[the next evening...]

After an hour of waiting, finally, the four arrived. Kiyoharu and Kaede immediately greeted Mika with a hug while my brother and her Mikio greeted me first.

Mikio: "Shall we have late dinner?"

Mika: "Sure"

Right after dinner, we headed straight to our apartment since tomorrow we were going to stroll the city.

Takahiro: "Are you two not getting lonely here?"

Me: "We're still busy with our own works Taka"

Takahiro: "Ow."

On Christmas eve, we just have dinner and just enjoy the rest of the night. In our situation right now, Mika is staying in my room while her friends using her room and Taka and Mikio was using the guest room.

Me: "Not sleepy yet?"

Mika: "Yeah, sorry..."

Me: "Want to watch a movie?"

Mika: "Sure"

After deciding what to watch, she sneaks into my arms, like a cat finding a comfortable place to sleep with. When we head back to LA, I don't know if I'm just assuming things but Mika... starts to be more affectionate towards me or it is just her way of not showing her real emotions.

I know after what happened in Milan, it's not easy to move on in a very short time.

As she is finally stable around my arms, I start to caress her hair and something comes to my mind.

Yuki...

How lucky he was when he still have her. Why does he say to me he will get her back yet he was hanging around with somebody else in Milan? I was getting confused with my emotions. Should I be happy because she and he are getting complicated or sad because I know Mika was still hoping for him before what happened there?

I know she didn't deserve everything she had been through and I just realized it after what happened to her before we headed to the states.

Me: "Mika, would you like to go somewhere else tomorrow?" - She didn't respond because I didn't notice that she had already fallen asleep.

I smile at the sight of her being comfortable in my comfort.

Me: "I think you still need to take a rest princess." - lay her carefully on the bed as I give her a goodnight kiss on her forehead before joining her in her dreams.

Days just passed by quickly and now we're waiting for the countdown to a new year. We just decided to celebrate new year's eve here in our unit instead of celebrating it somewhere here in the city.

The countdown starts as all of us were watching from the balcony the fireworks illuminating the busy night sky of LA.

Mika: "Thank you" - I look at her whose eyes are still glued to the night sky.

Me: "For what?"

Mika: "Hmm..." - she looks at me with a smile on her lips. "...for everything. Happy new year Masa." - For the first time being together, I was stunned when I found her lips touching mine.

It was just a peck but as she parted from mine, a smile formed on my lips and the same with hers.

Me: "Happy new year too Mika"

As everyone enjoys the fireworks display, I wrap her in my arms enjoying the warmth. I clearly told her what I feel and I'm not rushing for her answer.

Two days after the new year, the four go back to Japan as the two of us will just going to close all the unfinished business here. But despite our busy days, I did take her on dates.

[Time skips: February]

Other months have passed and now is valentine's but we have a wedding to attend. It was one of my teammates' Poland wedding and I was selected to be one of his best men.

As the bride was walking down the aisle, I was thinking of Mika walking down the aisle in her wedding gown.

Would she be happy on the day of our wedding?

I look at her who was wearing the old rose pinked dress and holding a small flower bouquet while she was looking at the bride smiling. I smile as I enjoy the view of her smiling and I hope she knows how pretty she is right now.

After the ceremony, I have a conversation with my former teammates and I saw her approaching me.

Mika: "Masa?" - I immediately look at her then smiles as I walk towards her and hold my hands.

Me: "Let's go"

Mika: "Okay"

Now we arrived at the venue of their wedding reception and once all the guests arrived, the program started.

MC: "Now for the most awaited part of the night the tossing of the bouquet. Now all the singles ladies come on the center"

Me: "Are you not joining them?"

MC: "Now bride, get ready to throw it in 3 ... 2... 1..."

Mika: "Nope, I'm already your fiancé right?" *chuckles*

Me: "Ow..." *chuckles*

The bouquet just falls in between me and Mika and it was really unexpected.

MC: "Wow... that was surprising, now bachelors.. gather nowhere in the center"

Me: "I guess I'll need to get the garter" *chuckles*

Mika: "Very competitive huh"

Me: "Of course, I should be the one getting it since I'm your fiancé right?" *chuckles*

Mika: "Baka"

Now I start to join my former teammates who now teasing me since they know I'm targeting to get the garter.

MC: "Bachelors you ready, groom throw it in 3... 2 ... 1"

Me: "Gotcha"

"Masa is really competitive huh"

"Masa, that's not a volley. HAHAHAHA"

Yeah, they start to tease me again after I get the garter and I look at Mika who was currently chuckling from what she just saw.

MC: "Miss and mister as well as the groom and the bride, please come here to the center to start.... "

I escorted Mika to the center and let her sit on the chair they prepared.

MC: "Before the most awaited moment of this night, I just want to ask... Mister? Did you know her and why earlier you are too aggressive in getting the garter"

Masa: "Yes, she's my fiancé that's why..."

MC: "Wow.... this is interesting. Now, what are we waiting for, Dj please play the music"

The music played was a theme from an action movie, and they start to tease me again.

