[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Thirty - Three: First Night in a Man's Apartment
Remember when I said that I'm about to end this fic? But since then, I've been updating like it's not ending yet. :p Truth is, I was supposed to end it then but I was struck by an idea that leads to extending the ending. Nevertheless, I think you all liked it though, right? :)
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Chapter Thirty - Three: First TIme in a Man’s Apartment
She was shy to admit it, growing up abroad and all, but at twenty-one years old, Sayumi has never entered nor has she spent a night at a man’s apartment before. As a young teenager, she lived in an all-girls boarding school for over eight years and when she was in university, she chose to spend her free time studying in the library than going to college parties to meet boys. She didn’t have the slightest interest in romance unlike most girls her age, for she grew up wanting to be the best she can be, to make her parents proud.
“I’m not prepared for this overnight, so don’t judge.” Sakurai Sho said defensively as he saw her eyes scanning around his apartment. “I’m gonna tidy it up if I know you’re coming.” He added, handing her a mug of hot tea.
Sakurai Sho’s dwelling place is a spacious penthouse unit in Tokyo’s most upscale residential neighborhood. Grey walls, dark wooden floor, soft lighting and simple pieces of furniture, one can instantly assume that a bachelor is living in this apartment. It’s not very tidy looking as books are messily stack in a corner shelf and newspapers are piled up below the glass center table, but she can see how he struggles to keep this place clean as much as he can with the little free time he gets from his crazy schedule.
“I didn’t expect you for a penthouse unit kind of guy.” She smirked under her mug, inhaling the relaxing minty smell of her tea.
Sho laughed, sitting beside her in the couch. “Penthouse tenants are practically VIPs and are given tighter security. Plus, it’s located a few floors above.” He reasons meaningfully.
She smiled, one that’s not reaching her eyes, a forced one. She sipped on her tea again, momentarily leaving the mug between her lips as she stare blankly into the center table in front of her.
“You’re not going to stay mad at them forever, are you?” Sho mumbled, stroking her cheeks with his fingers.
She shakes her head before she puts down her mug and shifts her gaze to him. “I’m sorry for losing my cool earlier. You’re right, I acted on anger but I was just so upset after finding out what they I did, if you were on my place, I’m sure-”
“I understand. I’d be upset too if I were you.” He cuts her composedly. “Now that you’ve calmed down, I hope you realize their reasons. Your family loves you, Yumi. They just wanted what’s best for you.”
Sayumi sighed before she willingly lets out all the suppressed feelings she had inside since this morning. “Growing up, I’m only sure of one thing I wanted to be- to be the best.” She scrunched up her eyebrow and laughed cautiously.
“I’m a loner, I don’t have friends and I fear people, but I don’t want to be that person. I tried to change but I learned that it wasn’t an overnight process… I entered the boarding school at eleven years old. I didn’t make friends until a year later and I even then, I only made one friend. I tried to be sociable by joining after school clubs and I change clubs every year so I can meet more people. That’s how desperate I am to be accepted.”
She pulled her leg up the couch and shifted her weight to face him.
“I changed my name to so I can be one of them. I kept my real identity to avoid being taken advantaged by others. I want them to accept me for me, not because I’m from a Royal family.”
She eyed him carefully and he nodded understandingly, pulling her gently towards him for a soft kiss on the forehead.
“By the time I moved to Paris, I was so much better. I made friends instantly, I was more comfortable and unrestrained with my surroundings. I finally became this person I wanted to be.”
“Sophie…” Sho mumbled heedlessly.
“Sophie…” She echoed quietly. “I always wanted to be Sophie. She’s happy and confident, she excels on everything she does and she lived an unrestricted life.”
“I only concentrated on one thing all my life, my studies. Excelling in school is one way of determining that you’re the best, right?” A crooked smile appears on her lips. “Well, that’s how I see it… I wanted to be the best because I wanted to prove myself. To prove to the people who doubted me that I can be better than any of them.”
Her eyes met his sympathetic gaze as she gave him an assuring smile.
She heaves a deep sigh while putting strands of her hair on the back of her ears. She looked at him, straight into his eyes as she purses her lips for a small smile. “Nino didn’t judge me when my secret was revealed…” She warily look for the expression on Sho’s face, he looked down repentantly on his hand. “And he didn’t question my intentions even once. He was a true friend.”
