七。もう秘密じゃないで「斉藤壮馬」

》》》

Another new day at work. Pretty busy, noisy, annoying, and irritating, but I'm holding on and getting used to it.

"(F/N)?"

"Yeah, Souma?" I asked as I continued to gather the current chart of sales of his new single.

"When we're working, I'd like you to call me Saitou-san." He said.

"Why?" I asked as I pushed up my glasses.

"It helps me keep focused. That's it." He said as he avoided my gaze and continued studying his scripts.

"Oh, and please tie your hair." He said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I already told you. It keeps me focused. I like seeing a formal sense of style when I am at work." He replied.

It helps keep him focused? But he's always focused. Is there something bothering him?

I can ask him, given that I'm his best friend again, but as his PA that is a very unrelated and private matter.

I decided to keep those thoughts to myself as we worked silently in his office.

☆☆☆

Minutes, hours, days, nights, weeks passed. That thought still bothered me.

I want to know what's bothering Souma. It's not because I like him, but it's because I just care like a friend should. I do like him, but I doubt he feels the same for me.

At some point when we were teenagers, I remember feeling like the only girl in his world. I was the one closest to him and he was the one closest to me. I really did believe that we had something back then.

Right now, we're working adults. Relationships are a struggle at any age, especially this one.

Anyone could tell that he and I really were just close friends.

I was heading out to a restaurant nearby on my break.

"(F/N)!"

"Hatano-san, hi!" I greeted as he called out to me from the okonomiyaki street tent across the agency.

☆☆☆

"So you're telling me that Souma has been acting weird lately?" He asked then drank some water.

"Yes, it's been bothering me, but as his personal assistant, I can only stay quiet and listen." I said as I skillfully cut a piece of okonomiyaki from my plate.

"You know, (F/N). I'm certain Souma has a good reason for everything." He said as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

I sighed.

"So, do you think I should ask him?"

"Yeah. He'll surely tell you. I know he will. He trusts and respects you more than anyone after all." He reassured with a smile.

And with that, I returned to the office with a nervous and doubtful heart.

☆☆☆

We were soon working as quiet as ever after asking each other if we had lunch yet. I don't understand the quiet atmosphere. I don't know if it's awkardness, nervousness, seriousness, or something! I just know that if I don't say anything, I'm going to regret it.

"Souma." I called.

"It's Saitou-san." He said, immensely focused on his work.

"No, it's Souma." I stated.

He then stopped writing his notes then sighed, "(F/N), we talked about this."

"Yes, but I don't understand why you could be out of focus because of the way I call you, or the way I arrange my hair, or the way I talk to you, I don't understand, Souma. What is it that's bothering you?" I asked.

"What do you mean what's bothering me? What's bothering me is you." He said.

And that.. was the last straw.

I slammed my hands on the table as I stood up.

"Your problem is me? Then why don't you fire me? Why don't you yell at me? Why don't you just hit me already because I have had enough of you, Mister Saitou Souma. I cannot handle your requests. I may be your personal assistant, but first and foremost, I am a woman and I am your best friend. At least give me the respect as your closest friend." I said.

"Respect? I've given you more than respect. I threw away my pride for you! You think this is some sick joke? Making it harder for you? Can't handle my requests? What have I done to make you say these things to me?" He asked.

"Nothing." I said plainly.

"Nothing? You're telling me I'm to blame for doing nothing?" He asked as he stood up as well.

"You did nothing about what I felt. You said that you wanted me to do those things to be able to focus, but how about me? How will I be able to focus? I want things to be casual or else I get too tense to work. I can't get my job done." I said.

"You're just a personal assistant. You have no say in this. You shouldn't care about what I want you to do. You should just do it. That's all that's has to do with your job." He said.

"Hey, hey, what's going on here?" Hatano-san asked as he entered Souma's office.

"He thinks I'm just some personal assistant." I said as I pointed at Souma.

"She's butting into my personal life." He said as he pointed at me.

"Really now? You're really irritating, you know." I fired at him.

"You're even more annoying." He spat.

Continuous fighting was heard throughout the room until..

"Can't you two just stop fighting and admit you like each other?!?!"

Souma and I looked at each other as both our faces heated up and the anger that we had felt, became a feeling of awkwardness.

"Yeah.. I'll just leave now." Hatano-san said as he ran away.

The two of us stayed silent as I avoided eye contact with him.

"So this is what this is about? Is this some tsundere personality of yours?" I asked.

"Uhm, (F/N), i-it's not what you think." He said.

"I know. You like me as a friend. Of course, I like you too." I said awkwardly.

"N-No!— uh... (F/N), I want to date you!" He blurted out.

I was speechless. I never thought that he and I would have mutual feelings.

"I don't believe you. Not one bit." I tried to say stoically.

"It's true. I like you, (F/N). I really really do. I wanted to ask you out for quite some time now. I've liked you ever since we were kids." He said.

"I didn't want you to call me Souma since you call me that name so cutely. I didn't want you to wear your hair down because you look too cute like that. I like you, (F/N). I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get mad or yell at you." He said, embarrassed by his words.

I was going to cry, but I didn't want him to see so I just hugged him.

"I like you too! I always have!" I said.

"Really? Thank goodness, I'm glad.." he said as he hugged back in relief.

I guess those feelings that I tried so hard to hide,.. they were no longer concealed. It was no longer a secret.

05|27|2017 ~ 6:05 pm