[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Three: The Perfect Way To End A Perfect Day
Hello guys! :)) I'm sorry that this took longer to update than the usual but I'm sure this chapter will be worth the wait. *wink* *wink*
Oh! Did you guys notice the new layout?? LOL. :))
As always, this is unbeta-ed so do tell if you spotted errors or mistakes. Comments, reactions, suggestions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! XD
Chapter Three: The Perfect Way To End A Perfect Day
He was never that straightforward to a girl ever. Never did he ask a girl out an hour after they’ve been properly introduced. Maybe it’s because he’s been in the entertainment industry since his teenage years that he’s a bit cautious when it comes to dating. Most girls only show interest because he’s popular and they wanted to ride in that fame. Some girls he dated in the past would go on and on with questions about Arashi or Johnny’s Entertainment or the show business and they would all be amazed at how he’s so dazzling in person. He can’t remember anyone who ever treated him like a normal person.
This girl, Sophie, is different and that makes her special among all those other girls he met in the past. Maybe it’s because she treated him like he’s an ordinary guy she meet in the street, she wasn’t particularly interested his job or did she ever bombarded him with questions about being a celebrity. Or maybe it’s because they are thousand miles away from home, in a place where they can be normal and be their real selves.
He wondered though if he went a bit overboard in asking her out on the same day. After thinking about it, he sounded really into her with that lunch invitation.
Standing in the middle of this neo-classical inspired hotel lobby, Sakurai Sho is anxiously waiting for her to arrive. There’s still fifteen minutes before their agreed time but he figured it’s better to be early than late.
He is nervous, worrying that she might not show up in the end and he’ll be in vain for not asking where she lives or which university she goes to or what her full name is.
But all that worry were washed away instantly when he saw that familiar long, reddish hair beneath the grey beanie, that stylish outfit and the oversized bag. He can feel his heart beat stopped upon meeting her eyes from a far followed by that sweet smiling face. He was completely mesmerized in that few seconds.
“I thought you won’t be here yet, I am pretty early.” Sophie said as she approached him. Sho was motionless until that last word from her.
“I don’t want to be late.” Sho timidly admitted as she smiled as timidly as him. “Let’s go?”
Before they can move a step forward, a voice from behind made Sho’s feet planted on the ground.
“Sho-chan! Where are you going?” A freshly showered Aiba Masaki hurriedly ran over to him and stopped his tracks midway after seeing that he’s got company.
Sho is still undecided on when to tell his friends that he meet that drunk girl again nor will he tell them that he likes her and had asked her out on a date. He knows that not everyone will be glad with that news, especially the easily infuriated Matsumoto Jun.
But now, Sho need not to worry on the right timing or the right words to say, because Aiba Masaki is now gaping at them in shock. Action speaks louder than words, they say.
“You…” Aiba points his finger to Sophie as she shifts gaze to Sho who’s totally lost in this unforeseen meeting. “That girl from last night… you’re that drunk girl, right?” Aiba slowly stride towards them, his eyes are turning into this big, round shape with shock.
“I think that’s me…” Sophie shyly said. “My name is Sophie.” She introduced herself calmly as she extends a hand.
Aiba is totally surprise by the sudden western gesture as he hesitantly took her hand. “Aiba Masaki.”
“Nice to meet you, Masaki.” Just like earlier with Sho, she addressed Aiba with first name, without any honorific which made his eyes even rounder than it already are.
“How- Ehh?... I’m really lost here, Sho-chan.” Aiba puts both hands on his head as he gives Sho as questioning look.
Sho, finally back to his senses, taps Aiba’s shoulder. “I will tell you later, just don’t tell the others first, okay?” He tried to keep his voice lower but Sophie is attentive enough to hear it.
“But the others are on their way down already. We are thinking of going out for lunch when we noticed you’re not around so I came down to look for you.”
That sends alarm to Sho’s mind, he needs to think quickly before the other three reach the lobby and finds out that the drunk girl from last night is here with him.
“Sho, I think I should go.” Sophie decided as the two men shifts their attention to her. “I need to prepare for a big exam anyway.” She gave him a faint smile.
