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"You son of a bitch! You tell me this now?!"

People stared at the looks of you and your best friend, mainly her, at the bar. The sudden outbursts she made during your explanation of the night you had a one-on-one text with the star athlete had her overwhelmed with nonexistent ideas. You barely even finished the story and here she was already claiming to be your Maid of Honor for your unforeseen wedding. It has been a week but finally, she got to hear the gossip the day before your rendezvous with him.

Naomi suddenly decided to stop shaking her mixer and slam it down on the bar station, staring wide eyed at you in envy. "What is this insane luck that you have? And you didn't even bother to share it with me!"

A chuckle seeped under your breath as you took a sip of your whiskey and coke through a skinny black straw and shrugged nonchalantly. "Beats me. Well, I'm supposed to meet him again tomorrow at noon. I was wondering if you're free."

"Tomorrow? For what?" She rose her brow while attending back to her well and fixate a few drinks in front of your eyes. She also given you a glass of iced water for you to slow the alcohol consumption after witnessing your face turning slight pink.

"I made a promise to his kid that I'll make a dessert for him. Forgot the reason why, but I'm going to meet them for lunch at the park," you illustrated shortly, taking a few gulps from your water while seeing Naomi's face stir in confusion.

"Wait, so it's not a date?" She questioned as if she wasn't listening. "So you're just going to drop it off to them or something?"

"If you were to let me finish, I would get to the part where it's a social gathering and he given me permission to bring a friend," you told her and her mouth opened as an expression of being noted.

She dwelled in her own thoughts about the offer, but sighed in disappointment. "Oh, I wish I can go and meet your future husband... I have brunch with my aunt and it so happens to be her birthday tomorrow. Looks like you gotta take on the role as a social butterfly for me."

"Oh, stop. I've always been one," you slyly corrected. Your statement is true, but lately you haven't been much of one due to the high volume at your business, overtime your patience with people is limited.

Speaking of, in the midst of your thoughts, you felt your phone starting to blink over on the brown bar top and alerting you an incoming call. Quickly averting your eyes down at the screen, the name didn't appease your likeliness as you set your phone on silent, letting it run straight to voicemail. Naomi noticed your change of demeanor while you sighed and leaned on your fist to sip the rest of your short glass of whiskey in annoyance.

She turned in concern, "Who's that?"

"You already know." Seeing your grouched face, only Naomi can conclude who it could be as she snapped and nodded.

"Terushima is still talking to you?" she smiled comically, seeing your eyes narrow at the spoken name. "Didn't you already turned him down a month ago? I remembered that it wasn't pretty."

"Yeah, but apparently he has a thing for girls who don't want him," you answered back with the straw in between your teeth, gnawing on the plastic in anguish. "Talk about egocentric."

She let out a laugh, cleaning up her station and your counter with a sanitized towel. "Ouch. Poor dude. He'll give up once he sees you're going out with a daddy."

A grunt seeped from you as you placed your glass down on the metal coaster, "Ugh, don't count on it. He might even try harder."

"So has Daddykawa been talking to you after that night?" You grimaced at the name you thought you banned her from mentioning. Her eagerness was showing as her brown eyes sparkled for more juicy details.

You shook your head, "Oh, not at all."

"Uhm, and why not?" her brows peeved.

"The guy has a son, Naomi. I can't make him divert his attention from his kid to me. I gotta be mindful sometimes, you know," you reminded but your generosity didn't satisfy her expectations, waving her hand at your adult-like demeanor.

"Whatever you say. I have no clue what it's like to date someone who has kids," she fathomed in a way to keep the topic short as it began to disinterest her.

Checking the time on your phone, you chugged the last ounce of your whiskey and cup of water before throwing your coat over your shoulders. "Well, I gotta go. Don't wanna to be tired for my date," you teased while slapping down your cash in front of her.

Naomi's mouth gaped, "So it is a date!" But her voice didn't reach you as you were already making your way to the exit of the loud bar.

The night was still young and busy after leaving Naomi's bar, but you managed to get yourself home on foot despite your buzz slowly taking over your mind. But the minute you entered your apartment complex, your head lightened as your walk helped in easing the alcohol flowing through you.

Referring back to Naomi's words earlier, your eyes curiously went to your phone laying on the bed after you stepped out of your steamy bathroom dressed in your pajamas. A dry towel rubbed at the back of your wet head while unlocking your screen to check the time, seeing that it is almost a quarter to midnight.

Your fingers skimmed to the contact list and found one particular name that you saved, hovering your thumb over it and tapping the chat bubble by his name - Tooru's name.

Regardless of the time, you sent him a short message.

"What time should I meet you tomorrow?"

You waited, and waited, staring down at the chat page harshly before blowing an exasperated sigh. The thought of him replying at this late hour is very slim and you carried on drying your hair without dwelling on it.

Few minutes later, a bell chimed from the speakers of your cellular device in room, alluring your attention once more. Startled eyes aimed towards it as your hand scooped it back up again to glance at the notification. It was Oikawa Tooru.

He responded.

"I was wondering when you're going to contact me. You know how to keep a man waiting," it read. As sarcastic as it seems, you can hear the flirtatious tone behind those words. You sent a laughing face in reply and apologized for your indecency. He responded to your last text.

"We're planning to be there by twelve. How are you getting there?"

"I take the train."

"I'll meet you at the station, then!" he prompted, not letting you have a say or an objection. His declaration stunned you. Soon, he added. "Don't be late~"

>>>

The morning approached faster than you anticipated. Sleep was your utmost priority after getting home last night, all thanks to the alcohol that made you snooze soundlessly. Without it, you knew you wouldn't bat an eye.

