Chapter Eleven: Game Over
Three pairs of eyes stared at the hand which was continuously stabbing the sausage inside a lunchbox. Yuzu was obviously amused albeit worried at the same time, whereas Naomi and Kazumi were simply curious.
"What's the matter with you, Karin-san?" Naomi asked, gaze not leaving Karin's hand.
Karin frowned as her hand continued with its movement. "Why do you think there's something that matters, Naomi? And with me, no less."
"Eh... maybe because of the fact that you're practically murdering your food, right now?" It was Kazumi who answered.
"No, I don't," Karin answered in a deadpan, her hand had finally stopped torturing the innocent food.
Yuzu raised a brow, looking around the cafeteria. "Or maybe it has something to do with two student leaders sitting a few tables away from us, and chatting happily?" she whispered, audible enough for her companions to hear, as her gaze paused at a specific table where their SC president and vice president were seated together.
Kazumi and Naomi followed Yuzu's line of vision, and both smirked.
"So someone's jealous, huh?" Kazumi conceded, glancing at Karin.
"I am not!" The response came too quick to believe.
"Karin-chan's indeed an easily jealous person," Yuzu said, ignoring her twin's denial, "This reminds me of a certain incident. Remember, Karin-chan, that incident involving a girl named Hinamori?"
Briefly forgetting that they were in a public place, Karin stood and slammed both hands against the table. "I've already told you so many times that I didn't kiss him because I was jealous of his cousin whom I thought was his girlfriend!" Karin stopped just in time to realize that she'd already drawn everyone's attention inside the cafeteria.
She looked around, grunting, until her eyes found those amused sea-greens. When was the time that they weren't amused as they were casted on her, anyway? After giving Toushirou a brief glare, her gaze darted to the woman next to him. Sano offered her a triumphant smirk, and Karin wondered just what in the hell made her look so smug.
"You know what?" Karin directed the words to her sister and classmates, but her eyes were still focused at Toushirou and Sano. "I think I've just lost my appetite."
Without waiting for any reply, she made her way to the exit. She didn't even notice that just as she'd walked away from their table, Toushirou had also stood to follow her.
"So, what was that about?" Karin heard someone ask behind her. She stopped walking and turned around, scowling, as she recognized the voice.
"I don't see the reason why you still need to know about that," she said, crossing her arms.
Toushirou shrugged, then answered, quoting, "I didn't kiss him because I was jealous of his cousin whom I thought was his girlfriend." He stared intently at Karin as he continued, "I suppose that has something to do with me, you and Hinamori. Pray tell, you were jealous of Hinamori because you thought she was my girlfriend, huh? Was that the reason why you kissed me?"
"Don't flatter yourself too much, dude. And, I don't know what you're saying," Karin denied again, but the pink hue on her face was telling otherwise.
And, it was Toushirou whom she was talking to. As expected, he didn't buy her lame reply.
Smirking, Toushirou stepped forward and leaned down, as if examining Karin's face better. "Has anyone ever pointed out that you always have the tendency to turn pink or red every time you're in-denial? Which is really adorable, by the way."
In the midst of their conversation, Karin realized that they were still in the hallway and some students had paused on whatever they'd been doing just to watch the two of them curiously. Karin directed all of her irritation at Toushirou, as she said, "Look you, jackass. I am not in the mood to deal with you right now. So why don't you just go back to your beautiful"—she sneered as the word rolled on her tongue—"vice president. I bet she'd be more than happy to talk and flirt with you."
Her statement hadn't helped to offend Toushirou. If anything, his smirk had just got more evident. "Ah, so you were also jealous at Sano-san, eh? How cute."
Frustrated, Karin screamed, throwing her fists in the air. "I wasn't jealous! I am not jealous! Not with your cousin! Not with your vice president! Not now! Not ever! Damn it!" Noticing that the students were still shamelessly staring at them, she glared. "And what the hell are you all looking at?!"
All the students looked away, afraid to get on the Kurosaki woman's nerve, and pretended to resume what they'd been doing before they'd decided to become one of the nosy onlookers.
