"That's all for now. Thanks, guys." The professor collected his books and bag then headed out. The students were once again noisy, the others groaning and complaining about the test they did, but one girl is seen more nervous than relieved. She quickly shoved all her things to her bag and stood up.
"I'll be in the library at four."
That line stayed in Sakuno's head all afternoon. She was beginning to cringe at herself for feeling this way. Maybe Ryoma had nothing to do at home all day and decided to hang out with a familiar face. Nothing more.
She took her time walking towards the library hall. Her heart pounded loudly. It was no secret that she is excited and happy to spend time yet again with the prince.
Upon opening the door, she saw that the library is one huge room, high ceiling, with spiral stairs leading to the second floor, and the walls are completely surrounded with shelves of countless books.
Now, where could I possibly find you, Ryoma?
She continued to walk past tables with students reading books, carefully sneaking a peek at their faces to see if any one of them is him. She was trying to remember what he wore that afternoon, but she could not recall. After a few years, of course Ryoma would dress differently. He got taller, too. But his smug face never changed. A few jawlines refinement, but still…
What am I thinking? Ugh!
She shook her head violently, hoping to reset her naughty mind. She would constantly remind herself that afternoon that Ryoma is indeed in a relationship now. That means no more fangirls, no more crush, and no more preparing bento for him. Now she's just a friend, or an acquaintance to him.
A few minutes of roaming around the halls, Sakuno kind of gave up looking for him and started browsing through the books on the way. However, she did not notice a boy sitting on the floor, and she tripped on his knee and fell, face first.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, covering her nose. Her nose landed on the floor and took a painful hit. How many times has she been hurt whenever she walks absent-mindedly. She kind of deserves it, she thought.
"I'm so sorry!" the boy said in English accent. Sakuno sat up and fixed her skirt. The guy helped her stand up and picked up her bag and things.
"Here." He handed Sakuno her bag and other notebooks that she dropped. Sakuno was about to thank the guy but felt something drip from her nose.
"Your nose is bleeding!" before Sakuno could react, the guy whipped out a white handkerchief from his pants pocket and proceeded to cover her nose with it. Sakuno felt her cheeks blushed. With a closer look, the guy does have a British face. Definitely handsome, and hunky.
It took a minute before they realized how awkward it was. Sakuno pulled away, grabbing the handkerchief with her. The guy smiled awkwardly. Taking a longer look, Sakuno saw how fine he is. He wore a fitted grey long sleeve, fitted faded jeans, and chunky boots to complete his look. Actually, the smile completes his look. He had a wide smile, and white teeth. Definitely a guy Tomoka would like. Well, any girl would like.
"I'm sorry about this... are you alright?" Sakuno asked, recalling that she hit his knee when she fell down.
But he shrugged and smiled at her. Sakuno felt warm inside. That smile can absolutely save the world from apocalypse.
Damn, Sakuno, what are you thinking? Too flirty!
"It's my fault. I really shouldn't read on the floor! But do you want me to take you to the clinic? I'm Justin, by the way." he said and flashed another bright smile. Sakuno rubbed her nose one more time before offering her hand for a handshake. He politely took it.
"I'm alright, don't worry about it. But is your knee okay?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. What is your name?"
"I'm Sakuno Ryuzaki, nice to meet you."
They spent a few minutes talking to each other before another guy showed up and stole Sakuno's attention. She gasped.
"Ryoma-kun! I've been looking all over for you!" she said out loud. Other students shushed her. She motioned a quiet 'sorry'.
"What are you doing?" he asked, looking at Justin and then at Sakuno, and then back at Justin.
"Um, well..."
"Hi, I'm Justin. She got hurt so I'm helping her." Justin said. Then he looked at Sakuno.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Justin asked innocently.
"Oh, no! He's a friend!" Sakuno waved her hands in front of her. She wouldn't let anybody assume that. The real girlfriend would be angry!
Ryoma's eyebrows furrowed. He stared at Justin, who was standing too close to Sakuno. He noticed that Sakuno is clutching a handkerchief with few bloodstains on it.
