one [sachio ueda]

e i g h t : m a i

It was a weekend. I went to visit Yuken. Not Yuken, but the puppy. It was sunny outside yet it wasn't balmy. She's probably hopping around in their garden right now.

I rang the bell once and waited for two minutes.

Nobody responded.

Twice.

Why is nobody coming yet? Did something happen? Before I knew it, I was panicking. Just when I was about to press the switch for the third time, the door creaked open.

"Oh." I grimaced. "It's you."

"The fuck you mean by 'it's you'? I can't be here or what?" Sachio walked inside, leaving me behind to close the door.

"No, I mean..." I looked around, searching for Yuken and his mother. "Where's everyone?" I could only see the puppy sleeping on the mat in the living room.

"They've left town for three days. Yuken's grandmother is sick." He dived into the sofa.

"So... What are you doing?"

"Babysitting."

"Babysitting?"

"Puppysitting."

"Puppysitting?"

"Yes."

"You?

"Yes. You got a problem?"

"Obviously. How can Yuken even trust you?"

"People trust me more than people trust you. I am the leader of Housen."

"You don't have to remind me." I lowered my voice, dropping my bag on the nearby table. "How are you even taking care of her?"

"I used to have dogs. You don't have to worry. Just go back to wherever you came from."

"No way I'm leaving her alone with you."

He rolls his eyes, taking out his phone from the pocket. "Talk to Yuken if you don't trust me."

The phone was already ringing when he handed it over to me. I glared at him for the last time before turning away.

"Yo, Sachio." I heard Yuken's gruff voice.

"It's me." I breathed. "Mai."

"You came to visit Coco?"

"Coco?" I turned around to glance at the sleeping pup. "You named her Coco?"

"Couldn't come up with a better name." Yuken huffed. I couldn't see him but I could definitely feel that he was leaning against something. "Why are you there anyways? We're not even in town."

"I came to see the puppy obviously." I honeyed my words. "But then I saw someone."

I could already feel Sachio jump up from the sofa with his piercing eyes on me from the back.

"Oh, yeah. Sachio's taking care of Coco."

"How do you trust this guy?" I whispered loudly.

"What's there not to trust?"

"He's dumb as hell." I mumbled, covering my mouth. "Does he even know what dogs eat?"

"I can hear you." I turned around to see Sachio lying flat on the couch with his arms crossed.

"If you don't trust him enough, you can stay for a while... Or for three days."

I paused. That was actually a good idea.

What about work? I'd have to take the sub just to travel back to Oya for three days? I'd rather skip... The owner will understand. He's a nice old man.

"Yeah, I will."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"There's not much food in the refrigerator since we thought only Sachio would be there. Dog food's in the cupboard. We're still training her to pee and poop outside the house but you'll have to clean up if she does it inside... And basically you can sleep anywhere in the house."

"Wow. Okay. Anything else?"

"Yes. Just co-operate with Sachio."

"Ugh." I huffed, cutting off the call.

I slowly turned towards Sachio with a fake smile on my face. He was still lying on the couch with his eyes closed. He's going to be so pissed when he hears that I'm staying. I can't wait to see the look on his face.

"I'm staying." I walked over and stood in front of the couch.

"Huh?" He flicked his eyes open.

"I'm staying." I repeated.

He remained expressionless. He just stared at me. He probably didn't understand it yet. When he does, he's going to start jumping around.

He just turned to his right and went back to sleep.

"Don't you understand? I'm staying here because I don't trust you with Coco." I shoved his arm.

"Okay."

"'Okay'? I thought you didn't like me."

"That's why I don't care." His eyes remained closed.

Of course he doesn't.

"So you don't have a problem with me staying?"

"As long as you don't get in my way, I don't care."

The fact that he didn't even bother to look at me got on my nerves.

I sighed.

I should just stick to my job. And right now, my job was taking care of the puppy.

Sachio is sleeping. Coco is sleeping. Should I sleep too?

I went to the kitchen and dug through the refrigerator and cupboard. Yuken was right. There wasn't much prepared food for the both of us. It was mostly filled with raw vegetables and meat. I'd have to order food.

There were four other rooms in Yuken's house where I could doze off but I knew I should stick around Coco. I sat on the carpet in front of the couch where Sachio was sleeping in such a position that I could see both of them.

Without realising, my eyes lingered on Sachio's face. Specifically, his plump lips. They have the perfect bow shape too. Even girls would be jealous of him.

Life was so much better when Sachio didn't know I existed. I could've just admired him from afar.

I sighed and lied down on the carpet, resting on my side.

The carpet was just so fluffy and soft...