champagnekiss

The two love birds were busy being in love as Mitsuya said, he was sewing yet neither of them even cared to help him out. It irked Mitsuya a little bit, why did they have to be lovey dovey this day not any other day when they were fighting?

Draken wrapped his arms around her waist tightly while Tata sat on his lap. They were a bit chatty today for Mitsuya's taste and they didn't even asked hin anything. Mitsuya then suddenly found one, an opening to join in the conversation when they talked about how they first met.

“You two actually met way back then”

“Really?”

Tata looked back with her hands on his shoulder at Draken who only shrugged.

“I don't think so, I don't think I could forgot this pretty face”

Draken touched Tata's face with his hand, but instead of loving the compliment, Tata was kind of weirded out by his boyfriend who wasn't this cheesy. Sure, Draken loved to throw compliments to her and some of thems were cheesy like this but still it was a bit out of his character.

“Could you not? Takashi listen to your sworn brother right here, I force him to watch just one romcom movie with me yesterday and he acted like this”

Tata protested but Draken just laughed and pulled her closer, engulfing her body with his embrace.

“You two really don't remember? Well I guess you didn't technically meet you just saw glimpse of each other back then”

The two exchanged a confused look before looking at Mitsuya as if to ask him ‘When?’

“Draken you don’t remember the pretty brown haired little girl that you saw on the play ground playing with Luna and Mana, also a boy around their age. I remember you said you only saw her side face for a split second before you turn around”

Draken crunched his temple before his eyes went wide. He remembered that day, he was about to pick up Mitsuya in front of a playground near his house, he said he had to take care of the house for a bit while waiting for his friend to babysit Luna and Mana. Draken only saw her side profile for a split second, but from that one look she already stolen his heart. Draken couldn’t help but think about that cute smile she had plastered on her face while she was talking to group of three little kids in front of her. Then she turned his back to greet Mitsuya. Draken was in trance for a minute before Mitsuya snapped him back to reality with a pat in the shoulder.

“Are you ready to go? You said we are meeting some of your friend”

“O-oh yeah, let’s go”

They went away to meet Mikey but all Draken could think about was the girl on that playground.

“Mitsuya who is that brown haired girl on the playground? She’s pretty cute or whatever”

Draken scratched his neck, a bit embarrassed that he had to ask Mitsuya this.

“Yeah, she’s pretty”

Mitsuya answered back, when Draken turned around to see his face he saw a hint of pink across his friend face. Draken gulped a big lump down his throat, if his sworn brother liked her first there was nothing he could do about it, it sucked but friends first right?

“So you like her, huh? I’m going to root for ya”

Draken faked a big grin on his face as he slapped Mitsuya’s back.

“It’s nothing like that!”

Mitsuya denied it but his face was still blushing, Draken continued to tease him about his crush until they arrived while Mitsuya kept denying it no matter what. After that he slowly forgot about the girl’s face since they never met again and he had to since Mitsuya liked her, fast forward 4 years later the girl became his girlfriend.

“You like Tata?!”

Draken shouted, a vein popped in his head while his hold on the girl on his lap was a little tighter with a hint of possessiveness.

“Not anymore and hey you said you were rooting for me back then Draken!”

Mitsuya mumbled jeez underneath his breath, he forgot that Draken was a different person when it came to Tata, no one was going to steal your girlfriend away, who dares to do that when Draken was that scary looking?

“Yeah Ken, c’mon it’s just a stupid childhood crush and after a while Takashi quickly realized how much of a hassle I am and he stopped liking me”

Tata replied, taking her childhood friend’s side.

“What do you mean by that?!”

Draken asked about what she was implying by saying she was a hassle, although it was true he did gone through a lot before he went on a date with her.

“Nothing, anyway I remember it now! I don’t remember this guy even with his dragon’s tattoo who was too hard to forget since I saw the other side of his face as you walk away with him”

Tata remembered she saw that blonde haired kid around her age back then, he was cute she guessed. But he was a troublemaker with an earring that pretty much confirmed it. She remembered the next day what she said to Takashi exactly in this sentence.

“You should stop being friends with that guy, he was okay I guess in terms of looks but you were boys and he was nothing but trouble!”

Tata repeated the same exact sentence in this moment while Draken quickly protested to her.

“I’m still a gang member and I’m your boyfriend now?!”

“Well, that was before I knew you and I was just worried there was no one to help me babysit Dino if I wasn’t feeling up to it duh”

The argument continued but it wasn’t before long Draken shut Tata up with a kiss on her lips and then it got further when she deepened it by placing her hands on his neck. Even Mitsuya’s fake cough couldn’t stop them, he then left as he was regretting himself telling their little meeting back then. Not only his work wasn’t done yet he also got kicked out his own club room by the couple who was still making out right now, even if this wasn’t both of their respective school.

Kakucho was beyond happy when he got his hands on Tata, she would be his forever. No more cheap imitations, he got the real thing. He didn’t care about those girls if they want to leave him, he always could search for a replacement but nothing ever came close to Tata.

All Kakucho wanted was to replace Draken’s position, he wanted to be the father in those pictures. He was disappointed when he saw those kids had Draken’s eyes and hair, but at least they looked like Tata a bit and they were happy.

