Takada was stunned like a fish out of water, gasping for understanding. and fell off from his seat, lying down and looking at Erin in shock. Erin looked down at Takada and smiled sarcastically Erin's voice began to lower, like the whisper of a snake ready to strike, every word that came out of her lips containing hidden seduction."
"What do you say..?"
Takada lay there, struggling to find the his words to answer the woman. His thoughts were tangled, his mind racing, but his voice wouldn't come. Before he could even process what was happening, Erin swung a leg over him and sat down on his stomach, pinning him beneath her.
His heart raced as he stared up at her, completely at a loss. Erin, with a sly smile, slowly reached for his glasses, sliding them off his face. She held them casually in her hand, her gaze never leaving his.
"Can't find the words, Takada?" she whispered, her tone laced with both danger and amusement.
Leaning in closer, until only a breath of space remained between them, she lifted his glasses higher, her eyes boring straight into his. Her gaze was so intense, so unyielding, that Takada felt as if she were peering straight into his soul. His breath hitched, his body tense beneath her.
"Look at me," she whispered, her voice soft yet commanding. "Find the words. I'm waiting."
Takada's blush deepened, his face burning as he began to tremble beneath Erin's weight. His heart pounded wildly in his chest—he had never experienced anything like this before. No woman had ever come this close, let alone held him captive in such an intimate and overwhelming way.
"I... I... I'm..." Takada stammered, his voice barely a whisper, his mind too clouded to form a coherent sentence.
Erin didn't give him a chance to recover. She leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his skin as their noses brushed. The touch was electric, sending shivers down Takada's spine. He froze, completely at her mercy.
"How...?" Erin's voice was a sultry whisper, her words dripping with dark allure. "Your miserable little life will change if you belong to me."
Takada's breath hitched. "I... I..."
He shook harder now, his hands trembling as he struggled to find his words. The tension was unbearable, and in a desperate attempt to escape her gaze, he turned his head slightly, trying to look away.
But Erin wasn't about to let him. Sensing his retreat, she swiftly grabbed his chin, her fingers firm yet gentle, forcing him to face her again. Her eyes, dangerous and seductive, locked onto his with a burning intensity.
"Don't look away from me," she commanded softly, her voice laced with both desire and dominance.
"Just think about it," Erin whispered, her voice soft but captivating. "Your life could change in an instant if you were mine. You'd be pulled into a world you've never even imagined—completely wrapped up in me. Every moment of your boring, ordinary life would suddenly have meaning. Purpose. You'd belong to something... to someone, in a way you've never known before.""
She leaned in even closer, her lips almost brushing his as she spoke, each word filled with temptation.
"Let yourself fall, Takada. Let me show you just how intoxicating it could be. How thrilling. How... irresistible."
Takada's entire body trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by her words, her touch, and her gaze. He was on the verge of breaking, teetering between resistance and surrender. And Erin? She knew exactly what she was doing.
Without a warning, Erin leaned in swiftly, her lips nearly brushing Takada's. His heart skipped a beat, his body frozen in place, paralyzed by her closeness. The moment hung in the air, electric and tense she was so close he could feel her breath on his lips. Just as the space between them vanished and Erin was about to kiss him, Takada's instincts kicked in.
In a sudden burst of panic, he shoved her away, stumbling as he scrambled to his feet. His face was flushed, as red as a tomato, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Without a second thought, he leave from the classroom, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls. He didn't dare look back, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and embarrassment.
Erin remained seated, staring at the door he had just fled through, her lips still parted in surprise. Her fingers absentmindedly touched her lips, the faintest smile creeping onto her face. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of amusement and intrigue dancing in them.
She tilted her head, gazing at the door as if Takada's retreat had only made things more interesting.
"So... he's going to play hard to get," Erin mused under her breath, her voice low and thoughtful. For the first time in a while, a genuine thrill of excitement coursed through her. Takada's reaction had been unexpected, and it only piqued her curiosity even more.
Her eyes lingered on the exit, wondering just how far he'd run—and how long it would take before he found his way back to her.
"And i believed that no man has ever rejected me like that," she said, glancing at the door with a newfound sense of hope. A smile crept across her face as she added, "But honestly, his actions didn't feel like rejection at all."
Her grin widened, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Okay, then... I'll consider him a challenge. I can work with that."
