Chapter 62
REMINDER: I don't own Skip Beat and its characters; this work is purely fictional any scenes related to real life situations are purely coincidental. XD Beta and Proof Reading credits goes to Shirahane Aikawa who offered her help to proof read this story of mine kindly read her stories here in this site as well.
"Are you listening?" Yashiro asked upon seeing the forlorn look in Ren's face.
Ren only nodded his head in return.
"Is there anything wrong? Something I should know…" His manager asked with concern.
"Nothing…."
After visiting President Lory, Kyoko was called by Sawara back to his office.
"You have a live TV guesting tomorrow with Tsuruga Ren on a showbiz afternoon show here in LME Studios you are expected to be here 30 minutes sharp before the show starts. Ms. Jelly Woods have offered her services to fix your hair, makeup and wardrobe and before I forget just be yourself at the show."
"I'll do my best Sawara-san."
"That is good to hear you should text Himuro on what time he'll be picking you at your apartment."
"I'll remember that."
"That's it then, I'll just send you messages regarding your upcoming commitments just read your text messages every now and then please." Sawara pleaded, he knew how lazy Kyoko is with regards to checking on her phone every now and then.
"About that…" Kyoko reaches for her pocket and flip her cell phone. "There I opened it already."
Sawara sighed a deep sigh, "That is what I am talking about you will never leave your cell phone off again unless you are currently doing your work." He reprimanded.
Kyoko smiled and nodded.
After leaving Sawara's office she texted Ren,
"I'm about to go to my new apartment Sawara-san provided for me would you like to come and see?"
Ren immediately replied, "No, I just returned home maybe next time."
"That is unusual of him…" Kyoko thought and replied, "I see don't forget to eat your dinner."
Himuro drove Kyoko to her new apartment near LME Studios a very convenient place for a star like her to live in.
"Are you sure this is where I will live?" She asked looking at the apartment through the window in the car.
"Yes this is the address Sawara san provided to me." Himuro replied coolly.
"But I can't afford to live in a place like this. There must be a mistake." Kyoko said scandalized at the thought of living in a very expensive apartment complex.
"How about you ask Sawara san about it?"
"That is a good idea I should call him." Kyoko thought and dialed Sawara's number.
"Hello Kyoko-san did you see your new apartment isn't it beautiful?"
"There must be some sort of mistake Sawara-san."
"What kind of mistake did Himuro drove you to the wrong apartment?"
"I don't know but this apartment complex he drove me to is expensive looking how could I even afford to live here?" Kyoko said worriedly.
"Hahaha, you are still humble despite your reputation now Kyoko-san…"
"But how about-"
"The payment don't worry about it LME is kind enough to shoulder it for now until you can pay it on your own."
"What did Sawara-san said?"
"That this is my new apartment, thank you for driving me." Kyoko said and was about to leave the car but remembered the uneaten bento she prepared for Ren that she wasn't able to give to him since they didn't meet at all. "I know it's already cold but it doesn't look bad." Kyoko gives the bento to Himuro.
"This is too much Mogami-san."
"I insist please." Kyoko said smiling her sweetest smiled.
Himuro nods and receives the bento from Kyoko. "I'll return the container tomorrow. By the way what time do I have to pick you up tomorrow…"
"I'll message you, again thank you Himuro-san." Kyoko said and bowed her years in the ryokan taught her how to be respectful to everyone older than her.
"Thank you my daughter." It was the unspoken words from Himuro as he left.
Kyoko was in awe as she opened the door to her new apartment, it was a fully furnished modern apartment.
"This is incredible!" Kyoko thought giddily.
Kyoko next went to her room where she opened the wardrobe cabinet with all of her clothes and new set of clothes that are branded and dresses and gowns from designer shops. A separate cabinet is where her shoes are complete from casual sneakers she loves to casual black shoes and dress shoes. Like her previous room in darumaya the wall of her room has the large poster of Sho and a smaller poster of Ren.
"To think it all started with this." Kyoko thought deeply as she looks into the two posters of the two men who changed her life and the significant meaning behind the size difference between the two.
"Kuon…" A beautiful blonde Japanese- American lady with a body that of a supermodel and pale coloured skin called Ren just outside of his front door.
"W-What are you…" Ren asked with his heart beating erratically against his chest.
"Jelly san do I really have to wear this?" Kyoko asked as she stares into her reflection in the mirror, Jelly made her wear a black long hair wig and wear a simple summer dress.
"Of course you are promoting your movie so you must be in Miho mode here."
"Oh I see I thought it was just a live interview." Kyoko said lowering her head out of shame for questioning the great Jelly Woods.
Jelly laughed, "Come on Kyoko-chan there is nothing wrong in what you did, besides don't you like this look you look beautiful in it."
"I do…it just reminds me of who I am before." Kyoko trailed off leaving the part before I vowed revenge on Shotaro.