He felt a bit guilty when his henchmen killed them and caused Tata's miscarriage, of course, he killed those useless bastards right away. But at least he wouldn’t raise a kid who would grow to hate him right? He could start a new one with Tata immediately, replacing what she lost.

Kakucho hated how she was resisting him though, he loved her, couldn’t she accept it and say it back? She lacked nothing here, he treated her like a queen everything she wanted he would give it. Not like Draken who could only give her a house in the suburbs, where the only thing she needed to do was lift her fingers and told him what she wanted.

Kakucho felt a bit guilty too when he had to kill her entire family who wouldn’t drop their search on her meaning they rejected him as part of their family. They were standing on his happiness with Tata, he felt sorry, he did want some approval from them but he was forced to kill them with the way they were acting.

Kakucho went manic when Tata disappeared without a trace, she was under surveillance 24/7. He was strict when it came to her safety so how she managed to get away was beyond him. He scoured and search everywhere, Kakucho knew Tata was smart and sly but he couldn’t believe she managed to trick him, there wasn’t a single trace of her.

He wasn't going to give up and weep on the corner, he searched for her until it reached the brink of sanity, at first he thought maybe it was a rival gang but who really dare to fight Bonten? Although he still slaughtered them mercilessly.

Five years had passed and then he got a contact from someone in Spain he saw someone with the same exact figure and hair color. It was a bit vague of a clue, but you knew Kakucho no matter how small it was would surely check it.

Tata on the other hand was scared when on that day her hat flew over, the wind was strong. She did get a little bit anxious, but there were a ton of brunettes in this world, right? Especially in Spain. Oh, how wrong she was.

So now here Bonten’s number three ended up in the small village of Garachico, Tata almost cursed when she saw a glimpse of Kakucho, immediately hiding behind a pillar.

She was on her way home after a walk on the beach before going back to her house for a hair appointment. Tata already told Jake his nanny would pick him up later for his piano lesson, something he insisted on his own take.

Tata was scared, this was why she always had her passport in her purse for moments like this when she needed an emergency to get away. She immediately ran and call a cab service, this was one of the reasons she picked Garachico, the distance was only an hour from the airport. But what about Jake?

Tata stopped for a moment, but then he decided Kakucho would find him anyway and take care of him, he was his exact copy there was no way he would mistake him for others.

Kakucho thought he saw a glimpse of brown hair, the exact one Tata had. He went to the alley but there was no one there. He searched door to door for any sign of Tata, he and his men found nothing until they reached the Villa in the hills, where a revelation was revealed before his eyes.

A loud band and a door being slammed were heard. Sure it was a little loud, but who could open the front door if it wasn’t his mom or his nanny? Jake rushed through the front door, ready for his piano lesson then he saw a scary man with a scar on his face who had jet black hair and one eye with red orbs, the exact same one as him. His mom had repeatedly told him to be aware of strangers and just ran if he saw them approaching him.

Kakucho's eyes went wide when he saw the little boy, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind Jake was his. He had a kid this entire time and Tata dared to hide him away when he could live in his dream of a family these past five years?

Kakucho had mixed feelings as he gritted his teeth, he was sure that kid was his but he preferred if Jake looked more like Tata rather than him, he wanted to cry just for the fact that he had become a father but then again she flee away when she knew she was carrying his kid, didn’t she know better that the world is dangerous? What if something had happened back there?

Kakucho tried his best to look nice and friendly as he crouched down in front of the scared kid, he always looked especially scary because of his scars.

“What’s your name kid?”

But Jake didn’t answer, he was too scared to say anything to the man speaking Japanese in front of him.

“I’m your dad, you can tell me anything”

Jake's eyes went wide just like Kakucho did a few moments ago, someone scary was here and he claimed to be his dad. Impossible after all his mommy told him…

“Mommy told everyone, my daddy, is dead and then mommy told me he is rotting in hell right now”

Kakucho laughed sarcastically, did Tata resent him so much that she had to feed their son lies? He was well and alive, after everything he did for her and she still couldn’t get a single thing about his desires.

“No, what your mommy said was a lie, here I could prove it but first what was your mommy’s name?”

“Gabrielle, Gabrielle Marquez”

“No, her real name kiddo, you don’t need to lie to daddy. I won’t hurt you, promise”

Jake's body ran cold, how could this man know about his mom's secret? The one she made him swore to never tell anyone. Jake only found out about it when he asked her mom about her full name for a school application, then she paused after she put down her name on the application before Jake vividly remembered she said this exact sentence “Since you are my kid, I guess I will tell you one thing. My real name is Kudou Tata, but that is the one secret you take to the grave, okay?”

“Her name is Tata, right? Kudou Tata. Does that ring a bell?”

But this man knew her mom’s real name, besides he resembled him so much. Jake had his suspicion, but was this man really could be his dad? His mom hated him but from what he saw he wasn’t all that bad. The man in front of him even pat his head and smiled when he did nothing to be praised, Jake only nod his head to his question. Was his mom lying to him?

“So, can you tell me your name now?”

“It’s J-jake”

“That’s a great name, want to pick your mommy?”

