Everyone is silent. Specially Aiko. She is looking a little bothered. Who wouldn't be bothered after something like that. Atleast she is still sitting by me. I try to look at her and our eyes meet. I look away the next moment. Awkward! I need to break this silence this is killing me.
"So!", we both say together. Awkward!!
"You want to play some music?", we both say at the same time.
"No, you go ahead.", again, both of us together.
"You guys are acting like a couple who had sex for the first time.", Densetsu says.
"Shut up!!", again together. Aiko tries to hit Densetsu but in vain.
Awkward silence once again.
"Play a song Aiko.", I try to smile. I don't know what kind of smile this was.
"Yeah, sure master.", Aiko also gives an awkward smile.
It's 'Put Your Head On My Shoulder' by Paul Anka. Super awkward!! It suddenly starts raining. I suddenly feel a head on my shoulder. It's obviously Aiko. I don't want to look at her now. My heart rate is rising. Densetsu and Tachibana seems to be asleep now. I can hear two snoring.
Aiko suddenly starts singing with the song, "Put your lips next to mine, dear/ Won't you kiss me once, baby?"
She really has a nice voice. I collect some scattered courage in my heart, look at her. She looks back at me. Somehow this doesn't feel awkward anymore. My heartbeat is rising. I can feel her breathe on my cheek. She is breathing quite heavy. Is she really thinking the same thing I am? I don't know. I don't care. I want it!
I start singing with her "Just a kiss goodnight, maybe You and I will fall in love, you and I will fall in love."
She comes closer to my lips. I can almost feel her lips on mine. They are soft. Shall I take the leap? Of course I will!! I push my lips on her lips. Move my hand off the shifter, put it on her head. Her hair is so soft. Should I keep kissing her? The road is supposed to be straight for the next two kilometers (1.24274 miles). There's no traffic. They aren't gonna notice if we don't make much noise. I keep kissing her for the next 2 minutes. I can't stop. She isn't letting me stop either. She is gripping my head with both her hands. The song ends. Suddenly, a metal song named 'Highway Star' by deep purple starts playing.
"What the... Why is there a metal song playing!? I was sleeping you know!!", Densetsu wakes up.
"Sorry, my bad.", Aiko changes it with a lofi music.
We got back to our seats just before he woke up. What a lucky miss! She is rubbing her lips. I probably bit it sometimes. Such an idiot.
We are finally at a hotel. It's Inculto-34. I didn't expect to see a hotel this fast. But, ow, well. We finally can rest properly on a bed. The surroundings seem well too. There's a small shopping mall nearby. They are packing everything up though. But it'll stay open for the next 2 days. That's more than enough for us. There's also an anime figure store. Densetsu kept staring at it for a while. We'll probably check that out later too.
"What?!"
"I'm sorry ma'am."
"What's wrong Aiko?", I ask.
"They are saying there's only one room with four beds available."
"Are they one person per bed ones?" I ask the lady in the counter.
"Yes, sir."
"Fine, we'll take it."
"What!!?", Aiko looks a little bothered.
"What what? We're not gonna spend the night here. We are gonna be going at night."
"But but but... Ugh fine."
"So, what formalities we have to do?" I ask the lady.
"Just fill this up, sir."
I fill up the form and take the keys to the room.
"Alright, everyone. Let's go."
Lying down on the bed I look at the room. This is actually a pretty good hotel to be honest. There's plenty of space. It's clean. The bed is pretty comfortable. There's sunlight coming too. I wish I could live in a house like this, alone, with my future wife. I don't need too many rooms. One is enough. Come to think of it, who'll be my wife I wonder. I mean I'm going to that age. Maybe 3 to 4 more years. Would Aiko be my.... I start blushing. What if I ask her out? Would she go? I mean, that moment in the car today, that indicates yes, doesn't it? I look at the ceiling. It's the only thing I'm hating about this room, white and simple. I sigh and look at Aiko lying on the bed beside me. She is sleeping. I can see the curve lines between her chest and belly. She is pretty. I turn my body facing her, close my eyes. Maybe, she does like me. Maybe she will go out with me if I asked. Maybe, she will marry me. I think I'll ask her about it.
I open my eyes as I see Aiko looking and smiling at me.
"What is it?", I ask
"Nothing.", She smiles more.
"Come on, say it."
"You really are like a sea shell."
"You mean my name?"
"Yeah, Kaigara means sea shell, doesn't it?
"It does I guess."
"You are like a sea shell."
"Really? How?"
"A sea shell looks so white, pale, yet it's beautiful, it brings sounds of the ocean. Let's them hear it who wants to. You are just like that. You stay simple, yet you have a sea of goodness and charm inside you. You don't hide those charms. You show them to people who are willing to know you."
"I'm flattered."
"Flattery is not my specialty. So, you can say I'm speaking the truth.", she faces towards the ceiling."
"I don't have any words for your complement. A mere thanks will probably not be enough."
"Now you are flattering me.", She smiles.
"Maybe you deserve some."
She looks at me as we both smile.