Stranger
Socializing with people is something I'm not very good at. As an introvert, I rarely take the initiative to talk to other people, especially with people I don't know. I'd rather be alone than socialize, but at work, socializing is something inevitable, because we will always have to work with others. Although I have been in the world for several years work, I always feel overwhelmed when I talk with new colleagues.
Each co-worker in the company has their his own career and personality. Some are very reserved like me, but most are friendly and they like to talk to others. I think that's the reason why the company organizes different activities each year so that all employees have the opportunity to integrate and communicate with other co-workers. In addition to wanting the employees relieve their work stress, of course. Every year, the company organizes two activities main. The first is the annual vacation trip of the company, and the other is...
"The teams for the sporting event have been announced of the company. Check your color to find out what team you are. I have posted the list on the panel advertisements. Team uniforms will be sent by the afternoon. Come sign." I was next to the dispenser of water, pouring a little of the crystalline liquid when Akagi-senpai makes the announcement. My gaze is directed to close announcement and sigh.
I don't like to participate in these activities since I was studient. If I can avoid it, I'll try to avoid it always. But how does this activity affect the bonus? End of the year, no matter how tired I am, I have to participate. In addition to the prize, the team color winner will also have a bonus of 500 yen, so no matter how boring the event is, not will be so bad.
"Rukawa, please take a photo of the ad to see it." Fujima yells from the front of the office. I pick up my phone and I take a photo of the bulletin board, then I go back to my seat, and the companions who are sitting next to around me they immediately approach me.
"Nice! I'm on the same team as you!"
"How come they are together on the same team and I am in another?"
"Akagi-senpai is very bad. He assigned himself to the team! By Sendoh-san again!"
"Girls, can you move away a little? I want to see what team I am." Hanagata approaches to push the group of people who are in front of me, and look at my phone. "I'm in the blue team this year. Fujima, you and I are in the same team!"
"What?! How unlucky I am! Uh, no! I'm so unlucky!"
"Fujima! I have heard that."
"Hanagata-san. Check my equipment please!"
"You don't have a team, Hikochi. You have to be the presenter. What a pity."
"Again?! I couldn't play last year either!" Hikoichi protests with a frustrated expression. Hanagata drops on. He giggles and then steals my phone to continue reading the list.
"So on the blue team we are Akagi, Fujima, Sendoh and me too. Brilliant! But why was Maki assigned to the orange team? Akagi-senpai?" Hanagata protests loudly, while the head of the group, Akagi-senpai, he just laughs and ignores them.
The groups at sporting events are usually determined randomly by each department so that employees can take advantage of this opportunity to meet other colleagues departments. Therefore, it is not surprising that some teammates are assigned to teams of other colors. I unconsciously look in Maki's direction. He is looking at Fujima, who is play fighting with Hanagata. He looks a little disappointed, probably because he doesn't stayed on the same team as my friend.
"Sakuragi, Rukawa and Maki are in the team orange. Ugh, just looking at this list, I really think that our team will win this year!" states Hanagata in tone as a joke before handing the phone back to me. I just nod because what he says is true.
It doesn't matter which team it is, as long as Fujima and Hanagata be together, the team is guaranteed to win definitely. With their enthusiasm and energy, even the company ghosts have to give up!
"Rukawa, I'll entrust Shinichi to you. Remember to take good care of him." Fujima says with a bright smile once he sees it. Crowd begins to disperse.
"Alright."
"Too bad I can't be on the same team as you, Kenji," says Maki. Fujima looks at Maki and just smiles, patting his internally on the shoulder.
"We are always together. Sometimes we have to separate so that you can meet other superiors of the other departments. Plus, you're with Rukawa, so you will not be alone. Maybe you will meet new friends and you will forget your Kenji Fujima."
"How could I forget you, Kenji?" Maki frowns and his tone turns serious, but Fujima doesn't notice, because he just turns around and looks at Hikochi, who was delirious because he cannot participate in the game.
"What's going on?" Sendoh's deep voice rings out. He had just returned from the bathroom, and the discussion about the sporting event still resonates in the office.
"The teams for the sporting event have just left. And I'm not going to participate. Again!" Hikoichi complains while he clicks the mouse aggressively.
