Chapter 1

 

 

            Mao was running while entering the building. She was trying to catch the elevator, but much to her dismay, the elevator door closes before she could even reach it. She was late for work, and it was her third consecutive late for the whole week already. She looked at her watch it’s almost 9 she’s really really late. She was standing in the middle of the hallway, waiting on which of the three elevators will open first. The one in the left open first, she immediately enters it and press the button number 15. She was now praying for the elevator to continue moving up to the 15^th floor but she guess this is not her day, because the elevator stops at every floor and what really irritates her is at some floor there’s no one even around, and is this the only elevator working what happen to the other two, she thought. Finally when she reaches her floor she immediately run going to her table because when her boss’s assistant saw her she’ll get another mouth full from her. She hates her. But then before she could reach her desk she stops, there’s a guy sitting on her table waving at her with an annoying grin on his face.

 

            “Good morning!”

 

            “Get off my desk…” she said with a firm tone glaring at him. She’s already in a bad mood and she will not let him make it worse.

 

            “You’re late…” he pauses for a moment and then continues “…again” he said still having that silly grin on his face.

 

            “I said get off my desk!” she said almost shouting.

 

            “Ok…ok…” he gets down from her desk “is there someone in your entire life already told you how beautiful your are when your angry?”

            “No one…now go to your own desk… and bug someone else I’m not in the mood.”

 

            “Well that’s because your not…” he smiled at her then covers her head with his hand, expecting some violent reaction. “Oh… and I called you three times when I woke up so you won’t be late but you didn’t answer…you’re such a heavy sleeper…” he patted her head then leave. Mao continues to glare at him. She sits on her chair and closes her eyes. That guy, she thought, well whether she likes it or not that’s her best friend. Miura Haruma. If she only knows how annoying he could be maybe she wouldn’t approach him on their first day in college. She was again late on their first day and the only chair available is beside him, so she had no choice but to sit next to him. And she the ever so friendly Inoue Mao greeted the quiet guy next to him and the rest is history. She then opens her eyes then a smile form to her lips. No matter how annoying and stubborn his best friend is she really enjoys spending time with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            He was sitting on his chair smiling. His desk is just next to her. It was just separated by a thin wall about five feet high. They always sit next beside each other, and he thinks its fate. He laugh at that, well actually he had a crush on her since he saw those pair of beautiful almond shape eyes she had. And that was on their first day in college. He was trying to be quiet, but that small petite girl that came late and sits next to him suddenly decided to talk. He was planning to be the snobbish cool quiet guy in every drama. But when he looks at her, the snobbish cool quiet guy is gone. He found himself starring at her for a few minutes before he realizes that his mouth is open. He immediately closes it after seeing her reaction, it looks like she saw something scary, and he winced inside. He immediately said ‘hello’ as she continue to stare at him with that same reaction of her face. Well that’s where it all started. Confessing to her about his feeling never crosses his mind. His scared to what could happen, her reaction, his scared to lose everything, their friendship, especially her. Well he had tried to confess his feelings for her once and that when they end up being ‘Best Friends’. He was telling Mao that he wants to be more than friend, and he guess he did it the wrong way and Mao thought that what his saying is he wants them to be ‘best friend’ rather than ‘boyfriend-girlfriend’. Since then he had never attempted to confess his feelings for her ever again.

 

            He closes his eyes as he tries to reminiscence all the time they spend together, without knowing he was smiling like a dork with his eyes close. He felt something poke his face. He opens his eyes and saw Mao face just a few inches away from him. He blinks his eyes for three times. Mao pokes his cheeks again.

 

            “WOAH!” he almost fell from the chair.

 

            “Haru-chan…are you having a perverted dream while at work…” Mao looks at him disgusted.

 

            “What are you doing here…” he said after he regains his consciousness.

 

            “I haven’t eaten breakfast yet…lets go to the cafeteria…” she said while rubbing his tummy.

 

            “I’m busy…”

 

            “You’re not doing anything… your just having some of those perverted dream of yours…”

 

            “No I’m not…” he defended himself.

 

            “Hey they love birds….” A guy’s heads suddenly appears behind the dividers watching them, its Akinishi Jin one of their officemates. Mao and Haruma gave him a blank stare. He has this theory ever since he saw the two on their first day that they were dating.

 

            “Come one…I’m hungry…” Mao said to Haruma after looking at Jin.