“Then I realized that I don’t need to prove myself to anyone. All those years, trying to be this likable person… I shouldn’t have done that. I should have embraced this person... Princess Sayumi. I didn’t have to be so hard on myself. I should have known earlier on that there are those people who will accept me wholeheartedly, I just have to wait for them to come.”
Her hand fell on his as she squeezed it gently. “You doubted me at first but you came around, right? I didn’t have to prove myself to you. You figured it out yourself and for that I am thankful.”
She tilted Sho’s chin up to look at her. “I regret doubting you. I was so stupid to think that-”
She suddenly pressed her lips on his to make him stop talking and apologizing.
“Past is past. You and I are together again now. We only have to live in the present and look forward for what lies ahead in our future.” She said, gently rubbing her thumb on the side of his lips.
“Our future…” He murmured silently and Sayumi instantly knew what he meant by that.
She leaned closer, comfortably resting her head on his chest as he rub a soothing hand on her arms.
“I don’t want to be an Empress.” She firmly declares. “I never wanted to be one.”
“And I don’t want to be an Emperor consort!” He added wittily as they both laughed. “Being an idol is stressing enough!”
She pulled away from his embrace to look at him. “I’m sorry that I pulled you in this problem. It’s like my family is taking away your free will for their own good.”
He shakes his head with a smile. “Your problem is my problem. We’ll get out of it together.” His eyes fell on the glistening rock on her finger as a small smile resides on his lips.
“Speaking of…”He paused and took her hand and swiftly took a closer look on the ring around her finger. “I think I may have found a solution… that is if you agree, of course.” He suddenly turned delightfully shy with the thought of it.
“What is it?” Sayumi asked innocently.
Sho shifted his gaze to her face, expectation is brimming on her eyes. He tightened his hold on her and smiled. “I know you still wanted to accomplish a lot of things, you’re still young, after all. So I wanted to give you the final decision in this.”
He fixed his seating position parallel to her. Face to face, he took both her hands in his trembling one as he soothes himself for what he’s about to say next.
“Sayumi…” He mumbled. He can see that she’s already getting the hunch of it by how she’s beginning to smile with delight. “Will you marry me?” His heart raced faster after he said that. Seeing the big smile plastered on her face as her eyes filled with tears of joy made him feel at ease.
“You’re proposing to me again?” She lengthens the anticipation before she can say the magic word. “How lucky I am to get a proposal twice.” She beamed happily as she saw him getting anxious for an answer.
“I meant sooner.” Sho puts in. “Before the law becomes effective.”
Sayumi inches closer before they faces are just a few centimeters apart. “Yes.” She finally said it and the lump on Sho’s chest finally feels clear. “Even if you asked me to marry you tomorrow, I will say yes. I will marry you anytime, Sakurai Sho.”
Sho reached forward, grabbing her by the waist as he softly laid his lips on hers.
The day may have started in uncertainty, in tears and heartbreaks but it ended in the least way they expected. It’s the start of a bright future waiting for them, a future of their own choices and free will and they are eagerly anticipating the day it becomes official.
----------
Sayumi woke up with the bright sunlight glimmering upon her from the sheer curtains of Sho bedroom. She spins to his side of the bed and reaches out her arm for sign of him but she can only make out the soft fabric of the blanket. Slowly opening her eyes, the first sight she saw was a pillow a few centimeters away from her. The clock reads fifteen minutes before seven in the morning and he is, surprisingly, already out of bed.
She sluggishly crawls out of the thick blanket to look for him. Outside the bedroom door, she can smell coffee brewing. She picks up the first piece of clothing she saw to cover her body as she realized that she’s only in her underwear.
The sight of Sho panicking over breakfast is too amusing for her. The table is set, a coffee maker is placed in the middle and a loaf freshly baked bread beside it. He was frying ham and eggs when she came out and she was glad she decided to do so because Sho and frying pan, or frying for that matter, doesn’t mix at all. The pan is short of cooking oil and the eggs and ham are already sticking to the surface, making it dry and burned. She quickly offered her help and he gladly accepted.
“I decided to talk to my father.” She informs him when they finally started their breakfast. “Calmly this time… I’ll tell him our plans.”
