Chapter 37 - Cup Noodles

"Be my girl," Gladio didn't think much when he said those three words. This was the only chance he could use to confess, when his crush and him were away from others, just the two of them in front of a vending machine which was rather far from the rest of the stalls at this summer festival.

He had been waiting for this chance. And he had been wanting to confess —and ask her to be his girl —since forever.

"What?" But the young woman in front of him knitted her eyebrows, not believing what he just said. Totally understandable. Gladio suddenly said that right after they bought their drinks, without prior talk regarding romance whatsoever.

"That's it. Be my girl." He might be acting up like he was totally chill about this situation. But his heart was actually beating so fast, thumping loudly that he wished the woman in front of him wouldn't notice that he was nervous. Despite that, he still bravely stared into her eyes.

"Don't joke. Come on. We need to go back to the shooting stall." The brown haired woman scoffed then began to walk away from the vending machine.

But Gladio placed his hand on the vending machine, preventing the woman from striding away from there.

"Gladio. I don't like the way you tease me over and over," she complained.

"I'm serious. Always been," he said.

The woman who was slightly shorter than him rolled her eyes. Gladio had been flirting with her many times, but she didn't seem to budge. Thus today, in this summer festival, right when they walked away from the others to buy drinks, Gladio decided to ask her to be his girlfriend.

"Stop doing that. It's embarrassing. Other people are going to use the vending machine too." She slapped Gladio's hand which blocked her way.

"Lizette." There was gravity in Gladio's tone. He was serious —not smiling, not smirking, just staring deeply at her eyes which sometimes avoided his gaze.

After a few seconds, Lizette huffed, "Okay. I'll think about it. For now, let's go back."

"Sure." Gladio smiled hearing her response. He was unable to get an immediate answer but at least she wanted to consider it. At least she finally understood that he wasn't joking.

Gladio walked next to her as they returned back to the shooting stall where the others were currently playing. Now it was Prompto who was holding the toy gun while the others cheered him.

"You don't want to play?" Gladio asked.

"I'm never fond of shooting." Lizette answered.

"What do you like?"

She glanced at him then sneered, "Beating you up."

"Hmm…" Gladio smirked. "I admit that you're a good fighter."

"I am." Lizette grinned and he enjoyed seeing it.

Lizette was an interesting woman. She beat his ass up many times in sparring. And probably that was one of the reasons why Gladio was attracted to her. She was strong, and that was simply hot.

"Wah! Chocobo Plushie! Aaaa!" Prompto's cheer distracted Gladio. The blonde guy had won a chocobo plushie.

"Woah! Good job, Prompto!" Gladio laughed and clapped for him.

Everyone was smiling and applauding, happy to see the human-form-of-Chocobo win a plushie of his kind.

The next ones who played were Cor and Eira and they got the same keychain as prizes. That was funny, Gladio thought.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Gladio turned his head to look at Lizette. He asked, "Are they a couple, yet?"

Lizette glanced at him and scoffed, "Who?"

"A certain marshal and a medic."

"Huh? I don't know what you are talking about."

Gladio clearly knew that Lizette was lying. She avoided his gaze and he could sense that her shoulders tensed.

Damn, Eira… Finally getting her hands on Cor, huh?

"The more reason you should be my girlfriend, Lizette." Gladio asked as they left the shooting stall and walked to the next stall —maybe they would play again or maybe they were just going sightseeing.

"I can't find the logic behind your words," Lizette said.

"Hmm…" Gladio glanced to the back where Cor and Eira were walking together. He caught the marshal blushing slightly with a rare smile curved on his face.

"Don't you think that it would be funny if we had a double date? Cor and Eira, and you and me."

"Why are you shipping Cor and Eira?" Lizette frowned.

"I know that Eira had a crush at Cor. And look at that closeness. I think her endeavor is fruitful already."

Lizette chuckled. "Just because someone is close with another, you assume they're a couple?"

"Cor makes weird soft faces whenever he's with her. But well, I guess you're keeping it secret. I respect it."

"Oh! Woah! A Gladio Amicitia respects someone's privacy!" Lizette widened her eyes, exaggerating her amazement.

"I'm not a total jerk, you know?"

Lizette giggled. And seeing her beautiful smile created butterflies in his stomach.

Yeah, he liked her.

Lizette groaned when she heard her phone ringing which then awakened her from her peaceful slumber. She didn't set any alarm since it was Sunday and she just wanted to wake up late and leisurely because she came home very late last night from the summer festival.