Then Kakucho swooped him on his arms, picking him up easily. Jake was startled and he couldn’t rest easy, he tried to wiggle but Kakucho kept a steady hold on him.

“Mommy would be back in a few hours, she was probably shopping”

“No kid, I’m sure your mommy is in an airport right now, she is always a flight risk who only thinks of herself”

Jake shook his head if his mommy went somewhere else she would bring him along right? She wasn’t going to abandon him. Kakucho only chuckled when he saw the innocent reaction from Jake, certainly, he didn’t know his mother that well.

“If you are my real daddy, will you live with us in here?”

Jake asked Kakucho who had walked out the door with his men trailing behind him.

“No, we are going to be back to Japan, your real home”

Jake who never knew much about his own heritage got inquisitive. Kakucho was happy that his kid was willing to ask him questions, this could be their first bonding time.

“Will we live in something as big as this house?”

“Much-much bigger than this one”

“Can I invite my friends over? Mommy never allowed it because she said kids are loud”

His eyes went sparkled and Kakucho didn’t even understand how could Tata reject that puppy doe.

“Of course, you can, invite them all the time”

Kakucho smiled tenderly, a smile his henchmen never saw before. But there was still something bothering him in the back of his mind from the moment he arrived here.

“Did you ever see any guy enter this house with your mom?”

“No, I never saw one. It’s only the two of us”

Jake innocently answered while Kakucho was satisfied, seemed like there wasn’t going to be any guy for him to kill today. The truth was Tata was just so traumatized by her experience that she rather stayed away than compromise herself again in an unwanted future.

“I’m here to book one ticket that’s going to fly international any minutes now”

Tata banged her passport on the booking counter’s desk. But a voice she knew all too well when she wished she could forget about it appeared behind her. His muscular arms slipped around her waist, tightly gripping her body.

“Three tickets to Japan from the private jet that landed five hours ago. Cancel that order before”

Tata was afraid to look back, not wanting to see a face she thought she would never see again in a lifetime.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant, you perfectly knew it was my dream yet you tried to take it away from me. Most importantly, how selfish you are to leave our son just like that?”

Kakucho whispered directly into Tata’s ear, sending chills to her spanial cord.

“I’m always selfish, where have you been Kakucho? Didn’t you already study me enough? And because I know you would find him, take him and go back to Japan, you got your fucking dream to be a father. Just let me go!”

Tata hissed, trying to get away from his hold, but she failed at it.

“What is the point of that if I don’t have It with you?! When we arrived maybe I will cuff you so you won’t be able to run away anymore”

“Kakucho I could cause commotion and I’m not afraid to scream or your threats to kill my friends or what, I don’t care as long as I’m free from your grasp”

But then Kakucho threatened her with something he knew she wouldn’t want.

“Say that again and the sniper from above would shoot your legs until both of them were beyond repair”

Tata went silent immediately. Jake from afar saw his dad had approached his mom and his dad was right. His mommy was really going to abandon him, Jake was certain his mommy could be a liar all this time when it came to the facts about his father? The tears were welling up in his eyes until they streamed down his chubby cheeks, running in his parents' direction.

“Mommy please don’t leave me, I’m sorry, I’m sorry”

Tata felt a crushing hug on one of her legs. She looked down and only sighed in defeat when she saw Jake looking up at her with those teary eyes.

“Well, now it is impossible kiddo”

Tata could feel a million questions and the anger Kakucho had as they went inside the plane. She was surprised when she saw her kid getting on another plane because daddy needed to talk to mommy.

Would Kakucho hit her? He had never done that before but she had crossed so many lines so who knows at this point? But instead of all of the things she listed above as her concerns, she found herself pinned down, beneath this man on the couch seat.

“I want more”

Kakucho said as he hiked up her sundress. Sure he had so many questions he needed answers for but right now his priority was catching up on his works to make up for the lost time of five years.

“I don’t even want Jake and now you are going to force me to have another? I don’t want anything that’s yours, Kaku!”

Tata screamed but she was met with a menacing and determined stare from Kakucho. His hand slides down her panties to pool around her ankles before roughly inserting himself in all the way without any preparation before. Tata could feel blood coming out of her vagina down there as she was screaming in pain especially when she had no one entered inside after five years.

Tears were riveting in her eyes but Kakucho didn’t care as he forced his way on her, rocking his hips with harsh thrusts. To him it was befitting as a punishment, she did disappear from him for five years, in those five years they could build a family, they could even have another one. Instead, she was over here, wasting his precious five years away to the drain.

“You aren’t going to deny me from this one Tata. You had your piece, you took five years of us as a family. Now we are going to have another one and you will let me experience this as a father from the beginning”

Then he dived down to suck on her neck, oh how he missed the touch of her skin for the past five years. Tata knew there was no way she could escape now when he caught her for the second time, she didn’t know what Kakucho was going to do to her exactly but one thing for sure that now he knew she had made his dream come true, he would force her to live in it too as a perfect family. Oh, how Tata wished she had gone through that abortion.

