Flight 109 - Destination: First Love [Chapter 4]
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ah, this one is hard to write. First of all, I have to do a lot of homework since I am a relatively new fan and have to get their timelines straight to continue writing this! So if I made some mistakes, please let me know and I'll see what I can do :) Second of all, my RL hasn't been giving me any free time lately. So please do excuse me for the late updates. Thank you all for your support for my second fic, inspired/story by yeppie. As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. And if you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
The airplane icon marks the present time. 30 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
「CHAPTER 4: THE DOUBLE DATE FIASCO PART 1」
Matsumoto Jun doesn't say anything for a good one minute as Hanazono Minako looks at him expectantly. Both Inoue Mao and Oguri Shun are exchanging looks, sometimes they really can't figure out Jun themselves.
But then Jun just smirks, "Sakurai Sho-san, huh?"
Minako nods a couple of times.
"I don't need the CD anymore. I've ordered it online," Jun puts his hand into his jeans pockets.
"So does that mean you won't introduce me?"
"If I don't want the CD, then what do I get in return?" Jun teases her. "He is not exactly the easiest guy to approach amongst us you know, if you don't have my help, that is. If it is Aiba or Nino, even Shun can help you with that."
Minako crosses her arms in front of her chest, "Well, name your price.."
Jun tilts his head, as if considering, "I'll decide later."
"That's not fair. Someone should know the price before buying something!"
"Well then it depends on how much you want that something.." Jun calmly answers with a smile. This is fun. It surprises even himself that teasing a girl could be really fun. He should do this more..
Minako narrows her eyes to him, "You are totally getting back at me for what happened at the CD store."
Jun shrugs and mutters in a sing-songy voice, "I don't hold grudges on people."
"Yeah, right!" Both Mao-chan and Shun-kun simultaneously snicker at that.
And the moment the two opens their mouth, both Jun and Minako just realizes that they are not the only two people in this double date fiasco.
Minako laughs heartily at Mao-chan's and Shun-kun's simultaneous retorts. This Hanadan crowd really is something else. They have such an air between them, a chemistry she really couldn't pin point but strongly feels its existence.
Jun stifles his laugh, but he is grinning now, wide. His gaze locks to this girl in front of him, whom he finds interesting but annoying at the same time, but someway somehow intrigues him.
---
Each couple faces each other in a private tatami room, yakiniku serves in between them. Minako is telling them her life's story, as Mao-chan has asked earlier.
These are what's written in Jun's heart as he takes some mental notes silently regarding some details of where this girl is coming from;
1. Japanese isn't her mother tongue even though her father is Japanese. Her parents were divorced when she and her brother were very young.
2. She is taken by her Canadian-born Chinese mother to live in Vancouver until about a year ago. Whilst her brother, Kenji, lives with their father in Japan. Yet, she has perfect English, but her Japanese is better than her Chinese.
3. A year ago, Kenji asks her to live in Japan together to test her luck in the Japanese entertainment industry.
4. She brushes her shoulders with the famous people all the time since she was a little because of her father's occupation as one of the most senior and accomplished actor.
5. She has a very close relationship with her father despite only seeing him once a year ever since she moved to Vancouver when she was 8. But her relationship with her mother is somewhat a bit more complicated.
6. She is learning how to be a host, and is now preparing for an audition at NHK as a host of Children's English program TV show.
7. She likes music and loves to sing. Jun has mentioned that he would love to hear her sing, out of the blue.
That's when Jun suddenly hears a notification of incoming mail in his mobile phone.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
Stop flirting with my date!
As Mao-chan starts to talk about the charm of the Chinese language with Minako, Jun looks up and meets Shun's eyes. Shun gives him a smirk but Jun just glares at him.
To: Oguri Shun
From: Matsumoto Jun
I. AM. NOT. FLIRTING
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto jun
Yeah, right. And you've never almost slept with Mao-chan
They look at each other again, each gives new definition to the phrase "death glare".
Mao-chan all of a sudden notices them glaring at each other whilst typing furiously to their own phones. She looks at Jun, then at Shun, "You two are mailing each other or something?"
"No," they answer silmunateously.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
Jealous much?