"I'm willing to play the long game to make him realize he's meant for me." she declared, her words dripping with an intense, almost possessive tone, her eyes burning with desire.
With a sarcastic smile playing on her lips, she slowly pushed herself up from where she had fallen with Takada, feeling invigorated by the chase that lay ahead.
Back to Takada who sprinted across the schoolyard, his feet pounding the pavement as if he were racing against time itself. His breath came in sharp bursts, and his heart hammered in his chest. He barely noticed the security guard watching him with a disapproving scowl.
"Look at that little rat," the guard muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Does he think this is some kind of racetrack? Running around the schoolyard like a lunatic."
Takada, oblivious to the glares and mutterings, ran as though the world behind him was collapsing. His legs carried him beyond the gates of the school, far from the curious eyes of students and staff. He didn't stop until he reached home, panting heavily and drenched in sweat.
The security guard sighed, glancing once more in the direction Takada had disappeared. "That kid... there's something strange about him. Always running like he's being chased by ghosts. Well, whatever. Not my problem."
Takada burst through the front door, nearly startling his mother, who was busy washing dishes in the kitchen.
"Takada?" she called, smiling warmly. "How was your first day of—"
Before she could finish, Takada rushed past her, his face flushed and frantic, not even pausing to say hello.
His mother chuckled softly, her hands still submerged in soapy water. "Another bad day, huh? Boys will be boys. He'll have to learn to deal with it. He's a man now."
She returned to her cleaning session, unfazed by her son's dramatic entrance, as Takada ran straight to his room, slamming the door behind him. He collapsed against it, his body sliding slowly to the floor, completely drained.
For a long moment, he just lay there, sprawled out like a rag doll on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. His chest heaved, his mind replaying the events of the day, the encounter that had turned his world upside down.
"So... I was right," Takada muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That girl… she's not normal. She's strange. Really strange..."
His thoughts lingered on her, the girl who had, out of nowhere, confessed her feelings for him. He had been caught so off guard, he could barely comprehend what had happened. But as the confusion subsided, a grin began to creep across his face.
"But.. No girl has ever done something like that for me before," he whispered, his heart fluttering. "She likes me. She really likes me."
Takada jumped to his feet, fists clenched in excitement. "Finally!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "Someone actually likes me!"
But the euphoria was short-lived. His elation faded as reality hit him like a ton of bricks. His smile faltered, and the excitement in his eyes dulled.
"But… if I accept her, I'll be the target of every thug in the school," he mumbled, sinking back into a gloom. "She's part of that group… the popular kids. And she's famous. Really famous."
Takada's mind raced, replaying her face, her confidence, and the way everyone at school seemed to worship the ground she walked on. He was nothing compared to her. Just an ordinary guy with a streak of bad luck.
"Yeah… famous," he sighed, plopping down on his bed. "What would people even say if I ended up as the boyfriend of the most famous girl in school? They'd laugh at me. No way I could handle that."
He buried his face in his hands. "I'm so unlucky. I can't date her. There's no way. Too many bad things would happen. I'll just keep rejecting her… at least until I graduate from this crazy school."
Takada stood up, his legs still shaky from the long run home. Dropping his school bag on the floor, he muttered, "Enough about school. I need to relax."
He stripped off his clothes, grabbed a towel, and headed to the bathroom. The steam from the hot water clouded the mirror as he turned on the shower, letting the water wash away the stress of the day. He scrubbed himself clean, meticulously brushing his teeth and rinsing every inch of his body.
Finally, he sank into the tub, ready to relax, when—plop—his bar of soap slipped from his hand, dropping into the water with a loud splash.
"Seriously?" Takada groaned, watching the soap float aimlessly in the tub. He reached for it but paused, staring blankly at the ceiling instead. "Why am I so unlucky…?"
As Takada reached again for the soap, his fingers barely grazing it, his foot slipped on the wet floor. In an instant, he lost his balance, and with a loud, panicked gasp—
"HAH!"
—he tumbled headfirst into the bathtub, limbs flailing, water sloshing everywhere. The impact left him dazed, his head spinning from the sudden, painful collision with the tub's edge.
"I hate my damn life!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the tiled walls as he lay there, sprawled out like a soggy mess.
Frustrated and sore, Takada kicked angrily at the air, but his foot caught the edge of the shower curtain with a vicious tug. In slow motion, he watched in horror as the curtain ripped from its rings, falling down in a dramatic cascade. The flimsy barrier between him and the outside world was now gone, leaving him fully exposed.
