Chapter 5 :

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

Ryoma flinched. She was furious, he knows. But as if to infuriate her further, Ryoma just shrugged. And it had irritated her furthermore. She knew that after that "show" people will ask.

"You are such a jerk!" she growled and stomped her feet like a little girl.

"I'm bored. I want to play tennis," he flatly stated. "With you."

"You dragged me out of my cafe all the way here because you want to play tennis?!Ugh! You should've just asked!" she furiously screamed.

"How the hell would I do that if you are avoiding me like the plague?!" he's getting impatient now. His arms are way too rusty for his own good.

Sakuno stared silent. She knew that she can't blame him for earlier. She can't just stop herself from blurting out. Deep inside her she wants him to feel what she's feeling. The hurt of knowing he was getting married. The pain of seeing him but she couldn't touch him. The longing to tell him she loves him. She can not understand his reason to be in Japan at all. He never explained why he ran off of the tournament to be in Japan. He never informed her on why he was staying at her house instead of a hotel. And worse of all why he was bullying and teasing her all the time. Well, she never gave him time to explain. But knowing the cocky prince, he'll never tell her anyways.

She just sighed in resignation. She has been avoiding him for quite awhile now. She didn't realize that he would notice. She was just getting tired in appearing furious at him if all she wants to do was to run to him and give him a kiss or something. She felt guilty though. He was nothing but good to her - reminding her to eat and preparing her food. And what does she do in return?

Alright! She then decided to be more tolerant. She'll have to be nice.

She closed her eyes and sighed. She looked at him with guilt across her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," she said as she bowed down to avoid looking at him.

She was just scared to see the hate or anger in his eyes. A tear was starting to form at the edge of her eyes.

Damn! She can't let him see her like this. But a sob escaped her lips.

Damn! He can't take the guilt he saw in Sakuno's eyes. He didn't intend to say those words yet out of frustration, he did. He was new at this thing. He never tried to please anybody. Except his mom. Yet he wants this clumsy, wobbly hips, pigtailed woman to be happy. And it isn't too much to ask though, since what ever makes her happy brought joy to him too.

But now, he was hurting her. He knew. And it simply tore his heart.

Yes, the Tennis Prince has a soft spot for the pigtailed brunette. Oh how he wish he'd know how to tell her. It's just that everything he say or do came out terribly wrong.

He was drawn out of his reverie when he heard a sob.

Uh oh! He can't handle the tears.

"Hey," he move forward and touched her head.

When she looked up, he hooked his fingers under her chin and pulled her closer to him in a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

He felt her nod.

"Can we start over?"

A/N

I'm sorry. I know this is short. I've got an hour to write.
So sorry...