So, who's calling her so early this morning? Eira? Nah, that girl rarely needed her without prior notice and Lizette was sure that Eira didn't need her today.

Reaching her phone, she curled her lips to find out that it was Gladio. Ugh… Why would he call her this morni — Ah… Catching the four digit numbers on top right of her phone, she was embarrassed. It was already 11 in the morning, not even morning anymore.

After giving off a big yawn, Lizette answered the call. "Yeah?"

"Let's have a date." Gladio's voice from the other side of the phone was filled with excitement.

"No," she answered lazily.

"Are you avoiding me? You didn't even reply to my messages this morning."

"Oh that's why you called?" Lizette pulled up her blanket and was ready to go back to her dream. "I didn't even read your messages. Just woke up…"

"What?" Gladio shot a laugh. "Ahahaha… Just woke up, huh?"

"Yeah… My precious lazy Sunday." And just like that she hung up the phone and continued hiding under her blanket.

Unfortunately her peaceful holiday didn't go smoothly. After fifteen minutes from the last call, her phone rang again. It was Gladio and she lazily picked it. Yes, she could just ignore the big guy and give him a cold shoulder. But she wasn't a cruel woman and she couldn't lie that she had a bit of interest in him. Just a little bit.

"Hei, let's have a date after all," Gladio said.

Yeah, she couldn't say that she disliked his husky and deep voice. To be honest, her heart was beating a bit faster right now. Excited? Yeah. But too lazy to go out? Very much true.

"I'm so lazy," she replied honestly.

"But I'm already in front of your door."

Just with that one single sentence, Lizette abruptly got up from her bed and stared at her door in disbelief.

She jolted when the doorbell rang. And even though she didn't want to, she left her bed and staggered to the door.

"Hi." Gladio's grin was the first thing she saw when she opened her door.

"Oh the Six… Really?" she sighed then opened the door wider to let the man get inside. Talking in the hallway would disturb the neighborhood. Meanwhile, chasing Gladio away seemed cruel. No other option there.

"You haven't eaten yet, right? I brought food." Gladio raised his hand so that Lizette could see some plastic bags he had.

"Oh no. I bet it's cup noodles." Lizette scoffed and closed the door.

Gladio chuckled then took out the cup noodles in the kitchen counter which was right after the entrance. "I have several flavors. Chicken, seafood, chili crab, and curry."

"Yeah, cup noodle enthusiast." Lizette giggled seeing he lined them up on the counter and made a small pyramid of it. He bought too much, that was for sure.

"So…" Gladio turned his body, facing her. His big body literally blocked the way and thus Lizette was now between the door and him, with nowhere to escape.

"Did you already consider my request?" Gladio walked closer, towering her, only leaving a few inches as space between their bodies.

He smelled so good. Citrus, lily —probably —, musk, and his own pheromone.

Rarely a man came into her apartment. And having someone like him get into her place right after she woke up… Well, she appreciated his presence. Just a little demerit that he made her hungry. Not about food, but for something that hadn't been satisfied these past years.

"What do you like about me?" she placed both of her hands on his chest, raising her head to look at his handsome face.

"You're so pretty."

"If I were ugly, would you like me?" she whispered while slowly trailed her hands upward to his shoulders.

"You're strong." Gladio didn't answer her question and caressed her cheek instead, yet she let him.

"If I were weak, would you still like me?" Eyes still locked into his eyes, Lizette began to circle her arms around his neck. She wanted him, and she knew that he was already hungry.

"This personality is why I like you." He grabbed her by the waist, wrapping her slender body with his big arm.

Their faces were now so close that they could feel each other's breath.

"You won't be able to stay with me more than a week. You'll hate me." She whispered into his lips.

"Let's just try and see." Gladio shut his eyes and locked her lips with his.

She opened her mouth, inviting the man to slip his tongue inside. She welcomed him, danced with him in a harmonious rhythm. He lifted her body and pushed her until her back hit the door. This was so hot… His kisses, his panted breath, his soft moan… It seemed that she just used him to quench her thirst without actually being his girlfriend. But at least, this is consensual, right?

He wanted her, and she wanted this.

Things were just getting hotter as Gladio began to kiss her neck. He was like a beast, not a slight trace of tenderness as he bit her skin and left a mark on it. She moaned, enjoying the sweet pain from him.

Gladio kissed her lips again as they moved inside. And when he found her bed, he hastily dropped her down and she now lay on the bed.

"Very hungry, huh?" she smirked.