"Are you the host again? What's wrong with that? You just have to sit down and talk. You won't get tired."
"But I've been doing it for two years now!"
"Oh, come on. What team am I on?"
"You and I are on the blue team. Shin and Rukawa are in the orange team." answers Fujima.
"Oh yeah?" Sendoh says, dragging his voice mocking. Our eyes meet when I look at him. He raises his eyebrows and pouts.
"Aww, Kaede is not on the same team as me. Don't be so sad, okay?" he mocks.
"Don't worry, I'm not sad at all," I reply, in a monotone voice, making him laugh. Although I'm is not in the same team as Fujima, there is no problem as long as he is on the same team as Sendoh.
I won't have to deal with him for a day. I should celebrate!
The days flew by. The work and the responsibilities kept piling up and Fujima, Maki and I had to work overtime almost every day. It wasn't until I woke up one morning that I realized that the day after tomorrow is the event sports.
"Akira, when are you going to take your shirt?" I look at the blue t-shirt wrapped in a transparent package that has been left here since it was delivered. Sendoh comes out from my bedroom with only his pants on, hand holding his white shirt.
"I forgot I was here. I thought I was into my apartment." Sendoh looks at the forgotten blue shirt before dressing in his white shirt, covering his naked upper body of him.
"Take that away. You'll have to use it the day after tomorrow."
"I will do that. Thank you."
After reminding him, I head to my bedroom and I stand in front of the mirror to check my appearance before leaving for work.
Since our agreement began, almost always we are together. So we start talking every once again. Although most of the time our subject conversation is about work things or personal.
As long as Sendoh doesn't joke, I can chat with him at least a bit. But Sendoh is still Sendoh, he likes to play with me or make fun of me most of the time. He especially like to tighten my waist in the morning before I go to work. At first, I was going to scold him, but then I decided to ignore it, because I know that the more I react, the happier he will be and he will not stop.
Crazy people like to see people go crazy. Believe that he is one of those crazy people.
I grab a comb to brush my bangs, and by the corner from my eyes, I see Sendoh enter. At first I think that he comes to look for something, or to tighten my waist again, but he just stands behind me, hugging my waist with an arm before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"You already look very handsome." After releasing my waist, he casually takes his belt and puts it on while I stay still.
"Don't do that again," I say in a serious voice.
"What?"
"Don't kiss my cheek like that again."
"Gosh, how serious," he murmurs. I take a deep breath and continue brushing my hair with annoyance.
I don't know how many times I've kissed him in the last month. I can count on ten fingers, and the ones who kissed me there are too many. If it's just to vent his lust, it's okay because I feel nothing but pure lust. But out of bed, every time he kisses me, he makes me strange sensations and it bothers me a lot.
Just like now. I don't know how to feel. And hate to know how I feel.
If other people looked closer, they would discover that Sendoh and I arrived at the office almost every morning at the same time. (We sleep in the same bed at night and we left the room apartment together. How can we not get to the same hour?) Which is very unusual for us. Sendoh used to be late for work while I always arrived early.
Every time we enter the company together I feel worried that someone might notice. Fortunately, no one has said anything, which means that no one has found out yet. Somehow I feel relieved.
However, it would be best to take precautions as soon as possible. Maybe it's better for me to go in first or maybe Sendoh should stay in the first floor cafeteria for a while.
"You guys go back to the office first, I'll buy some milky tea." Fujima's voice takes me out of my thoughts.
Right now it's lunch time. Barely we finish eating and we are heading to the office. Fujima, who cannot live without dessert, says goodbye by hand before heading straight to the store of bubble tea next to the building. Maki, naturally, he follows him like a shadow.
"Kaede, do you think Fujima knows that Maki likes him?" asks Sendoh, who is next to me. I look at the sweet man who tries to pay the cashier and my friend tries to avoid let him pay for it.
"Obviously not."
"Poor Maki, don't you think?"
I was about to open my mouth to answer when a sweet feminine voice calls me by my name.
"Kaede-kun? Is that you?"
"Hello, Ayara-san." As soon as I see her face, I greet her. The woman heading towards me.
