[One shot ]Jun and his pet peeve
So, here is an one-shot which I have had on my pc for a while. I finished it today and decided to post it.
Title: Jun and his pet peeve
Pairing: Jun x oc
Genre: Romance, sap
Rating: PG 13 for kissing
Length: 4012 words.
Enjoy.
Jun and his pet peeve~
‘ano, Sumi-san’ she heard a familiar voice. It was Sakurai. He came into the kitchen seldomly, her own realm, where nobody ever interfered unless they wanted to taste hell’s wrath. But the son of the house was always welcome. In his teenage days, when he came back home late from dance lessons, she was always up to prepare the starved boy some food.
‘What is it, Sakurai-san?’ Just because she knew him all along, she never became informal with him, even if he asked her to do so countless times. This was her job.
‘Today, we will have guests. I just wanted to inform you.’ - ‘Nothing special, deshou? I always prepare for more than 3 people you know. How many are coming?’ - ‘Just 2. So dishes for 3 persons will be enough… wait, Aiba-chan is coming… maybe you should prepare for 5.’ Both laughed.
‘Aiba-san is coming? This will be a fun evening for you.’ - ‘Yes and Jun is coming, too.’ - ‘Oh.’
Both knew what this meant. Jun is a psychic when it comes to food cooked by someone younger and more inexperienced than him. Yes, she was a maid in the Sakurai household for a very long time. Her mother had been a maid there also and she was introduced to the work during elementary school. As cleaning rooms was not her specialty, she switched to cooking and when she was in her second year of middle school she managed the whole kitchen by herself.
Every time, really every time, a certain person came to visit and dinner or lunch, he would check the kitchen and ingredients beforehand. It was CRAZY! As if she wasn’t able to keep a clean kitchen or to work like she is supposed to do. Sho had his thoughts about it, but he kept silent.
‘I know.’ He said. ‘Uhn, yes. I am already used to that.’ She replied. ‘When will they come?’ - ‘In about 30 minutes.’ - ‘Ok, then… uhm… could you leave, so I can make the preparations?’ She liked him like an older brother but in the kitchen he was… well … how to put that mildly… a danger to himself and the ones around him (and the food!) He understood what she was implying and left.
Sometime later, the doorbell rang. She heard Aiba’s cheery laughter and Jun’s deep scolding voice. She laughed into herself and continued to chop the vegetables.
They all settled in Sakurai’s room and obviously some bottles of alcohol were opened. When she heard feet shuffling over her head she knew what was to happen next.
Just an instant later, Sho came in with Jun behind him.
‘Hello Sumi-chan’ he greeted me.
‘Hello, Matsumoto-san.’
‘Jun is okay, how long do we know each other?’
‘Jun, you know that she won’t do that. She isn’t even calling ME by my name and I know her longer than you do.’ Sho said. ‘That’s right…’ she mumbled to herself.
‘So, what are you doing today?’ he continued. Sho was discreet enough to leave. He knows that she cannot stand it when people watched her being scolded. This has happened only once and that was because she had a cold and could not smell or taste anything. The result was an over salted rice and a disgusting soup plus her most embarrassing moment in life.
‘Well, let’s see… we have rice, miso soup, grilled fish, kimchi for the spicy fans, a huge salad ‘ - ‘Wait, how many dishes are this…?’ He interrupted her. ‘Enough for all of you’ she replied with a smile. She knew him very well and that knowledge included that he always wanted that there is enough for all of them.
Today, she put extra care to her preparations… at least as much as she could manage in those meager 30 minutes which lay between being informed and being interrogated.
There was a little pause in which nobody said anything. She took it as a sign that he had nothing more to say and resumed her work. Suddenly, she felt something. He was standing right behind her, watching her movements closely. ‘It cannot be…’ she thought.
‘I’m sorry, but I need to move.’ She said as calm as she could. She didn’t want to know him that her voice was shaking. Somehow his presence made her nervous. It never did before. Well, he never was so close to her, before. Nobody EVER was so close to her. She kept her distance to the other gender, out of good reasons. Her father left before she was even born and many more…
He did not budge. She got more and more nervous so that her hands started to shake. She tried to chop properly, but then the knife fell out of her hands.
‘Shit; I’m sorry.’ She quickly spurted and bent down, to pick it up. But another hand was quicker.
Hands touched each other. Eyes met and a glance was exchanged. Like a gun she snapped her hand back ‘Sorry’ she mumbled.
‘No need to be sorry. Here is the knife. Be careful with it, you can cut yourself easily.’
‘I KNOW how to use a knife!’ she snapped back faster than she wanted. It sounded uncommonly harsh. She didn’t like being lectured.
‘Calm down.’ He said. She took the knife and wanted to resume the chopping. She still wasn’t done with the vegetables for the salad and needed to finish that soon.
The moment she wanted to continue, she felt him wrap his arms around her waist and taking her hand into his. He was now holding the knife and chopping.