Jake was a bright five-year-old boy whom everyone around him adored. Could you blame them? Jake was responsible, always greeting and helping the elders with those unique sparkling red orbs. He was like a ray of sunshine and to boot he was smart, he skipped two grades and was already a first grader! Those would be plenty of reasons to love him right? People around the neighborhood adore the little kid, well everyone except his mother.

From the moment he could remember there were only the two of them in the family, there were passings of babysitters and nannies changing but in the end, it was just him and his mom. Jake never really knew who his father was and he never really asked.

“Those red orbs and black hair… It would be better if you like me instead of him” His mom said one time, the only time she looked him straight in the eyes and held his face. Then she let him go, it was clear to Jake the way his mom looked at him with such a scowl that appeared on her face every time.

No, he wouldn’t risk asking because all he knew was his dad was the one who made Mommy sad. Jake resented him, if it wasn’t for him maybe his mom wouldn’t hate looking at his face.

Jake wanted his mom to be happy. He always saw her sitting alone in the middle of their big house with a glass of scotch in her hands on an afternoon, his nanny said it was a grown-up drink. His mom always looked so disinterested in life, she never smiled much at him.

So Jake always tried his hardest, seeking approval from his mother maybe she would beam a smile at him like the other mom in school would like his friend, Juan scored the goal his mom was so proud and hugged him. Juan said it was embarrassing and he rather have Jake's mom who was still pretty and never could embarrass him like this. But Jake couldn’t understand why would he get embarrassed by it, he wanted that from his mom.

“Look Mommy I got a hundred on this math test!”

Jake excitedly told her, his eyes were sparkling. When he told his nanny earlier, she was so proud of him and even patted his head a few times saying “He done a great job!” and she was sure his mommy would be proud too like she did. But his mom's reaction was quite the opposite and disappointing.

“Oh, your sisters would have gotten straight A's all year long if she was here and maybe your brother would’ve too”

The if he was born part wasn’t spoken of course. Jake had heard his mom talk constantly about his sisters and brother, their names were Summer and Robin, she never talked about his brother's name though.

So then why there were only the two of them here? Jake asked his mother about it and she said “They are with their father right now, they live happily up there and probably get a stepmom, oh I wish they hate her” That was the first time his mom brought up the word father in a conversation.

His curiosity perked up, and he understood for a minute that was probably why his mom hated him because his dad took all her other kids and left her with him, to whom he looked the most similar. It was kind of the same scenario his friend in kindergarten, Laura had when her parents got divorced.

Jake asked her “So dad leave mommy and be with a new stepmom?” But his mom shook her head. “No honey, your dad is different and he will rot in hell” His mom then left with a faint smile on her lips that didn’t reach her eyes quite yet that time. He asked his nanny “What does rot in hell mean?” His nanny was horrified and told him to never say it again, it was a very very bad word. Then why did mommy use it to describe his dad?

“Yes I will try to keep it up, Mom”

And, back to reality, all Jake could say was that with a cheerful smile even if he didn’t feel like it. Maybe because it wasn’t a goal in a big match, maybe if he scored a goal his mom would be proud! The next day he asked her if he was allowed to join the Little League, she just shrugged her head before signing the paper.

Then came the practices, he trained very hard all the time so he could make it to the first string and he did! Jake told his mom about it all excitedly, you could see a tail wagging from his butt as a puppy did. His mom just said she would think about it.

But he did all of this only for her, what’s the point if she didn’t come? And it wasn’t like his mom was busy, Jake had never seen her do anything besides leaving him with the nanny for hours to go shopping or maybe drinking some of those grown-up drinks on their balcony overviewing the sea with a cigarette resting on her other hand.

The ones who took care of him all the time were his nannies growing up, his mother never did anything, and she didn’t even drive him to school or pick him up even when he asked. Sometimes she cooked dinners, but even then it was for herself. No matter how much he asked, she always told him to eat what the nanny cooked for him.

They never eat breakfast together because of her ‘sleeping schedule’ and even during dinner he had to force himself to join his mom who let him in but she never said anything, just eating there silently maybe with a phone in her hand. Ignoring everything he told her about his day, an occasional nod here and there was apparent though.

Still, it wasn’t enough, Jake wanted just once for his mom to smile and hug him while saying she was proud of him and she loved him always. That was his dream, but how could he do that when his mom never even tucked him on the bed or cuddled him when he had a nightmare, not a shred of affection was shown for him. So what’s the point of begging now? She wouldn’t cave.

But for the first time, his mother sighed and gave in. “Alright, I will try” Jake almost immediately beamed “Really?” His mom just gave him a nod. A big grin appeared on his face, that night Jake went to sleep giddy, he was so excited that could tomorrow come even faster. Unbeknownst to him, his mom was wincing when he saw his smile the same one his father had, shivers running down her spine. How was she supposed to go to sleep now?

The time of the match came and Jake was so excited, for the first time his mom would go to school and watch him. He looked around but there was no sign of his mother. He was a bit disappointed but he figured out maybe, she was just running a little late. The game ended and Jake was so hyped up when he ran to the stands, he scored a goal in his first match! That was impressive, right?