The truth is, it’s not a big exam at all. It’s just a three question essay that her professor on International Human Rights Law likes to give on every end of discussion and if she fully concentrates to the lecture, she can perfect it even without studying beforehand. That excuse is just her own little way to get Sho out of this unexpected happening.
“No. Please stay, I will introduce you to them.” Sho firmly decided. They will find out about her anyways so what’s the use of delaying? The sooner they know, the better. He’s not use to keeping secrets anyways.
As they wait for the other three to arrive, Sho, Aiba and Sophie are accompanied by a deafening silence as no one have the courage to speak. Aiba is obviously in shock at the sudden appearance of this girl and Sho and Sophie are starting to feel the awkward tension in the air. That mere five minute waiting time seems like a long hour.
When Ohno, Nino and Jun appeared from the elevator, the three straighten up their backs with Sho standing between them. Sophie is doing her best to stay poised and Aiba is secretly getting excited at this unexpected reunion just a little more than twelve hours later.
Nino is the first one to notice their female companion as he suddenly grinned from ear to ear, behind him are Jun, who is busy talking on his phone and Ohno, who is too sleepy to notice anything.
“Sho-chan, tell me you didn’t roam around Paris on your own since six in the morning.” Nino smirked, intentionally ignoring the girl beside Sho.
Nino will always be the detective in the group. He notices everything even if he’s drunk or sleeping and ninety percent of the time, his assumptions are spot on.
“I just roam around the area and had breakfast. Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything.”
Nino smirked again. “It seems like I missed everything.” His eyes surveyed the girl beside Sho from head to toe.
Sho and Sophie exchanged a quick meaningful glance to each other before looking away with a smile.
As Jun approached closer, the light and calm atmosphere suddenly rises to a tensed one. Everyone turned uneasy all of a sudden.
Jun quickly comes to a halt, making Ohno, who’s behind him, stop abruptly. He takes time to look at their faces one by one and when he reached the person on the far right, he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Jun points to Sophie, his other hand still clutching his phone on his ear. “No, it’s not you.” He talks to his phone. “I’ll call you later.” He quickly ended his call and slips his phone to his jeans pocket.
Ohno appears beside Jun and the sleepiness from earlier is gone after seeing the person beside his friends. “EH?!?” He pointed at her just like everyone else. “You’re the girl from last night!”
Sophie bites her under lip, apparently, everyone clearly remembers her.
“Exactly!” Jun nods at Ohno as he crossed his arms around his chest. “What is she doing with you guys?” His eyebrows crumpled like tied strings.
“The question is…” Aiba walks beside Jun and just like an unspoken gesture, Nino steps towards Ohno. “What is she doing with Sho-chan.”
Four pairs of eyes are mercilessly scrutinizing them and Sho felt the need to salvage this situation before Sophie gets terrified of his friends’ prying eyes and runs away.
“Calm down, you guys.” Sho raised his palms to pacify his friends. “You might scare her.”
Jun chuckled sarcastically. “She wasn’t scared last night at all when she called me lame.” He narrowed his eyes on her.
“Look.” Sophie came to Sho’s side. If there’s someone who needs to clear this situation, it’s gotta be her, not Sho. “I’m really sorry about last night, my actions are unbecoming and I’m deeply sorry for not controlling my mouth from saying inappropriate words. I know that I ruined your night and you’re probably still mad at me so if there’s anything I can do to pay for it, I will.”
Unlike Sho, Sophie remains calm and composed. Even if she’s nervous inside, it doesn’t really show.
“Sophie, you don’t need to do that.” Sho puts in. She doesn’t really need to go that far in order to please his friends.
“Hontou ni sumimasen deshita!” Sophie bowed 180 degrees and spoke in formal language for the first time to show her sincere apology that shocked the five men around her, especially Sho.
Matsumoto Jun is at loss of words. He can’t remember when was the last time someone bowed to him like that and desperately ask for his forgiveness.
“Sophie, you don’t really need to do that.” Sho reassured, helping her get up on her back.
“My parents taught me good manners and they said that if there’s a need to apologize regardless of how small or big your mistake is, you have to do it sincerely.” Sophie firmly said, not being overwhelmed at Jun’s intimidating presence.
