Hi guys!!!
oh gosh, I'm such a fail author for not being able to keep my promise to update faster
GOMEN *notice how i write it in bold capital letter*
okay this is my attempt to make it up to you guys
hope you enjoy...
welcome to the new readers
Chapter III
"Atsuko" called Takamina from her spot. "do you want me to stay? I’d stay if you want me to."
Atsuko stood there motionlessly. She looked down on the floor and her back continued to face the love of her life. She did not have the strength or will to turn around because she knew that if she did, she would have easily collapsed and broke apart again.
Hearing no response from the latter, Takamina decided to leave, maybe it was just her wishful thinking. Maybe Atsuko had indeed moved on.
“do you?” asked Atsuko bitterly.Atsuko’s question has successfully stopped Takamina from walking away. She turned around to face the other girl, bewildered by her question. Before she could mutter a single word to ask, Atsuko had cut her off.
“Do you want me to stay Minami? Since you’re the one who said that you don’t know anyone by the name of Maeda Atsuko” spat Atsuko. She briskly wiped any trails of tears from her face, she didn’t want Takamina to see her as this pathetic girl who’s still hung up on her ex and hadn’t moved on. Atsuko didn’t know why she’s even trying to stop her emotion from showing in front of the latter, she just thought that she had a pride to safe. While in truth, she wished that she could blurt out the word “Yes” right away, but somehow she prevented herself to do so.
Takamina was taken aback, Atsuko wasn’t supposed to hear that. Whatever she said or did that day was out of lines and she realized that, it was only on the spur of the moment.
“Atsuko, I was..” before Takamina began her explanation, Atsuko had once again cut her off.
“From now on let’s just act civilized toward each other. If we run into each other, we’ll greet. If our friends invite us to hang out together, we’ll go and pretend that we are good friends.” and there came a series of sentences that Atsuko didn’t mean to say. Even describing their relationship with only the term of “good friends” being in one sentence had created a deep cut in her heart. Atsuko swallowed hard before continuing, “That will stop them from worrying about us. I really don’t need anyone to feel sor…”
Atsuko’s words were caught in her throat as she felt a sudden weight on her back and arms encircled around her waist. Her heart was pounding against her chest. Takamina had made her way to Atsuko, and hugged her from behind. Atsuko was frozen under her embrace, as if her entire body was paralyzed through shock. Her feet went numb, stuck onto the hard ground, and even if just how much she wanted to hug Takamina back, she simply couldn’t move.
“I’m sorry,” Takamina whispered softly. “I didn’t mean any of those words I said. Ever since you left, I wasn’t being myself”
Seconds had passed and Atsuko still hasn’t turned around nor said anything, so Takamina took the initiative to place her hands on the latter’s waist and gently turned her around. Once she brought Atsuko’s front to her view, the latter was refusing to look her in the eye and kept her gaze to the floor.
“Atsuko loot at me,” said Takamina as she lifted the other girl’s chin with her finger.
“I’m sor..”
Atsuko abruptly pounced on the shorter girl with a hug, stopping the latter’s speech midway.
“Just… Just don’t say anything, and hug me for a minute.” pleaded Atsuko. “No, hug me for five minutes, hug me like you used to.”
Takamina was startled by the taller girl’s sudden request. It felt like it was just a minute ago that Atsuko was attacking her with a guilt trip, and now she’s the one who’s initiating and asking for a skinship. Takamina instantly complied no matter how confusing the other girl’s behavior was, because she knew she’d been missing the other girl just as much.
Atsuko hugged Takamina tighter, afraid that if she let go, Takamina would disappear again. She snuggled closer into the brunette’s neck, breathing in the scent and enjoying the warmth that she’d missed for months. She felt Takamina rubbing her back, an action that Takamina always did to soothe her. It dawned on Atsuko how much she needed the older girl to be in her life. Being in Takamina’s embrace had always managed to calm her down. Whatever troubles or problems she’s facing seemed to leave her behind when she’s being hold close by the latter. Takamina’s embraces had always provided an assurance that no matter what happened, or how hard could it get, Takamina would always be with her through it all. Now, Atsuko was left to relish those few minutes left being held close by Takamina, knowing that once they parted she had to face the reality of not having the other girl by her side anymore.
