CHAPTER 101
I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.
~~Magical Summer Trip~~
~Part~6~
~~Let's go for a ride~~
"Alright."
She had cave with this, accepting there was no escaping it. She couldn't push back when he looked so appealed by the idea. Nor did she want to. Since he was so thrilled by the idea of trying it out, she couldn't actually help but feel the giggles of fun and excitement settle in her belly. It was so endearing to see him so enthusiastic. A rare sight for him besides acting, honestly. She could not get it in herself to rob him of the possibility to try. And she felt giddy having the chance to introduce him to it. Granted that he truly hadn't had any experiences in bikes before. No, it was more than that. She wanted to be the one to make him experience it. To share one of her passions with him, just like he had made her love acting, many years ago, on Ring Doh set.
"But I need to leave soon and – "
He had already pivoted back swiftly with a nod of understanding – reminding he hadn't forgotten – , and three long slides, he was to her front door. He threw her one last stare, insisting he would have returned in no time, and she was left motionless on her turned on motorbike.
The void of voice that ensued left her a little dazed and the echoes of the roaring engine under her vibrated in her ribs in a repetitive manner. She switched off the motor, realizing only now she had kept it on, but the sounds and vibrations were too assaulting for her senses, in overdrive as they already were.
She wiped at the back of her neck, and let out a sigh as she dropped her forehead against the chest of the bike.
This is way more intense I had imagined my morning.
She couldn't wrap her mind around the way Ren had reacted. Like he had received an electroshock. As if he would not have let her go. Not until she accepted. The experience had been shuddering. She got he was interested. But yet, this was…
It hadn't been begging. And he hadn't been ordering her around either.
But.
It had been as if it had just become a need. A visceral one. Vital to assuage.
Which was maddening. He had just seen the bike. He hadn't even tried riding one as a passenger. He could not be that hooked after a mere glance.
But it felt like a switch burn. From cold and indifferent to ablaze and fascinated. Electrified.
She swiped her right leg over, getting off the bike and placing soundly the helmet on the silky dark seat. Breathing deeply as she placed her palms on the seat of the speedster.
She was distracted of her musings when she heard a stuffed thud from her right as Kyle exited back the car he had just taken place in, rubbing his left knee with a grimacing look at his car's door.
Her lips tugged her a little, what had he been distracted for now? Her friend loved too much to observe the world. And that's when she realized. He had been watching her conversation with Ren, hadn't he? His instant dash towards her in the next second confirmed her fears as he marched around her engine to plant himself in front of her.
"What was that?!"He mouthed with eyes gyrating between her and her front door in an ogling fashion.
"What was what?"She said, pretending a sudden brain deficiency.
He made eyes at her.
"…"
"…"
He made more eyes at her.
She smiled at him as she twirled around, giving him her back as she put the stand in place and directed herself to her garage again. She needed her second helmet. Hopefully, it would fit. It had more adjustments option than the one she usually used. It was for those sorts of cases she had bought it. Not that she had had really the occasion to utilize it all that much. Kayla was the only one Kyoko ever really drove on her bike. And even then, it must have happened thrice at most. No, twice. She considered it like something she used for her private time. So, she usually preferred to drive alone.
Kyle stalked behind her as she opened her the garage door again, a killer determination in the eyes.
"How?"
"How what?"She asked as she went to a wall cabinet where she stored stuff like spare gloves and equipment and other maintenance objects.
"How can one man look like that?!"He howled with envy in the voice. "I wanna look like that. Hell, every man should be like that!"
She chuckled and opened the rack door, seeking what she was looking for.
"It would be boring, don't you think?"
"I don't."He affirmed. "It would be fucking awesome."
She just smiled, moving some boxes around. Where had she put it? She knew it was there. It was brand new as she never used it, so she knew she hadn't moved it around. And she locked this cabinet. It could only be there.
"You can't tell me you wouldn't appreciate more men like this."Kyle continued. "I nearly combusted seeing him come out. I feel like I just used all my luck for a whole year being a witness of such a being. This is criminal."
She snorted.
