Clumsy at Love
Chapter 20: Getting Through the Day
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
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How would you know if you can or can't if you're not going to give it a try?
She heard him say and tossed to her right side.
I knew you before, Akane... And as far as I could remember, you're the kind of girl who never backs down to challenge. She heard him say again and made her toss to her left of the bed.
I indeed need your help but... I'm more on the side of wanting you to just try and accept the challenge.
Akane finally got up, exasperated. Seriously, his voice is messing in her head ALL NIGHT!
And as far as I could remember, you're the kind of girl who never backs down to challenge.
Am I really that kind of girl before? I can't remember it myself, so how come that you could?
Akane reached for her phone to check the time and realized it was almost dawn, and there was no time left for her to think. She had to make up her mind fast.
Clearly, she wanted to do it. No, she's dying to do it.
But at the same time, so afraid to go through the same predicament she had gone through before.
She's afraid that if she takes the chance, she'll either humiliate herself or ruin Ranma.
Gosh, Akane. STOP OVERTHINKING EVERYTHING. STOP BEING A SCAREDY-CAT FOR ONCE! She scolded herself and stood up.
How would she know if she's not going to give it a try?
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Ranma woke up long before his alarm rang at 6:00 AM. He hardly had slept last night. There were so many questions inside his head that needed to be answered but, they had to wait until his crucial tasks were duly fulfilled.
He got up and started adding the finishing touch to his presentation slides. By the time his alarm rang, he packed up everything before getting ready himself. As he walked out of the room, he glanced at Akane's sleeping form and sighed. He had said enough last night, and he's not going to pressure her furthermore.
The moment he walked out of the door, Akane got up.
The truth is she's already set long before Ranma woke up. She just decided to hide underneath the sheet and pretended to be asleep... just in case, her mind changed at the very last minute.
Ranma returned past seven o'clock and was surprised to find her sitting on his desk chair, all set.
She blushed at the way he stared at her. "Um, I think you better hurry now, or we're gonna be late," she said, rousing him from his "lost for word" state.
"Uh, yeah." He uttered, then started gathering his things up and chucking it all in inside his backpack.
As they walked out of the room, Ranma suddenly stopped and looked at her from head to toe, then from toe to head.
"What? Why?" She barked, half-conscious, half annoyed with the unnecessary attention.
"Is that the most decent clothes you've got?" He asked. She was wearing a plain white oversized button-up shirt and cropped black pants, paired with her favorite white sneakers.
Akane's eyes rolled automatically. "All my clothes are pretty decent compared to what Nabiki had in her closet. And I'm going to your office to do hard work and not to serve as decoration." She snapped back.
He drew one deep breath and gave her another long glance before turning his back on her.
She smirked. She knew it, she got a point.
"You looked like a grade-schooler coming to work," he remarked as he headed towards the door, leaving her completely annoyed.
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At the office, she was relieved that Ranma had decided to introduce her to everyone in an uncomplicated manner. He simply told everyone that she's a newly hired that will temporarily replace his secretary, who's on sick leave. And not his great wife slash personal assistant.
Of course, she would not be introduced as a wife; what was she thinking? Why will he introduce you as his wife? What the ~ Even her own lucid mind is mocking her.
On the other hand, she was also relieved that no one in the office seemed to know who she really was in their boss's life.
Now that she thinks about it, she realized that their wedding ceremony was kind of, ehm... sacred? You know, the kind of wedding that's exclusively for family and close friends only, and not for media, fandom, or extravagance like most wealthy family does.
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And as promised, Ranma had dedicated one whole hour to teaching her the essential basics. And she had to admit it, he was a good teacher and effective as well, because what he had taught her had helped her survive the rest of the day.
"Here." It's Ranma, standing in front of her desk, handing her a lunch box. "It's from mom." He whispered.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "She knows? Me working here?"
Ranma rolled his eyes. "News has wings."
She paled. And here, she thought nobody knew her.