"Long time no see. Do you work in this building?" Ayara smiles happily as she gently plays my arm. She was my senior in college. She helped us, Fujima and me to study for the exams. She gave us advice and she took care of me in many ways. A person very nice, really. But we haven't been in contact for a long time after she graduated. The last time we saw each other was probably in her brother's wedding three years ago.
"Yeah. What about you, Ayara-san?"
"Oh, I'm discussing business with my boss here today. I just went out to buy a cup of coffee before re-enter." She lifts the coffee in her hand.
"What a coincidence. I have not see you for a while. I remember how cute you were when I was in the university. And you still are. There must be many boys chasing you."
"No.Not at all." I laugh a bit, and Ayara laughs even more strong. Her gaze wanders from me to Sendoh, who is standing by my side.
"And this is?"
"My friend. We work in the same company."
"Hello. My name is Akira. I'm a friend of Kaede." he introduced himself with a soft voice and the corners of his mouth twitched. They rise slightly upwards. His eyes shine because of the beautiful woman he has in front of him.
I can swear, he's flirting...
"Hello, my name is Ayara. I was a Kaede senior in the university."
"Pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." Ayara-san responds with a smile, and then she turns to look at me with regret. "I'd like talk and stay longer with you, but the boss told me he's waiting in the car. Let's chat online then. We'll catch up there, okay?"
"Okay, have a nice trip." I dismiss her with hand and Ayara-san hugs me tightly before doing the same and walk towards the exit of the building. I turn to look at Sendoh next to me and I notice he's looking, lovingly, Ayara's back.
"Stop looking at Ayara-san like that. She is married and has children."
"What do you mean? I'm looking at her normally. You are being prejudiced." He smiles at me. I put my eyes on white and I'm going to wait for the elevator.
I guess I was being too warm and fuzzy friendly. Not affectionate.
The elevator doors open and I enter with Sendoh, who takes the opportunity to approach me before the doors are closed.
"What you said was not correct, Kaede," he says out of nowhere. Making me look at him confused.
"What?"
"You told her that we are friends, but in reality we are more than that." He leans in and whispers in my ear. Sigh and I try to suppress the urge to kick him.
"...Shut up," I say through clenched teeth and walk away. A few steps before turning his head. Sendoh can't avoid laughing when he see my reaction.
"By the way, I won't be going tonight. Hikoichi is heartbroken and he wants me to accompany him to drink."
"Go wherever you want," I replied. At that moment, the elevator door opens, and other people enter one after another so our conversation is cut short.
Sendoh going to bars is nothing new. Everyone in the office know how close it is to these places. He often takes Hikoichi to the bar to have fun, and basically every time he went to a bar, he could hunt with success to the prey of him. Whenever Sendoh is late for job, I don't have to guess what happened the night former.
We've been friends with benefits for over a month now. And he hasn't gone to the bar during that period. And when he not sleeps with me, he is almost never late for work. It seems that tonight he won't be able to help himself.
I look at him and remember that as soon as he sleeps with another person, our agreement will end. When I think about it, I feel a slight sting in my chest.
It's a feeling between relief and sadness. I don't matters to find someone else to sleep with to relieve loneliness before finding a real boyfriend. Although at the same time I think it is a great shame that Sendoh knows my physical needs very well. But if he break the agreement between us, I won't be able to accept it.
Anyway, it will end sooner or later, so I guess it doesn't matter.
I walk to the office and hear a colleague's voice that she comes over to greet Sendoh, saying that she has told him brought a dessert. She left them and I headed to my place. When I get to my desk, find a glass of bubble tea placed on top with a note. It seems that someone put here secretly.
I sigh tiredly before putting the bubble tea. I turn on the computer, open the file and I continue with my work. When a junior approaches, I hand over the bubble tea for him to drink.
Workers who have the weekend off. They are usually more excited on Fridays because it is the last working day of the week. Who doesn't it would?That's why I'm motivated to work today, now which is the last working day of the week. Although this week is slightly different. When I enter the office, the sound of my coworkers laughing and chatting loudly welcomes me.
The atmosphere is very lively and happy even though it's not Friday yet. It is because the sporting event it will take place tomorrow and we won't have to work. We will be able to relax and be comfortable. Some people are very excited, especially Hanagata and Fujima, unlike people like me, who don't care like to socialize or participate in these types of activities, and prefers to sit and work.