Being in such close proximity to Atsuko simultaneously overwhelmed Takamina’s senses and put her at ease. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to it. They stood there in each other’s embrace for a few minutes before finally she felt Atsuko had loosened her embrace. Takamina pulled back slightly, ever so slowly, unwilling to leave the warmth that only the long haired girl could provide. Takamina brushed her lips on Atsuko’s cheek by chance when she’s halfheartedly trying to part. Unconsciously, her lips lingered to the corner of Atsuko’s mouth. She leaned away from Atsuko slightly, just far enough that she could look Atsuko in the eyes but not far enough that she would break the embrace. Atsuko still had her arms linked around her neck, keeping her still in her embrace. Their faces were only centimeters away from each other, so close that they could feel each other’s breath tickling their faces.
Takamina cupped Atsuko’s cheek, and rubbed her thumb softly against the smooth skin, her gaze never left Atsuko’s eyes. Atsuko’s eyes were the reason why she fell senselessly in love with the other girl. Atsuko was never an expressive person, she looked emotionless most of the time, her fans and the members would most definitely agree with this. But when Takamina stared at her eyes, she could see it all, her emotions, her feelings, her sadness, her troubles, everything. Atsuko spoke through her eyes, and only Takamina could decipher it. And right at that moment, Takamina knew exactly what Atsuko was trying to say through her pleading eyes, and it gave her the confidence to lean forward. When their lips finally brushed together, Takamina found the barriers that Atsuko had put up were finally broken down. Takamina pressed her lips on top of Atsuko’s. it wasn’t just a peck like the one Takamina gave when they’re in public, for Takamina tilted Atsuko’s chin using her hand to deepen the kiss, and nipped Atsuko’s lower lips faintly.
Atsuko felt surprised that Takamina could do this to her, attacking her lips and be the one who initiated the kiss, much more in public. Atsuko of course gladly obedient and let Takamina kissed her, since she’s pretty damn sure that she was the one who gave her the signal, and of course Takamina could read her like an open book. She pulled Takamina closer by her neck, craving to explore that mouth she’d been missing so much. She could taste a slight bitterness of alcohol from their kiss, maybe Takamina had been drinking, but she chose to ignore it. Atsuko felt Takamina’s lips were leaving hers, and she used the opportunity to breath for a second before diving in back to kiss Takamina. Atsuko wanted to make up for the time she had spent not kissing Takamina’s lips the past months. She nibbled the shorter girl lips, and sneaked her tongue into Takamina’s waiting mouth, finding a passionate battle waiting for her, which she heatedly fought.
Takamina pushed Atsuko backward slowly, doing so while not breaking the kiss. She used her body to pin the taller girl against the wall. Her hand was placed on the wall, right beside Atsuko’s head, trapping her in between. When she tried to pull back after a moment, Atsuko chased her lips each time, attempting to bring her back into the kiss she had started.
They finally pulled apart when oxygen became necessary, with their foreheads pressed against each other’s as they breathed heavily. Takamina stared silently at Atsuko’s bruised lips, couldn’t help but to think how inviting those luscious lips were. She brought up her right hand to Atsuko’s cheek and brushed those plump lips with her thumb softly. She glanced up and found Atsuko’s mesmerizing eyes staring back at her. Unconsciously, both had a smile plastered on their faces, and the next second, before they even knew it, they chuckled together. Takamina took a step back from Atsuko, and found herself being stopped halfway when the latter held her arm, wouldn’t allow her to stand at a distance from her. Takamina smirked, a needy Atsuko always made her weak at the knees. Her instinct had taken over her mind when she came to a realization that she had this urge that desperately needed to be satisfied, and she knew that once she gave in, she wouldn’t be able to stop. Her body acted on its own when she took the taller girl by her hand and dragged her to the restroom just nearby.