His coach told him so. Instead of her mom, he found the elders in his neighborhood and came to his school in the city to watch him. They were praising him, showering him with affection but all he could think was where was his mom? As he smiled thanking them politely. Jake shouldn’t be surprised, of course, his mom wouldn’t come, she didn’t even give him a full promise.

Though he was wrong tonight, for the first time his mom came. He was shocked when he saw her approaching the elder in the stand, passing them drinks before placing a carton of milk on top of his head.

“Mommy, you came?” Jake asked, he couldn’t believe she had come! “Yeah I did, your sitter was unavailable to pick you up so I came instead. Now drink this milk. You like chocolate right?” She even remembered his favorite milk, what was up with the universe today?

“Did you see me scoring a goal before?” Jake asked, excitedly. “I saw it. Good for you, I guess” Then she ruffled his hair, giving him the awaiting affection that he had always craved. It might not look that much, but Jake’s heart was soaring through the moon.

The next day's reception wasn’t well though, especially from the seniors he took his spot from. They kicked and punched him, Jake wanted to fight back but he got greedy. Maybe, just a maybe, his mom would be concerned and be more affectionate towards him. After all, you don’t ignore a beaten-up child, right?

When the teachers saw it, they broke up the fights and called the parents. Then again the reaction he got was not the one he hoped for.

His mom was furious and mad “You got beaten up and you didn’t fight back? Your father is so good at beating people, that was the only thing he was good at! You embarrassed me”

Jake was stunned, this was the first time his mother showed any emotion towards him but he never dreamed mad being the first one to appear. However, he couldn’t think about it too much as the parents of the other kid pleaded for forgiveness from his mom. But his mother was having none of it.

“I will forgive your kid if you let Jake punch him back”

The other kid's parents’ eyes went bewildered and of course, protests were immediately heard. The principal was taken aback too by his mother's statement, he tried to interject it.

“We don’t allow that-“

“Then I guess I will take back this 10,000 euro check that I was going to give to the school for the laboratory”

“Jake’s mother with all due respect please don’t and it’s unethical for school-“

“You are seriously siding with these poor middle-class parents who only got in here from a scholarship for the poor? Over this 10000 euro check that could help the building?”

A lump was stuck in the principal’s throat and protest was heard from the parents, but his mother didn’t care. Instead, she whispered to Jake to attack the other kid. He was horrified but he was even more scared of his mother so he obliged.

Suddenly the kid got punched, and he fell, screaming in pain but his mother's response was, “You didn’t even break his tooth!”

Nevertheless, she gave the principal a check worth 10.000 euros and gave the other kid’s parent a check for the same amount if they didn’t sue her, or if they tried she would sue them back with a threat that she would and could destroy their pathetic little lives before she went out the door with Jake’s following closely behind her.

They were in the car and the silence was deafening, his mother had never once taken off her sunglasses and her big hat covering her hair after they walked out of the principal’s office.

“Mommy I’m sorry-“

Jake tried to apologize but his mom cut him down immediately.

“You are a wimp, at least if you are going to be his kid, you have to be good at fighting not getting beaten up”

Her tone was chilling and she wasn’t even screaming. At that moment Jake knew he just burned down the bridge he had been trying to build for years and there was no coming back after this.

From a young age, Kudou Tata knew she didn’t want a family, she didn’t want to have kids or responsibilities that could tie her down forever. That all hit a trainwreck when she met Ryuuguji Ken. They had a lot of ups and downs over the years, and during those downs moment, she met Kakucho. He managed to steal her world for a moment there but in the end, she came back to Draken anyway, shattering the other man's heart when she said her vows.

Oh, how Tata wished she hadn’t met Kakucho. She used to adore him, even a part of her heart was occupied by him but that was before he destroyed her perfect ending, her perfect happiness. Tata and Draken were finally stable, no more on and off, just them blindly fighting for one another, a thing they should have done a long time ago.

Then they had kids, Tata might have said she didn’t want one but she made a deal with Draken, she was going to be the average mom and he was going to be the super-involved dad. The twins were something she did not regret, they were so easy and made her realize, she didn’t hate being a mom so much.

But that was because she had them, her beautiful little girls. Three years passed and she found out she was pregnant with a boy at Pah’s wedding and they were ecstatic.

Then, of course, the tragedy happened. Tata came home to her house with his dead husband, lying on the floor, helpless and her kids, a trickle of blood from their mouths, and those dead empty eyes would surely haunt her forever. She felt a smash on the back of her head and the world went black. She woke up to find herself tied up someplace else.

Tata was familiar with this setting, where would this be, besides Kakucho’s penthouse? She woke up screaming, crying, and blaming him only to find out she lost her baby too, Kakucho tried to cheer her up with words like he already had them tortured and murdered. He was saying sorry that he didn’t know the guy he sent for the hit also killed her kids, he specifically told them to do only Draken and Kakucho had the fucking audacity to label it as their kids.

Oddly enough, Tata was kinda glad they died because now they got to be up there with their father and her alone who would go through this nightmare. Tata didn’t understand why Kakucho would target her, she gave him the perfect goodbye, and she even said it was the last time.

Many other second guys didn’t even have the chance to know it, it was the last time while they were still holding out hope for the girl to be back with him. But Tata did give Kakucho one? Never mind about it, she had no time to wonder about it as she needed a plan to free her from his crutches.