 

            “Can I come…?” Mao and Haruma just ignore him.

 

            “I’ll just get my wallet…can you pass me my bag…” Haruma said to Mao. Mao obliges and gave him his bag. He stands as Mao follow him leaving his desk. Jin is still standing there watching them. Mao patted his shoulders and said. “Sorry…it’s for the love birds only…” she gave him a sweet smile at him he laughs watching the two of them laugh as they walk away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Sushi or Takoyaki…” she asks him.

 

            “Ummm….” He looks at the food while rubbing his chin “Sushi…”

 

            “NO!” she half shouted. Everyone on the cafeteria looked at their direction.

 

            Haruma look at everyone around them then back to Mao. “Ok…”

 

            Mao gave him a big smile then she gets the Sushi and pays it. What’s the point of asking him on which one he likes if in the end she’ll just tell him what to buy, he thought. He took the Takoyaki as he head on the cashier, the lady behind the counter is smiling sheepishly at him. After he pays he heard the lady said “you’re such a nice guy….” He smile at her and said ‘thank you’ before he left.

 

            Mao is still looking for a table when he approaches her. “Let’s sit by the window…” she said pointing at the vacant table near the window.

 

            “But I want to sit over their…” he pointed at the table near the vending machine. Mao gave him a glare. “Ok…we’ll sit by the window…” he pouted as he walks complaining.

 

 “I’m going to Tokyo Plaza tonight...” Mao started as soon as they reach their table.

 

Haruma who was busy with his Takoyaki looked at her “why?” he asked, mouthed still full.

 

“Eww…will you swallow that first before talking” she said as she gave him a tissue to cover his mouth. He swallowed the Takoyaki and drinks some of the Gatorade he bought. He loves Gatorade. He repeated his question “why?”

 

“I don’t know… my parents had called me last night…” she said as she open the box of Sushi “ my mother had even ask me to wear a beautiful dress and fix my hair” she picked up one Sushi and put it in her mouth.

 

Haruma smirk as he continues to eat his Takoyaki. Mao saw that and she step in his right foot.

 

“Oww!” he scowls.

 

“Why are you smirking?” Mao asks him.

 

“It’s because I haven’t seen you in a dress…ever…”

 

“Well tonight you will…” she said looking at her Sushi trying to give him a hint.

 

 

 

 

 

 He was in his desk typing some important files when suddenly his mobile phone vibrates. He opens it and read the message; it says ‘PLEASE!’ it’s from Mao. He replied ‘NO!’ he sends it and turn off his phone. Back at the cafeteria a while ago Mao had ask him if he could come with her tonight. She had also insisted that he’ll have so much fun, but he decline and told her that he can’t come and he already had other plans for the night. He was back with typing when an IM message coming form Mao appeared on the screen. ‘Pretty PLEASE!’, he replied ‘I said NO!’ after sending his reply he immediately sign-out his IM messenger. Then out of no where a ball of crumpled paper hit his head. He picks it up from the floor, opens the paper and read ‘PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASEEEEEEEEE!’ he wrote a big ‘NO!’ for a reply and throwback the piece of paper from where it comes from praying that it also hit her head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mao was in the living room, sitting in the couch while watching the news on the television, she’s now all dress and ready to go. She’s just waiting for her chaperone for the night. It’s a good thing she knows her best friend’s weakness, she thought. Suddenly her door bell rang. “I’m coming!” she shouted while standing up from the couch going to the door. When she opens the door a pouting face of Haruma came face to face with her. He is wearing a semi- formal clothes as Mao instructed. “You’re so handsome!” Mao squeals. Haruma just stares at her with an indescribable expression on his face. “If you didn’t treat me on my favorite restaurant tonight I’m so going to kill you!” he said in a threatening voice. Mao gave him the sweetest smile she had, she looked stunning with her white knee length dress, he thought. He was trying his best not to smile but he guess his losing the battle. “Just wait here I’ll just go get my bag.” Mao got to her living room, grab her bag and switch off the television. She returned to the door where Haruma is waiting, after checking the house for the last time she close her door. “Is there someone in your entire life already told you how handsome your are when your pouting?” Mao asks as they walk going out her apartment building. Haruma knows what she’s trying to do so he answers “Yes!” Mao who was walking a few steps ahead of him turns around and gave him a smile that makes his knees weak. “Well because you are handsome whether you smile or you pout like that” Mao turns around again as she continue walking. Haruma stops walking, whoa! He didn’t expect that to come. His lips broke into a smile, he can’t help it anymore.