Atsuko willingly let herself being taken to the restroom. Somehow she knew what was going to happen inside that room, and she was ashamed to admit that she’s been anticipating it. She was right. Once the door of the restroom was closed and locked by the smaller girl, she felt herself being pushed backward roughly. She yelped in pain once her back came in contact with the concrete wall, but it was soon muffled when Takamina’s soft lips were pressed against her own. Atsuko loved the feel of Takamina’s lips on hers, the way the other girl would rasp against her chin and jaw, catching on her sensitive skin and sending tingles of pleasure straight to her core. It’s a wonderful, wonderful sensation that she couldn’t get enough of. She shivered at the feeling and moaned Takamina’s name. She could feel butterflies floating in her stomach. One of the feelings that she’d missed, one of many feelings that she could only experience when she’s around the older girl. The pleasure was too much for her, and Atsuko had lost control at the first kiss.
She gasped when she felt Takamina’s cold hand slipped up her blouse and roamed on her abdomen. Atsuko closed her eyelids tighter and bit back a moan. Takamina had successfully left a trail of butterfly kisses from the side of her face, down to her neck. Atsuko twitched her head to the side, giving the latter more room to suck on her vein tenderly. She held Takamina tighter by her neck, pulling her closer. Atsuko was panting harder when Takamina’s hand inside her blouse had travelled upward and cupped one of her mounds, squeezing it. Atsuko gasped, and couldn’t help but moan.
Why love had to be so complicated? It felt right, but it felt wrong at the same time. The way the older girl touched her, kissed her - everything that she did confused her, but Atsuko couldn’t stop wanting more. Takamina worked on her lips again, licking her bottom lip once, twice, until she gave in and open her mouth, letting their teeth and tongue clashed together. The bitter taste of her mouth, the smell of alcohol within her breath, and how aggressive Takamina had became somehow knocked her out of daze, and her conscience was telling her that this person who was pinning her against the wall inside a public restroom was not the same Takamina that she used to know. Atsuko forced her eyes to open and found herself staring back at the mirror, her mouth slightly opened and her eyes had turned into a darker shade of brown orbs. She bit her lower lip to hold back her moan as Takamina, ever so slowly, trailing her fingers upward underneath her skirt.
“Mi..Minami stop.” Whispered Atsuko in between their kisses, trying hard to take control over herself.
“hm?” mumbled Takamina while her lips were busy kissing Atsuko’s lips, didn’t intend to stop what she’s doing.
“Minami stop” asked Atsuko, louder this time. “Please”
Feeling that the older girl was not planning to stop, she pulled away from the kiss and pushed her by the shoulder. Being the weaker one of the two, Atsuko’s push had only made Takamina stumbling back for merely a few inches. She could see the confusion on Takamina’s face, and there was hurt in her hazel eyes. She was about to say something when suddenly the shorter girl grabbed her upper arms, gripping them tightly, and pinned her back against the solid surface. Without giving any warning, Takamina had claimed her lips once again, kissing them roughly. Atsuko struggled against her tight grasp, and turned her head sideway to avoid the sloppy kiss.
“Minami… please…not like this,” pleaded Atsuko when Takamina started to attack her neck, nibbling and sucking on it.
Atsuko kept fidgeting around, trying to pry away from Takamina’s menacing grip. Her line of view was Once she felt the other girl’s grip was loosened, she held her shoulders and pushed her back. This time, Takamina stumbled back a couple of feet away from Atsuko.
“I said stop!” yelled Atsuko, tears were forming in her eyes.
Takamina was knocked out of her senses with the volume of the taller girl’s voice. She felt like something kicked her in the gut. Her heart was ridiculously aching with the rejection.
