Karmanami: Intertwined.....

Chapter X

It was the next day, Karma and Manami were on the cab that was due for their destination, it was still early in the morning and both of them were still half asleep. Manami let's out a yawn.

"I'm sorry for making you wake up so early." Apologizes Karma.

"Oh don't mind about that please, I'm fine with leaving me early." Answers Manami.

"Why don't you rest for the time being, it'll take us a few more hours before we reach the destination." Suggested Karma and long before he realised Manami had fallen asleep, her head titled a little to the side from where he could clearly see her sleeping face and she looked beautiful and calm and he could clearly feel himself blush a little.

He slides closer to Manami and rests her head on his shoulder and pretty soon he was also fast asleep. A few hours pass by and the driver wakes both of them up, Manami wakes up and sees a half awake Karma sitting very close to her, she turns her face to hide her flushed face.

They had arrived at the destination, it was a natural park, that had a unique biodiversity.  Manami was right away mesmerized.

They went through hotel check in and headed to their separate rooms but Karma had ensured that their rooms would be close to each other. On their first day, they went for sightseeing around the forest area. Manami was excited to learn about new things and new species, Karma on the other hand seems like was focused only on making sure that Manami enjoyed her trip. He also made sure that he confessed his feelings for her but it was easier said than done, everytime he'd try finding an opportunity to be alone with Manami, one thing or the other would stop him or disturb him.

2 days had already passed with unsuccessful attempt of confession but Karma was not ready to give up and although the confession hadn't happened yet, the trip had brought the two even closer. It was the last day of their trip and Karma had made up his mind to confess to her finally, he invited Manami to hang out in his hotel room before heading for their final dinner in the natural park. Manami accepts his invitation

Manami enters inside but finds the room empty.

"Karma kun? Where are you?" Asks Manami.

"I'm coming.. " Came out Karma's voice from inside the bathroom.

Karma steps out of the bathroom with his boxers only. His hair was wet and his body was still dripping with water. Manami couldn't take her eyes off of him, she could feel her heart beating fast and she could feel her face heating up. Karma turns to look at Manami who quickly turns her eyes away.

"I'll just change."

Manami faces away from Karma allowing him to change. After he was done he sits opposite to Manami. It was a tatami so they were both seated on the floor.

"Let's start ordering." Says Karma as Manami nods in agreement.

After around 15 minutes the staff arrives with dinner, it was a special dinner. There was rice, meat, soup, pickle and some other unique items. The food was delicious and Karma seemed to love the pickles the most and while Manami had tasted just a few pieces, Karma had already consumed more than a dozen pieces of the pickle.

"The food is really good, isn't it Karma kun?"

Karma didn't respond, his eyes seemed dull and unresponsive. Manami walks up to Karma and shakes him up when suddenly Karma starts giggling in a weird way and starts blabbering nonsense.

"Karma kun? Are you drunk?" Asks Manami.

Karma who was clearly looking drunk was in no state to answer Manami. Manami dials the staffs and enquires about the food where the staff informed that the pickles had sake in it.

"But why didn't you inform us about the ingredients, we wouldn't have ordered had we known there's sake in the pickles." Manami sounded annoyed and angry.

"I informed sir, but he wanted it anyways ma'am. He's the one who made the order for the pickles as well." Informed the staff.

Manami was annoyed but more than that surprised, she turns to Karma who was laying on the floor and murmuring something. She picks up Karma and after much struggle was able to get him to stand up and she slowly takes him to his bed, she places him in the bed and was about to leave when Karma gets hold of Manami's hand.

"Okuda san..... Don't leave me alone." Says Karma who looked a little awake now.

"Karma kun you're drunk. We'll talk tomorrow."

Karma suddenly pulls Manami and pins her to the bed. He climbs on top of her and holds her down, Manami struggles but her strength was nothing near Karma.

"K-Karma kun. Wh-What are you doing?" Questions Manami.

"Shhh.... I'll speak now." Says a half drunk Karma.

He leans in closer causing Manami to blush.

"You know Okuda san I tried to build up courage for the past days we've been here but I just couldn't, so I had no choice but to get drunk to get the courage."

"But why?" Asks an innocent Manami.

"To confess to you." He giggles.

"Confess?"

He nods.

"I like you- No- I love you Okuda san."

Manami turns as red as an apple, she couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. She wondered if she was dreaming.

"Karma kun? Are you-"

"No, this is me speaking from my heart, Okuda san. I've been feeling a lot about you but I never realized my true feelings until the day I saw you hug Asano. I couldn't bear seeing you with him, it just made me itch whenever I'd see you with him or any other guy."

Manami listens silently as Karma speaks his heart.

"I really love you Okuda san, please don't ever leave me. I'll be heartbroken if I see you with someone else, I'm a little fragile when it comes to people I love and I can't bear getting hurt. So please don't ever leave me. I love you Okuda san."

Karma leans in closer, Manami was also not struggling anymore. He leans closer and their lips were just a few distance away when he lays his head on top of Manami. Manami notices that Karma had fallen unconscious, she slowly places him on the side and pulls the sheet over him and stands up. She walks to the bathroom and washes her face, she looked at the mirror and could clearly see herself still red as an apple.

"We were about to kiss." She gasps in shock and a smile forms on her face.

She walks back to the room where she sees Karma fast asleep, she walks close and places a kiss on his forehead and she couldn't help but blush but at the same time smile about it.

"Good night Karma kun and thank you for telling me your feelings."

She steps out of his room and heads back to her own room with a big smile on her face.

To be continued........