Crystal: Wow… 'tis been a long time since I have updated this, no? Well, anyway… here I am, back with more chapters! --smiles-- Oh, and just for Kai-cutie-angel… review responses for everyone!
SaFire flamE: Lol, thanks for the review!
Vampyre Neko: Thankies for the review!
Ice Dragon638: Thankies for the review!
Forfirith-on-a-sugar-high: Here's some another chapter! Hope you enjoy it! --smiles--
Moon Bind: Hmm… it was loosing some of its fangirl-style adoration, eh? Heheh… not to worry, Moony-chan! There will be more fangirl-style adoration in future chapters! --grins--
Fluffy Kitten and Alley Cat: Yes… I know… poor, poor dear cousin Tala… --smiles too innocently--
Tala: ¬.¬ Your smiles don't fool anyone, Crystalinne…
Crystal: XP
Raku Ozzarian Princess: Hai, add more to my dear cousin's demise… --laughs demonically-- Anyway… man, you do NOT know what else I have in store for our dear Tala-san… xD
Tala: T-T whoopee…
Ladyfiction: Hee-hee… yep, I know what I would do too! --senses Tala's death glare on the back of her head but ignores it-- And no… the review was cut off! ;-; What else did it say…? x.x
Diesty-chan: Remind me to give LF-sama a brownie for recommending my fic to you, okay? --smiles-- And as for your question… Hmm… your right… Tala should have been curious but you know him! He's too mesmerized with Bryan to even be curious… lol!
Tala: ¬.¬ …
Crystal: xD
Saber-kon: Nope… I don't think Bryan saw Tala when Tala went to their table… and ooh! Arigatou for the cookie! --bows--
Hyperness: Hee-hee… yes… the first part of being stuck is over… BUT, I can assure you that there are other many ways that they can be stuck… just wait for the future chapters and see!
Hipa: I'm glad you think this is hilarious! --grins-- Everything your curious are probably going to be in this chapter… so just all you need to do is scroll down, my friend!
Evilive: Thankies for the review!
Kai-cutie-angel: Here's your awaited review response! --smiles cheerfully-- No worries… hee-hee… I've been meaning to give responses to everyone it's just… I'm really lazy to write it… haha, but arigatou for suggesting it!
ChibiNekoSakura: --sighs-- Sadly… no… but don't worry… I'll give Bryan some extra chapter space so he could continue sketching Tala… --grins--
Keisan: Hee-hee… that's a great idea… haha, Bryan's actually stalking Tala and keeps drawings of him in his room… xD
Tala: --eyes lit up-- He does?
Crystal: --sighs-- Sadly… no. Anyway… hee-hee… oh I think Tala would handle the situation he's in just fine… with a little help from Maxie and Tyson… --smiles--
Tala: -.-;;
TNTiggris: Lol… no worries! I can't spell to save my own life as well… x.x
Winged Wolves: Hey Winged Wolves-chan! Aww… here, have a brownie! --gives brownie to Winged Wolves-chan-- Hope you'll be able to submit chapters and post up new stories… that happened to me once too… x.x Anyway… Heheh… have fun on hitting Tyson with your crutches! --smirks--
Tyson: Hey, I resent that!
Crystal: xP
Mizurazame: Here's another chapter for you! --smiles--
AnonomousTalkativeStrangerGirl: --sweatdrops-- Don't worry, here's another chapter!
Whew, now that's all done… cookies for everyone! --grins-- Now on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but disclaimers can hurt me… except for this one that is… x.x
Stuck - Chapter 4
Mizuhara and Kinomiya are still dragging me out the locker room, and now we're heading towards the cashier place, where they gladly told me that they would be watching my every move while giving my 100 attention to Bryan--I mean the customers at table 35, taking their orders, giving their drinks and foods, and try NOT to flirt with a certain hottie who is sitting on table 35.
"Now, remember Ivanov-kun, one little mistake, and I'll make sure EVERY girl colleague we have here will know about this," Kinomiya reminded me for the last three hundred and thirty-sixth time. Well, maybe not three hundred and thirty-six times… but it looks and sounds like it.
I rolled my eyes. "As if they don't already know…" I mumbled under my breath, while peeking a gaze over to table 35. Surprisingly, they aren't complaining yet, since they've been waiting to be served for what… eight minutes? Anyway, Mizuhara gave me a great big push, which I didn't really expected, so now I kind of trip half-way, making some of the customers and other colleagues look at me.