“Why? I thought you wanted this.” Asked Takamina, hurt was evident in her voice.
Atsuko was confused, she felt lost under the dark hazel orbs that were staring intensively at her. She knew how bad she wanted it, she wished for it, she even dreamed of it, but yet something inside her screamed a loud “Wrong!”
“I..I did but..,” Atsuko stuttered with her answer, “but it’s… it’s too soon for that.”
“Are you kidding me? Am I not good enough? Is he better than me?” questioned Takamina. Takamina didn’t realize how harsh she sounded until she saw the change on Atsuko’s expression. Atsuko’s response had caused a great insecurity to emerge within her. She was scared of the possibility that she was replaceable, she despised the thought that Atsuko might have chosen him over her. She wouldn’t let herself getting hurt, so she allowed her defense mechanism to take over.
“He? Minami.. what are you talking about?” asked Atsuko incredulously.
“You know very damn well who I’m talking about” retorted Takamina.
“I really don’t know what or who you’re talking about” answered Atsuko truthfully. She watched as Takamina’s chest heaved up and down caused by her short breath, her knuckles were balled up in a fist. She had never seen Takamina in that state, ever. Was she mad? No, it looked like she’s furious. Then it all made sense for Atsuko, how could she even forget.
“Let me explain, you got it all wrong” said Atsuko as she made her way closer to the shorter girl. She was trying to get a hold on Takamina’s hand when the latter shrugged it off. Atsuko chose to ignore the stinging pain in her chest and continued, “I was drunk, and he took me home because Yuko had left to meet Haruna. Me and Takeru, we’re just friends, nothing more, you’ve misunderstood the news.”
Takamina scoffed cynically, “Takeru? So you’re on a first name basis with him now”
“We’re just friends!” growled Atsuko, slowly losing her patience. Takamina’s response was starting to sound really immature, and it began to annoy her.
“That’s not what the pictures look like to me.” chuckled Takamina, “Two persons, much more a guy and a girl, do not just hang out late at night together and come home together in one cab with the girl being carried in the guy’s arms, something must’ve happened that night!”
“You’re starting to talk nonsense you know that? I don’t have time for this” sighed Atsuko. She was about to spin on her heel and walked out of the room before she decided to give Takamina a piece of her mind, “for the record, I’m not obliged to tell you who I’m going out with or what relationship me and anyone have! as far as I remember we broke up, or so as I thought, because you left me! No words for weeks, you just vanished!”
Minami clenched her fists tighter when words had failed her. She found herself to be tight lipped, feeling the guilt that she’d been trying to bury deep inside had slowly crawled out.
Atsuko tried to calm herself with a soft exhale of air. Hearing no response from Takamina, she decided to leave the matter on her hand. “Minami, for the last time, listen to me. Me and him, we’re just friends, nothing more” explained Atsuko desperately.
“Stop lying!” snapped Minami, “I’m so done with people hiding things and talking about me behind my back. Just admit it, If you’re not dating him, so what are you two? Fuck buddies?”
It happened as fast as it ended, and Takamina didn’t get a hold of the situation just yet. Though her ears were still ringing from the impact caused by the younger girl’s hand that landed harshly on her cheek, she could still hear the faint sound of her sobbing. Takamina brought her hand up to her cheek and felt the burning sensation as soon as it came in contact with the skin. It all felt surreal to her, her mind was still registering to accept the fact that Atsuko had just slapped her. Then how come her heart was the one that’s hurting really badly right now?
“Is that how you think of me? To think of me to do something that low, do you hate me that much Minami? You know you’re the only person I’ve ever done it with! How could you even say something like that?!” screamed Atsuko with tears streamed down her face. She was hurt. Every words that came out of Takamina’s mouth was like a dagger piercing through her heart. Atsuko forced out a bitter chuckle in between her cries, “Oh god, I’ve been so stupid. Here I am, foolishly waiting for you to come back like my feet stuck to the ground, but I guess you don’t even care. “
Takamina couldn’t bring herself to look up to meet Atsuko’s gaze on her. She didn’t want to see the tears on Atsuko’s face, knowing that she was the reason for it. She was ashamed of every single thing that came out of her mouth, accusing and hurting Atsuko, all because of her insecurities.