‘See, this is how you do it properly.’ He whispered in her ear. This was too much for her. She didn’t like the way he acted. She hated the way he behaved towards her. She was on the verge of taking the knife and stabbing him immediately.
Unfortunately, Sho came in to call Jun out. He felt that Jun was in the kitchen long enough to bully his housemaid. What he saw there made him freeze. He already had an idea that Jun had taken a liking to Sumi. But that he would go so far… no way. He wanted to call out loud for Jun but when he saw Sumi’s face, he stopped himself. She was blushing. He never saw her blush before. ‘Maybe… she is falling for him…?’ he thought. He smirked and had a plan in his head.
‘Oi, Jun!’ he called. ‘Would you please stop groping our servants? We want her to finish it, right?’
As soon as he heard Sho’s voice, he let go of her immediately.
He rushed to the door and left. Sho stared back to him and frowned.
‘Did something happen?’ he asked Sumi. ‘No, nothing.’ She replied. A big fat lie and both knew it. Sho didn’t want to interfere so he let it be.
When he had left and she was alone again, slowly tears began to spill. She wondered why. Was it because her heart ached or because she was cutting vegetables? But there were no onions today.
A bit later, she was finished and arranged the food nicely in the eating room. When she was satisfied, she went upstairs to Sho’s room and knocked.
She heard ruffling and someone going to the door. Sho opened the door. ‘Dinner is ready. It is down in the dinner room’ - ‘Thanks! We are starving!’ he exclaimed and went downstairs. The other two heard the ‘talk’ and followed Sho.
Jun lingered a bit behind, turning his head to her. ‘For what happened before… I’m sorry.’ he whispered and went on.
She sighed and retreated to the kitchen. There, she started to clean up when suddenly Sho came in. ‘I am sorry, but could you please prepare the bathroom? I think I want to take a bath after dinner. I know it is not your job, but…’ - ‘Ok, no problem.’ She replied with a smile.
When he went back, he grinned. ‘My plan is perfect! The only thing I need now is how to make Jun take a bath here.’ were his thoughts.
Dinner was finished a long time ago and so were 2 bottles of sake… Aiba was already sleepy and made his way to the couch in the living room. Jun wanted to excuse himself for the bathroom when Sho had his genius stroke! ‘Jun, you need to take the big bathroom on the ground floor, there is something wrong with the flushing upstairs.’ - ‘Oh, okay. Thanks.’
No knowing that Sumi was inside the bathroom, doing some last minute cleaning, getting towels ready and getting the water in and warm, he went inside. He saw a shadow moving inside, wondering who it could be.
Sho still sat at the dinner table, thinking of what will possibly happen. He knew that Jun just wanted to spend some time alone with her. The longer he kept thinking about it, the more sense it made to him. Every time he asked Jun over to dinner or lunch, he eyes had a certain sparkle which he couldn’t explain. ‘What an idiot I was’ he said to himself. But now, he made sure they had some time for themselves. Nobody would disturb Jun is the bathroom, unless you are a suicidal person on drugs, not feeling pain or hearing curses.
After having relieved himself and washed his hands, he went over to the bathing part of the room. He wondered who could possibly in there, knowing that Sho’s siblings and parents were out. The only person possible could be Sumi. But why should she be inside?
There was only one way to find out.
Sumi hummed a little tune to her as she scrubbed the bath tub before letting the hot water in. She knew that Sho appreciated it when the water was fresh. She took out some towels from the cupboard and laid them next to the mirror. That was when she noticed somebody being in the room, too. She was confused, because this was mostly used for bathing, not for going to the toilet. There was a smaller and more comfortable washroom on the first floor.
She was finished and wanted to get out. The moment when she wanted to open the sliding door which separated the two parts of the room, someone did it before her and she grasped air instead of the door. This startled her and she lost her balance. But before she fell, she was caught in a pair of arms. Strong arms. Because this person was surprised by this sudden burden, he stumbled himself and fell over. But not letting the person in his arms touch the tiled floor. Protecting, he held her head in his hand, while the other was on her back. Before both realized it, they were lying on the floor, he on top of her, hugging her tightly.
When she realized what had happened, she stiffened up and blushed. ‘Matsumoto-san… I need to…’ she started but she could say no more. Soft lips planted themselves on hers. Eyes wide in shock of the sudden sensation, she gasped. The person she thought who hated her most was kissing her! He moved slowly and kissed her with pure gentleness, as she began to close her eyes … when he suddenly pulled back. He looked into her eyes, seeking for assurance. Looking for any sign that says that she is ok with what he is doing here. He didn’t even know why on earth he did that. It just happened - and it simply felt good. His eyes were lost in hers. The profound dark brown eyes of hers were showing no reluctance. He moved forwards without haste, before their lips met again; this time both parties participating.
His hands were cupping her face, touching her soft skin, something he yearned for since they met for the first time. He was fascinated by her slender figure, her sharp tongue and not to forget - her wonderful cooking. The truth was that he never had anything to complain about her food but he needed some excuse to see her… and these chances were only available in the Sakurai’s household where she worked. He didn’t know that Sho was suspicious of him.