Wide-eyed, Takada blinked, realizing the full extent of the disaster. His window, which faced the street, was wide open—and beyond it, the world. Neighbors, people walking their dogs, a cyclist pedaling by—they all paused to stare, their jaws dropping as they took in the sight of him, completely naked, lying helplessly in the bathtub.
His face turned beet red, his heart pounding in sheer mortification. Takada froze, unable to move as a wave of shame washed over him. Slowly, tears welled up in his eyes, and before he knew it, he was sobbing, the embarrassment too much to handle.
"They're all… looking at me," he whimpered, his voice barely a whisper as he curled into a ball, desperate to hide. "Why... why does this always happen to me?"
Through his tears, Takada's mind spiraled into despair. This is it, he thought miserably, his inner voice cracking under the weight of his humiliation.
"I just want to disappear… forever."
But the universe, as usual, seemed to have other plans for Takada, as a voice from the street called out, "Hey! You okay in there?"
Takada groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Kill me now…"
"Time Changes"
Time shifted to Takada found himself standing under the harsh glow of the convenience store's neon lights, the memory of his earlier bathroom disaster still fresh in his mind. He hadn't planned on going out, but staying inside felt unbearable after what happened. It was past midnight, and sleep wasn't coming anytime soon. The cold air stung his skin as he tugged his hoodie tighter, the quiet hum of the city offering little comfort.
Why was he even out here? the answer is—he hadn't asked permission. He had snuck out, slipping away from home after his mom's usual "no going out past 7 PM" rule. But tonight, he just needed space. Space from the embarrassment, from the suffocating quiet of his room, and maybe even from himself.
The door chimed as he decided to stepped inside convinience store, the bright fluorescent lights a harsh contrast to the darkness outside. He wandered the aisles aimlessly, eyes glazed over, not even sure what he was looking for.
"Maybe some chips?" he muttered under his breath, picking up a bag and staring blankly at it. Why am I even here...?
That's when he heard it-a deep voice from behind him.
"You really don't sleep, huh?"
Takada's heart nearly stopped. He whipped around and, to his horror, there he was. Ryuen. Again.
Ryuen stood at the end of the aisle, casually holding a bottle of water, his broad frame towering over the shelves like some kind of shadow. His sharp eyes were locked on Takada, a knowing smirk playing at his lips.
Takada swallowed hard, panic rising in his chest. What's he doing here? Of all places? At this hour?
"Y-you...!" Takada stammered, clutching the bag of chips tightly to his chest like it would somehow protect him. "What are you doing here?"
Ryuen took a slow step closer, his footsteps echoing in the nearly empty store. "I could ask you the same thing, Strange guy." His voice was low, calm, but with that same unnerving edge. "You're out pretty late."
Takada's mind raced, searching for an answer that wouldn't make him sound like the mess he felt like. "I... I couldn't sleep," he admitted quietly, his eyes darting to the floor. "I just needed to get out of the house for a bit."
Ryuen raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Same."
They stood there in awkward silence for a moment, the sound of the buzzing freezer and the soft hum of the radio in the background filling the void. Ryuen finally broke the tension, nodding towards the chips in Takada's hands.
"You're really gonna eat that at 2 a.m.?"
Takada blinked, looking down at the bag like he'd forgotten he was holding it. "I... uh..."
Ryuen shook his head, the smirk never leaving his face. "Let me guess, you came here because you couldn't deal with being alone in that tiny room of yours."
Takada flinched. How did he always manage to hit the nail on the head? He didn't want to admit it, but Ryuen was right. His room felt suffocating tonight, the weight of his own thoughts too heavy to bear.
Without waiting for an answer, Ryuen grabbed a couple of sodas from the nearby fridge and tossed one to Takada, who fumbled to catch it. "Come on," Ryuen said, jerking his head towards the door. "Let's get out of here."
Takada hesitated. "Where are we going?"
Ryuen's smirk turned into something a little softer, something almost resembling understanding. "Anywhere but here."
Takada followed him out of the store, his mind still spinning with confusion. They walked in silence for a few blocks until Ryuen stopped at a park. The place was empty, quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over everything.
Ryuen sat down on one of the swings, cracking open his soda and taking a long drink. Takada hesitated before sitting on the swing next to him, the metal chains creaking under his weight.