"It is. But I wouldn't want more of them."
He sighed dramatically.
"I don't get you."
She shook her head.
"The wrapping only interests me if it's on one man."
"Huh."He commented half-convinced as she continued to rummage through her stuff.
"I guess you are not wrong. In a way. But this wrapping being full of ribbons, garlands, glitters, chantilly, and being made of marble and stars help."
She laughed at his metaphor.
And magic. She added to herself. That physique was also made of magic.
"True too."
He eyed her doubtfully. She knew because he dropped his head right in front of her nose.
"And you wouldn't want more of this wrapping?"
She grinned and pointed her index up.
"Quality over quantity. And it would lose its uniqueness."
"Boo-rringg."He stretched, leaning back. But he was as amused with their little play of words as she was.
She shrugged her shoulders at him.
"I was always the kind that cares more about what is inside." She said. "At least, since I got burn once, when I was a teen."
She felt his gaze on her, waiting for more, and she stopped her hands.
"I didn't even know myself and was stupid and naive and I made up an idea of who a person was," Kyoko explained, old dusty memories that had healed coming back to mind, "not really seeing that boy for whom he was, and getting too much into my head. I made myself dream pretty boy only based on his looks, not ever truly looking at him." She told Kyle.
He leaned to the side, nodding.
"A teen often does this."
She glanced at him with a grin.
"He was a damn jerk too. But I was so blind I didn't even realize that. Neither that he wasn't for me or that our tastes, aspirations and values wouldn't have ever match. Or that I would have never crushed on him if I had truly seen him for who he was at the time."
Kyle frowned at her.
"Don't tell me you are still blaming yourself?"
She shook her head.
"No. But it taught me the hard way to learn who I was and what I liked and what I did not. To know my tastes. In men, too." She clarified to him with a smile. "And to search for more than appearances."She added strongly. "Always."
"Huh. That seemed like a lesson harshly learned." He said, a thoughtful expression appearing.
She smiled again, agreeing.
"But it permitted me to discover myself. And others. And to evolve. More than I would have ever done so if it hadn't happened."She told him, unable to suppress some pride and gratefulness to seep in. Because she knew. She had gone way further she would have because of the hardships she had lived. And just for that, she would always be grateful of what she had experienced. The good and the bad.
"I guess I can understand that stand."Kyle said after some thought. "But it is easy for you to say that. You get to keep the lone copy for you. Think of all of us, poor desolated souls."Kyle whined mournfully.
She shook, trying to suppress more hilarity with coming out and failing.
"I think I will tell the lone specimen what you said. Ribbons and all."She declared as she finally put her hand on the box containing the spare helmet.
She heard Kyle gasp in horror.
"Do not dare."
She pulled out the helmet shield in a smooth microfibre cloth protection.
"I mean, did you see those muscles?"Kyle mumbled. "They are moving under his skin so perfectly. It is just tight enough. Not too buffed. Well drawn but efficient. Ahhh~~…"
Kyoko shut the cabinet door with a little too much strength, making Kyle jump back a little. She didn't need a reminder of those precise details. She had been trying to get rid of those images.
"The only reason I'm not glaring is because I know you wouldn't be his gender target."She eventually commented with a light tone as she slipped the helmet under her arm and turned around.
She heard her friend snickers following her as they returned outside.
"You are marking territory. Though, still ouch." Came out from behind.
"I will not confirm or invalidate anything."
She was sure he could hear her humour in her voice. It was easy to take things lightly with Kyle. Some rare occasions left asides, he knew how far he could take it and what were the limits. She placed the helmet on her speedster and closed back the garage.
"It is a little scary. But refreshing."Kyle added as she set down the passenger foot boards on each side.
"Usually, it's like you are a mountain."He continued and she arched an amused brow at him.
He waved his hand up as he explained.
"No matter how she is pushed, she is indifferent and solid. Propositions and good males in front of her be damned. You couldn't care less."He said as a matter-of-fact.
She stood back, turning to him and pinching her lips at the images he was evoking. This was funny.