This was too good to be real. When both broke away from the kiss to catch some air, she asked.
‘Why? Why me?’ - ‘I don’t know.’ He answered truthfully, while stroking her hair absentmindedly.
‘Since when?’ she asked. ‘Since the first time I met you’ he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver over her spine.
‘I should get going. And Sakurai-san will be wondering where you are.’ She said firmly and pushed him off her. He frowned and wondered whether she meant what she said. ‘But…’ his attempt to speak was overridden when she put a light kiss on his lips, immediately blushing afterwards. ‘Later. Not now. I need to work. You need to keep your friend company.’ She stated as a matter of fact. He just nodded and left, but not before asking: ‘When will I see you again?’ - ‘You know where my room is, right? We can talk later.’ Of course he did. He knew the Sakurai’s house very well. And he knew enough to know that the servant’s rooms were usually off border for guests. He smiled and went on.
Sumi needed some time to get her thoughts collected. The super DoS idol Matsumoto Jun kissed her. He told her he liked her. Well he didn’t say that precisely but his actions told that in one way or another. He said he wanted to see her again… She told him where her room was. Oh Yabai. What if he thought she was going to do that with him… she knew she started to panic because her thoughts ran away… she stood up and left the bath when Sho ran into her. By her startled appearance he could tell his plan was successful. ‘The bath is ready.’ She stuttered nervously. ‘Oh yes, thank you very much.’ - ‘Where are the others?’ - ‘Well, Aiba is drunk, so he’s sleeping. Jun is … well, I don’t know where he is but he can occupy himself very well, so I don’t worry. Maybe you want to keep him company?’ he knew he teased her with the last sentence. ‘Ah, no, I still need to clean up the kitchen and…’ -‘ That was a joke’ - ‘Oh… OH! Sorry! I didn’t know…’ - ‘It is okay. Well, then I will be going.’
Back in her kitchen, she began to wash up the dishes Sho took in the kitchen when she was in the bath. There were a lot of dirty dishes to be cleaned and put away. It will get late tonight, she thought with a sigh as she pulled up her sleeves to soak her hands in the soapy water. Thinking of her rare day off the next day, she began.
It was already past midnight when she was finished in the kitchen. Dead tired she went upstairs to her room. It was only one of the comforts being an employee of the Sakurai’s. You get a room for yourself own under the roof when you want it. No rent is demanded and she can lock herself in when she wants to. And the fact that it is under the roof guaranteed her and the rest of the family privacy. She exchanged her work clothes with her sleeping top and pants and took her toothbrush. The servants even had a little washroom for their personal use. Considering the fact that there are only two maids living here, it was comfortable.
All of a sudden, she heard footsteps on the stairs. ‘It can’t be him…’she thought. She peeked through the keyhole and saw a male figure standing in the narrow hallway.
‘Sumi-chan’ she heard and she was relieved that it was Sho, not Jun. ‘Yes!’ she replied. ‘Bathroom, you can come in.’ He came in and stood in front of her while she was still brushing her teeth. ‘What is it?’ she managed to mumble through the toothpaste. ‘He likes you.’ Sho stated. She nearly choked on the foam. After a few coughs she was able to reply. ‘What do you mean?’ - ‘Come on, even a blind person can see that he has fallen for you a long time ago.’ - ‘…’ - ‘So, what did really happen back there in the bathroom. Your face was a tomato and Jun has never been so fidgety even when drunk. Something must have happened.’ - ‘…’ - ‘Why don’t you tell me? Am I that untrustworthy?’ he asked with a puppy’s look on his face. ‘Well… we… sort of… kissed.’ - ‘WHAT????’ - ‘Shhh!!!!!’ - ‘Oh, sorry, he kissed you? And then?’ - ‘I sort of kissed him back…’ - ‘So you like him too? - ‘I don’t know…’
‘It is just…’ she tried to say something but he interrupted her. ‘Listen, I do not want to leave the impression that I oppose this. I think it would be nice if you were a couple. Just think it over properly. I do not want you to push yourself into something you do not want. Okay?’ - ‘Okay’ she said and nodded. ‘And maybe you will have a visitor this night.’ Sho said before he left with a wink.
‘Ehh?!’
Just when she was about to go to bed, someone knocked on her door. Thinking that it was Sho again, she opened the door swiftly, staggering back as she realized who it was.
‘Ma-Matsumoto-san, what are you doing here?’ she asked straightforwardly. ‘It’s late.’
‘I know.’ he answered. ‘May I come in?’
She made place for him to enter.
‘Seems cosy in here.’ he plopped on her bed. ‘Why are you here?’ she asked back.
‘You look good in that attire. It’s different from your maid’s outfit.’ He pointed to her uniform which was on a hanger.
