Ellie-chan (COMPLETED)

Sixteen - Sukiyaki

I've always dreamt of cooking for him since the day I met him, but I didn't know it would come earlier than I expected. Although the situation is not the way I want it to be, still it makes me happy that finally, I am doing something for him. But, of course, it came with a fee. I accepted his proposal.

I was a bit nervous when I got inside the building - his building. The receptionist told me that his office is in the fifth floor, right next to the elevator. As I was going up, I can't help myself from feeling so tensed and nervous. I am not sure about the obento I made for him. I hope I did it right - my first sukiyaki.

I felt a little out of place when I saw the interior of his office. It's pretty elegant and it exudes class and opulence that it made me look at my get up. Although I tried so hard to look my best in my school uniform, I still look so nerdy and teacher-ish, if you know what I mean.

As soon as I entered the room, the office lady, I think his secretary, looked at me in a weird way while she was talking on the phone. I saw her sized me up. Perhaps, she was wondering what a teacher is doing in their building. I waited for her to finish her business with whoever she's talking with before I introduced myself.

"Ah, Ellie-sensei desu ka. Chotto matte kudasai ne. (Are you Elli-sensei? Please wait for a moment.)" I think, he had already instructed his secretary that I'm coming today. She called him up. After a few minutes, the girl got up and ushered me into his office. I felt awkward just by walking side by side with his secretary. She looks so perfect in her impeccable suit, while here I am fresh from the morning drill in the baseball field with my freshmen students. I hope I don't stink. That would be so embarassing.

He was busy reading and signing some documents when we came in. He said arigatou to the girl without moving his gaze from the papers in front of him, so I stopped right where the secretary left me, a bit hesitant to move forward. Then, he looked at me.

"What are you standing there for?" he asked in his usual business-like tone.

"Oh. H-hi," I stammered. Then, I walked towards him. I carefully placed the neatly wrapped obento box in front of him. "Your obento."

He immediately opened it, smelled the food, and took some bite. "This is too sweet," he said in a low voice, almost a murmur.

"Oh. Is it? I followed the recipe I found on the internet. I-I'm s-sorry. You know, I'm not a good cook. I told you that," I replied, a little embarassed.

"Stop blabbering. I didn't say I didn't like it. I just said, it's too sweet," he answered while eating.

"Oh," I said again. What should I do next? Should I leave now? Should I wait for him to finish his meal?

"Don't just stand there, sit down," he commanded whitout looking at me. So I immediately sat down and looked at my hands on my lap. It feels awkward to be in this world-class office in my school uniform. It makes me feel like one of the obaasan (old ladies) who come in to clean the building.

When he was done, he stood up and got himself something to drink from the fridge nearby. I got to study his back while he was drinking some cold tea. It would be really awesome to be his girlfriend and to be able to caress that muscular back and shoulders...I sighed. That's when he turned his back. So I have to look away. Gosh, I think he saw me gaping at him. Shit!

"Thanks for the meal, by the way. Not bad for somebody who said she's not good in the kitchen."

He liked it! I think, I blushed. I cannot control my heartbeat as well. I swear, he could hear it.

"Okay," was all I could say. "I have to go back to school now," I said while putting the empty obento box inside its little bag. I didn't wait for him to reply. I immediately stood up and rushed to the door.

"I'll drive you to your school," he said from behind.

Did I hear him right? He offered to drive me to school? When I turned to look at him, I nearly fainted because he was already there, right in front of me. Our eyes met and I felt my knees weaken. He reached for the door and I smelled his after-shave lotion. He smells so good!

"There's no need for you to do that, Kozuki-san," I said.

"Hayato," he replied.

"Huh?" I was taken by surprise. Did he say I should call him by his first name?

"Please call me Hayato," he said again while opening the door. He was not looking at me. And thank God for that because I think I was blushing like a school girl.

A/N: In Japan, the norm is to call people by their last name. You only get to call a Japanese by his/her first name when you are already friends. It feels cold sometimes, especially for Filipinos who are used to calling people, even strangers, by their nicknames....hehehe. But that'a the way it is. :)

Pagpasensyahan nyo na lang po ang aking kahibangan at ang mga typos or grammatical errors. Hehehe...