"I think you are imagining me having way much success I have. I'm not propositioned that often. But it's true I don't really care."
He scoffed at her and rolled his eyes but replied nonetheless.
"Besides one."He said, batting his eyelashes and intertwining his hands' fingers in front of him in a grinning prayer.
She laughed.
"Don't you have work to go to?"
"I will go, I will go."He chanted. "But don't think I don't see what you are doing. Or that I didn't notice how easily he convinced you to come with you. When it would have been impossible for any of your other friends."
And just like that, he hugged her briefly and pivoted. Making dance his hips in a exaggerate and superior manner that he somehow still managed to keep elegant as he waved his hand, back turned to her. Because her friend was that good at using stereotypes and making them his forte. Then he slipped into his car and left.
§§§
The front door opened again as she was checking one last time her bike was set up for a passenger, and she pivoted just in time to see Ren emerge. He joined her side in a couple of strides and she inspected him, checking nothing was too improper and impracticable for biking. She couldn't help her mirth and pleasure at seeing him. It wasn't often she saw him wearing such laid-back clothes like what he was wearing. Washed sky blue jeans that looked stretchy enough and a white tee slipped into it. She snorted.
"What?"He asked. "Doesn't work?"
She shook her head.
"It is alright. Supple enough, though not protecting that much but I won't go too fast since I will have a passenger."She said with a grin and he arched a brow at this.
"I don't mind speed."He protested.
"No, I'm just not used to see you in comfortable clothes."
He shrugged.
"I don't have the occasion often."
She nodded.
"I know."
She tilted her head down, staring at the dark grey shoes peeking from under his jeans.
"Let me just check your shoes. What are you wearing?"
He looked down at his feet.
"Levi Sahara boots," he told her, "Only boots I had with me, sorry."
Kyoko looked back at him, puzzled.
"Why sorry? And how did you know?"
He rubbed his neck.
"I just checked before coming out, and some sites said it was better to wear boots while on a bike, so."
She hummed in response.
Some sites…
All websites should have said that.
"That's true." She agreed. "But that is not the most important part. They need to hold your ankles properly. Give me your foot."
He looked at her funny. She sat on her bike and tapped her thigh.
He inclined his head.
"Place your foot on my thigh so I can check it."
"…"
"…"
She arched her brow.
"You are serious."
She nodded merrily.
" … there is no need, you know I think – "
"I'm not letting you on for a ride on that bike unless I'm sure you are safe, Ren."She stated, all matter-of-fact and he locked his mouth. But some mirth could be spotted on his face and she wondered if she had said something funny.
"Who is overprotective now?"
She didn't bat a lash and held out her hand again.
"It will dirty your pants." He attempted.
She shook her head and waited.
He lifted his left foot without any hindrance keeping balance and lightly presented it to her in the air. But refused to lay it on her thigh.
She smiled wickedly and pushing some of her strands that were in her way off, caught his ankle in her hands, placing his huge foot on her thigh.
She was impressed to see it didn't even make him stir in his standing position on his other foot. He didn't look that pleased, though.
"Are you really imagining I can't tie my own shoes?"He questioned with some amusement.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"That is not the point. It needs to hold your ankle properly to be safe. Be still."
He sighed and she delicately slipped her fingers around his ankle under his jeans until she reached the top of the boot. She slipped a finger under, checking it was tight enough. It was. Then, she moved his ankle left and right, verifying the boot supported his ankle properly. All that under the unimpressed gaze of Ren.
She grinned at him.
"I know how it looks but in case of accident, those sorts of precautions are lifesavers." She said before letting go of his left foot.
He nodded at last, understanding better, and she asked for the other.
After the same manipulation, she noticed the right one was looser.
"Tighten the other more. It cannot move around in the slightest."
He obeyed and paraded before her afterwards.
"Am I good to go, Milady?"
She pulled her tongue at him.
"Two more things. First, jacket. You better slip yours on. It might seem hot right now but it will be colder under speed and wind."
He slipped his vest on. She looked at him one last time. Those weren't professional protections but it would be enough, as long as you were careful.