‘Why are you here?’ she repeated. He stood up and walked up to her. He embraced her from behind and she did not fight back. ‘You told me to come here later so we could talk.’ - ‘You’re drunk’ she stated as a matter of fact. ‘Alcohol does not affect my memory’ he retorted. There was a pause.
‘I like you’ he then said.
She stiffed in his embrace. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. Why does he make me feel this way? She thought. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, so fast she was afraid he could hear or feel it.
‘I like you’ he repeated. ‘I heard you the first time.’ she retorted. The words came out harsher than she intended them to be. She heard him sigh. ‘I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to sound like that’ she tried to defend herself. She wound herself around in his embrace to face him. She looked up at him and opened her mouth again to continue. Before she could even utter a word, she was silenced by a kiss. A kiss so gentle, loving and simply good that she closed her eyes and forgot what she wanted to say.
A few minutes of kissing later, they broke apart. Jun cradled her head in his arms and sighed. He sat back down on the bed and took Sumi by the wrist to tag along.
He yanked her towards him and made her sit on his lap which embarrassed her. ‘Matsumoto-san, I-‘ - ‘Why am I still ‘Matsumoto’ to you?’ he interrupted her. ‘Uhm…I, ehm…’ she stopped for a moment, then ‘I’m sorry. I’m not used to call anyone by their first names.’ - ‘Then you will have to practice. I want you to call me Jun.’
‘Okay…. J- Jun.’ she said with her face coloring in a very pretty shape of red.
‘So what did you want to say before?’ he asked.
‘I… just wanted to know what we are now. You… you hugged me in the kitchen, then you apologize for that later’, she began to enumerate, ‘you prevented me from crashing my head in the bathroom, you kissed me there, then we meet here and you kissed me again after telling me that you like me. What… what exactly are we?’
Chuckling at her flustered face and demeanor, Jun took her face into his hands. They’re warm she thought.
‘I don’t know… a couple maybe?’ he answered questioningly in a low voice, barely audible.
A smile crept on Sumi’s face, and she smiled ardently at him. ‘That sounds nice’ she said and shifted her weight so that Jun fell with his back first on her bed. He still had her in his hands so she fell along with him. When she settled next to him (she didn’t like straddling him just because it would seem so awkward), his arms on her waist, his gaze on her face, she continued ‘That’d be very nice, if….’ she paused. ‘Yeah, if what?’ he continued for her, fondling the skin of her arm. ‘If… if we were a couple…’ she said in a very small voice. ‘And why is that so?’ Jun teased. Sumi blushed and averted her eyes away from him. She bit her lips, pondering about what to answer him. ‘Because… I like you too…?’ - ‘Why does that sound like a question?’ Jun laughed. ‘Are you that unsure?’ - ‘No, I’m not… it is just that… it comes so fast all of this. I always thought you hated me and I thought I hate you too, because you hated me and… oh lord, I’m blabbering….’ - ‘Yes, that you certainly are.’ he chuckled again and took her into his arms.
‘I don’t want to rush you. Don’t do anything that you will regret sometimes.’ - ‘Thank you.’ - ‘What for?’ - ‘For being open and considerate. Not every man is like you.’ - ‘Did you make bad experiences?’ Jun asked, his mind now being fully awake after he felt himself drift to sleep slowly because she felt so soft and warm and cozy… ‘There was once a guy I liked. That was when I was still in high school. I told him how I felt and then he… well… he wanted to use my feelings for him even though he had none for me.’ - ‘Did anything happen?’ Jun’s voice was full of concern. ‘No, he just made me pay the times when we were out. I thought it was okay, because I was the one asking him out and so… When he wanted me to go to a hotel with him, I refused.’ Jun’s eyes widened at the word ‘hotel’ but his face softened when he heard the word ‘refused’. ‘After that he never exchanged a word with me anymore. I guess that is why I think you’re a gentleman.’ Now it was Jun’s time to blush. ‘Thank you.’
Again, Sumi shifted and gave Jun a kiss on his lips. He was startled, but seemingly happy. ‘Maybe… we could start dating?’ she supposed. ‘Sounds like a good idea’ he said when his lips once more found hers.
Shortly after that, both fell asleep. It had been late, both were tired and being so comfortable with each other was taking its toll. In the middle of the night, around 3, Jun woke up once because he was shivering. We fell asleep on top of the covers…he thought. He carefully shifted her sleeping figure so he could reach the blanket and draped it over them. Being warm, having her in his arms, completely contented, he fell asleep again.
The next morning
Sumi woke up suddenly, throwing the covers away from her while lifting her torso up the bed. She blinked twice or thrice until she remembered that today was her day off. She checked her clock and saw it was only 5 in the morning. She smiled to herself, liking the thought that she could sleep in a bit. When she shifted to get into another sleeping position, she felt an arm on her waist. He gaze landed on the person who fell asleep with her the night before. Gazing at him lovingly, she removed a stray strand of hair from his face. She caressed his cheek, positioning her beside him. Snuggling against him once more, inhaling his perfume, she fell asleep once more.
thank you for reading. critizism is appreciated.
