Blog #731

Do you know what it feels like to have a god try to seduce you? It’s equal parts frustrating and thrilling. Every word he says is temptation in itself, every look a caress, every touch hot enough to make you burn. It’s an experience like no other, but so is being dumped by a god. When a god stops loving you, it’s no different than being thrown in the middle of an ocean, with no one or nothing to cling to. You’re drowning without him, and the only way to stay afloat is to find another man to love.

But…how can you love a mere mortal when you’ve loved a god? How can one ordinary man love you enough to make you forget a god?

It’s just not possible.

* * *

KC: Ohayo.

KC: Gozaimasu.

KC: (~￣³￣)~

Yuki: Please stop spamming me.

I grin like a fool at his reply. Oh, Yuki. Doesn’t he know that those words can’t ever hurt me now?

While waiting for him to come down, I take a screencap of our conversation and upload it to the message group I have with Lace, Aria, and MJ. Although I only got to know the two other girls in college, we all hit it off from the start, and they know everything about me, too.

KC: Isn’t he cute?

Aria: Has learning Nihongo made you illiterate in English? He said you were SPAMMING him.

KC: You get it, don’t you, MJ?

MJ: I thnk it’s nevera bad thuing to be optimistic.

Aria: Don’t believe her. She’s laughing so hard beside me her hands are shaking while texting. That’s where all the typos are coming from.

MJ: AMNOT!

Aria: Liar, liar, typos on fire.

Lace: What would you do if he blocks you?

KC: He won’t.

Aria: Japan must be really something. Not only has it made you illiterate, now it’s made you clairvoyant, too?

MJ: But what if he does?

KC: 100% sure he won’t.

Lace: What gives?

KC: Because he loves me.

Aria: EWW.

Lace: BAHAHAHA.

MJ: YOU are the cute one, KC! <3

I’m about to type my reply when the elevator doors slide open and I see Yuki stepping out. He has a gray shirt layered over a black one with long sleeves while his denims hug his long, strong legs to perfection. And oh, let’s not forget his bum. We need a moment of absolute silence to admire---

Yuki jerks when he catches sight of me seated at one of the couches facing the counter. A moment later he’s walking away.

I jump to my feet when I realize he’s definitely going to leave me behind. Sorry, Yuki’s sexy bum. I’ll have to offer prayers to your divine perfection next time. When I catch up to him, he’s already nearing the end of his street, and I call out, “Matte kudasai!” Please wait.

Yuki doesn’t even turn around, but just as he starts to cross the street the light changes, and Yuki reluctantly retreats.

Thank You, God.

When I make it to his side, Yuki asks point blank, “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for my master?”

Yuki chokes, and I smile sweetly. Serves you right. Once upon a time, Yuki “blackmailed” me into being his secret toy. I know it sounds dirty, and while I wish I could say it wasn’t –

Well, okay, the truth is, it’s as dirty as it sounds, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Is that what you’re wearing to class?”

Yuki’s frowning tone makes me glance down at my clothes: a black sailor dress matched with the same shade of over-the-knee socks and a pair of old rose Mary Janes. I normally wear something a lot more conservative back home, but…this is Tokyo. It’s the one place where no one would bat an eyelash if you dress like your favorite anime character to work or even just when walking to the grocery. Do you know how gloriously liberating that is?

The first week I was here, I tried testing it out by wearing contacts – the colored type that makes your eyes thrice as large – and no one even looked twice at me. So now, I’ve branched out a bit, dressing up the way that one of my favorite oneshot heroines does. I honestly don’t see what’s wrong with my outfit so I ask Yuki worriedly, “Is it too moe?” The latter word is slang for the too-cute girls you often see in manga and anime, and I wonder if it’s the otaku in me that’s not seeing the same thing Yuki sees.

Yuki’s lips tighten. “Never mind.” The light changes back to green, and it’s another race as I try to keep up with his long-legged strides.

“Slow down, please. I’m wearing heels.” I’m breathless again, and unfortunately it has more to do with my lack of stamina than Yuki’s good looks.

“No.”

Or so he says, but he’s actually slowing down, and a smile starts to tug at the corner of my lips. This was just like how we were before, only our roles were reversed then, and I was the one in denial. I couldn’t make myself admit that I was attracted to a cocky, sadistic prince like him – just like Yuki is unwilling to admit that we could make things work between us now…and for good.

“Stop smiling.”

“I’m not.” I quickly wipe my face free of expression. “But---” I can’t help looking down at my clothes again. “Is it really that bad?”

“It is,” Yuki states unequivocally. “You should change.”

My face falls, and he swears under his breath.

“You’re right,” I say. Yuki’s the one with Japanese blood, not me, so if he thinks my clothes suck, then I’ll trust his judgment. I’ve never been the one to care about fashion anyway. “I’ll see you in school. I’ll just go and change.”

Yuki’s fingers cup my elbow before I can take another step.