Everyone always said how Kakucho was the sanest one in Bonten, he would be the most lenient one when it came to punishment, and he would give them an easy death, just a single shot on their head. But he wasn’t the same man when it came to Tata, she tried to manipulate him like back in the old days, but it didn’t work out.

Back then he allowed it because he was such a drunken fool and Tata always knew how to make an offer he couldn’t resist. Right now though? He needed all hands on deck to make sure she didn’t run away, God knows how sly and tactful she was. But to Kakucho, Tata needed to stay where she belonged, by his side.

Yeah, Kakucho could read through all of her moves now after years of observing and studying, he still accepted those fake I love you(s), the only difference was he let her know those were fake. It was getting incredibly hard to manipulate and trick him but it wasn’t Tata if she didn’t know how to press and twist those weak spots subtly into her favor.

She was surprised indeed when she managed to escape successfully after two years in his imprisonment, he was so possessive and unlike before careful with her, no one even expected she could get out of the penthouse, let alone escape it. When Kakucho found out about it he went ballistic, his henchmen were tortured until they were dead. He was merciless with his research, he scoured everywhere, anywhere, actively searching anytime any day but Tata disappeared without a trace.

Tata was thanking god she was born rich, she still hated him and let her suffer first though. Do you know what any rich families had? A secret bank account with a false name no one knew except them. She retrieved it including the gazillion tons of money from his dad and some fake passports and IDs her mom made since her day as an actress.

She bought some make-up and wigs, a few of which she brought and switched with them in the airport to confuse CCTV, who knows how many eyes Bonten got when they were already this corrupt? Tata didn’t contract any of her friends, she didn’t want them to be dead after all, and her family? She figured out they were dead. It didn’t stop her tears prickling from in her eyes when she saw the news of her family's deaths on her burner phone during the first flight she could find to take her out of Japan.

Then just to be safe after she landed, she flew again on an international flight, she thought a lot about where to settle down before picking Garachico, a small beautiful seaside village in Spain for her first hideout. Her burner phone was trashed before she hopped on another flight, landing at her final destination for the day she bought a real phone this time and changed her disguise to just sunglasses and a large hat to contain her hair.

Tata knew she had been pregnant for a few months now, but it wasn’t showing yet on her belly, something she was thankful for if Kakucho had found out about it there was no way he would leave her side even for work. Tata hated how Kakucho had succeeded in his mission, it was his dream, and it was what he wanted to build a family with her, like the one he wiped out, her family with Draken.

She went to the doctor to abort it, like hell she would want to raise a kid her captor forced to impregnate her with. Only for her face to fall when they told her it was too risky to abort, she could lose her life, the life she just regained.

Tata did think about giving him up for adoption but any legal document could be used and Kakucho would find it to trace back to her. She has no other choice but to raise this kid. She hated it, she despised the kid who wasn’t even born.

Tata in the first place never wanted any kids and now she had to raise them all alone? And it wasn’t even a kid she wanted, it was a kid from her captor, the man she seethed the most hatred in the world. A kid needed stability growing up, and her plan to move around after a few months shattered. That was how she ended up buying a villa in Garachico.

Tata was depressed, her mind certainly wasn’t in the right place, especially during the last stage of her pregnancy, then came the giving birth part, she wasn’t overjoyed and reality slapped her harder when he opened his eyes, red orbs, nothing about him was similar to her.

It would be easier to pretend to love him if she got his brown orbs. She already had to raise a child she didn’t want, now she had to raise one who year after year grew up to be his father's exact copy? Reminding her of the cruelty that man did to her beloved. Jake was a name she picked out randomly and he was nothing like her except for his nose and face shape.

Tata knew how Jake sought her approval, for her to give him affection, things a mom owed to their children but every time she saw those red orbs she couldn’t help it. She once loved gazing into those red orbs, but now it turned into a bitter resentment whenever he saw her kid. Tata knew it was petty to reject Jake of her love and approval, he had done nothing wrong.

But you had to consider here, she was forced to give birth to him, wasn’t she kind enough to birth to him, risking her own life? She also gave him a big roof over his head, a private school, everything top notch, he even could speak three languages, she had done a decent job, right?

Tata knew she wouldn’t be able to love him, how would she take care of him? That’s where the nannies came in, at least someone was giving him proper care. Tata was kind enough to not fire the one nanny who hinted she should have paid more attention to Jake instead of doing nothing seeing how Jake got attached to her.

Tata planned to leave him when he turned eighteen with this big house and a college fund, some extra money was in there too. She figured it was time for her to live her life after eighteen years of taking care of him, Jake should be glad she didn’t leave him on the road to be starved, he even could be considered lucky.

Tata wasn’t surprised he was smart, hey he was still her kid? It’s in the genes. She did feel kinda bad when she saw how desperate Jake was for her approval. She thought it was pathetic every time he begged for her praise and how happy he got over a mere pat on his head. But maybe it was okay to occasionally give him something like this.

Tata was furious though the next day when she heard he was getting beaten up. She could see through what this kid wanted. His desperateness was almost similar to his father, one more thing he had in common with Kakucho.

