Chapter 9: Insight
"Hmm... Where did you and Ryoma-sama went last night?" Tomoka eyes narrowed looking at her best friend.
Sakuno stops midway in combing her long wavy hair, she looks at her in the reflection of the mirror, blinking; contemplating on how her best friend knew she was with the tennis prince last night.
"I know you were with him" Tomoka smirked. "You know, you won't vanished like that if Ryoma-sama wasn't involved." Her grins grow bigger "so tell me, where did you go two? Don't worry I got you covered last night. No one knew you were with him "
Sakuno sighed. Of course, they will be in big trouble if their sensei found out that they spend the night together.
"We just talked last night. Honestly, I was surprised seeing him, we don't have any plans to meet last night. It just happens" she confessed. "And thank you Tomo-chan for covering up for me"
"Nah. No worries, you just talk two? Nothing happened? Why you didn't come back to our room?" She asks teasingly. Her face said otherwise.
"Mou! Don't looked at me like that, really. We just talked and tour around the place" the pigtail girl said. "To answer your last question, we didn't notice the time and decided to stay in the place where we went. You see, it's pretty far from here" Well, that was true anyway. Last night when she was caught by the tennis prince, they decided to tour around. The tennis prince brought her to a lighthouse. According to the him, he accidentally discovers the place when him and Momo-senpai tour around. On how he got an access for them to enter, she didn't know. All she did was to follow the young lad, both of them smiling while holding each other's hand.
It seems the up above the ground lighthouse seems witness many years of great dominance of sea has a spectacular view, the full view and illuminating lights of the moon can be seen much better on the topmost view. From the balcony of the lighthouse the fresh chilly wind of night and the silent and calm dance of waves was a magnificent view to be told. It was surreal, fascinating and breath-taking view to see. Sure enough, Sakuno will never forget that once in a life view, she seen in her life, together in the arms of the man she loved. A sudden image crosses her mind; Sakuno immediately blushed.
"Hmmm... I highly doubt that." Tomoka rose her brows. "I know something happened. Why I feel like you hiding something to me? Your face telling it so by the way" Tomoka teasingly narrowed her eyes more. "I pretend I didn't imagine you both done something" she laughed.
"Mou! W-we didn't kiss there!" Sakuno furiously said, her eyes widen in fraction realizing what have she said. Confirming Tomoka's thoughts, the brunette girl blushed ten times much earlier.
"Hahahaha. You're so funny Sakuno. That's okay. It's normal for a couple to kiss unless you did more than that" she wriggle her brows.
Sakuno blushed more as she realized what they did. It's more than the usual normal kissing they always do before. Her face heated as she remembers how they shared kisses last night. Sakuno has no idea that it's possible to kiss like that. Her mind drifted from those certain memories, how her hand travelled on his nape giving him more access on her swollen lips. His hands on her waist not wanting any spaces between their bodies. And truth to be told, she can still literally hear the slurping sounds of their entangled tongues as they shared kiss. 'Oh! No! No! No! You are not seriously thinking about it! Sakuno!'
'mou! Obaa chan will surely put me inside the temple to kneel and pray for a hundred times when she found out about it!'
"Now... I am very curious about it Sakuno! You should tell it to us with Ann once we came back, okay?" Tomoka said, her eyes seem so much excited for whatever it is.
"Mou! I told you it's nothing!"
"Aaaaah!" Ryoma yawned for umpteenth time, one hand on his cheeks and eyes still heavy from deprived sleep, he rubs his eyes as he stared nothing in particular inside the dining hall patiently waiting for the rest of their groupmates. It was already 6:00 am, too early for the supposed breakfast meet up at 7am. However, since they are too many students whom just like them will eat for sure. They need to ensure a seat from themselves or else they end up splitting and sharing a seat to the others. Which they don't like to happen.
"You didn't sleep?" Ryuu asks.
"How come you didn't sleep when you were the first one who go to bed" Horio retorted. He was Ryoma's roommate by the way.
"You snore too loud" The tennis prince deadpanned said.
"No! I'm not!" Horio's eyes almost budging out making the rest of their male groupmates laughed.
The tennis prodigy smirked. Indeed, Horio snore, but not exactly that loud. And that is not the exactly reason why he can't sleep last night. Horio didn't have any clue that he didn't spend his night inside their room. He has no idea how he sneaks out late at night when he found himself not able to sleep.
