Chapter Four: ILU (I love you)
With hair pulled back in a loose bun and a peachy cocktail dress hugging her body, Luka had never looked more elegant. At least, as elegant as one can be when they have a deadly expression that rivalled Medusa.
Tightening her lips to a thin thread, hiding the perfectly applied lipstick, Luka glared at the rather well-presented Gakupo. He was resting his head against his knuckles, giving a sideways stare and cocky smile. Neither spoke, both of them enjoying – or in the case of Luka, rather loathing – each other's company.
Gakupo waggled his eyebrows. Luka grated her teeth.
This would be a long night.
Smoothing out her dress even though there were no wrinkles, Luka let out a small breath and, for possibly the fifteenth time, contemplated exactly how this monstrosity of an event happened. The world faded into black and, like in a sappy romance anime, she felt a flashback coming…
It was a usual day. The sky was blue, the sun rose, the trees grew and life went on. In fact, life had been went-on-ing very well lately. Tapping her spoon rhythmically against the glass plate, Luka felt especially bubbly, and actually had to repress the urge to start humming, singing or (god forbid) dancing. Unfortunately someone had to notice her enthusiastic mood, and made a point to stick his nose in it.
"You caught the happy bug or something?" the femininely-haired waiter inquired and mocked simultaneously, flashing his white teeth in a grin.
"I would say so," Luka replied, sarcasm sitting beneath the words quietly, "I heard it's contagious."
"Very." Gakupo agreed with a nod, his grin widening. "See now, I've got it."
"Oh dear. I hope you don't die." She responded with the emotion of a rock.
"It amazes me that you can be scornful and happy at the same time." Shaking his head, he pulled up a chair and sat. "So are you gonna tell me what's got you like this?"
Honestly, Luka barely knew herself what the whole mood was about. She very well might be completely suicidal the next day, she thought pessimistically, considering the suddenness of this disposition. Staring Gakupo in the face, Luka almost smiled. Almost being key, as even when abnormally gleeful, Luka drew the line at showing Gakupo her sweet side – if you could call it that.
"Do I need a reason to be happy?"
"Do birds fly?"
"…Yes."
"Is the sea wet?"
"Yes."
"Is fire hot?"
"Yes, okay, I get your point."
"Does green mean go?"
Becoming somewhat infuriated, Luka narrowed her eyes at him. "It does."
"Is blood red?"
"Yes."
"Will you go out with me?"
"I told you, yes, now can we move on—"
Luka's words cut out sharply, breath hitched in her thought and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"I— That's— It did not count! You idiot!" Luka flustered, trying to rectify her erroneous agreement. Gakupo merely broke out into a stupid grin, looking as joyful as a child in a candy shop.
"A yes is a yes." He tutted, taking on a lecturing tone without losing any of his comical charm. "I hope you're free tomorrow night."
"I-I am, but I'm certainly not going on some kind of date with you of all people—"
"I'll pick you at seven. That alright?" With a gentlemanly smile he ignored all her objections, and Luka regretted ever mentioning her street address in an earlier conversation.
A minute of silence passed, Luka hissing under her breath and Gakupo sparkling.
"…Okay."
With confirmation, Gakupo then jumped from his chair and did a strange jig, which was assumedly a freakish kind of victory dance. Luka collapsed her face into her palms, groaning, knowing she got herself into something that no amount of joking and white lies would fix. And out the window went her happy mood.
Harshly dropping back into reality, away from the rather too vivid recollection, Luka frowned and stared at the matte wall, rather than her 'date'. Everything this night only fuelled a deep annoyance that would surely give her wrinkles between her eyes. How irritating it was when Gakupo showed up on time; when he noticed and complemented her graduating eyeshadow; when he pulled out her chair for her; when he let her order first; when he did that blithe smile which made her stomach flip upside-down…
Breaking the reverie, she noticed Gakupo staring at her. Suddenly, with only a small grin as a warning, he pulled an utterly ridiculous face, reminding Luka strongly of a chimpanzee. On crack.
"What the hell was that?" Luka demanded, her expression horrified… and kind of amused.
"It was my signature stop-date-from-spacing-out-like-a-zombie look. I think it worked."
"There are more subtle ways you could have done it. Now some five-year-old across the room is staring at you."
Gakupo turned in his seat, spotting what indeed was a young child scrutinizing him with an unnervingly profound gaze. Shifting his chair over so he did not have to suffer the direct stare of the creepy infant, he ended up subsequently closer to Luka, which was so convenient that she wondered if he planned these things right from the beginning. A few seconds of silence passed before Gakupo struck up a friendly banter.
