My "Ikemen" Butler

Chapter 16: My Mistress' Confession

             “Ma…I’m getting sleepy. Can we do this some other time?” Tetsuya complained as he leaned his head on Kaoru’s shoulder who was sitting right next to him at that moment.

            “Some other time when our exams are tomorrow? That’s gon’na work,” Hiromi answered jokingly.

            “Then let me just rest for awhile. I’m tired,” he said as he leaned his head on the book he’d been studying instead.

            “Tetsu-sama, you can’t…” Kaoru started to say but Hiromi stopped him at once saying, “Daijobo, let him. My cousin might not look like it but he’s actually a genius. He’s even smarter than me.”

            “Honto?” Kaoru asked unbelievingly.

            “Hai, honto. He has a photographic memory so even though he doesn’t review for the test he’ll still do a great job. Unlike me who needs tons of review in order to ace one,” Hiromi said honestly. “Sou ka,” Kaoru answered, nodding his head believingly now.

            Then there was awkward silence. Hiromi can’t help but think something changed between Kaoru and her. After that accident at the party, Kaoru doesn’t talk to her as much anymore unless it’s related to his butler duties. It felt like the sense of friendship suddenly washed away for some reason and she doesn’t even know why.

            Maybe I did or said something? Maybe he has come to realize working for me as a tough job?  Hiromi can’t help but think to herself as he watched Kaoru burying his face in a chemistry book. I can’t take it anymore. I got’ a talk to him.

            “Ka—Kaoru-kun,” Hiromi started, stuttering at the mention of his name.

            “Hai?” Kaoru said as he stared up to look at her.

            “Is something wrong? You seemed…tense,” Hiromi started up.

            Something’s different about me? I seemed tense? Wait, is it obvious that I’m somewhat heartbroken from what happened between her and Takeshi? I hope not. Kaoru said in his mind as he stared at Hiromi blankly. But with al those thoughts, the only thing that went out of his mouth was, “Eh?”

            “Uhm, never mind,” Hiromi said as she docked her head as if to continue with her studying instead. He seemed confused. Maybe it’s just me who’s thinking about that stuff? But no, he really does seem different.

            Hiromi looked up to him again and said, “Kaoru-kun?” Kaoru was forced to take his eyes off of the book again to look at her and said, “Yes mistress?”

            Hiromi watched Kaoru quietly. She can’t find the perfect word to say what she wants to say. But when she realized it was starting to get eerily quiet, she just blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

            “Tell me, is it hard…being my butler and all?” Hiromi asked awkwardly.

            Hard? Of course not, I love working for her. I shared my moments of heartache and worries when I’m with her though but that’s not her fault. It’s this stupid hearts’ fault for falling for her. Kaoru thought in his head as he watched Hiromi there, not knowing what he’ll answer.

            “Of course not mistress, I wouldn’t dream of a better job to do,” Kaoru answered smiling.

            “Sou ka,” Hiromi replied with a smile as well. She docked her head once more as if going back to her studies. If that is so? Then why does he seem so unhappy? He doesn’t smile as often as he used to and he doesn’t talk to me as much as he used to. What’s the problem? Hiromi thought worryingly again.

            She looked up at Kaoru with worries on her face. She doesn’t need to say anything for Kaoru to notice her now. He looked up as soon as she looked up and said, “Ojou-sama, daijobo? You seemed like you have something bugging your mind?”

            “Do you hate me?” she blurted out loud and Kaoru can’t help but look at her with shock on his face. Huh? I don’t hate you. I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU! His mind screamed aloud. But before he could even answer her she started talking once more.

            “Cause I’ve noticed you seemed different, especially towards me. You’re normal when it comes with Tetsuya. You still have that same approach with him but with me, you just seemed to have lost that spark in your eyes when you see me. It’s as if you don’t like me anymore. Is it because I’m hard to handle and I always get in trouble? If that’s the case I’m willing to let you go as my butler you know. But I’m not ready to let you go in my life so at least be friends with me if you doesn’t want to be my butler anymore. It’s just that, I’ve come to like you already and I’m just not ready to loose the one friend I’ve made since I don’t know when. So please just tell me what’s wrong and I’ll try to fix everything. Just promise you won’t leave me,” Hiromi spoke up hastily as tears flow from her eyes.

            Kaoru can’t believe what he’d heard and what he was seeing at that moment. It was so not like Hiromi to show her weakness like that, for her to cry like that, for her to show that she’s worried like that, and for her to even say so much like that. It was so much out of her character.

            He stood from his seat and walked behind Hiromi. He hugged her from behind, tightly in his arms, locked in his embrace and whispered, “Even if they’ll pay me all the money in the world, even if I’ll be faced with the most dangerous assassins there is, and even if one day you’ll come to hate me and tell me to go, I would never leave your side. I will always be here mistress. I’m not leaving you,” Kaoru answered honestly. ‘Cause I love you and never ever will it change. And as he thought of that, tears started flowing out of his eyes as well.

            “Yokata,” Hiromi said with a smile on his face as she started to clam down from what Kaoru just said. “Honto ni yokata,” she added happily.

            If only you know. Kaoru said to himself as he can’t force himself to let Hiromi go.