And meeting Sakuno outside was not his intention at all, he has zero idea that his girlfriend, was outside of her room just like him. He didn't even dare to text her last night for the thought that she might be sleeping already and yet, he found her there, the sight of his girlfriend enjoying the small tiny waves on the shore was a refreshing sight for him. It's quite a rare sight to see Sakuno on her childish demeanor, far from her shy and timid personality. From that moment, the tennis prince himself fell for her once more. His plans for some alone time by himself quickly vanished to the thin air. Why spending his time alone when his most precious one, was with him all along?
His plans on bringing Sakuno on the lighthouse was supposedly on the last day of trip; and yet, he found himself bringing the pigtailed girl last night. For sure, the night view in the lighthouse was spectacular. And indeed, he was right after all; the wide smile from her face was complete evidence. He smirked seeing how she love the view from above, she was holding the trail of her hair that been freely dancing on the wind. Her eyes shines brightly as she admired the fascinating beauty of the moon, but for Ryoma, there is no captivating view than her, herself. He was beyond enchanted. On how possible that miracles make wonders on him, to be able to fall on her again and again is unimaginable.
Ryoma hugs her from behind. They both enjoys watching the scenery from their front. Under the moonlight, they shared a couple of innocent kisses that ignites on something more.
The tennis prince couldn't vividly remember on how they both ended up kissing passionately. It has happened so fast, the urgency of their bodies speaks loudly as they both found themselves inside the lighthouse room, tacking each other; him, pinning her on the wall as he giving her mind-blowing kiss on her lips. She, pulling his nape as if she didn't want to let him go. The heat in his stomach burst into flames as he stared on her eyes. There is no trace of innocence in her dough shape eyes; only the unadulterated desire that for sure mirrored on his eyes too. Seeing this kind of expression, he didn't know she has to him added fuels in his system. Though unsure for whatever he was doing, and only following his instinct, His hands become needy as his lips, his one hand caressing her back, a soft moan escape on her lips, her lips parted, as he started giving wet kisses on her neck. And yet, his lips wants more, going back on her abandoned, slightly parted swollen lips, he took an opportunity to explore insides, his tongue making wonders inside her mouth, exploring every corners until found what's he's really looking for, he swirled his tongue on hers, asking for her to mimic his movements, like an obedient student, Sakuno quickly catch his movements; their tongues dance in the rhythmic movement they only knew that time.
"Kochi! Kochi!"
The tennis prince reverie pulled off from his heated recalling about last night all thanks to his loudest voice of his teammate Horio; he smirked upon seeing the person only invaded his mind. There is she, Sakuno was smiling so brightly, being pulled by her friend the number one loudmouthed girl Osakada.
"Oh!" Osakada, the ever-loudmouthed classmate of his points their table, she hurriedly pulled their other classmates towards their direction. "Ohayo minna!" She greeted grinning.
"Keh! Why so slow? We're been waiting for here for ages!" Horio grunted.
"Hmmp! Shut up unibrow! Unlike you, we always need to prepare! Not like you who seems go here straight from bed without even brushing a tooth!" Osakada glared fiercely.
"There it goes again" Suzuki Ryuu, one of the quietest classmate of them sighed, he stared on the front; watching on how the food were getting prepared, considering how early it is, there are only few students gather around.
Kachirou and Katsuo sighed as they watched Horio and Osakada petty fight over nothing.
"Ohayo Ryoma-kun" Sakuno greeted the tennis prince, with slight tinted red on her face, she avoided the tennis prodigy gazed.
A ghost smirked appeared on his lips. He shifted his head on her shoulder, leaning lightly on hers. "Ohayo Sakuno" he mumbled, still sleepy. His eyes drifted heavily as she started giving a soft caressed on his unkempt hair. An involuntary yawned escape from his lips as his eyes started to feel heavy each second's past
"You still sleepy?" Her sweet voice seems lulling him more to dreamland.
"Hmmm" he replied incoherently. And slowly, he drifted to sleep.
A teasing smile coming from her friends' slash classmates face makes her blushed furiously.
"Okay, we were the one to get your foods. No need to stand up and let your prince sleeps" Tomoka winks at her.
"Bring this" Ryoma handed his card once again to the certain pigtailed hair. The young lady brows creased as she stared at him, she was certainly wanted to rebut his suggestion.
They already reached the second itinerary on the list. Just like yesterday, they decided to divide their selves into two groups; and this time, they agreed to divide themselves according to their gender. Boys and girls since they were equally in number by the way.
