Before I realized it, I was put into some vehicle and driven away from school. I didn't know whether to panic or scream.
"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" I demanded, looking around blindly.
"I'm upset you don't recognize me by my voice Kimiko-chan. Take a guess," the voice said. I calmed down and thought about it. There's only one person who calls me Kimiko-chan.
"Oppa! Why did you blindfold me? Where are we going?" I questioned while the panic returning to my head.
"We're going somewhere fun for the weekend! You'll know when we get there. It's your birthday surprise."
I sat there knowing I couldn't fight him on this even if I wanted to.
After a few hours on the road, Omari finally pulled in to some location. He got out off the car, leaving me there confused. I heard my door open.
"Take my hand Kimiko-chan."
I tried to follow his voice and grabbed his hand. He lifted me out of the car and lead me to a spot.
"You ready for your surprise?"
He removed the blindfold and I was surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Ahead of me was a large building that I recognized to be a hot spring inn.
"Oppa, this is so beautiful! I didn't the cherry blossom trees were still blooming!"
It almost brought a tear to my eyes, but I couldn't cry now. At least not in front of Omari.
"Come on, we need to check in, Kimiko-chan."
He took my hand and we walked towards the large building where we were greeted by the attendants. Soon we were checked in and whisked off to our room which had a gorgeous view of the cherry blossom trees on the property.
We got settled into our room and an intense sense of guilt washed over me. I had been basically avoiding him since that weekend I spent with him.
"Oppa, I need to apologize.."
"Apologize for what?"
"How I acted after what happened when I stayed over at your place. I basically avoided talking to you…"
"Oh...I actually didn't realize you were. I was so busy planning this trip that I wouldn't have had time to talk," he shrugged. He paused and chuckled.
"I guess I was also avoiding talking to you too! I didn't want you to know about the surprise so I kept my texts minimal. It almost didn't happen either, since it took me forever to convince your father to let me take you. Your mother helped me though."
I paused. He talked to my father?
"So, you're not mad at me?"
Omari walked over to me and embraced me.
"Of course not. I mean, I don't blame you for feeling awkward after all that. We're still new to each other. But let's not think about that. This weekend is for your birthday, so let's celebrate. How about we go walk around the property and look at the cherry blossoms?"
I nodded and we headed out.
The weekend was filled with the most fun I have had in the longest time. We explored the hot spring town we were in, bought some souvenirs, and saw the most beautiful sights. I even got a spa treatment while we were there.
It came to our last night at the hot spring inn. Omari and I were enjoying our dinner when an attendant came by.
"Your private bath will be ready right after your dinner. You'll have it for a two-hour block, so please feel free to fully use the facilities."
We thanked her and she left. My eyes immediately darted to Omari with a suspicious look.
"I booked us a private bath because they're better than the public baths. I thought you would want to try them.."
It took me a minute to realize he said us, meaning the two of us entering the bath together. Which means we would be naked together….in the bath….together.
I felt blood rush up to my head as my embarrassment got the better of me.
"You don't have to go in with me. I could stay here if you want."
I looked up at his face. He looked a little sad.
"Come on Kimiko. This is the guy you're spending the rest of your life with. He's going to see you naked eventually," I thought to myself. I sighed and looked at Omari.
"We can go in together…" I said softly. I watched as his face lit up.
He began talking to me about stuff going on in his class as we finished up dinner, but my mind was racing from the thought of entering the bath with him alone. Weren't we getting too intimate too fast? We've known each other for barely a month now.
I know we're matched and suppose to be 99% compatible, but I can't help but wonder where that other 1% is and how it could affect us.
My thoughts are interrupted by a hug. I turn my head and see Omari.
"Kimiko-chan, your face is like an open book. I know you probably feel like things between us are progressing pretty fast, but I wouldn't be doing all of this if I didn't feel like it felt right."
"I'm just worried that we'll do something neither of us is ready for yet. I've never been this intimate with a guy before because I've always been waiting for my match. Now that you're here, I don't know what to do anymore."
"Love me."
I paused, feeling at a loss for words. I was so worried about all the physical aspects of a relationship that I hadn't even given a thought to the emotional parts.
"Tell me how you feel about me Kimiko-chan. Do you not like me?"
"No, I do like you. I've just never felt this way about anybody so quickly. It's scary to think about."
"I'm scared too."
I looked into his eyes and he smiled at me.
"I've never liked someone this much before. I've always just messed around with girls, not really caring about the emotions of things. It's different with you though. It's like nothing else in the world matters but you."
I felt my blood rushing to my head again as he spoke to me. I didn't realize he felt so deeply about me already.
"I didn't realize you felt that way about me. I guess that's silly to think since you've gone out of your way to do all this for my birthday. Thank you, Omari."
He grinned at me as he caressed my face. He pulled my face closer to his and kissed me softly.
"Come on, our bath is probably ready now."