A little hazed, you swung yourself out of bed to do your morning routine and plan to make the fluffy bread that Tetsu requested from you. Ecstatic, the kitchen smelled of the doughy goodness after baking for an hour, the steam warmed your face when you retrieved it from the oven and let it sit for a couple minutes on the dining table while you debated yourself in what to wear.

This is the first time he'll get to see you in casual wear so you wanted to make a good impression.

With comfortable cropped slacks, a black turtleneck, and a tanned peacoat, you looked yourself in the mirror for a mere second to fixate your hair before leaving the apartment with the foil-covered pan of milk bread in hand. The sun was nearly at its peak and you hurried yourself outside to head to your designated train station.

The ride was cluttered in crowds unsurprisingly. Once you've stepped out, the sea of people trudged in and out at the same time while you sauntered your way out of the cargo.

Your body stiffened when a finger tapped your shoulder.

"Fancy seeing you here," a voice you barely recognized creeped behind your head.

Aiming your eyes over your shoulders, a tall man stood before you in his bad-boy glory and cocky smile. His slick-back, bleached blonde hair and his blinding diamond piercing was enough for you to stop analyzing him as disappointment shown through your expression.

It was Terushima - out of all people.

Shit. Not now... Not now...

" I was just thinking about you," he gloated despite your obvious attempt in walking away from him by the second you saw him. To your demise, he simply followed from a distance away. "Hey. Have you been ignoring my calls? I know our last date was a tragedy but at least, you'd always remember me for it."

His grin stretched wider and you rather not dare yourself to remember that night of his bad behavior and table manners, even making you pay on your behalf, but no doubt you can remember why you turned him down the first place. One of it is his annoying persistence.

"Can we do this another time? Actually, can we do this never?" you hasted. "I have somewhere to be unless you want me to reject your ass the third time."

"Ouch. You know where it hurts, honey," Terushima grabbed at the area where his heart is.

You only growled and glared at the direction ahead as random people paid no mind of your intense stare. You hoped to lose him in the crowd.

"Aw come on. Are you still mad that I was being cheap? I said I was sorry. I promise to take you out on a proper date - flowers and candles lit even. Whatever you want, baby."

"If you think that'll change my mind, then think again," you walked faster to create distance.

"Not even if I pay for you?" He suggested in desperation. "I'll pay for everything!"

"No!" You bickered. A buzz erupted in your hand, pointing down your gaze as you received a familiar text from Oikawa.

"I'm here at the station. Where are you?" It read. Just when you wanted to make a reply, Terushima didn't make you forget about him as he still chased your tail while bantering about the date you deeply regret.

You peered back at him before increasing your footsteps to a little jog to seek for Tooru around the station, but as persistent he is, Terushima took that as a challenge and tried to call you back.

Your ears blocked out his voice just to find a head of brown hair anywhere, eyes scanning the room and then aimlessly walk to wherever your feet took you.

"Boo!"

Hands grabbed at both side of your waist from behind and you jumped at the sudden touch but the familiarity of the voice eased you, seeing the brown tresses curl outwardly from his beautiful face you once recognized - the face you've been longing to see for a week is now refreshed in your mind. His head floated above yours when you looked up to meet his gentle, doe-like eyes.

He's here; your savior.

Tooru giggled with a boyish grin just by taking one glance at your startled expression as a chill ran down your spine at his sweet laugh. "What's with that look? Did I scare you?"

His hands stayed on your waist where it isn't intrusive. As much as you want to pay attention to those slender hands of his, your elusive mind snapped when you didn't see the smaller Oikawa by his feet.

"Where's Tetsu?" You asked.

"He's with my friend, probably at the park by now. I told them I'll meet them there in a bit," then his hands let you go but his arm draped over your neck to guide you through the heavy traffic of people. His other hand raised and placed a finger over his pursed lip in a silent gesture. "Tetsu has no idea that you're coming so make it a surprise, 'kay?"

He winked and you nodded, desperately ignoring your chest beating at the sudden closeness of his body pressing against your arm, the faint scent of spring body wash and cool water cologne emitting from his clothes didn't help you control yourself either. For someone who is Japanese, he sure is comfortable in showing physical contact in public.

"[Name]! Hey, [Name]!" Then Tooru stopped his tracks at Terushima's voice calling from a far and you damned yourself that he was still following you. His hand waved frantically above the crowd's head to get your attention but it only won the brunette's, turning to see the blonde fighting his way where you two are.

Tooru hummed, "Who's that? A friend?"

"Nobody!" and you desperately clung onto his pastel blue cardigan and dragged him forward before he can question further.

By your energized form, he blinked with innocent eyes. "Do you know him? He's coming this way."

"No time. Just ignore him," you advised like a monotone robot and continue to drag him out of the train station before Terushima can get to you. Tooru just looked baffled at the elated situation but stopped himself from interrogating since he was more interested at your arm wrapping over his back to urge him to walk faster.

A smile ghosted his lips and permitted himself to hang his dangling arm over your shoulders securely. His face peeked over his shoulder to look at the stunned boy whose mouth is wide open in shock at Tooru's arm over you. When the two met eyes, the brunette stuck his tongue out and lifted a peace sign near his cheek with a winning smile before the crowd filtered the distance between you and Terushima.

"What are you doing?" You were unaware of his childish act above your head and glanced up.

Tooru undid his pose swiftly before you got a good look at him, keeping a composed smile as he sang happily like a suspicious child who's up to no good, "Nothing~!"

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Posted: 04-06-21