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And Aftermath

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난 원래 잡지도 않지만 너를 놓칠 수 없어 왜냐면 너는 내 전부고

I usually don't hold on, but I can't lose you 'cause you're my everything.

-Can't Live Without You

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'You may now read the tale.'

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Week 3

Saturday

Sakuno held her breath the moment words came out of Ryoma's mouth.

She's my wife.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine him announcing it to everyone, possibly to the whole world, that she was the wife of the legendary tennis player.

She felt ecstatic but at the same time, cautious since everyone will be watching her now, waiting for her to do some foolish mistake.

Whatever happened to keeping it low? She asked herself although the signs of a smile were already forming on her lips.

Ryoma looked at her and must've seen her proud, happy expression because he smirked at her, even pulling her closer and tighter.

Her face then felt hot although she did not mind their very close proximity.

More questions were fired at him, more people rushed at them that their security team struggled. Fortunately, the couple arrived at Ryoma's locker room unscathed.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

"Yeah," Sakuno replied as she took a seat.

"We're going out once I get changed," Ryoma said as he opened his locker for a fresh set of clothes.

Sakuno nodded but then realized the complications of their situation.

"Would that be a good idea? Considering that you just… did that."

Ryoma closed his locker. "Don't worry. They won't be bothering us since the place I've booked is sort of private."

"Oh. Is that so? It's fine then."

Sakuno placed her gaze on to Ryoma's form and to her horror, he was about to strip off his sweaty clothes.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked while blushing. She hurriedly covered her face although she tried to see through the cracks of her fingers.

"What? I'm changing clothes. They smell of sweat," he replied, unfazed but with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I know that, but you could have at least told be to look away while you change," Sakuno said as she turned away from him.

But before she could do so, Ryoma gripped her arm and gently pried her hands away from her face. Meanwhile, Sakuno's heart pumped so fast she thought she was going to have a heart attack. Her face heated up as Ryoma held her gaze. He leaned in so that they were at an eye level.

"I like you watching me." His voice went a few octaves lower.

His gaze then rested on her lips, and she ran her tongue to wet her lips in response.

In one quick motion, Ryoma pressed his lips against hers.

Sakuno's mind was slow to process what was happening that she was not quick to respond to his kiss. The only sound she could her was the pounding of her heart so loud in her ears. Ryoma was so near that she could smell his cologne with a slight hint of sweat. It almost overpowered her to the point of almost forgetting to respond.

Yet, as Ryoma deepened the kiss, Sakuno's hand slowly touched the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Her fingers were tangled in Ryoma's surprisingly soft locks.

He also tasted minty that made her smile against the kiss. With uncertainty, she softly bit into his lower lip, earning a low groan from him.

Ryoma, on the other hand, wrapped his arms around her waist, willing her closer. But he thought that no matter how close they seem, it will never be enough for him.

He wants more of her.

He does not want her to go away. To leave him.

Screw the one-month validation of their marriage.

He's going to find a way out of it.

"Excuse me, sir." A knock came at his locker's that broke the spell. Sakuno came to her senses and made a move away from Ryoma but his arms locked her in place.

"Someone is—" One of Ryoma's security opened the door but stopped as he was met with Ryoma's death glare.

The security guy noticed that his wife was beet red that he understood that he interrupted something.

"Uh," the security guy stammered. "I-I'll show myself the way out, sir."

He scampered before Ryoma decided to cripple him with tennis balls.

Sakuno sighed. Some things will never change.

"You should change," she said, almost inaudible.

However, he only hugged her tighter.

"Ryoma?" she asked, now with concern.

"You should tell me what was going through your mind last week," he whispered in her ear, his voice was low and silky.

Sakuno stilled for a moment, remembering what Kirihara said to her.

I like you.

"Sakuno?" Ryoma broke free from his embrace to look at her. She loved it when his eyes fill with concern for her. "Are you okay?"

