to ask. All of it—probably even things you wouldn't want me to see."
I flushed beet red at the remembrance of the memory—and how I was able to cascade all that to him.
"Anyway, it doesn't change what I feel for you."
I was brought back to that realization once again. "This is all new to me."
"It's not like I'm your first boyfriend or something."
I snorted at the sarcasm; though I was quite certain he's doing that to make me feel comfortable. I eyed him. "Right. You've probably use that line hundreds of times to anyone who'd catch your attention."
He chuckled darkly at that. "You're the only one who caught my attention though."
I was flustered once again. "No way. You're too busy to even notice something, Usui."
"I notice you, though."
"S-Shut up, Takumi…!"
He was quiet for a moment; green eyes focused on the road before us. It didn't escape my eyes when his grip on the wheels tightened and just when I thought he was angry—just like how he always was with me—he shot me a quick glance again before eyeing the road between us. "You don't know how… frighteningly tense I become whenever you'd say my name. This is a first. I would very much like it if you would call me by my name from now on."
Ah, dammit. I wish he wasn't acting chummy like that.
.
"Are you guys dating?"
I wanted to hit Sakura for her vulgar mouth. You don't seriously ask someone if they are dating someone if that someone is right next to them. But apparently, that rule doesn't seem to apply to her.
Before I could even respond, I froze when I felt Takumi twirling a lock of my hair around his long, pale fingers. "That… seems like something I would look forward to."
I stared at him in utter surprise; unable to respond to what he said and when our eyes met, I was quick to look away. I've always been the one to look away first and when I heard his impatient and frustrated exhale, somehow, I felt a bit guilty. But I couldn't have him liking me—not when I'm dangerous. Has his sense and reason truly evaded him now or he really just couldn't see anymore the fact that I'm dangerous?
His frustrated exhale was obvious to my ears as he got up along with the others after checking his wristwatch. "We got to go. We got practice."
"Crap, I nearly forgot that." Aoi says and was quick on his feet while shoving his stuff inside his book bag. "I'll pay you a visit later, Ayuzawa—"
"No, you won't." Takumi says with a roll of his eyes before turning to me. "Rest."
"O-Okay."
"And stop overthinking. You look at me like I was forcing something in your mouth." I glared at the very evident innuendo and was about to retort when he chuckled darkly and softly brushed his knuckles against my cheekbone. My whole body went rigid. The emotion in his eyes was intense and ardent once again and, stupid as I am, I felt my body heat up and reacted quite positively to the very small gesture. When he withdraws his hand, it didn't escape my eyes when he balled them into fists at his side. "I'll see you tomorrow."
They've been gone for more than a minute when I realized that I was still looking at the door they use to make their exit.
In front of me, Sakura cleared her throat meaningfully. "That was intense."
"Shut up…" I whispered; still embarrassed. Who would have thought that Usui Takumi would act like that? I didn't like it. Worst, I wasn't even sure if I truly dislike it—especially that it was aimed at me.
"That was intense." Shizuko repeated; ignoring me when I glared at her. "And unexpected. I wasn't expecting that he would like someone like you."
"I'm sorry if your dear cousin ended up liking someone like me."
"Stop acting spoiled." She says dismissively. "You know that isn't what I mean. Besides, I'm quite surprise by his… calmness and straight-forwardness. He almost seemed too… accepting. I was expecting that he'd blow a fuse. Maybe I underestimated his patience."
"Well, he's been suspicious of Ayuzawa since the beginning." Sakura offered. "It's probably the reason why it didn't come as a surprise anymore—when he found out she wasn't human, I mean. But its good news, right?"
When Shizuko shot me a meaningful glance, I quickly understood what she meant. Clearly, we're thinking about the same thing.
This could be anything but 'good news'.
.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I tossed and turned on my bed restlessly that when I started hearing the ear-splitting sound of my alarm clock, I realized that I wouldn't be able to get much sleep—and that there's a possibility that I might doze off during class.
Ah, dammit.
The night prior, my mind was occupied by nothing but Usui Takumi—his lips, his eyes… his warm hands. And it bothered me so much that I did everything that I could just to tune him out of my head but, obviously, to no avail. Regardless of what I do, no matter which position I take, whenever I would close my eyes, he was there.
