❤︎Chapter Twenty-Eight❤︎

124 14 7
                                        

"Momoko..."

I stir at the sound of the voice and awake that night feeling better. I still felt weak and horrible, but sleeping for hours improved me significantly. When I open both my eyes, I can see Yuji kneeling down at my bedside wearing comfortable clothes and his hair in a mess. Still, his bright golden eyes were warm and tender. He reached out to tuck a few strands of hair behind my ear to get them out of my eyes.

I want to smile back at him, feeling genuinely happy that he was here to visit me, but another part of me was so angry at him from earlier. My blood was still boiling and just remembering what ensued before I fainted today made me irritated beyond belief.

First hearing about the kiss scene...then Misao threatening me...then Misao convincing Yuji that he had to stay behind instead of taking care of me....it was all too much. For me, at least.

"Hey, Yuji."

My gorgeous friend gives me a curious look, his thick and perfect brows furrowing deeply. He rests his arms on the edge of my bed and tilts his head to the side, resting his temple in one of his palms.
He looked like an angel no matter what he did with his appearance. Unbelievable. And he had those giant sparkling eyes that were super difficult to be upset with for too long.

"How are you feeling? Any better?"

"Much better.." I say, my anger melting away instantly.

"Are you still upset with me?"

"Eh? What gave you that impression?"

"Well for starters..when I got you back home, you wouldn't lay down without a fight. See this bruise?"

My eyes flicker to the mark around his collar bone and I can feel the heat rushing to my cheeks as I recall swinging at him in my loopy haze.

"I'm sorry...I get a bit cranky when I'm sick..."

"Don't be...another interesting thing about you that I've figured out on my own.." Yuji folds his arms across the bed and rests his chin on them, his tender gaze never leaving mine. I can feel a newfound warmth blossoming in me, a much gentler sensation than the immense heat boiling me from the inside. I look back at Yuji, wondering what it is about him that's making my heart so excited and so at ease simultaneously.

"Chihiro told me you were upset about the kiss scene in the movie."

I rolled my eyes, feeling like the moment had passed, but Yuji's gaze didn't seem to change, nor the sweetness in his tone.

"It was...just an act. We're pretending to be a couple, remember?"

Yuji only shakes his head, to my embarrassment. He could see right through me. Dammit.

"Something was pissing you off when you tried to leave earlier. And I knew it had something to do with me and Misao."

I turn and attempt to bury my face in my pillow to hide. I wore my heart on my sleeve. Every emotion I felt was clear as crystal on my face. "I was a little upset.. it feels like she's always snatching you away...then the kiss...I don't know, it bothered me a bit more than I thought it would. Ahh, it's embarrassing...ugh.."

"Momoko."

The room goes quiet all too soon. My stomach twists as I rack my brain for an easy way out of the conversation.. I had to change the subject...before I said something I'd regret.

But to my surprise, I can feel Yuji wrap his hand around mine and pull it away from my face. I lift myself to the best of my ability from my turned over position on the bed and look at him quizzically.

There's a playful smile on his face, and his eyes are dark and clouded over. I have no idea how to make sense of his expression other than bite my lip in fear I'd say something to ruin the moment I thought was already ruined.

"You didn't miss anything, really. It was only a small kiss."

Yuji caresses the back of my hand in a way that makes me sigh in content. I can feel my heart going crazy at the contact and the smirk I see when I look back at him is proof enough that he has perfect knowledge of it.

😳"Y...yeah right," I stammer and immediately think of an excuse to tell him if he asked why I was so tongue tied. I had chills from being sick. Only I hadn't felt chills for hours. "Yuji Oshiro and Misao Sakura -- the perfect couple kissing live must have made the entire studio sigh. I'm not a fool."

💢"Yes you are." Yuji tugs on my hand, an annoyed look on his face. "Especially for being jealous over something so silly."

"I'm not jealous! I just felt weird about it, that's all!"

"Why, cause you think you missed something special? I've got great news for you. I don't feel anything for Misao. She's merely my coworker. And fortunately for you, I remember my lines."

I tried to hide how pleased I felt to hear him say Misao was nothing to him, but I cracked an uncontrollable smile anyways. "You remember your lines? What is that supposed to mean?"

Yuji's face softens and he never takes his eyes from mine.

"Rin..." he holds my hand in both of his, his voice changing, "Please believe me. I'm a changed man."

I giggle when I realize what he was doing. I'd read the scene tons of times to know what was happening. It was of course, the kiss scene between the two characters at the climax of the movie.

"How can I be so sure that you've changed? You've always been the same and it still feels that way now." I'm able to say Misao's lines effortlessly, but I didn't put as much emotion into them because I wanted to maintain the playful atmosphere. Of course, I knew it was a joke. He'd probably boop me on the nose like he always did when he went over his lines with me in the dressing room.

"I'll show you, Rin..." Yuji stands up so he's leaning close enough toward me and I have barely enough time to react to the proximity before our lips touch.

SugarSugarHeart and BonbonLove's July 31 Day Writing Challenge Day 14

The two of us will post a chapter every day this month of one of our stories! If life happens and we don't get a chapter up, we make up for the days with that number of updates (multiples)  in one day. Or just as much as possible before the month is out lol.

 ❝𝕄𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕜𝕠 𝕚𝕟 𝕋𝕠𝕜𝕪𝕠❞✔️ (1)Where stories live. Discover now