= CHRIS POV =
When I arrived home, I hesitated.
I had picked up some sushi from a sushi restaurant down the street from Jun’s Café, and I had the pastries from Hana, plus the roses…
Was this enough to make things up with Sarah?
I had been neglecting her for so long, even as roommates, this was a little much.
I should have checked in after demanding her to adhere to my requests and even sleep in my bed… now that the dust had settled, I felt like such an asshole.
I sighed and unlocked the door, pushing it open.
The house was awash in the late afternoon sun, and I walked in, I noticed Sarah had left a bag of pastries on the table.
I heard the shower running as I put my stuff on the table beside hers and went to the room to change.
I didn’t like lounging around in my office wear, so I changed into a pair of shorts and a loose T-shirt.
Sitting down on the on the couch, I started to doom-scroll on my phone, occasionally running a hand through my locks, trying to distract myself.
Sarah soon appeared, dressed in a pair of loose gym shorts and a T-shirt. She looked cosy, warm and…really cute.
“Umm..thanks for earlier. Ruby tends to get a bit too handsy when trying to get us to taste her experimental recipes,” Sarah said sheepishly.
“Oh yeah? Don’t I know it. We were in the same year at culinary school, so I’m familiar with her “zealousness”. Thankfully, we are of similar build, so it’s a lot harder for her to get me to eat her stuff,” I replied, setting my phone aside and stretching.
I got up and strode over to the kitchen isle.
“Come here Sasa” I said, beckoning the smaller woman.
Sarah drifted over, eyes wide and curious, and I plucked out the bouquet form it’s decorative bag, turning and holding it out to her.
“Congradulations on the new job you did good” I said warmly, reaching out to ruffle her damp locks.
A slow smile spread across Sarah’s face as she walked over and accepted my flowers.
“Wow, thank you. It’s been a long time since I received flowers from someone,” she said and took a deep whiff of them.
She looked so lovely standing there in the warm afternoon sunlight, her face framed by the bouquet.
I wanted so badly to grab her just as Ruby did but for very different reasons.
I coughed and decided to change the subject.
“I guess this means you will be paying rent soon?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
Of course, I didn’t expect her to pay rent. But it just felt like something she would want to do, so I brought it up anyway.
I was also hoping that talking about money would help me stop thinking about how great she looked in that t-shirt.
Sarah sighed and turned sharply, going into the kitchen and grabbing a vase off the shelf.
She untied the soft paper wrapping that kept the bouquet together, and after filling the vase with water, she placed the flowers inside and brought the vase to the kitchen island, where she put it in the center, gently teasing the flowers and baby’s breath to look more full and voluminous.
I leaned against the counter, just watching her, enjoying her lost in thought. I knew she had something on her mind, and as much as it felt like she might be ignoring me, I knew Sasa like I knew the back of my hand - she was processing things, slowly and calmly, as she always did when it was something she was struggling with.
Sarah then marched to her room, where, after a while, she returned with a notepad and pen.
“So, I’ve done the math, and I still can’t afford the room” Sarah said bluntly, looking up at me a little warily.
I couldn’t help it. I let out a short bark of laughter.
“Well then you-” I started but Sarah looked at me pointedly and cut in.
“ My pay is only ¥210,000, and after taxes and bills, it amounts to this much” she said and showed me the numbers she had scribbled down on the page.
I nodded in agreement, secretly pleased that she couldn’t afford her room yet. Then I furrowed my brow…why was I pleased…shouldn’t I want her to pay for the room? I had been stressing about it all week…If I didn’t care about her paying me…then what have I been so stressed about…
Sarah’s voice cut through the haze of thoughts as she carried on breaking down her financial situation.
“What I can do is cover the storage unit. That way I can take on some of the financial burden, until I either get a promotion or a better job opportunity. After I get my first pay, I’ll transfer you the money, and every month after that,” Sarah said, folding her hands in front of her prettily, gazing up at me expectantly.
I cleared my throat and straightened up. For a moment, I just gazed down at her. She looked so pretty and soft, like something out of a domestic day dream.
‘Just let me take care of you. I earn enough for the both of us, and more now’ Is what I wanted to stay to her but…
Ah.
That kind of conversation was for lovers, not roommates.
And definitely not friends.