"Oh, this is nothing!" she said. But Ryoma was not convinced. He pulled Sakuno towards him and removed her handkerchief. Her nose was alright, but Ryoma needed to make sure that nothing serious happened, so he offered to take Sakuno to the clinic. He would not let anything happen to his former coach's granddaughter or he will not hear the end of it.
"I'll take it from here."
"Okay. Nice to meet you, Sakuno!" Justin said before going back to where he was sitting and opened a book but looked around and he watched Ryoma pull Sakuno by the wrist as they exit the library. He smiled.
"Look up."
Sakuno tried to remember when's the last time she cleaned her nose before complying. It would be embarrassing if Ryoma sees any boogers. But he went and put some tissues in her nostrils to stop the bleeding.
"You hit it pretty bad, huh?" he smirked. "But don't worry, it's not broken."
Sakuno looked down and stared at his serious face.
It's not every day Ryoma takes care of you. Go ahead and cherish it.
She giggled. Ryoma took notice of this and looked at Sakuno quizzingly.
"It's just one of those days where I'm clumsy. Sorry for the trouble, Ryoma-kun." she said. At last, Ryoma was done treating her nose. The school nurse is busy attending to the injured athlete over there so Ryoma took care of her. Sakuno watched as he disposes the used tissues and cotton, and then rubbing alcohol on his hands.
"Yeah, I get it. You never did changed." he smirked. He seemed to enjoy watching Sakuno get red and embarrassed. Somehow it satisfies him. The girl frowned. He really likes to tease the girl.
"I know, right. Thank goodness you were there. By the way, why did you wait for me until four?" she said.
"I never said anything like that, though. I just said I'd be in the library at four."
"No, you asked me if I have any classes in the afternoon, then you said you'd be there at that time." she said rather annoyed.
"I did say that. But I didn't say I'd wait for you there."
What?!
Sakuno was getting super annoyed. Did she misunderstand?
No way. Because he implied it like that! Or did I just lead myself to think like that? What in the hell?
Her brows furrowed and her lips twisted in annoyance.
In the middle of her thinking angrily, she heard Ryoma chuckled. Now, that's new. Ryoma only ever laughs in front of the Seigaku members. Not her. This is a completely different side of him that only comes out whenever he's with friends. Does that mean that he's comfortable with me?
"Ryoma-kun. We're friends now, right?" she asked. Ryoma stopped snickering and looked straight to her before answering.
"Hmm, aren't we friends since back then?" he said.
So, he really did think of me as his friend, not just a classmate. That's surprising.
"Of course. I just wasn't sure that you do, too." she smiled. It was by far the best day since she arrived in America.
After that, Ryoma walked Sakuno to her dorm before heading home himself.
That night, Sakuno logged in to her Facebook and started to chat with Tomoka.
Sakuno: Tomo-chan. I met with Ryoma again today. It was a nice day.
Typing...
Tomoka: Wow, you should ask him out! You're at the age where it's okay to date someone. Go for it!
Typing...
Sakuno: No, I can't. Because he has a girlfriend.
Tomoka: What? Wow, I never expected him to actually fall in love and date a girl. Are you alright?
Sakuno: I'm fine. I was surprised, too. But you know, I'm okay with it. He's just a childhood crush, after all. Besides, he said that we're friends.
Sakuno stared at the word 'friends'. She was a little sad, but it's not like she's got a chance, or she's really doing anything about it. She sighed.
I know I still like him. But I'm contented with being with him every now and then.
Suddenly, her phone started ringing. She looked at it to see who was calling.
"Unknown number?"
She swiped to answer the call.
"Hello?"
"Ryuzaki." a very familiar voice said. Sakuno knew right away who it was. Ryoma definitely saved her number this time.
"R-Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno hurriedly typed on her and Tomoka's chatbox.
Sakuno: Be right back!
"How's your nose?" he asked.
"It's fine now. Thank you for taking care of me earlier."
"Okay. I'm just checking to see if the number's right."
"I see." she blushed.
The sound of cicadas can be heard on Ryoma's line. Sakuno listened intently, trying to hear everything. The boy, on the other hand, did not say a word. The only thing he can hear on Sakuno's line was the faint music playing on her laptop.
"Um, is that all?" she finally spoke. Sakuno could hear him breathing in and breathing out. She blushed. It was like he's right there beside her ear, breathing. It made her heart beat faster.
