Clumsy at Love
Chapter 18: Setbacks and Comebacks
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
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Akane woke up and found Ranma sitting at the couch adjacent to her. He was holding the book that she was reading before she passed out. Again. She groaned. Then she remembered what happened in the morning and felt embarrassed for trying to lie to him. She immediately closed her eyes, pretended to be asleep.
She heard Ranma chuckle and knew she was busted. She peeked through her half-lidded eyes and found him still looking at the book.
"I have eyes on my sides too..." he joked before shifting his glance on her. Her traitor heart skipped a beat upon meeting his eyes and felt her cheeks burn.
"Let's eat." He announced, putting down the book on the center table and standing up.
She didn't budge. She was busy feeling embarrassed that she forgot she was mad at him.
"What? Aren't you hungry?" He asked.
She shook her head, but even her stomach had betrayed her. Ranma lifted an eyebrow then motioned her to the kitchen.
What's with him? She thought. One moment, he was grumpy like an old man, and then the next moment, he was suddenly thoughtful and charming, making her stupid heart skip a beat.
"Come on." He urges her. She doesn't want to, but right now, she's starving to think about non-sense. So she stood up and followed him and instantly realized that setting her pride aside was super worth it for finding a feast prepared over their dining table.
They both sat down and ate in complete silence until Ranma broke it.
"I'm sorry about my attitude this morning." He started. "Male jealousy is sure an ugly thing."
"Sure. I'm not expecting anything." She mumbled. It's actually her mantra. When it comes to Ranma... she told herself that she should NOT expect, demand, or assume. And he's always making her realize why she should retain that belief. He may be a grown-up man now, but he's still Ranma. The Ranma who made fun of her, her letter, and her feelings. She had a feeling that he was still doing it now... It's just not obvious because he's doing it so well.
"I said I'm sorry and that I'm jealous. Did you hear me right?"
"I'm not deaf and definitely not stupid." she retorted.
"Won't you try listening to what I'm saying?" He's frustrated. She can tell.
"And I said I'm not expecting anything. That's my answer. Got a problem with that?" But she will not back down. Ranma can tell.
Ranma heaved a long exasperated sigh and took a moment to calm himself.
He had expected things to be difficult between them. He had expected her to throw tantrums and lash out her anger and frustration at him, with her still having that old stupid grudge against him. He thought he could handle everything smoothly, but... he didn't anticipate something like what happened today and yesterday... the unpredictable, moving variables.
For once, he didn't expect himself to be jealous.
Jealous? Jealousy... He always thought that was for the lowly and insecure ones. But for two days in a row, that jealousy had made him lose his cool and blew everything he had building till yesterday. And now, he's back to zero and had to begin from scratch. Again.
"Mom's gift is a week-long vacation to her resort." He said, changing the subject. "When do you want to spend it?"
"I don't feel like going."
"Mom's resort is really something, you know. It's a tropical wonderland that's all about sea, sand, and green spaces. It's so expensive, and she doesn't let me or anybody expend it for free."
"Hmmm..." was her only reply.
"You still don't want to go?" Unbelievable!
"I don't think you'll want to enjoy yourself when your father is sick." She retorted.
An alibi. He thought. Clearly an alibi. Ugh! He groaned inwardly. But he cannot let frustration always get to him, or everything will be pointless and endless. And this... This whole ordeal between them will be a living hell for them in two whole years. He heaves another mouthful sigh before opening his mouth again.
"I could still take a week off. What do you want to do then?"
"Eat. Watch TV. Visit my garage. And sleep. Lots of sleep."
"Good." He exhaled exasperatingly. That's it. He thought, putting down his fork. "I'll just return to work on Monday then. Thanks." He managed to say calmly though he was seething inside. "I'll be at my office upstairs," he added as he stood up and started retreating.
God, this is gonna be really, really tough.
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"Good evening, Mrs. Saotome." The lady receptionist greeted as she passed by the lobby.
"Good evening..." She replied, smiling lopsidedly as she continued walking onto the elevator.
She heaves a sigh of relief as she reaches the elevator and presses on the top floor. She would never get used to that title... "Mrs. Saotome," it felt so unreal. Well, literally speaking, it's not real because them being a couple is a certified fake. It's like living up your dream for an entire evening, but when the clock strikes midnight, the magic spell will wear off, and everything will be gone like it never happens.
And it all came with a warning.
"Ding!"
Akane walked out of the elevator and keyed in the pass-code at the only door on the floor.
