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So according to him, he doesn't have a fixed schedule. All photoshoots depend on the photographer and the theme of shoot. Like this week, he's going to Kyoto for a few days. So that explains why he's not like any other tenants in the house. His work is just like Mio's. No permanent work schedule but always busy.

A few days later...

When Fumiya came back from Kyoto, he brought some dried sweets for everyone as presents which were just delicious.

For a moment, that Sunday, everyone was gathered at the living room. And they were all gushing about the sweets Fumiya brought them.

"Arigatou Takahashi-san. Those sweets were delicious," one of the ladies told him.

"Hai, everyone was talking about it on our way home so I thought it might be good to bring home some," Fumiya shared.

"I'd definitely grab some again if ever I go to Kyoto soon," Mio said to everyone. 

"You're a photographer right Imada-san? Is there a chance where you two could work together?" The guy next to Fumiya asked.

"Well... I'm mainly on landscape and street photography so I don't see any opportunity for us to work together, right Takahashi-kun?" Mio explained.

"Hai, unless Imada-san changes course to fashion," Fumiya seconded.

"What magazine is it again? I'm sorry I always forget Takahashi-san," the other lady asked.

"Ah, it depends. But this month, I'll be on the Men's Non-no issue," he proudly shared. Well, it is something to be proud of.

"Suge.. (Awesome)" some of them said.

I was just looking over at them from the corridors like how I usually do. But this time, I'm immersed in their conversation just because Fumiya is there.  I find myself having fun listening to them for the first time. Having him here surely changed something for me.

In between their talks, Fumiya would glance at me and smile. He doesn't ask me to come over and join them though. He knows how awkward it will be for me and I appreciate that. So I smile back for the first time since he came here. I let my guard down for a second. Maybe it's not a bad idea after all. We were highschool mates after all.

But little did I know, that smile gave Fumiya an opening. He waited for the right moment. And maybe, he has waited long enough. Cuz with that single smile from me, he finally decided to break the wall between the two of us. He has to.

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He's been waiting for you to come out of your room all evening. And when you finally emerged from your room at 10PM, he didn't waste anymore time to talk to you. He needed this. He needed to do this tonight.

I needed a break so badly so I got out of my room at 10PM. I was so preoccupied with work that I didn't notice Fumiya was actually at the living room.

"Kisa!" He called on me as I passed him by.

"Fumiya, hai." I absentmindedly replied.

"Are you busy? There's something I need to talk to you about."

"Well, I have time right now." Everything in my mind was blank. I was too distracted about work to think of anything else. But it was so wrong of me to put my guard down in-front of Fumiya tonight. I didn't notice the determined look on his face.

"I gave you my number right? Why haven't you reached out to me?"

Hearing about it, I stared at his face. His number? It skipped my mind for a second then it all came back to me. He gave me his number that  morning. That early morning.

"Kisa, I've been meaning to talk to you about what happened that night-"

I was panicking. Deep inside I was losing it. This cannot be. How can he ask it to my face? He surely knows that's the reason why I avoided him in the first place. Why dig it up now? 

With a stern face I told him, "Ano sa (you know what), can we not talk about it? In fact, can we just forget it?"

"Nande (why)? It wasn't something I wish to forget though."

His expression tells me he's pushing through with this and I can't stand it.

"Can you spare me? It wasn't meant to happen."

I have to make it clear to him.

"But it did. And I'm treasuring it."

Treasuring? What the heck?

"Why are you being this cruel to me?"

"I'm not being cruel."

"You are! You're harassing me."

"Am I? I'm sorry then if I sound rude to you. But it's not what I intend to be."

"I never thought you could be like this."

"What am I doing Kisa?"

"You're being pushy about this matter."

It's getting clear to him that I'm not admitting to everything that happened that night. It's starting to hurt him.

"Why are you still being like this?"

I could hear a hint of pain in his voice but I'm hurt too. He has to stop this.

"I've always been like this. It's you who changed. Just because of that one night stand."

"It wasn't a one night stand for me."

"What are you saying? It clearly was."

"I don't sleep around with just any girl Kisa. I did it because it's you."

"Because it's me? Did you like it that much? Taking the virginity of your high school classmate?" I just had to blurt it out cuz I had no other idea why he kept pushing on with this matter when I clearly told him not to.
 
"I didn't even know! And it's not because of that! Then tell me, was it all just a lie, when you said you loved me since high school?"

I was silenced. How did he know? Did I let it slip that night?

"Cuz I believed you. And that's the reason why I'm here. Why I want to go out with you."

You want to go out with me? But it can't be. I'm not getting swayed.

"What I did that night, I don't even know! So it's invalid for me! You can't quote me for something I don't even recall!"

"Then tell me now, was it all a lie?"

That moment, I turned away, I could not look him in the eye anymore.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You were crying to me. You were clinging to me. Bearing all of your feelings in front of me."

No no no, this couldn't be happening! I was screaming in my head.

"I was drunk! Why did you have to take it too seriously?"

"Because it didn't sound like a lie to me that night. It's the first time someone was ever genuine about her love for me."

"I told you!—"

"And you promised me."

"What?"

"You promised you'll stay with me from then on."

I was caught speechless that moment. A promise, of all things, why a promise? Did I really promise him that?

"I need that Kisa. That Kisa who promised me forever."

He walked out on me that instant leaving me stumped as I dwell on the memory I can't even remember.

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To be continued...

nantokanarusa 23.09.26