"Mou! But I have my allowance here Ryoma-kun, you don't have to-"
"Sakuno."he deadpanned look at her. " I know you were eyeing and saving your allowance as well as your salary from your part time job to buy a new oven for months now. Besides, you will definitely not agree if I insist of buying you a new one. So might just keep your money with you" he said sternly.
"Demo-"
"If you feel guilty about spending our money why not treat your friends?" He suggested skeptically.
'Our money' the tennis prince has always had this weird habit of possessing his things like it's their conjugal property. 'Like she has a right on everything he basically own' Sakuno pursed her lips. Her eyes drifted to their groupmates standing not so far from them, for sure they can hear anything from here, they were all amusingly staring at them as if they are some sorts of entertainment on their eyes.
"Let's not argue over this thing, okay? It just a money. I really don't like fighting over petty things like this"
"Mou!" She pouted. "But that's your hard work. You earned it for yourself. And you spending too much for just someone like me."
"Huh? Okay. Point taken, I earned it for myself so I have all my rights on how I supposed to spend it?" Ryoma shrugs. "C'mon! Besides I am not playing tennis overseas merely because of money. I am playing because I loved too. I enjoy playing tennis more than the money I earned by playing. It's just a bonus I guess that I earn while I pursue my passion? So, can we stop about this conversation? And seriously you are not 'just someone' to me. You are the girl I like." He seriously gazed on her, completely offended on how she addresses herself on her front. Sakuno gasps, her face automatically blushed upon hearing his words. "Are we good?" He asks, slowly, she nodded her head to avoid long confrontation to him, she sighed, still having a doubt on her heart for accepting his card once again. The tennis prince smirked as he put his arms on her shoulder guiding her to the direction where their other friends were waiting.
"You know, if you worried that I might get broke" he whispered on her ears while they both walking towards their friends; Sakuno tilted her head and looks on his eyes "don't worry, the last time I check we can still live a lavish life without doing anything for the rest of our lives even we have 10 kids on our own" he evilly smirked.
"Mou! Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno hits his shoulder making the tennis prodigy laughed on the process, he took her hand she used for hitting him, stopping her from getting another hit from her. She tried her best to give him her glare and yet the young prodigy just laughed. Not contented, Sakuno shoved him by using her petite body and yet she deeply regretted what she did. She felt a slight pang of pain on her shoulder as she realized her boyfriend was an athlete and she collided wrongly on his well-toned body. Though the tennis prodigy was not a bulky type, he still ripped with muscles all thanks for all his trainings. "You always making fun of me!" she accused, her brows furrowed as she pouted her lips.
"What? I am not joking you" he said without a hint of his playful tone earlier. "I am serious. I'm seriously saving for our future together" he said casually. "Well... Me... Retiring one day. Us... Living in a peaceful simple house, with a huge backyard would be nice place for our kids to play, we can put a tennis court at the yard or plants your favorite flowers or build a tree house. I can be our kids coach if they decided to play tennis too" he shrugs, he smiles genuinely as if he perfectly visualizes it from his mind. "It would be a great right?" He beams.
A sudden warm feeling wraps her heart. Sakuno can literally envision it from her mind. A picture perfect of their children crosses her mind. An image of mini version of him scattered around running freely and laughing around, with them playing happily runs on her mind. A feeling of contentment embraces her. Slowly she nodded her head. She looks at him with a wide smile on her face. For some reason, she wanted to pull the rope of time, hoping for that moment to happen fast.
.
.
.
"Thank you for coming!"
"Where are we going next?" Tomoka ask the moment they all standing outside the food ramen house.
"We still have 1 hour before are call time why don't go stall around this place?" Kaori suggested.
"That's a good idea. But where are we going? Any idea in mind?" Akira asks. She gently tuck on place her messy bun hair.
"Uhm. I saw something interesting earlier" Sai said, she smiled creepily. The way she smiles somehow reminds them of the tensai tennis Fuji senpai. "You want to go?" She asks eagerly.
Eyes all blinking in astonishment, their mouth slightly parted as their stared on the huge, creepy house. According to Sai, it is a place where the rarest items can be bought. It's like an antique shop. Sai's weird obsession in something 'Interesting' on how she defines the word on her own dictionary is really something peculiar. Why did they forget about this thing about her? They all exchange meaningful look to each other except from Sai whose eyes screaming from excitement.
"Mitte! Mitte! See! I'm so excited!" Sai almost jumped on her spot. She looks at her friends with full grins on her lips.
"It looks creepy" Tomoka blurt out her thoughts. It was like an old abandoned house, the usual setting in a creepy horror movies, not to mention the location of this place is out of the market place; very unusual for someone who supposed to build a business.