"You enjoying yourself?"
"Can't really complain, I suppose. Yet wouldn't mind if the meal could come a little quicker."
It would have saved a lot of pain, Luka mulled, if only dinner had arrived in time to relinquish them of the awkward first hour. Fragmented conversations that died quickly; time that was wasted staring at the menu; and constant wiggling in her seat were the more exhilarating aspects of it all. Of course, Luka had been incurably uptight the entire time, her shoulders set in stone and her back erect. She warily gave Gakupo a little more credit for the ridiculous stunt he pulled; it did end up breaking the ice between them.
"I'm sure it's getting there. Patience, my dear."
Apart from the twitch of an eyebrow, Luka otherwise show no aggravation towards the endearing-yet-somehow-insulting nickname. After reconsidering, she took a sharp breath, ready to spill out a stream of protests, yet luck happened to be on her date's side as a bubbly waitress announced the arrival of their order. Luka spared no time, digging into her meal. The faster she ate, the faster she was out of here.
For 15 minutes at least, the only noise between the two were the clicks and scrapes of cutlery – the most civil conversation all night. Then when Luka had totally scoured the plate of every morsel, not even a dot of sauce left behind, she had to admit there was no delaying the inevitable.
Gakupo was casually finishing off a side-bowl of soup as Luka, somewhat hesitantly, spoke up.
"I hope you're paying for tonight."
"Well of course!" Gakupo placed his spoon on the table with a flourish. "What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't!"
"I wouldn't put it past you to dump the bill on me."
"You think too little of me." he playfully reprimanded. "Beneath this incredibly sexy exterior," – Luka coughed – "is a very caring individual, you should know."
Eye-rolling, Luka rested her elbows on the table and her head on her hands. "Are we getting dessert?"
A loud choke came from the egotistical man.
"My budget isn't that big."
Impulsively, a grin stretched out across Luka's lips.
"And it's probably not the only thing that isn't that big either."
The silence lasted for three seconds.
"…Did you just make a penis joke?"
"Maybe I did."
Luka sniggered mischievously, whatever maturity she previously upheld in public being thrown into some dark closet in the back of her mind. Really, with such an open opportunity, her vestigial adolescent self could not hold itself back. A small part of her muttered that she should quickly make a snide remark, redeem her dignity for all it's worth; but for some blasphemous reason, she did not. Maybe she was finally letting her guard down. Maybe, on the inside, she was just a child that wanted to have fun.
Maybe there was something weird in the food.
Anyways, whatever caused the 180-degree flip around, it made no difference to Gakupo as a rich chuckle welled in his throat.
"Full of surprises. No doubt about it."
Gakupo smiled – that stupid, distracting, heart-warming smile – and Luka's stomach turned over backwards. Forget fluttery butterflies, it felt more like a stampede in there.
Now seemed like a great time to get the hell out.
"Well," She casually stated, plastering a ridiculously pleasant smile on her face, "It's getting late."
"It's not even eight o'clock yet."
"It's getting late." Luka emphasised, her expression remaining unchanged as she began to stand. Although, she didn't quite make it – he acted much faster, graciously relocating to her side to offer her an aiding hand. Her cobalt eyes widened just a little.
For a moment she stared impassively, then with her fairy-floss hair brushing her jaw line, she turned and hurried out the other side of the chair. Just in time to hide the rosy tinges that threatened her cool expression.
"I can stand by myself."
Gakupo tutted, rolled his eyes, and leaning on one leg he let out a lazy smile. Even with her back turned Luka could feel his eyes wandering over her, and with a tight clench of her fists she willed her blushing cheeks to fade. She turned quickly and met him with a hopefully non-embarrassing, normal, Luka-like expression. Her only barely built-up wall of confidence all but toppled over when the cause of all these ridiculous emotions laughed. At her.
Caught between the desire to hide her (still, unreasonably red) face and to give the senseless man a good slap, Luka merely stood with a tiny pout pursing her lips. Pointedly, she ignored that his laugh was in good nature and had an odd, husky melody to it. She felt like she could listen to that laugh for hours. But that was bordering on a little absurd, so Luka blamed her delusions on the fact she was a hermit and never talked to real people.
Gakupo raised a questioning eyebrow, silently inquiring as to whether she was going to speak, and when she did not he allowed himself to offer, "Shall I now impress by offering you a walk home?"
Simply blinking her salmon eyelashes as a part-reply, Luka scrounged her horribly disordered brain for an excuse to timely pursue her own means of transport. She needed a pretext that couldn't be thrown back into her face, that hopefully wouldn't leave her – for not the first time – awkward and chagrined.
