Yuzu's POV
I switched my motorcycle off and grabbed my things off the backseat which includes my camera, a tripod, and a bag of croissants I got from the coffee shop I stop by on my way home.
Harumin and I went to a photo excursion down by the marina at dawn. It's better to take pictures at dawn because the sunlight's not that harsh compared to that of midday. Also, bodies of water are more still in the morning. Of course, this plan includes me getting up at 4 AM, leaving my girlfriend in bed, and driving 30 minutes to the marina and meet Harumin.
Yep, Mei Aihara is my girlfriend. She has been for three weeks, four days, and thirteen hours. Lucky little bastard, I am.
Mei asked me the night before if I wanted her to come with us. I did, but I know she's tired from work and I don't want to deprive her of few hours of sleep. So I told her she didn't have to and made her promise she'd still be in bed when I get home.
The awfulness of leaving Mei in bed paid off though because I've taken some amazing shots that I could include in our exhibit. We stayed at the marina until 6 AM until after the sunrise before we collected our things and moved on. I dropped Harumi off her flat and made the detour at Mei's favorite coffee shop, which was thankfully already open at this ungodly hour, and bought her the croissants she just loves so much.
I unlocked the door to my flat and dropped the bag of croissants on the kitchen table and discarded my equipment on the couch.
I'm so tired and all I want to do right now is go back to bed and curl up to Mei's warmth. Opening the door quietly, I was welcomed by the still-sleeping form of my girlfriend, clothed with her office shirt and a pair of boy shorts she borrowed from me.
God, what an unearthly beauty.
An idea came up to me and I went back to the living room to grab my camera.
I went back, positioned myself by the door frame, and took a picture of her. The shutter sound made Mei stir and she opened her eyes seconds later.
"Zu?" she asked groggily and she saw me standing by the door. "What are you doing?"
"Enjoying the view," I told her.
She sat up and leaned her back on the bed frame, rubbing sleep off her eyes. Then she caught sight of what's in my hand. "Are you doing what I think you're doing?"
"Yes."
"Perv," she smirked.
"I gotta admit babe, you look perfect in my bed." I said smugly. She rolled her eyes playfully at me and smiled.
"Come back to bed," she said and patted the space beside her. I didn't waste my time and shrugged off my jacket as I join her. She pulled me into a kiss and hugged me when I was close enough.
Mei has this habit of hugging me where she squeezes so tightly until I couldn't breathe that I had to squeak before she releases some weight on the hug. She usually does it when we haven't seen each other in a while. I love it when she does that, it makes me feel loved and cared for.
Love. We're dating for barely a month but I think I'm in love with her. All the things she does fascinates me endlessly. How she would roll her eyes if she hears anything remotely ridiculous or how she chews on her lower lip when thinking hard or how she blows smoke gracefully when smoking. Or how she drives me crazy with her kisses.
"How'd it go?" she asked me as I settle beside her.
"Great, got some good shots. I'm tired though," I mumbled against her neck. "I missed you."
She planted a kiss on my hair. "I missed you too. Why don't you go back to sleep?" she told me.
I shook my head defiantly. "I don't want to, you'll be leaving soon."
"I won't. I called the office and told them to send the articles I have to edit on my e-mail so I could work from home. Or yours if you'd like to keep me today."
"Really?" I asked excitedly. "I'd like to keep you please."
"Alright, I won't leave. Go back to sleep Yuz."
"Okay," I agreed and snuggled to her, losing myself to her touch.
I woke up later and the sun is all the way up. And I was alone in bed. I frowned and thought Mei left after all but once I looked around, I saw her shoes at the edge of the bed and her blazer and pants still hung on the chair beside the window.
I get out of bed and find her at the kitchen reading the newspaper with a mug of coffee beside the ashtray with a lighted cigarette on the table. Coffee and cigarettes are like Mei's lifeline. She can't properly function in the morning without them.