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
I. AM. NOT. JEALOUS
"You are so mailing each other," Minako points out with a grin plasters on her face, definitely amused.
Literally at the same time, the two men puts back their phones on the table. Giving up. Each gives an exasperated sigh.
The two men look at each other again for about 2 seconds and burst out laughing.
Now the two girls are completely lost.
"Now I totally don't get it," Mao-chan gets back to her yakiniku.
"Ditto," Minako joins her and the two girls look at each other and share a laugh between girls.
"So, Jun-kun," Minako changes the subject after she is done laughing, "when will this meeting of me and the man of my dream is going to occur?"
Jun raises his eyebrows. Not just for the way she is wording her question, but most of it is on how he casually referring him with the name only people close to him dare to use.
"Well, Hanazono-san," Jun makes sure he stresses his tone on her family name and the honorific, "I must check with his schedule first and see if he is available to meet a special fan. And I have rehearsals for my butai starting tomorrow.. So, let's just see."
"You don't have to come, you can just give him an introduction first," She insists.
"Sakurai Sho is so not the type to go with blind dates, you know?" Jun points out sheepishly. "If there's someone between all the members who have a worse temper than I do, it's him."
"So you'll be our third wheel, then?"
"Or we can have another double date like this one. And you should thank me for that," he grins wide, "on second thought, you owe me big time for that."
She groans.
"I could be your date, Jun-kun," Mao-chan suddenly chips in.
Jun doesn't know how to react at first, but Shun kicks his leg under the table, and his well-maintained cool is back the next second, "Sure.. That's fine."
But he doesn't dare to look straight into Mao-chan's eyes.
"So when will we have this double date?" Minako eagerly asks again.
"Patience is a virtue, Domyouji-sama once said," Mao-chan joins in with a sincere smile to Minako.
Minako sighs, "Domyouji is a baka, how can anyone listen to him?"
All Hanadan casts just have to laugh at that, well, except for the Domyouji-sama himself.
"Oi!" He voices out his protest.
Minako smiles at herself. This Hanadan team is very interesting to hang out with. Not just because they look so comfortable with each other. But they also have this aura around them, this chemistry she can't really exactly pin point what and where, she can only strongly feels it.
Jun scratches his head and pick his phone up from the table again, "What's your mail address? I'll need it to arrange the date.." He points out as casually as possible.
And this guy, Minako silently says to herself again, this guy is surely not your everyday idol.
As both Jun and Minako exchange their number and mail address, another incoming mail notification comes to Jun's phone again.
Jun can't help but groan as he reads the message.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
SEE? SEE? SEE?
That's VERY SMOOTH, Jun!
I found her first!
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
Geez, childish much?
She is interested with Sho-kun, for God's sake.
It is HIM you should be jealous at!
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
You owe me big time for this.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
I owe you nothing!
Both girls look back and forth to the two men who are furiously typing to their own phones, as if not bothering to hide the fact that they are mailing each other anymore. Each gives the other man a new definition of a 'death glare' everytime an incoming mail notification comes.
"You know, guys, we could leave you two alone for a while to have a testosterone talk privately," Mao-chan points out with an amused smile.
"We are not mailing each other!" Both men retaliate again, loudly and literally at the exact same time.
---
The double date almost ends as Shun's car arrives in front of Mao-chan's apartment. After bidding her goodbyes, Mao-chan hesitantly gets herself out of the car, just to stop for a second before closing the door. She questioningly looks at Jun-kun who is now sitting at the back, beside where she was sitting just before.
"Ano.. Jun-kun?"
"Hai.."
"Would you mind to talk for a second?" She takes a quick glance to the rest of the double date team who sit at the front of the car. "Alone?"
Shun shoots Jun a look trough the rear view mirror. A look that Jun catches and completely understands the meaning behind.
"Shun, you could just go ahead. I'll get home by myself," Jun pats his friend's shoulder before getting off the car himself.
"You sure?" Shun asks again through the rear view mirror.
"Yep," Jun steals a glance to Minako and nods as a goodbye. Catching her eyes.