“I’ll come with you.” Sho offered dutifully. If she’s going to tell her father about their plan to get married, he feels obligated to ask for her hand personally.
“I need to see Johnny-san as well. Tell him of our plans-”
“Will he ever accept that?” She cuts him impatiently. “Will he allow you to get married?”
Sho smiled positively. “I think he will.” He answered while taking a sip from his coffee.
The rapid sound of the doorbell startled them as Sayumi eyed him nervously.
“Don’t worry. It’s just my manager.” He stood up to from his seat. “Why are you so jumpy?” He squeezed her shoulders reassuringly. “Stay there, I don’t want him to see you in just my shirt.” He added humorously.
When Sho opened his door, he is dumbfounded to see someone not his manager. He’s not expecting anyone at his door today, especially at this time of the day.
“Why are you so shocked to see me?” The woman in front of him said indifferently. “You should have expected me after you deliberately ignore my calls.”
“I was busy, Mom” He answered nonchalantly. His arm is stretch on the door knob to prevent her from entering.
Sakurai Sho’s mother is simple yet elegant woman. She looks young to have a thirty year old son. Her face, although visible with a few fine lines under her eyes, looks fresh and rejuvenated. She’s wearing a simple make-up and her hair is in a neat bun. She carries herself well with the formal dress shirt she’s wearing, along with a black heels and a signature hand bag.
She pierces him with a glare as he growled under his breath. “We are worried about you, the media-”
“The media have been pestering me for over thirteen years. I can take care of myself now, thank you.” He insisted, unfazed from the door. “Besides, the Jimusho is taking care of it.”
“I don’t need to hear those things, Sho. What I wanted to know is if you are really dating the Princess.”
Sho growled again, this time, loud enough for his mother to hear. “Everyone in this country believes that we are, it’s a shock to hear that you don’t believe it.”
“I will only believe it after I hear it straight from your mouth.” His mother said meaningfully.
Sho sighed and rubbed his forehead irritably. “I will come over for dinner later. Tell everyone to be there.”
His mother’s eyebrow curled in disappointment before she moved her gaze in something else behind him and he can tell that she was surprised by the look on her face.
Nervously, Sho turned around to look at what caught his mother’s attention. Standing in the middle of his living room is Sayumi- barefooted, her hair is tied in a messy pony tail and only an oversized shirt covering her body.
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Chapter Thirty - Three: First TIme in a Man’s Apartment
She was shy to admit it, growing up abroad and all, but at twenty-one years old, Sayumi has never entered nor has she spent a night at a man’s apartment before. As a young teenager, she lived in an all-girls boarding school for over eight years and when she was in university, she chose to spend her free time studying in the library than going to college parties to meet boys. She didn’t have the slightest interest in romance unlike most girls her age, for she grew up wanting to be the best she can be, to make her parents proud.
“I’m not prepared for this overnight, so don’t judge.” Sakurai Sho said defensively as he saw her eyes scanning around his apartment. “I’m gonna tidy it up if I know you’re coming.” He added, handing her a mug of hot tea.
Sakurai Sho’s dwelling place is a spacious penthouse unit in Tokyo’s most upscale residential neighborhood. Grey walls, dark wooden floor, soft lighting and simple pieces of furniture, one can instantly assume that a bachelor is living in this apartment. It’s not very tidy looking as books are messily stack in a corner shelf and newspapers are piled up below the glass center table, but she can see how he struggles to keep this place clean as much as he can with the little free time he gets from his crazy schedule.
“I didn’t expect you for a penthouse unit kind of guy.” She smirked under her mug, inhaling the relaxing minty smell of her tea.
Sho laughed, sitting beside her in the couch. “Penthouse tenants are practically VIPs and are given tighter security. Plus, it’s located a few floors above.” He reasons meaningfully.
She smiled, one that’s not reaching her eyes, a forced one. She sipped on her tea again, momentarily leaving the mug between her lips as she stare blankly into the center table in front of her.
“You’re not going to stay mad at them forever, are you?” Sho mumbled, stroking her cheeks with his fingers.
She shakes her head before she puts down her mug and shifts her gaze to him. “I’m sorry for losing my cool earlier. You’re right, I acted on anger but I was just so upset after finding out what they I did, if you were on my place, I’m sure-”
“I understand. I’d be upset too if I were you.” He cuts her composedly. “Now that you’ve calmed down, I hope you realize their reasons. Your family loves you, Yumi. They just wanted what’s best for you.”