HOW EMBARRASSING THAT WAS!
I could feel my cheeks heat up, and gave a quick, and deadly glare towards his way and gathered every little bit of my pride and dignity left and stomped over to table 35. Yep, that's right, you heard me; I stomped. As in, walking like I have something really heavy on my feet. You know, if we weren't in a restaurant, and instead we're on a dark alleyway, I would have murdered Mizuhara and Kinomiya right then and there, and make it look like an accident if some people found their bodies.
When I got to table 35, I was really thankful that every person that was sitting there weren't looking when I was stomping, and instead they were too busy talking to each other about some protocols and stuff (I'm not really smart towards those kind of stuff…). I was practically waiting for three whole minutes just to get their attention. And guess who was the first person to recognize me…
"Tala?"
…
Yes, it was he. Kami, could this day get any worse? First, I got stuck in an elevator, though I was really glad that Bryan was also in there, then second, the great boss guy that runs this place gave me a great big ass lecture on punctuality and how being late gives negative vibes, then third, my colleagues are torturing me by giggling and looking--I mean staring at me weirdly, and fourth, Mizuhara and Kinomiya just decided that it is my time to DIE!
Relax… you're just overreacting… Hah me, overreacting? I don't think so!
Anyway, back to my crisis here.
"Tala?" he said my name for the second time, probably looking at me weirdly, seeing as my eyes were really wide, as wide as teacup saucers; my mouth's kind of open, and I'm just holding my notepad and pencil like I'm some kind of a statue in the museum.
"B-Bryan…?" I asked, pretending to be surprised, since I saw him before I came to their table. "H-How nice to see you here… in the restaurant… where I work…" Okay, I got to stop my mouth from saying anything else… jeez; I already look stupid in my work clothes, I don't need to be even stupider with my mouth running like an automatic atm machine giving money to everybody.
"I take it that you work here?"
I nodded my head, not fully trusting my mouth to work, then I looked to where Mizuhara and Kinomiya were and saw that they were giving me a two thumbs-up and a great big grin saying 'You're doing a great job of fooling yourself in front of your boyfriend, Ivanov-kun! Keep it up!' I could actually feel a vein popping up on my temple, as they kept on grinning like deranged monkeys who just had some diet coke. WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN THAT BRYAN-KUN IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND?!
But you know you want to…
Argh, but that's not the point! I bet you they're hiding a small camera here somewhere, catching my every move, and then the both of them will sell it for money, and so the people that I don't even know that they exist will be laughing until they die of old age…
Okay, that's enough caffeine for me…
I looked at my boy--I mean at Bryan's moonlit eyes and gave a small smile. Somehow… his eyes are really mesmerizing and it's making my temper calm down a bit. "May I take your orders?" I asked in a soft whisper, which is really awkward. I mean, I don't talk like that! Hmm… must be because of my dear Bryan's mesmerizing eyes… I sighed inwardly. He sure can make a very, very, VERY pissed off person (aka me) calm down in a nanosecond. What a sweetie.
Anyway, I quickly wrote down the orders, gave a small bow, and went directly to the kitchen to give the paper towards the cooks, and left the room, back at the cashier place where the tea cups and tea pots placed. And of course, unfortunately, that was also the same place where Mizuhara and Kinomiya are hanging out right now.
"Hiya, Ivanov-kun!" I ignored them, while getting at least three round trays and getting all the glasses, plates and cutlery out. I know that they're watching me, seeing as I was also watching them out of the corner of my eyes. Okay, Tala… just take a deep breathe and ignore them… unless you want a mass murder in here using a teapot…
"Err… Ivanov-kun? Are you okay?"
"No… you think?!" I saw Mizuhara hid behind Kinomiya at my sudden outburst. Wow… I never knew that my sarcasticness (is that even a word?) scares eighteen-year-old young men too! I only thought my sarcasticness (again… is that a word?) only scares little kids that are playing at the nearby park. I gave them a small smirk, and balanced all three trays--meaning that I got one on both my arms and also on my head (hey… like Cinderella! I mean… never mind…)--and carefully walked towards table 35.