"What? Creepy? No, it's not!" Sai refuted. "C'mon! Don't give me that look! You all agreed with this. Don't be such a killjoy" Sai stomped her feet "are you not curious at all? We can buy something inside Hmmm" she asks, her eyes twinkles in so much anticipation.
"How certain are you?" Kaori asks, disbelieve was evident on her voice.
"Huh? We will never know when we didn't get inside?" Sai innocently rebuts. Her hopeful eyes silently pleads to them all.
"Fine. Let's go inside" Kaori rolled her eyes.
"Yes!" Sai punch happily in the air "Okay. Let's go! I'm been eager to go here"
"You sound like you really plan this out" Tomoka accusingly asks, her eyes narrowed in an instant.
"Hehehe" Sai answered with an awkward laughed she even scratch the back of her head. "Okay, let's get inside"
Contrary on how it looks like in the outside, the interior design of the house serves a 'homey feeling'. An old lady smiling so genuinely welcomes them. She was seating in the cashier. Different antique things were place in order inside, from weird ones to unimaginable items down to rarest ones and pleasing to eye ones are here. It was not an ordinary antique shop. Sakuno has no idea on what are those things were. Though they have some portraits, old telephones that they only seem in old books down to different antique vases, teacups, pots name it all... And yet, for Sai, her eyes twinkles in so much anticipation looking at the creepiest thing she never imagine can see here. Sakuno blinks, trying to get hold on her friend's weird obsession towards creepy things. Her brown eyes found the old lady once again, for some reason, she felt that the old lady was intently looking at her. Sakuno shrugs the idea though.
"Hmmm... what can we do for you?" Out of nowhere a petite girl greeted them with smile, for how she looks like, she seems the same age as them.
Sakuno blinks, "anou... We just-"
"Mitte! Mitte! Sakuno! This teacup is so cute!" Tomoka shouted from behind.
Sakuno hurriedly look to her best friend, that's the only time she realized that even Tomoka and the others having their own time admiring the things inside.
"Oh! Can we just tour around? I am looking for additional collection I have at home!" Sai eagerly uttered.
"Okay, there you go, you can have your time picking what's on your liking" the petite girl said. "Just call me if you have any concerns"
"Uhm. I am not buying it Tomo-chan" Sakuno gently whisper. Though it's really alluring and passed on her liking, Sakuno was certain that it will not going to fit on her bag.
"it's really beautiful, you sure you won't buy this?" Tomoka inquired.
"Mou! I might break it down even before I bring it in our house" Sakuno answered.
"Mitte! Mitte! Sakuno look at this, what should I choose?" Sai energetically calls her name.
"Uhm. Okay... Both are totally..." creepy and scary. Sakuno can't even look at the two dolls longer. She was totally scared. Yet, seeing the happy face of her friend, makes her gulps and smiled forcefully. "They both nice." She blinks, sweat dropping trying to save her wincing face.
"I buy this both!" She smiled happily. Sai runs once again to the other side of stall.
Sakuno smiled; a certain heavy feeling of someone looking at her intensely, she turns her head, only to see the old lady still looking at her. Or not. Okay, she might be just overreacting. Brushing off the idea, she busied herself looking around.
"That would be 82,826 yen" the middle age woman smiled as she uttered Sai's bill.
"Okay. Wait a second" Sai started counting her money in her pocket, "50,000 yen... 72,000... Oh no!" Sai facepalm. "I'm short of money!" She gasps horrified. "No! No! No!"
"How about lessen your purchased? Seriously? How on earth you going to bring all of that?" Akira asks, astonished on how Sai brought so much.
"No! No! No! I waited for this day! Just lend me some cash?" She asks.
"Gomen, but I didn't bring a lot of cash in me remember? I left it at our room" Akira said
"Sou na" Sai shoulder dropped.
"It's okay, you can lend mine" Sakuno answered with smile. She opens her wallet and took the bill out. She was about to give the paper bill on the middle age woman, when suddenly the old lady grabs her hand. Sakuno gasps, same how the other girls seem shocked.
"You have a nice hand. Do you mind if I read what future holds you?" She gently asks, smiling so sweetly to her.
"You mean, you can predict the future obaa chan?!" Tomoka exclaim, anticipation was written on her face.
The petite girl laughed "my grandmother once serve the temple."
"Oh sugoiii!" The girls said in unison except from Sakuno who completely shocked.
