I was shaking with fear but Eisuke calmed me down. He hugged me tight as if to protect me from my fears. It made my heart skip a beat. What is this feeling?? Am I in love? No, it can't be! But... I feel so comfortable with him.
Oh no! I'm in love with the guy next to me!

"It's okay now. Your fears are gone. And if it comes back, just hold on to this." He said as he handed me a small silver flower. It was quite heavy. Maybe it's pure silver.

I stared at it curiously.

"My fears..." I muttered.

But, there's something I fear the same as my phobias: ...Eisuke leaving me.

"I gotta go, Yukan."

Please don't go!

Before he could leave, I grabbed the end of his coat, and...

KISSED HIM!!!

I was surprised by my action. But the thing that surprised me the most is...

HE KISSED ME BACK!!

We both pulled back and both of us were surprised about what happened. Heart beating fast,--because of nervousness and... you know-- I mumbled, "Uh... I..."

Eisuke, on the other hand, turned back to his usual self and dismissed me. "I'll go." was his reply, then left the room.

~Time Skip~

There is an I.V.C. tonight, so my dad insisted that I go buy some dresses for me and Rui and have my hair done with Rui. Yeah, Rui and I are pretty close.

We entered a small shop-or so I thought. "Whoah...!" Rui exclaimed. A big store was spread before our eyes. Rui and I immediately search for a dress suitable for the I.V.C..

Rui eyed an off shoulder crimson red dress. She grabbed the price tag, and looked at it. She gave a sigh--probably an exasperated one--and searched for other dresses. "Is that what you want?" I pointed to the red dress that was hung on the wall.

"Yes, but I can already see my yearly salary flying." She said, pulling an aqua colored dress from the rack. She placed it back and pulled another one.

I said, "No worries. I'll buy it for you."

Rui stopped viewing the dresses on the rack, and looked at me, surprised. "R-really? Is that okay?"

"Yes, you're my friend. And that's what friends do."

After a few exchange of dialogues with Rui, the salesgirl led her to a changing room.

Rui came out and she looks more pale than usual. Not the "sick pale", but the beautiful one.

"Does it look good?" She asked, grabbing the ends of the dress and twirling in front of the mirror. "Yes, it does. You look gorgeous!" I exclaimed.

"Phew, I thought it was ugly." She breathed. "Now, your turn." she added.

Rui picked a black one shoulder lace dress, and pulled it up high so I can see it. "How about this? This highlights your curves." Rui advised, while inspecting it thoroughly.

Tss. Do I even have curves??

I shrugged, and murmured in a deep voice, "...Whatever." I took it from her hand, and changed into it.

"You... look... perfect!!" Rui exclaimed, hugging me as tight as she can.

Will Eisuke like it? N-no!

I sighed. "Hey, don't be sad. You look stunningly beautiful!" She complimented. Yes, I, myself, found it beautiful, but... how about Eisuke? It was one of things I worried about.

"Thank you..."

We bought the outfits--with the shoes paired with it--and went to the salon.

As our hairs and makeup were being made, we watched T.V. to kill boredom.

"Rui, is that Eisuke?" I asked.

"Yep."

I looked at it intently, reassuring that it was him and then I knew what Rui said was true! I watched how he was interviewed.

"So, Mr.Ichinomiya... when do you plan to have a girlfriend?"

I was interested on what he will say.

"I already have one now." he nonchalantly answered, waving his hand dismissively. He had his usual smirk on his face while he said this.

"Oh..." the journalists were surprised. So am I.

"Rui, come here." Then Rui came to him and Eisuke put an arm around her shoulder.

"Is that your girlfriend, Mr.Ichinomiya?" Journa 1 asked.

"Ye-,"

"Since when did your relationship start?" Journa 2 interjected.

"Where did you meet her?" Journa 3 cut in in the conversation.

Then the journalists--even the crowds--swarmed around Eisuke and Rui.

"Uh... Rui, is this true?" I asked, hurt.

"Um... possibly,"

Possibly? Ouch!

My heart ached, but I kept it to myself. "O...kay," I felt like I didn't want to attend the I.V.C anymore. I hung my head, internally crying.

~Time Skip~

Ugh! I don't wanna go to the I.V.C, but dad forced me to.

I pouted, and stared out of the car window.

When we arrived at Tres Spades, blinding camera flashes welcomed us. "Thanks Rein." I said as he helped me to get out of the car.

"You're welcome, Yukan." Rein smiled in response.

I smiled and dad and I headed to the I.V.C..

