With those words said Haruka watched as the girl rushed off and sighed. Ookoyama Ritsuko stood silently before she spoke up, "Are you an idiot?""Be quiet." Haruka hushed her. He already knew what Ookoyama would tell him.
Ookoyama gave him a disapproving look as she shook her head, "I think you need someone to tell you straight up. Lilsama likes you a lot."
Haruka did not reply to her immediately; how could he? It was one thing to hear it from Lila herself, Jae-hee and Mikami. But even now Lilas own friends are acknowledging it. People who knew Lila when she was with Austin Kiryu. Haruka felt a sense of accomplishment and yet, "...No, I know that but.." he replied hesitantly.
The girl"s harsh glare had yet to disappear, "Do you?" Ritsuko questioned.
"I"m starting to understand," Haruka admitted. He still finds it hard to believe that she"s so fond of him though. Him, over her beloved Austin Kiryu?
Ritsuko sighed deeply, "I know you"re worried about her feelings for Kiryu-sama. But rest a.s.sured, she"s put those aside and chose you."
...….
Later on the day
Though he chauffeured Lila around to all her jobs like usual, it was clear that the girl was still sulking about what happened this morning. Haruka didn"t know how to apologize, so he allowed her to pout. He doesn"t understand her mood swings. One second she"s cheerfully calling his name and the next she"s mad. He doesn"t understand. However, Haruka knew he couldn"t leave things the way they were. So he used the chance when the guide led them the waiting area. After the guide left, Lila turned to leave. She clearly had no intentions of staying with him.
Argh, geez.
Haruka pulled the girl into his arms.
"What?" Lila said coldly.
"Sorry, just listen to me okay?" Haruka said. Lila stopped pus.h.i.+ng him away, and he took a deep breath. "It"s like I told you back then, I don"t get how relations.h.i.+ps work. But I want to learn; I want to get to know you better. My feelings for you are serious Teras.h.i.+ma Lila."
Was that enough?
Lila suddenly turned around and hugged him, "Ah-huh, I do get it Haruka. But I don"t like it when you beat yourself up and put yourself down. Yes, Kiryu is amazing, and he helped me a lot to become a better singer. I won"t deny that. However, it doesn"t mean you"re any less than he is."
His eyes widened, so stupid, isn"t she? Any less? He isn"t a genius like Austin Kiryu, Haruka knows his limits.
"I truly believe in you Haruka. Otherwise, I wouldn"t have accepted your offer."
"..." This girl, she always tells him the things he wants to hear.
Haruka pulls her away slightly so he could see her face and leaned forward. Lila"s cheeks reddened, "Wwait. Um…"
"I do love only you…" he murmured softly.
...…
Second Floor - Lounge area -
"Break of all contact?" Haruka repeated, as he took his cigarette packet out and lit a cigarette. He sat down on the couch in the lounge on the second floor. He decided it would be better to wait out here rather than those stuffy dressing rooms. Lila didn"t have an opinion and just followed his lead on the matter.
His girlfriend spent the first few minutes looking at him curiously and murmuring things before she finally spoke what was on her mind. What bothered Lila the most and the topic she brought up was the topic regarding other girls. It surprised Haruka, while he knew it was something that he would have to explain eventually. He didn"t expect her to bring it up so casually.
Lila nodded, "Ah-huh. I know your busy anyway and don"t talk to them most of the time. But um the amount of female numbers you have on your phone makes me uncomfortable you know?"
Oh. "Ari, do you know the story behind these numbers?"
She shook her head.
"You see my boss tells me to sleep with all these girls."
Lila frowned, "He makes you?"
"It"s true I"m not clean and did stuff before. But I planned to end it and start fresh. But…"
Lila nodded in understanding.
"Even after, I still intended to start over at least. Until that man approached me, he told me to help him out, and I decided to do so." On certain conditions. However, he won"t tell Lila too much about it now.
When he was done explaining his situation, Lila looked angry. Uh….
"That"s not right!!!" Lila growled.
Haruka looked at her awkwardly; he didn"t expect this reaction from her. "Uh yeah...I guess."
Lila hugged him tightly, "I won"t let anyone make you do such things anymore Haruka."
"Ari.."
"It"s okay; I"ll handle this matter.," Lila rea.s.sured him.
.....
Three hours later.
The girl"s words bothered him the whole day, handle this matter? What is she going to do? Will she try to meet with the boss? That would be a bad idea. Haruka suddenly felt sick; she wouldn"t try that right? Lila hides it well, but Haruka could tell her condition is degrading as the day goes by. Before he only had speculations regarding the matter. However now that they are dating and living together, she can no longer hide it from him. She wakes up in the middle of the night and rushes to the bathroom without fail, those painful coughs too.
Haruka sighed a breath of relief that he didn"t know he was holding back. Once he saw the girls sleeping figure in the waiting room.
"Ah, Karas.h.i.+msan?" A female staff member was also in the room; she seemed to be tidying the place up.
"Has she been waiting long?" Haruka asked.
The staff member nodded, "When we told her your meeting got extended. She said she would wait here for you. Her complexion looked pale, so we told her to lay down and rest, and she finally fell asleep."
Harukas gaze darkened, so it is getting bad now. He nodded and gave the staff member a few instructions before sending her off. Once she was away, Haruka loosened his tie and walked over to the couch. He placed his hand on her forehead, then her neck — no hanyou fever. But shes unusually cold.
"Unn..." Lila murmured, followed by painful coughing. The girl was still unconscious, but the coughs didn"t stop. Haruka wrapped his arms around her, hugging her. Lila, what can he do for her? He should find out what"s wrong with her first.