JPOP Housemaid

Chapter 20 - Celebrating?

Azalea walked forwards, hugging and giggling as she went.

"Your hair is so soft!" exclaimed Takeo as he hugged her. Azalea blushed and thanked him, before reaching me. She gently put a hand on my shoulder, careful like an unsure lamb.

"You okay?" she asked in english, her Canadian accent noticeable. I shrugged and smiled.

"It feels like normal. Like before I found out." She laughed in reply.

"I know the feeling."

Suddenly Isei appeared at her shoulder, producing something from his pocket. He spun Azalea around and handed it to her, smiling warmly. Well that mood is surprising on him, I thought.

"I saved it for you," he explained. "I remembered it's your favourite." Azalea went with him to a sofa as she thanked him, and I saw Makoto sneak a jealous look at them.

"It's weird."

I turned around to meet Li who was watching Isei and asked,

"What is?"

He looked me in the eyes, holding my gaze. "Isei," he said. "He's not usually this cheerful."

"Well," I replied with a small smile, "he's with the one he loves." Li smiled back knowingly.

"Yeah. That's right." He brushed past me and walked into the kitchen, though I didn't know if he was getting something or if it was some other reason.

I decided to sit down next to Yaito who was diligently playing on the D.S that had been abandoned on the table previously. After watching him for a while, he grunted in annoyance and snapped it shut, sighing.

"That game is way too hard." Humming in agreement, I took it from his hands and began to play. For some reason I expected to beat it on my first try; as if I would be the one who had that special power. I felt like I was the boy looking at the sword in the stone, just knowing deep inside that I was the chosen one.

"Ah!" I yelled as I died after a few seconds. Yaito laughed out loud.

"That's the fastest I've ever seen someone fail at that," he chuckled. I punched his arm and pouted, annoyed. "Hey!" he shrieked, rubbing the sore spot. "What was that for?" I smiled sweetly at him,

"What? I didn't do anything~" He glared, pretending to be upset.

"I thought we had something special," he said as he wiped a mock tear from his eye. "I thought you loved-."

"Hey, Kimi-chan," butted in Makoto from behind me. "Can I borrow you?"

"No," said Yaito, flicking hair from his eyes. "We are doing important catching up." I giggled quietly.

"It'll only be for a few minutes, please?" Makoto insisted. Yaito rolled his eyes and shrugged, waving us away. I bit my lip. What does he want? But, as I followed Makoto out of the room, I realised that he hadn't really done anything wrong. After all, if I had met any other band member the same thing would have happened. It just so happened that it was Makoto. I decided there and then to stop holding a grudge; at least they aren't murderers or something.

I followed him to his bedroom where he led me inside, scratching his neck. I couldn't tell if he was nervous or itchy.

"So..." I said, looking around. The picture of him, his mother and father and his younger brother by the seaside caught my eye, so I walked over to take a closer look. "This is a beautiful picture." He came up behind me and took it from the wall.

"I was about," he paused, thinking. "About fifteen here. That was one amazing holiday. Such hot weather but the sea was cold enough to cool down in. I should take you there one day." He studied my face as I blushed. "I- I mean... With the guys too, of course. N-not just us," he laughed embarrassedly, running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah, but you know, it would still be fun to spend time with you." His eyes widened slightly. "I mean, alone, you know? I could get to know all the little things you love about it."

"I'd like that a lot," he said quietly, genuinely smiling at me, and then at the photograph. "Do you... do you ever miss your family?"

I cocked my head to one side, the question taking me by surprise. "I suppose so, but I sort of had an argument with my mother on the phone and we haven't spoken since. We were never really close when I was younger. She was strict and I wanted to rebel." I sighed and looked down.

"It's the other way round for me," stated Makoto. "My parents were too loving - if that's possible - and so I never really got to do much. They were afraid I'd get hurt, and I got it into my head that if I went against their word and upset them I was a terrible person. I didn't have a girlfriend until I joined this band," he admitted. "But, I still miss them a lot. I wish I could see them every day still." I looked into his sad eyes and realised that he was lonely, even though he was surrounded by people who loved him.

"Makoto, I'm here for you. We're your family too." He smiled, his lower lip wobbling, before hugging me tightly.

"You've changed me, Kimi-chan," he said into my hair. "I never used to he this emotional." I laughed a bit, and he said, pulling back, "I wanted to say that I really am sorry, even if I've said it before. What we did was wrong and we knew that, but I want you to know that we are all very sorry." I smiled and blinked a few times, taking away the mist of tears.

"I understand, Mako-chan," I whispered, hugging him again. I breathed in his scent and took in the softness of his shirt, feeling his warm body beneath my arms. I never wanted to let go; but someone came knocking at the door and we pulled away from each other, laughing slightly awkwardly.

We walked to the door and opened it, revealing Takeo.

"Are you guys celebrating in here without me?" he exclaimed, dragging me away from Makoto. I grinned, happy that things were almost back to normal.

Almost.

~~~

OMG I have no words about how long I haven't updated this in!! For anyone who gave up hope that I would ever update I'm so sorry. Well, I'm so sorry for everyone who enjoyed this book and was waiting for me to update SINCE SEPTEMBER AND NOW ITS FEBRUARY IM A TERRIBLE PERSON OMG.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, another one coming out soon. I have big plans; this book is nowhere near finished ◡̈♥︎