In A Lifetime ( KBTBB : Eisuke Ichinomiya )

Chapter 23

The deal with Bucci has gone through and I've just seen him and Carolina off at airport. Currently, all of the gang have gathered here in the penthouse to celebrate the success.

"Gaining Bucci's trust is a huge coup. Congrats," toasts Soryu.

"Everything went according to plan. That's all," I shrug as if it's no big deal despite the fact that I'm in a surprisingly good mood because of it. At first, I did have my doubts about the probability of getting a positive outcome from the whole thing but Grace proved to be a lot more profitable and useful than I had initially expected her to be... I guess keeping her around was a good decision, after all.

I glance in her direction and our eyes meet, but for some reason she turns away immediately.

"Grace, pour me my drink."

"Alright," she mutters, and does as I say though still avoiding my gaze. Is she nervous? What would she have to be nervous about now? With how her cheeks are slightly tinged by a touch of pink, it's obvious that she's embarrassed about something.

Oh, wait, maybe she's still hung up on that kiss from before; the time when I kissed her to prove to Bucci that we were a couple when he'd thought that we were faking it (which we were in fact doing).

Yet afterwards, in the elevator ... I didn't have to kiss her a second time. There wasn't anyone there to prove anything to; just the two of us. So why did I do that?

I didn't regret it, nor would I have changed anything if I could go back in time (though I would have fancied at least a little more cooperation on her part), but still, I couldn't understand it.

Lately, the more I'm around this woman, the less I understand some of the things I'm doing...

I guess that flustered, redder-than-tomato face was worth it though. I mean, it wasn't as if she was lacking in the aesthetic department, at all, but at some point I had grown tired of beautiful women, mostly because each and everyone was pretty much the same. What was on the outside hardly reflected the inside.

Grace was different that way... there was just something so pure, so good about her. That innocent face, terribly lacking of experience, looked surprisingly attractive to me then... No, attractive wasn't the right word. It was more like... cute. 

I look at her again as the thought crosses my mind and we lock eyes.

She just looked away from me again! I know that she's just being self-conscious but it's not a good feeling, having her avoid my gaze all the time.  
"If you want to stare at my face so badly, why don't I get a little closer?"

"I'm alright, thanks!!" she yelps, trying to move away from me as I bring my face so close to her that our lips almost touch. 

She turns bright red and a smile just naturally appears on my face before I burst out laughing. I was right before; I do find her adorable when she's blushing ... What the hell is wrong with me?

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Later that night ... Grace had too much to drink, way too fast and now the idiot's passed out drunk on the couch. Every time we made eye-contact, she would drain her glass to cover up her embarrassment. Plus, she said she didn't really drink so maybe it was a shock to her system to have all that alcohol in one go. 

"This woman is way too naive," comments Soryu.

"She looks so vulnerable!" agrees Ota. "When dogs trust you, they look vulnerable like this too, and they sleep on their backs with their stomach out!"

"Dogs, hm?" mutters Mamoru.

Dogs... Why aren't dogs ever friendly with me? I like dogs, too... Compared to a dog, Grace is much friendlier with me, despite the attitude.