 

“You look like a girl tonight!” Haruma said while the stop lights turn red. They were on his car on the way to the Tokyo Plaza.

 

“What kind of compliment is that?” Mao said hitting him in the arm lightly. The both of them laugh as the stop light turn green again. They’ve arrived at Tokyo plaza just in time. Now they are looking for this particular restaurant, “Iwasaki Tea House” it’s a traditional Japanese restaurant in the middle of the city.

 

“I’ll just sit there…” Haruma said while pointing at one of the table inside the restaurant. Mao nods her head she leaves him as soon as she saw her parents. She misses them so much. The last time she saw them was in her college graduation. After she graduates her parents move to Osaka and she was left here in Tokyo. She’s the only child that’s why her parents miss her as well.

 

They were already sitting on the table reserve for them in a private room. The table has six chairs so she suspects that they’re going to meet someone else, his father business associates maybe. She was drinking her green tea when they heard a knock from the door. Three familiar faces enter the room. Her parents stand up from the chair so she follows. All of them bowed their head as a sign of respect. “Yuuta-kun!” Mao said as he recognizes the tall petite guy with eye glasses that stands behind his parent. “Oh! Good you remember him…” her mother said. “Why don’t we all take a seat and I’ll ask the waiter to serve the food.” Her father said.

 

Hiraoka Yuuta is her childhood friend. Their house is just next to their old house in Okinawa. They really close to each other; they go to the same primary and junior high school. So mostly they grew up together. But when they were already in high school Mao’s parent decided to move to Tokyo. So they’ve been separated. It was already 7 yrs. since they last saw each other. And this reunion is the worst, Mao thought.

 

“I’m not going to marry him!” Mao shouted at the restroom while crying.

 

They were enjoying the food, the night, everything. To be honest she also misses Yuuta. Everything was going fine until her mother opens up a topic. “Now let’s talk about the wedding preparations.” Mao chokes from her food after hearing that. That’s when she learns that her parents and Yuuta’s parents had arranged them a marriage. And that’s when she starts crying. She run out the room and head to the restroom.

 

“You’re what? You’re marrying who? When?” Haruma asks. He was enjoying his bowl of ramen when he saw a crying Mao run out the Private room heading to the restroom. He had tried to talk to her but she won’t come out the restroom. Mao’s mother comes out of the room to follow her daughter but Mao had locked the whole restroom door. Suddenly her mother’s phone ring. She goes to the side to answer the call.

 

“I don’t want to marry him!” Mao shouted again still crying.

 

“Who the tall guy with eye glasses?” he saw they guy a while ago. He was looking for another table when he accidentally bumped at him. He immediately apologizes. Then he saw the guy enter the room. “He doesn’t look bad, actually his handsome….” He jokes trying to light up the mood.

 

“Shut up!”

 

“Get out from the restroom already…there are other people who want to use it also…” there’s a complete silence. Mao’s weeping stops. “Mao? Are you still ok?” Haruma asks worried. The lock from the door open and Mao get out. Her mom saw her then hangs up her phone. “Stop throwing tantrums and lets go back to the room…you need to apologi-” “NO!” Mao cut her mother sentence. “I…I- can’t marry Yuuta…” she said. “And why?” her mother raise an eyebrow. “Because I already had a boyfriend…” she pauses for a moment to think. “No…not just a boyfriend a fiancé and…and…and were also planning to get married soon…” her mother looked at her, shock registered to her face. “Who is your fiancé?” she manages to ask. Mao pulled Haruma closer to her “Him!” she said straightforward and firm.

 

“Eh?!” both Haruma and her mother said looking at her.

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

            “What have I done?!” Mao buries her face with her hand. She looks at Haruma who was driving the car. He doesn’t have any reaction, she bet his mad. They were on their way to her apartment. Tonight is a total chaos. Everything happens so fast. The plan is to meet her parents at Tokyo Plaza not to marry an old friend and now she’s engaged with her best friend? Well not really but that’s what her parents think. She don’t know what to do right now, all she could do is cry.