Minako feels her heart stops for a second. Just because of that big chocolate eyes seem to be able to touch something inside. Unexpectedly, she just looks away.
When Jun and Mao-chan have close the car's door shut and walk together towards Mao-chan's apartment entrance, Minako can't help herself but ask, "Is there something between them?"
Shun stifles his laugh, as if he has expected that question already.
"Can't answer that for you. Just ask him yourself."
"Oh.. That's already an answer, actually.." Minako mutters, barely audible, still hasn't look away from the other couple's backs.
"Domyouji and Makino as well in real life, huh?" She softly adds.
"I don't think it is that simple.." Shun stares at the road and starts his car. He pats Minako's head gently, "Come on, let's take you home."
Minako nods and doesn't say anything after that, except for a simple thank you and goodbye, before leaving Shun alone in his car to be the one staring at her back.
---
Jun-kun sits uncomfortably at Mao-chan's couch in her living room. It is not that she makes him feel uncomfortable, but the dark red couch, the dark simple coffee table and all the modern furniture with a touch of soft colors here and there, well, the last time he's been there was when..
"Do you like her, Jun-kun?" Mao-chan doesn't let him finish his own thought.
"Eh? Dare?" Jun raises his eyebrows to Mao-chan who is bringing some coffee for them to the coffee table.
"Hanazono Minako," Mao-chan answers casually, flatly.
This is one of the things about Mao-chan. She's always seem cheerful, not once Jun ever see her gets annoyed or mad over something. But inside, Jun knows, there are things bothering her, of course. Which is very human. But somehow, scary. Because you don't know when or where or how she would express those feelings to you.
Jun just laughs it off, "You are just as bad as Shun-kun."
"He was mailing you about that as well, wasn't he?"
Jun just shrugs and sips his coffee.
"You haven't answered my question," Mao-chan points out again after a minute of silence.
"Well, no," Jun looks at her sharply, "I just met her like twice?"
Mao-chan sighs.
Jun narrows his eyes, "Is this what you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, no.."
"Then?"
Mao-chan just stares at her coffee. Jun impatiently waits. Up until his annoyance has subsided.
"Ano.. Mao-chan.."
Mao-chan finally looks up to him, her eyes are full of hope.
"About what happened that night.. I am sorry," Jun struggles to keep his eyes on her. "I.. You know, I.."
He stops, completely at loss of words, "Man, this is embarassing."
He shakes his head and laugh nervously.
"We were drunk," Mao-chan smiles sadly. "I know, it's not supposed to happened."
"I like you a lot, Mao-chan.." Jun scratches his hair, "But that night, I think about that night a lot.. Maybe it was.."
"It wasn't you and me, it was Domyouji and Makino," Mao-chan cuts his sentence, "Is that what you mean?"
Jun looks hard at her, trying to read between the lines. But Mao-chan looks away, avoiding his stare.
She stands up and pick up the empty coffee cup of Jun's and goes straight to the kitchen sink.
She turns on the faucet and starts washing the cups diligently as if her life depended on it. Her shoulders are shaking but that's the only telltale of what she really feels inside.
"Mao-chan.." Jun tries to call her..
For a good one minute, Mao-chan just washes the two cups without answering him.
When she finally turns around and face Jun-kun again, she is already smiling.
"It's okay, Jun.. I mean, the reason I want to talk to you is I don't want this awkwardness. Not just for professional reasons, I want us to stay friends as well.. That night we were just finishing our last shoot for that airport scene, so I completely understand.. Makino hasn't left me yet and neither has Domyouji.. I completely understand that.."
Jun just stares at her silently.
"And not to mention all the alcohol intakes!" Mao-chan exclaims a bit too cheerfully. "That wouldn't happen if it wasn't because of all the alcohol! I mean I was thankful that you were being such a gentleman and leave as soon as things are getting out of hand.."
Jun lets out a sad smile. She doesn't remember, does she?
As they spent that night together on her dark red couch, the exact same one as the one he is sitting on right now, Mao-chan whispers her feelings to Jun. Her real feelings..
"I've been dreaming to do this with you ever since the day we first met.."
