Forced Marriage, True Love

37. Favour Returned

Mitsuha POV:

I woke up the next morning, feeling gloomy. 'My god. My head hurts. I better freshen up as soon as possible.' Taki was still sleeping next to me peacefully, so I tried to get up without making any noise and went to the washroom.

I had just picked up my toothbrush from the stand when I saw my reflection in the mirror, making me give out a high-pitched scream as I dropped my toothbrush. I was a mess! Normally, anyone would be a mess when they just wake up, but that's not what I meant.

My neck was totally red, covered in red hickeys which were thankfully fading while my lips were swollen and even bleeding a bit. It was as clear as day that they were kissed quite harshly. "Taki Tachibana! You're dead!" I shouted under my breath. I quickly freshened up and stormed back inside the bedroom, my whole self shaking in rage.

I raised my fist to punch him when Taki suddenly held my hand, stunning me in the process. When did he wake up? "You're awake?" I asked. "Yup." He said as he slowly opened his eyes, those beautiful blue orbs shining like pearls and pulled me on top of him. Seeing him giving such an innocent look, I grit my teeth in anger.

I suddenly widened my eyes and turned my hand, turning his as well. I pulled his hand towards me and opened my mouth, ready to bite it, although I didn't in the end. Taki simply kept laying on the bed, not bothering to stop me. "You're not gonna bite?" He asked, making me humph in annoyance. "Don't clump me up with you. I'm not someone who bites another person like that." I replied while he just looked at me.

I kept glaring at him in anger, when an idea suddenly struck me. I tried to grab the skin on the back of his hand, trying my best to pinch it. However, I just couldn't get a grip of him, no matter how many times I tried.

In the end, I gave up and fake cried. "Are you even a man?! Why are your hands smoother than a woman's? Damn it!" "If you're done playing around, just be quiet and let me rest." He said as he closed his eyes again. However, I glared at him so intensely that he smiled nervously and let go of me.

"Don't think that just because I've gotten friendlier with you, I won't do anything bad to you." I said angrily as I unconsciously leaned forward onto him. "Okay. I don't mind. You can do whatever you want with me." Taki said with a challenging smirk, making me feel weak as a blush spread across my face.

I looked at Taki who kept staring back at me, those beautiful blue eyes filled with love. I gasped as I saw so many unsaid emotions in them. They were like two small oceans of love, pouring out all the feeling he had in them. I couldn't help but feel drawn to them as I unconsciously leaned forward.

Taki smiled tenderly, making me return it. I slowly closed my eyes as I kept reducing the distance between our faces, our lips inches apart. However, just as I was about to kiss him, a loud bang on the door was heard.

Hearing those bangs, I jerked forward, bumping my forehead into Taki's. Taki gasped slightly while my face burned crimson as I came back to my senses, noticing the short distance between us. I was so shocked with what I was about to do and moved away hastily, making me slip on the blanket and roll off the bed. 

"Ah!" I gasped as I rubbed my back which was aching in pain while Taki burst out laughing. How heartless of him! I quickly got up with a red face and ran towards the door to open it. Yotsuha was standing at the door, her hair loose. "Onee-chan, can you do my hair today? I'm too lazy, please?" She asked, making me nod. "Give me a few minutes." Yotsuha smiled at me, but it melted the next moment. "Onee-chan, what happened to your neck?" She asked, turning me into a deep shade of red. "Nothing much. Mosquitoes bit me last night." I said as I laughed nervously, like a child caught cheating in an exam. Yotsuha nodded and left, making me sigh in relief.

I quickly ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and freshened up. I then washed my neck before running to my closet and pulled out a scarf, covering my neck and I went to Yotsuha to comb her hair. Thank you so much imoto. My whole face turned red as I recalled what I was about to do earlier.

My god! What is wrong with me? Why the hell was I about to kiss him? Just what has gotten into me? Soon after Yotsuha left for her school, I took out a dress I was about to wear for today's office and went to take a bath. As soon as I came out, the first thing I did was dry myself off and apply foundation on my neck to cover the hickeys I got.

Thankfully, despite waking up late, Taki and I managed to leave on time. "Mitsuha," Taki spoke up in the car, making me turn to him. "We'll pick up from where we left in the evening." He said with a smile, turning my face blood red. "Shut up! You're so shameless!" I exclaimed in embarrassment as I turned away from him.

Taki smiled as he kept staring at me. Once we reached Tachibana Industries, I rushed inside and quickly went to the designing department. "Mitsuha, good morning!" Saya-chan smiled as she waved at me. I waved back at her and took my seat. Tessie smiled as he waved me, making me wave back at him awkwardly. Ever since I shouted at him and told him that we just weren't meant to be, my relationship with Tessie worsened.

I truly didn't want our friendship to fall apart like that. He is my best friend since high school. When everyone considered me weird and ignored in me in my class because of my weird traditions, Tessie and Saya-chan were the only two people who accepted me for who I am.

"Tessie," I spoke up, making him look at me. "What is it Mitsuha?" He asked. "I... I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to shout at you." I apologized. "It's okay Mitsuha. I can understand. I'm sorry too. I should've just listened to you and believed you. But all I believed were my eyes."

"So... friends?" I asked as I raised my hand for a handshake. Tessie smiled and shook my hand, making me laugh. Thank goodness. Even if I have no more feelings for him, he would always be my best friend, the one I would rely on.

Suddenly, my phone rang, making me look down at the caller ID. My eyes widened when I realised who it was. "Tohru-san?" I whispered. Did she finally get some clue about Shinta's death. "I'll be right back."

I went to the washroom and answered the call. "Tohru-san, good morning." I wished her. "Good morning Mitsuha-san. I think I found out something about Taki-san's friend's death. He was indeed brought over to Sohma General Hospital. However, like I said, I cannot just ask them for a CCTV footage without a valid reason. If what you said is true, that means there are Itsuki Tachibana-san's underlings in The Sohma General Hospital, which just makes things worse. If they realize that I'm trying to find out the truth, they'll inform Itsuki-san. I don't even know how many of them are loyal to Kyo-kun and how many to Itsuki-san."

I sighed. "Thank you so much for all your help, Tohru-san. You really are a life saver." I said, making her chuckle. "Says the one who tried to save me." She said jokingly, making me laugh. "However, although I don't know how many doctors are spies from Itsuki Tachibana-san, I know one person who would never betray Kyo-kun."

My eyes widened as my heart filled with hope again. "Can you send me their name and number?" I asked eagerly. "His name is Hatori Sohma-san, Kyo-kun's distant relative. However, even if it is a distant relation, he is extremely loyal to Kyo-kun. So, you can trust him." "Thank you so much Tohru-san. How can I ever repay you?" I said happily. "I told you; you don't need to. You already saved my life. Of course, I have to do something back." I smiled in pure gratefulness. Thank you so much Tohru-san and Kyo-san.