hi guys! thanks again for your comments!
especially to those who are new here...

so here's the next chapter!
The Sweetest Taste
Chapter 9"S-Shotaro-kun?"
"Tomochin!" He was also surprised to see me.
"What are you doing here?"
"I.. uhm.. came to visit a friend." I said.
He looked at the corridor where I came from.
"You mean Tomo, right?"
"Y-Yes, I came to bring these cupcakes to her. How about you? What are you doing here?"
"I work here." He answered.
"Oh, really? I guess Tomo's out, so I think I'll just come back some other time."
"It's noon break. Maybe she took her lunch."
I see.. so she's having a lunch date right now with Philip-kun, huh.
"Just right on time. I haven't taken my break yet. Do you mind if you join me?" He asked me.
I agreed. It's been a while since the last time I had conversation with him. Then we went out to a park just nearby the building.
"You want some cupcakes?" I offered him.
"I thought these were for Tomo? Is that okay?"
"Sure, I'll just bake her another next time."
I gave him the box.
"Itadakimasu!" He took a bite.
"Oh, I missed your home-made baking! It's still as delicious as before."
"Thank you." I'm glad he still likes it.
"So nostalgic. I remember, you were always preparing and bringing me snacks in school. I knew then that you'd be a great pastry chef someday."
"I'm not that great. Right now, I just own and manage a simple cafe for a living. But I'm really happy with my job."
He paused, then he looked up at the sky.
"I wonder, Tomochin.." He looked back at me.
"What if we didn't go to separate colleges. You think something different happened in our lives?"
What does he mean? If that happened, I might not had a chance to meet Tomo. He's still looking at me. Now that I think about it, there's something different between the love I felt for Shotaro-kun before and what I feel for Tomo now.
"Why? Aren't you happy with your job right now?" I asked.
"I got my dream job. Thanks to Tomo, she gave me this big opportunity. Her family owns the company. And since I studied mechanical designs, she recommended me to work in here."
Tomo still helped him to reach his dreams eventhough she was hurt by him. She's really something. I am with Shotaro-kun right now but all I think about is her. How about her, does she think of me too?
"Behind her cheerful personality, I knew she's really a lonely girl. Since she's carrying the name of her family." He continued talking.
I know it's not her fault that she's born with a big responsibility ahead of her.
"She getting busier lately, do you think you know the reason why?"
I'm trying to get answers from him.
"Since she's my boss now. I don't interfere with her personal stuff anymore. All I know is that there's a big merger of two companies that is going to happen soon." He said.
My phone rang. I looked at the caller, it's...
"Excuse me for a second, Shotaro-kun. I needed to answer this call."
He nodded, then I walked few steps away.
"Hello." I answered.
"Tomochin, are you at the cafe?" It's Tomo.
"Uhm... Y-Yes, why?" I lied.
"I'm leaving the office soon. I'll be there in a few minutes. There's something I wanted to give you."
"O-Okay, see you then." We hang up.
I went back to Shotaro-kun.
"I'm sorry but I have to go back to the cafe." I told him.
"Is that so? Hope we see each other again soon."
He hugged me and I bid him goodbye.
"Tomochin!" He called me again.
"Tomo's a good person. I'm glad you made friends with her." He said.
I smiled and bowed at him.
-
"Tomochin, you're back early! So did you ask her?"
Sae greeted me with a question.
"No, I didn't have the chance to meet her there."
"But why?" Sayaka's also questioning me.
"I'll explain later. She called over the phone. She's on her way here. Please don't tell her I went to her office today, okay?"
They both nodded.
I felt excitement knowing she's coming, but the pain is still there.
After few minutes, she arrived.
"Tomochin! I missed you!" She jumped to hug me.
"Hi Sae! Sayaka! It's been a while, chiyuu.." She greeted them.
"Hey, Tomo~mi! Do you want anything to eat?" Sae asked.
"It's okay, I just went here to see you guys especially Tomochin!"
She hugged me tighter.
Or rather you should have said that you already had lunch with someone else. I thought.
"If you want anything, don't hesitate to ask us, okay?"
Sayaka offered her then they both left us alone.
"So, how's your day?" I asked breaking the hug.
"Tired.. I'm really busy at work. My parents just came back. And they're watching my every move." She responded.
"Is that all?"
I tried to asked her for more answers.
"Yes and it's so exhausting. I'm very sorry, Tomochin. But I did promise that I'll make it up to you so here I am, chiyuu!"
She's still not telling me everything.
"You told me over the phone earlier that you'll give me something."
"Ah yes ofcourse before I forgot! Here... tada!!!"
She handed me something over. And it's...
"A key?"
"Yup! A spare key to my apartment! We rarely see each other lately. That's why I thought of something how we can still spend time together out of our busy schedules."
"But why are you giving me this?" I asked.
"What do you mean why?"
I didn't answer her.
"Because Tomochin is my girlfriend!" She claimed me.
I kept quiet. I don't know how to react.
"Am I... wrong?" She asked. Her excitement faded away.
"Tomo... I can't remember that I agree with that."
It hurts to say these words.
She looked down.
"I see..." She sounded disappointed.
"I'm sorry, I assume." Then she suddenly walked out on me.
"Tomo, wait!" I immediately went after her.
She's about to get in her car.
"Tomochin... it's okay. You're right, we never talked about it."
I can tell in her voice that she's hurt.
"Tomo..." I stopped and looked at her. I don't know what to say anymore.
"But please keep the key."
She requested. She looked back at me.
"I love you, Tomochin... And I'm willing to wait for you."
After she said those words, she left.
I went back inside the cafe.
"Is it normal for an engaged person to give someone else a spare key to her place?"
Sayaka sounded confused.
"Sounds interesting to me..." Sae commented.
She puts her hand on my shoulder.
"You see, Tomochin. I told Tomo~mi before that whatever her reasons are, my vote will still be on her side. I trust that girl, you know. And I hope you trust her too." Sae smiled at me.
How can I trust her if she's not telling me everything. I thought.
I stare at the spare key she gave me.
Tomo... please... tell me what you are really thinking...
TBCwhy am i getting emotional, too?

i'll try to update soon...
thanks for reading!
