“Rias, it’s just a photo,” I said into the phone. “It’s not a Vegas wedding.”
“A photo that’s creating buzz.”
Why do I have to listen to this?
“Let’s talk about this later,” I said.
I was lying next to Kichi on the bed, waiting for her to wake. I still couldn’t believe she collapsed.
“Why? Need to play house with your new fling?”
Fling!
I snapped. “You’re my manager, act like it and not like a jealous ex-girlfriend!”
“I will stop around the time you act professional!” Rias slapped back.
“Christ, woman. You’re giving me a headache.”
“And you’re giving me too much to clean up. Should I remind you what happened last time you were caught up in a fast-going relationship?”
I cringed, having a flashback.
“Just stop talking. Say nothing else. You’re being annoying. I cannot deal with this right now. What time is my shoot tomorrow?”
“Sometime between one to two o’clock. Why?”
“And I must be there?”
“More like need to.”
“Think I can call in sick?”
“No, you cannot. Stop being lazy and get your ass back in Bridgeport by morning!”
“Don’t yell at me!”
“If you hate it so much, stop making me yell!”
“Fine! Bye!”
Geez! Such a pest! That woman.
“You shouldn’t get upset with Rias. She’s just worried, I am sure.”
“You’re awake.”
Kichi pulled the sheet under her chin. “I don’t think anyone could continue sleeping through your conversation.”
“I’m sorry. Rias can be a handful. If I don’t stand firm, she will dictate my every action.”
“Isn’t that her job though?”
“Yeah, which puts her across the line sometimes. Sometimes she seems to forget.”
“What?”
I placed my hand across Kichi’s stomach and felt her stiffen. “It’s not important.”
“Is that so? Fishy!” Kichi looked at me suspiciously.
I chuckled. “You can joke now. Does this mean you’re better?”
“I feel like I should apologise for earlier.” She swallowed, looking ahead instead of meeting my eyes. “I have this thing where I would collapse if I get an emotional shock. It started after my mother died.”
“I am responsible for your shock,” I said, feeling miserable about it. “I’m sorry.”
“I am fine now, so it’s not a big deal.” Kichi tried to get up, but I held her down.
“Do you have to leave now?” I asked.
“No.”
“Then lay with me a while longer.”
My voice sounded needier with every word.
“But—” she stammered.
“Don’t you want to?”
“I do. But…” I noticed her hands gripped the sheet tightly. “Isn’t it better I leave?”
“Better for who?”
Kichi closed her eyes. “You don’t want me here. When you told me, we wouldn’t see each other again, my chest hurt so much I wish I could die.”
I didn’t want to utter such words. Words I knew would hurt you. Or perhaps that was precisely what I wanted. When I saw that person’s face close to you, the more I reflect, the more uneasiness pooled into my heart, accumulating, I felt an impatience in me. More than anything, I wanted to declare you were mine, there and then.
I caressed her and brought her close, as close I could hold her. “You don’t understand. Being able to stay beside someone you like is one of the privileges of being friends, and I can be your friend knowing one day our relationship will develop into something more intimate. But I can’t stick around when you’re dating someone else. I’m not that strong.”
Kichi bolted upright. “Whoa!”
“Be careful.”
“What are you talking about?”
I held her gaze and watched her already blushing cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red.
“You’re not dating that girl?” I asked, sitting up. “I thought you were.”
“She is my friend, not my lover. We were talking, and she kissed me. That’s when you came in. Then you left, and I wasn’t sure you cared anymore.”
“I care. That’s why I hated what I saw.”
“You’re lying.”
“Don’t say I’m lying. I agree our encounter was short, but it was significant to me.”
Kichi shut her eyes and placed her hands over her ears. “Stop it, Ray.”
I wanted to be with her. So why was it hard for her to believe me?
“I am telling the truth. Please believe me. Stay with me. Can you do that?”
“If that’s your wish. I mean, I want to stay with you.” Kichi looked at me with those big, black eyes and my head felt a little fuzzy. I could only focus on the sound of my irregular heartbeat. The emotion that I feel right now was without a doubt something I will only experience once in my lifetime.
“You never had a choice. I just made you think so,” I commented.
“You are overly confident.”
“So does your friend always kiss you? Because it’s not something I am fine with.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” she assured me, but I didn’t fully believe her.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Even if they are just friends… if they were to put their hands on you, I’d bare my fangs, you know?”
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