They were both surprised by my action. I mean, who would do something like this? A stranger who suddenly barged in and interferes?
I clenched my fists tightly, 'This is embarrassing... But I don't see any wrong action here... I just wanna protect her...'
Her ex angrily asks, "Who the hell are you??"
"Does it matter? You are hurting a girl..." I replied.
"Hurting? I'm just asking her to come with me. What do you care??"
He tried to let go of my grip and then attempts to punch me. However, she suddenly interferes, "Stop it! Please sir, stay out of this..."
"Yeah! Stay out of this! This isn't your concern!" Her ex added it.
I looked at him with intent, "Girls aren't meant to be hurt nor to be forced... They should be treated like a queen..."
He just made a smug face. I then let go of his hand and looked at her, "Oh, by the way, your father told me to punch this guy if he ever hurts you or what so ever..."
"You knew my father?" She was surprised.
I nodded and smiled a little.
Her ex then grabbed my shoulder after he heard it, "Wait, what? What did you just sai-" I immediately punched his face before he even finish his question.
He fell to the ground while feeling in pain. He just looked at me with an awe in his face.
Yuna was also shocked and was panicking, as if she doesn't know what to do.
I began to think, 'If I leave her here with him, it's possible he will hurt her again, after.'
So, I quickly acted on my own and grabbed her hand. I took her with me and ran until we ended up in an alley.
I... I flustered when I suddenly realized that I was still holding her hand. As soon as I realized it, I quickly let go of her hand.
I don't know what I did... It's like, I acted on my own and ended up stealing her... Oh, what have I done?
I felt a sweat coming down from my head, a feeling of nervous that suddenly came out of nowhere.
As I let go, she then asks me, "Who are you?"
I turned around and looked down, because I don't know what to say...
"I... Uh... It doesn't matter..." I replied.
"You should go home. Your father is worried of you..." I added.
I then left, leaving her speechless alone.
I'm feeling nervous, feeling embarrassed, but also feeling great. It was the first time I held her hand.
But the question is, will I still be able to come to that café? Do I even have the guts to see her again? What if she sees me again and asks me things I'm not ready to answer? What have I done? Have I already fallen in love with her? What about the rules that I must obey as a hoarder?
This isn't right. I shouldn't have interfered with them. I am just gonna give her trouble...
But... I think I can give her a better world than what her ex can...
I think... I should fight for what I believe...
That's right... I should fight for her...
The next day, I intentionally came a little late, so that I'm not too early.
She is yet again the barista...
I was keeping my composure calm as I order my coffee. I evaded my eyes at her, but she did the same as well. We literally evaded our looks as we complete our transaction.
As I sat down, I noticed that she is looking right at me. So I looked back, but she immediately turns around.
I don't know what is up with her... Is it because of last night?
I couldn't take staying at the café, so I quickly finished drinking my coffee and left. I waited 'till afternoon, before entering the café again to talk to the old man, about last night.
As soon as I stepped in at the café, she quickly panicked like she was surprised and took all of her belongings with her to the upper floor. She even dropped some of her papers, so I picked it up and gave it to her.
She evades her look and bowed down to me as she thanked me. I on the other hand, was in a complete confusion... I mean, shouldn't I be the one in her state?
After she left to go upstairs, I then saw the old man, smiling at me.
I then asks, "What? Did she said anything to you?"
"Nope..." He then whistled.
My eyebrows furrowed, looking at him dubiously, "A-huh? Then why are you both acting strange?"
"I think you just made her flustered." He continued to whistle.
"A-huh? And here I thought you knew nothing..."
He suddenly laughed hysterically, "Hahaha! She returned home last night, telling me stories of what happened and asking me of who you are, but I said I don't know your name, either..."
I literally face palmed. How stupid of me? I never even introduced myself, not even to her father.
I smiled and then introduces myself, "Sorry for the late introduction... I'm Ryu Akimoto."
He smiled. He then introduced himself next, "And I am Hoshi, Hoshi Arakaki. Nice to meet you."
We shook hands with one another.
"Thank you... Because of you, my daughter now has her eye on someone else." He said that with a happy face.
My eyes narrowed, "Who? Another guy?"
"Yes. Another guy..."
I sighed, "Well... I guess I'm gonna punch someone again..."
"Really? Can you punch yourself?" He smirked.
I then choked in confusion, 'Wait... Does he mean that she has her eyes on me?'
"What are you talking about? You just literally saw earlier that she's been evading me..." I replied.
He shrugged, "I guess you don't understand women, yet..."
Do I? Is he telling me that women have reverse psychology? She has her eyes on me, but she does the exact opposite?
I suddenly felt my heart beating so fast. So fast it makes me tremble, "I... Uh... I'm ordering espresso now. Ok?"
He suddenly laughed at me, "Hahaha! Changing subjects, huh? Well, it can't be helped. Women are really hard to understand, sometimes."
I scratched my head, "Ye-Yeah! Actually, I'm ordering it for takeout, so yeah. Because I have an important task to do now. Hehehe..."
"Right..." He replied with a dubious look and a dubious tone.
As soon as I received the coffee, I quickly head-out, nervously.
What is this feeling? I felt happy yet uncomfortable...
After that day, I came to the café morning by morning once more.
This time, she is improving. She is finally engaging with me. As I finished drinking my coffee out of nervous, she then came and asks me, "Sir? Would you like a refill?"
"Um... Ok..."
I evaded my eyes off her as she refills. She on the other hand, looks happy.
Morning by morning, day by day. She always refills my coffee.
I even noticed that I'm the only one who gets a free refill out of all the customers.
One man even tried to ask for a refill, but she quickly turned it down for a reason that free refill promotion was over a week ago.
That man since then gazes at me. I felt embarrassed that day.
The next day, I didn't come by morning, but rather came in the afternoon.
I felt embarrassed, because it felt like I'm a special customer, that's why I came by the afternoon.
After ordering my coffee, I sat down and drank my coffee calmly while looking at a distance from the window.
After a while, I suddenly realized that my coffee ran out. As soon as I saw it empty, she then came with a coffee pot and asks me politely, "Refill? Sir?"
My eyes opened widely in surprise. Her father is literally just there to do the work, and yet, she's still the one who came...
I then asked her, "I thought the free refill promotion was over?"
"It is, but you are our special customer..."
My eyebrows furrowed, "And why is that?"
"Because you are the only customer who always comes here often..." She smiled, after.
I sighed. It felt like there's nothing I could do.
"And this is the least I can do to thank you..." She suddenly added.
I was immediately surprised. I never asked anything in return, and yet, she refilled my cup once more.
As she refills my coffee, my time stopped. I watches her as she gracefully refills my coffee, while the world around me is slowing down.
My heart pounded seconds by seconds as I began to ask myself, 'Should I... Should I ask her? I mean, this is it. This could be my chance...'
After she finished refilling my cup, I quickly took her hand and held it. She got startled by my sudden action.
I looked down and asks shyly, "I, I know this is asking too much, but... Will you go out with me?"