Sakuno needed to tell him. She needed to be honest with him if she wanted their relationship to work.

She hugged Ryoma, to his surprise.

"I'll tell you later," she whispered to him as she stood up.

Ryoma frowned as her warmth left him as she went out of the door.

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Sakuno felt self-conscious as Ryoma guided her through a set of double doors of some fancy restaurant. She thought needn't know the name of the restaurant because she was not going back there without Ryoma anyway.

"When you said 'dinner', I thought you'd we'd be eating at some fastfood chain," Sakuno whispered as they crossed the threshold. All the diners' eyes were suddenly on them.

And why wouldn't they?

Everyone was dressed as if they were red carpet ready and here they are, a couple of 22-year olds, dressed in casual t-shirts, paired with shorts for Ryoma and a modest skirt for Sakuno.

Ryoma gripped her hands in an effort to comfort Sakuno.

"It's fine. Let them stare all they want," he replied in a low voice.

"Mr. and Mrs. Echizen?" a waiter appeared in front of them. Ryoma nodded.

"This way, sir, ma'am."

The waiter led them to a table for two in a corner, away from prying eyes.

It was romantic. Or at least Sakuno thought so.

Ryoma pulled the chair for her, and she whispered her thanks.

The waiter came back and handed them the menus.

After choosing what they were going to eat, they relayed their orders to the waiter. The waiter repeated their orders to them, and when they confirmed, he went away.

When their food arrived, so did a violinist.

Sakuno laughed because she didn't know Ryoma could be this romantic. Or cheesy.

"Oh, shut up," he muttered as his cheeks were tinged with pink.

"Okay, okay," Sakuno conceded, but she still had a smile of her lips.

Throughout the dinner, Sakuno felt comfortable with just being with Ryoma in silence.

Sometimes, she threw glances his ways and sometimes, their eyes meet.

And in that moment, she noticed that there was a certain tenderness in his eyes.

Then, she realized it was not just in his eyes. It was also in his actions. He'd been hugging her at random times a lot, the kiss they shared in his locker room was heated, a lot more passionate as if it were conveying his feelings, though he may not have realized it.

She smiled to herself.

"Oi," Ryoma's voice rang in her ears, snapping her out of her thoughts. "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing," Sakuno replied and focused on her food.

"You told me you'll tell me what's bothering you these past few days," Ryoma reminded her.

Sakuno paused from eating. She sighed before meeting his gaze.

It was the moment of truth.

"Akaya-kun," she paused to brace herself, "confessed to me."

It was Ryoma's turn to stop eating. "What?" he asked, his voice hardened.

"I-I think it was just a joke," Sakuno said sheepishly.

Maybe she shouldn't just have told him. But he asked for it anyway.

"I don't think that guy jokes with these kinds of things."

"So, what do you I should do?"

"Reject him, of course."

"But—"

Ryoma gazed at her sharply. "Why? What were you planning?" He scowled at her.

"That's not what I meant. I wanted to ask you how to reject him nicely." She frowned.

"There's no 'nice rejection'. You get hurt from rejection one way or another. He's gonna be rejected."

He rested his steady gaze on her, as if challenging her.

Meanwhile, a vein pulsed in Ryoma's head.

That seaweed dared to confess to his wife?

"Yeah. I guess I have too, "Sakuno said before she resumed eating. She eyed Ryoma who looked at her pointedly.

"Well, you have too."


Notes from a Muddy Writer:

That was the first time I wrote a kissing scene. XD That was harder than I thought. I hoped that was okay though. I'll improve more in the future. Haha! XD

Replies:

NanamiYatsumaki- Maaaan! I could only imagine how chaotic it was. XD Thank you for reading and reviewing! :D

ulquihime7980- Well... there's the answer. XD hahahahaha! Rejection is the only way apparently... :3 Thank you for reading and reviewing as always~ :D

RikuDai- You bet! Hahahahaha! Thank you for reading and reviewing! :D