Surprisingly--and yet happily I might add--Bryan-kun helped me put the trays down, and with that I gave each people there their plates, utensils, and tea. I bowed once again and went back to serving the other customers… oh, and before I walked away, I gave a flirty wink towards Bryan's way. Somehow… I think when my back was facing his way; I get the feeling that he's staring at me… and at my butt. I sighed, if only he was…
Well… now, I've served at table 35 and other tables that aren't important to mention for the last… an hour and a half, and surprisingly my sex god--err… I mean, Bryan and his other colleagues of his own are still there talking. They've finished eating… and yet, somehow they all look like they have ano… they have these furious/serious looks in front of their faces, Bryan's included.
Hmm… I wonder what they're talking about…
I think Kinomiya and Mizuhara were also wondering the same thing, because they're looking at where Bryan's sitting and they these odd, curious looks.
"Ne… Mizuhara-kun, I double dare you to eavesdrop into their conversation for Ivanov-kun…" Some colleague girl asked Mizuhara. Oii… it seems that every girl colleague we have here has also been noticing that… and hey, wait a minute… what does she mean for me? I gave her a confused look, but she just gave me a mysterious, freaky smile.
Anyway, Mizuhara accepted the dare and went to the said table, acting/pretending to ask if they needed anything. Luckily, there was this very fat man sitting near my Bryan and he started to order again, telling Mizuhara what he want to eat… again. Unfortunately for Mizuhara… he has to write it all down, that and that fat guy was also giving him "The Look". I turned to where Kinomiya was standing, and I could see that he's getting pissed off at the fat man.
Ooh… looks like Kinomiya's jealous… Heheh… what a good blackmail material, ne?
Anyhow, I watched back at where Mizuhara was, and I could tell that he was half-listening, half-writing down orders… and of course the talking between business men kept on going on and on and on, but I kept on noticing, as the blond kept on writing on the note pad, his eyes were widening by the second. Then, he walked towards the kitchen, and ran back to the cashier place as fast as he can, like some dog was chasing him.
"What's wrong, Maxie?" Kinomiya asked, while Mizuhara was sitting on his lap.
"Umm… uh… well, you see… err…"
Our girl colleagues and I were leaning in towards Mizuhara and Kinomiya centimetre, by centimetre… making the other two quite uncomfortable.
"Well, aren't you going to tell us, what are they talking about, Mizuhara-kun?"
"Yeah, Mizuhara-kun, onegai, tell us!"
"Umm…well… I don't think Ivanov-kun should know this…"
I arched my eyebrow. Why shouldn't I know it? Bryan's my future boyfriend for Kami-sama's sake! I have the RIGHT to know! I DO! And I'm going to marry him, and live in a peaceful island where no one's going to be other us--like Hiwatari despite the fact that, that's Bryan's best friend--and… and… yeah… that's all I could think of so far…
I glared daggers at the blond. "Why shouldn't I?" No response. "Well…? Speak!"
"Ermm… well… they're talking about… you know business stuff… and then…"
"Then…?"
"And then… this guy… was telling ummm… what's his name again?"
I sighed and shook my head. "Kuznetsov Bryan."
Mizuhara nodded and said his name. "Right, as I was saying, his colleague was telling him some important stuff… about being an heir of the company and what not… and he also brought up about Kuznetsov-san getting betrothed to some chick to make their company grow or something like that… it really made Kuznetsov-san furious--Ivanov-kun? Are you ok?"
Betrothed… He's engaged?! B-But… and I think you all know what happened. After Mizuhara had told me what they were talking about at table 35… I fainted.
I groaned, and opened my eyes groggily. Where am I? I blinked a couple of times and saw that I was back in my bedroom. What the hell happened anyway? I remembered something about… that's when I started to realize what happened at the restaurant. With the restaurant… and the eavesdropping… and the… I shook my head. Gods… I can't believe he's engaged… to someone! A female girl no less!
And to think… I thought he wasn't straight… I thought, while sulking.
Anyway, since I fainted and all… who the hell brought me back home? And just before I was about to get out of my bedroom, Rei just came bustling in with a bowl of water--hot water, I might add-- and a white cloth. When he had seen me in my bed sitting up, he quickly put the bowl and cloth down by the bedside table and pushed me back down into the bed.