 

            “Why are you crying?” Haruma ask coldly. That’s the first thing she heard from him since they rode the car. She cries harder. “I’m sorry…. I’m sorry…I’m…-” Haruma cuts her sentence. “Will you lower down your voice…and stop crying…people form the other car are looking....they might think I hurt you or something….” He close Mao’s window as the couple from the car next to them continue to stare at them. He continues to drive after seeing the stop light turns green.

 

            They’ve arrive at Mao’s apartment. Mao unbuckled her seat belt. Haruma opens the lock of the door. “I’m really sorry….” Mao said teary eyed. “It’s ok…” he smiled. Somehow Mao felt relieved on seeing him smile. She owes him big time she thought. She was about to exit the car when Haruma pulled her by the arm. She turns to face him. She was about to ask him why when suddenly he puts his hand on Mao cheek. He wipes some of her tears with his thumb and said “don’t cry ok…” Mao was taken a back by his actions. She just nod and gave him a genuine smile. She left the car and walk toward her apartment building. Haruma just continue to watch as her figure fades away.

 

 

 

 

 

            Haruma walks out from his car, stretch his arms and give out a big yawn. He looked at the clear sky and inhaled the fresh air. ‘Another day has begun…’ he thought. Suddenly his mobile phone vibrates breaking his moment of peace. He took out his phone from his pocket. ‘I can’t come to work today…I’m sick’ it was a message from Mao. His brow furrowed. Is she avoiding him? He places his phone back to his pocket. He’ll just go to her apartment after work, he thought as he walks leaving the parking lot going to his office building.

 

 

 

 

            Mao put her phone at the night table beside her bed. She pulled her stuffed teddy bear and covers herself with the blanket. Last night was a nightmare. She didn’t even have enough sleep. As soon as she enters her apartment she starts to cry again. “Mr. Wobbles am I a bad girl” she asked her teddy bear as tears starts to form at her eyes again. She closes her eyes and hug Mr. Wobbles really tight.

 

            Suddenly her mobile phone beeps. ‘Oh! You chose a very bad day to absent from work…your dear Oguri is here today…’ it was a message from Haruma. Oguri Shun is their boss and the reason she works at that company. She has a huge crush on him ever since. At first she really doesn’t have the intentions on working at that company, Haruma just force her to attend the interview, and that’s when she first saw Oguri Shun and she instantly fall head over heels to him. And now she’s been working for the company for a year already and she was just enjoying it every time she saw her dear boss and well she’s also enjoys the time she spent with Haruma but mostly her happiness is because of her boss. She replied ‘tell him I miss him so much’ she laughs after sending the message. That’s the first time she smiles for the whole day. She’s been sulking all day at her room crying. Her phone beeps again ‘I will as soon as Cruella De Vil is not around him anymore…you know that the lady hates me so much!’ Cruella De Vil is what they call Oguri Shun’s assistant; everybody in their floor hates her. They can’t even pronounce her name properly that’s why they choose to call her Cruella De Vil. Besides that name suit her not only by the attitude but by her appearance as well. ‘Ok be careful…’ she replied. She looked at her clock it’s almost 1 she gets off from the bed and walk toward the bathroom. If she continues to cry on her bed the whole day she might end up looking like Cruella De Vil, she thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Mao is sitting in the couch crying. She was watching a Korean movie “My Girl and I”. She was crying really hard when suddenly she chokes, the popcorn she’s eating got stuck in her throat. She immediately picked up the box of orange juice from the floor and drinks it. After finishing her orange juice and clearing her throat she turns her attention back to the television screen and continued to cry again. She was in the middle of crying when her mobile phone rings, she took it and looked at the caller ID, it says ‘Haru-chan’, and after reading it she immediately answers it “Haru-chan…”she cried.

 

            “What happen?!! Why are you crying?!!” Haruma asked worried.

 

            “Song Hye Kyo is dying!...” she cried some more.

 

            “Who??” he asks. ‘Is that her dog? Wait! Does she have a dog?’ he asks himself. Mao didn’t answer him; she just ignored his question and continues to cry some more while watching the movie.

 

            “Oh! By the way I’m in your front door can you open it… you cried so loud…I could hear it from the stairs”

 

            “Wait…it’s almost finish…”

 

            “Open it! I need to pee!!”