Satisfied with their reactions, Karin turned back at Toushirou. "I don't have any reason to be jealous!"
"Of course," Toushirou nodded concedingly, and for a moment Karin thought he'd finally understood her. Boy, had she gotten ahead of herself. "You can't be jealous, Karin. Remember, you're the girl I like?" If there was something that had blown Karin away more than the statement itself, it was the fact that Toushirou had winked at her as he'd told her those words.
What. The. Fuck. He'd freaking winked at her. He was openly flirting. At their school. In the middle of the hallway. Around the students. And speaking of which, Karin was sure she'd just heard gasps from them, and seen most of the girls faint. So much for frightening them to stop staring.
"What the hell, Toushirou. Are you on drugs?" Okay, maybe that wasn't a nice assumption, but what could be the other explanation to his actions? It wasn't as if he was really that flirtatious.
Toushirou smiled, shaking his head. "Now, I'm just trying to get you flushed."
Karin frowned. "And why would you want to do that?"
"Why, I told you before, you're cute when you blush."
Karin groaned. "You... Ah, never mind!" She turned and walked away, grumbling, "Why am I still wasting my time with you."
Just as she turned on the corner, she felt the ground suddenly disappear beneath her. The next thing she knew, she was face-to-face with Toushirou's chest,—or was it face-to-chest then? Grudgingly, she acknowledged the fact Toushirou really had a nice scent. She wouldn't have minded smelling him all day.
"As much as I love watching you have an intimate moment with my shirt, I'm afraid you'll have a trouble breathing if you continue doing that." That was all Karin needed to hear to pull away from it. She glared at Toushirou, but it wavered as she noticed that there was something wrong with her position.
Why the heck was she facing the ceiling now? Confused, she looked at Toushirou then to her hands which were currently grasping his shirt as if her life defended on it, then back at Toushirou's face. As everything occurred to her, her face colored in a beautiful shade of red, much to Toushirou's further amusement. The disappearance of the ground beneath her feet wasn't just her imagination, since Toushirou had taken her into his arms. He was carrying her. Bridal style.
It took her a few more seconds to react about it. "What the hell are you doing, Toushirou?! Put me down!"
Huh, déjà vu much?
Toushirou chuckled as he walked. "Nuh-uh. We really need to talk, Karin."
"There's nothing to talk about!" Karin exclaimed, as she proceeded to hit Toushirou's chest. That was the only thing that she could do to rebel. She'd also considered kicking, but she realized that with her current position and the fact that she was wearing a skirt, it wasn't a good option. She didn't think that flashing her bright red undergarment for the entire school to see was a delightful idea. No, thank you.
"Stop doing that, Karin! You're going to give me a serious injury!"
Karin hit him harder. "Then let me go!"
Toushirou winced. Jesus, the woman could really hit. "Karin, if you don't stop, I am going to make you!"
That made Karin stop. She looked at Toushirou, somewhat perturbed. Toushirou's ideas of stopping her had never done her anything good. Maybe, it was best to listen to him for now.
"Fine," she muttered, glowering. But it hadn't taken a full minute when she spoke again, tugging at Toushirou's collar, "Oi, you indeed have a pretty face like what people say."
"And then?" Toushirou raised a brow.
Karin grinned. "Perhaps you can let me go now."
"Nice try, Karin," Toushirou answered, rolling his eyes, "but no."
"But Toushiroooooou," Karin whined childishly, "you said you like me so you're going to do everything for me, right?" Toushirou smirked as Karin pouted and batted her eyes in a vain attempt to distract him. "Please?" And there went the last piece of Karin's pride. She was already desperate to rid herself from him.
Unfortunately, Toushirou didn't seem to take pity on her. What an evil bastard.
Toushirou stared at Karin, amused. "You're only making me want to kiss you with what you are doing, Karin," he said as he entered a room, and used his foot to close the door.
Karin was just about to rebut, but paused when Toushirou gently put her back on her feet. She looked up at him, just to realize that he had already trapped her in between him and the wall, as he pressed a hand on it, beside her head.