"But my mother rarely done that. You know, the last she foresee someone's future was 20 years ago; After that, she didn't read someone's future not until today. Seems the future lays on you is quite interesting" the middle age woman said with smile.
"Sugooi! Sakuno-chan! C'mon try it!" Akira encourages
"Mou! Demo-"
"Right! Let's see if you and Ryoma-sama will end up to each other" Tomoka enthusiastically beams.
"Mou! I don't think that's a good idea." Sakuno shake her head, horrified.
"What's to be scared about? C'mon! Are you not curious at all?" Tomoka eagerly muttered, her eyes twinkles.
"You have a beautiful face just like that girl from 20 years ago" the old lady uttered. Somehow, her smiles were genuine. Truth to be told, Sakuno was curious, yet a part of her was scared, so scared for the truth that they might not ended up well.
Sakuno swallowed hard. She stared once again to the old lady before finally agreed "Oh...kay" she answered. The old lady held both of her hands as if reading it.
"For what's your heart desire and longing for so long, will definitely come to you soon" the old lady started. She stared at her auburn eyes and smile "however, " she paused, she looks straight on Sakuno's eyes as if giving a silent warning "there is a price to pay-"
Sakuno gasps, including the others.
"Your most precious one" the old lady continued.
Another loud gasps can be heard, lost in words, Sakuno held her breathe as an image of the tennis prodigy flash on her mind, her heart ripped inside her chest.
"Sou na" someone commented on her back, but the brunette girl was too busy to calm her pounding heart.
The old lady smiled; she stared at her palm for so long, her face lace with concern before looking at her; she smiled bitterly at her, there is unsaid words in between her silence, a sense of regret, tiredness, pain and sadness lace in her eyes that she quickly drawn with a smile. "Young lady, just always remember this, whatever and wherever your destiny holds and brings onto you, always remember and don't ever forget that you always, only have one predetermine fate waiting for you." She smiled. She gently holds her had as if giving her an advance strength.
Sakuno blinks as of it's hard to understand whatever she said. She opens her mouth trying to speak. But for some reason, she was lost in words.
"What do you exactly mean by that obaachan?" Tomoka asks deeply concerned.
The old lady just smiled, there is something unusual on her smile. "Your friends are already waiting for you. You better have to go now." She uttered changing the subject.
"Saa... Here's your purchased item" the middle age woman said, handling the things Sai bought on their store.
Sai accepted the goods, still dazed just like the others they all went outside of the store wondering.
The old lady watch Sakuno's retreating back. She smiled bitterly as she watches her vanished on her sight.
"Are you worried about her okaasan?" The middle age woman asks her mother. It was so rare for her to be extra worried like this day. If her memory serves her right, the last time she saw her mother like this was 20 years ago. When her mother runs outside their store, giving a worried warning towards that young girl. That memory was still clear on her, the warm smile she gave to them despite knowing what's waiting for her.
The old lady smiled. "She has an ill-fated destiny just like her mother" she said, the image of that girl, 20 years ago was still a fresh memory on her mind.
"Her mother? What do you mean obaachan?" The petite girl asks, her eyes widen in surprised for sudden realization she has. "you mean, the young lady from 20 years ago is her mom?!" She exclaimed. "The one you said will die from giving birth?! The one you warned before?"
"Seems universe was doing what supposed to happen no matter how her mother rewritten her daughter's destiny"
"Is she going to be, okay?" The girl asks "baachan! You supposed to give her more warnings!" The petite girl worried said. She was ready to call Sakuno once again when her mother, gestured her not.
Both her and her mother exchange meaningful glances. Seeing how her grandmother smile as if she was relief on something. A warm smile crept across on the old lady face. The image she foresee on her was still vivid on her mind. It was etched perfectly on her mind.
"What's with the weird smile obaa chan?" the petite girl asks. "Is… she…going to be alright?"
"Hmmmm" the old lady hummed. Not giving any direct answer, she closes her eyes savoring the image she clearly envisions on her.
An image of a lady leaning on a huge dragon that comfortably lying and surrounding around her, it seems like the dragon was protecting her by embracing her using his entire body. The lady was smiling peacefully; in her lap, two little dragons rested comfortably. She protectively cuddling the dragons in her arms.
Another smile escape from the old lady lips. Contented from the most splendid and glorious vision she ever had in her entire life.
Okay, I have to cut this into two. Next chapter will be a continuation for this part. Gosh! It's been so many months before I finally finish this chapter. I hope there still waiting for this fic of mine. Enjoy!