Jelly grab Kyoko's shoulder and turn her around to face her, "You've been through a lot Kyoko-chan, Lory and I are both proud of what you've become as a person and an actress. Director Musashi did change you into a fine diamond and this is the first time you will talk on live TV as a fine diamond so why not just be yourself and show them who you really are alright?"
"Arigatou Jelly-san." Kyoko smiled and hugged Jelly trying to hold back the tears from hearing what Jelly said to her.
Ren wore one of his best fine tailored black suits and let his hair hang loosely without putting any gel or hair products to keep it in shape.
"We are starting in 5 minutes." The Assistant announced at his door.
"Ren…"
"Don't worry about it I'll handle things smoothly here." Ren said and with a final adjustment of his black silk tie he opens his door to go to the main studio.
"Good afternoon everyone watching us live and the people watching at the confines of their home to another live episode of Showbiz Today." The host of the show said earning a loud clap and shouting from the audiences.
"Today is one our special episodes where we have here today live the main actors acting in the movie everyone is talking about…yes I'm talking about Tsuruga Ren and Mogami Kyoko the actors from director Musashi's comeback movie Sakura Love. Let's all give them a warm welcome."
If it was possible the audiences were louder than before screaming both Ren and Kyoko's name at the top of their lungs.
Kyoko shyly went up to the stage with her arm around Ren who is flashing his devilishly handsome smile to the fans.
"You two look good together you know?" The host teased and Kyoko just blushed while Ren flashed a smile at the host but the people are happy with the comment that they are wolf whistling at the lovely couple at the stage.
"Hear that they all agree with me."
"Who wouldn't?" Ren said more of a statement like just for good showing.
"Ren always a charmer are you, so Kyoko how does it feel to finally land on a major role and to top it off to work with Japan's Number 1 Ren?" The host asked with curiosity.
"It is overwhelming at first since I began my career in antagonist roles but Musashi-sama trusted me enough to do the role required of me for the movie."
"And you didn't have a hard time with that major shift or is it because of your budding romance with Ren here that made the difference?"
"About that…"
Kyoko was not able to finish her sentence for Ren cut her off, "Budding romance? Where did you hear that sort of rumor?"
Kyoko looks at Ren and saw the other side of him the side she's always frightened of the demon look persona. "Why is he like this does this mean he's going to deny us?"
"Come on Ren people saw you two acting lovey dovey behind the scenes."
"Then they must have misunderstood our relationship, you see Kyoko is just like my precious little sister." Ren said with his perfect emperor smile.
Kyoko felt a cold bucket of water fall down on her with what he just said, how could he deny her in front of everyone does that mean he's ashamed to admit to everyone that she is his girlfriend?
"What can you say about that Kyoko?" The host asked back at her.
Kyoko smiled her fake smile and answered though cold through lack of emotions, "Of course he's my senpai my mentor like a big brother to me people must have just misunderstood our closeness that's all."
The audiences are not pleased with their answer and didn't buy it and just thought about it as showbiz thing which is denial to gain more popularity for their upcoming movie by blatantly denying their true relationship.
"If you say so Kyoko so will you tell us something about the movie?"
Ren and Kyoko discussed something about the movie's plot and invited everyone to watch the movie at the end of the show.
"Ren what is that supposed to mean?" Kyoko asked once they got to the backstage of the set.
"What are you talking about?" He returned shrugging his shoulders.
"You know what I mean." Kyoko said with more firmness in her voice.
Ren takes a look at his broken watch and said before leaving in a hurry.
"I've got to go I still have work to do after this."
The rest of day was uneventful for Kyoko after Ren's total denial of their relationship she just wasn't in the mood for anything anymore that cause her to cancel the rest of her commitments for the day. (Of course lying to Sawara-san about her being sick)
The next day and the following day…Kyoko couldn't meet up with Ren.
Kyoko didn't want to admit it to herself but she's missing Ren (well of course Ren is her boyfriend) but she missed him more since this is their first time not seeing each other for this long (Even its only 3 days since the interview it's still very loooong time for her.)
"I'll go visit him later…" she said to herself with determined look on her face.
"Hey Kyoko!"
Kyoko turned around to see Moko walking towards her she paled seeing the raven haired girl marching towards her.
"W-What's wrong M-Moko-san?" Kyoko said walking backwards from the "fuming" raven.
"Here!" Moko slammed the glossy magazine next to her.
Kyoko's eyes widen feeling her world just crash and burn on her.
TSURUGA REN SWEET SCANDAL!
A LOVE AFFAIR
WHO IS THE LUCKY GIRL THAT STOLE JAPAN'S NUMBER ONE?!
Kyoko connived with her good friend Moko wearing their pink Love Me uniforms for this special mission they both dubbed as "Finding the Truth from Tsuruga Ren". As they reached the penthouse where his place is, Kyoko rang the doorbell and was greeted with a sight she never thought she would see with him.