Title: Jun and his pet peeve
Pairing: Jun x oc
Genre: Romance, sap
Rating: PG 13 for kissing
Length: 4012 words.
Enjoy.
Jun and his pet peeve~
‘ano, Sumi-san’ she heard a familiar voice. It was Sakurai. He came into the kitchen seldomly, her own realm, where nobody ever interfered unless they wanted to taste hell’s wrath. But the son of the house was always welcome. In his teenage days, when he came back home late from dance lessons, she was always up to prepare the starved boy some food.
‘What is it, Sakurai-san?’ Just because she knew him all along, she never became informal with him, even if he asked her to do so countless times. This was her job.
‘Today, we will have guests. I just wanted to inform you.’ - ‘Nothing special, deshou? I always prepare for more than 3 people you know. How many are coming?’ - ‘Just 2. So dishes for 3 persons will be enough… wait, Aiba-chan is coming… maybe you should prepare for 5.’ Both laughed.
‘Aiba-san is coming? This will be a fun evening for you.’ - ‘Yes and Jun is coming, too.’ - ‘Oh.’
Both knew what this meant. Jun is a psychic when it comes to food cooked by someone younger and more inexperienced than him. Yes, she was a maid in the Sakurai household for a very long time. Her mother had been a maid there also and she was introduced to the work during elementary school. As cleaning rooms was not her specialty, she switched to cooking and when she was in her second year of middle school she managed the whole kitchen by herself.
Every time, really every time, a certain person came to visit and dinner or lunch, he would check the kitchen and ingredients beforehand. It was CRAZY! As if she wasn’t able to keep a clean kitchen or to work like she is supposed to do. Sho had his thoughts about it, but he kept silent.
‘I know.’ He said. ‘Uhn, yes. I am already used to that.’ She replied. ‘When will they come?’ - ‘In about 30 minutes.’ - ‘Ok, then… uhm… could you leave, so I can make the preparations?’ She liked him like an older brother but in the kitchen he was… well … how to put that mildly… a danger to himself and the ones around him (and the food!) He understood what she was implying and left.
Sometime later, the doorbell rang. She heard Aiba’s cheery laughter and Jun’s deep scolding voice. She laughed into herself and continued to chop the vegetables.
They all settled in Sakurai’s room and obviously some bottles of alcohol were opened. When she heard feet shuffling over her head she knew what was to happen next.
Just an instant later, Sho came in with Jun behind him.
‘Hello Sumi-chan’ he greeted me.
‘Hello, Matsumoto-san.’
‘Jun is okay, how long do we know each other?’
‘Jun, you know that she won’t do that. She isn’t even calling ME by my name and I know her longer than you do.’ Sho said. ‘That’s right…’ she mumbled to herself.
‘So, what are you doing today?’ he continued. Sho was discreet enough to leave. He knows that she cannot stand it when people watched her being scolded. This has happened only once and that was because she had a cold and could not smell or taste anything. The result was an over salted rice and a disgusting soup plus her most embarrassing moment in life.
‘Well, let’s see… we have rice, miso soup, grilled fish, kimchi for the spicy fans, a huge salad ‘ - ‘Wait, how many dishes are this…?’ He interrupted her. ‘Enough for all of you’ she replied with a smile. She knew him very well and that knowledge included that he always wanted that there is enough for all of them.
Today, she put extra care to her preparations… at least as much as she could manage in those meager 30 minutes which lay between being informed and being interrogated.
There was a little pause in which nobody said anything. She took it as a sign that he had nothing more to say and resumed her work. Suddenly, she felt something. He was standing right behind her, watching her movements closely. ‘It cannot be…’ she thought.
‘I’m sorry, but I need to move.’ She said as calm as she could. She didn’t want to know him that her voice was shaking. Somehow his presence made her nervous. It never did before. Well, he never was so close to her, before. Nobody EVER was so close to her. She kept her distance to the other gender, out of good reasons. Her father left before she was even born and many more…
He did not budge. She got more and more nervous so that her hands started to shake. She tried to chop properly, but then the knife fell out of her hands.
‘Shit; I’m sorry.’ She quickly spurted and bent down, to pick it up. But another hand was quicker.
Hands touched each other. Eyes met and a glance was exchanged. Like a gun she snapped her hand back ‘Sorry’ she mumbled.
‘No need to be sorry. Here is the knife. Be careful with it, you can cut yourself easily.’
‘I KNOW how to use a knife!’ she snapped back faster than she wanted. It sounded uncommonly harsh. She didn’t like being lectured.
‘Calm down.’ He said. She took the knife and wanted to resume the chopping. She still wasn’t done with the vegetables for the salad and needed to finish that soon.
The moment she wanted to continue, she felt him wrap his arms around her waist and taking her hand into his. He was now holding the knife and chopping.
