Serendipity

Chapter 18 - Heros

Chapter 18 - Heros

After hearing his voice, Misaki started to doubt herself. Why did I even come here in the first place? What were you thinking Misaki? You wanted to see him. You just did, now what? It won't change the fact that he has a family. He moved on. Now it's time you move on, Misaki.

Misaki had left the ballroom, and wandered into one of the gardens. She couldn't stay in that stuffy room. It made her feel like she couldn't breathe properly.

Misaki gasped. A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder. If it had been any normal person, she would've sensed their presence earlier, but the only person who was ever able to conceal their presence and surprise her was Takumi. Takumi... is it him? The weight, the shape, the warmth. Everything about this hand reminds me of him... What am I going to say to him? Will he know it's me? Misaki squeezed her eyes shut and hoped that Takumi would be the first to say something.

"Mimi?"

Misaki's eyes flew open, and she jerked away from the person behind her to see the owner of the hand was.

"T-T-T-Tora?!" She exclaimed.

"The one and only," Usui beamed. "Were you expecting someone else?"

"N-no..." Misaki lied. "Why are you out here?"

"Well... you kind of just left me there after the speech,"

"Oh... sorry. I just needed a bit of air, I wasn't feeling that well after the speech."

Usui looked at her suspiciously, but Misaki was avoiding his line of sight again. "Are you... by chance...M"

Misaki started to panic. He might have recognized me. Oh my gosh, Misaki. Misaki. Whatever he says, deny it! Do not hesitate to deny it!

"Married?" Usui finished.

"Wha-- no..."

Usui walked towards Misaki, and grabbed her left hand. "I don't know... the lighter skin on your left ring finger seems to disagree with you." Usui looked right in Misaki's amber orbs. This was a look that she had never seen on her new friend before. The usual playful, carefree emerald eyes were now replaced by a pair of ice cold ones.

Right as Usui pointed that out, Misaki retracted her hand from his and covered it her right hand. "F-fine. You're right, except for one part... I used to be married."

"Oh, so you came to this ball to find a new husband candidate? I suppose after your marriage, you had no source of income to go shopping, am I right? And so now you came here, hoping to get the King's attention, or any other rich man's so that you could finally live a comfortable life once aga--"

"D-d-don't lump me in with those kinds of women!" Misaki blurted out. Her hand made quite an impactful hit across Usui's left cheek. Tears were almost welling out of Misaki's eyes. "Y-you have no right to judge me! You have no idea what I've been through, or why I'm here in the first place! You don't know me." She glared at Takumi. "Good night, Mr. Igarashi." And once again, Misaki was taking off from Usui.

However, Usui had different plans. He grabbed Misaki's hand as she was running away, and pulled her back towards him. "Sorry." He pulled Misaki into his embrace. "I'm really sorry... I crossed the line."

Misaki tried to escape from him by pushing on his broad chest, but failed miserably. Usui had suddenly started patting her head. For some reason, it felt so comfortable... so right to be in his embrace, so she unconsciously reached her arms out, and started to hug him too.