I reached out and gently cupped her cheek, my thumb caressing the soft flesh. I knew I was crossing all sorts of boundaries, and messing up all sorts of lines, but they were lines Sarah refused to define, and so I was going to step all over them if it meant I could hold her and touch her as much as I wanted.
“Take your time. We already have an arrangement. You sleep in my bed, and I pay for the storage unit. Isn’t that better for you? You can put that money towards something else, like savings, which you really need to build up for yourself” I murmured softly, my eyes holding hers.
Sarah pouted and to my annoyance, smacked my hand away.
“Urgh, stop patronizing me” I heard her say, and as my hand hovered in empty air, Sarah walked off, flopping down on the couch, her slender figure sprawling out lazily, not knowing what she did to me when she occupied space like that.
My empty hand curled into a first in the air, and I dropped it listlessly to my side, shaking my head, reminding myself that Sarah…Sarah had free will.
Though sometimes I wondered just how much I could limit it.
“Also, you haven’t been replying to me when I send you all those messages you asked for”I heard her pipe up, a soft pouting expression making her features scrunch up adorably, and I just wanted to-
I bit my lip. “I’m sorry; I guess I’ve just been so out of it,” I said as I stiffly approached, sitting down next to her on the couch, trying to keep my hands to myself and not just grab her by her slender limbs and yank her onto my lap where she belong.
“There is an upcoming gala so I was putting in extra hours” I said, deflecting, knowing that even in the busiest time of the year, I had taken calls from Sarah back in the day for hours at a time, just because.
“I also got promoted,” I said, forcing myself to lean back, stretching out my legs, trying to shake the deep aching desire to kiss that pouty expression on her face away.
“Higher pay so…honestly? You really don’t have to worry. I can take care your expenses easily, on top of mine,” I said, my eyes glancing to the side, almost holding my breath as I waited for Sarah to say something, anything about it.
Sarah was quiet for a few moments. Then a smile bloomed across that beautiful face.
I felt the air in my lungs tighten. Was this it? Was she going to just… let me take care of her? Could we start over, clean-
Sarah reached out and took my hand in hers.
“Chris, we’re fr- ah…roommates, tenant landlord. You know I can’t do that…”Sarah said cautiously before scooting a little closer.
“But never mind that. You got promoted? That is awesome! Did you make assistant chef? You have been dreaming of that position for ages! Congratulations!” Sarah beamed, grabbing my hand and squeezing it “I’m so proud of you”
Feeling Sarah’s small hands wrapped around mine made my heart skip a beat.
I wanted to hold her, so badly. I just want –
I felt that familiar tight feeling clench in my chest. I was 25 going 26. I was grown…so why did this girl make me just want to crash myself into her and bury my face in her chest like a child, seeking comfort?
“Can I make a request?” I asked, my voice lower and huskier than I intended it to be.
“Of course, I gotta hit my daily target don’t I?” Sarah said teasingly.
I let out a shaky laugh.
Right.
Her target.
Three requests.
I didn’t care. I couldn’t give a fuck. But I cared about her.
However her innocent naivety was a double-edge sword that gave me hope, and then sliced it apart the next second.
If keeping up this charade would keep her where I could see her, smell her…touch her…
“I just want to hug you,” I said ruggedly, leaning towards her, my free hand settling down next to her knee on the couch, not touching, not yet, but closing in.
“Awe, of course,” Sarah said and began to open her arms, then stopped, her hand suddenly going to her throat.
“Except… are you going to be redeeming another strike? Cause I’ve got work tomorrow: it wouldn’t be a good look…” she said, worry marred that perfect little face.
“No, no strikes today” I said quickly, smiling at her warmly, reassuring her.
“We both have done so good for ourselves, I just want one hug, and that’s it, I promise”
I reached out, brushing some strands of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on her cheek “Let’s consider it worth three request in one, ok?” I said a little softly, wanting to crush her to my chest so badly, but trying to be good, and wait for her to say yes.
“Then come here” Sarah smiled spreading her arms wide open like the clouds when the sunlight cuts through them
I didn’t hesitate for a second. I folded into that embrace immediately.
Wrapping my arms around her back I dipped my head low, burying my face in the crook of her neck, taking in a long, deep in hair, before letting out a contented sigh.