Ranma patted her head. "Hey, relax. The informant was not from our team, neither from below nor above this floor. I'm sure it's from the higher-ups. Here."
Akane received the package. "Thanks..." she mumbled. Her eyes bulged out when she saw the whole thing. It contains everything she could ask for for her lunch... fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, and rice! Her eyes went back to Ranma. "Wow." Was all she could utter.
He smiled. "And... Here." He said, handing her another package.
"What's this?"
"It's for you."
"From whom?"
He shrugged then started walking away. "Enjoy your lunch." He said.
She opened the paper bag and pulled out what was inside. It's a pink blazer. She snorted. He's determined to get rid of her grade schooler attire. She wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or to be touched with the sweet selfish gesture. But she decided to let it go this one time.
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After lunch, the real hard work begins.
There were meetings after meeting. She's taking meeting notes while checking his multiple email account as well. And at the end of the day, as they returned to their office, she was exhausted as hell.
"Ms. Tendo, for you. It's an energy drink. I know you feel drained after all the effort you spent working on your first day."
Akane accepted the bottled drink the boy was offering and thanked him with a smile.
"My name is Shinnosuke."' He said, extending his hand towards her.
She was about to take and shake his hand, but the phone beside her suddenly rang. "Excuse me," she said, answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Come inside my office." It's Ranma.
"Coming." She replied, putting down the handset. "Sorry, I had to go..." She hushed then walked into Ranma's office. Before she turned the doorknob, she thanked the boy once more.
"What's that guy doing in your area?"
"Ha? Ahhh, that boy? He gave me this energy drink. Why?"
"Boy?" He repeated. "Never mind. Get ready will be leaving in ten minutes."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"You should have just told me that on the phone." She grumbled and started heading out. But then she remembered the energy drink she was holding. She went back and plopped it over his table. "I think you need this more than I do." She said, then headed out again.
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"So, how's your first day onboard?" Ranma asked while looking through papers.
"Exhausting." She muttered.
Exhausting? Ranma stopped dead on his track. "You think you could last for at least two weeks?" He asked, trying not to sound panicky.
God knows why he couldn't wipe off his smile all day even if he's all tired and stressed out. The negativity surrounding him just couldn't beat the fact that Akane Tendo is his current secretary. But will it just last for a DAY? His heart sank to his stomach.
Akane's lips then broke into a wide smile. "Being your secretary is indeed exhausting, but it's quite fulfilling as well, and I like it. So, worry no more... I decided to endure this whole thing until your secretary returns."
He breathes out a sigh of relief and returns his attention to the documents in front of him. "That's good to hear because I love how you manage my emails and phone calls, like a pro. And going through the meeting notes you made today, I'm speechless."
She snorted. "You don't have to patronize me, you know."
"I'm not patronizing you." He countered. "Believe me, you really did a good job. I can't believe your work is way better than my secretary who graduated with flying color from Japan's top university. But of course, not better than mine."
She scoffed then turned her head back to the street.
"Mr. Yama, we're getting off at the next intersection." He said, putting his documents inside his leather backpack.
"What? Why?" Akane cried.
"Just follow me." He told her while getting off the car.
And what comes after came in a blur. He brought her inside a boutique and bought her many branded clothes, flat shoes and sandals, a bag, and a few makeups. Then they both dropped down on their seats at the nearby cafe for dinner.
"I thought I told you that I was exhausted." She said, almost breathless.
"So, am I." He agreed, lifting the glass of water to his lips, dying to quench his thirst.
"Anyway, thank you." She mumbled, looking down at her glass of water.
He could say, "You're very welcome. Or "It's my pleasure." But deep inside of him, he's just thankful… thankful that she had helped her… grateful that she did an outstanding job. And very much grateful for her time and effort. But, he's most thankful that she accepted the challenge and strive over the challenge.
"No, thank you." He finally said.
Akane looked up in surprise and was caught off guard by the sincere look of his handsome face.