Looks like I'm doing something right.
The sun continued to move across the sky on this particularly baking hot day. Yusei had succeeded in improving his tan just enough to give his skin a light mahogany hue. Of course, it wouldn't have been an all-over tan if he hadn't asked Luna to oil up his back.
She still remained out on the back porch, deep in thought, long after Yusei had retreated inside and did some computer work. Her journey home had now taken a more interesting turn; no longer was this about education and expanding her vocational horizon. The girl was developing a crush on Yusei. Conversely, the burning question was: would Yusei give her a chance, and if so, for how long? All Luna could do was: sit outside and ponder any and all outcomes.
"Anyone awake out here?" the recently tanned man questioned, poking his head out of the sliding door.
"What now? Oh, it's just you," the college girl uttered. "I'm just doing a lot of...thinking."
"Maybe some dinner will provide 'food for thought,' if you catch my drift."
"Wait, let me check." She pulled up her watch and was stunned to see it was past 5:30. She had spent nearly six hours in a shade that was almost as cool as inside the house.
"Wow, time sure flies," she laughed off, standing up and strolling inside where it was more comfortable. "What's on tap?"
"In the spirit of heat, I whisked together a pot of red chili not more than a few hours ago and let it simmer while you were outside," Yusei listed. The young woman felt her stomach rumble and Yusei ladled out two bowls for them to chow down on. Luna took a bite and her taste buds almost lifted off of her tongue.
"This is really good," she confessed before gulping down another bite. "It is spicy, but just enough to leave a gentle burn on the back of my tongue."
"Thank you," the scientist responded gently. "It's another example of my effort to be skilled or interested in other things besides science and physics. I want to be sure that I achieve a….balance between work and leisure." The girl nodded between bites to show she was paying attention.
"You've had eight years," she mouthed. "Just be thankful you didn't have to tread through the college gauntlet."
"What do you mean?" he questioned back.
"It's like this," Luna listed. "Prior to this 'study abroad' thing, I've had to do a lot of writing, tests and quizzes, walking around, and juggling a social life."
"That's all necessary in the educational process," Yusei commented. "Although there are people out there questioning the validity of a degree, it's better to have it than not have it all."
"I follow that," the young woman sided verbally.
"Out of everyone that I work with, I'm the only one without any type of formal education," the scientist admitted. "Despite that, I put in hours upon hours of work and got to be Domino's lead researcher."
"I shouldn't have been surprised by that," the young woman said. "I don't know of anyone else that works anymore harder or diligently than you." It was a fair chance that Yusei had heard that before, but Luna tried to make sure it came from her heart. The scientist finished off his bowl and left the girl by herself as he went back to whatever work he must've been doing.
"Even though he's not saying it, I can tell that he wants to be with someone," she thought to herself. "Maybe that should be me."
With dinner in the rearview mirror, Luna resorted to passing the time by watching TV; what else was there to do? It wouldn't be too long until she would start with Yusei for the city's next scientific breakthrough. While she surfed for something to watch, she heard his voice talking, at first faintly, then gradually getting louder. He must've been talking to someone.
"Good to know," he said with a beep following.
"What's the good word?" the girl inquired.
"The reactor held its own under the heat today," Yusei answered, hopping over the couch and sitting next to Luna. "It lives to generate another day."
"That's good then," she agreed. "Of course, to someone like me, I'm hoping that thing continues running. I'd rather not bake inside a house." That's when it hit her: Yusei was just about an inch and a half from the girl's right side, close enough to hear him breathe. She also noticed that his tan had settled somewhat to the color of a lightly toasted marshmallow.
"Your tan makes you look…good," the girl sidestepped. She didn't want to say outright that he looked attractive, which was true to her.
"Thank you," the scientist answered. "One of my colleagues turned me onto this and I was hesitant at first, but then it grew on me, but at least I'm not tan crazy. A light crisp does me good."
"Can I...feel it?" Luna requested timidly.
"Go for it," was Yusei's simple answer. What did either of them have to lose? She reached out and ran her hand over his tempered forearms. The girl may have very well died and gone to heaven, since the feel was like that of an angel.
"This feels smooth and refined," the student analyzed. "Sleek and cozy too."
"Interesting set of words," Yusei theorized. "But you can say what you want."
"Then I'm saying that I want to lie down for a while," Luna announced. "And I'd like it if you could be my pillow."
"Why not? I see no problem with that," the scientist replied. He patted his leg and Luna moved further down, so that her head would rest in Yusei's presence. She opened her eyes to see Yusei's eyes looking down at her.
"How do you feel?" he surveyed her.
"Like my head is floating on air," she sighed contently. "Like there's not a care in the world." The young scientist smiled at this and ran his ungloved hand over and through her hair. It created that goose-bump sensation where the body was in a state of nirvana.
"His touch is so addicting and caring at the same time," she thought. "Now I have to get him to hold me or something along those lines."
You can cut the tension with a knife in this story. There's only so much Luna can take before she acts and tries to kiss him. Still, I put this chapter under "somewhat filler." Who disagrees? Review if you wish, but only positive and/or constructive feedback. Shoot some suggestions if you have any.