"Ryoma-kun?" she asked with a soft voice. Again, she hears him breathing in, and breathing out.
Maybe he fell asleep. I should hang up.
"Hmm..." she heard him.
Maybe he's dreaming. What a weird time to fall asleep.
Sakuno smiled and set her phone on the phone stand. She hugged her knees as she watched it. Ryoma is on the other line, probably asleep. She could hear occasional movements of his bed sheets, she assumes, and some snoring. She giggled. So Ryoma snores, too.
Perhaps he had club activities today, and then instead of going home and resting, he hung out with me during lunch. He said he had no classes but why was he at school earlier? He must've been so tired.
As she continued to listen on the phone, she didn't realize that she fell asleep as well.
Sakuno stared at her phone.
Ryoma Echizen
Call duration - 08:37:34
He ended the call a while ago. Perhaps he went to school already.
That was the longest phone call she ever had. The longest. Longer than Tomoka's phone call in the past. And she was a bit happy and giddy that it was a phone call with Ryoma. Sakuno was in the middle of frying an egg when she paused.
"What am I doing? He's taken. Why do I still feel this way? I should just focus on my program and not think about him at all. I mean, I survived not thinking about him during the past few years, right?"
She turned off the stove.
"Except all I did was think about him." she sighed.
Sakuno was about to eat her breakfast when her phone started ringing. She was surprised to see that Ryoma is calling her again.
"Hello?"
"Ryuzaki. You like tangerines?"
Sakuno imagined the image of tangerine, and how it tasted. She likes the sweetness and pulpiness of it.
"Uh, yeah. Why?"
"I got boxes of it. I'll give it to you."
"Okay! Thank you!" she blushed. What a nice guy! Maybe they'll meet up at school and he will hand over the tangerines.
"Okay, I'm almost there."
Sakuno looked at the clock, then at the sofa full of laundry, then to the mirror. She saw her face. This is definitely not a good time.
"Now? You're coming here?" she could not hide the panic on her voice.
"Yep. I'm almost at your building."
Sakuno wasted no time to throw all the laundry to the bathroom, vaccuum the floor, and wash her face. She applied her morning skincare routine and brushed her teeth hastily. She actually set her phone to speaker so she could hear if Ryoma says anything.
"Herng-orn!" she yelled in between brushes.
But it was time. The doorbell rang and Sakuno hurriedly opened the door.
There he was, Ryoma Echizen. Wearing a sweater, faded jeans, and basic sneakers. His messy hair added a touch of innocence in his look. He didn't have his signature cap today and he looked like he was fresh out of the bath. Refreshing view. He looked like a cat holding a box of tangerines.
"Ryoma-kun! Good morning! Come on in." she ushered him to take a seat at the now clean sofa. Ryoma nonchalantly obeyed. He set the box down beside the sofa. Sakuno rummaged through her fridge to find a beverage for the prince.
"Here." she handed a can of Ponta, Ryoma's personal favorite, to him. The boy said a quiet 'thanks' before gulping the cold beverage and sighed. Sakuno felt satisfied to see that he still enjoys the occasional soda.
"Um, Ryoma-kun, have you had breakfast?" Sakuno inquired.
"Breakfast? It's lunch time now." he pointed at the wall clock. Sakuno's face dropped. Good thing it's her day off from school.
"Sorry. Do you want lunch, then?"
"Sounds good." he said while still drinking Ponta. Sakuno smiled and turned on the television. She offered the remote controller to Ryoma so he can watch something while she cooks lunch.
Meanwhile at school...
"Has anyone seen Ryo?" the girl asked. She was visibly angry. She looked at her phone and saw that Ryoma is still not returning her calls.
"Maybe he's having a day off?" a tall guy said while chewing gum and reading comics.
"Maybe he's cheating on me?" the girl bit her lip and began dialing Ryoma's number again.
"You should just break up with him and let me introduce you to my friend instead." the guy said. She looked at him menacingly.
"Who?" she asked, but still putting the phone on her ear in hopes of contacting her boyfriend.
"His name is Justin, he's pretty popular. You might wanna check him out yourself." he snickered.
To be continued.