I put my backpack and my coffee on the desk and look around to see that some seats are still empty. Although most employees are preparing for tomorrow's event, there are still some who are late for work.
Especially those two.
"Will Sendoh and Hikoichi take the day off today?" Maki asks as he look at the empty seat behind me. I shake my head indicating that I don't know. Fujima looks the two empty seats and frowns.
"No, he hasn't told me anything. Didn't he go to the bar with Hikoichi yesterday? Hikoichi was probably too drunk to wake up and Sendoh probably found a playmate and he enjoyed it too much as to wake up." Fujima says as he gets into his mouth the cookie I gave him. As soon as he finishes speaking, one of the people we were talking with comes in talking.
"Hello, everyone!" Hikoichi rushes to greet the people around him and sits in his place. He is panting heavily, indicating that he was in a hurry to arrive before the deadline.
"We were talking about you. I thought you died!"
"I'm here, Fujima-san. And I wasn't dead, but I'm sure I will be with the temperature of this place. Why is it so hot?" Hikoichi gasps as he remove the red plaid shirt. He holds the shirt white dress he was wearing underneath and fanned himself to cool off. He has messy hair and looks like he has slept all night.
"Hey! What happened to Sendoh?"
"Sendoh-san? He is..."
"Why are you looking for me so early? Do you miss me already, Fujima?" Talking about the devil.
Sendoh enters the office with dark circles on his face just like his junior. He wiggles his eyebrows before smiling at me as he passes for my seat. Seeing his slight expression made me a little upset bit.
"Oh, you must have had a great time last night!"
"Well, I was wondering if you would show up at the company today, or if you were still in paradise." Fujima jokes and Maki smile. I see Sendoh smile before deciding to shake my turn around and ignore their conversation.
I'm not in the mood to hear about his experience heavenly.
"What do you mean by paradise? Yesterday was hell!Can you believe this guy drank so much that he fainted and I had to take him home?" he complains.
I stop because it wasn't what I expected to happen yesterday at night.
"Sendoh-san, I'm sorry." Hikoichi begs like a spoiled child, and Fujima, who is sitting next to me, starts laughing.
"Oh! So you didn't find someone to play with last night? It is a pity!"
"I didn't go there for that. I was just drinking with Hikoichi." explains Sendoh. How convincing.
"Sendoh, it is impossible that you have not brought anyone home last night. I really can't believe it!" Fujima says exactly what I'm thinking.
"It's up to you to believe me." Sendoh just smiles, shrugging as if he didn't care.
The conversation would have continued had it not been for the CEO enters the room. Everyone gives the immediately turned around, facing computer, and pretend to work.
I continue working after that. They are around two in the afternoon when my phone vibrates. I unlock and see that someone has sent me a message.
"Can we talk? See you on the stairs. Emergency."
I immediately turn around and look behind me. His back desk is empty. I sigh softly and I tell Fujima that I'm going to the bathroom. I get up and leave the office. Sendoh is leaning nonchalantly on the wall with my arms crossed when I get there.
"What's happening?"
"Where are we going tonight? To my apartment or to yours?" Sendoh asks. I just look at him in silence with many questions running through my head. The corners of his mouth twitch when he sees me looking at him fixedly.
"Last night... you..."
"I didn't sleep with anyone. I didn't break our agreement." Sendoh immediately answers the question posed to me it got stuck in the throat. I just raise my eyebrow, clearly still with doubts.
"You do not believe me? You can ask Hikoichi how well I behaved last night!"
"Do you want him to be suspicious?" I grumble. I feel that my... I'm sorry that my paranoia decreases.
I choose to believe him.
It's strange, right? Who would have thought that one day I would trust this man's word. We have been friends with benefits for months and I can say that I have learned more about him during that period. He's a very direct person. There's no reason for him to lie over the things. And if he has sexual relations with another person, I'm sure he'll tell me immediately.
Although I would prefer that he not sleep with anyone else because I still need him to accompany me in my loneliness. It would be a shame if we had to end our relationship now.