‘See, this is how you do it properly.’ He whispered in her ear. This was too much for her. She didn’t like the way he acted. She hated the way he behaved towards her. She was on the verge of taking the knife and stabbing him immediately.
Unfortunately, Sho came in to call Jun out. He felt that Jun was in the kitchen long enough to bully his housemaid. What he saw there made him freeze. He already had an idea that Jun had taken a liking to Sumi. But that he would go so far… no way. He wanted to call out loud for Jun but when he saw Sumi’s face, he stopped himself. She was blushing. He never saw her blush before. ‘Maybe… she is falling for him…?’ he thought. He smirked and had a plan in his head.
‘Oi, Jun!’ he called. ‘Would you please stop groping our servants? We want her to finish it, right?’
As soon as he heard Sho’s voice, he let go of her immediately.
He rushed to the door and left. Sho stared back to him and frowned.
‘Did something happen?’ he asked Sumi. ‘No, nothing.’ She replied. A big fat lie and both knew it. Sho didn’t want to interfere so he let it be.
When he had left and she was alone again, slowly tears began to spill. She wondered why. Was it because her heart ached or because she was cutting vegetables? But there were no onions today.
A bit later, she was finished and arranged the food nicely in the eating room. When she was satisfied, she went upstairs to Sho’s room and knocked.
She heard ruffling and someone going to the door. Sho opened the door. ‘Dinner is ready. It is down in the dinner room’ - ‘Thanks! We are starving!’ he exclaimed and went downstairs. The other two heard the ‘talk’ and followed Sho.
Jun lingered a bit behind, turning his head to her. ‘For what happened before… I’m sorry.’ he whispered and went on.
She sighed and retreated to the kitchen. There, she started to clean up when suddenly Sho came in. ‘I am sorry, but could you please prepare the bathroom? I think I want to take a bath after dinner. I know it is not your job, but…’ - ‘Ok, no problem.’ She replied with a smile.
When he went back, he grinned. ‘My plan is perfect! The only thing I need now is how to make Jun take a bath here.’ were his thoughts.
Dinner was finished a long time ago and so were 2 bottles of sake… Aiba was already sleepy and made his way to the couch in the living room. Jun wanted to excuse himself for the bathroom when Sho had his genius stroke! ‘Jun, you need to take the big bathroom on the ground floor, there is something wrong with the flushing upstairs.’ - ‘Oh, okay. Thanks.’
No knowing that Sumi was inside the bathroom, doing some last minute cleaning, getting towels ready and getting the water in and warm, he went inside. He saw a shadow moving inside, wondering who it could be.
Sho still sat at the dinner table, thinking of what will possibly happen. He knew that Jun just wanted to spend some time alone with her. The longer he kept thinking about it, the more sense it made to him. Every time he asked Jun over to dinner or lunch, he eyes had a certain sparkle which he couldn’t explain. ‘What an idiot I was’ he said to himself. But now, he made sure they had some time for themselves. Nobody would disturb Jun is the bathroom, unless you are a suicidal person on drugs, not feeling pain or hearing curses.
After having relieved himself and washed his hands, he went over to the bathing part of the room. He wondered who could possibly in there, knowing that Sho’s siblings and parents were out. The only person possible could be Sumi. But why should she be inside?
There was only one way to find out.
Sumi hummed a little tune to her as she scrubbed the bath tub before letting the hot water in. She knew that Sho appreciated it when the water was fresh. She took out some towels from the cupboard and laid them next to the mirror. That was when she noticed somebody being in the room, too. She was confused, because this was mostly used for bathing, not for going to the toilet. There was a smaller and more comfortable washroom on the first floor.
She was finished and wanted to get out. The moment when she wanted to open the sliding door which separated the two parts of the room, someone did it before her and she grasped air instead of the door. This startled her and she lost her balance. But before she fell, she was caught in a pair of arms. Strong arms. Because this person was surprised by this sudden burden, he stumbled himself and fell over. But not letting the person in his arms touch the tiled floor. Protecting, he held her head in his hand, while the other was on her back. Before both realized it, they were lying on the floor, he on top of her, hugging her tightly.
When she realized what had happened, she stiffened up and blushed. ‘Matsumoto-san… I need to…’ she started but she could say no more. Soft lips planted themselves on hers. Eyes wide in shock of the sudden sensation, she gasped. The person she thought who hated her most was kissing her! He moved slowly and kissed her with pure gentleness, as she began to close her eyes … when he suddenly pulled back. He looked into her eyes, seeking for assurance. Looking for any sign that says that she is ok with what he is doing here. He didn’t even know why on earth he did that. It just happened - and it simply felt good. His eyes were lost in hers. The profound dark brown eyes of hers were showing no reluctance. He moved forwards without haste, before their lips met again; this time both parties participating.
His hands were cupping her face, touching her soft skin, something he yearned for since they met for the first time. He was fascinated by her slender figure, her sharp tongue and not to forget - her wonderful cooking. The truth was that he never had anything to complain about her food but he needed some excuse to see her… and these chances were only available in the Sakurai’s household where she worked. He didn’t know that Sho was suspicious of him.