His waiting expression as he remained still for her verdict was hilarious. She would have sworn he was getting impatient.
"What's the other thing?" He asked when she nodded.
She took the second helmet and stood, closing in on him.
"This."
She removed the protective bag cloth and presented the helmet to him. He opened his eyes in comprehension.
"Oh."
"You pass it on and I'll check if it holds too. It's the same principle as for the boots. It cannot move around." Kyoko explained.
He nodded and slipped the helmet on his head. She made him rise up the protection glass visor in front of his eyes.
"How is it? Loose? Too tight?"She asked, moving the helmet around a little to make it easier to see if it fits properly.
"A little tight."Ren said after moving his head around some more.
"Hmm."
She got closer, inspecting it.
"Can you tilt your head forward?"
He did and she glided her fingers behind, against his neck and brushed some locks of hair aside. He let out air softly, and he mumbled an apology if she was being a bother with her touch. She wanted to see if she could slip her fingers between the helmet and his head. She couldn't. Which was in theory normal but here the helmet seemed glued. There was no room at all even if you pushed a bit.
She pushed on a button on the side that controlled the restriction area inside the helmet.
"How is it now?" She asked.
Ren shook his head around and the helmet nearly went the other direction from his movement.
"Too loose."
She nodded.
"Way too loose."
She took hold of his hand and showed him where stood the button.
"Here. You push twice, it gets looser. Once, it tightens. Try to adjust it."
He played with it for a couple of times before nodding at her, and she checked again. It wasn't loose anymore but neither stuck.
"Comfy?"She asked one more time after checking his helmet was perfectly in place and had no chance to move anymore. He confirmed her he was and she took a step back. He looked too damn good with the jet-black helmet and the easy clothes.
"All good, then."
She quickly went to lock her door. Since he was coming with her, there was no point keeping it unlocked.
"Alright. We are good to go." She said to Ren when she came back. "Just push the other button on the right to light on the helmet, and make it available for blue-tooth connection."She said and he nodded.
She asked him for a second as she balanced her leg right leg above her bike and sat on the speedster.
She turned back towards Ren and waved her head.
"Hop on."
He complied and swiftly sat on the back seat behind her. She looked behind him and told him where to place his feet. Once he had done it, she turned on the bike and grabbed her helmet, putting it on quickly. She coupled it with Ren's, so they could hear each other.
"Do you hear me?"She asked quietly in the mike.
"Loud and clear."He replied in her helmet speaker, and she held back a shudder at the feeling he was whispering inside her ear.
"Good."She said. "Then, let me check a couple of things. I'm going to raise the bike to an upright standing and verify my move freedom. Hold yourself." She told him as she proceeded.
She got something was off soon, the sensation was odd.
She stabilized the bike up and on her feet and looked behind her.
"Where are you holding yourself?"She asked.
"At the seat."
"That won't do. You need to hold yourself at my waist."She stated. There was a second of pause before he replied.
"Alright." Came back as a response but he had barely grazed her that she stopped him, realizing one little situation. She couldn't keep her tee up, her skin was far too ticklish and sensitive to handle to be touched directly by his hands and be able to focus on the road. She untied the knot and pulled down her tee.
"All good. Go ahead."
He asked her reason for that action as he placed his palms on either side of her waist. Stay focused Kyoko. You knew what you were getting into when you accepted he'd come.
"Too ticklish. It would distract me."She explained.
He hummed in response and she returned to the matter at hand.
"But that still won't do. You need to hold me tighter than that."
He tightened his grip on her hips and she cursed as she held back her instinctive response. Fuck her body to be this sensitive on this area.
"Hmm. No, not like that. Come a little closer to my back."She instructed when she saw he was still sitting way far behind.
He obliged and when she saw his chest was only a couple of inches away from her back, she turned front again.
She placed her fingers lightly on the front of his hand.
"Do you mind if I show you?"She asked.
"Go ahead."
"Then, excuse me."
She lifted his left hand from her hip – "I meant – " and made his arm circle her whole waist to her other side, "Like this."
