The Melancholy Schmaltz

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: STOLEN TOUCH

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"Somebody!" Kahoko called for some help.

Yunoki watched her then shook his head.

"It's no use. It's late already." He commented. "We've been here for an hour already and no one had come to help."

'Please no…' Kahoko thought. She reflected about what he said and sighed secretly. He was absolutely right. How long had she been screaming out for help? Countless already, was all she could think about. Slowly, she went to the edge far away from him and sat down. 'I don't want to be here.' She closed her eyes and leaned her head on her knees.

Yunoki leaned on the wall and crossed his arms. He was contemplating about the incident that had occurred. It was quite unexpected that luck resided him. Being trapped inside the elevator was not his plan but things do happen so that got them trapped together inside the elevator.

'I can't breathe.' Kahoko thought. She lifted her head and closed her eyes tight.

Yunoki watched her. He noticed that she was breathing heavily so he stared at her. It was then that he saw her sweat dropping from her forehead. Her breathing pattern was broken and it worried him so he neared her.

"Kahoko." He stooped down. "Are you all right?"

"I can't breathe..." She weakly said.

With what she said, Yunoki was caught off-guard. He held her face and stared at her. She was sweating a lot and she looked so pale.

"Hold yourself." Yunoki stood up. 'How the hell should I get her out of here?' He thought. He then looked up the ceiling and stoop back down to Kahoko. "Kahoko, brace yourself. Come one. We should open that thing on the ceiling."

Kahoko looked at him. He looked so worried. Slowly, she stood up with him assisting her.

"How can we climb that?" She asked in a weak tone.

"Listen to what I will say." He held her in place. "I'll carry you up so you can open that. Get it?"

"Yes." She nodded.

Yunoki lowered down and embraced her knees. He carried her up. Kahoko lifted her arms to reach the opening but it was too impossible for her.

"I can't reach it.' She informed him.

Yunoki lifted her some more. "Is that enough?" His voice sounded annoyed but at the same time frantic. 'Damn it. How can she become so heavy? The last time I carried her, she was as light as the pillow but now, she's as heavy as a grand piano.'

"Higher…" She told him. 'Owww…I hate this dress… its suffocating me.' She thought as she felt her gown squeezing her body out. "A little more." She said.

Yunoki lifted her higher. When it seemed to be impossible anymore, he lifted his feet up. Kahoko stretched out her hand. When she was able to touch the ceiling, she couldn't lift it up. Yunoki on the other hand was sweating a lot. He clenched his jaws and waited until she could do her part.

"More…" Kahoko was almost out of her breathe. "This thing is so heavy."

"Move it!" He closed his left eyes, trying to endure her weight.

"I can't!" She exclaimed.

"Brace yourself. I'll…count to three…when I say go…push that right away." He instructed her. "Ready…One…"

"Wa-wait! What should I—"

"Two…THREE!" Yunoki jumped. Kahoko got startled but she managed to push the opening. Suddenly…

*PAK!*

Successful it seems but the two ended up falling on the floor, overlapping each other. Yunoki closed his eyes tight. He was boxed out. He needed to return his regular breathing so he stayed still.

"Ah…" Kahoko moaned.

Yunoki opened his eyes and looked at the lady lying on top him. "Are you okay?" Kahoko did not answer him. She fell unconscious due to that fall. Yunoki laid his head back and ran a hand to his head. Gently, he ran a hand to her back. He used to embrace her before as far as he can remember.

'Strawberry.' He noted her scent. That scent of her was something he was looking for all over the years. It was addictive to him. He was used to smelling her hair and the trade mark smell registered to his whole system.

Yunoki maintained his eyes closed as he held her in his arms. This was something he was free to do before. His touch may scared her before but he managed to get his way to her. But now, he couldn't freely hold her due to a lot of circumstances.

Gently, he rose up, careful not to wake the person on top of him. She moved a little but remained asleep. He leaned on the wall and ran a hand to her hair. He was somewhat enjoying the sight of her.

As discreet as possibly as he can, he traced her cheeks. He gave a faint smile and lowered down to kiss her forehead. Kahoko moved. She made his legs a cushion for her head. Yunoki stopped for a while then lowered his face to hers. He placed a light kiss on her forehead then proceeded to her lips. He gave her a long steady kiss. Undeniably, his lips were still perfect against her own and he was sure of that.

