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Coffee Shops and Cameras
Chapter 26
Wow...
My fingers itched to trace along the contours of his chest. But I didn't dare move. I couldn't stand the idea of ruining that serene expression on that perfect face by waking him. So I just continued to stare. Taking in every little thing, remembering each detail.
I don't think I'd slept a wink. It wasn't that I wasn't tired, I just couldn't stop thinking about the man lying beside me. There was something about the way he'd looked at me, the way he'd touched me, the way he'd made me feel... it was different to all the times before. And I loved every moment.
I never wanted him to stop looking at me like that...like if he let me go he would break just as much as I would.
I'd felt tears in my eyes as he'd held me against him, staring at me so deeply...so longingly...like I was the most important thing in the world. I never wanted it to end, but when it did my emotions were just as high. He pulled me against his chest, his nose nuzzling into my hair and his fingers trailing along my arm as he held me tightly in his embrace. He told me how beautiful I was, how he wished we could just stay here forever, his voice so blissful and sincere. When his breathing became low and steady I just looked at him, watching the small smile on his face and the way his eyebrows creased together as he slept soundly.
I'd realised 2 things as I laid there.
Number 1 - He was ready for his interview tomorrow. 100%. And that meant he didn't need me anymore, I'd done what I'd come here to do and he'd exceeded every expectation I'd had. Which meant my work here was done. I could go home confident in the knowledge that he would do fine without me.
And number 2 - I didn't want to go home. Home didn't quite roll off the tongue the same way it had done before Hikaru. Because now...home was with him.
Delicately, I lifted my hand to brush away a loose lock of hair from his forehead. He hummed happily, leaning into my touch.
I want to wake up to this every day...
Slowly, his eyes cracked open, and a yawn rumbled through his chest. He stirred, wrapping his arms around me to bury his face into the crook of my neck.
"Morning" he said, his voice muffled by my hair.
I giggled, "Good morning"
"Mmmm you smell nice" he murmured lazily, "We should stay like this all day"
I chuckled, "That doesn't sound like the best way to enjoy a vineyard"
"Sounds plenty okay to me"
I slapped him playfully on the shoulder, pushing him back a little so I could see his face. He grinned back at me, his bed hair mused and boyish. I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"So" I questioned, trying not to let the awe in my voice sound too obvious, "What's on the agenda today?"
He yawned again and pulled me against him until I was practically lying over him, he sighed contentedly, "Today babydoll, we will be making our very own wine"
I couldn't hold back the huge smile that spread across my face, "Really?!" I gaped, "Does that mean I get to stomp on my own grapes!?"
Hikaru laughed loudly, "I don't think I've ever seen someone get so excited over getting their feet dirty"
"Well" I grinned, "I'm not just 'someone'"
"That you are not" he replied thoughtfully, his smile becoming less amused and more genuine, as if he were considering something. I took a moment to enjoy how peaceful he looked, like he'd left all the stress of his usual life at home, far away from where we both lay together, "However I must insist that we stay here just a little longer, I have other plans this morning too"
I raised an eyebrow, "Oh you do, do you?"
He winked flirtatiously, then before I could open my mouth to tease him back, I was flipped onto the mattress with a surprised yelp, then revelled in the feeling of his body pressing down on top of mine, and his lips finding my own in a deep and passionate kiss.
"Maybe I should wash my feet one more time" I grit my teeth nervously as I stared at the huge half barrel of red grapes in front of me.
Hikaru tsked and pushed me closer to it, "Your feet are plenty clean" he chuckled, "I thought you were excited to do this?"
"I am!" I replied quickly, "I just...don't want to do it wrong..."
"And how may I ask does one stomp on grapes the wrong way?" he crossed his arms and smirked.
"Well...I just...what if a toenail falls off or something?"
"Gross"
"Exactly!" I gave him a meaningful look.
"It's not like the bottle we make will be sold with the rest of them" Hikaru explained, "Neither one of us have been trained, and our feet aren't exactly professional stompers, no matter how adorable and soft your little feet are"
"You sure know how to compliment a lady" I smirked.
It was then that the lady who was readying the barrel looked up at us and cleared her throat. Hikaru had introduced her as Cha, she was an older woman who had apparently been working here for decades. She spoke to Hikaru as if she'd known him since he was a boy, well...she probably had done. I could tell she'd been a little taken aback when we'd first joined her, I don't know what she'd been expecting, but I was sure as hell she hadn't prepared herself for a short scruffy haired brunette in a D&D tank top and capri's to saunter up to her with the perfect supermodel Hikaru. But she smiled politely enough, so politely in fact that I felt bad for not bringing her flowers or something to thank her for taking the time to set all of this up.
She stared at us expectantly, holding her hands over the purple stained apron she wore around her waist.