At least if he wanted to be his father's exact copy then also be strong right? The only good thing Kakucho had was fighting, he was Bonten’s number three for a reason.

Imagine her disappointment when she figured out Jake inherited nothing but his father’s bad traits. Tata was disgusted and what was the use she raising this kid if he already served as traumatic proof of a past she wished to delete and then only to know he was nothing good?

“Kudou, scrub in with me”

Wakasa said again that sentence for the fourth time this week, earning a glare and whisper from the other interns toward Tata. But what she could do? She was an intern and had to do everything the boss said as long it is related to medical problems.

“Giving me to join more operations, doesn’t mean I will go out with you. All you did was make the other interns hate me and accused you of wanting to sleep with me because of my face”

Tata said while walking down to the surgery room with Wakasa, he in turn just turned around with the same damn smirk.

“I already slept with you and what if it’s because you are one of the best interns?”

“I know I’m good, but I know my worth and it’s two surgeries for now”

She replied to him quickly while Wakasa made a disappointing mocking face.

“Oh, so this doesn’t work out. You really won't go out with me even if I play favorites?”

Tata really at that moment wanted to punch him but what she could do besides joining him for another surgery?

“You slept with an attending? And it was Mr. Dreamy?!”

Yuzuha screamed her mouth agape, Tata thanked God there wasn’t anyone around besides Yuzuha and Sanzu.

“Keep your voice down! What the fuck is Mr. Dreamy, Haruchiyo, you told her?”

Tata said turning to Sanzu who just shrugged his head.

“We are here to help people from the ER room, let’s stay focused”

Sanzu tried to dodge the question and there they met the doctor they were reporting for today.

“Dr. Kurokawa, we are here”

Sanzu announced their presence, taking Izana’s eyes off the file he was examining.

“Oh you three, there isn’t really anything serious right now just attend to what the patients need”

Izana said dismissing them with the files he gave to them. Before they disappeared to go over to the patients he spoke again.

“All of you are going to attend my party this evening and that’s an order”

“We are interns, we are tired 24/7, we can't afford to do any partying”

Sanzu groaned who was once a party animal, pretty surprising huh?

“Whoever attends can scrub in with me for a heart surgery tomorrow”

And Immediately Yuzuha and Sanzu’s eyes sparkled and eagerly nodded to his words with enthusiasm then scrambled off except Tata.

“I don’t know Izana-“

Tata said but then she stopped eyeing the cute EMT guy who supposedly just saved a pregnant woman's life today. He was tall, a bit muscular on the arm, and his dedication to saving a life? Just perfect in Tata’s eyes.

“Is he going to be there?”

Tata said pointing to the guy with a scar on his face.

“Girl you’re out, no you can’t have him”

Izana immediately slapped Tata back with his file.

“Why? I’m currently single”

“I was going to give him to you, but you slept with Wakasa”

“How do you know that? Sanzu Haruchiyo!”

Tata turned his head to Sanzu who purposefully didn’t hear her and pretended to care about his patient when everyone around them knew damn well he didn’t.

“So, what's up with you wanting to take a selfie like that? It's very rare”

Tata questioned Draken who was still burying his face on her chest. Draken instead of answering, nuzzling his face deeper in her valley of breasts. His breath touching her skin, and his hands movement started to get a lot handsy. One of his hand groping her ass and the other one making its way to grope her breast. Then suddenly Draken smacked her ass very sudden, red mark was visible.

“Ouch Ken, stop it! I ask you to answer one thing!”

Tata yanked his hair but again Draken was too busy to answer, his hand massaging one of her breast eliciting a loud moan from her lips. His hands on her ass went under her shorts. Draken put the panties aside, before trailing one of her finger down her glistening lips.

“K-ken...” Tata whimpered on his ear before screaming his name loudly due to his sudden action. One of his hand who was busy playing with her breast before, grabbed the hem of her top in one swift moment pulling it down, exposing her two mounds, jiggling to the air of his room.

“Ryuuguji Ken! What the fuck are you doing?!”

Tata yelled furiously, yanking his hair but Draken didn't even look up, he got on work quickly.

“Sorry it's getting on the way”

His tone didn't even sound remorseful, Draken threw Tata on his bed behind her. He climbed on top of her, he was like a man on a chase he didn't waste no time before took one of her nipple inside his mouth, sucking and biting it harsh earning a jolt from Tata.

“Ken that's hurt!”

Tata shouted with the intention wanting to be harsh but it came off more needy, she did get carried away and now her down side was soaking wet. It was damp, and her panties are no longer intact with it since he pushed it to the side making her uneasy. Draken took this opportunity to twist and pinch the other one, constantly molding it until he was done sucking the other and let the same treatment for the other one. Too immersed in his own world that Draken almost tuned out his girlfriend mewls and protests in between her moaning also yanking a handful of his hair, he still didn't budge.

“Daddy take off my clothes please? It's itchy down here waiting for you to take it off”

That grabbed Draken's attention, he finally looked up and smirked when he saw her half lidded eyes, her face was flushed, her eyes were glossy too, her lips were pouty and agape. Draken knew it was an act, he knew his girlfriend better than anybody else but of course he still fell into her trap anyway and obliged. How could he resisted her when Tata set this fuckable expression that she damn right knew would rail him up?

