Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 28

_Chapter 28~ Some Kind of Answer_

"Wow."

"...Are you not satisfied?"

"No, I am. I've been wanting this for a while. But it's just... wow."

Staring down at the crepe I carried in my hands, a bunch of different emotions welled up inside of me. Mainly awe though, because damn was it good.

I looked up at him quickly. "Try yours."

Startled, he peered down at the one he held in his hand. "Is it that good?"

"Just try it," I urged him. "Right now."

"Right now?" he asked unsurely.

"Right now," I asserted. I beckoned for him to put it in his mouth to which he returned a strained frown.

"I don't exactly enjoy being pressured–"

"Eat it!"

"Okay!" At once, Ryu took a hesitant bite of his and a grin spread across my face when his own expression brightened considerably. Similar to the times I had given him my baking, he looked just as happy.

Since I was so used to his unfriendly expressions he wore on a frequent basis, his smile always caught me off guard.

Raising his head, eyes twinkling, he met my gaze. "This is good!"

A small laugh left my mouth as I sat back in my seat. "It is, right?"

Thoughtfully, Ryu returned his focus to the crepe and took yet another bite. His smile expanded. "I never would have thought they'd taste this good!"

Surprise got the best of me. "Wait... you've never had one before?"

He shook his head. "Never really needed to."

"No way!" My jaw had fallen.

He never tried a crepe before? I mean, sure it was possible, but still.

As I watched him eat his, being all elated the way he was, I laughed, "I'm glad we came here then."

A silence came over us as we both ate in peace. By the time I had gotten halfway done mine, Ryu was already tossing the last of his into his mouth. He watched me eat for a while, making me more uncomfortable might I add, before he decided to break the ice.

"So..." he began slowly.

Awkwardly peeking up at him, I drew out a feeble "so..." as well.

We made eye-contact yet the tension still didn't lift.

"So..." he drawled again after a pause.

Although Ryu was probably trying to make small talk, much to no avail, I guessed the only reason he wasn't able to was because we had absolutely nothing to talk about between us.

Well, really thinking about it, it wasn't like the two of us met like any two people would — with similar likes or dislikes. I accidentally sat on his lap, and he nearly broke my arm... Following after that was nothing but horrid situations I had no choice but to be dragged into.

Yeah, the relationship between us was definitely not bond worthy.

Looking back like that made me realize... I didn't really know much about him, did I?

Sure, I had a bunch of questions I'd want to ask him — considering his baffling personality, especially with what happened on Friday with Aki Mitsoyu — but even though I wanted to inquire what his connection to that delinquent was, I felt as if it wouldn't end well for me. I mean, we did reconcile and he did treat me to a crepe... so I didn't want to risk another fight about it.