Everyone was waiting for what Jun has to say.
“Well…” Jun started, it was him who broke that stare fest from her. “Bring us to a good place to eat lunch then.” He asked for approval from the others and they nodded dutifully. “Your treat.” He grinned cheekily before walking away to the exit as Aiba, Nino and Ohno followed with evident smiles on their faces.
Sho and Sophie were left unmoved, they didn’t think it’s going to be that easy.
“Is that it?” Sophie asked Sho and he shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll just treat you guys to lunch and he’ll forgive me?”
“I think you hit his soft spot.” Sho lets out a faint laugh. “You’re pretty amazing there.” He can’t help but admire her determination.
Sophie gives a modest laugh and they soon joined the others by the exit.
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They thought that she’s going to bring them to a rather posh and expensive restaurant but instead, she took them to a small café just a few minutes’ walk away from their hotel. They passed through this long market street called Rue Cler occupied with different establishments like a patisserie, butchers, delicatessens, chocolate shops and cafés and their eyes were full just by looking at the wide selection of food stores.
In the middle of this long stretch is a café called Tribeca. Sophie opted for the outdoor table where the January winter breeze gently sweeps through them. She ordered quite a lot and in words they don’t understand as she friendly chats with the waiter in French.
“So…” Nino started as soon as the waiter leaves. “Care to explain, Sho-chan and-” He looks at Sophie, they haven’t been introduced yet.
“It’s Sophie.” She answered.
“Sophie? Is that really your name?” Jun asked nonchalantly as Sophie stiffens up.
“No but for the past eleven years I’m called Sophie by everyone.” She gives a faint smile. “European people find my name hard to pronounce so I changed it.”
So she really doesn’t want to reveal her name, huh? Sho thought. It intrigues him at how she chooses to keep her identity hidden. Just exactly which family does she belong to?
“How did you meet Sho-chan again, Sophie-san?” Nino continued asking.
“I saw her earlier when I was having breakfast.” It was Sho who answered. “We had a good conversation and decided to meet-up again, right?” He smiled at her and she nodded rather shyly.
“Sounds like the start of a blossoming romance to me…” Aiba, who’s seated at the far end of the table whispered to Jun beside him, that didn’t escaped Nino’s ears either. They both laugh as they look at the two confused faces.
Sho cleared his throat. “Sophie, this is Ohno Satoshi.” He began introducing them. “Ninomiya Kazunari and Matsumoto Jun. You know Aiba already, right?”
“It was nice to meet everyone.” She smiled as the three gave a small bow in return.
They continued talking as they ate their lunch. Sophie told them the same thing she said to Sho earlier. They also found out that she migrated to London with her family when she was ten and never visited Japan since. She decided to go to Paris for college and her parents moved back to Japan as soon as she settled in.
The guys also told her some stuff about Arashi and it amuses them at how she doesn’t have the slightest idea on who they are or the fact that she has never heard of Johnny’s Entertainment. She said that she’s not fond of the television and would prefer read books even at a young age. They told her that they’ve been together for almost thirteen years and they have three regular variety shows on TV, they also do dramas and concerts. It thrilled her at how she’s with big celebrities and even joked that maybe their fans would be jealous of her if they find out that she’s having a lazy afternoon with them in the street of Paris. Nino said that she shouldn’t treat that as a joke, most probably, the fans would harass her if they find out. Of course, he exaggerates it.
The members, just like Sho, quickly warmed up to her. She also calls them, Masaki, Satoshi, Jun and Kazu, because she thought Kazunari is too long, which leaves the guys aghast with the sudden casualness. She wittily reasoned out that they are in Europe and people there call each other by first name and they should do the same. In the end, they just let her call them whatever she likes.
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Their lazy afternoon continued at dinner. They got caught up with their conversation that they didn’t notice the time until the sky turned dark already. They didn’t even move restaurants for dinner and just ordered a different menu from earlier.
They all liked Sophie. She’s unpretentious, smart and refined. The total opposite of that girl they thought she is.
“I would love to be your tour guide!” Sophie quickly agrees as soon as Aiba gave the offer. “Even without pay, I would do it!”