And it felt so ridiculously real that I would sometimes catch myself reaching out to the empty space beside me to touch his face… only to touch nothing.
What powerful imagination, Ayuzawa.
Still annoyed at myself, I grabbed my bathroom necessities and headed towards the bathroom. I took a long and calming hot bath and when my tense nerves slowly loosened up, I briskly washed myself thoroughly. For some odd reasons, I was feeling extra high-strung and excited today.
And I couldn't help but wonder if it was because I'd be seeing Usui Takumi again?
After drying myself and my hair, I quickly put on my uniform and headed out of my bedroom just in time to see Shizuko and Sakura heading out of theirs too. My forehead creased when both of them gave me a strange look.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Yeah. You look… agitated." Sakura commented with one eyebrow raised. "And you look like you might need a few more hours of sleep."
"I couldn't sleep last night." I muttered and walked past them to grab a carton of milk from the fridge before pouring its contents in my mug. I swallowed the liquid in one gulp and dumped it on the sink and frowned once more upon realizing they were still staring at me. I was getting annoyed now at the unwanted attention. "What?"
"You look alive." Shizuko says noncommittally and walks ahead of us; key card on hand. Sakura, for the first time, agreed with her and walks ahead of me while I trailed after them in silence. There wasn't a very long line in the elevators so we were able to get in one instantly. We were walking by the lobby when I notice the hushed shrieks of the females around us.
I frowned. "I wonder what they are so excited about now, these females."
"They probably just want to flaunt their smelly perfumes." Sakura muttered in annoyance and nearly pushed her way towards the door. I quickly chase her since she was making the path to the front doors easier for me. I kept my hair partially covering my face at the same time and maintained my eyes on Sakura's heels when I ended up bumping against her hard backpack.
I scowled at her. "Jeez, Sakura—"
"Holy shit, what is he doing here? This is not happening."
I frowned at her; slightly confused on what she's talking about before gazing to the same direction she was gaping like a fish at… and doubled over. Because by the shared parking lot was none other than Usui Takumi leaning by his car like he had every right to be. I mentally cursed over how strikingly handsome he was and was about to run back to the dormitory to find another exit when Shizuko appeared from out of nowhere and grabbed me by the arm.
"Stop running away, you fool." She hissed at me and almost shoves me out of the building. "I don't wanna deal with his mood swings for the rest of the frickin' day."
I didn't have much choice left. And it was as though Usui seemed to have notice my presence because his head instantly snapped to our direction. He straightened himself; hands still shove into the pockets of his trousers while he ushered me to come forward to him with nothing but his eyes.
Ah, darn it.
Sakura was squealing behind me as I approached Takumi. I maintained the scowl on my face until we're face-to-face. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, good morning to you too, Ayuzawa. You're incredibly polite today." Was his response before crossing his arms over his broad chest; still leaning comfortably by his car. "I thought you might want a ride to the University."
"The bus?"
He exhaled; much to my astonishment. His eyes on the ground while his impossibly thick lashes casted shadows across his face that made his features much sharper… much more defined. And then, catching me completely off-guard, he stared at me underneath his lashes—forcing the power of his overwhelmingly intense eyes into mine. As if he was the cursed one and not I. His lips were slightly parted, his eyes intense and he looked so breathlessly handsome that I took one step backwards since I was unable to handle the strong wave of what I would call male pheromones.
For a moment, I thought I was going to throw up.
"Will you ride with me today?" his voice was deep… gravelly… frickin' seductive. When his hand lifted; brushing his knuckles to my cheekbones—like what he did yesterday—my knees felt as though they would give up. "Please?"
"I… I-I…"
"You will, right?" his voice became almost like a soft murmur… pleading… persistent. Rejecting him didn't even cross my head even for a slight moment. Before I could even realized what's happening, I ended up nodding while he gladly opened the door for me. I didn't move—still unable to find my strength—while he patiently held me by the arm and pushed me inside his car. He slammed the door shut after making sure all of me was safely deposited on the seat and occupied the driver's seat in one swift move.
We were already on the road when I realized what had happened. Startled, I turned to him. "What the hell was that?!"
"I didn't know it was pretty effective." He murmured, pleasurably amused. "I haven't used that for a very long time."
I gritted my teeth. It was as though I got hypnotized. "I need an explanation."
