Clumsy at Love
Chapter 8: Supermodel Shampoo
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
0 ~ 0 ~ 0
Akane woke up feeling the gentle warmth of the sun against her skin. She sat up lazily, rubbed her eyes, and yawned with all her might while her eyes wandered around the spacious bedroom she's been in. Wait a minute… This room is not hers.
She looks around once more. The room is definitely NOT hers! Oh, shit! Her mind screams.
"Where the hell am I?" She cried out, and Ranma came crushing through the open door. She stared at Ranma and felt more frightened than ever.
What is he doing here? Her mind screamed. What the hell happened?! Her heart thumped hard and fast as she peeped beneath the blanket to check if she was still wearing the same indecent clothes she was wearing yesterday.
And then she remembered. I'm at the party with Ranma! Then Kodachi pissed me off, and I drowned myself with alcohol!
"Ugh!" She groaned and grabbed her head as it throbs in pain.
Ranma laughs and walks towards her. "I suggest we go down and eat Mom's famous miso soup, which coincidentally also known as the best remedy for the hangover," he said, offering her a helping hand.
Akane didn't move, her hands still tangled in her hair. "Come on..." he said, grabbing her hand, standing her up, and pushing her towards the door.
Akane took his hands off her shoulders. "I can walk on my own," she told him.
"Oh, really?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm. "Well, I assumed you already knew the answer to your unspoken question?" he asked as they descended the spiral staircase.
I passed out, and you bring me to your home. she mentally answered. My God, this is outrageous. How could I make this kind of mistake? She wanted to smack her face in embarrassment. "You should have brought me home instead... Seriously, why bring me ~ " She paused mid-sentence, suddenly awed by the view.
"Wow! This isn't a house." she gushed.
"Yeah, it's the penthouse of our new hotel."
"You're not living with your parents?"
"Not anymore."
"But you said your mom made us the soup?"
"Mr. Yama brought it this morning."
Akane stood in the middle of the spacious living room, admiring the impressive scene from in and out of the space. The duplex penthouse has double-height ceilings and huge windows flooding the area with natural light and majestic views. "You've got yourself a really nice place." She said, walking dreamily as if she was in a wonderland.
He beamed, loving the way she likes his place. "Well, I'm glad you like it coz you'll start living here soon."
"Huh? Living here?" she repeated stupidly. Then her eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open. "With YOU?!"
He chuckles at her reaction. "Of course. You'll be married to me. We'll be good as husband and wife. We must live together, or else it'll be suspicious."
"I, I~ I thought what you need is just a marriage license," she mumbled.
"You didn't give my parents enough justice. They're not that simple. If that's the case, I've already solved this problem a long time ago, even without you..." he trailed off. "Hey, are you alright? You looked really sick right now."
"Yeah, I'm okay," she said, lifting a hand over her pounding head. "I'm just... It's just... Uhm,"
"Look, if you're not hundred percent sure about this, you could still back out. It's my problem anyway. I'll still help your father's company, but I'm not sure when. I might have known a thousand girls, but like I said I couldn't think of anyone I could trust completely."
"I get it. It's only Ms. Ukyo and me. But since you couldn't afford to take advantage of her. So, I'm the only choice left."
"You really had to mention Ukyo?"
"I can't mention her either? Sorry," she muttered, still holding on to her head.
"Hey, it's not like that."
"Whatever." Waiving him off. "You know that I couldn't afford to back out unless you want me to. I always thought that I'd never care about that company but... I do now. My father almost died without me knowing, without me appreciating a thing he did for us. They also said that that business was my mother's dream which my father turned into reality. It's the very reason why my father wanted to save it so badly."
"I told you, we will. We'll just have to get through this wedding and be my wife in front of everyone. But I hope that you don't mess up again like you did last night."
Her eyes widened. "I did what?!"
He pursed his lips again as an answer.
Akane slapped her face with her palms. "Oh, I knew it!"
"I'm sorry about Kodachi. If she didn't get into your nerves, I don't think you'll drink that much."
0 ~ 0~ 0
Akane opened the door and was astonished to see a supermodel come out to life in front of her.
"Ss-shampoo!" She cried out. Oh, My God! Shampoo is in the house! Nabiki would surely die of envy.
The lady flipped her long wavy hair and asked. "Where's Ranma?"
"You mean, Ranma Saotome, right?" she asked, wanting to confirm the person she was looking for.
"Isn't this his place?" The lady asked, and she nodded vigorously. "Then, of course… I mean HIM! Where is he?" she asked, letting herself in, and started looking around. "I need to talk to him. Right now."
"He..."
"Shampoo! Wow, what a pleasant surprise!" Ranma, who had just showered, appeared in the living room.
Akane's heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell on him. He doesn't just smell good; he also looks one. Gosh! How did a person in a plain white shirt and shorts could look so... stunning?!
"Ranma, darling!" Shampoo flew to Ranma and kissed him fully on the mouth, and hugged him real tight.
Akane's mouth fell wide open in shock. WHAT- THE- HELL?! her mind screamed.
"Ah, eh… Did you, did you meet my fiancée?" Ranma asked as he struggled to free himself from Shampoo's hold. "You must've heard, right? That I am getting married?"
"Oh, Ranma... I don't believe it at first, but it's seemed to be true." she moaned, casting a hateful at Akane.
"It really breaks my heart..." she added, pouting. "But I'll endure it, for now, Ranma-honey. You know that I couldn't just give up my career." the woman said while fluttering her thick and long lashes.
That must have been heavy. Akane thought.
"But it's not like we're never getting back together, yes?" she continued in an upbeat tone. "That's why there's divorce. When the right time comes, we're so gonna use it," she said lovingly to Ranma as she leaped on him again and hugged him tightly.
Am I supposed to watch or hear any of this? Isn't it just… rude? She breathes out to try to keep her calm.
Keep your cool, Akane. Breathe in… Breathe out… Akane then cleared her throat and tried to speak as calmly as possible. "I think I should excuse myself." she interrupted, picking her pouch up and started heading to the door.
"What? Wait!" Ranma said, trying to untangle himself again from Shampoo. "I thought I'm gonna drive you home?"
"I understand that you have a visitor. And I'm perfectly fine by myself anyway, thank you," she replied without pausing or looking back at them.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "Well, then okay," he said, sounding unsure? "Wait for my call tomorrow, okay?" he added.
And she knew that she was completely dismissed.
"Whatever. Pervert," she muttered and headed out the door as fast as she could.
"I knew it, hah!" she huffed as she walked away from his place, totally disappointed.
So, that's his kind of girl. Supermodel type. she thought. "...that's so impolite." she couldn't help saying out loud.
She knew that I am the fiancée and still does that? Even if she's nobody to him, how could she do that? And how could he allow that to happen? Worst in front of me? What more if I wasn't... there? She halted in front of the elevator door as their images flashed thru her mind.
They are both beautiful and charming, and accomplished people. And she's nothing. They looked like a handsome prince, and a lovely princess came out of a fairy tale book. And she's the witch. The wicked witch that tears the protagonist apart. "Ugh!" She groaned, suddenly feeling like crying.
She felt bad. So, that's why Ranma asked her to marry him? Because her girl wasn't ready yet. She's just an alternative. A temporary one. Someone he could trust that would be willing to let go when the time comes. He has his happy ending waiting for him after their deal. But what about her? Is there someone out there for her after this? Who would want a divorced woman anyway?