“I don’t even know you anymore. Tell me Minami, did the kiss even mean anything to you or was it you trying to prove that you’re better than him?”
Takamina wanted to answer the former, she wanted to explain how the kiss had sent hundreds butterflies inside her stomach, how it had made her knees turned into jelly, how she felt fireworks just exploded inside her chest, but her damn tongue was not able to utter anything, and instead she stood still and fixed her gaze to the ground. Seconds had passed and without hearing any replies from Takamina, Atsuko stomped out of restroom, hand covering her mouth to muffle her sobs.
Not until she heard the door slammed shut Takamina raised her head. A lone tear escaped from her eye. Her lips tugged in a bitter smile. She was never good enough for her, Atsuko deserved more than someone like her who’s only capable of hurting the person who loved her unconditionally. Her eyesight caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. She walked closer toward the mirror, her gaze never left the dark eyes that were staring back at her. Takamina didn’t recognize the girl in front of her, she looked like a mess, with disheveled hair, eye bags under her eyes, and the apparent reddish mark on her cheek. Once again, she brought her hand to her cheek, rubbing the spot hoping that the red would fade away. She didn’t want any reminder for what she’d done to Atsuko in that cramped restroom. To her dismay the mark was still there, if anything it had become redder any slightly swollen now. It’s weird though, with every strokes she made on the red mark she couldn’t help but wincing from the indescribable pain, but it’s inside her chest. She stopped her futile attempt before making it looked even worse, and wiped the tears stain on her face.
“what am I turning into?” murmured Takamina before slamming her fist to her reflection, sending cracks all over the surface of the mirror.
------
“Dammit! Pick up the damn phone Acchan” muttered Yuko under her breath. She gritted her teeth as she punched the redial button on her phone with her thumb, and once again she was diverted straight to the mailbox. She growled in frustration and threw her phone on the couch before tossing herself lazily after.
The clock on the desk beside the couch had showed that it’s 8 in the morning, but there’s still no sign of Atsuko. Yuko still hadn’t had the slightest idea of what happened last night. Atsuko showed up in tears after a trip to the restroom, and when Yuko asked her what’s wrong, the girl had already stormed out of the room and left the rest of occupants bewildered. She had tried her luck to run after her bestfriend, but by the time she was out of the building, Atsuko was nowhere to be seen. At first Yuko thought that she’d meet her when she got back to their apartment, however there’s no sign of Atsuko coming home since last night. She laid on her back and brought her hand on her forehead, trying to come up with any ideas of what could cause Atsuko to cried and stormed off like that. Then, like someone just turned on the light bulb in her dimmed head, a thought, more precisely a name popped out in her mind. It could make sense though, only Takamina who’s capable to make Atsuko cried a river. She snapped her fingers, before reaching for her phone and dialed Takamina’s number. Well, this time even worst, her phone was out of reach.
“don’t people use phone anymore?” growled Yuko in frustration. Not giving up, she dialed another number on her phone. After a few seconds of dial tone, the recipient finally picked up the phone.
“hello? Yuu-chan?”
“Nyannyan, is Takamina there? Can I talk to her?” asked Yuko in urgency. She called her girlfriend right away, whose house was where Takamina had been staying over ever since the breakup.
“Takamina hasn’t come home since last night” answered Haruna.
“eh? But last night she said she came home early to rest” said Yuko.
“I know. I think she lied. Well, not the first time it happened anyway, so I’m not surprised.” sighed Haruna, “it’s better than the times where she brings some random girls home though. Why are you looking for her?”
“Acchan hasn’t come home either. I’m really worried about her, I just wanted to know why she’s running off crying last night” explained Yuko.