"Lie down, damn it!" he said, while tucking in the blankets. See what I mean about Rei being all motherly? "You've been fainting a lot, Tala. Are you sure you've been eating and sleeping well? Huh?"
I nodded, while he was shoving up a thermometer down my throat. Sheesh, I'm not sick! I tried to spit the thermometer out, but Rei had another one and shoved it down my throat again. Man, is he trying to choke me or something?! If he is, then he's making a good job of it!
…
…
Finally, after about five minutes of that thermometer stuck down my throat, Rei finally lets me sit up on the bed. "Okay, tell me what's wrong," he said, while crossing his arms over his chest.
And just out of nowhere… I cracked and just started crying my heart out. I felt… so… violated! I, Tala Ivanov do NOT cry! Holy shit! Rei patted me on the back and gave me my little wolf plushie--Shhh… it'll just our little secret, ne?--and hugged the plushie to death. "Oh Rei I have to tell you something, remember when I told you that I was falling in love with Bryan-kun? Well guess what? He's engaged!!!!!!!!! Engaged to some chick…!" I sniffed. "I can't believe I lost to some girl that I don't even know! I don't get it! It's not fair! It's totally unfair! I'm the one that has been in love with him ever since we started living here, and now I don't even get a chance?"
Rei sighed, and kept on patting me on the back. "Err… Tala…"
"He's supposed to be gay, not straight! It's the laws of physics, damn it! We were supposed to get married, live in the Bahamas, and maybe drink lots and lots of Vodka! Now that dream of mine is gone… gone like the wind! I mean… it was so freaking obvious that I have a thing for him, that maybe even HE can see it! But no… he had to be dense, doesn't he?!"
"Err… Tala…"
"What now, Rei?!"
I looked over at Rei, who was fidgeting his hands back and forth. "Well…" he finally said, still fidgeting. "I should tell you this but… your bedroom door was open and… Bryan-kun was outside in the living room with Kai-koi. When you had fainted… Bryan-kun saw that you had fainted and made Max-kun and Tyson-kun phone me at work, and then he carried you to his car and waited for Kai-koi and me outside our suite." He then took another deep breath. "And he took you to your bedroom, and you've been out cold for like two hours straight and yeah…"
I looked at him like he had grown a head or something. "S-So… Bryan-kun and Hiwatari's outside r-right now?" I asked weakly. Unfortunately… Rei nodded. "A-And… the door was open?" Again, my best friend nodded. "S-So… that must mean that… they both heard what I said…?" And with that, Rei nodded again. I looked up towards the doorway, to see Bryan-kun and Hiwatari standing right outside. I widen my eyes in surprise and flushed immediately. I mean, you would too if your crush/love one was standing right outside your doorway, heard about your undying love for them.
I got off my waterbed and muttered an excuse towards the both of them, heading towards the bathroom. Never, once in my life… never, EVER have been this embarrassed. Well… maybe the most embarrassed one was when I was in kindergarten, there was this big, fat boy accidentally mistook me for a chair, and sat down on me. Now, that was embarrassing and PAINFUL! I couldn't feel my legs for a month! Anyway, enough about that; I washed my face with cold water, saying my mantra over and over again. 'It was all just a dream, it was all just a dream, it was all just a dream…'
But sadly, when I came out of the bathroom and headed towards the living room. Bryan-kun was just sitting there staring at me when I had come and sat by the left side armchair. Where Hiwatari and Rei are, I don't want to know… especially when there's some sounds coming from Rei's bedroom… Anyway… it was all very quiet in here it's quite unnerving. The ticking of the clocks is pissing me off as well.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock… My left eye began twitching non-stop at the sound of the clock.
Apparently, Bryan noticed it, and now his watching me with pure amusement. I gave him a playful glare, while he was giving me a small smirk. Then suddenly out of nowhere, the both of us just started to have a good, whole-hearted laugh as if, I just didn't pour out all of my feelings for him in front of my best friend, and him hearing it.
I think this day's going to be an okay day after all.
Crystal: Wow... that's a big twist... o.o Lol, I wasn't really planning on putting that "Betrothed" thing... but, it seemed interesting. Don't worry though, 'tis will be, and ALWAYS will be a TalaxBryan... betrothed or no betrothed! xD Plus... I couldn't help but let Tala feel just a wee bit jealous, ne?
Tala: T-T