Sayumi sighed before she willingly lets out all the suppressed feelings she had inside since this morning. “Growing up, I’m only sure of one thing I wanted to be- to be the best.” She scrunched up her eyebrow and laughed cautiously.
“I’m a loner, I don’t have friends and I fear people, but I don’t want to be that person. I tried to change but I learned that it wasn’t an overnight process… I entered the boarding school at eleven years old. I didn’t make friends until a year later and I even then, I only made one friend. I tried to be sociable by joining after school clubs and I change clubs every year so I can meet more people. That’s how desperate I am to be accepted.”
She pulled her leg up the couch and shifted her weight to face him.
“I changed my name to so I can be one of them. I kept my real identity to avoid being taken advantaged by others. I want them to accept me for me, not because I’m from a Royal family.”
She eyed him carefully and he nodded understandingly, pulling her gently towards him for a soft kiss on the forehead.
“By the time I moved to Paris, I was so much better. I made friends instantly, I was more comfortable and unrestrained with my surroundings. I finally became this person I wanted to be.”
“Sophie…” Sho mumbled heedlessly.
“Sophie…” She echoed quietly. “I always wanted to be Sophie. She’s happy and confident, she excels on everything she does and she lived an unrestricted life.”
“I only concentrated on one thing all my life, my studies. Excelling in school is one way of determining that you’re the best, right?” A crooked smile appears on her lips. “Well, that’s how I see it… I wanted to be the best because I wanted to prove myself. To prove to the people who doubted me that I can be better than any of them.”
Her eyes met his sympathetic gaze as she gave him an assuring smile.
She heaves a deep sigh while putting strands of her hair on the back of her ears. She looked at him, straight into his eyes as she purses her lips for a small smile. “Nino didn’t judge me when my secret was revealed…” She warily look for the expression on Sho’s face, he looked down repentantly on his hand. “And he didn’t question my intentions even once. He was a true friend.”
“Then I realized that I don’t need to prove myself to anyone. All those years, trying to be this likable person… I shouldn’t have done that. I should have embraced this person... Princess Sayumi. I didn’t have to be so hard on myself. I should have known earlier on that there are those people who will accept me wholeheartedly, I just have to wait for them to come.”
Her hand fell on his as she squeezed it gently. “You doubted me at first but you came around, right? I didn’t have to prove myself to you. You figured it out yourself and for that I am thankful.”
She tilted Sho’s chin up to look at her. “I regret doubting you. I was so stupid to think that-”
She suddenly pressed her lips on his to make him stop talking and apologizing.
“Past is past. You and I are together again now. We only have to live in the present and look forward for what lies ahead in our future.” She said, gently rubbing her thumb on the side of his lips.
“Our future…” He murmured silently and Sayumi instantly knew what he meant by that.
She leaned closer, comfortably resting her head on his chest as he rub a soothing hand on her arms.
“I don’t want to be an Empress.” She firmly declares. “I never wanted to be one.”
“And I don’t want to be an Emperor consort!” He added wittily as they both laughed. “Being an idol is stressing enough!”
She pulled away from his embrace to look at him. “I’m sorry that I pulled you in this problem. It’s like my family is taking away your free will for their own good.”
He shakes his head with a smile. “Your problem is my problem. We’ll get out of it together.” His eyes fell on the glistening rock on her finger as a small smile resides on his lips.
“Speaking of…”He paused and took her hand and swiftly took a closer look on the ring around her finger. “I think I may have found a solution… that is if you agree, of course.” He suddenly turned delightfully shy with the thought of it.
“What is it?” Sayumi asked innocently.
Sho shifted his gaze to her face, expectation is brimming on her eyes. He tightened his hold on her and smiled. “I know you still wanted to accomplish a lot of things, you’re still young, after all. So I wanted to give you the final decision in this.”
He fixed his seating position parallel to her. Face to face, he took both her hands in his trembling one as he soothes himself for what he’s about to say next.
“Sayumi…” He mumbled. He can see that she’s already getting the hunch of it by how she’s beginning to smile with delight. “Will you marry me?” His heart raced faster after he said that. Seeing the big smile plastered on her face as her eyes filled with tears of joy made him feel at ease.