I heard her let out a soft gasp, and then the more pleasant laughter rang out through the house.
Her slender fingers wrapped around my shoulders, and she relaxed against me like she was made for me, molding so perfectly to my form.
“Fuck…you smell so good. Like peaches and cream” I murmured against her neck.
“I-I did just have a bath. I think the body lotion is vanilla scented” I heard her pipe up, making me hold her even tighter, my hand on her back rising to cup the back of her head, holding her close like I never wanted to let her go.
“I’m so proud of you, Sarah, really. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you much the last few weeks,” I finally said, my heart feeling so full in this moment, I felt I was going to burst.
“With the new job position, I’ll have more flexible schedule. I’ll be able to see you more, and hopefully, we can hang out more as well,” I said into her shoulder.
“And I’m proud of you too! Look at you, rising the culinary ladder as always. Keep going and you might be running your own café like Ms. Jun” Sarah said proudly, patting me on the head.
I froze. Did she not know that I…owned half of that cafe? I was just like Ruby.
No
Better Than Ruby.
“Urrghh…Ruby” I groaned and pushed myself out of Sarah’s embrace. The thought of that woman made me annoyed.
I slumped back against the couch, the moment felt ruined but I still clung to it, enjoying the slight buzz my skin felt from Sarah’s warmth.
“You really don’t like her, do you?” Sarah asked, sitting cross-legged on the couch, facing me as she asked that.
“It’s not that I don’t like her. It’s that we have very different work ethics. She is all about the aesthetics and the experience, while I am more about quality and consistency. There is no need to do all the experimentation and the over-the-top branding, however I didn’t have time after college to play café owner and let Ruby take lead on the business venture the three of us started” I explained gruffly.
“Just so you know, I own 50% of the shares of that café, so I could open up my own place anytime I want to” I said, giving Sarah a lopsided grin as I reached out and flicked her nose “So don’t compare me to the woman who couldn’t breath outside that cafe. I choose not to run my own business. I have always thrived managing multiple events on a larger scale than something as intimate like the cafe, which would bore me” I explained.
Sarah sat for a few moments, quiet as she absorbed everything I shared with her.
Then slender hands reached out, pressing down on the space between us, emerald eyes gazing up at mine, and the awe I saw in them took my breath away for a moment.
“You are…amazing. This is why I always turn to you Chris. You are just, unbelievable” She said breathlessly.
I gulped heavily, my eyes darting away
“T-Thanks I guess, but I’m just-”
I felt Sarah’s hand, small and tentative, resting on my thigh, making me immediately snap back to focus on her.
“Stop it. You’re just amazing, you are” She said, her voice so full of admiration I just wanted to push her down and devour it.
Instead I forced myself to run my hand through my hair, keeping myself in check.
“But Both Heather and Ms Jun are working their hardest as well. I think you underestimate the extent of how intense running the cafe is. I see them trying every day, to keep the menu relevant, to keep customers coming back…don’t write off what the three of you have created. You should come down and be more involved, it might give you a new perspective” She said, her voice full of earnest passion towards the hard work Ruby and Heather were putting in.
I stiffened. I couldn’t believe it. Was this tiny little thing…schooling me about appreciating the business I had on the side with my college friends?
“I’m not underestimating them, not really” I frowned, sitting up a bit straighter.
Then I reflected on how I just called working at the cafe…boring
“Ok fine, maybe I do a little. I’ll promised Heather I’ll make sometime to go down so…I will, ok?” I said and sighed, shaking my head. A part of me wondered if that was Sarah talking, or Heather was somehow rubbing off on the petite brunette.
“Anyway, today was supposed to be your day, so how about we change things up?” I said and smirked, turning to face Sarah “How about you get one request from me? What would you like me to do for you?” I asked, watching her with keen interest.
Sarah smiled a little, thinking, “A request? Can I request anything?” she asked.
I nodded. “Anything within my power” I confirmed.
Sarah then clasped her hands together and smiled. “I would like…” She said and paused for a few moments.
I raised an eyebrow expectantly.
“Go on, just say the word and it’s yours” I said encouragingly.
Sarah gulped and nodded. To my surprise, her eyes suddenly went glassy, and her voice shook a little when she finally spoke.
“I-I request…for the rest of the day, to have my best friend back”.
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