Salad Days
Chapter Twenty-six
Romantic Comedy

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Saturday

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She flipped on her back, exposing her skin. Mimi giggled some more, until the brunet pulled her back to face him, already having enough of her teasing.

"Mimi.."

"What?" she snickered as she licked her lips. "You said you wanted a break,"

He needed a break, a breather from all the kissing, thrusting, and moving around– but how can he even take one, when she was just so damn beautiful and good at everything? He won't say it, of course.

Taichi placed himself on top of her, holding her wrists gently while studying her flustered face. "You think I'd stop there?"

"Oh," she blinked a few times, then smiled eagerly. "There's more?"

He chuckled, somewhat felt happy when she said that. She liked it, and he was more than pleased to give more.

Today wasn't one of those days they have planned – Mimi came by his house as soon as she found out he didn't have any classes for the day, and that Hikari and oka-san would be out the whole day.

Mimi for breakfast, Mimi for lunch – hopefully for dinner as well. It was one of the rare, amazing Saturdays he had since college.

He leaned over, planted gentle kisses on her neck and then teased her with his tongue while his hands traveled around places, before completely pulling away.

It left Mimi surprised, her mouth, gaping. "Wha.."

Taichi snickered, threw her a look. She sat up – his blanket still draped around her body like a Greek goddess in a toga – and wrapped her arms around his torso. "You're sixteen, right?"

"I just turned seventeen last summer," she snapped. "Why?"

"Nothing." It wasn't. He wondered if they should even be doing this, afraid something might trigger her - especially now that he knows Mimi could run on to his rockstar oboyfriend anytime. Hah. As if I'd let her go with that pedophile.

"You think you're so cool, Yagami," she pouted, while feeling his toned and bony hips. As expected of Taichi. "How lucky of you for your professor to ditch class today,"

"He doesn't usually attend our classes," he said, holding her arms. "it's just a prerequisite for my thesis."

Mimi didn't understand much of what he was talking about, and couldn't care much about his thesis; so she nuzzled her head against his back, then kissed him softly on his right shoulder, then on his nape. His libido stoked once again, he turned around, charged to push her back to bed – his hands, lips, and head moving around on her body, ready to devour her for again for the third time, until his phone rang.

A long, defeated sigh. How timely.

Seeing it came from his mother, it all went down so fast from there, and Mimi instantly felt the difference.

Pulling himself away from her hold, he leaned back on his bed, arms folded across his chest, eventually spacing off. Still holding the blanket around her, she watched him, eager for him to say something, but was defeated by her own impatience.

"Is there something wrong?" Mimi was ninety-percent sure, that it was what exactly Sora had told her yesterday.

He snapped off of his daydream immediately. "Ahhh.." he was smiling while fumbling over his words. "No.. nothing's wrong."

But Mimi knew better. She knew better this time, and had enough of him pretending. "You're such a liar," she retorted harshly while putting back her undergarments roughly. "You're always keeping something from me."

He didn't say anything back – too preoccupied to even reply. He wasn't that bothered with her words until she started to pack her things as well. "You're going now?"

How was it, she thought, that after that, can she feel so alone? And she was starting to feel really bitter that Sora knew it first. You won't even tell me what's going on. She considered of just telling him that she knows, but realized it wouldn't count as anything if it didn't come from him first.

"Ahhh.. you seem like you want to be alone right now." she replied, now calmer, also lonelier.

"I'm sorry.." he said, crawling to her and took her hand to stop her. Ahh.. I guess I really have to tell her..

The only thing he could hope for now is, for things to remain the same between them. "You're right.. Ahh.. I haven't been honest."

Mimi stopped packing her things, and then crawled next to him, looking intently into his own russet eyes. There she saw his fear.

"What are you going to say?" she demanded, cornering him at the edge of his bed. She was starting to fear that he might lie to her, which was definitely going to be a deal breaker if he did. "What, are you pansexual? Is there someone else?" she prompted, feeling foolish afterwards. This is so low and unnatural, Mimi.

"A-ah no! No.." he stammered, trying to find his words, also trying to understand what pansexual meant. But it was so much simpler to just say - "There's no one else," – and it was the truth.

"What is it then?" she asked, already anxious of Taichi's answer. It was so obvious that he was trying to hide it from her, and she just couldn't keep her cool any longer. Great, Mimi. Acting skills are so on right now.