Emiko look in awe when she set her eyes at Ren's pad it has black and blue theme obviously designed to suit a man's taste. He also has a velvet couch and a big flat screen in front. Fluffy velvet curtains hanging loose. Ren guide her through his customized king size bed with a pair of fluffy black pillows on it and a blue velvet blanket as the cover. The colour of the wall is also has black and blue theme. Beside the bed has a luxurious bed stand.
"So, this is your bachelor's pad?"
"Do you like it?" Ren said as he sat at the edge of the bed looking up to the blonde haired beauty standing in the middle of the room.
"Yes, it was really beautiful…"
"Do you want anything? Food or drinks, you want pizza I'll call to make a delivery." Ren said picking up the wireless phone on the nightstand.
Emiko chuckled timidly, "Oh I remember Tsuruga Ren can't cook…"
"Yeah thanks for saying that again…"
"I can cook us some dinner but do you even have a stock in your fridge?" Emiko said as she walk out of the room towards the kitchen. She then open the stainless steel double door fridge to check if there's anything she can cook from it.
"You're hopeless as ever Kuon…" she said with a disappointed look on her face.
"Shut up…" Ren sighed while running his finger through his silky raven hair.
"Go get your keys we have to shop for some ingredients…"
"As expected of Shirahane Emiko bossy as ever…"
Emiko closes her distance to Ren then smack the taller male to his chest playfully but still putting a lot of force into it as much as she can with it.
"Just get the key…"
"The one that gets to the door first is ugly…" Ren teased.
"Shut up…" Emiko said mimicking Ren's words earlier.
"Okay so we're here now go get the man Kyoko!" Moko said impatiently.
"W-Well sure but Moko-san please change the look on your face it's kind of scaring me now…" Kyoko said nervously.
Moko glared hard to Kyoko making the latter pale face (scared)
"O-Okay fine…" Kyoko said as she was about to press the doorbell the elegant black door open only to see the laughing couple (consist of HER Ren and the unknown blonde hair girl from the paparazzi magazine)
"I win!" The blonde haired girl boasted with a beautiful smile plastered on her face showing her perfect white teeth.
"I told you already the first one on the door is ugly…" Ren grumped.
"Oh like I'm ugly…"
"R-Ren…" It was Kyoko's voice getting the attention of both Ren and Emiko.
"Kyoko?"
"W-What is…" Kyoko couldn't finish what she was saying seeing Ren laughing so care freely with another girl (other than her) just made her felt like her heart has been stabbed and cut into two.
"Kuon who's this?" Kyoko heard the blonde hair girl ask Ren, she trembled that girl just called Ren in his real name no one other than her (could ever call him that since Ren hated that name) but for this girl to call Ren (Kuon) and Ren didn't even get mad at her by doing so. It only meant one thing for Kyoko and it breaks her heart.
"She's Mogami Kyoko a co-star in a movie…" Ren said coldly.
Emiko's face lighten up, "Oh really? The cute girl with you at the-" the beautiful blonde girl couldn't finish what she was saying when Ren cut her off. Emiko hmp angry that she has been cut off short by the taller man.
"What do you want…?" Ren said (if possible) even colder than before.
"R-Ren what is the meaning of this?" Kyoko said in a slow dangerous tone on her voice her hands close into a fist.
"What?" he repeated impatiently.
"W-Who is she?" Kyoko asked almost whispering the words that came out of her mouth.
"Wasn't it obvious already…" Kyoko's eyes widen hearing that from Ren is like a punch through her gut.
"Hey wait Kuon uhmm…" Emiko said unsure of what to do she's also beginning to understand the situation.
"B-But how about…"
"GO AWAY!" Suddenly Ren yelled at Kyoko the intensity of his voice literally shake through her core that she have to be supported by Moko who at the entire time just listening to their conversation quietly.
"Kuon?!"
"B-But Ren I…"
"We're done…" Ren said loud enough for Kyoko to hear.
"W-What?!"
"LEAVE!" Emiko yelped as Ren grabbed her upper arm back down then slamming the door shut.
"What's the big deal Tsuruga Ren?!" Moko snarled angrily kicking the door in between her shouting. "How can you be so cruel to Kyoko you BASTARD!"
Kyoko first remained stoic from the shock of what she saw and what Ren did.
"Hey Kyoko…" Moko called worriedly.
"Moko san!" Kyoko said embracing Moko crying her heart out on her shoulders.
Unknown to the two girls a sneaky paparazzi was recording everything that transpired.
The Next Day morning newspaper headline
CAUGHT IN THE ACT!
A LOVE TRIANGLE? MOGAMI KYOKO CAUGHT BEGGING FOR TSURUGA REN'S AFFECTION DESPITE KNOWING THE SUPERSTAR HAS A GIRLFRIEND!
AN: First of all a big thanks to the reviews, follows, favorite and everyone who reads this fic. What are you thoughts for this chapter did i left another bomb? Hahaha don't worry I still have a lot of bombs I will be dropping for this story that my wonderful beta Shirahane Aikawa suggested so watch out for it and of course the ending our lovely pair Ren and Kyoko deserves.