"Morning," I croaked and she folded her newspaper to properly look at me. Her hair's tied up in a messy bun and she never looked so beautiful like she does now. "Someone's looking beautiful in all their morning glory."
"I believe we're already in the afternoon Okogi," she pointed out, taking the last drag of her cigarette and stubbing it on the ashtray.
"Fine, don't take the compliment," I said playfully and walked over to the fridge, pouring myself a glass of orange juice. I jugged the juice like a pro that I didn't notice Mei standing up from her seat and made her way to me until I felt her arms circle my waist.
"You're looking stunning as well baby," she offered, placing a gentle kiss on my shoulder. I smiled, placing my hand over where hers are wrapped around my belly, leaning back to her touch.
"Are you sure you won't get in trouble for not going to the office again?"
"Not really. My father's their boss, what are they going to do about it?" she boasted and I laughed out loud, knowing she's only kidding. She planted a kiss on my temple and I closed my eyes to appreciate the feeling of Mei so close. I indulge myself with these little moments where Mei would be very gentle and basically sweet to me; holding my hand, softly kissing my cheek, caressing my face when we wake up in the morning, knowing she's not with this with everyone.
"Glad you stayed babe," I told her, spinning around to face her.
"Me too." I leaned up to kiss her cheek.
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We ate the croissants I bought earlier for breakfast then ending up on the couch, lazily watching the 50 First Dates on my laptop.
"I like The Wedding Singer better than this," Mei quipped during the first ten minutes of the movie.
"I like Drew's hair in this one, it's better," I told her thoughtfully.
"I think everyone's hair is better on this one," she said and I laughed.
"The Wedding Singer was 1998, their hairstyles looked cool then. Drew has better acting skills now though."
"Oh well, I think E.T's her best movie anyways."
I turned to face her and she's biting the inside of her cheek to stop the smirk on her face but failing miserably.
"Babe, shut up," I said and leaned over to kiss her. I caught her off guard and she stiffened at my touch but only for a second before she responded. I cupped her cheeks to deepen the kiss and I heard her sigh appreciatively. I kneeled and stretched the length of my body, pushing Mei down under me. She responded by teasing me with her tongue, sweeping it over my lower lip.
I was kissing Mei for what seems like forever; our tongues developed a delicate sensual dance with each other. Mei seems to be in it with me because she got her hands inside my shirt, caressing the length of my back with her palms.
And I was hoping this is it, that we'd finally do it, that she'd finally let me.
Well, you see, we never did it. By 'it' I mean we've never had sex. When things get good from our kissing, like really fucking good, Mei would always stop and pull away and go back to watching television or whatever we were doing before that.
I know she said she wanted us to take it slow but fucking hell she's gonna fucking kill me with all the teasing. And it doesn't stop me from wanting her. So fucking bad. Deep carnal desire would take me over that my fingers couldn't count the cold showers I had to take to douse the fire Mei had started deep within my bones.
Just three days ago, we're having a heavy make-out session in my studio, my top was discarded on the floor and I thought we'd finally do it but Mei's phone started ringing. I thought she would ignore it but she dismounted from where she straddled me on the office chair and answered it. She was needed in the office and had to leave right away.
Well if that was my case, I don't care if there's a meteor landed on the neighborhood, a half-naked Mei Aihara's greater interest.
But it wasn't and Mei left, leaving with me with ragged breath and hot with excitement.
Just when I was moving to place kisses down her neck, I felt pressure on my shoulders and I leaned back to see her hands pushing me back.
"Yuzu, you think we'd go back to watching?" she asked timidly, biting on her lip.
"Oh." My shoulders slumped immediately. You should've known Okogi. "Right, sorry," I said leaning back all the way, trying to hide my disappointment like every time this happens.
Apparently, this time I'm not good at hiding it because Mei said my name urgently, taking hold of both my hands in hers, tugging on them until I properly look at her.
"Look Yuzu, don't think this the wrong way," she said, her voice a bit panicked, that perhaps I won't believe her.