“You think it has something to do with Takamina?”
“I don’t know. Probably?”
“Well, maybe, but they barely even talked last night” reasoned Haruna.
“This whole thing between the two of them is going to be the dead of me” sighed Yuko.
Haruna chuckled from the other line.
“When will that midget of a General Manager get back to her own place? I really don’t get it, why can’t she stay at her own apartment? It’s pretty much empty now, she can bring all those girls she sleeps around with there.“ asked Yuko grumpily. “Ever since she stays at your place, we don’t have much time alone anymore. I swear Takamina’s gotten more action than I did these days.”
“Perv! I could ask you the same question, when will Acchan get her own place? I always like it sleeping in Yuu-chan’s bed, watching the view of the city at night while being in Yuu-chan’s arms, naked.” teased Haruna.
“oi! Stop right there, I don’t want this phone call to end up talking about something lewd.” Blurted Yuko hurriedly.
“wow, that was the first time you turned down an invitation of a phone call that could possibly lead to phonesex. I’m impressed Oshima-san.” Giggled Haruna, “so anyway, I can’t just kick her out because she’s my bestfriend. She’s in, somewhat, dark time right now, and she needs someone by her side.”
“same thing with Acchan,” agreed Yuko, giggling, “well played Kojima-san.”
“Yuu-chan I need to get ready now or I’ll be late for the practice. So, see you at the practice?”
“Yup, see you. Tell me if you get a hold of Takamina though, okay? Love you.”
“will do. Love you too.”
Talking with her girlfriend for a few minutes had successfully taken her minds off of things. She was calmer now, and she didn’t even realize how her lips had formed a wide grin. Yuko once again found her mind drifting off to the thought of her two friends. Takamina was probably off somewhere, waking up in someone’s bed. Haruna and Yuko knew about Takamina’s habit of having a one night stand once in a while. If Yuko hadn’t seen Takamina in bed together with a girl, naked and all, with her own eyes Yuko wouldn’t actually believe in million years. Unfortunately, she picked a wrong day to do one of her prank scheme on her General Manager. Her jaw dropped when she found Takamina sleeping with a girl she had never met before next to her. Seemed like her plan was backfired, and she was the one who left the scene in shock. Yuko still remembered the scene like it was just yesterday, and her body cringed in disgust almost immediately. Takamina was acting indifferently when Yuko caught her, and she acted like it wasn’t that much of a big deal, so Yuko just shrugged it off. Who Takamina’s sleeping with was none of her business anyway, and of course Yuko didn’t let Atsuko know about this. Haruna and Yuko had agreed that none of the members should know about this side of their leader, so they kept it to themselves for as long as they should. Yuko still didn’t understand though, how Takamina could manage to bring a girl to bed. Physically, and emotionally, or so as Yuko thought, Takamina wasn’t really a chick-magnet type, but yet she’s able to score a number of hot girls. Did she drug them or what?
Yuko jerked up from the couch when she heard the clanking sound of keys from outside the door. She waited until the other occupant of the apartment showed up her face from behind the door. Once she was assured that it was really Atsuko coming in, she breathed out in relief.
“Where the hell have you been?” fumed Yuko.
The girl in question ignored her roommate and walked past her dismissively. She put on a blank stare as she dragged her feet toward her room. Hearing no response from the younger girl, Yuko grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around, determined to get all of her answers no matter what. Yuko made an inaudible gasp when she came face to face with Atsuko. She looked awful. Her make-up was smudged all over, trails of dried tears were visible on her face, dark shades were apparent underneath her swollen eyes socket, and to top it all up Yuko could smell alcohol coming out her pores.
“Acchan, what on earth happened to you?” said Yuko, giving her a concern look.
“I’m fine, don’t worry” answered Atsuko with a weak smile.