"Master Hitachiin, your trousers" Cha pointed to Hikaru's jeans and tutted, "Has it really been so long that you've forgotten about the shorts rule? Your friend appears to have come better equipped than you" there was a slight jokiness to her tone, but somehow the remark still made Hikaru immediately drop to the floor and roll the material up to his knees.
"Sorry Ma'am" he grinned back at her and suddenly it was light watching a small boy address his nanny with the way his expression seemed to plead for approval.
He's so damn cute.
Cha nodded happily and smiled, "Much better" she said, then looked to me, "Have you ever done grape-treading yourself Miss?"
I shook my head, "No Ma'am, never. Although once I made vodka gummy bears for an office party" I chuckled nervously. Cha didn't seem to find it as amusing as I did, but she smiled politely and nodded.
"Well, this process is a little different to making...uh...vodka gummy bears..." she said, "The two young masters used to help with the treading as soon as they were able to stand upright, so as you can imagine the process is pretty self explanatory"
I nodded. I mean, sure. How hard can stomping on grapes be?
Cha instructed us to pick up 2 woven baskets from the bench beside the barrel which were filled to the brim with red grapes. Slowly, we poured the contents into the barrel, letting the smooth purple fruits mingle with the ones already inside. I wondered how many bottles you could make with this many grapes. I wondered just how many bottles would end up being made with this juice.
Dad will be happy. I thought to myself as I imagined Dad and I sat on the sofa on a friday night sharing a bottle of wine together. An uncomfortable pain shot through my chest. I guess it won't be long until we can do that again...since I'm moving back home tomorrow.
I was brought back to the present by the feeling of Hikaru's hand encasing mine.
"Ladies first" he winked, gesturing to the tiny wooden step ladder that raised to the rim of the barrel.
I smirked, "What? No diving board?"
"Oh we used to have one, but the staff got so distracted by it we had to have it taken out" he joked with a grin.
"Sounds like a very unfair working environment"
"It's okay, we kept in the hot tub jets"
"Thank goodness, that would just be cruel"
With some hesitance, I climbed the steps and swung my leg over the wooden brim. As soon as my bare toes touched the squishy grapes I made a squealing sound I don't think I'd ever made in my life.
"Don't tell me you're already squeamish?" Hikaru laughed, following me into the barrel.
"Oh god its so weird" I admitted, wiggling my toes as the grapes popped and flattened under my feet, "Do the workers do this everyday?"
Hikaru chuckled, "No, the winehouse has a device that squeezes the juice out, we only get this out for special occasions"
"So you planned this?" I laughed.
"Of course. You really think I'd take you to a vineyard and miss the opportunity to throw you in a barrel of grapes?"
"There will be no throwing anyone in anything. Now help me catch my balance" I reached out my hands to him, which he took almost instantly. "So do I jump up and down or what?"
"If you want to get splashed then jump away. But I think you'll find the best way is to just step from one foot to the other" he began lifting his legs up and down as if walking on the spot to demonstrate. I copied him, slowly getting used to the weird sensation of grapes being crushed between my toes. After a while my ankles were surrounded by a beautifully smelling juice that practically made my mouth water.
"I'm getting crazy excited" I grinned, "Will we get to take them home today?"
Hikaru chuckled, "Of course not, they need to be fermented and aged for a while. But don't worry, I have no intention of leaving empty handed"
I grinned broadly and looked up from my feet to see him smiling at me. His bright hazel eyes met mine and suddenly I felt a hive of butterflies release in my stomach. I loved it when he looked at me like that, like he couldn't believe he was standing there with me. The happiness of his smile seemed to spread to every corner of his face, and quickly I found myself just enjoying the moment with him.
"We'll have to come back when the bottles are ready" he said.
"Doesn't that take years?" I bit my lip, hoping he was suggesting what I thought he was.
He shrugged nonchalantly, but I could see a little embarrassment in his eyes, "Maybe you could book me in for a day?"
I smirked, feeling the blush light up my cheeks, "I guess I'll have to dig out my 2022 calender and mark you in"
Did this mean he wanted to keep seeing me after the interview? But would that mean what I wanted? Or just a way of securing a booty call? I tried not to let my smile fall, even though the idea of nothing ever progressing between us stung. I wanted to mean more to him than just a fling, I didn't want to just be someone he slept with. I wanted to be more than that, I wanted to mean as much to him as he meant to me.