MC: "To the next groom to be... all you need to do is put the gather on her thighs okay -"

Groom: "Wait... I have a request."

MC: "Yes... the groom has a request... what it is"

Groom: "Masa, can you put that to Celena with your teeth." *grins*

"Yes!! Masa! Masa! Masa!"

WHAT???? I feel my face flush from what he just said.

MC: "WOAH!!! That's a very special request.. well Mr. Masa... will you grant the groom's special request?"

Now my teammates are starting to cheer my name. Geezz... come on guys, why are you like this to me??

When I look at Mika, her cheeks were also tinted to crimson color.

Me: "Is it alright?"

Mika: "okay...."

Now I kneel in front of her and I heard the excitement of my teammates and the crowd. I put it into her ankle with my hands first. I took a deep breath before I start to pull up the grater with my teeth.

"Higher!!!"

"Masa higher!!"

"Higher! Higher! Higher! Higher!"

MC: "Mr. Masa, take it higher!"

OH MY GOD!

I was getting nervous since I'm already halfway through her tights but GOD! PLEASE MAKE THEM STOP.

Groom: "Higher Masa"

I take a deep breathe again as I close my eyes and pull it higher as high as I can then SH*T

FINALLY. The crowd claps and I hug her immediately.

Me: "Sorry Mika"

Mika: "It's part of the tradition I guess"

Now before the party ended, we both bid our goodbyes to them and congratulates us in advance of our wedding.

As we go back to our apartment and enter the door. Mika was still standing and I was confused why.

Me: "Mika? Is there something wrong?" - Mika look at me but I wasn't expecting this.

I found her lips touching mine and it lasted long. At first, I was resisting myself not kissing her back. Her kisses is poisoning me so in the end, I gave up.

Me: "Are you sure about this?" - she nodded and right after that, I didn't waste time kissing her back.

I carry her to my room and we found our own way to undress each other without parting each other lips. In every touch I made, she was flinching and letting those voices I never heard before. It was intoxicating me that making myself drag into her more.

But before we could go to the exciting part, she fell asleep in my arms due to exhaustion earlier. Yeah, I was a bit disappointed but at the same was relieved as I snap back to reality. But I know we're not wrong at all. She is my fiancée and I know that in the future this thing will be more often encountered.

I just carefully lay her on my bed and wrapped her in my blanket. I look at her who was peacefully sleeping now and ARGHH!! Why do you have to be so beautiful? I lay beside her and start caressing her hair.

Me: "Good night Mika, I love you"

I smile at her even if she cannot see it and kiss her forehead. Now I put her in my embrace and finally sleep with her warmth.

The next morning, I thought I was the one who will wake up first but I guess, she did.

Me: "Good morning" - She looked at me who just woke up and still adjusting my eyesight to the light.

Mika: "Good morning and sorry about last night, I have fallen asleep"

Me: "It's okay, you're exhausted" - I smile at her as I get up and put my clothes on before I look at who was waiting at the door after ringing the doorbell. I think it was my order.

Once I received the bouquet I order, I head back to my room to give it to her.

Me: "Mika?"

Mika: "What the h?"

Yeah, she was surprised by what she had just seen.

Me: "Happy valentines even though it was a day late"

Mika: "Seriously? This is too much..."

Me: "I don't mind" - I smile at her as I seated beside her and handing the bouquet and bag full of chocolates.

Mika: "This is too much but thank you" - She gave her a peck on my cheeks and I was just frozen for a while and blushed before I could pat her head and smiles back.

Me: "Let's head out for breakfast okay"

Mika: "Yeah, I'll just... ahh." - Ow I forgot that she was still undressed and I immediately get the robe and handed it to her.

Me: "Ah sorry.. wait here.. I'll wait for you outside okay"

Mika: "Thank you"

I immediately head to the bathroom and once I close the door of my bath... I fall seated on the floor and GOD!

My heart is going to burst anytime from happiness. I was happy that she likes it and AHH!!!!!! MASA CALM DOWN...

I think this will be a very nice day.

Our days continued here and of course, work is also giving us a bad day.

It was just one time I was stressed out over my work and she notice it. I was about to finish washing dishes when she hug me from my back and somehow, I forgot those thoughts that bothers me.

Mika: "Are you okay? Is everything okay?"

I dry my hands and hug her back as she buried her face in my chest.

Me: "Yeah... I'm fine and everything is fine." - I kiss her on her forehead to assure her that I was okay and I felt happy that she did it for me.

She told me that she will just finish her work, so I should just take my rest first. Due to my stress, I didn't know that I had fallen asleep immediately and just woken up in the middle of the night to ease my thirstiness.

I notice that she was sleeping beside me and tried to wrap me in her frame but she didn't succeed. I also noticed she already put a bottle of water on my nightstand and I smile at it.

After I drink I wrapped her in my arms as she snuggles I kiss her on her forehead like I always do. I knew I have fallen in love deeply with her and I'll keep on waiting for you no matter what.

-- To Be Continued --