𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 - 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

02

chapter two

When you'd said "anywhere," Hanamaki had took you literally. Once you left the cafe, he led you to a travel agency called Anywhere.

"What?" He asked when he saw the look of disappointment on your face. "Not the place you were hoping for?"
"Not quite," you said.

"Why don't we have a look inside?"
"Why would we?"
"For funsies?"
You laughed. "Sure. For funsies."
"Cool. Let's go."

He grabbed your hand and led you inside. His hand was so warm, you didn't want to let go but you had to because that was weird right—holding hands with a guy you just met?

Then again, who really cared? This whole situation was weird. If he didn't let go, then neither would you.

Inside, the agency smelled of lavender. There was a candle on a coffee table in the middle of the room that also had a bowl of candy displayed.

Hanamaki swiped a few with his free hand while nobody was looking.

You didn't know why he was peering around as if he were committing a crime, the bowl was there for a reason but it was funny to see so you didn't call him out on it.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He dropped your hand to reach inside the pocket that wasn't filled with candy to grab something. It made you a little sad. You liked holding his hand, to have some affection. Oh God, what was happening to you? This was crazy.

"Put this on," he said. It was an engagement ring. A cheap plastic one, but still. "On your left hand. Your ring finger."
Why did he even have the ring? It wasn't intended for you unless he'd somehow snuck off during your morning together and gotten one but that wasn't likely.

"Uh...why?" This whole day was just getting weirder.
He shrugged. "For fun."

This seemed to be his answer to most things and it left you wondering how his life usually played out. Was this his average day? It certainly wasn't yours.

And then this led you to question more things like did he have a job? You knew why you weren't at work but why wasn't he? Maybe you had the same reason, it was your day off. But that didn't feel like the right explanation for him.

Why not just be upfront? You thought. And so you were.
"Do you have a job?"
"Yikes," he said. "Look, I know the ring isn't great but I'm doing the best with what I have."

You laughed. "That's not what I meant and you know it."
He smiled. "Fine," he sighed. "I don't, not anymore. Got fired the other day. I was actually meant to be job hunting today, at least that's what I told my friends."

Okay, this was going somewhere. Good. You needed some answers to feel grounded. This morning had sent you to the clouds.

He continued. "My friends took me out drinking to get my mind off losing my job but they didn't really need to, it happens a lot. Not because I'm a bad person or anything—."
"Just a bad employee?"
"Ouch. But yes."
You laughed and he seemed pleased for whatever reason.

"So?" He said and held out the ring once more. "Will you marry me girl I just met today?"
Oh, fuck it. This was fun.
"I will, I will!" You fake sobbed as he slid the ring on to your finger.

Claps. Clapping. There was clapping all around you. Oh, shit. People thought this was real. You weren't good at lying, you felt embarrassed and had the urge to tell everyone it was a joke and then run out the door. But Hanamaki leaned into it completely.

"She said yes everybody!" He held you at his side and smiled at your audience proudly. Had he done this before and if so, why?

You tried to give a smile and play along but you weren't as confident or convincing as Hanamaki. He was a star.

And then finally the attention drifted away from you and then you were just random people in the crowd once more. Random people who were fake-newly engaged.

"That was...that..." you couldn't form a sentence.
"A rush?" He asked with a smirk. He was so handsome. Wait, you needed to stop getting so distracted.
"I guess you could say that," you said.

"You seem nervous," he said.
"Yeah. I'm just not used to this kind of thing."
"What do you mean?"
Was it not obvious?

"This," you said and gestured to all around you and the ring. "I'm not...normally like this."
"Am I changing you, Y/n?"
"You just might be."

He smiled and you copied. As scary and crazy as this all was, it was also exhilarating. Until now, you didn't realise how bland your life had been. You did the same thing everyday and barely interacted with anybody.

You'd gotten so used to this routine that you didn't even realise you were in it until you'd broken out.

"Do you wanna go dancing?" He asked.
Yes, you truly did.
"We can practice for our wedding day," you said.
"I love your mind."

He took your hand once more and you left the agency to go dancing.

End of chapter 2