"Oh." He said and cleared his throat.
"Sorry if it is awkward."She let out, keeping her personal feelings aside.
"No. It is quite alright. The other too?"He asked, referring to the position again.
"Yes."
He was fast to place his right arm in the same fashion. But he was barely grazing her.
"Is it alright?"He asked.
She breathed in softly, trying to un-feel the sensation of his arms around her.
"It is good for now. But you will need to hold yourself tighter when we will be moving. For now, just hold on and don't move anymore while I check everything."
She tilted the bike left and right, measuring the added weight on the bike and the sensations of him close. Measuring how much she would need to focus and control with those new parameters. And how she would need to adapt her driving once they would be on the road. She also had to be sure his legs wouldn't prevent some of her movements. His legs were so long, they kinda encased her, so she really needed to be extra careful. She bent the bike a bit more, testing her own movements. It was all good on the right side.
"Can you place in the same angle your left leg than your right one? I don't want to bump into your knees when I bend the bike." She explained.
He moved his leg and she tested it again.
"Good?" he asked.
"Yup."
"One last thing," she suddenly added, realizing she hadn't warned him about it, "if I incline the bike in curves and turns, you need to follow the movement the bike and I will be doing. You cannot stay upright if I bend. Otherwise, it can unbalance a little. So, if I lean to the right with the bike, you do too. And in reverse."
"Okay. Anything else I should be paying attention to?"Ren asked.
She pondered that for a little while but that seemed about it.
"Ah. Yes. One thing. If we are on a crowded section or road, pay attention to the sides of your legs. So that it won't be caught or rubbed in narrow places or against other vehicles. Especially at low speed when we will be in centre town."
"Noted."
"Even if it means placing the top of your legs on my thighs to avoid being rubbed raw, Ren."She insisted and a low chuckle echoed in her ear.
"Yes, ma'am. I will obey."
She laughed but replied with approbation.
"Good. Then, we are leaving."
She kicked the lateral stand off and up and slipped on her gloves before turning the speed handle. She shifted them around and drove slowly for the small portion of the path leading to bigger circulation and joined the main road, kicking gear up as she did so.
The bike roared as she accelerated but she felt some looseness around her waist.
"Hold tight from now on."
He locked his arms around her firmly and she pushed the speed further once she was sure it was safe.
Once they were on the side highway, she set up a comfortable pace. It was not too jammed fortunately and they still had time so there was no need to rush too much. Plus, since they could still see the ocean as it bordered the road, it would have been too bad if Ren couldn't seize the opportunity to enjoy the view.
"All good behind?"
"Never better."He replied joyfully before asking. "Do you go to work often like this?"
She nodded as she said.
"I guess I kinda find every occasion to take it, yes. Unless it is raining. It is my proper vehicle. The car I have is only on rent."
He snorted at that last bout.
"A true bike mania."
"I'm afraid so."
They both laughed at her admission.
"So, what do you do when you don't have a bothersome passenger tagging along?"He inquired after a few moment minutes of peaceful silence as landscapes passed by on their sides.
She laughed at his phrasing.
"Well… I usually listen to some music, most times."
"Oh. What sort?"He asked.
She cleared her throat, feeling embarrassed and wondering why she felt like he was poking around to know every single millimetres of her life again.
She was having harder difficulties to focus already, as she felt at all moment the heat from his arms seep against her belly, and his scent waffling up to her nose.
"Well, let's see what I have at the moment."She said pushing on the button of the music controller and not wanting to give a list of her tastes while she was driving.
Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen echoed softly in their helmets and she was grateful she had set it up to a light volume, knowing she sometimes blast it high and crazy.
"Queen. So, rock?"He asked.
She hummed.
"More like rock ballads."She said. "Most times. Or slowed down tunes. Or pop."
She felt him move a little behind and got the feeling he was shaking his head but she couldn't be sure.
"What?"
She felt his arms tighten around her for a second. Like it had been compulsively. Had she made an abrupt move? But she didn't think so.
"I was just thinking…"
"Yes?"
