ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ // ɴᴇᴊɪ ʜʏᴜᴜɢᴀ

09 | the road to somewhere far from here

   " How about we grab some dinner? " Neji said as they exited the elevator and headed towards the building's parking lot.
     " Maybe it's better if we buy ingredients and cook our own food, " (Name) suggested.

     " Yes, that'll be better. That way, I can make sure that it contains absolutely nothing spicy, " Neji sighed. 

Every year on his birthday, his best friend Rock Lee would gift him with a bottle of dried chilli flakes and hot chilli paste. All to quench his 'love' of spicy food. And every year the gifts were left untouched. 

    " Huh. You sound like a weakling, " (Name) retorted, somewhat rudely.

    " Excuse me? " Neji replied, the classic  'are you serious? ' look visible on his face.

    " Pfft, I mean, come on. The kimchi wasn't that spicy. You made such a big deal out of it, and chugged down four glasses of water consecutively! "

     " I can't help the fact that I'm spicy food intolerant! " Neji argued.

     " Well deal with it! " she replied, trying not to laugh. " You know, Hinata said that the Curry of Life restaurant serves pretty kickass curry. She also said that it's your second favourite food, after herring soba of course. "

Neji shook his head. "Oh, is that so? " he said sarcastically. 

    " Hey, are you angry? " (Name) asked after Neji purposely avoided to look at her.

    " Okay, let's get your favourite food tonight! You like baby food, right? They're not spicy and gentle to the palate, " she smirked.

     "God, (Name). You're really making me want to kiss you," Neji breathed. 

      Instantly, blood rushed to her cheeks. 

        " Seriously? There are people around here, " (Name) countered, her eyes darting around wildly.
Her breathing hitched when she felt his arm curling around her waist, and she was launched into his chest. 
 
   " Neji -" 

    " Shush. I don't like it when people question my actions. "

Neji embraced her tighter, lowered his head to be able to kiss her lips gently. He loved the feeling of her lips against his greatly, and the childlike innocence of her was something new to him. 

But it also stopped him from going further. Never in his life would he touch a seventeen year old girl. (Name) wasn't seventeen, but her memory was frozen at that age.

Neji stopped kissing her, and slowly parted away. (Name) stared at him, a questioning look visible on her face. 
 
   " It doesn't feel right. I shouldn't be doing this. And about earlier.. I didn't even ask if you felt uncomfortable, " he shrugged.

Much to his surprise, (Name) laughed. 

    " You know, just the thought of kissing or being kissed by someone scares the living daylights out of me. But with you, I don't really feel uncomfortable or anything. It feels natural, and somewhat right."

At her words, a smile broke on Neji's lips. " You never fail to comfort me, do you? "

          " Look at her. Walking around like some sort of saint. I wonder how Neji-sama even got stuck with her. "

         "  Is she his mistress? I mean, if she weren't, why did Neji-sama hired a nobody like her to become his secretary? "

    " That little goody two shoes fits with Fat-ass Megumi so well. They're like castaways, good for nothings. But hey, at least we have something to make fun of! "