“Yeah, it should be without pay since you called me lame.” That once rude comment is now considered as a witty comeback by Jun.
Sophie gave a guarded laugh. “I would even treat you lots, Jun. Just don’t bring up that comment again. It’s embarrassing!” She squeezed her cheeks with her palms.
At eight in the evening, everyone decided to call it a day. Sophie walks them back to the hotel and said their goodnights. They all agreed to meet up again for lunch the next day and to tour around the district.
“Should I walk you home?” Sho offered as soon as his friends are out of sight to avoid the teasing.
Sophie laughs. “You’re talking like you live here.”
“Didn’t you say that you live just a few minutes away from here? I can find my way back.” Sho is serious.
“You don’t need to, Sho. I always walk around this area by myself.”
“I insist.”
“Okay. Just don’t get lost on your way back.” Sophie finally agreed.
“I’m good with directions.” Sho boasted jokingly as they began walking along the wide pavement.
They walk side by side silently, waiting for the other strike a conversation. They can’t deny that they are attracted to each other. The meaningful exchange of glances, the bashful smiles they give to each other, the gentlemanly gesture of bringing her home, they both know it all means something special.
“Did you have fun with the guys?” Sho strikes it first. “I hope you don’t mind the rowdiness.” He laughs.
“Not at all!” She assures him. “They are all nice, even Jun.”
“Ahh… Matsujun is a big DoS, don’t take his jokes seriously.”
“I’m not. If that’s his way of venting out his anger on me then so be it.”
“I don’t think he’s angry anymore. Sometimes, he can just be really aggressive with his words.”
“Oh. Sounds like me.” Sophie grinned as Sho laughs at her comment.
Sho noticed that they are slowly getting near the Eiffel Tower, seeing that it’s almost half now, they can only see the tip from their hotel.
“Do you live near the Eiffel Tower?” Sho wondered.
“Eiffel Tower and I are neighbors.” She smiled. “I see him before I sleep and every morning when I wake up.”
“Wow.” He is amused. “You must be really thrilled when you first got here.”
“Yeah, the first thing I ever did when I got here was to brag to my sister that I can see the Eiffel Tower from my window.” She laughs.
Sho smiled and took a moment to admire the most famous landmark in the world with his bare eyes.
“This is me.” Sophie stops in front of a building. “Thank you for walking me home.” She said as they walk to the entrance.
“Do you live here with your friend?” Sho asked again. “What’s her name again?”
“Ai-chan?” She said and he nodded. “No. She lives in the 8th, in a much bigger apartment but she’s always here anyways. I asked her before to move in with me but she said that my apartment is too small for the two of us. I don’t want to move in to her apartment either because my parents got this for me, I don’t want to abandon it.”
The way she always talks about her family gives Sho the impression that they are pretty tight.
“I wouldn’t keep you long, Sho. You should go back. You need sleep.” Sophie points to his eyes. Since they got to Paris, he only had at least four hours of sleep.
“Okay, I won’t keep you long either, you still have school in the morning.” Sho slips his hand on his pocket. If it was just him, he doesn’t want to end this night and he doesn’t care of he lacks sleep but she needs to prepare for school the next day.
“Goodnight. Thanks again.” Sophie smiled.
“Goodnight.” He smiled shyly before looking down in awkwardness.
They just stand there looking like complete idiots who can’t erase that big grin and the flushed cheeks away.
“I hope you don’t mind if I do this…” Sho finally looks up, moves in slowly and took her by surprise as his lips softly touched hers.
Sophie didn’t move away but rather responsively welcomed his lips.
A sudden noise startled them as they parted lips to look at what may have caused the disturbing sound.
Standing by the entrance door is Sophie’s friend, Ai-chan, eyes wide, mouth slightly open and in total shock with her books scattered on the floor.
**A/N: Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts) and they refer to it simply by 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. So when Sophie said that Ai-chan lives in the 8th, she meant that as the 8th arrondissement. Eiffel Tower and the setting of the past three chapters is in the 7th. :))
Oh yeah, I'm a geek when it come to Paris. Haha! :)))