Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 60

_Chapter 60~ Rejected_

       "Are you feeling any better?"

        "Not really," Satoru bluntly responded, fiddling with the bandages encasing his fingers, and even arms.

I lightly frowned as I flopped down onto his bed beside him. After finishing up with that whole game, we decided to head over to his house where I'd helped him with wrapping his injuries.

Ignoring the awkwardness that came with it, I gingerly scooped up his hand, bringing it upwards. Satoru allowed me and I ran my thumb overtop of it.

"You have to be more careful next time," I said, studying it. His hands really were much bigger than mine. And yet I loved just how perfectly they fit into mine.

"Can you be saying that when you're the one that's worried me countless times in the past?" Satoru responded.

I was unable to refute to that. Regardless, a wry smile danced upon my lips. "Yeah... thank you for looking out for me all the time, Satoru. I owe you a lot." Bringing the back of his hand to my lips I gently kissed his fingers. "So feel better soon, okay?"

Satoru was wide-eyed as I withdrew. Timid, I casted my gaze to the ground but soon gathered the courage to meet his gaze.

"So nowhere else is hurting you?"

"W-well, now that you mention it... my cheek really hurts too," he mused, blinking almost pleadingly. Skeptical, I rose an eyebrow. He faintly added, "Ouch?"

A snort ripped through me. Rolling my eyes, I gave in and leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Ow, ow. My lips."

I squinted my eyes a bit as I inched away. An amused smile upturned my lips. "Seriously?"

Satoru nodded rather eagerly. "Yes— ow. It hurts even to talk. Ouch."

I laughed at his childishness.

"Then maybe I should..." As I leaned closer, Satoru shut his eyes right away. I further tittered as a result. A smirk took its place on my face as I grabbed hold of the bag of ice on his nightstand and instead of doing what he wanted, I thrust that towards his lips.

Satoru recoiled, lurching backwards. He was pleasantly surprised that I hadn't followed through with his ideal—his rapid blinking and high eyelids was proof of that—and I couldn't stop the rain of snickers from leaving me.

"Feeling better now?"

Satoru frowned a bit, touching his mouth and gazing at me sourly. "You could've played along."

"I have no obligation to," I replied. "Do your lips even hurt?"

"A bit now that you smacked me with that bag of ice...."

"Hey, I was trying to help," I defended with a laugh.

       "And how is hitting somebody who's injured supposed to 'help' them?"

       "Okay, okay, I'm sorry." I again rolled my eyes as I poked up head out to face his. "C'mon, don't hold this against me."

        "Hmm," he hummed, avoiding my gaze. "Maybe if you follow through with it I'll forgive you."

        "What? But that's... Don't be a cheapskate! Why do I have to...."

        Seeing how Satoru's spirits dropped like a downhearted puppy, my heart clenched. "No, I get it," he went on to mumble. "You agree with your brother about me being bad news and that I shouldn't be allowed to kiss you. That's why you don't want to concern yourself with some orange-haired hooligan like me...."