The bemoaned, condemning words she ended up spurting out managed to achieve the perfect polar opposite.
"Maybe next time."
Gakupo smirked. "I'll be taking your word on that."
..That was not what she meant at all!
Luka cringed. She had sold her soul to the devil and just, for all intents and purposes, promised the annoying man a second date.
Well, no getting out of it now.
She nearly slaughtered him the first time he tried to hold her hand.
It was a Saturday. Luka wore her favourite green cardigan and Gakupo had on an incredibly sexy black jacket. Not that she'd ever tell him. They were walking side by side on the cobbled mall street, chatting aimlessly and window-shopping at every second store or so. Luka was content for once, since the flamboyant man had managed to go nearly half an hour without any unwarranted teasing. Then, without any prior notification, something warm slipped between her fingers—
Wham!
She threw her arm, thwacking Gakupo straight under the chin.
He had to inform a worrying old lady who rushed over that he was indeed fine, though his wobbly smile barely hid obvious pain Luka had dealt.
She had apologised ruefully after – it had been a reflex, no actual harmful intent – though not without a bit of smugness at her own strength.
That was the second date.
On their third, Gakupo took her out to eat again. Luka nearly exploded from contained joy when she noticed tuna on the menu. He had laughed at her, of course, and she kicked him underneath the table. After ordering, he made a small remark about knowing someone else who liked tuna. Luka nervously joked that she couldn't be the only one, all the while making a mental note to be more inconspicuous.
On the seventh date, she leant against his shoulder while watching a movie. Holding his hand was almost customary when she was beside him.
After their tenth date, Luka had hopped on her laptop to start a conversation with the 'Dancing Samurai' as usual. He was more idiotic and perverted than ever online, but she had noticed him mellowing. Rather like how, in the real world, he was becoming more of that silly flirter she first met in that fateful chatroom. Slowly a medium was being reached. She wondered if she was still different enough to fool Gakupo much longer…
On the twelfth date, she hinted about her online persona. Gakupo didn't take the bait. All the shampoo he used must have soaked into his brain. Luka slowly smiled.
An idea was forming.
Luka chuckled lightly to herself, leaning her head against the armrest of her couch. She was curled cat-like into a small bundle, confining herself to the chair's corner despite more than enough room to stretch out. Her hair, messed and splaying around her shoulders, seemed a flowery mauve colour in the dim light of the television. She was unfocusedly watching a late-night comedy show, far too preoccupied to efficiently follow the plot and jokes of the various skits. Luka blinked her eyes as they watered when she yawned, and sleepily she dragged herself into a normal sitting position. A nearby clock chimed, metallic and slow, causing her to stare at it until the numbers began to make sense.
2.00 am, apparently.
Straightening her flannelette pyjamas that had skewed uncomfortably with her movements, Luka stifled another abrupt yawn and flicked off the TV. The sudden darkness that encroached relaxed her immediately, so with some unwillingness she had to haul herself of the couch and begin to lurch towards her bedroom.
Within the minute she was languidly crawling under the blankets, her toes wriggling pleasantly. The pillow was soft and the blanket smelled faintly of peaches. Luka shut her eyes.
She lay still, waiting for the familiar tug of sleep to pull her under. On the back of her eyelids, before her sluggish sight, a few colourful smudges danced; a faint reminder of the TV screen burned temporarily into her mind. Some mellow minutes passed, and Luka slowly found the smudges to be increasing in brightness rather than fading into the slumbering darkness. Slowly, she blinked open her eyes.
Pure blackness greeted her. She closed them tightly again, fidgeting with the position of the blanket. A small analogue clock ticked softly from her bedside table.
Luka rolled over to her side.
Sleep…
She flipped onto her stomach.
Go to sleep…
The bed covers got violently kicked off.
Luka glared into the darkness. A sigh – sounding more like a hiss – escaped her lips. This was not a time for insomnia! The woman had things to do in the morning. Like clean the study. Again. That room sure was a conundrum; when out of use, it got dirty. When in use, it still gathered filth like there was no tomorrow.
She considered convincing Gakupo to do it. Add a little fib about being allergic to dust, maybe…
Despite herself, she chuckled. It was doubtful he'd buy it. That man had been getting surely better at picking up when she wasn't quite being truthful. And that was what made it amazing her second identity hadn't been discovered yet.
It had to be pure luck, Gakupo's denseness and a lot of tuna that managed to keep Luka calm and in control.