"Believe me! I told you that, if I did, I would never lie to you." Sendoh puts his hand on my shoulder and gives me a little squeeze, assuring me of what he says.
"You better not be lying. I do not like the liars," I say in a serious tone. When he hear me, his light up his eyes, his palm quickly lowers from my shoulder to my waist and surrounds me with his arm.
"Does that mean that if I don't lie, you'll like me?"
"Idiot. I will go back to work." I pushed his hand away and I'm about to return when Sendoh grabs my wrist.
"So, where are we going tonight? To your apartment?"
"What? We have a sporting event tomorrow. Don't do you need to sleep and rest?"
"All the more reason we have to see each other tonight. Have than doing warm-up exercises, you know." Sendoh approaches and takes me into his arms. I can smell the faint minty fragrance of him.
"Let go. Someone will see us!"
"There is no one but us here," he says before I feel his lips on my neck. I dodge it, but Sendoh reaches out and nibbles my earlobe before whisper quietly.
"We should try something fun. How about to turn off the lights and leave the room completely dark…"
"No!" I snapped, quickly dissipating the intense and hot environment. Sendoh doesn't seem offended, but he is perplexed when he sees the expression on my face. I swallow salivate and calm myself before turning around.
"I'll go back to work. Let's talk later." I say before walk back to the office. Thinking about my reaction exaggerated from a moment ago, I feel a pain in my chest.
No matter how much time has passed, there will always be unhealed scars on my heart.
Since our agreement, I have never stopped Sendoh from meet me as long as we don't exceed the rule of three days of the week. Last night was the first time that I realized I should have stopped it.
Do want to know why? It's because I haven't slept enough! I'm sleep deprived!
I get out of the car wearing my orange t-shirt, my sports pants and my sneakers. I shake my head to get rid of the drowsiness. I don't even know where Sendoh draws the energy out of him. When I fell asleep, they were around two in the morning, but then I had to wake up at half past five to take a shower. And I am so sleepy now. My eyelids are heavy and the body hurts. I don't want to move at all.
If I had known this, I wouldn't have let him come to my apartment last night. I stare at the owner of the Honda Black civic parked next to my car, the man who didn't let me sleep enough and his name is Akira Sendoh. He looks at me and smiles seeing my expression.
"What's wrong with your face? Are you mad at me again, Mr. Rukawa?" He comes closer after asking. Sendoh doesn't usually wear t-shirts, but when he put on the blue shirt today, his tight outfit showed off the muscles of his chest, his broad back and his toned abs.
If it were a normal day, I would certainly appreciate it, but today I'm not in the mood to appreciate his body no matter how good looking.
"Are you still angry for not having slept enough? You were very energetic and loud last night…"
"Shut up!" I glare at him. He squeezes the lips of him and immediately raises his hands in sign of surrender.
Sighing heavily, I close the door of my car and I head to the gym with Sendoh following me. The company rented the gymnasium of a private university as venue of the sporting event. I think that president of this university is a friend to the boss, so that he made an exception by lending this place between week.
"Kaede, what test are you participating in?" Sendoh asks while he walks by my side.
"I will only participate in the food test. I will team up with Maki." I respond. To be honest, if I had to choose, I would prefer not to participate in any activities, but since Akagi-senpai insisted and continued to bother me, I had no more excuses and can only write my name in one of his games.
"Oh! Fujima and I are on the same team. There are three teams participating, right? I wonder if I will have the chance to compete against you," says Sendoh, with curiosity evident in his voice. "But if we compete, I will have to apologize in advanced because I will definitely win!"
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because every time I play, I never lose," he answers. Surely, his eyes shine with cunning, before add, "This time I have to win again!"
"Of course you will," I reply indifferently. Sendoh just smiles before putting his arm around my shoulder.
"That's how it is! You'll have to wait and see! Come on, let's get in, Mr. Rukawa!" Sendoh says enthusiastically.
"Let go." I pushed his arm and stumbled when we entered in the gym. I click my tongue when I hear him laugh behind. Luckily, today I don't have to be in the same team as him, so I feel relieved.
It's good to be apart for a while. So I won't have to be bothered by him even for a day.
Will be continued...
Merry Christmas!