Next to me, Takumi chuckled. "I used to do that when I wanted something. But then, Hideki started teasing me about it when we hit middle school, hence, I stop doing that."
"What was that?"
"It's a little trick I learned from my mother." He shrugged again. "Didn't know you'd be so affected."
"Ugh. I want to throw up."
"That was mean, Ayuzawa."
"I didn't mean it that way!" I screamed at him. "I… It felt as though you were playing with my head!"
"That wasn't the case though. What I did is what others would innocently and simply call 'puppy eyes'."
Heck, there was nothing simple or innocent with the way he stared at me a while ago. It was as though he was inside my head—as if he was hypnotizing me into submission. Whatever it may be—a trick or ability—I was extremely powerless against it. But dammit, I really wanted to throw up. I turned to him again; still pissed and bothered. "That was nowhere near 'puppy eyes'."
He laughed a careless one but didn't bother to comment. The drive was slow yet peaceful. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder if he was driving purposefully slow just to spend some more time with me. Mentally, I hit myself. I didn't like the idea of being self-centered. Worst, I didn't like the idea—the imagery—of me with Usui Takumi.
And Takumi seemed to have notice my sudden mood swing that he suddenly slow down into a complete stop and turns to me.
I simply exhaled. "Isn't it too early to be pestering me, Usui?"
"So we're back to that now, huh?"
"What do you want from me?" When he'd snorted at me, I knew it was a stupid question to ask. I clearly knew what he wants—and he's quite aware of that too. And despite my clear hesitations, I knew as well what I wanted from him... though I wasn't too sure how and if I should really pursue it. I eyed him again; and was truly surprised by the patience he was saying. "I… appreciate your patience, Takumi, I really do. But you have to understand that this is all new to me."
"So am I."
"Of course. This was the first time you'd encounter someone non-human—"
"Stupid, not that." When I stared at him in confusion, he suddenly looked uncomfortable and quickly stares into the road in front of us. One huge hand went up to his nape as he absent-mindedly rubs it. I've noticed how the skin on his neck up to the tips of his adorable ears turned red.
I wasn't lenient enough to let it go. "You mean I'm your first?"
He rolled his eyes at that. "You make it sound so dirty."
"You pervert…"
"We've already established that, Ayuzawa." He says with a roll of his eyes and turns to me again. "You know what I want… and I don't have any doubts on what you want as well. But if you still don't understand what I mean, I'd be very… happy to show it to you."
That part I totally understand so when I glared at him, Usui simply laughed and starts his car again. I decided to sink back on the comfortable upholstered seat. "Is this your car?"
He laughed. "Way to change the topic. But yes."
"And you want me?"
Usui gave me a quick look. "Yes. Yes, I do. Badly enough." He exhaled; his skin a lighter shade of red again. "Frustratingly enough. You have no idea."
That was way too honest of him. "I don't know where to start from here, Usui. I… I've sworn men off my life—and you know why." I know he does. He didn't respond for a moment. At least, not until we were within the school grounds. I recognized Hideki's car nearby. When he turned to me, I waited patiently.
"How about we start with Lunch period later?"
The very unlikely response made me laugh. "Seriously? That's where we start?"
"If this wasn't the type of school wherein classes are separated by genders—and we ended up sharing all classes—I wouldn't have let you out of my sight. I'd probably follow you around—even if you tell me to go away."
I shrugged. "You don't seem to be following that anyway. You never listen to me."
"I don't listen to anyone. And I'd only listen to you if you stop telling me to go away."
I wasn't one to contest that. I know he wouldn't listen no matter how much I tell him to go. And worst, I couldn't even hypnotize him into submission since I don't seem to have an effect on him. It was frustrating. I simply stared at him; carving into my memory the sharp line of his jaw, the high cheekbones, his arrogant nose, the seductive lips and the intense green that was his eyes. I wanted to touch him. I have to be honest with myself now. I have always, always wanted to touch him. I've never thought nor experience this sort of intense feeling before wherein I badly wanted to touch someone.
The strong urge to run my fingers on the side of his face down to his throat to the broad expanse of his chest was beyond controllable that I almost have to clench my fist. I wanted to touch him—badly. And I know he can feel that as well because I also caught a glimpse of his tightly balled fist. When our finally met, I ended up biting the inside of my cheek because—again—the thought of holding him was clouding my head.