He looked at her hesitantly, concerned with the next look on her face when he says it. Knowing Mimi, she'll gasp out of shock; her curious face will turn troubled, and will follow through with several apologies, just like how everyone else had reacted. But he knew lying about it would only make things worse for the long term. Besides.. he thought hopefully. Mimi values sincerity more than anything else.

To put his faith on her was one of the wisest decisions he had ever made so far.

"My dad got into an accident a few weeks ago," it came off of him so naturally, he didn't even shake. And Mimi, who was pretending she knew nothing about the accident, could no longer hold her tears.

In an instant, she was already back in his arms, holding her as she wept. Rubbing her back, he noticed that she wasn't done with zipping her dress up, since he could feel the hook of her undergarment and her bare skin. It felt nice, and she smelled nice, too – like strawberries – and he just wanted to forget everything and lie down with her for a while; and they did, his fingers playing hers and her hair while she clung to him as if her life was on the line.

Taichi told her more about the family, the lawsuit, and his dad's current condition. He also told her about looking for a part-time job to help around, and that he sought for Sora's help. He didn't sound like he was having a hard time at all; even managed to insert jokes in between.

"Ahh.. don't cry, Mimi.." he soothed as he hushed her with gentle fingers. The brunette could only tighten her embrace. Stupid Taichi, she thought bitterly.

"You could have told me," she croaked, pulling herself from him, but still lying down with him. "I'd want to help,"

Taichi only looked away, but when he did so, Mimi held his chin so that he could face her, her caramel eyes glaring intensely at him. "You idiot," tears rolled down her cheeks again as she blinked. "I love you."

And right on front of her, she saw his empty eyes turn to fear, guilt, sadness, and helplessness. By the looks of it, it looked like he was about to cry.

He did. And of course he felt embarrassed to have cried on front of a girl. Even more embarrassed, especially now that Mimi turned to be the big spoon among the two of them. I haven't even cried on front of Sora, he remembered, completely shocked that he was crying. Maybe this is what it feels like.. to be truly..

Taichi turned his head up, saw her in tears again.

He thought she looked really beautiful. It was as if it was really only now did he actually look at her. To really look at her – and notice how her reddened cheeks, nose, and eyes made her glowing. He cursed himself that only now was he realizing how damn lucky he is.

He brushed his fingers over her eyes. Why do I keep making you cry..

"You just made me cry, Tachikawa," he chuckled, his hands finding their way to hold her by the waist. "Now I'm a crybaby like you,"

The girl finally sat up, crossed her arms as she looked at him with sternly. "Yagami, what's the point of having me around if you won't tell me how you feel?"

Still lying on the bed, Taichi flipped to his right so that his back was facing her. "That's kind of the problem.." He was never really good at feelings. It sucked, and to think this was his first serious relationship. "Ahh.. I'm sorry. I'm doing badly at this boyfriend thing am I?" he said, peeping over his shoulder.

Mimi bit her lip. He was right, in some ways – him keeping secrets from her was a big deal – but then again, she knew he only meant well. "Well.." she went over to his ear, her hair tickling his face. "you can make up for it by being more honest with me and by telling me your problems,"

"That's all?" he asked out of surprise. He flipped back again to face her. "No insults or whatever?"

She giggled, laid her head beneath his arm. "What do you want me to do, call you the worst boyfriend ever and ask you to buy me a pony?"

"Well, you are the Princess," he joked, feeling more cheerful now as he looked down to Mimi's smile and reddened eyes. He realized it was the first time he cried about the whole thing, and he felt the weight of his chest had gotten lighter, even forgetting his issues with Mimi going to the bar.

Maybe that was all I really needed. And it was all thanks to her. Taichi, you are goddamn lucky.

"But ahh.. thank you for everything. And I 'm sorry for everything as well.." he muttered, gently caressing her face with his fingers. She was starting to feel sleepy from it. "I'll do better,"

She nuzzled her face against his chest, savoring the smell of citrus and pine. "I sort of feel bad now because we spent the whole day doing stuff to each other than visiting your dad,"

"You can come with me later tonight," he offered. "I'll take you home afterwards."

She hugged him tighter. "Okay."

"Hey Mimi,"

"Yeah?"

He leaned over and kissed her on her fruit-scented lips. The very next thing Taichi said was the moment Mimi had finally believed she had moved on from her past. She'd remember this memory for a very long time:

"I love you."

Author's Note: Taichi's scent is of citrus and pine, something that is like David Beckham's Homme. Hahahahaha Taichi u sucker. Anyway. I hope you enjoyed this one. Tri gave me Michi feels to go by when I wrote this.