Of Delicate Boys and Could Have Beens
Albert Diyosa
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not my property so don't sue me. I am a struggling writer.
Chapter Two
Shin rubbed her eyes and found that she was lying on Kogure's bed. Beside it was her classmate, carefully placing a bowl on the desk.
"You are finally awake." Kogure greeted Shin as soon as she opened her eyes. He just came from his small kitchen to bring her some hot soup to help her feel warm. "I made that for you."
Shin sat up, shaking her head and facing him. "I did not know I fell asleep even though your place was three blocks away from where we were earlier."
Kogure placed a hand on her forehead, his other hand resting on his. "You were a bit sick earlier, which is probably why you fell asleep. Now, it seemed like your fever has gotten lower." He pointed at the bowl on his desk, telling Shin to consume it. She took it, but was a bit hesitant to taste it.
"I didn't put any drug on it, unfortunately." He joked. "Come on, it'll make you feel better."
Although it was somewhat obvious from the looks of Kogure that he was kind, Shin never thought he was this kind. In fact, he was not just kind; he was even generous—for letting her stay in his unit for a while and serving her a bowl of soup to help her feel better. It was so nice of him to treat her that way, even though they were but acquaintances before and now.
Shin stared at the bowl of soup she was holding. The heat that escaped the ceramic bowl pierced through her cold hands. To her, it was like a symbolism of her classmate's warmth. Carefully, she sipped, allowing her mouth to drown in the sweetness of the soup. A satisfied smile found its way on her pale face.
"Hey, this isn't so bad!" She told him. She sipped some more until she was able to finish the soup. "Living alone must've really been your driving force to cook good food."
He smiled. "I love cooking, next to my studies and basketball. I cook because I get easily hungry."
Shin's eyes widened. "You do? You don't look like it, though."
"A lot of people have already told me that."
Shin studied her classmate. Kogure had always looked geeky, probably because of his glasses. Aside from the Shohoku High Basketball Varsity, Shin remembered people connecting Kogure to academic excellence, being the batch salutatorian. Even if he confessed that he loved cooking just like he loved studying and basketball, his body built was lean. Shin had this mental image of men who loved cooking to be someone huge, and he was not like that at all.
"Hmm, it is probably because your geeky aura gets in the way, that's why people tell you that." She commented. "Or it could be because your body does not show any signs of your love for cooking and eating."
Shin lied down again. The ceramic bowl rested on her stomach. She could still feel the hotness, which the soup left, and it felt good. She looked at the window and saw that it was still raining hard.
"OH CRAP."
"What's wrong?" Kogure asked, puzzled.
Shin sat up and looked at him. "I forgot I have a paper due tomorrow and I haven't started making it yet. But I'm here, in your unit, stuck because the rain won't stop." She slapped her face several times. "How could I have forgotten that when creative writing's my favorite subject?" She mumbled, still slapping herself.
"Well, I have a laptop and a printer. Will that help?"
Shin stopped torturing her face by slapping. "Are you saying that I'll just do my assignment here?"
"What else do you think am I imposing?"
"Are you serious?"
Kogure looked at her sternly and sighed heavily. "Do you doubt the services I am offering you?"
Shin smiled awkwardly. "It's not that I doubt your services. I just find it weird that you're being so nice to me even though we hardly spoke to each other since high school."
"It doesn't matter whether we were close friends before or not. I just can't stand leaving you soaking for the rest of the day." He said. "Oh yeah, you have to take a bath or your condition will worsen."
Shin touched her clothes. "And I am still wet." She faced behind to see the damage she caused on Kogure's bed. "Sorry, I got your bed wet."
"It's okay." He stood up, opened his closet and looked for a spare towel and some clothes that would fit Shin. "The bathroom's just outside my room."
She removed the blanket that covered her earlier and stood up. "Just leave the towel outside the bathroom. Thanks. I think I really have to shower now."
"Okay," he answered. "I'll also leave there the clothes you have to wear for the meantime." If I do find one, he thought as he rummaged through his things.
As soon as Shin had closed the bathroom door, she immediately freed herself from her wet garments, giving her a feeling of relief. She smiled.
As the lukewarm droplets of water came in contact with her pale and cold skin, musings seemed to disturb her quiet thoughts.
So this is Kogure Kiminobu, Shin thought while humming. He was not so bad after all.
End of Chapter Two