Jun isn't the type who remembers everything he says or does when he is drunk as well, but that particular moment, he completely remembers it. He remembers the effect on him when she whispers it to his ear.
He has to admit that he is interested in her since the day they very first met.. But.. He just has to stop after that. And leave.
It might be the first time he ever felt uncomfortable towards her. He can't pinpoint why, let alone explain that into words.. It's just.. Something stops him from stepping further. Something is not there to push him forward..
But maybe, this is one of the things that has to be left unsaid. Left in the dark. It is better for her to not remember. It is better for him to not say anything further.
As he bids her goodbye and thank her for the coffee, he hugs her tight.
"Friends?" He whispers to her hair.
"Always," she mutters back.
---
On the latest train back home, Jun checks his phone and finds 3 incoming mail he hasn't read yet.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
Fine, you can go after her.
AFTER you clear it up with Makino.
From: Inoue Mao
To: Matsumoto Jun
On second thought,
I think it is not such a good idea
for me to be your date again
for your double date with Minako and Sakurai-san.
Gomen ne..
From: Hanazono Minako
To: Matsumoto Jun
I will be waiting for the next Double Date itinerary!
Please be my Cupid!
Jun sighs and starts to type;
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
I've cleared it up.
But you are so paranoid over my charm to girls.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Inoue Mao
I understand.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Hanazono Minako
Patience is a virtue.
Jun puts his phone back to his pocket and stare outside of the train's window, to the darkness of the underground.
Somehow, the darkness pulls him in. His eyes are on the verge of shutting down into a sleep.
The darkness is so inviting he feels he could just wake up 7 years later.
But not just yet, he still needs to persuade Sho-kun first. He wonders how. He knows Sho-kun inside out, and he just knows that he wouldn't want to have a blind date with a random fan without a damn good reason.
He laughs at himself a bit. Why does he care so much in doing this?
He thinks for a while before pulling out his mobile phone again, typing another message;
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Ninomiya Kazunari
Neen, I need your help.
From: Ninomiya Kazunari
To: Matsumoto Jun
Does it involve money?
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Ninomiya Kazunari
No. But it involves some reverse psychology and strategic thinking *wink*
From: Ninomiya Kazunari
To: Matsumoto Jun
I excel at both.
So I'm in :D
Continue to Chapter 5
The airplane icon marks the present time. 30 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
「CHAPTER 4: THE DOUBLE DATE FIASCO PART 1」
Matsumoto Jun doesn't say anything for a good one minute as Hanazono Minako looks at him expectantly. Both Inoue Mao and Oguri Shun are exchanging looks, sometimes they really can't figure out Jun themselves.
But then Jun just smirks, "Sakurai Sho-san, huh?"
Minako nods a couple of times.
"I don't need the CD anymore. I've ordered it online," Jun puts his hand into his jeans pockets.
"So does that mean you won't introduce me?"
"If I don't want the CD, then what do I get in return?" Jun teases her. "He is not exactly the easiest guy to approach amongst us you know, if you don't have my help, that is. If it is Aiba or Nino, even Shun can help you with that."
Minako crosses her arms in front of her chest, "Well, name your price.."
Jun tilts his head, as if considering, "I'll decide later."
"That's not fair. Someone should know the price before buying something!"
"Well then it depends on how much you want that something.." Jun calmly answers with a smile. This is fun. It surprises even himself that teasing a girl could be really fun. He should do this more..
Minako narrows her eyes to him, "You are totally getting back at me for what happened at the CD store."
Jun shrugs and mutters in a sing-songy voice, "I don't hold grudges on people."
"Yeah, right!" Both Mao-chan and Shun-kun simultaneously snicker at that.
And the moment the two opens their mouth, both Jun and Minako just realizes that they are not the only two people in this double date fiasco.
Minako laughs heartily at Mao-chan's and Shun-kun's simultaneous retorts. This Hanadan crowd really is something else. They have such an air between them, a chemistry she really couldn't pin point but strongly feels its existence.
Jun stifles his laugh, but he is grinning now, wide. His gaze locks to this girl in front of him, whom he finds interesting but annoying at the same time, but someway somehow intrigues him.