"Sorry, it's just- sometimes it makes me think that you don't want me that way," I responded, my voice small.
"No, that's not true. I want you in every way." My eyes grew wide at her words. She smiled tenderly at me, giving my hands a squeeze. "Don't look so shocked Okogi, you know how appealing you are to girls."
I allowed myself a small smile. "Are you not ready? You could tell me Mei and I'll slow down."
Mei smiled cutely and kissed the tip of my nose. "I wasn't but I think- no, I know, that I'm ready now. But I have to tell you something first."
"Tell me what?"
"It's better if I show you."
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I was dying from the suspense as to where Mei would lead me and what would she show me. We silently rode in her car until we reached where she wanted to go.
I noticed right away that it was a cemetery. Mei looked at me before she freed herself from the seatbelt before she step out of the car. I hesitated for a second before following her out.
"Come on," she said, holding her hand out to me. I took it and we walked around the towering tombs, most were shaded off their white paint by the weather. I didn't ask her why we're there or who're we going to see, knowing I would know the answer at the end of this walk.
Mei slowed down and stopped in front of a weathered-looking cross, about three feet tall. I looked down at inscriptions on the grave marker at the foot of the cross:
Daniel Chiba
Safe in the hallowed quiets of the past.
Born: January 18, 1995
Died: July 22, 2017
"Hey Dan," Mei said softly, her tone's like talking to an old friend. She glanced at me.
"Who's he?" I asked her softly.
"Daniel was my boyfriend for three years until he died four years ago." My face registered surprise at her revelation. "We got together when I was still in college, he was two years my senior."
I slowly nodded my head, taking in what she's saying. "Was he a journalist too?"
"Yeah, he was the top of his class, and I had to keep up with him so my grades didn't look bad compared to his," smiling at the thought.
"How did he die?"
"Car accident, it was very sudden. He was visiting me that morning, then on his way home, his car got hit by a truck. Dead on the spot." I nodded my head, urging her to carry on. "I went mental when I heard the news. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep, fuck I almost killed myself. I stopped studying for a semester because I couldn't do it." She swallowed a couple of times before moving on. "My parents were very worried, didn't know what to do with me. I was practically locked up in my bedroom, refusing to speak to anyone, refusing the outside world altogether because everything reminds me of him and I couldn't handle the pain of thinking about him again dead, forever gone. But after four months of that, I realized Dan wouldn't want me doing that to myself. He would tell me to suck it up and move on even if it fucking hurts."
My brave Mei. I never thought I would fall deeper in love with her the way I did but I'm sure I just fall way deeper in with very slim chance of going out.
"You must have loved him a lot."
She nodded. "I thought I was going to marry him you know. Maybe I would've if he didn't die on me." A sad smile crept up her cheeks.
Although it was sad thinking about the story, a universe where Dan's alive and doesn't include me meeting Mei, seeing her, holding her, is hard and painful just to think about.
"He was my last. I never let anyone touch me after he died. I thought I would break because I felt so fragile and weak. I didn't find the right person to trust myself with. Until I met you." I swallowed audibly and stared at those dangerously beautiful eyes.
I squeezed her hand tightly. "I won't break you. I'll take care of you."
"I know."
I took both her hands in mine and we faced each other. "Thank you for telling me, I know it's hard recounting something hurtful like that."
Mei nodded. "You deserved to know Yuzu. You earned it."
I leaned up to kiss her. "You're such an amazing person."
"What?" she asked me with a confused smile.
"You are," I told her and she smiled, leaning down to award me another kiss.
We left that cemetery with something vital that happened; my and Mei's relationship was stronger.
"I have to check on my place, why don't you come and stay over tonight?" Mei asked me as we pulled up in front of my apartment. That question sent a rush of excitement run through my veins.
"Okay," I was able to croak out. I leaned over to kiss her. "Tonight," I whispered, against her lips.
"Tonight," Mei agreed, playfully biting on my lower lip before she leans away. I told you she's a tease.