"I know you've always wanted it." He raised a corner of his lips before quickly stripping in front of her.

She always liked to admire his muscular body which is adorned by an enormous eagle tattoo. Sometimes the thirst engulfed her when the man showed off his beautiful muscles in the training room. Therefore, it was clear that one of her feelings toward him was lust.

Sitting on her bed, she took off her own clothing, throwing them carelessly on the floor. But Gladio —who was now gloriously naked —snatched her job and pulled down her short sweatpants.

"Let's see how good Gladiolus Amicitia is in bed." Lizette smirked.

A smile touched Gladio's lips as he watched Lizette pour the hot water into both of their cup noodles on the table in front of him.

He was in bliss because a few minutes ago they just fucked on her bed. Things went better compared to what he planned before. He initially just wanted to have a date with Lizette, going out, eating at a restaurant with a nice view, and talking about his confession and her answer.

But the girl didn't answer his messages and thus he decided to visit her apartment instead.

She lived alone, and he always knew it. Upon hearing that she just woke up, he went to the nearest convenience store and bought his favorite cup noodles… and protection. Always prepared, yes.

He knew that their previous exchange was merely an act to satisfy their desire. Not that she liked him or wanted to be his girlfriend. But he didn't mind it. He always wanted to do it with her anyway.

But at least, the talk about it wouldn't hurt, right?

"So, are we a couple, yet?" Gladio asked.

"I don't think that I want to have a romantic relationship now." Lizette shrugged before closing the lids of their cup noodles and placing a pair of chopsticks on top of it so they wouldn't move.

"Why is that?" he carefully asked.

"Not in the mood," she then went to the kitchen to return the kettle.

Gladio silently watched her until she returned back to the living room area and sat on the floor with him.

"But you don't mind sex partner?" Gladio chuckled.

"Yeah as long as feelings aren't involved. I don't want it if I'm not interested in being a partner anymore and you get a broken heart."

Gladio laughed. "You don't like me? Or do you have someone else you like?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she gave a few seconds pause staring at him before finally saying, "You piqued my interest. But I don't see you in a romantic way."

Okay, that hurt. He took back his words. It hurt —for him, at least.

"Can it change? Or are you…" he shrugged, "... aromantic?"

Lizette chuckled. "That… I don't want to answer."

Gladio sighed in disappointment. He was curious. But for this case, he didn't want to push. He didn't want to be hated by her if he peered into something she didn't want to reveal.

She chuckled again.

But then she huffed and looked down at her cup noodles which weren't ready yet, "But… seeing a certain someone fall in love with a certain someone… sometimes I feel like… I want to have that kind of relationship too."

"Eira and Cor?" Gladio asked, certain that they were the one she meant. Who else?

Lizette saw him in displeasure, not answering.

"Come on. It's very obvious. How could people not notice them being flirty here and there?" Gladio shrugged.

"If you want to know about them, why don't you ask them?" Lizette took her chopsticks and carefully tore the lid from the cup.

"Fine. I'll ask them tomorrow."

"What the fuck, Gladio. Seriously?" Lizette frowned, not believing that he would agree to her suggestion.

"It's fun to see Eira blush." He also took his chopsticks and tore the cup lid.

"Oh, I thought you'll ask Cor instead," Lizette chuckled.

"I'm going to need a huge amount of courage for that."

"Hahaha… Totally relate."

Gladio stirred his noodles, making sure that the seasoning mixed well. He slurped the noodles, enjoying the taste of his favorite food. For him, cup noodles were the best thing that humanity had invented.

"Still can't believe they're really a thing." Gladio said, still thinking about Cor and Eira. He was happy for them, and he wished he and Lizette could be like them. Oh man, he liked Lizette so much.

"No comment." Of course Lizette's lips were sealed. Perhaps Eira cast a magic spell that prevented her from talking. Or Lizette is simply a loyal friend, which he believed the latter was the reason.

"I hope we'll be a thing too." He murmured, smiling at his crush.

"Is a friend with benefits a thing?" Lizette asked jokingly.

"Damn."

He continued eating his noodles, while wondering how to snatch his crush's heart. Until now, it was so easy for him to get into a relationship with the women that he liked —not that their relationship lasted long though, he was single now. Lizette was the first one that didn't answer him right away. He wondered if his charm didn't affect her at all.

He was curious.

And he wouldn't give up on her.

Author's note : Ini pembaca yang dari Indonesia siapa teh aku kepo, makasih ya udah baca luph yu!