Closed room. Uh-huh, a perfect place to have a tête-à-tête.
"What are we doing here? Someone might be using this room," Karin stated, folding her arms.
"It's my office," Toushirou answered, knowing that Karin was only trying to find an excuse, "But that's beside the point. I want to know the truth from you, Karin. Once and for all."
Karin huffed and stuck her tongue at him.
"I'm serious."
That was when Karin noticed that he indeed was serious. There was no sign of being amused. No sign of playfulness. His gaze was too intense that Karin felt like she would melt anytime. The usual smirk had slid off of his face. Hell, he was dead serious.
"Were you really jealous?"
Karin avoided his eyes. She was afraid of what she might be going to blurt out if she kept looking at them. "No, of course not," she mumbled, shifting from one foot to another.
"You're lying."
"I am not," Karin automatically answered, still looking anywhere but his eyes.
Toushirou sighed. "You're not really going to make it easy for me, are you?"
"No."
"It was a rhetorical question."
Karin knitted her brows, but still refused to look at him. "Rhetorical or not, it was still a question. And questions are meant to be answered."
"Yet, you're avoiding to answer my questions."
"I am answering you, aren't I?"
Toushirou shook his head. He should've seen this coming. It was, after all, Kurosaki Karin—the most unyielding woman he'd ever known. "I think you're already trying to steer clear the subject."
"You started it," Karin quipped.
"Do you like me?" The question came out of the blue, too sudden that it caught Karin off guard.
For a moment, she felt like her throat had become dry. She gulped, looking to her side in an attempt to hide her discomfort. "W-why don't you just go for Sano-senpai?" If she couldn't tell the truth nor could she deny, then she might as well steer clear the subject like what Toushirou had surmised.
"Do you like me, Karin?" Toushirou asked again, ignoring Karin's own question. All what he needed to hear was her answer. Just a 'Yes' or a 'No.'
"I-I mean, she's beautiful, you're good-looking. She's popular a-and so are you. You're also both smart, and student leaders. Y-you'll be perfect for each other."
"Karin."
"Besides, she's obviously into you."
Toushirou stared at her for a while. Deciding that it wasn't going to work if Karin kept avoiding his questions and his gaze, Toushirou curled a finger under Karin's chin. He lifted it gently, making Karin look straight into his eyes. "This is the last time that I am going to ask you this, Karin," Toushirou said quietly, his eyes burning into hers, "If your answer will be 'no,' I promise I am already going to stop bothering you. If you really hate me, then I'll accept it. Just be honest, and answer my question, Karin. No if's, and's or but's." He closed his eyes, sighing. When he opened them again, the intensity on them had just become more unnerving. "Karin, do you like me?" The question escaped like a sweet whisper, a secret that only Karin had the right to hear.
Karin wanted to say 'no,' but she knew she would be lying, and for the first time, she accepted that fact. She couldn't deny what she felt anymore. However annoying Toushirou might be, Karin was aware that, somehow, he had already managed to get himself a place inside her heart. Actually, screw that; Toushirou had totally owned her heart—corny though it might sound.
She couldn't give him a false answer. Not when those beautiful eyes of his were looking at her, as if they were hoping, asking her to hold their owner's heart like it was a fragile thing. Pleading for her to care for it, and make sure it would never break.
Just by that one look, she knew she was a goner, but she didn't give a damn anymore. So long as the stars would remain on those enchanting crystals.
"I love you."
Her eyes widened just as the words escaped from her mouth. That wasn't the answer which she had intended. Judging by Toushirou's reaction,—or the lack thereof—that wasn't also the answer which he had expected to hear. But each syllable felt too real that it almost scared Karin.
Scared of how Toushirou might be going to respond. What if it wasn't what he wanted? What if he only liked her, and not loved? There lied a difference in between those two, right?
Karin bit her lip and looked down, bracing herself for Toushirou's answer. Why was she so careless with her words sometimes?
Toushirou didn't speak, and it made Karin feel anxious. That moment, all she only wanted to do was to run away from him, and never turn back. Straightforward rejection was bad enough, but a silent one was much more painful to accept.