This was too good to be real. When both broke away from the kiss to catch some air, she asked.
‘Why? Why me?’ - ‘I don’t know.’ He answered truthfully, while stroking her hair absentmindedly.
‘Since when?’ she asked. ‘Since the first time I met you’ he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver over her spine.
‘I should get going. And Sakurai-san will be wondering where you are.’ She said firmly and pushed him off her. He frowned and wondered whether she meant what she said. ‘But…’ his attempt to speak was overridden when she put a light kiss on his lips, immediately blushing afterwards. ‘Later. Not now. I need to work. You need to keep your friend company.’ She stated as a matter of fact. He just nodded and left, but not before asking: ‘When will I see you again?’ - ‘You know where my room is, right? We can talk later.’ Of course he did. He knew the Sakurai’s house very well. And he knew enough to know that the servant’s rooms were usually off border for guests. He smiled and went on.
Sumi needed some time to get her thoughts collected. The super DoS idol Matsumoto Jun kissed her. He told her he liked her. Well he didn’t say that precisely but his actions told that in one way or another. He said he wanted to see her again… She told him where her room was. Oh Yabai. What if he thought she was going to do that with him… she knew she started to panic because her thoughts ran away… she stood up and left the bath when Sho ran into her. By her startled appearance he could tell his plan was successful. ‘The bath is ready.’ She stuttered nervously. ‘Oh yes, thank you very much.’ - ‘Where are the others?’ - ‘Well, Aiba is drunk, so he’s sleeping. Jun is … well, I don’t know where he is but he can occupy himself very well, so I don’t worry. Maybe you want to keep him company?’ he knew he teased her with the last sentence. ‘Ah, no, I still need to clean up the kitchen and…’ -‘ That was a joke’ - ‘Oh… OH! Sorry! I didn’t know…’ - ‘It is okay. Well, then I will be going.’
Back in her kitchen, she began to wash up the dishes Sho took in the kitchen when she was in the bath. There were a lot of dirty dishes to be cleaned and put away. It will get late tonight, she thought with a sigh as she pulled up her sleeves to soak her hands in the soapy water. Thinking of her rare day off the next day, she began.
It was already past midnight when she was finished in the kitchen. Dead tired she went upstairs to her room. It was only one of the comforts being an employee of the Sakurai’s. You get a room for yourself own under the roof when you want it. No rent is demanded and she can lock herself in when she wants to. And the fact that it is under the roof guaranteed her and the rest of the family privacy. She exchanged her work clothes with her sleeping top and pants and took her toothbrush. The servants even had a little washroom for their personal use. Considering the fact that there are only two maids living here, it was comfortable.
All of a sudden, she heard footsteps on the stairs. ‘It can’t be him…’she thought. She peeked through the keyhole and saw a male figure standing in the narrow hallway.
‘Sumi-chan’ she heard and she was relieved that it was Sho, not Jun. ‘Yes!’ she replied. ‘Bathroom, you can come in.’ He came in and stood in front of her while she was still brushing her teeth. ‘What is it?’ she managed to mumble through the toothpaste. ‘He likes you.’ Sho stated. She nearly choked on the foam. After a few coughs she was able to reply. ‘What do you mean?’ - ‘Come on, even a blind person can see that he has fallen for you a long time ago.’ - ‘…’ - ‘So, what did really happen back there in the bathroom. Your face was a tomato and Jun has never been so fidgety even when drunk. Something must have happened.’ - ‘…’ - ‘Why don’t you tell me? Am I that untrustworthy?’ he asked with a puppy’s look on his face. ‘Well… we… sort of… kissed.’ - ‘WHAT????’ - ‘Shhh!!!!!’ - ‘Oh, sorry, he kissed you? And then?’ - ‘I sort of kissed him back…’ - ‘So you like him too? - ‘I don’t know…’
‘It is just…’ she tried to say something but he interrupted her. ‘Listen, I do not want to leave the impression that I oppose this. I think it would be nice if you were a couple. Just think it over properly. I do not want you to push yourself into something you do not want. Okay?’ - ‘Okay’ she said and nodded. ‘And maybe you will have a visitor this night.’ Sho said before he left with a wink.
‘Ehh?!’
Just when she was about to go to bed, someone knocked on her door. Thinking that it was Sho again, she opened the door swiftly, staggering back as she realized who it was.
‘Ma-Matsumoto-san, what are you doing here?’ she asked straightforwardly. ‘It’s late.’
‘I know.’ he answered. ‘May I come in?’
She made place for him to enter.
‘Seems cosy in here.’ he plopped on her bed. ‘Why are you here?’ she asked back.
‘You look good in that attire. It’s different from your maid’s outfit.’ He pointed to her uniform which was on a hanger.
‘Why are you here?’ she repeated. He stood up and walked up to her. He embraced her from behind and she did not fight back. ‘You told me to come here later so we could talk.’ - ‘You’re drunk’ she stated as a matter of fact. ‘Alcohol does not affect my memory’ he retorted. There was a pause.