Oh!

It’s the most casual of touches, but it’s still enough to make my entire body jolt, and when Yuki suddenly yanks his hand away I just know---

“You felt it too, didn’t you?” I ask giddily.

Yuki looks like he wants to strangle me.

Oh. Right. I forgot that the plan was to seduce him subtly and not just go all-out attack him with my love. Clearing my throat, I ask, “Why did you stop me?”

“Your clothes,” he says stiffly. “Gomen.” Sorry. “I lied. They’re not bad.”

“Oh.” But I don’t get it, and I can’t help feeling a little hurt. The Yuki I know isn’t this much of an arse. “Did you just say it to make me feel bad?”

“Iie.” No.

His voice is gruff, but I hear the sincerity in it, and tension loosens its hold on my shoulders.

“Then…why?”

He inhales heavily. “Because…” He gestures to my legs.

“My legs are ugly?”

“For God’s sake, no.” Yuki’s eyes flash in irritation. “Don’t you get it?” He angrily gestures to my legs again. “You’re showing too much.”

Oh.

“Stop grinning.”

“I’m not.”

“Stop grinning or I’ll block your number.”

I grimace. Bloody smart sod. He might as well have threatened to cut off my oxygen supply, and he knows it.

When we pause at the last intersection, Yuki glances at me, and I ask hopefully, “Want to hold my hand while walking?”

Yuki glares at me.

“Okay, okay. I just asked.”

He slowly shakes his head. “You know this is futile, don’t you?”

The words catch me off guard, and I quickly look away as my stomach starts to cramp. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m just walking to school, and you only happen to be walking the same route---”

“You already live inside the campus.”

“Details, details,” I say airily.

There’s another moment of silence, and then he says, “You’ve changed.” Surprise is evident in his voice, but there’s something else.

“Do you mean,” I tease lightly, “I’ve become prettier?”

“No.”

I almost feel hurt, but then I see the way his lips curve just the tiniest bit, and – oh. Be still, my heart. Have you had a god smile at you? Let’s just say I seriously believe that man’s first drawn breath was at the sight of one.

“I get it,” I tell him.

He arches a brow. “You do?”

“It’s in your eyes,” I say innocently. “I can’t get any prettier because I’m already the prettiest girl for you.”

* * *

“That,” I say with a grin, “is exactly how Yuki looked at me that time, too.” It’s lunch break, and I’ve just finished telling my friends about the little one-liner I used this morning and stopped Yuki in his tracks.

Vivi is the first one to stop gaping and find her voice. “You take the pie.”

“Cake,” Hannah and I correct her at the same time.

Vivi nods. “Yes, I meant that. You completely take the cake. I am very much impressed by the way you are handling this. You are – what is it they say? You’re taking the…elephant by their tusk?”

For three seconds, we manage to keep our faces straight.

But then Vivi realizes her mistake. “Oh, sorry. I meant you take the bull by the horns.” She gives us a regal nod. “You may laugh.”

And so we do. Hannah, bless her heart, is trying to be nice about it, pretending to cough instead of laughing out loud. I think it’s cute, and Ewan seems to think so, too, only in a romantic way. It’s hard not to miss how often the attractive Frenchman’s hooded glances go her way. I think Vivi’s just as aware as I am, but it’s Hannah who’s surprisingly dense about it. Or maybe it’s because she already has a guy she likes – and it’s not Ewan?

I mentally sigh, thinking that Cupid really doesn’t play any favorites. If the winged archer feels like complicating people’s lives, the naughty little boy does so without a qualm, even if it means striking multiple people with just one arrow.

“Earth to KC?”

It’s Hannah, and when I shake myself out of my thoughts, I realize the whole table is looking at me.

“You have got it bad for your ex, haven’t you?” Ewan remarks.

“Actually, I’m just taking a leaf from his book,” I explain with a wry smile. “He had all these one-liners that drove me crazy, but it also had me obsessing over him so I figured I could turn the tables around this time.”

“That is a good plan,” Vivi says approvingly.

“What’s your next step then?” Hannah asks.

“I texted him a while ago,” I confide. “I told him I needed to go to the library…and I also told him that all of you were busy---”

Hannah grins. “Are we?”

“Yes,” I say with utter seriousness. “You are.” But now I’m grinning, too. “And so, I asked him if maybe he could go with me instead.”

“And he fell for that?” Ewan’s decidedly skeptical.

“To be honest, he hasn’t replied yet.” I pull my phone out from my purse and check it again. “Yup. Still no messages.” I gnaw at my lip. “Do you think I should text him again or is that too push---” I break off when I realize that my friends are all wearing uncomfortable expressions. “What is it?”

Vivi turns towards the restaurant’s windows, so I do the same.

And that’s when I see what they’ve seen: Yuki, placing a hand on the back of another girl as he helps her inside a cab---

And it’s the same darn girl.

Again.