For a long while, they just sat there, the cool night air swirling around them, neither one saying a word. It was an odd kind of silence, but for once, Takada didn't feel the overwhelming urge to break it. He didn't feel the need to fill the quiet with nervous chatter or awkward laughter. Maybe it was the stillness of the night, or maybe it was Ryuen's steady presence beside him, but something about this silence felt... comforting. It wasn't suffocating or heavy like the quiet in his bedroom—it was almost peaceful.
He glanced over at Ryuen, who seemed lost in thought, his eyes cast upwards toward the night sky. The glow of the streetlamp nearby flickered, casting faint shadows across his face. Takada didn't know how to explain it, but there was something different about Ryuen tonight. He wasn't the usual intimidating, tough guy from school. Sitting here, in the coolness of the night, Ryuen seemed... calmer. More approachable.
Out of nowhere, Ryuen's voice cut through the silence. "You're not as pathetic as I thought."
Takada blinked, startled, unsure if he had heard correctly. He turned to face Ryuen, his mouth slightly open in confusion. "Huh?"
Ryuen didn't look at him. He just leaned back, his eyes focused on the stars overhead. "I said, you're not as pathetic as you think you are," he repeated, his tone casual but the words carrying a weight Takada hadn't expected.
Takada's heart skipped a beat. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he wasn't sure how to react. Was Ryuen... complimenting him? It didn't make sense. This was Ryuen, the guy who barely spoke more than a few gruff words at a time. The guy who terrified half the school with just a glare. And yet, here he was, telling Takada he wasn't pathetic?
Seeing the bewilderment on Takada's face, Ryuen let out a short, low chuckle. It wasn't mocking or mean—just... amused. "You remind me of someone I used to know," Ryuen said, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. "Someone who didn't know their own strength until they had no choice but to find it."
Takada felt his throat tighten. He swallowed hard, his fingers gripping the cold soda can a little tighter. "I... don't feel strong," he admitted softly, barely able to get the words out. His voice was fragile, like it might break under the weight of his own insecurities.
Ryuen finally turned to look at him, his gaze intense but not unkind. "That's because you've been trying to figure everything out on your own," Ryuen said, his voice firm but not harsh. "And you don't have to. You don't have to do this by yourself."
The simplicity of those words hit Takada like a punch to the chest. His breath hitched, and he quickly looked down, unable to meet Ryuen's eyes. He had always believed he had to carry his burdens alone. His fear, his shame, his struggles—he'd thought no one else would understand, or even care. But hearing those words, especially from someone like Ryuen, made something in him shift. The loneliness he carried suddenly felt a little lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, if only for a moment.
"I don't... know how," Takada whispered, his voice barely audible, cracking under the pressure of emotions he'd tried so hard to keep buried. He hated that he sounded so vulnerable, so exposed, but he couldn't stop it.
Ryuen stood up then, brushing off his pants, and for the first time, Takada noticed something in his senior's eyes—something softer, more understanding than he ever would have expected. "You'll figure it out," Ryuen said quietly, glancing down at Takada with a look that wasn't pity, but something closer to... belief. "Just don't run from it."
Takada stared up at him, the knot in his throat tightening. He felt his eyes burn with unshed tears, but this time, it wasn't from embarrassment or fear. It was something else. He wasn't sure what it was yet, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel so completely alone.
Ryuen started to walk away, the night shadows swallowing him up. But just as he was about to disappear, Takada found his voice. "Senior...?"
Ryuen stopped, half-turning, his silhouette framed against the dim light. "Yeah?"
Takada hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. The words felt heavy, but they were filled with a kind of gratitude he hadn't known he could feel. "Thanks," he whispered, his voice quiet but sincere. It wasn't much, but it carried all the weight of everything he couldn't quite say yet.
Ryuen gave a brief nod, the corners of his mouth quirking up just slightly, before he turned and vanished into the night.
Takada sat there, still gripping the soda can, staring at the spot where Ryuen had disappeared. The loneliness was still there, lingering like a shadow, but it didn't feel quite so overwhelming anymore. There was something else now, a warmth in his chest that hadn't been there before.
For a long while, he stayed like that, watching the stars twinkle faintly in the sky, the city humming softly around him. He sipped his soda, the bubbles fizzing against his tongue, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as alone as he'd always thought.
-To Be Continued..