‘I like you’ he then said.
She stiffed in his embrace. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. Why does he make me feel this way? She thought. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, so fast she was afraid he could hear or feel it.
‘I like you’ he repeated. ‘I heard you the first time.’ she retorted. The words came out harsher than she intended them to be. She heard him sigh. ‘I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to sound like that’ she tried to defend herself. She wound herself around in his embrace to face him. She looked up at him and opened her mouth again to continue. Before she could even utter a word, she was silenced by a kiss. A kiss so gentle, loving and simply good that she closed her eyes and forgot what she wanted to say.
A few minutes of kissing later, they broke apart. Jun cradled her head in his arms and sighed. He sat back down on the bed and took Sumi by the wrist to tag along.
He yanked her towards him and made her sit on his lap which embarrassed her. ‘Matsumoto-san, I-‘ - ‘Why am I still ‘Matsumoto’ to you?’ he interrupted her. ‘Uhm…I, ehm…’ she stopped for a moment, then ‘I’m sorry. I’m not used to call anyone by their first names.’ - ‘Then you will have to practice. I want you to call me Jun.’
‘Okay…. J- Jun.’ she said with her face coloring in a very pretty shape of red.
‘So what did you want to say before?’ he asked.
‘I… just wanted to know what we are now. You… you hugged me in the kitchen, then you apologize for that later’, she began to enumerate, ‘you prevented me from crashing my head in the bathroom, you kissed me there, then we meet here and you kissed me again after telling me that you like me. What… what exactly are we?’
Chuckling at her flustered face and demeanor, Jun took her face into his hands. They’re warm she thought.
‘I don’t know… a couple maybe?’ he answered questioningly in a low voice, barely audible.
A smile crept on Sumi’s face, and she smiled ardently at him. ‘That sounds nice’ she said and shifted her weight so that Jun fell with his back first on her bed. He still had her in his hands so she fell along with him. When she settled next to him (she didn’t like straddling him just because it would seem so awkward), his arms on her waist, his gaze on her face, she continued ‘That’d be very nice, if….’ she paused. ‘Yeah, if what?’ he continued for her, fondling the skin of her arm. ‘If… if we were a couple…’ she said in a very small voice. ‘And why is that so?’ Jun teased. Sumi blushed and averted her eyes away from him. She bit her lips, pondering about what to answer him. ‘Because… I like you too…?’ - ‘Why does that sound like a question?’ Jun laughed. ‘Are you that unsure?’ - ‘No, I’m not… it is just that… it comes so fast all of this. I always thought you hated me and I thought I hate you too, because you hated me and… oh lord, I’m blabbering….’ - ‘Yes, that you certainly are.’ he chuckled again and took her into his arms.
‘I don’t want to rush you. Don’t do anything that you will regret sometimes.’ - ‘Thank you.’ - ‘What for?’ - ‘For being open and considerate. Not every man is like you.’ - ‘Did you make bad experiences?’ Jun asked, his mind now being fully awake after he felt himself drift to sleep slowly because she felt so soft and warm and cozy… ‘There was once a guy I liked. That was when I was still in high school. I told him how I felt and then he… well… he wanted to use my feelings for him even though he had none for me.’ - ‘Did anything happen?’ Jun’s voice was full of concern. ‘No, he just made me pay the times when we were out. I thought it was okay, because I was the one asking him out and so… When he wanted me to go to a hotel with him, I refused.’ Jun’s eyes widened at the word ‘hotel’ but his face softened when he heard the word ‘refused’. ‘After that he never exchanged a word with me anymore. I guess that is why I think you’re a gentleman.’ Now it was Jun’s time to blush. ‘Thank you.’
Again, Sumi shifted and gave Jun a kiss on his lips. He was startled, but seemingly happy. ‘Maybe… we could start dating?’ she supposed. ‘Sounds like a good idea’ he said when his lips once more found hers.
Shortly after that, both fell asleep. It had been late, both were tired and being so comfortable with each other was taking its toll. In the middle of the night, around 3, Jun woke up once because he was shivering. We fell asleep on top of the covers…he thought. He carefully shifted her sleeping figure so he could reach the blanket and draped it over them. Being warm, having her in his arms, completely contented, he fell asleep again.
The next morning
Sumi woke up suddenly, throwing the covers away from her while lifting her torso up the bed. She blinked twice or thrice until she remembered that today was her day off. She checked her clock and saw it was only 5 in the morning. She smiled to herself, liking the thought that she could sleep in a bit. When she shifted to get into another sleeping position, she felt an arm on her waist. He gaze landed on the person who fell asleep with her the night before. Gazing at him lovingly, she removed a stray strand of hair from his face. She caressed his cheek, positioning her beside him. Snuggling against him once more, inhaling his perfume, she fell asleep once more.
thank you for reading. critizism is appreciated.