What just happened? No. It was only a slip of the moment thing. No. He was not in love with her. Wait. Love? No. He only liked her. What? He liked her…? No freaking way. He was Ryoma Echizzen. Prince of tennis. Oblivious to everything except tennis. Tennis is the only thing that mattered. Tennis is his life. His world. His only place in the world. It should be the only thing that mattered. Tennis tennis tennis he chanted in his mind.
He shook his head. He will not think of nonsensical things and followed the only sane thing that registered in his mind and the thing he has been doing for the past few weeks, avoid her. But Sakuno was quick to her reflexes, she stopped him from leaving, holding his hand.
She stared at him with wide eyes, still in shock from his revelation but she will not let him walk away this time.
His gaze travelled down to her hand that was gripping his arm tight. He could easily disentangle her wrapped fingers on his arm but his body did not allow him to.
Crap. Damn it I'm the boss of my own body! You must do what I want!
Amidst his silent protest, he stayed in place.
She stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to say more but he just stared back at her. His face remained shut off and his eyes did not give him away.
She had been confessed to by a whole lot of boys numerous times before that she already lost count of how many hearts she had kindly declined. It gave her a sense of affirmation that she was not only accepted by her peers but she was also admired by them. It was a boost to her ego yes but she never allowed it to climb to her head. She was used to this. She knew the ropes and the perfect words to sweeten her rejection… but why were her hands trembling, her heart wildly jumping up and down. Her brain a pool of mush in her head. How could it be that she felt like this was the first time she was being confessed to, as if all her memories of past confessions were wiped out from her.
Silly you. Of course it's different because it's Ryoma-kun.
'I..-'
She was cut short when Ryoma interjected, 'Just forget what I said.'
'I li..-' It took a moment before his words sunk on her. 'What do you mean?'
'Forget what I said.' He repeated impatiently.
Her hands turned cold, her chest painfully constricting her breathing.
He didn't say he did not like her or denied to her what he just said but he will always be the prince, standing up on his pedestal wanting to climb more, deserving to climb more. It was his destiny. He knew that and so did the people around him… including her.
She sighed and took a few long breaths before she had the ability to speak, 'I know you long enough Ryoma-kun to know that you don't like being backed to a corner so I won't demand why…' even though I'm dying to ask why '…I somehow understand. Tennis will always be your number one priority...' this is the right thing to do Sakuno, you must let him come to you when he's ready… if he'll ever be ready '…so… so… yeah I'll pretend that this never happened.' For now.
She released another batch of unsteady breaths, 'I know you have plans, everything that has to do with tennis. And there's no room for anything else. So yeah… uhm… goodluck on your matches Ryoma-kun and I… and I like you too.' If that even matters.
She freed his arm, summoned all the courage she had left to turn her back on him and not to look back even though her neck was itching to.
Ryoma-kun likes me but he does not want to like me.
He looked at her retreating back before he too left the front of the Sakura tree that stood to be the only witness to the drama that unfolded that very morning.
Ryuzaki likes me.
If looks could kill his feet would have already withered by now but he knew he could not afford that, he needed it to play and it was wise enough to know that little detail so it abused its power over him. He was an unwilling party as it led him to where he was now, again, leaning on the same wall he had leaned on when he was first here, his own private hell.
Splashing water and feet paddling in the water echoed throughout the four corners of the building. The noise irritated him but what drew him angrier was her fan boys. Her stupid fan boys.
Damn it.
He was not even supposed to be here. He should be on his way home after their afternoon practice was cut short just a while ago as all afternoon activities were cancelled because of an emergency faculty meeting. The tennis club was dismissed a little earlier than the rest because their coach had a private meeting with the principal before the actual faculty meeting started. But their captain compensated by letting them run laps and who ever was the last to finish had a special prize, Inui juice. He involuntarily shivered as he recalled Momoshiro drinking the juice. He collapsed soon after his first gulp.
It was only today when he and Ryuzaki agreed to forget what had transpired early this morning so they tried their hardest to avoid each other as much as possible even though they were only in the same classroom, in the same seat row, their tables only a foot apart.
Mada mada dane Ryoma his mind taunted him.
Shit.
And now he was here and he was not liking it one bit.
Just then he saw Ryuzaki walking out of the pool, beads of waters cascading down her body. He was mesmerized. The cover models in his dad's magazines would pale in comparison to the sight in front of him and fuck him if he would let others see what he was seeing.
Without warning, he climbed down the stairs.
Sakuno gasped when she felt a soft towel cover her body which distinctly smelled of male and soap. The towel covered her from her shoulders down to the top of her knees then she heard someone growl.
'Still too short.'
She gaped and blinked several times trying to will away the image in front of her.
'Go inside the shower room.' He ordered.
Her shock kept her from arguing any further as her feet automatically followed his order and led her to their shower room.
Once she was inside, he glowered at every male and yes, at every female too. It was a warning, cross him and he would not be as forgiving as he was now.
He could hear the giggles and teasing of her female teammates but he ignored them and exited the premise.
What the fuck did I just do?
He released a long breath when he was gone from everyone's earshot. He debated on whether to go quickly before she came out or to stay and wait for her.