“You’re proposing to me again?” She lengthens the anticipation before she can say the magic word. “How lucky I am to get a proposal twice.” She beamed happily as she saw him getting anxious for an answer.
“I meant sooner.” Sho puts in. “Before the law becomes effective.”
Sayumi inches closer before they faces are just a few centimeters apart. “Yes.” She finally said it and the lump on Sho’s chest finally feels clear. “Even if you asked me to marry you tomorrow, I will say yes. I will marry you anytime, Sakurai Sho.”
Sho reached forward, grabbing her by the waist as he softly laid his lips on hers.
The day may have started in uncertainty, in tears and heartbreaks but it ended in the least way they expected. It’s the start of a bright future waiting for them, a future of their own choices and free will and they are eagerly anticipating the day it becomes official.
----------
Sayumi woke up with the bright sunlight glimmering upon her from the sheer curtains of Sho bedroom. She spins to his side of the bed and reaches out her arm for sign of him but she can only make out the soft fabric of the blanket. Slowly opening her eyes, the first sight she saw was a pillow a few centimeters away from her. The clock reads fifteen minutes before seven in the morning and he is, surprisingly, already out of bed.
She sluggishly crawls out of the thick blanket to look for him. Outside the bedroom door, she can smell coffee brewing. She picks up the first piece of clothing she saw to cover her body as she realized that she’s only in her underwear.
The sight of Sho panicking over breakfast is too amusing for her. The table is set, a coffee maker is placed in the middle and a loaf freshly baked bread beside it. He was frying ham and eggs when she came out and she was glad she decided to do so because Sho and frying pan, or frying for that matter, doesn’t mix at all. The pan is short of cooking oil and the eggs and ham are already sticking to the surface, making it dry and burned. She quickly offered her help and he gladly accepted.
“I decided to talk to my father.” She informs him when they finally started their breakfast. “Calmly this time… I’ll tell him our plans.”
“I’ll come with you.” Sho offered dutifully. If she’s going to tell her father about their plan to get married, he feels obligated to ask for her hand personally.
“I need to see Johnny-san as well. Tell him of our plans-”
“Will he ever accept that?” She cuts him impatiently. “Will he allow you to get married?”
Sho smiled positively. “I think he will.” He answered while taking a sip from his coffee.
The rapid sound of the doorbell startled them as Sayumi eyed him nervously.
“Don’t worry. It’s just my manager.” He stood up to from his seat. “Why are you so jumpy?” He squeezed her shoulders reassuringly. “Stay there, I don’t want him to see you in just my shirt.” He added humorously.
When Sho opened his door, he is dumbfounded to see someone not his manager. He’s not expecting anyone at his door today, especially at this time of the day.
“Why are you so shocked to see me?” The woman in front of him said indifferently. “You should have expected me after you deliberately ignore my calls.”
“I was busy, Mom” He answered nonchalantly. His arm is stretch on the door knob to prevent her from entering.
Sakurai Sho’s mother is simple yet elegant woman. She looks young to have a thirty year old son. Her face, although visible with a few fine lines under her eyes, looks fresh and rejuvenated. She’s wearing a simple make-up and her hair is in a neat bun. She carries herself well with the formal dress shirt she’s wearing, along with a black heels and a signature hand bag.
She pierces him with a glare as he growled under his breath. “We are worried about you, the media-”
“The media have been pestering me for over thirteen years. I can take care of myself now, thank you.” He insisted, unfazed from the door. “Besides, the Jimusho is taking care of it.”
“I don’t need to hear those things, Sho. What I wanted to know is if you are really dating the Princess.”
Sho growled again, this time, loud enough for his mother to hear. “Everyone in this country believes that we are, it’s a shock to hear that you don’t believe it.”
“I will only believe it after I hear it straight from your mouth.” His mother said meaningfully.
Sho sighed and rubbed his forehead irritably. “I will come over for dinner later. Tell everyone to be there.”
His mother’s eyebrow curled in disappointment before she moved her gaze in something else behind him and he can tell that she was surprised by the look on her face.
Nervously, Sho turned around to look at what caught his mother’s attention. Standing in the middle of his living room is Sayumi- barefooted, her hair is tied in a messy pony tail and only an oversized shirt covering her body.