We are pretending....right? - Chapter 17- Let\'s go on a date?
It was around seven in the evening when the landlady of the Asuzawa residence was preparing dinner and her son was engaged in mobile games or something while waiting at the dinner table. But it wasn’t that which made Akiko raise her brows in surprise since Ryuuske normally plays games most of the time.
Rather it was her daughter Sumire whose behavior made the woman amazed since in normal circumstances Sumire likes to chat with her mother and also reprimands her younger brother for not engaging in family time.
But now Sumire herself seemed busy with her phone and the occasional smiles were also never gone unnoticed by the older female who despite having her back facing her children, still had an eye on them.
“What’s Sou-kun said, Sumi?”
“Ah, he was just thanking-wait…What?!”
Akiko felt like laughing out loud seeing the flustered display of her daughter who was not much good at hiding things and seeing her bashful reaction there was no denying that the person whom she was chatting to was her boyfriend.
‘But still, how did he manage to pull her into a relationship… ‘
Akiko was aware of who Sou was and how he looked different in the past without that dyed hair. Just like her son, Akiko was also not unaware of Sou’s affection toward her daughter but something occurred in the past which made the two distant before Sou suddenly disappeared.
And now Akiko saw him just in the morning with those pleading eyes the boy had which told her not to spill the beans. How Sumire behaved nonchalantly made Akiko sure that she doesn’t remember Sou at all.
It’s a mystery how the girl couldn’t remember him but if Sou doesn’t want to let Sumire know that he was the same person who once was Sumire’s bestest friend in the past, then Akiko had no reason to come in between them.
But some small teasing would not hurt, right?
“M-Mom!”
Even Ryuuske began snickering at his sister which made the unusual uncaring daughter of hers, fidget like a maiden who got caught meeting her lover in secret.
Ah, such youth.
“This weekend, why don’t you invite him over lunch, dear? We will get to know each other better and you may show your cooking rather than relying on Sou-kun this time?”
That entire astonishment on her face was so priceless when Akiko declared that she was aware of the guest who used her kitchen in her absence, made the older woman this time laugh out loud.
*****
[Sumire’s POV:]
‘Finally… I could breathe now… ‘
I had no idea Mom was so perspective to notice that someone used her kitchen even though Sou-kun had put everything back in place after using them. I knew Ryuuske wouldn’t betray me on this but it all went futile when the lady of the house came out so observant.
I was barely able to eat anything served at dinner because of the embarrassment and that idiot brother of mine who was constantly teasing me with small remarks. That bastard needs to be disciplined and I know the best way to let him know what happens when he tingles my wrath.
But now I have a more concerning matter in hand and that was the meeting which Mom fixed this Saturday after school with Sou.
I was nervous not because Sou was not an appropriate guy to present as a boyfriend. Far from it. Other than the accessories he wears Sou-kun seems a perfect boyfriend material who would be liked by older females.
It’s just I am worried about being found out by Mom that we are fake dating since from what I could perceive Mom would not let this chance slide away and interrogate everything out of Sou relating to our relationship.
Mom would not be happy to hear that I have been involved in a fake relationship just to get out of the situation between Akari and Kabura-kun.
Anxiety flared which led me to dial the only number I could rely on, in this.
“Hello? Sumire-san? Everything fine?”
I wa surprised that the call was picked up in just two rings and by the tone it seemed Sou-kun was worried upon receiving my call at this hour.
“Yeah, am fine. But…why are you panting?” His breath seemed rasped and hurried as well.
“I was working out, what about you?”
“You workout at this hour?”
“Umm…yeah. I generally try to do it in the morning but morning jogs sometimes extend more than I initially intend to.”
I somehow felt slight self-disappointment since unlike Sou-kun I barely do any physical training other than P. E and some walking after dinner.
“Sumire-san? Are you really fine?”
“Ah, yeah. And sorry for calling at this hour. But there’s something important I wanted to ask.”
“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” He said before I gathered myself together and respired deeply.
This was the first time I am going to ask this so surely I was rather nervous despite knowing Sou-kun most probably wouldn’t reject me. However, the first-time difficulty still made me slightly worked up.
Thankfully, Sou-kun patiently waited before I finally mustered up my courage and surely with a deep red face I uttered the words, necessary for the meeting on the weekend.
“A-After sc-school tomorrow l-let’s go a daphe!”
Shit! I bit my tongue for god sake! I can’t even properly ask a guy on a date! Mom…sorry, your daughter is such a failure…
I was not able to say anything for several moments since the biting force was strong enough to provide me with the taste of my blood.
“What did you say, Sumire-san?”
As I thought he didn’t hear me. Of course, he won’t when I was such a dumb skull.
Now how would I say it again? Okay, let’s focus. I have done it once I can do it again. Breath in. Breath out.
I was just preparing myself when suddenly Sou-kun spoke up, definitely annoyed by being held up for this long.
“Ah, I need to do something urgent Sumire-san so let’s meet tomorrow and talk?”
“Mmm.” I hummed with teary eyes since despite going through such a struggle the call went futile and now Sou-kun must have been thinking of me as a bothersome girl, no?
How can I ask him about the date tomorrow now?
I was pondering on such things with dejected expression when suddenly Sou-kun’s voice rang from the other side once again, snatching away all my depression and replacing it with utter surprise.
“Umm, Sumire-san. If you don’t mind then let’s go on a date after school, okay? Bye now~”
******
A/N: – Drop a comment~