---
Each couple faces each other in a private tatami room, yakiniku serves in between them. Minako is telling them her life's story, as Mao-chan has asked earlier.
These are what's written in Jun's heart as he takes some mental notes silently regarding some details of where this girl is coming from;
1. Japanese isn't her mother tongue even though her father is Japanese. Her parents were divorced when she and her brother were very young.
2. She is taken by her Canadian-born Chinese mother to live in Vancouver until about a year ago. Whilst her brother, Kenji, lives with their father in Japan. Yet, she has perfect English, but her Japanese is better than her Chinese.
3. A year ago, Kenji asks her to live in Japan together to test her luck in the Japanese entertainment industry.
4. She brushes her shoulders with the famous people all the time since she was a little because of her father's occupation as one of the most senior and accomplished actor.
5. She has a very close relationship with her father despite only seeing him once a year ever since she moved to Vancouver when she was 8. But her relationship with her mother is somewhat a bit more complicated.
6. She is learning how to be a host, and is now preparing for an audition at NHK as a host of Children's English program TV show.
7. She likes music and loves to sing. Jun has mentioned that he would love to hear her sing, out of the blue.
That's when Jun suddenly hears a notification of incoming mail in his mobile phone.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
Stop flirting with my date!
As Mao-chan starts to talk about the charm of the Chinese language with Minako, Jun looks up and meets Shun's eyes. Shun gives him a smirk but Jun just glares at him.
To: Oguri Shun
From: Matsumoto Jun
I. AM. NOT. FLIRTING
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto jun
Yeah, right. And you've never almost slept with Mao-chan
They look at each other again, each gives new definition to the phrase "death glare".
Mao-chan all of a sudden notices them glaring at each other whilst typing furiously to their own phones. She looks at Jun, then at Shun, "You two are mailing each other or something?"
"No," they answer silmunateously.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
Jealous much?
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
I. AM. NOT. JEALOUS
"You are so mailing each other," Minako points out with a grin plasters on her face, definitely amused.
Literally at the same time, the two men puts back their phones on the table. Giving up. Each gives an exasperated sigh.
The two men look at each other again for about 2 seconds and burst out laughing.
Now the two girls are completely lost.
"Now I totally don't get it," Mao-chan gets back to her yakiniku.
"Ditto," Minako joins her and the two girls look at each other and share a laugh between girls.
"So, Jun-kun," Minako changes the subject after she is done laughing, "when will this meeting of me and the man of my dream is going to occur?"
Jun raises his eyebrows. Not just for the way she is wording her question, but most of it is on how he casually referring him with the name only people close to him dare to use.
"Well, Hanazono-san," Jun makes sure he stresses his tone on her family name and the honorific, "I must check with his schedule first and see if he is available to meet a special fan. And I have rehearsals for my butai starting tomorrow.. So, let's just see."
"You don't have to come, you can just give him an introduction first," She insists.
"Sakurai Sho is so not the type to go with blind dates, you know?" Jun points out sheepishly. "If there's someone between all the members who have a worse temper than I do, it's him."
"So you'll be our third wheel, then?"
"Or we can have another double date like this one. And you should thank me for that," he grins wide, "on second thought, you owe me big time for that."
She groans.
"I could be your date, Jun-kun," Mao-chan suddenly chips in.
Jun doesn't know how to react at first, but Shun kicks his leg under the table, and his well-maintained cool is back the next second, "Sure.. That's fine."
But he doesn't dare to look straight into Mao-chan's eyes.
"So when will we have this double date?" Minako eagerly asks again.
"Patience is a virtue, Domyouji-sama once said," Mao-chan joins in with a sincere smile to Minako.
Minako sighs, "Domyouji is a baka, how can anyone listen to him?"
All Hanadan casts just have to laugh at that, well, except for the Domyouji-sama himself.
"Oi!" He voices out his protest.
Minako smiles at herself. This Hanadan team is very interesting to hang out with. Not just because they look so comfortable with each other. But they also have this aura around them, this chemistry she can't really exactly pin point what and where, she can only strongly feels it.
Jun scratches his head and pick his phone up from the table again, "What's your mail address? I'll need it to arrange the date.." He points out as casually as possible.
