"Wait!" Hiro ran after Riku and stopped her before she could get into a taxi.
"No, I don't want company I wanna do my errands alone." Riku sighed with irritation. "Great I missed my taxi."
"What? No, I was just-" Before Hiro could finish his sentence Riku turned her head towards him pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers.
"Look Hiro it's obvious you like Haru but she's not your girlfriend. Just because you saved her doesn't mean you have dibs to control her. I encouraged her to go out because right now what she needs is friends.
She just got out of a bad relationship. A CONTROLLING one Don't take her freedom away because of how you feel for her."
Hiro stood there shocked. Was he really that transparent?
"Finally a Taxi great. Don't go following Haru around like a creep yeah?" Riku warned as she got into the cab.
"What? Of course not! Pft why would you even say that?" Hiro stuttered feeling completely exposed.
"Whatever I'll see you tomorrow." Riku closed the door and the taxi left.
Hiro walked back to his car and sat in silence. 'Do I really have feelings for her? Am I super obvious? She's cute, nice, and she's pretty. who wouldn't want to be her soulmate? Wait am I really falling in love with her?' All of these thoughts suddenly flooded into his head. Even though the car was silent it felt like someone was talking his ear off suffocating him.
His thoughts were abruptly halted when he noticed Haru walk out of the building. Instinctively he was about to get out of the car until he saw TJ walking out behind her. Seeing her genuinely smile and having a nice chat he became a little jealous wishing that he was the one next to her.
"I will not follow them I WILL NOT FOLLOW THEM!" Hiro chanted as he lightly banged his head on the steering wheel.
He watches as TJ opens the door for Haru and carefully guides her in. Then closes the door and continues to his side of the car.
"I am a total creeper right now. I am ashamed of myself" Hiro snorted. As he raised his head to look towards TJ's car he saw a figure of a man speed walking towards their car. "Wait that guy looks like Kiba"
TJ's car left the parking lot in front of the building. Oblivious to the storm that was speed walking their way.
"So where would you like to eat?" TJ asked with his charming smile.
"I never really went out before so anywhere is fine I'm not picky. We can go to your favorite place to eat." Haru smiled sheepishly
"Are you sure?" He asked with a mischievous smile. Haru stuttered her reply "y-yeah"
"Don't fret about the pricing then. It will be on me since I asked you out tonight." TJ grinned.
Haru began to sweat "o- okay. Is it getting hot in here?" Haru blurted TJ thought she was cute and chuckled.
They pulled into a fancy restaurant where A-listers usually eat.
Haru's jaw dropped when they walked in. She felt like she couldn't afford to look at the decor.
TJ tapped her as he pulled out her seat and helped her to sit.
"what do you want to eat?" He asked as he sat down across from her.
"you know this place better than I do you pick. Judging by the decor I think I'm going to get a heart attack looking at the prices" She smiled nervously.
TJ smiled and called the waiter over to order their meal. After saying a few dishes that Haru couldn't even pronounce the waiter bowed and took the menu.
As they waited they caught a few people looking at them. Women who knew the famous TJ aka playboy of BaBang were shocked that he was out in the open with a woman. An average looking woman compared to the last girl he dated.
Haru noticed people whispering and started to become very self-conscious. TJ took notice of her state and took her hand "Hey you okay?" Gasps erupted from the women when they saw that he had taken this average woman's hand and lovingly looked at her. Haru looked around her nervously and then back to TJ "I-I'm okay just a little nervous... I don't think I really fit in here." TJ frowned at her response. "You have the right to be here as anyone else. You're a paying customer right?" Haru chuckled "technically you're the paying customer." TJ smiled.
TJ tried to calm Haru down and keep her sane from these gossiping women.
When the food they ordered came.
Haru's mouth began to water. This food looked magnificent!
Giant Pork cutlet fried to perfection with sautéed mushroom and onions drizzled with gravy, a scoop of white rice, and a side order of onion rings. Noticing there was only one plate on the table a woman from the next table whispered to the Lady next to her. "Omg TJ just order from the couple's menu?" "That girl is so average though." The woman seated across from the two ladies then exchanged her point of view with them. "Well TJ is known as the playboy. Even though she's average I do feel sorry for her."
Haru felt her appetite disappearing until a fork with a piece of cut pork appeared in front of her mouth. She looked up and saw a smiling TJ trying to feed her. She looked at him and blushed. "I can feed myself I still have my other arm." She chuckled. "That's okay I don't mind helping you eat today. Don't pay attention to those women they just like to gossip" he whispered then struck his dashing smile and Haru happily opened her mouth and took a bite.
After they finished their meal TJ paid the check and helped Haru out of her seat. The women around them eyed her enviously. The two decided to walk off their dinner so He took her down the strip near the restaurant. Haru had never seen so many stores on one street it was overwhelming but exciting.
TJ noticed her smiling, leaned over and whispered in her ear "If you see anything you like just let me know I'll get it for you." Haru's head snapped up to look at him. He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. She immediately felt her face burning up. Embarrassed she looked down. "I can't do that you already paid for dinner and it wouldn't feel right for you to spend money on me." She mumbled. He looked at her and chuckled that's okay "I don't mind spending money on you. I think I walked up an appetite again you want some ice cream?"
"Sure" Haru smiled happily. "Okay sit here and I'll be back." He left and went to get the ice cream and came back with what looked like a banana boat sundae. It was a banana sliced in half with one heaping scoop of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in the middle, topped with whip cream, a cherry, and heart-shaped sprinkles.
Haru's eyes almost popped out of her head "Ummmm I can't eat all of that."
"Oh, I got it for us to share from the couple's menu." He replied nonchalantly. Haru facepalmed and laughed nervously 'couples menu again? What's with this guy' she chuckled nervously with a raised eyebrow at him.
Hearing his response the girls at the other table looked at them. Noticing who was sitting next to them they began to whisper. He's eating from the couple's menu with that average woman. I feel so sorry for her he's just leading her on. He's a playboy."
Haru's appetite began to disappear again until a scoop of chocolate ice cream appeared in front of her mouth. "What did I say earlier this evening?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a smile that could make any woman melt. She smiled again and confidently took a bite.
Knowing the type of people that were around she mustered up the courage to ask "So this bad playboy rep of yours what's that about?" The table next to her erupted with gasps. "That average woman is so bold to ask such a question so bluntly!"
TJ caught the hint of what she was doing and answered truthfully "I dated the wrong girl. After I found out she was just using me I broke up with her. She was angry and began to spread rumors about me."
"Wow, I'm so sorry that happened. That is horrible! A good person like you doesn't deserve that."
"Yeah, I haven't gone on a date since then. I just stayed away from women. But you didn't seem like that kind of person."
Haru's expression got serious "Why? Cuz I'm cripple?" She monotonously replied.
TJ burst out laughing "No silly. You're kind, genuine, and you won't let me spoil you."
The women at the table next to them gasped at this new revelation. Did this average woman actually catch this man's heart?
Hearing the gasps and whispers Haru rolled her eyes and finished eating her 'couples' icecream
"I'll go throw the trash away I have to use the restroom I'll be back. Don't run away now." TJ teased.
Haru chuckled and nodded in response. He watched as she got up and walked out of the building and sat on a rock wall and snuck out of the building at another exit. While She was waiting for TJ a dark silhouette rises from the shadows in the alleyway next to the building.
"Well well looks like you're having a good night."