" Something is definitely wrong with Takuya." I whisper to Pam while we were tackling our food.
" Hiro kun, would you like more vegetables?" Pam ask the sullen man sitting next to her. I sighed at her ignoring me.
" Takuya made a boo-boo." cj whispers back at me instead.
" Really? What did he do?" I ask with relish.
" That you have to ask him." cj replies and moved away. I look up at the guy sitting opposite me picking at his food sulkily. My curiosity is aroused and I need to know the answer! But everyone is only giving me riddles! I drummed my fingers against the tabletop lightly as I waited for a chance. At last everyone moved away from the table leaving the both of us alone. I try to piece a script together as he kept his head bowed low. Then I caught sight of his share of the salad that remained untouched. Reaching for it, I start to pick out the red onions from it. The process is kind of tedious as I had cut them really tiny to torture him in the first place. The joke is on me now as I sat picking them out for him again.
" Try the salad ~" I said pushing the finished product towards him. He raised his head to meet eye level with me and was about to open his mouth and stage a protest when he saw the small pile of red onions on the table. " I picked them out for you since you don't like them." His eyes opened so wide his eyeballs are threatening to pop out.
" T-thank you ~" He said awkwardly. " That's thoughtful of you."
" You are welcomed." I smiled. But he still did not eat the salad or any of his food. I gathered that my presence is making him so, so I left the table quickly and join Goro in his room.
" What's wrong?" He asks me after I sat in his room for 5 minutes without making a sound.
" Don't know ~" I sigh.
" Is the after effects of the fall affecting you? Where does it hurt?" He asks worriedly.
" Here ~" I point to where my heart is and replied listlessly.
" That sounds serious! C'mon, I'll bring you to a doctor!" Goro shot up from his seat and grabbed my wrist.
" Huh? Wha ~" I snap back into reality. " No, no, no, I am fine ~"
He roll his eyes at me and sat down again. " Then what's wrong?"
" Tell me honestly, what did Takuya say when I was unconscious? No one is giving me a straight answer!"
" ..."
" You too?!" I scream at my brother in exasperation.
" Why don't you ask him?" He suggests lightly, that exact tone that sends the fire in me raging sky-high.
" FINE!" I exclaim loudly at him and march out of his room. My sudden and very loud exit attracted everyone's attention and they stared as I search for the culprit.
" Takuya is in his room ~" ima informed with a wink and a thumbs up sign which I ignored. My fire is too well stoked to die without a cause. I marched up to the door and bang on it with a sense of matryed vengence. Without waiting for an answer, I try the knob and went in.
He is sitting on the floor, his head leaning on the window frame as he stare out of the window. My rather brash entry did not even make him flinch! Seeing how pathetic he looks at the moment spurred me into illogical behavior. I rushed at him and grabbed his collar to pull him onto his feet. I doubt I could have accomplished this feat without his cooperation. He stood like a broken doll held up by his tightly pinched collar in my hands, refusing to look at me.
" Kimura Takuya, don't go soft on me now!" I yelled at him. " The Takuya I love is capable of moving mountains!" I realised the slip of my tongue pretty much the same time he did. Suddenly his droopy hands shot up to hold my face. I provided little resistance as he held my gaze and pulled closer. Struggling became hopeless as he plant his lips firmly on mine. And so our first kiss was a vague collection of my nose squashed against his and the boorish urgency.
" What was that about?" I asked breathlessly when he finally broke the kiss and is staring at me with such a tender gaze I never thought he is capable of. The world around us seems to have stopped roving and all I can hear is our hurried breathing.
" That is for punishing me time and time again." He whispers in return.
" What?!" I exclaimed when he bend down swiftly and pressed his lips against mine creating a vacuum that seals any further protests from me.
" Satisfied?" He hisses breathlessly after the kiss is broken again mutually.
" Never ~ " I purr teasingly as we start to laugh. Grabbing the back of his head I pull him close and press it down so our lips meet again.
" I think we should make an appearance before the others think we are ~ y'know." He suggests after we were stuck in a comfortable and quiet embrace for a long time.
" Heck ~" I muttered dreamily.
" Heck no." He said firmly and push me lightly onto my feet. Holding my hand, he was about to lead me out of the room when I saw the entertainment magazines sitting on a pile of writing paper.
" What's that?" I ask.
" Work." He said simply. I broke free from his grasp and bend down for a closer look.
" You are writing for the trash magazines!" I exclaimed in wonder. " I thought ~ why?"
He scruffles his feet at imaginary dustballs before answering. " I figured you are right afterall. I can't remain penniless if I want to win your love." That earned him another ~ well, y'know.....
The sound of the door opening attracted everyone's attention and they turned from the tv as we walked out of the room. There was silence as they studied us like new specimens. Then suddenly they were clapping enthusiastically as Takuya held up his hand to show mine clasped tightly in his. Shingo and ima were rooting happily while someone shouted " Congratulations!"
" Thank you! Thank you!" Takuya bowed with a brillant smile. Goro smiled quietly while Tsuyoshi pecked at Joyce's lips as she sank into his embrace blissfully.