Just as Karin was convinced that she wouldn't already get anything from Toushirou, she felt his hand move from her chin to lightly brush against her cheek. She looked up, just in time for Toushirou to tuck some strands of her hair behind her ear. An endearing gesture which sent her face's temperature soaring.
Toushirou smiled, softly, lovingly, and that was enough to assure Karin. His hand moved up on the back of Karin's head, entangling it on her dark locks, as an arm made its way around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.
Karin's stomach flipped, her heart performed some acrobatic leaps, as Toushirou pressed a kiss on her forehead, on her nose, then on her cheek. Karin slowly closed her eyes, cherishing the warmth and softness of Toushirou's lips.
And suddenly... they were on hers.
Their real first kiss.
It wasn't awkward. Unlike before, it was just so natural... and magical.
In just a second, Karin was sent into ecstasy. No fireworks, but there was a starry night sky, and it was much more fascinating. She felt like she was jumping from the top of a skyscraper, but she wasn't scared at all. In fact, she was just thrilled. Because she knew... she could count on Toushirou to catch her.
The kiss felt so nice... so right... so perfect. It was soft and short, but it hadn't made the effect less euphoric.
As Toushirou pulled away and looked at Karin's blushing face, he reckoned the things that people usually failed to notice about her. Yes, she was tough, reckless and often times vulgar, but she was still a lovely sweetheart, a delicate flower, and a true-lady-at-heart.
"You're really cute." He smiled, moving his other arm down Karin's waist. "So are you going to admit it now? That you were really jealous of Hinamori and Sano-san?"
Karin scowled, but the pout that had managed to form on her lips just made her look less annoyed. "And of Aimi."
Toushirou chuckled, not expecting that bit of information from her. "You were also jealous of... Aimi? God, Karin."
"Shut up," Karin murmured, lightly punching Toushirou on the shoulder, "That was before I met her. I thought she was... I mean you called her sweetheart, is why. But, I totally adore the kid now."
"Hm..." Toushirou kissed the top of Karin's head. "I don't doubt it. I bet she's going to be happy if she heard about us."
"I bet she will," Karin agreed as she also wrapped her arms around him. Burying her nose on Toushirou's shirt, she sighed, "You really smell nice."
Toushirou arched a brow in amusement, pulling her closer if possible. "Don't worry, I'll buy you a stuff toy and soak it with my soap and perfume, so you'll have the privilege to smell it all day," he teased.
Karin parted her face away from his body, and frowned. Toushirou thought she was going to tell him that she didn't want a stuff toy because that was too girlish, and deny that she was obsessed with his scent, but then, she said, "I don't want a teddy bear, or a bun-bun, or anything adorable. I want a... uhm... a dragon plush!"
Toushirou blinked. "A dragon?"
"Hell yeah!" Karin smirked. "Preferably, blue. Blue dragon, because it reminds me of you. Or maybe a soccer ball plush! And, when you soak it, make sure the smell will last long." Karin nodded, smiling, as if pleased with her own idea.
And just like that, she buried her face on Toushirou's chest again and resumed sniffing him.
Toushirou chuckled. Damn, he really loved this woman.
~oOo~ END ~oOo~
Most of us yearn for our own extraordinary story—cliché or otherwise.
Most of the times, you get it when you're least expecting it. Other times, you even find it on the most awkward situation that you've been.
But you can't always let Fate do everything for you, can you? Sometimes, you also have to draw the lots, play the game. You just need to take the risk, even it means you'll have to make a fool out of yourself. Just who knows? It may turn out great. If not, then better luck next time. Thank you for trying.
You know what? All you have to do is learn how to hold on. And, the next time you trip into a plant box because you're too busy ogling the person of your dreams, don't curse the deities for your awful luck. For all you know, it could be the start of your own wonderful story.
Never mind of the fact that you're actually careless or clumsy.
Thank you for all the favorites, alerts and most especially for the reviews. I wouldn't have gone this far had it not been for you, sweethearts! You're the best! :D
See you around, guys!
Love lots,
Rei