 

            “Ok…ok…wait I’ll just pause it” that’s when he realize that she’s watching a movie. When she opens the door, they both close their mobile phones. He shows her the bag of food he bought and pretended to be scared “Whoa! You look scary!” he gives her the bag of food and goes directly to the bathroom. When he gets out from the bathroom he saw Mao preparing the food at the kitchen. “So who’s dying?” he asks. Mao gave him a blank stare.

 

            “Why are you here?” she asks while transferring the food at the plate.

 

            “Cause your sick…” he said flatly

 

            Mao stares at him. Knowing her best friend, he never visits her when she’s sick. He always reasoned that he has a weak immune system.

 

            “Ok…I know that your not sick…” he said. “Well I’m here to tell you that you’re now officially engaged” he said casually while sitting down. Mao stops what her doing as a confuse look registered to her face. “To me!” Haruma continue proudly pointing to himself.

 

            “About that… I want to talk to you…” Mao started but Haruma cuts her sentence “don’t worry I sort it all already” he said in a smile “your parents came to the office a while ago looking for you” he took a chopsticks and grab his bowl of Ramen.

 

            “Really?” Mao asks shocked.

 

            “Yes! And unfortunately Jin saw them…since Jin can’t find you he brings them to me instead…and…”

 

            “And?

            “They acknowledge me as their soon to be son-in-law…as your fiancé…Jin heard it …then…”

 

            “Then?”

 

            “He asks me if it’s true…your parents looked confused so I answered Jin umm….yes” Mao just continue to stare at him mouth slightly agape.

 

            “Now” Haruma continue “everybody in the office knows that were engaged” he smiled looking at her waiting for her sudden outburst.

 

            “What?!!” Mao shouted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            “Oh…by the way Mr. Oguri congratulated me…actually us…” he said trying to make her stop from crying. They were sitting in the couch, after hearing what happen in the office earlier that day Mao starts to cry again. Mao cries harder, he suddenly remember that she has a crush on their boss. “Ah! Did I say Oguri I mean…Moguri…Soguri?...Poguri??” he was thinking of another name that sound like ‘Oguri’ but fails.

 

            “I can’t believe I’m engaged to you…” she cried some more.

 

            “Hey! You started it” Haruma said while crossing his arms in front of his chest looking at her. Mao cries louder “Hey stop it the neighbors might think I’ve hurt you or something….”

 

            “I can’t believe that everyone knows about it….” she said between her sobs.

 

            Haruma can’t take it anymore. He can’t stand seeing her crying like this. Without even thinking he pulled her to his arms and hugged her really tight. Mao stops crying, she was taken aback by his action. She was not expecting that to happen. “Stop crying…”Haruma whispered to her ears softly. She wants to pull back but she can’t. No matter how many times she told herself to pull back she just can’t do it. What Haruma’s doing is very comforting. It’s something she had never felt before, it’s something new. So without even knowing it Mao hugged him back. They stayed like that for the rest of the night while they enjoy the feeling on being on each others arm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Haruma woke up in the couch hugging a throw pillow. He stands up but stops halfway, his back hurts. He sits on the couch while rubbing his eyes. He scans the place and it took a few minutes before he realize that this is not his apartment. He heard a sound coming from his back, when he turns his head he saw a figure of a small lady cooking at the kitchen. His lips broke into a smile. He tries to recall what happen last night. All he could remember is he hug Mao and Mao hug him back, and then they spend the whole night sleeping on each others arms in the couch. He smiled giddily. Mao noticed that he is awake. “Good morning!” she said cheerfully. She places the eggs she’s cooking in the plate and walk towards the living room. She sits next to him and gave Haruma the plate of breakfast she made and said “Here eat it! I made it especially for you!” she smiled at him as Haruma Smiled back to her. “Thank you…” she suddenly said “thank you for last night…”

 

            “It’s nothing…it’s the least thing I could do…” he took a bite on the bread excitedly. After a few second his face change he looked at the other side of the bread it’s burnt.

 

            “Sorry…”Mao said after seeing his reaction. “Oh! By the way I have something to show you” Mao said while standing up from the couch. She goes to her room and comes out with a piece of paper in her hand. She sits back next to Haruma and gave him the paper. Haruma took it and read what’s written on it. He choked after reading it.

 

            “Contract?” he asked as Mao handed him the glass of freshly squeeze orange juice.

 

            “Yes contract!” Mao said smiling brightly at him.