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You couldn't believe at how fast Tooru responded after you sent him your friend request minutes later. You were even more surprised that he is awake at this late hour of the night trying to make a subtle conversation with you which is something you weren't mentally prepare for. Excessive thoughts piled up in your head that you were unable to think clearly, unaware of your thumb tracing over the notification and confirming the request.

He follows you now, meaning you two are social media friends - as they say.

Now, your eyes fled on the message notification at the top right corner of your screen and your thumb swiped to disclose the chat where you see his username was typed in bold letters, signifying that his message is unread. You eagerly opened it as a waving hand emoji appeared on his side of the chat, and you immediately accepted it.

A keen smile approached on your lips, rolling on your back with your phone in your two hands, raising it inches from your sniding face and quickly reply back to him.

"Someone is awake at this hour."

You kept your screen on to watch the chat. A minute strolled by to see his text bubble floated at the bottom of the page, and eventually your phone buzzed in your hand again.

He replied.

"I can say the same for you"

"Are you about to sleep?"

You quickly replied in saying 'no' to him despite your usual bed remedy earlier, but you kept that to yourself. Now you have, in your definition, a valid reason to stay up more than needed. You questioned him why he was asking.

"Just checking to see if you received my support system"

Then he threw a face with a tongue hanging out. He probably meant the large amount of followers you received that could possibly be from his fan base. You acknowledged that thought and assured him that his followers did their work as you typed back.

"I was wondering where the spam was coming from."

"Thank you for that! You didn't need to go that far."

"It's alright, I wanted to do it!"

"They were too good, the world needed to know."

One thing you noticed from him, Tooru just knew how to say the right things to you and you were drinking it all in. He's a talkative one, spoiling you with compliments. If you were to guess his giving-love language, it would be affirmation.

Interesting.

"Haha Is there a way I can repay you?"

You mocked, reusing his words when you first met him and he can sense your humor by sending a laughing face. Tooru didn't reply immediately as if he was contemplating on what to say. His hesitance shown when his text bubble kept on appearing, vanishing, and then appearing again. Finally, he sent his awaiting text which surprised you.

"Hmm I have so much power..."

"Just bring that homemade milk bread you were talking about earlier and we can call it even, sweetie 😉"

A choke erupted from your throat just glancing at the pet name he had given you. But you couldn't help but stare at the wink that mostly took the spotlight. A sly smirk spread on your face as you tapped at the back of your phone with your fingers to conjure a reply. Another opportunity given to you and he anticipated your reaction, hoping he didn't scare you off. Then you decided to tease him.

"Oh who said it was for you?"

"I already told Tetsu that I was making it for him only."

It was obvious, painfully obvious that you were messing with him. You can only imagine him chuckling a laugh behind his phone with a winning smile at your baiting comment. His confidence came back and he replied relentlessly with whatever thought he had in mind and sent it.

"No fair that he's getting a piece before me!"

"Where's my share??"

"He asked me first."

"Plus, how could I refuse his cute face? 😖"

"For once, I'm jealous of my own son getting special treatment."

That last part of his text seemed more flirtatious than he intended, subconsciously getting bold and comfortable with the conversation that you felt the barrier between you two was slowly collapsing with a few back and forth texts. At this point, you weren't shy in throwing your sneaky flirts and you could tell he was doing the same, just enough that it still looked casual and innocent from the outside. But you knew in the back of your mind that there were some meaning to it in these texts. You wish you knew if it's the same with him.

After a few more playful comments, you had to slow the conversation by getting on topic. Mindful of the time, you need to keep the discussion short since it's already so late and you have an early shift the next day. Eye bags don't look pretty on you, so you unwillingly sped up the topic.

"So when do you want the milk bread?"

Tooru took another few minutes to reply to your question, not that he was absent but he was thinking as well. For a moment there, your body was finally responding to your exhaustion with eyes becoming heavy and attention spam shortening. It was already one o'clock in the morning; an hour later since Oikawa started his midnight chat with you. You only closed your eyes for a brief second until you felt your phone buzzing in your limp hand again.

Forcing your eyes to open, you read his text sleepily.

"As far as I know, next Saturday is the soonest day I'm available."

"After that, I have no clue when I'll be free again."

Damn yourself, you knew weekends are your work days. By rereading his text, it is understandable for someone as a single parent. Schedules for them are unpredictable most of the time and they always have to adjust for their children. Whereas for other people, not so much.

You waited in case Tooru was going to add other compromises to you, but sadly he didn't. He had no plans in rearranging his schedule and your only options were that day or the unknown. At least, it will give you enough time to prepare the bread to its full delicious potential to impress them.

"I just know I work that night."

"What time were you thinking?"

"Is lunch okay?"

That fits better to your schedule, you were jumping for joy. Dazed, you wonder if that was him asking you out to lunch but you pushed your improper thoughts for a second and quickly replied to him, agreeing to see him for lunch on Saturday.

He texted again.

"Tetsu and I are planning to have a day at the park."

"You can bring a friend if you like."

Your brow quirked at your screen. It sounded like a gathering than just the three of you. With your mind referring back from today, Tooru's mysterious ring appeared in your thoughts for unbeknown reason as it hinders around your doubts. Could he be bringing a woman?

Thumb tapping over the glass screen, you carefully asked.

"Oh is there someone else coming?"

He typed fast.

"Just my childhood friend."

"He's coming with us."

Relief spread through your body. Still, you have to remind yourself to be guarded in case he was going to bombard you with misleading news. A pretty boy like that you had to be cautious of.

Instead of admitting your comfort, you threw a thumbs up in the chat in agreement.

A heart and a cheering gif was sent by him as a confirmation. Chuckling at his colorful texts, you promptly realized the time and warned him about your sleep deprived state, sending an unmotivating good night. Unlucky for you, he just made it more difficult for you to forget the conversation by sending this horrendous message.

"Have a good night sleep, sweetie ☺️"

"Here's my number if you need anything."

Clearly Tooru wanted you to be restless with thoughts about him, yet he played it so innocently.

At last, your prayers have been answered as the ten digit number appeared so gloriously on your phone, shining like a golden medal you've received from the Olympics. Everything from this text brain-fucked you whether he did that on purpose or not. You waited so patiently for this moment since day one and your God would be so proud of you, giving the 'okay' sign and nodding from the heavenly skies.

Suddenly, your sleep deprivation melted away by a surge of energy electrifying your body. Your now motionless face buried deep in your fluffy pillow wishing for this upcoming Saturday to come faster.

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Posted: 04-04-21