Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 15 - Promise

Asuka's POV:




"...Forget wh———!"

Warmth.

A jolt passes through me before I even register what's happening. Her fingers tangle themselves in the collar of my shirt, anchoring me in place. I freeze, paralyzed as if someone pressed pause on the entire world. My eyes widen, thoughts scatter like birds startled from a wire, and then—
Her lips are on mine.

Soft. Frighteningly soft.

The kiss is brief, but it lingers in my senses like smoke after a fire. I taste strawberries. Not the artificial kind, but the kind that are sweet at first and leave a faint tartness at the end. Her lipstick smudges against my skin, staining the moment in color. The gentle scent of her shampoo, something faintly floral, hits me just as her breath brushes against my cheek. My heart has no idea what it's doing anymore. I'm pretty sure it's breakdancing in my chest.

She pulls back slightly, just enough for our foreheads to nearly touch. The space between us isn't even an inch now. I can feel her exhale—soft, steady, yet sending shivers down my spine. "Itsuki..."

Yet, she silences me with nothing more than a whisper. "Don't talk." Her eyes don't waver. Then, in a voice so gentle I almost think I imagined it. "...You have to face the consequences."

''Consequ—!'' Instinctively, I lift my hand and press it against my lips. They're still tingling, and I can only imagine how red I am turning. Wait a second. Girls are usually supposed to be like in this situations right?

"You shouldn't play with girls' hearts or you'll end up like this...''

Has Itsuki always been this brave?

Itsuki picks up the backpack she threw on the couch earlier, slings it over her shoulder, and shoots me the most smug, self-satisfied grin I've ever seen in my life—like she just won something and knows I have no idea what game we were even playing.

My entire body sistem is shutting down. No, really, my emotions are about to explode. Does that mean we're a couple now? Is that what just happened? That'd be way too fast, no. Wait a minute! When did I start to like Itsuki? Do I seriously... love Itsuki? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Her sisters shouldn't know about this, hell no. If this reaches to them, my time in this home will come to an end. Furthermore, their father is unlikely to let me to see any of them again.

After what feels like an eternity of mental screaming, my brain finally reboots and I force myself to lift my gaze. I looked directly at Itsuki, who was in front of the door watching me with a stupid grin on her face. No matter how self-confident she tries to look, there is also a huge blush on her face. "You look like a tomato, Asuka."

"Do not mock me! Have you seen your own face?"

''Come on, we're gonna be late! I'm going first.''