Hi guys. I'm back with some TomoAamin. Enjoy.
xi.
A l w a y s
Tomomi heaved out a tired sigh as she opened the big doors of their mansion. She rubbed the back of her neck tiredly as she made her way inside, her heels making loud clicking noises against the marble floor. She was three steps up the stairs when a voice stopped her.
“Tomomi.”
Tomomi rolled her eyes at the voice as she turned around and saw the angry face of her father. She walked back down the stairs until they were only a few feet away. “What?” She asked impatiently.
“Do you know what time it is?” He asked in a gruff voice.
Tomomi glanced at the watch around her wrist purposely just to annoy her father. “2:30 AM.”
The eyebrow of Tomomi’s father twitched but he said nothing. “It’s 2:30 AM in the morning. Since when did I permit you to go out until this late? Wearing clothes like that too!” Her father added, his voice raising as she gestured to Tomomi’s outfit of a pair of shorts. “Where were you? You looked like someone who went out clubbing all night flirting with everyone!”
Tomomi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. She hated how her father was suddenly scolding her when he was never around. She hated how he was raising his voice at her when he never bothered, not even once, to ask about how she was. But most of all, Tomomi hated how her father was accusing her of being a slut when she was out all night in the library, trying to study for the big exam she’s about to take in a week.
“Since when did you care?!” Tomomi spat out with a glare. “So what if I was out clubbing all night? So what if I was being a slut?”
There was a loud sound and a painful sting on her cheek and Tomomi’s eyes widened in surprise. She shakily lifted one hand and touched her throbbing cheek where her father just slapped her. She stared in utter disbelief at her father as tears started to cloud her vision.
“WATCH YOUR MOUTH, ITANO TOMOMI!” Her father shouted angrily. “I am still the master in this mansion and you are still to respect me! How dare you talk to me like that?!”
Tomomi’s closed fists shook in anger. It was unbelievable, how her father was acting right now. It was unbelievable and utterly despicable how he was treating her and Tomomi has had enough. Everything she kept bottled up inside of her swelled until they all exploded.
“WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!” Tomomi shouted angrily as hot tears fell from her glaring eyes. “You’re never here! You’re never around! You know nothing! All you care about is work, work and work! You don’t even care about this family anymore! You don’t give a single damn about me and what’s going on with my life so shut up! YOU’RE TERRIBLE! YOU’RE THE WORST!”
Her father’s eyes widened and his whole body shook. Tomomi has never seen her father that angry but she was not scared. She held her ground and glared. She saw him pull his arm back, getting ready for a slap that looks harder than the first and Tomomi closed her eyes tightly, ready to take whatever he was gonna do.
There was the loud noise, louder than the first one but Tomomi felt no pain. All she felt was a gust of wind, a tight hold on her wrist and her body being pushed back. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the familiar black suit and reddish hair. A gasped escaped her lips. “A-Aamin.”
The whole mansion was silent until it was broken by the single droplet of blood that fell from the corner of Aamin’s mouth and hit the floor. Tomomi’s eyes widened in fear and worry, “Aamin!” She placed her free hand on her butler’s arm, trying to pull Aamin close to see the damage done. All her anger was replaced with worry.
Aamin however, just shook of Tomomi’s hold and quickly bowed 90 degrees to Tomomi’s father, her hand still holding Tomomi’s wrist. “I’m sorry, master. It’s my entire fault. I’m her butler. I should have brought Tomomi ojou-sama home at an earlier hour.”
“No, Aamin—” Tomomi tried to protest but Aamin only gripped her wrist tighter causing Tomomi to wince.
“I’m deeply sorry. I won’t let this happen again.” Aamin apologized once more before straightening and meeting eyes with Tomomi’s father who just stared back for a whole minute before nodding. “Very well. Clean yourself.”
He threw Tomomi one last dirty look before walking away back to his office. “That bastard.” Tomomi hissed under her breath as she watched him disappear. She turned back to Aamin soon after and looked at her face. There was a large and deep looking cut on his lip; probably a result of the hard slap and her cheek was starting to swell. “Aamin, why did you—”
“Your keys, ojou-sama.”
“What?”
“Your keys.” Aamin repeated in a blank voice.
It was a bit scary. Tomomi has never seen Aamin like that. She quietly handed her car keys. Aamin took it and began to walk towards the door, pulling Tomomi along. She opened the door for Tomomi and closed it afterwards before going to driver’s seat and starting the car.
The ride was silent and awkward for Tomomi. She watched Aamin’s expression but was unable to read anything. She looked outside and noticed the familiar way they’re going. She’s only been there once, after much harassing and ignoring on Aamin.
They were headed to Aamin’s condominium.
-
The condominium looked exactly the same as it did before. It was clean and spotless, typical Aamin. Tomomi didn’t even have time to take off her stilettos as Aamin pulled her inside. Aamin led the two of them to the kitchen, “Take a seat there.” Her voice was still blank and emotionless as she gestured to the counter and Tomomi followed silently.
She watched as Aamin fetch some kind of cold compress from the freezer. Aamin walked back to her and met her eyes for the first time. “It’s cold.” The butler whispered before gently and carefully pressing the cold bag against Tomomi’s reddening cheek.
Tomomi was struck silent again. Contrary to how emotionless Aamin’s voice was, her eyes held countless emotions in them. She can see worry, anger, fear, anxiety. They were all in Aamin’s eyes.