And before the pressure and pride took over, I was quick to turn to him. "Takumi, I—"
I know he knows what I'm asking. And I was certain that he was certain as well of the huge uncertainty hanging like a thick, black veil between us that when I voiced out his name, he knew exactly what to do even if I hadn't told him what it was. His lips were quickly on mine while my hands were quick to fist his otherwise smooth uniform. His kisses were demanding and possessive and intense while his hands were equally heavy and hot and passionate. It didn't take long for me to realize that my seat was mysteriously reclined once again and we were chest to chest.
When the kiss was broken, we were both panting heavily as though we've both run a marathon. His green orbs were intense once again and I snapped my eyes shut and completely surrendered myself to him when he pressed a soft kiss on my forehead down to my nose before firmly pecking me on the lips.
I simply stared at him while Usui grinned at me. "How about we start with that?"
So damn persistent. "I thought we'd start with Lunch?"
"Tell you what."
I arched one brow in inquiry. "What?"
"Let's compromise." My forehead creased when he suddenly reached out to me and started buttoning the first three buttons of my uniform. When I stared at him accusingly, he simply shrugged. "It's not my fault that I can't seem to keep my hands to myself, Ayuzawa. And you're not being very helpful either."
I scowled at him; allowing him these liberties in the privacy of his car. "I'm starting to hate being trapped in small places with you."
"Liar. And this car is starting to become my favorite place." When I looked decent enough, he undid my seatbelt and un-reclined the seat. "I know you believe that we have a lot of things to talk about so I wished you'd accept the let's start at Lunch period thing."
Giving up, I turned to him. "What do you want to do during Lunch? Surrounded by people who would probably do their best to listen to what we'd talk about?"
"Alright then, meet me in the Library." I wasn't able to respond to that immediately because he was quick to jumped out of his car and to my side. He opened the door for me and when I didn't budge, he let out another sigh and held me by the arm; pulling me out of his car and in front of him. "You don't want to?"
I shake my head. "Not really."
"Still hesitant?"
I sighed. "Not really. No."
And when he finally smiled, my heart started to do odd little flips that nearly knocked me breathless. "I thought so."
"Don't expect so much from me."
"Who said I was?" he pushed the door shut and turned his back on me. But not before grabbing my wrist and pulling me behind him; all the while ignoring the students who were staring at us in obvious surprise and disbelief. "It's actually the other way around."
Confused, my forehead creased. "Meaning?"
"I'm wishing not to expect so much from myself… since I'm probably going to disappoint myself as well."
"I'm not following you."
"Meaning, I'm going to do my best to keep my hands off you. If I failed to do so… I guess we'll just compromise."
Before I could even snapped at him, he was quick to turn away from me and dragged me towards the building; keeping a straight yet equally scary face which was probably the reason why no one bothered to approach us even if majority of the student body seemed to obviously want to do so.
How impolite.
I decided to ignore that—focusing on nothing but the warmth that was Takumi's hand the protection his wide back offered as I walk behind him. Again, the urge to touch him reared its ugly head. And he seemed to have felt that as well because his grip on my wrist tightened.
"Behave, Ayuzawa. You wouldn't want me to attack you here."
Darn it. I truly wish my hormones would stop rampaging like this.
To be continued.
A/N: Well, sorry about the very long time it takes me to update. I'm a bit busy with life and the workload is trying to kill me. LOL. But anyway, moving on to this chapter, this chapter deals with the... physical relationship they both have. You know, trying to contain it before the confession? LOL. I don't know but Usui just have this... effect on me wherein he couldn't really seem to keep his hands off Ayuzawa. I mean, we know he's like that even in the manga. And I like it. I enjoy writing Usui Takumi being too touchy. I like that, darn it. And while I was writing this, my imagination is taking me to different situations which involves a lot of hands, legs, chest and mouth. Gah! I'd probably try to minimize that since I made a promise that this wouldn't be like Fateful. But yeah, it would still depend on my mood.
And darn it I'm always in the mood when it comes to writing Misaki and Takumi. I hate this fetish.
Anyway, I haven't started yet on the next chapter but I'd write that as soon I can. And hopefully, it wouldn't take me frickin' 3-months (again) to update. Sorry. Please don't kill me. And hit that review button down there to lemme know what you think.
Toodles! -TGP