And this guy, Minako silently says to herself again, this guy is surely not your everyday idol.
As both Jun and Minako exchange their number and mail address, another incoming mail notification comes to Jun's phone again.
Jun can't help but groan as he reads the message.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
SEE? SEE? SEE?
That's VERY SMOOTH, Jun!
I found her first!
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
Geez, childish much?
She is interested with Sho-kun, for God's sake.
It is HIM you should be jealous at!
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
You owe me big time for this.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
I owe you nothing!
Both girls look back and forth to the two men who are furiously typing to their own phones, as if not bothering to hide the fact that they are mailing each other anymore. Each gives the other man a new definition of a 'death glare' everytime an incoming mail notification comes.
"You know, guys, we could leave you two alone for a while to have a testosterone talk privately," Mao-chan points out with an amused smile.
"We are not mailing each other!" Both men retaliate again, loudly and literally at the exact same time.
---
The double date almost ends as Shun's car arrives in front of Mao-chan's apartment. After bidding her goodbyes, Mao-chan hesitantly gets herself out of the car, just to stop for a second before closing the door. She questioningly looks at Jun-kun who is now sitting at the back, beside where she was sitting just before.
"Ano.. Jun-kun?"
"Hai.."
"Would you mind to talk for a second?" She takes a quick glance to the rest of the double date team who sit at the front of the car. "Alone?"
Shun shoots Jun a look trough the rear view mirror. A look that Jun catches and completely understands the meaning behind.
"Shun, you could just go ahead. I'll get home by myself," Jun pats his friend's shoulder before getting off the car himself.
"You sure?" Shun asks again through the rear view mirror.
"Yep," Jun steals a glance to Minako and nods as a goodbye. Catching her eyes.
Minako feels her heart stops for a second. Just because of that big chocolate eyes seem to be able to touch something inside. Unexpectedly, she just looks away.
When Jun and Mao-chan have close the car's door shut and walk together towards Mao-chan's apartment entrance, Minako can't help herself but ask, "Is there something between them?"
Shun stifles his laugh, as if he has expected that question already.
"Can't answer that for you. Just ask him yourself."
"Oh.. That's already an answer, actually.." Minako mutters, barely audible, still hasn't look away from the other couple's backs.
"Domyouji and Makino as well in real life, huh?" She softly adds.
"I don't think it is that simple.." Shun stares at the road and starts his car. He pats Minako's head gently, "Come on, let's take you home."
Minako nods and doesn't say anything after that, except for a simple thank you and goodbye, before leaving Shun alone in his car to be the one staring at her back.
---
Jun-kun sits uncomfortably at Mao-chan's couch in her living room. It is not that she makes him feel uncomfortable, but the dark red couch, the dark simple coffee table and all the modern furniture with a touch of soft colors here and there, well, the last time he's been there was when..
"Do you like her, Jun-kun?" Mao-chan doesn't let him finish his own thought.
"Eh? Dare?" Jun raises his eyebrows to Mao-chan who is bringing some coffee for them to the coffee table.
"Hanazono Minako," Mao-chan answers casually, flatly.
This is one of the things about Mao-chan. She's always seem cheerful, not once Jun ever see her gets annoyed or mad over something. But inside, Jun knows, there are things bothering her, of course. Which is very human. But somehow, scary. Because you don't know when or where or how she would express those feelings to you.
Jun just laughs it off, "You are just as bad as Shun-kun."
"He was mailing you about that as well, wasn't he?"
Jun just shrugs and sips his coffee.
"You haven't answered my question," Mao-chan points out again after a minute of silence.
"Well, no," Jun looks at her sharply, "I just met her like twice?"
Mao-chan sighs.
Jun narrows his eyes, "Is this what you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, no.."
"Then?"
Mao-chan just stares at her coffee. Jun impatiently waits. Up until his annoyance has subsided.
"Ano.. Mao-chan.."
Mao-chan finally looks up to him, her eyes are full of hope.
"About what happened that night.. I am sorry," Jun struggles to keep his eyes on her. "I.. You know, I.."