“Aamin...” Tomomi whispered as she lifted a shaky hand and carefully touched the very red and slowly swelling cheek of her faithful butler. She quickly pulled away when Aamin hissed in pain. “Does it hurt?” She asked softly, looking at Aamin with worried eyes. “It hurts, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll be fine.” Aamin answered as she shook her head.
Tomomi frowned. “You need to take better care of yourself too, Aamin.” She took the hand pressing the cold bag on her cheek and guided it towards the swelling cheek.
“You’re my top priority, Tomomi ojou-sama.”
The stubborn reply made Tomomi sigh. Aamin has always been like that and Tomomi knows that there’s no winning against the butler. She looked at Aamin, preparing to do some scolding when Aamin’s free hand suddenly went to her good cheek.
“Aamin?”
Aamin’s soft fingers gently caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t come fast enough. If I did, I could have prevented this from happening. I’m deeply sorry, Tomomi-sama.”
Tomomi’s heartbeat quickened with the way Aamin whispered her name. She shook her head and looked at Aamin with soft eyes. “It’s not your fault, Aamin. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Does it hurt, Tomomi-sama?”
There was no hesitation in Tomomi’s voice as she answered, “Yes.” Tomomi is known in the whole mansion as somewhat mysterious and aloof. No one has ever really seen Tomomi show any true form of emotion. The maids, the one who has been around her long enough and know her just a tad bit more that the others, have seen her laugh and frown and get irritated but no one ever saw her be happy, be sad, cry or be angry.
No one except Aamin.
And Tomomi only ever shows her vulnerable side to Aamin. She doesn’t know why but it has been like that since she can ever remember. When she’s with Aamin, Tomomi can laugh, she can cry, she can be angry, she can be vulnerable. When she’s with Aamin, Tomomi can be herself.
“I’m really sorry.”Aamin whispered once again. She lowered her hand along with Tomomi’s hand that was pressing the cold bag against her cheek. She pressed their foreheads together and carefully laid her other hand on Tomomi’s red cheek.
Their faces were only several centimetres away and their breaths mixed with each other. Tomomi blushed at their position but didn’t pull away. “I won’t let him hurt you ever again. I promise that. I’ll protect Tomomi-sama.” Aamin whispered.
Tomomi just nodded. “I know. I’m gonna go clean up.” She waited for Aamin to pull away and nod orebefore gracefully jumping off the counter. She laid one hand on Aamin’s good cheek and turned it to the side, planting a chaste kiss on the hurt cheek before walking away to the bathroom inside Aamin’s room.
-
Tomomi silently walked out of the bathroom, wearing just a button up polo shirt Aamin owns and her underwear, which she found in Aamin’s closet after leaving them there when she first slept over. She saw Aamin now changed and clean and stared for a while. It was rare seeing Aamin out of her usual suit. Aamin was wearing a pair of short shorts, showing off her long legs and a white tank top. She wondered why Aamin kept her hair short. Aamin would be so much prettier with long hair. Not that she didn’t with her current hairstyle. Tomomi reminded herself to convince Aamin sometime soon to grow out her hair.
Aamin was standing in front of the mirror, carefully inspecting her lower lip. Tomomi walked over and placed a hand on Aamin’s arm.
“Let me see.” She instructed as Aamin turned to face her. She took away Aamin’s hand that was probing the cut and inspected it. “It’s only a cut. Does it hurt?”
“A little.” Aamin admitted with a lopsided smile.
“You didn’t have to step in.” Tomomi said, feeling a bit bad that Aamin got hurt because of her. “I could have handled things on my own.”
Aamin snorted. “By standing idly, waiting for your father’s hit to come? I’d rather take it for you, Tomomi-sama.”
Tomomi blushed at the truth in Aamin’s words but decided to ignore it. “Tomomi.” Tomomi meekly whispered, a silent wish for Aamin to drop the honorific.
“Tomomi.” Aamin complied only because they were alone. “Also, I did say that I’d protect you, right?”
Tomomi nodded as she allowed herself to be pulled in a hug. She buried her face on Aamin’s shoulder to hide her blush. It was making her blush and feel warm all over at how casual Aamin is being with her at the moment but Tomomi can’t complain. She loves this kind of Aamin after all. There’s always been something between the two of them that makes moments like now seem normal. No one felt the need to clarify what’s really going on between them and Tomomi is okay with that.
“Smooth-talker.” Tomomi playfully accused after a moment.
Aamin just laughed and pulled the two of them towards the bed. They both got under the covers and stared at each other for a while.
“Thanks for today, Aamin.” Tomomi whispered in the darkness. “Really.”
“It’s okay. I’ll always be here to protect you.” Aamin answered back. “It’s really late. Why don’t we get some sleep now, Tomomi?”
Tomomi nodded, moving closer to Aamin. She pressed her lips against the cut on Aamin’s lower lip before tucking her head on the crook of Aamin’s neck shyly, embarrassed by what she just did.
There was a content and peaceful sigh from Aamin before she felt Aamin’s arms wrap around her, keeping her warm and Tomomi thought that among the billion of people in the world, it has always been Aamin and it will always be Aamin. The one who understands her the most and the one closest to her.
It will always be Aamin.
*
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