“You don’t look fine to me. What’s wrong Acchan? You know you can tell me everything right?” Yuko continued as she placed both of her hands on the taller girl’s shoulders, and squeezed them gently to give her reassurance. To her disappointment, the latter just shrugged off her hands.
“Yuko please, not now.” begged Atsuko. She then spun on her heel and strolled away to her room, leaving Yuko with her jaw dropped. Yuko was stunned, but she didn’t want to push the matter even further, thinking that Atsuko would eventually tell her when she’s ready. Since Atsuko wanted to be alone at the moment, Yuko decided to leave for practice early, hoping that when she got back the younger girl’s state would get better. She walked into her room to grab her bagpack and her coat. While hesitating to tell Atsuko that she’s leaving, her feet had already brought her in front of her roommate’s room. She could hear the shower running from behind the door, signaling that Atsuko was in her bathroom. So Yuko let herself in, and proceeded to make her way to the front door of the bathroom. She knocked once,
“Acchan, I’m leaving for practice. If you need anything don’t hesitate to call me, okay?” called Yuko.
As expected, no replies, just the sound of the water hitting the bedroom tiles. Yuko sighed in disappointment, she was about to leave when she heard a faint sound of whimpers. She was pretty sure the sound was coming from behind the bathroom door. She brought her left ear to the surface of the door to get a better hearing, and the sobs were getting clearer.
“
is she crying?” thought Yuko.
“Acchan? Are you okay?” yelled Yuko. She was getting annoyed from being ignored. Without thinking twice Yuko barged in the bathroom, silently praying that Atsuko still had her habit of leaving the door unlocked. She covered her eyes as she walked in and as expected, she was welcomed with the displeased shriek from the occupant of the room. She got in the bathroom easily, and the first thing that came into her view made her heart dropped.
“Yuko what the hell?!!” yelled Atsuko.
Still with her eyes covered, Yuko retorted, “before you get mad, firstly no, I didn’t barge in just so I could see a wet, naked body of a girl no matter how much I miss seeing it. Secondly, yes I know you want to be alone, but there’s no way I could leave in peace without you telling me what the hell is going on. So forgive me, but I’m going to stay at this very spot until you spit out what happened to you last night!”
To the petite girl's dismay, she heard snort of laughter instead. She got curious and tried to take a peek from the space between her fingers. Through her limited sight she found Atsuko crouching down, hugging her knees in the corner of the room, she was still fully clothed, and drenched from the running water above her.
“what in god’s name happening here?” mumbled Yuko to herself.
Yuko dropped her bag and her coat carelessly, and snatched the nearest towel. She turned off the faucet and squatted down beside Atsuko. Yuko draped the towel over the brunette’s shoulders before making herself comfortable sitting down on the wet floor beside the younger girl.
“What are you thinking?” asked Yuko calmly. “is this how you usually take a bath? Do you know when you’re taking a bath you’re supposed to take off your clothes?”
“I just feel like it.” answered Atsuko simply, as she wiped the remaining tears on her face. She then rested her head on Yuko’s shoulder.
“Yuko..” began Atsuko, “please tell me how to forget her, how to make this feeling go away.”
“Acchan..” Yuko was taken aback with Atsuko’s statement. She didn’t expect the younger girl to finally come to terms with her break-up. Ever since Yuko knew about Takamina’s new routine she’d been silently praying for Atsuko to move on and forget about her feeling toward her General Manager before she got to learn the truth. She knew it would definitely break Atsuko to know how Takamina had easily moved on with her life. Though the reason behind the latter’s new found habit was still unknown, Yuko could sense and would bet that it had something to do with the girl next to her.
“feeling is not something you could force to go away,” continued Yuko. “it’s beyond our control. You don’t know how, when, or why you could fall in or out of love. Feeling might appear or disappear by itself, it takes time and you cannot control it no matter how badly you want it.”