"Good evening, Mr.Hajizen." greeted some fine men and women, while bowing.

Dad nodded, smiling and entered the room.

"Good evening, Ms.Hajizen." They wore fancy suits, but... why are they greeting guests here? But I still smiled as response.

I sat down on a chair, alone in the table, 'cuz dad was greeting some important people.

I sighed, and gulped down a glass of champagne. I feel so... sad. I rested my arm on the table and my chin on my arm. "Eisuke...," I mumbled his name to myself without thinking.

I drank two glasses of champagne consecutively, thinking to myself.

***********************************
"Hey there, Yukan." greeted a guy, somewhat familiar to me, but I don't really recognize him. Maybe because I'm getting tipsy? Perhaps.

"Hi...?" It was a question, yeah.

"Don't act like you don't remember me." The man pouted.

I cocked my head to the side, and mouth hanged open "???"

The man sighed. "Shigan..., remember? From th-"

"Ahh! Yes! I remember!" I yelled.

"Yeah, uh... you're getting tipsy? Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." I nodded my head. "Better than I've been before."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." I quickly replied.

"Um... okay..., there's something I want to say...," he exhaled.

"I think this is the right time, so I want to say that... I... like you, Yukan."

I smiled. Is this what they say: When a door closes, another one opens?

"I like you too, Shigan. Haha!" I laughed.

"Are you serious? So... can I c-?"

Before he could finish his sentence, someone cleared their throat "Ehem, may I please have everyone's attention?" We all shifted our attention to the man on the stage, Eisuke.

"As for this month, Tres Spades will finally celebrate its third year anniversary. So in advance, we all want to thank you for supporting this hotel." Eisuke paused.

"As a thank you gift, I'll hold a game, only for our invited guests. Shall I tell the rules?"

Everyone in the room whispered, then raised their thumbs up.

"Okay, we'll only hold three rounds. Whoever wins this game, will have one prize. Just name it, and it's yours." Eisuke said.

"Whether it's a million dollars, a brand new car, an extravagant mansion, or whatever your heart desires-except for the hotel, that is." Eisuke laughed, including the crowd.

That smile... I love it.

"So this is just a simple game for pairs. The first round of the game is a dance contest, where you and your partner have to be the best. Now, I need 6 pairs so we can start the game."

I raised my hand, enthusiastically.

"Yukan...!" Shigan gasped. I turned to him, smiling and saying, "Come on Shigan. Let's be partners."

Shigan hesitated, but gave up anyway. "F-fine...!" He blushed, looking away.

Then, 5 pairs raised their hands one by one.

"Please come up on the dance floor. And begin."

***********************************
Shigan led the whole dance and it turns out, we were third place.

"The bottom 3, thank you for participating, you may sit down."

"As for the top three, the next game is... you have to carry your partner up to 2 floors, without using the elevator."

The men in each team carried their partners and readied for Eisuke's go signal.

"Hey hey hey, Shigan, carry me." I feel so tipsy that I got too carried away.

Shigan blushed, gave me a piggyback ride, and readied.

"On your marks, get set, go!!"

Shigan, unexpectedly, dashed off upstairs quite fast.

"Wait! Shigan! Gaaah!"

"Hold on tight, Yukan. We're almost there."

I can hear his heart beating fast. No matter how close we were, I still felt more comfortable with Eisuke. But, he didn't felt comfortable with me. I rested my head on his back, and listened to his fast heartbeat. I breathed an exasperated sigh, and tightened my grip on Shigan.

***********************************
"Congratulations to the the semi-finalists!" A voice cheered,--not Eisuke's--when we got to the destination.

"Now, let's make this quick. Mr.Ichinomiya is currently in the penthouse, so... the girls from each team have to get there without the boys' help. Whoever gets there first will win!!! Wooh!!!"

"What a jolly host." I huffed.

"You can do it, Yukan." Shigan cheered.

"Yes, I can do this!!!" I yelled.

Then, "GO!!!"

There was only a few floors until we get to the penthouse.

"S***! F*** these heels." I removed them and threw them to the floor.

"I have to get there!"

***********************************
*pant* *pant*

I'm almost there, but I also see the other girl.

I was about to climb upstairs, but...

A/N: Hi! Sorry it took so long. Umm... this is gonna end about two or three chapters more. So please vote and comment. Also, follow me. I'm really sorry for this. I know I'm getting bad and I dunno why. But please help me. Anyway tnx for reading. LOVE LOVE 💛💛

PS
We didn't have any classes for THREE days, that's why I finished this story 'quicker' than I thought.