Why do I have to wait for her?
To explain yourself.
'I don't need to explain to her or to anyone. I will go home now.' His bratty self replied aloud.
Damn it. Why am I even talking to myself. More proof that it is not healthy to be near her. I'm turning insane.
He took one step forward then he remembered that man in the motorcycle.
As if I'll let her ride with him again.
He waited for her under the Sakura tree. Logic be damned but he would not let anyone steal what was his.
His.
Yes. His.
He was not as dense or as clueless to everything in his surroundings as people thought he was. He just chose to deal with things that are connected to tennis. To his dreams. To his goals. If some things around him he completely ignored it was not because he did not notice it per se, it was his deliberate intention to not notice them. Now that was the difference. But no amount of will power prepared him for his reunion with Miss Wobbly Hips that it was next to impossible to continuously ignore his suppressed feelings dating back since middle school. It was easy to bury those unheeded emotions before but after being in containment for a very long time it just exploded right in front of his face.
He would deal with his slow and reluctant acceptance of his feelings later. Much later. Right now he had to clear the score with her.
His arms remained crossed in front of him when he saw her carrying her bag. Like a sly predator targeting his delectable prey, he walked to her.
Her cheeks instantly reddened when she saw him approach. 'Ryoma-kun.'
He looked straight into her eyes, his face unreadable.
She gripped the strap of her bag tighter, trying to draw strength from it. Her heart pounded like mad. The stunt he did awhile ago at the pool kept her anticipation high but doubt still lingered on the surface. Questions flagged her mind but for the life of her she could not find the words to complete them.
His gaze continued to be leveled with hers when he asked, 'Do you like me?'
She stopped herself from looking down and bit the inside of her cheeks. How the heck would she be able to admit her feelings twice when the first one was a blow to her heart.
Ryoma misread her silence with denial.
Was everything that happened this morning only a dream?
His patience grew thin as seconds ticked. He repeated his question again. He kept himself from shouting the words to her, demanding her answer. He bit his tongue before he asked her gentler this time.
'Do you like me?'
Her heart went up to her throat blocking the words that formed in her head.
She nodded.
'Say it.' He demanded coolly.
It took her several seconds before she could will the words out. 'I-I like you Ryoma-kun.'
Ryoma released the tension from his shoulders and released the breath he had no idea he was holding. He prepared his lungs for the string of words he would be spitting out.
He was meticulous. He needed her to know his rules. 'From now on, we go to school together we go home together.'
Her heart soared as she took his words in, her doubt and confusion slowly evaporating.
She nodded, her heart bursting with anticipation to the many walks they will have together.
'You must be at least be 8 feet away from you fan boys or I skin them alive.' His voice was low with warning in his eyes.
She opened her mouth to protest, 'But Ryoma-kun! What if they need to relay an important message from our sensei.'
'They can do that even if they are a few feet away from you. They can use hand signals, placards, shout… whatever. I don't care. But they must be eight feet away.' He childishly countered.
She did not back down, 'But what about during school projects or other school activities?'
'You'll always have me as your partner.' He assured her confidently.
She wanted to protest more but she decided to play her cards right. 'Okay.'
'Hand me your speedo.'
She looked at him warily, 'Why?'
'Too tight. Too short. Too low.'
She stood her ground, 'Ryoma-kun no. I am more comfortable in the water wearing that. And it's a one piece suit not a bikini. Besides it's what swimmers wear. I don't wear it for display.'
He looked at her sharply but decided to let it go. It was not that much of a concern anyways. When news spread all over the school that he already staked his claim to Ryuzaki then every boy in school should be wise enough to stir away from her. They could look but they better be sure he did not catch them.
'I don't want you riding any motorcycle unless it's me you're with. No more giving kisses to and seeing that guy.'
'You mean Chase?'
Even hearing the fuckers name on her lips gave him a temper.
'No mentioning of his name either.'
She laughed at the absurdity of his request and she felt elated at the implication of his words. 'Eh Ryoma-kun are you jealous?'
'Hn.'
'There's no reason to be –'
'I did not say I was jealous woman.'
She gently pressed her index finger to his lips, ignoring his denial. 'He's a very dear person in my life Ryoma-kun. There's no way I can do that. He's like a brother to me.'
He saw red when he heard the word dear but he calmed a little once he heard the word brother. How could she easily disrupt his sense of equilibrium and affect his emotions like it was a freaking yo-yo. He must tread this ground carefully or he will be puny in her hands.
She looked at him with pleading puppy dog eyes.
Fuck. It caused disorder to his stomach and to his brains.
Being a professional tennis player for a long time, he knew when to press an advantage and when to regroup his thoughts for a better shot at winning.
He relented, 'Only on the weekends so I could also get to know him.' So I could find ways to kick him back to wherever the hell he came from.
She accepted happily.
'Does this mean I'm already you're girlfriend? And you did not even tell me again if you really like me instead you made me say it.' She pouted.
'Mada mada dane Ryuzaki.'
A/N: Another chapter done! I don't know about you but this was my fave chapter to date! Hope you had fun reading as I had fun writing!