“I slept with someone last night.” confessed Atsuko all of a sudden. She wiped a lone tear that had dropped from her eye, and gazed into Yuko’s brown eyes. She could see the shock written on Yuko’s face, and waited for the latter to be ready to response while on the other hand, Atsuko felt relieved beyond belief to be able to tell someone about her act of desperation.
Yuko was stunned, she needed time to let Atsuko’s statement to sink in her brain.
“who, I mean what, I mean when, I mean how?” mumbled Yuko in confusion.
“with this guy I met in a bar. You could say that it’s an act under alcohol’s influence, but a part of me wanted it to happen I guess. I wanted to take a step forward and tested myself whether I was ready or not. The sex was quite good I suppose, but the entire time I felt like I was cheating on Takamina,” explained Atsuko. “and I just can’t seem to make this guilt to go away.”
Yuko let out a sigh and stroked the girl’s wet hair before she began, “it’s understandable. You‘ve been with her for years, it’s only natural.”
Yuko chuckled weakly, “But honestly, I think it’s very blunt of you to do something spontaneous like that, and I find it rather hard to believe you would do that. Our Acchan is not so innocent anymore, isn’t she?”
Atsuko smiled at Yuko’s remark, and punched the older girl's arm in playful manner.
"Sorry I was being a bitch to you" said Atsuko.
Yuko chuckled, "aren't you always?"
"hey!" exclaimed Atsuko.
“I’m relieved though.” Stated Yuko.
“Hm? How so?” asked Atsuko with a frown.
“You’re moving on, or at least trying to” smiled Yuko.
“I’m still not sure of it.” sighed Atsuko. “I spent every day wondering if she’d ever come back to me. I tried not to, I tried to distract my minds off of her, but nothing worked ‘cause by the end of the day I found myself thinking of her. Maybe that’s the reason, me imagining of ‘what ifs’ or ‘what could be’, that’s the thing that have been holding me back. Last night I finally found my answer, I’ve accepted the fact that me and Takamina are not together anymore, and what is left for me is to learn to let go.”
“last night?” asked Yuko, frowning. “which reminds me, why were you crying last night?”
--------
Yuko stomped her way through the corridor of Akihabara theatre, heading toward the practice room. She could hear the sound of their music blasting throughout the hallway, signaling that the practice had already started. She was trying hard to calm herself, clenching her fists to hold back the anger rose up within her. Atsuko made her promise that she wouldn’t do anything to Takamina, but, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Yuko wanted Takamina to feel even the slightest pain that Atsuko had gone through, if she could not make her feel them emotionally then she would bring them physically, maybe even considering it as a payback.
Her feet had brought her to the front door of the practice room, she slid the door opened and let herself in. The music had stopped playing, and everyone dispersed from their formation.
“10 minutes break and then we practice for the medley” ordered Takamina to the members in the room, before she spotted Yuko who’s standing by the door.
“glad you decide to join us” stated Takamina as she made her way to the ace of the group.
“I want to talk to you outside, now” blurted Yuko.
By the look of it, Takamina knew it had something to do with what happened last night between her and Atsuko. Here’s the fact that Takamina hated so much about the slightly taller girl, she meddled too much.
“She told you what happened huh? It’s between me and her Yuko, just stay out of this” hissed Takamina.
“Oh geez, are you for real Takamina?!” exclaimed Yuko exasperatedly. The volume of her voice had successfully catch everyone’s attention as every pairs of eyes in the room were all now fixed on the both of them.
“Why wasting time? Why can’t you just tell me right now?” opposed Takamina as she crossed her arms against her chest.
“Because I don’t like being staring at,” shrugged Yuko, “and I don’t want people to watch it”
Takamina raised her eyebrow in confusion, “watch it? what are you talking about? What ‘it’?”
“this” said Yuko simply, before gathering her strength into her fist and brought it to meet to Takamina’s cheek.
TBC
Well, that's all I have for now..
Yuko's revenge
Topic: Stay - Chapter III (06/16/13) (AtsuMina) (Read 27945 times)