The ridiculous gaily man (who uses too many hair products) had a special way of getting the best and worst from her. And Luka couldn't help but smile. Normally, she would have slapped herself for being so giddy and girlish about a guy but, in the darkness, no one could judge.
Rolling herself into a sitting position on the side of the mattress (all tiredness had vanished and did not seem likely to return soon; plus, once she started thinking, there was no end), Luka flicked on her bedside lamp and waited for the smudgy blindness to disappear.
Wandering out of her room again, rubbing her eyes with the back of her sleeve, she found herself trotting towards the infamously dirty study. Flicking on the weak ceiling light and flopping herself in the desk chair, Luka blew a few strands of hair out of her eyes and waited for her nearly antique laptop to warm up.
She starting thinking and smiling again, absently twirling her hair. After loading, Luka, now habitually, logged onto the computer and opened up a browser, quickly clicking her favourite bookmark. The chat site flashed before her eyes, pink hearts and all still there.
You have signed into PrivateChatRoom as MaguroLover
Dancing_Samurai(2.41am): Why hello, honey! What you doing up this late, you need your beauty sleep~
MaguroLover(2.41am): What are you doing up, is what I should be asking.
Dancing_Samurai(2.42am): I was planning on retiring, but now that I have something pretty to entertain me… I think I'll stay~
MaguroLover(2.42am): Well aren't you easy to please. But I'll be going to bed soon anyway. I just wanted to check my messages.
A lie. Luka had gradually realised her indifference was masking concern – and sometimes, she barely masked it all. She really was getting soft…
Dancing_Samurai(2.42am): I see. Well, my sexy-as-eggplants maiden, since we are here we should talk for at least a little bit, right~?
MaguroLover(2.43am): I guess.
That's when Luka remembered. Her idea, which had recently formed into a little plan.
MaguroLover(2.43am): Oh, actually… There was something I wished to speak to you about.
Dancing_Samurai(2.43am): What is it? Your bra size~?
MaguroLover(2.43am): No! Please drop that thought…
MaguroLover(2.44am): What I'm trying to say is, we've known each other for a while online now, so maybe… we should meet?
While waiting for his reply, Luka couldn't help but grin at her wonderful scheme. Oh, how she looked forward to seeing his face when he realised exactly who she was. In her mind, it was a lukewarm evening, and she approached behind him. He would turn, his eyes would widen, and a smile would work its way onto his face. She would smile back. And maybe he would plant that soft kiss on her lips, like he'd been trying to do for the past two months.
She stopped herself there, shaking her head. Really, she wasn't even a woman who liked romance! Luka focused back on the chat.
Dancing_Samurai(2.46am): …Seriously? Truly? Are you not kidding?
MaguroLover(2.47am): I am being honest, really! We could meet next weekend, if that is no problem…
Dancing_Samurai(2.47am): Of course not! It is perfect!
MaguroLover(2.48am): Okay then. How about Saturday 6pm at the East Park? Do you know where that is?
Dancing_Samurai(2.48am): I do! This is wonderful~ I get to meet my lovely tuna-princess~!
MaguroLover(2.49am): As long as you promise me not to call me that again.
Luka nearly sighed at her over-apathy, because mostly, in reality, the nicknames just made her laugh. Another reason she couldn't wait to drop this persona completely.
Dancing_Samurai(2.49am): Promised! But one thing, why did you want to meet now, all of a sudden?
MaguroLover(2.50am): Please do not ask me why.
MaguroLover(2.50am): You'll see when we meet.
Dancing_Samurai(2.50am): Well, I'll take your word for that! Now dear, I think I might go sleep and have magnificent dreams about you~
MaguroLover(2.51am): Just leave me out of you perverse fantasies. Goodnight, idiot.
Dancing_Samurai(2.51am): Night, sugar~
Dancing_Samurai has signed out of the chat
You have signed out of the chat
Leaning back on her chair, an accomplished satisfaction settled inside her and Luka felt her eyelids droop. Calling it a night, she shut down her laptop, flicked off the lights, and once again made the sightless trek back to her darkened room.
This time the tiredness was all-encompassing, inviting Luka to a deep sleep with sweet dreams. An elfin smile found its way on her lips again, and she vaguely wondered what caused it. She curled under the sheets, gently closing her eyes, and it was in this limbo between conscious and slumbering that it came to her in an incredible epiphany.
And it wasn't as scary as Luka thought it was going to be.
Hey, Gakupo.
I love you.
A/N: Combined the parts together. Sorry if you get confusing alert messages ;_;
If all goes to plan, two more chapters left! And a short epilogue ;P
If only I wasn't so slow...