He stops, completely at loss of words, "Man, this is embarassing."
He shakes his head and laugh nervously.
"We were drunk," Mao-chan smiles sadly. "I know, it's not supposed to happened."
"I like you a lot, Mao-chan.." Jun scratches his hair, "But that night, I think about that night a lot.. Maybe it was.."
"It wasn't you and me, it was Domyouji and Makino," Mao-chan cuts his sentence, "Is that what you mean?"
Jun looks hard at her, trying to read between the lines. But Mao-chan looks away, avoiding his stare.
She stands up and pick up the empty coffee cup of Jun's and goes straight to the kitchen sink.
She turns on the faucet and starts washing the cups diligently as if her life depended on it. Her shoulders are shaking but that's the only telltale of what she really feels inside.
"Mao-chan.." Jun tries to call her..
For a good one minute, Mao-chan just washes the two cups without answering him.
When she finally turns around and face Jun-kun again, she is already smiling.
"It's okay, Jun.. I mean, the reason I want to talk to you is I don't want this awkwardness. Not just for professional reasons, I want us to stay friends as well.. That night we were just finishing our last shoot for that airport scene, so I completely understand.. Makino hasn't left me yet and neither has Domyouji.. I completely understand that.."
Jun just stares at her silently.
"And not to mention all the alcohol intakes!" Mao-chan exclaims a bit too cheerfully. "That wouldn't happen if it wasn't because of all the alcohol! I mean I was thankful that you were being such a gentleman and leave as soon as things are getting out of hand.."
Jun lets out a sad smile. She doesn't remember, does she?
As they spent that night together on her dark red couch, the exact same one as the one he is sitting on right now, Mao-chan whispers her feelings to Jun. Her real feelings..
"I've been dreaming to do this with you ever since the day we first met.."
Jun isn't the type who remembers everything he says or does when he is drunk as well, but that particular moment, he completely remembers it. He remembers the effect on him when she whispers it to his ear.
He has to admit that he is interested in her since the day they very first met.. But.. He just has to stop after that. And leave.
It might be the first time he ever felt uncomfortable towards her. He can't pinpoint why, let alone explain that into words.. It's just.. Something stops him from stepping further. Something is not there to push him forward..
But maybe, this is one of the things that has to be left unsaid. Left in the dark. It is better for her to not remember. It is better for him to not say anything further.
As he bids her goodbye and thank her for the coffee, he hugs her tight.
"Friends?" He whispers to her hair.
"Always," she mutters back.
---
On the latest train back home, Jun checks his phone and finds 3 incoming mail he hasn't read yet.
From: Oguri Shun
To: Matsumoto Jun
Fine, you can go after her.
AFTER you clear it up with Makino.
From: Inoue Mao
To: Matsumoto Jun
On second thought,
I think it is not such a good idea
for me to be your date again
for your double date with Minako and Sakurai-san.
Gomen ne..
From: Hanazono Minako
To: Matsumoto Jun
I will be waiting for the next Double Date itinerary!
Please be my Cupid!
Jun sighs and starts to type;
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Oguri Shun
I've cleared it up.
But you are so paranoid over my charm to girls.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Inoue Mao
I understand.
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Hanazono Minako
Patience is a virtue.
Jun puts his phone back to his pocket and stare outside of the train's window, to the darkness of the underground.
Somehow, the darkness pulls him in. His eyes are on the verge of shutting down into a sleep.
The darkness is so inviting he feels he could just wake up 7 years later.
But not just yet, he still needs to persuade Sho-kun first. He wonders how. He knows Sho-kun inside out, and he just knows that he wouldn't want to have a blind date with a random fan without a damn good reason.
He laughs at himself a bit. Why does he care so much in doing this?
He thinks for a while before pulling out his mobile phone again, typing another message;
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Ninomiya Kazunari
Neen, I need your help.
From: Ninomiya Kazunari
To: Matsumoto Jun
Does it involve money?
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Ninomiya Kazunari
No. But it involves some reverse psychology and strategic thinking *wink*
From: Ninomiya Kazunari
To: Matsumoto Jun
I excel at both.
So I'm in :D
Continue to Chapter 5