Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 17

_Chapter 17~ It's On_

"Ooh, a bus!"

"I know."

"It's such a weird thing!"

"It is."

"It's so rectangular!"

"Get out. This entire time I thought it was a sphere."

Miyabi met my eyes. "You too?"

I deadpanned. What? Please don't tell me he seriously thought that.

"Wait," Miyabi said out of nowhere. "I've always wondered, though—how does it turn? It doesn't have a curve."

I smiled dryly at him. A reasonable question.

"Magic," I answered.

"Can we just get on already?" Ryu snapped, glaring at the two of us.

"We aren't going to die, right?" Miyabi asked me, biting his thumbnail.

"We're not. Why are you so afraid anyway? Have you taken it before?"

"It was only once—and I was chasing after Iwasaki. I didn't pay proper attention." He pouted. "Now that I am, I'm so lost. My heart's not ready for this unfamiliar mode of transportation."

"Then get it ready."

"Sh-Sheep—"

Rolling my eyes, I blocked him out and followed Ryu onto the front of the bus. Right as I tapped my bus pass against the sensor, Miyabi latched onto me from behind, cowering.

"Don't leave me behind, Sheep!"

I jerked around, mouth dropped. "For heaven's sake, it's just a vehicle!"

Without warning, the bus lurched forward. I lost my balance and reeled sideways. Miyabi's hold on me vanished. I expected to come crashing to the ground but instead I collided face-first into somebody's back. I withdrew immediately, wide-eyed.

"S-sorry!"

"It's all right," the teenager told me, adjusting the beanie on his head.

Feeling all eyes on me, I cleared my throat before scurrying to the seat next to Ryu. I flopped down into it, keeping my gaze downcast.

"Smooth walking there," Ryu commented.

The blush that claimed my cheeks was intense. "Everyone loses their balance at least once."

"You always lose your balance."

"No, I don't."

He snorted. "Might I remind you you're the one who purposefully sat on my lap?"

Mortification socked me in the gut. Reddening further, my mouth moved wordlessly for a good while.

"I-I— It was an accident," I sputtered.

"Whatever you say."

"I-It was!"

He didn't respond. I scowled, but with how red I was, the effort was futile. Time and time again... he always made me feel like an idiot.

To settle my overwhelming embarrassment, I focused my attention outside the window and toward the passing scenery. If anything, I'd have loved to stay holed up at home, binging shows and manga considering it was Sunday. Though, unluckily for me, Miyabi alongside Ryu showed up at my house this morning informing me we had to go out to plan for the charity fundraiser I'd agreed upon.

I promptly refused and slammed the door on them, but Miyabi was persistent. He continually rang my doorbell until my parents decided to step in and get involved. And when he told them the cause (acting all charming and Vice President like) my parents immediately obliged to making me participate. They kicked me out of the house for the day at that.