"You are truly amazing…"
She jumped a little and blushed, having not expected the compliment. She was grateful he couldn't see her from where he was. Seriously, he ought to refrain himself while she was driving.
"What for?" She asked. That had come out so sudden.
"Many things. Everything. You are the most incredible woman I have the pleasure to know."He whispered in her ears.
She stayed silent, thanking every deity for being on the highway when he dropped this as she composed herself.
"It is the bike part. The bike awed you and it biased you. It will pass."
He chuckled.
"I already had that opinion before. And it isn't the bike that awed me, but you riding one."He countered.
She snorted.
"Come on. No need to sugar it. You were essentially drooling over the bike when you saw it."
He laughed even more. And it was such a soft tingle in her ears to hear his laugh so closely.
"Wrong again. I truly think you are amazing. The bike just made you even sexier." His voice stated with delighted assurance above the music she had left playing after turning it on.
She deviated slightly before redressing. Did he just say – ? Focus Kyoko. She had to make herself violence to do it this time.
"You are aware I'm driving, right?"
"Sorry."He said.
"Do you really think it is the right time to tease me, Ren?"She grumbled as she lowered her speed a little. Just to be sure.
"Maybe not."He admitted, squeezing her midsection a little as he pronounced his next words. "But I wasn't teasing."
She wanted to strangle him. Of all the moments to sprout nonsenses…
"Ren…"She threatened.
"You can growl at me all you want, I'm not taking those words back."He cut her. "I would be blind if I couldn't see how enchanting you are."
But not enough to love her. She would never be enough. Not enough to change anything.
"We might be friends but that doesn't mean I'm not a man. Or that I don't notice – "
"Alright. I got it."She cut in. She had perfectly understood. It was like a greeting. Like he was saying, 'I'm not especially attracted by you but I can see you are female and that under some special circumstances you can look a bit pretty.' Was her view a bit too harsh? Maybe. But there was more chances for it to be closer to that reality, and it would protect her from false hopes.
He hummed and mumbled something but it was too low for the mike of his helmet to get it.
"I didn't want to upset you."He spoke again as they reached a crossroad with a red light that forced them to stop.
They turned to the right as she pondered how to reply.
"It is alright."She said after a couple more curves. "I'm not upset. It's just – "
How could she say it? How could she stay as close to the truth without unveiling the emotion that lied in her heart. She couldn't say she was not used to it. It was true but at the same time, it wasn't a first he gave her compliments. The damn man just loved to flower her with unnecessary and untrue compliments. So, it wasn't really true she wasn't used to this. No matter how much those compliments remained in politeness and mere kindness.
"It is hard to believe."She said at last, failing to find something else to say than those words.
He stayed silent too after that. Ostensibly lost in thoughts, she let him be for a while, focusing on the road.
"Why?"He asked at last. "Is it hard to believe those compliments are true or that I think them? She couldn't contain the snort that escaped her but didn't get to reply as they reached narrowed roads.
"We will be going slower starting now but there will be a lot of curves now that we quit the highway."She warned him.
He tightened his hold on her, nearly grounded against her back and it was easy to imagine she was in his arms in that instant. To have the impulse to close the eyes to bath in his embrace and let the world shred away from them.
Minutes passed before they returned to a straight but smaller road and she finally managed to reply his question.
"I wouldn't say those are true but it is also hard to imagine you would think this."
Eventually, after a last couple of turns, they reached the parking lot of the studio, and Kyoko parked. She cut the motor and removed her helmet, hooking it by the handle, all in silence. Then she placed the lateral stand down.
Ren didn't remove his arms, though. And once she was done, he made her turn around, inverting leg sides to face him. He had removed his helmet too.
"Sometimes, I really hate what made you unable to see how astounding you are." He said with an unhappy frown.
She flushed and looked away. He was really not dropping the subject.
"You really should stop saying nonsense like that."
He shook his head.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it."He persisted.
She pushed her hair away, not knowing how to make him understand anymore. Why was he so insistent today?
