My "Ikemen" Butler

Chapter 15: My Mistress' Tears

It was already late night when Tetsuya and Kaoru went back to their dorm but before they even thought of going back to their rooms, they decided to check and see if Hiromi is back safely in her own room.

            “Men I really home she’s okay. I can’t believe that bastard dare touch my cousin. When he comes out of prison he is so dead. I’ll extract revenge for her,” Tetsuya said angrily. Kaoru giggled at this which made Tetsuya look at him confusingly and say, “What?”

            “Nande monai,” Kaoru said and added, “It’s just that, I thought you and Hiromi had a bitter relationship when I first met you too but it’s only now that I realized how much you treasure your cousin.”

            Tetsuya blushed as he shoved Kaoru playfully saying, “Stop it man. You’re embarrassing me.” And they’d been laughing and shoving each other until they heard laughter coming from Hiromi’s bedroom.

            “Hey remember when we kids when you always miss your cleaning duty ‘cause you always come home late then your grandfather will spank you until your butt is all red,” Hiromi said as she laughed aloud.

            “That’s ‘cause you always drag me somewhere and wouldn’t want to come home until the sun sets but for some reason I never regretted following you on those trips,” a voice answered her which both Tetsuya and Kaoru knew belongs to Takeshi.

            “And then when we go to that lake by the forest just to go fishing but you always end up falling in so you go home dripping wet all the time,” Hiromi said again booming with laughter.

            “That’s cause you always push me. Seriously you were really mean to me when we were little. I didn’t even know why I fell in love with you,” Takeshi said laughing his heart out but both his and Hiromi’s laughter died down when they both realized what Takeshi just said.

            “Yeah, ha ha I wonder that too. Why did you fall for me? I’m not that lovable to begin with he he he,” Hiromi said with a really awkward laugh.

            “Of course not. I fell in love with you because you were exactly that. You’re so easy to love. It was as easy as breathing,” Takeshi said seriously.

            “He he yeah. Jaa, let’s not delve into the past any longer ne? Those memories are like murky waters,” Hiromi said laughing awkwardly still.

            “It’s more of like the land of milk and cookies for me,” Takeshi answered with a smile and with that, they both ended up in an awkward silence.

            Kaoru looked at Tetsuya. Both of them were still standing near the door of Hiromi’s bedroom. Kaoru felt awkward of listening to the conversation so he slowly signaled Tetsuya that he’ll go ahead of him and Tetsuya just nodded his head in response.

            He was about to walk out of the room when Takeshi spoke up once more which stopped him dead on his tracks.

            “It still is you know. It still is as easy as breathing,” he said.

            Both Tetsuya and Kaoru’s eyes widened as they heard what he said.

            “Still?” Hiromi asked with a hint of shock in her tone.

            “Do you honestly think that my feelings for you would go away just like that?” Takeshi said with a laugh.

            “I…guess…not,” Hiromi said uneasily.

            “But I’m not going to break my promise to everyone. I’ll stay away from you,” Takeshi answered with an obvious sadness in his voice.

            “Sou,” Hiromi said plainly.

            “After this night, I’ll go back to serving you and your family ‘cause it was what I was meant to do but do remember that I’ll always be here when you need me and that my feelings would never change for you…EVER,” he added in all seriousness.

             “I don’t know how to respond to that,” Hiromi answered. You could hear her hiccupping cries in between sentences when she talks.

            Kaoru hates what he’s hearing, not the confession Takeshi just said, but the fact that Hiromi was crying at that moment. The girl that she loved and never wanted to get hurt ever, is crying.

            Ojou-sama, please don’t cry. Wipe your tears. I’m here for you. Please, please. Kaoru thought to himself as he can hear the little whimpering cries that Hiromi was making.

            He looked back and watched Hiromi from the small opening on her bedroom door. He can see Hiromi as tears fall on her face as she was being hugged from behind by Takeshi.

            “Just tonight…for just tonight…let me at least make you feel how much I love you. Let me embrace you a little more…at least just for tonight,” Takeshi said as he hugged Hiromi tighter, closing his eyes and feeling her in his embrace.

            Tetsuya can’t help but look at Kaoru sympathetically. Pain was eminent in his eyes but all he could do is watch, watch as the girl he loves slips away a little further from his grasp.