Chapter-3

29 January 2012

3:00 P.M.

"Say something, I am giving up on you. Say something." Kotoko pleaded as she stared at him. Trapped in this elevator she had bared her heart out to him and this time she wanted a proper reply. He cannot leave her hanging this time. This time she wanted closure ,an outright no. He was done playing with her emotions. So here stuck in this broken down elevator she waited for the last blow to fall on her love for Irie-kun, shattering her heart for one final time.

- 9:00 A.M. [Earlier that day] -

The entire Irie family along with Kotoko and her father had reached the resort yesterday afternoon and what followed was a day of relaxing massages and pampering for Kotoko along with Mrs. Noriko. The duo had fun together getting hot stone massages and their nails done while boys went off their own way. The day had ended with delicious dinner at a local family restaurant and calming soak in the public hot bath. Today, the plan was for the whole group to hang out at the beach and Kotoko was very excited to try out her new bikini. It had taken a lot of coaxing from Satomi and Jinko for her to buy something more age appropriate. While Kotoko wasn't really conscious about her figure,she did have her insecurities like any young women. But, this more determined Kotoko was ready to grow up and face her self-doubts boldly and head on.

The black bikini that she had finally chosen was a standard two piece set, nothing too skimpy and had a white crochet cover-up that she simply loved. Looking at herself in the mirror she was starting to feel more confident, sure she her boobs were not that big and she didn't have curves that one might wish for but her body type had its own appeal. She liked what she was seeing in the mirror and she was happy. So giving herself a final pep talk for confidence,she left her room wearing flip-flops and carrying her ipod.

Meanwhile, Iries and Aihara-san where waiting for Kotoko to join them for breakfast. Mrs. Irie was just about to go looking for her when Kotoko finally entered the dining area of the resort. As Kotoko greeted everyone on the table, Naoki chose to ignore her and went on ahead with finishing his breakfast. Kotoko also decided to ignore his ignorance of her and focus on setting up her breakfast plate. Yet far from being ignorant, her presence had wreaked a havoc in his cool composure. Her cover-up hadn't hidden from Naoki much of anything not covered by the bikini and Naoki was at loss on how to deal with ,to put it bluntly, a sexy Kotoko. Naoki was now getting agitated. Isn't it enough her face plagued his thoughts and now to deal with her body? How he wanted to wrap his arms around her waist and hold her tight to him. What was wrong with him. Why was he thinking about this stupid girl so much these days. Since when did she hold such power over him? Why does she make him feel so much?

After everyone was finally done with breakfast the group headed towards the beach. Naoki couldn't help but notice the appreciative glances that came Kotoko's way. He casually walked up to where she was standing and put his arms around her shoulder. Kotoko tried hard not to act flustered but she couldn't help and squirm a bit under his intense gaze as he leaned down to look at her. Naoki was himself was taken aback by his actions, it was as if his body had acted on its own will. Now looking at her face this close he couldn't find any logical reason for his action so he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind "Shouldn't you be wearing clothes more appropriate to your age, little girl?"

Noriko swatted him with her hat saying "Onii-chan you shouldn't be do rude. Our Kotoko is a beautiful flower now. So precious. Take care of her." Naoki started at his mother passively then moved on to get into water with Yuki. Kotoko recovered herself and went to lie down and enjoy the sun and music.

After spending 4 hours on the beach engaged in various activities Kotoko decided that she wanted to go rest in her room. Noriko thought this to be the perfect time to execute her plan. As everyone started to pack up the stuff they had brought to beach Noriko suggested that she wanted to look at stuff in the shops near the beach and thus excitedly she dragged her husband, her younger son and Aihara-san along with her while asking Naoki to help Kotoko take their things up to the room. Noriko had arranged everything with the resort staff and though it involved pulling of some strings and an appeal to the emotional heart of the young hotel manager she had managed to create the perfect opportunity for them to interact in the elevator. Stuck in the elevator for an hour would definitely make them talk. Thus, giggling happily she made the call that would ensure the implementation of her plan.

-2:30 P.M. [In Elevator]-

Standing in this enclosed space with Irie-kun was making her heart beat incredibly fast. Kotoko couldn't understand her feelings anymore. Despite his blatant disregard for her why did he still have such effect on her emotions. Suddenly the elevator jerked and it was pitch black inside the elevator cabin. Kotoko shrieked and backed into Irie-kun. Naoki tried to calm a panicked Kotoko and pressed the glowing button on the panel. The button allowed for the distress call to be made and he got to speak with a technician who assured him that they were trying to sort out the problem as soon as possible and for the time being to switch on the emergency light and wait.

Naoki looked for the emergency light button and once the dim yellow filled the cabin he focused on calming Kotoko down who was trembling in his arms. Rocking her slowly he started humming to her soothe her racing heart. Kotoko started to feel herself relax in Irie-kun's arm. He somehow always made her feel safe. Nothing could go wrong in her world if he held her. Once she was calm enough Naoki spread their beach blanket on the ground and then lowered them on it. So they sat there with Kotoko resting on her head on Naoki's chest while his fingers soothingly rubbed her shoulders.

Afterwhile Kotoko started feeling restless, she looked up at Naoki and the dimness of the light gave her the courage to voice her query "Irie-kun do you really love Sahoko-san?", Naoki sighed and after weighing his words answered "I respect her and I believe in time we could grow to care for each other deeply but I don't understand what love is so I don't know if I see myself falling in love with her."

Kotoko mulled over what he had said and then she began " I know you find me annoying and pesky but I love you. I have loved you since I first saw you in high school. I know my emotions don't seem logical to you but I have thought about it hard, my love for you has never been infatuation. I have never seen anything in my future except you. All my dreams, all my hopes, all my prayers ,everything, every single breath of mine since the day I first saw you have centered around you. All I ever wished was for you to be happy and me to by your side. I have started to realize how unfair all this has been to you in a way. You never asked to be saddled with someone's love. Moreover a someone that your mother for some reason deemed perfect for you. I am obviously no match for you on any level. I am so below you it is not even funny. But goddammit I didn't ask for this too. I hate feeling this way. My love for you has started to disgust me. It is like a disease driving me mad. Naoki I want to stop. Please make this stop."

Kotoko was in tears by the end of her speech, breathless ,angered and exhausted she waited for his reply. When after minutes of silence that consumed them passed by and Irie-kun remained a stone, Kotoko couldn't control herself anymore.A wail of anguish left her mouth as pleaded "Say something, I am giving up on you. Say something."