"Ren, seriously… You don't have to force yourself to – … I mean…"
She noticed when his slender fingers got in her view and as he approached them, and uneasily caressed her cheek. Before to ever so slightly cupped it into his big hand, making her look back at him. He looked both unsteady yet unyielding. She felt at lost at his tenderness.
"How you are not able to see how awesome you are is beyond me."He let out with a sighed frustration. "Don't tell me you never received nice comments here? I wouldn't believe you."
She did. But she also knew it was part of the job description. As an actress, she was supposed to do her utmost to look good and people would give her compliments on her workplace. Or men, if they wanted sex. It didn't mean it was genuine and true.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
"You can't seriously think it is only politeness, right?"
She blushed harder. It was like he had guessed her thoughts.
A tired chuckle escaped him and she saw him shaking his head from the corner of her eyes.
"It isn't nonsense. And I won't stop."He said then, and she shot back her head at him in shock.
"Ren, please – "
He shook his head and smirked at her with determination.
"I will keep giving you compliments."He repeated. "Until you will be unable to think it is nonsense."
She tried to open her mouth to voice her deep protest on such prospect but Ren continued.
"I will keep telling you them until you are able to believe in them."He added softly, and it hit a chord inside of her as those kind eyes looked at her so patiently.
He brushed her cheek with his thumb.
"Until you are able to tell them to yourself."
A mixed feeling of shame and sadness and disbelief saturated her tongue, coated the back of her throat. She felt like sobbing and screaming.
"And even after that, I will keep saying them."He ended with affection. "Because it is the truth."
She swam in her emotions, in his gaze. Shut up, Shut up. Her eyes begged him to stop talking, to make it makes sense, to stop this torture, to understand here where his actions didn't anymore. And when she failed, she dropped her head against his shoulder.
"… You are unfair, Ren."
She whispered in his shoulder, making his body shakes with laugher and she felt him kiss the top of her head and pet her loose locks.
"… Obviously."He said like he was admitting to whatever she was saying whether he believed in it or not.
"Let's try again."He said after a while and she lifted her head in horror.
"Don't you have something better to do?"She grumbled.
"Actually – … Not at all."He admitted with a smile. "I'm all available for you."
She whined in her hands, making him snort.
He pulled one finger when she finally accepted to look up.
He grinned wickedly.
"You are an actress, right?"
She frowned but nodded.
"And a great one at that."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"You are a model too."He continued.
"Yes…"
Where was he going with this?
"And a strong beautiful independent woman, right?"He added with a third finger.
She paled. If that was possible with the hue on her face. He was so…
"… I'm independent, yes."That, she could honestly think it was the truth.
"You just censured this."He stated.
"Corrected it."She countered. "You are doing this on purpose to mess with me, right?"
"Do you really think I would do such thing?"Ren asked instead, sneakily back-handling this. She sighed.
"No but – …"
She didn't really think he would, no. But this whole thing was just too weird. Alright, maybe he didn't think she was too unpleasant to the eyes. It didn't make her pretty. It didn't make her genuinely attractive to him. Truthfully, even like that, she knew it didn't change a thing. Not on what mattered, anyway. To begin with, she knew he wasn't one to care only about appearance. Especially with the way he grew up. But this wouldn't make him care for her the way she wanted him to.
He crossed his arms with a grin.
"Fine. Suit yourself."He said. "As I said, I won't stop."He swore to her. "Until you realized your true worth."
Her line stayed locked up in her throat as she felt emotion swell to see him so caring, and she closed up her arms around him on an impulse. He had no right to be this kind.
She had already missed him so much. But she hadn't expected this welcome. This overwhelming care. It was so unbounded. And sometimes, she was still surprised with how much he paid attention to his friends. Especially when she was on the receiving end of it.
He returned the embrace.
"Don't blame me for the hug, it is your fault." She mumbled in his chest.
"The day I refuse a hug from you isn't born."He commented softly.
There he went again.
"I should muzzle you to prevent words to come out."
"… I wonder if that would be enough."He let out mysteriously.
She needed another minute. She didn't want to let go just yet. It was his fault after all. She hugged his shoulders tighter. He rubbed her back and grabbed at her hair and sides.