*******FLASH BACK******

"Hm, let me see… how should this equation go anyway?" Kahoko asked herself. She was holding her notebook and was pin-pointing something inside it.

"What are you up to?" Yunoki leaned on the door.

"I'm studying for an exam in math." She pressed her lips.

He scrutinized her then neared her. "You suck in math, don't you?" He leaned on the table from her back. "Let me see, this conversion should like this." He took her hand that was holding a ballpen and made his equation. "Remember this step since you won't be able to get such equation if you are careless." He let go of her hand.

Kahoko stared at her notebook then studied it. While she was at it, Yunoki lowered his head and kissed her lips. Kahoko got startled. When he began moving his mouth against hers, she moved back.

"I need to study…" She explained.

"A kiss won't be too much to ask." He ominously said.

Kahoko lowered her gaze. "But—"

"A kiss for just five minutes won't take too long Kahoko."

"What? Five minutes? No… I need to make up my mind for the test." She averted her attention to the notebook before her.

"You are too troublesome. You made me teach you then this is what I'm going to get?" He stood up straight.

"Understand Yu—Azuma senpai. I am taking my test later."

"As If I am not having an exam of my own." He turned around.

Kahoko frowned then sighed. "A minute won't hurt."

With that cue, Yunoki walked to her then kissed her steadily on the lips. He was as if memorizing the outlines of her lips which belongs to him. "That was fair enough Kahoko." He looked at his wrist watch. "Although I exceeded for 8 seconds… but I know you wouldn't mind."

Kahoko blushed.

"You can proceed." He said as he sat on a chair.

•••

Kahoko escaped the party of Yunoki just to have a private time alone since Yunoki insisted.

"Happy Birthday A-Azuma." Kahoko greeted in a shy weak tone.

He looked at her then averted his gaze. "Why do I ALWAYS hear my name being uttered horribly by you?"

"Horribly?" Kahoko reacted.

"Yes." He placed his hands on his pocket.

Dead silence.

Kahoko looked at the soil below her feet and tried to think of something good to say. Yunoki lifted his head to look at the sky but he was looking at her from the corner of his eyes. When she slowly turned to him, he looked at the sky.

"I really don't know what to give you so I'm sorry… this is the only thing I can give." She handed to him a paper bag.

Yunoki stared at it then took it. He opened it then took out a medium sized chocolate cake with musical notes icings on top. Right in the middle of it, a message was embedded, saying:

Happy Birthday Azuma

With Love,

He was surprised but managed to keep his pace. He opened it then chuckled while closing his eyes.

"You made this?" He questioned.

"Yes." She nodded.

"It looks terrible. I just hope I don't get poisoned." He mumbled.

"Of course you wouldn't."

He chuckled. He was amazed by what she gave him. It was rare and specially made. He was sure that she was the very person to do that to him.

"But… sorry about that. As you can see, I am currently broke and I have no idea what to give to you sine you have everything that you could ever wish for." She said.

"I don't really mind having this." He began. "And about having everything, I am quite uncertain for that but you can make this gift sweeter."

"Huh? What do you mean sweeter?" Kahoko confusedly asked.

"It's my birthday. You could give me something more wonderful than a cake." He said. "For pete's sake, show me that today isn't ordinary at all since I think its so boring."

'How should I do that?' Kahoko thought. Suddenly, a thought then entered her mind. She neared him hesitantly then looked up to him. He watched her as she placed her hands on his chest.

"Lower your head." She sounded so nervous.

He was a bit confuse on what she was intending to do.

"Why?"

"Just lower your head and close your eyes…" She blushed. "I-I want to kiss you."

She made the statement sound so innocent. Yunoki was caught off-guard but he has no intention to show her that so he closed his eyes and lowered his head.

Kahoko lifted her toes and reached out to him. She blushed harder then closed her eyes. She gave him a chaste steady kiss.

Simple it seems but heart-warming.

Before he could kiss her freely although she would often refuse him. But even so, he can always his way on her. She was chaste and that's one of the points why he loves her. She could make simple things wonderful.

Hino Kahoko has ways than no other woman can.

Who would have thought that an easy steady kiss like that can carry on sweet memories of the past?

How can a stolen kiss be so sweet when its just stolen?