It was hard to accept that tomorrow afternoon he would be sat down for his interview. All that work we put into the last month would finally be put to use the way we'd prepared for. Then once it was over I'd be packing up my bag and going back to Dad's apartment, I'd be back in my old bedroom, sleeping alone in my bed. It was strange, I'd become so accustomed to Hikaru's soft murmurs and breaths as he slept beside me, now I couldn't imagine trying to sleep without it. I tried to work out a way in my head that would allow us to continue as we had done, but without the excuse of coaching Hikaru – I had no reason to continue living at the Hitachiin house. Dad would be heartbroken if I told him I decided to stay even though it was no longer a requirement of my job, and I wasn't going to try and impose on Yuzuha and her husband when it was their home. Especially since Hikaru and I weren't a labelled couple. And there was no way Dad would allow me to have a guy who wasn't my husband stay over, no matter how old I was. Did that mean tonight would be the last night we would be sharing a bed?
Hikaru and I were still stomping on the grapes, which were now almost completely beaten down to a deep opaque purple liquid. I glanced at him, only to see that he too was deep in thought. He looked troubled, probably just as much as I was. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was, but then my mind went back to the big event tomorrow.
I hadn't mentioned it that morning in fears the subject would dampen the mood. We'd woken up so happy, I didn't want to do or say anything that would ruin that. But the way he was looking now made me worry about how nervous he must have felt.
I gave his hands a light squeeze.
"So" I began, knowing that what I was going to ask was definitely going to change the tone. But I needed to know, "How are you feeling about tomorrow?"
At first Hikaru seemed to pretend he hadn't heard me, then his jaw tensed and his eyes flickered down to the grapes beneath us, "Feeling fine" he replied flippantly.
"Really?" I questioned, not convinced by his answer.
He nodded, "Yup"
"You know it's okay to be nervous right? There's been a big build up to this, no one would be surprised if you felt a little uneasy"
He let out what seemed to be a full lung's worth of breath before returning his eyes to mine again, "It's not that I'm nervous" he murmured.
"Then...what?"
"Look I...I know this is suppose to be a big thing, and yes, a month ago nailing this interview was the most important thing in my life.." he trailed off, his gaze locking with mine for several long silent moments. Then he looked back down, "But now I'm not so sure. I mean, who cares how the world sees me, I know I'm not a bad guy, my family knows...you know"
I nodded in understanding, "You've come a very long way"
"And I'm happy. Happier than I think I've ever been" he said seriously, his hands squeezing mine as if to push the point he was making, "If I do this interview...Benio will just remind everyone how much hurt I caused"
I shook my head with a sad smile, "Then you get to prove just how wrong she is"
He sighed, dropping my hands to wind his arms around my waist and pull me against him. I felt him inhale as his face dropped to my hair, "There's something else" he admitted, "What if...what if she asks about...us?"
I blinked and opened my mouth to reply, only for my words to die on my tongue.
Why would she ask about us? Why would...
I heaved a sigh. Of course she would. Honestly, why wouldn't she? Most of the recent articles written about Hikaru featured me, some of which were incredibly negative. But what would she ask? And how would Hikaru answer?
"I don't care what she says about me" it was only a half lie. Whatever she said, I would get over it...probably.
"Kaoru said I should have made a statement about it...squash some of the rumours, but I wasn't sure what to say..."
I pulled back to look back at his face, "What did he want you to say?"
Hikaru scratched the back of his neck and averted his eyes, "He uh...he said we needed to tell everyone about...our relationship" the way he emphasised 'relationship' told me that he didn't mean just the physical aspect. He meant a commitment to each other, to come out as a couple to dispel the rumours about him visiting a prostitute. The prostitute being me. But the problem was we hadn't even talked about that yet, so really...what was there to say?
"Why...why didn't you?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted to hear the answer.
He didn't reply right away, instead he pulled back to take my hand again, then climbed out of the barrel, leading me out safely by the hand. The grass beneath my feet felt alien after spending so much time stepping on liquid grapes, I didn't need to look to know that my feet were probably a shape of deep purple. He sat us down on the little wooden bench to the side and grabbed a small towel and a china bowl filled with slightly steaming water.
"I didn't want to say anything that would make you unhappy" he said in a quiet solemn tone as he lifted my feet into his lap and began caressing them with the wet cloth, "Maybe..." he cleared his throat, then slowly brought his eyes up to mine. I could see a mixture of longing, panic and pleading reflecting back at me, and instantly I could feel each one of those emotions coarse through me. He took a deep breath, "Maybe it's time we talked about...us"
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUH Damn I've been waiting for this day since the moment I first uploaded this story! We're finally going to have 'the talk', lets just hope things go well between them and they don't act like oblivious morons (I totally know how the talk goes hehehehe).
I hope you all liked this chapter as much as I liked writing it, we're growing ever closer to the conclusion!
Also for those who don't know, I've updated 'Let The Wind Blow'! Yes, I know, I can't believe it either, but alas we finally have a full Chapter 1!
Please let me know what you thought of this newest update, I always love hearing y'all's opinions and thoughts. Also if you have any questions or just enjoy memes and a chat I have a twitter! - YulisanWrites.
Love you 3000,
Yuli xxxx