When she pulled back, he smiled teasingly at her, lightening the atmosphere.
"I think I messed up your hair."He told her, pointing at the strands peeking in several directions.
She looked down on herself.
"Ah. Right. It's okay, I can just – "
"Let me."
He softly started to rearrange her mane, unknotting her locks and making some order here and there. Carefully untying and smoothing her strands. And she let him. She felt totally spoiled and pampered for not interrupting him. But she couldn't find in her to stop him when it was so soothing and when he looked so pleased by the activity itself.
"There. All good, I think."He said at last.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"You're welcome, beautiful lady."Ren replied with a dazzling expression.
She gaped at him, frozen on the spot.
"You… Seriously…"
"What is it pr – "
She stifled his mouth with the palm of her hand, groaning in her other.
"Shut up. Just shut up. What can I do to make you shut up?"
His eyes danced with merriment but he obeyed.
"… I can think of a vast couple of things for that requirement."He eventually said.
She tilted her head at him before her eyes grew immensely. Which pleased him to no end if she took as proof his face.
That had sounded an awful lot like an innuendo…
She shook her head. Nah, that wasn't possible.
"What are you thinking about?"He asked when she stayed silent. She turned back around, reminded of the time passing.
"I'm thinking the ride on bike drugged you. You are acting funny."
He dropped his chin on her shoulder, hovering close.
"Me? You think?"He breathed by her ear.
He was driving her nuts.
She messed his hair with a chuckle, and he replied by hugging her waist again. She felt shaky.
"Yes, you."
She needed to go inside. They had had a few minutes to spare when they arrived but she was pretty sure those were spent now.
She was about to push him back when she heard her name.
"Kyoko! You are there. Thanks God. I know you still have a few minutes but the director want to se – … Oh." Said one of the technicians she knew, coming towards her when they saw them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I didn't know you had a boyfriend."
"Ah, that's – "
She wanted to say it wasn't the case. Because it wasn't. Would never be. But the damn affectionate man had been playing with her hair again at that instant, and it was awfully distracting. The way he was tickling her neck with one of her strands. It made her shudder. The whole situation was off habit, to be honest. Was it because he wasn't in Japan anymore? Because he was nearly attached to her right now. Plus, they weren't driving anymore, yet he was still so damn close. Her back was still plastered against his chest and he seemed in no hurry whatsoever to take some distance. Her tee had risen a little and she could feel the heat emitted by Ren's body through his thin white t-shirt directly over her denuded skin. In fact, she was pretty sure, the hand still around her midsection had some of its fingers literally pressed against the nude skin of her left hip. The sizzling burn that palm made her feel on that area of her body… All the zones he was touching… She felt – … Captured. She was ashamed to note she liked that so much. She didn't want to move, didn't want to move at all.
Kyoko blushed with a start, suddenly taking note of where they were, and tried to entangle herself. Ren's arms hold around her waist was too strong, however, and she had to ask.
"Ren, can you let me – ?"
"Sure."He replied lightly.
And next instant he was removing his arms from around her. She missed his warmth instantly but gave the change and didn't let it show. He gave her some room and she rose smoothly from her sitting position before she dismounted the bike, making sure to not bump her passenger with her foot as she passed over her leg. She felt Ren support her rotation over the bike slightly with the tips of his fingers and she thanked him as she landed both feet on the ground properly. He pulled at the bundle her tee had become around her belly, making it flow back down over it, and she blushed slightly.
"Thanks."
He followed suit then, and disembarked from the bike.
§§§
End of chapter.
PS: Hello everyone. Yes, me again. With a new chapter to please or torture you.
I hope you aren't bored of this story yet because you have more chapters coming. And yes, i know some people are getting impatient. I can understand. As said in the past, this is the last act(Summer Act) before we move to certain things. But it is a long act, so bear with me. It will still be very fun, you will see.
Enjoy it, as always. And reviews are food, please don't forget to feed the writer. It let me know you still like this story.
Kisses.
MIMAGFAN.
AUTHOR OUT.