It's almost two weeks now since she started living at the penthouse with Ranma, and it's such a relief that she hardly sees him. He must have been leaving early and then come home really late. And she doesn't mind being left alone in the wonderland. She loved solitude. Well, as long as there are food, television, and a great sound system. Also, there's the comfy couch where she could lie down all day, and there's no Nabiki that would criticize her every movement.
This is the first time she left home ever since moving in, and she missed the wonderful place so badly.
She was removing her shoes when she sensed somebody moved inside the darkened place. Slowly, she put out her pepper spray, gently closed the door behind her, and started tiptoeing into the living room when somebody spoke unexpectedly and scared the hell out of her.
"Where have you been?" Asked Ranma, who out of nowhere emerged from the dim living room.
"Shit, Ranma! Are you trying to kill me?" She exclaimed, holding onto her chest.
Ranma turned the lights on using the remote he had just picked. "Why are you being sneaky?" He asked.
"Am not. I thought someone had broken into the house!"
"And you didn't call for help?"
"I got this." She replied proudly, waving her pepper spray.
Ranma walked up to see what she got. "Pepper spray?" He asked incredulously. "You only got pepper spray? And you've got the nerve to walk in knowing there's a burglar?"
"I know kendo. You know that I know kendo, right?" She replied irritatedly.
"Tsk, Akane... So, what if you know kendo and you got that damned pepper spray? If the burglar is stronger, bigger, and quicker than you, it'll be no use, dummy!"
"What? What did you just say?"
"Next time you've sensed that there's a burglar, run away. Run as fast as you can and call for help. Think of your safety first. Call me so I can contact security to rescue you. God, Akane... What if I really am a burglar? What will happen to you?"
"But you're not. And this building has tight security... secured entry and exit points, 24/7 security guards on duty, and security cameras everywhere, so what you're thinking is impossible. You're exaggerating things." She said. "With the way you talk, you're making it sound like you care." She muttered as she turned her back on him.
No response. She got him.
"Where did you come from?" He asked after a while.
"Just, outside the town." She replied, walking past him and flopping herself down the couch.
"Out of town?" He repeated, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah, at the orphanage outside the city..." Somewhat there's a stabbing pain in her heart remembering the moments when she brought him there.
"Oh." He uttered, putting his hands inside his pockets as he looked away.
That's it? She thought. That's all he's going to ask after weeks of disappearance. Well, whatever.
Akane then started rummaging inside her suitcase beside the couch.
"You must be hungry. I bought us food." He told her.
"I already ate with Ryoga." She told him as she put out a fresh pair of pajamas to change into.
"Ryoga? That Ryoga again?"
His incredulous tone surely caught her full attention. "Yes, Ryoga. You've got a problem with that? Don't worry, the food you brought, I'll eat that later, okay?"
"Akane, don't you know that you cannot date another man when you're already married?"
"What?" She sputtered. "You cannot count it as a date because we're just friends. We just ate, chatted, and split. We didn't do anything that would affect the fact I'm married."
"Still, you cannot just go out with a guy. What if somebody sees you and tells my parents?"
"My family knew Ryoga. They can prove that he's just a friend."
"But I knew that you like him."
"Where did you get that idea?!" She fumed. "I don't like him the kind of like you're thinking. I like him as a friend, nothing more. If I like him that way, he would have been my boyfriend a long time ago, and that is if he likes me, too... but I don't think so."
"He likes you."
"What?"
"I could tell that he likes you."
"Nice try, Ranma... I had a feeling that you still don't like Ryoga, and from the start, you don't want me to be friends with him, but I won't do that just because you want me to." Ranma stared dumbly at her, totally confused. "You don't remember him, do you?" She asked.
"I knew him?"
Akane snorts. "He's Ryoga Hibiki, Mr. Yama's nephew. You always bullied him every time you saw him when we were young. Piggie, cry baby, cutie were the names you used to call him if that helps?" She watched Ranma's expression slowly lighten up.
"It's him? Wow, he sure changed a lot. He's not a fat little kid anymore with a polka scarf he liked so much." He said, laughing. "Wait, but he's still following you around until now?"
"What do you mean following? He just returned the country as well that's why he wanted to chat and catch up. And he's my friend, of course, we're still connected."
He felt a sudden gush of jealousy. Again. "Is he already married?"
"Nope, not yet."
"Girlfriend? Did he have a girlfriend?"
Her brow furrowed. "I don't know. I never ask."
"You're that uninterested to him."
Akane rolled her eyes. "I'm just not interested in other people's business."
Ranma didn't say another word, but his smile had spoken profoundly.