"Hello?" a girl's voice answered the phone. Sakuno was caught off guard.
What? Ryoma has a girlfriend? The Ryoma Echizen who wouldn't waste energy to befriend a girl? How can this be?! A lot of things came rushing in Sakuno's mind. She felt her stomach turn.
"Hello?"
"Ryoma, somebody's on the phone but they're not talking. Who's calling you at this time of ni-" the line was cut off but Sakuno heard the girl and it sounded like she was getting irritated.
Sakuno stared at her phone screen. She could not believe it. A girl hanging out with Ryoma at this time of night, she could not imagine.
Her heart sank. God, she didn't even know why she's feeling down. It's not like Ryoma will ever see her as a potential girlfriend or anything. These are all just silly things that Tomoka fed her mind over the years.
Sakuno stood up and stretched her arms upward. She realized it wasn't any of her business and that's how boys are when they get older. They get girlfriends. She is not in any position to feel jealous.
Her brows furrowed. She had always acknowledged her big crush for Ryoma, she thought she would be over it by this time, but it was impossible after all. She stood up and got ready for bed.
Sakuno had an early Calculus class today, and she wondered if the dark bags under her eyes would be noticeable.
She tapped her pencil repeatedly on her notebook while staring at the football field outside the window, not listening to the professor at all.
Lunch time came and Sakuno hastily stood in line at the cafeteria for a delicious, affordable meal. She didn't have enough time last night to prepare her bento, because she wasn't able to sleep at all last night.
While waiting for her turn, she stared at the menu posted on the wall, when a student approached her.
"Yo." the guy said. Sakuno turned around and saw sharp, green eyes, dark locks, and sharp jawline. Taller than her, tan skin.
"R-Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno was startled, but she was glad to see a familiar face twice this week.
They sat together and had their lunch. Ryoma didn't say much, as Sakuno expected. She cherished these times that the two of them get to spend time together after being seperated for a few years. It was like Ryoma would automatically invite her to eat with him even though he doesn't actually tell her. Sakuno thought it was cute of him to spend time with an acquaintance. Sakuno missed him so much that she feels the urge to hug him. But of course, she won't do that. His fangirls will probably kill her. She continued to chow down on her chicken when Ryoma looked at her and spoke.
"Did you call my number last night?" he asked with a straight face.
Sakuno panicked. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to call that number since Ryoma gave it to her to give it to the guys in Seigaku.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, I didn't even ask for your permission if I can call it, and, and-" she waved her hands in embarrassment. It was a bad move, she thought.
"Ah, so it was you." he said, grabbing his fork and continued to eat.
Sakuno felt tense. Maybe Ryoma got into trouble with the girl who answered the phone.
"Sorry. I won't do it again..." she apologized.
"It's fine. I didn't get to save your number, though."
"Uh, I can give it to you if you want. J-Just extra contact for emergency…" she dug into her bag to find a pen and paper.
"Alright." he said.
"You can call me when you need something, or anything I can help with..." she continued to dig into her bag.
"Right..." he rested his chin on his palm and waited.
Then she remembered that she left her materials on her table. Ryoma watched her as she sunk in despair over realizing that she did it again. The part where she was supposed to make it up to him, but she ends up not being able to do anything. Just like when they first met.
Ryoma whipped out a marker from his shorts pocket. He handed it to Sakuno and told her to use this. Sakuno blinked at him.
"But why do you only have a marker? And no bag?" she asked.
"I don't actually remember having a marker here, but I don't have any classes today so... no bag." he pulled his hat lower and shoved his left arm to Sakuno.
"Okay." she smiled before writing her phone number on his arm.
Sakuno held Ryoma's arm, noting that his skin is smooth even though he's always playing tennis outside. As she slides her fingers to continue writing, she felt the hair on his arm, slightly standing up, maybe from the sudden contact. She blushed, realizing that she's touching Ryoma.
As she finished writing, she looked up at him, who is visibly embarrassed.
"There!" she smiled.
"Uhh, why on my arm, not on my palm…"
Oh damn.
"I'm so sorry! I'll get some water and erase it right away!" she stood up but Ryoma caught her hand to stop her from leaving.
"It's fine. Sit down." he said. He's just going to transfer the numbers on a paper once he gets to one of the classrooms, he thought.
"I'm sorry…" she went back to her seat. One thing that didn't change is that she's still the same clumsy girl who forgets things, and does things out of the ordinary. The same girl who embarrasses herself in front of him.
Ryoma smirked. It's been a while since a familiar moment happened. It felt like he's in Japan once again. It was like they were back in their younger selves, sitting in the cafeteria and eating one of those lunch boxes that the girl would prepare for him every single day. Sakuno caught the small smile on Ryoma's face and felt the warmth that it emits. She found herself feeling all kinds of feelings again. His sharp features, that smirk, rough, callous hands…
They both did not realize that they were still holding hands. Upon seeing this, Ryoma quickly snatched back his hand and awkwardly rubbed his nape. He mumbled a quiet 'sorry'.
"Hehe…" Sakuno smiled warmly. These are the moments that make life better in America, she thought. She's decided that she's not going to be scared as long as she gets to be with this guy across the table.
"So, um, the reason I called was... err..." she didn't actually have a good reason why she called but she knew well why. But she's not going to tell him the truth.
" It's time I'll answer it myself." he said while looking at the numbers written on his arm.
Sakuno felt the urge to ask him about the girl that answered his phone last night.
"If you don't mind... who was it that answered?"
"Uh, a friend."
"Like a girlfriend or something?" she said. Sakuno swallowed. Even if it was, it's none of her business.
Ryoma looked at her and nodded.
"Oh..." Ryoma saw that Sakuno's face saddened. He didn't know why.
Sakuno was disappointed. Maybe she was hoping that she's wrong. But Ryoma confirmed it. Why was she feeling jealous? This is none of her business! She thought that she had gotten over her big crush for Ryoma but turns out he has always been in Sakuno's mind.
This is getting ridiculous.
"You still have classes?" he asked, trying to change the awkward mood. Even if people would tell him that he's dense, he can definitely sense a depressing aura from Sakuno. He began cleaning up the table and arranging their plates on the tray. Seeing this, Sakuno helped him tidy up the table, too.
"Yeah... until four." she said, trying to sound a little more cheerful. Forget about it. None of your business, Sakuno! She thought.
Ryoma stood up and carried the tray, but before he turned away, he looked at Sakuno who is spraying sanitizer on her hands.
"I'll be in the library at four." then he walked away.
Sakuno waved at him until he was nowhere in sight. It took her a moment to process what he said.
"Eh?"
To be continued.
A/N: After 5... 6 years? I am slowly getting over my depression by writing more. Thank you if anyone is still here :)