“Who am I to deny my princess?”

Draken growled before hastily pulling Tata's short away, throwing it to the floor. Then he discarded all of his clothing away too. Tata just smirked seeing Draken got all worked up down there while she done absolutely nothing and let Draken manhandle her like what he was doing right now. Spreading her legs further to insert himself inside of her before placing her legs on his waist.

Tata groaned when she felt his shaft ripping her inside when it was just the tip entered in, he was always too big. Tata arched her back, bucking her hips a little helping Draken to adjust in. Draken groaned at the sense of her inside clenching his shaft. When he was finally all the way in, he started to rock it painfully slowly before slammed it back in deep making Tata screaming his name at the top of her lungs.

“Ken, ken, ken faster!”

Tata screamed with how Draken had been hitting her g-spot all over again and again. While his face still buried on her breasts, she was so sure it was going to be sore tomorrow with purple marks as its decoration. He had been growling “mine, mine, mine” over and over on her breasts which should be a bit concerning. But Tata didn't really care as she felt her orgasm was going to come.  She bucked her hips faster, pressing against his body while her hands were scratching his back.

“Wrong name princess, wrong name”

Draken answered, smacking her ass a bit hsrd leavibg red handprint on it to display. That sensation sent Tata over to the edges, maming her cum coating Draken's cock inside. She was shrilling his name to the stars.

Draken could felt it he was about to cum and he didn't put a damn condom. Draken knew Tata would be pissed and refused to be touched for a month if he cum inside and he couldn't risk it, not when there was another man ready to do it instead of him. So he pulled out deciding to cum in his second favorite place.

Tata was still out of breath and gasping for air, her face was still red so damn fuckable. Draken almost wanted to slam himself back in, but he still got some control to pull out safely. Letting his cum shoot its semen all over Tata's breast, some of it got on her chin which she would respond with ew if she didn't just come down from her own high.

“Daddy...”

That was the correct name, Tata rasped it out of breath. Draken knew there was hugh chance he would be hard this instant with the way she looked right now.

“Could you please clean this up? I'm wet”

Tata pouted, acting all cute and innocent when in fact she was the opposite. Then again Draken already knew it and willingly let himself be manipulated to her desires anyway.

“Atta girl, as long as daddy the only one who do it to you”

Draken replied before diving down once again to her valley of breast, licking his own puddle of cum. Eyes locking with her, turning Tata instantly on. Whatever reason Draken wanted to prove, like Kakucho was already long forgotten about in Tata's mind, too clouded with lust. Well, well looks like round two was on its underway to happen.

the master of double trouble

“Happy birthday sweetheart”

Draken said kissing Tata on the lips, which was reciprocated by the woman. While he was still kissing her, Draken managed to slip a necklace on her neck.

“What's this Ken?”

Tata asked after she broke the kiss feeling a metal hanging on her neck, a bit weirded out with this necklace that got a ring hanging on it.

“A promise ring, thay you can slip on whenever you are ready”

Draken said showing the same ring he had on his ring finger. Tata just sighed, did he really have to do this when they are broken up?

“Ken, we haven't got back together yet-”

“Oh, come on after we kissed? Tata this is ridiculous-”

Now it was Draken's turn to be cut off by Tata.

“Because you still don't understand why I'm mad at you!”

“It's because I'm out with the Sanos again? I already said I didn't know she would be there-”

“Bullshit Ken and you promised me after you slept with her you won't be near her anymore! Anyway I don't have the energy to get mad at you today, let's just leave it at that”

Tata explained, she was ready to leave but Draken's hand stopped her. He looked her in the eyes, pleading for them, because he couldn't part with her any longer than this.

“What about our usual tradition for your birthday? We never skip it”

“But we obviously aren't back together so yeah, we are skipping it”

Tata said nonchalantly, removing Draken's hand from her before walking out of their usual café. Draken just sighed at her stubborness while he watched her walking away from him.

“Happy birthday Tata, you look absolutely beautiful tonight”

Kakucho said with a smile and a kiss on the back of her hand as he lead her inside his apartment. He was a hopeless romantic at heart for her and Kakucho was ready to romance her this entire evening even if she wasn't really the type to get swayed by this kind of gesture. Tata though she still understood Kakucho wanting to impress her so she did dressed up a bit glamoroulsy even if it was just dinner at his home.

“This is for you”

Kakucho said giving her a bouquet of tulips, before sliding her chair for her to sit. He had turned his apaetment upside down for a romantic candelit dinner by the table. Kakucho had cooked all of Tata's favorite meal, three courses from appetizer to dessert. There was also a bottle of wine on the table, Izana's present for Tata that he left on Kakucho's apartment so he could help his bestfriend smooth his wooing eforrts to win his dream girl.

“Thank you, this is really nice Kaku”

Tata said smiling sweetly at him, she was impressed and touched a bit by how far the guy in front of her would go for her. Truthfully, Tata wasn't up to it when Kakucho asked her for dinner in some upscale restaurants because first it was like she was robbing him, she also didn't need it and second, she didn't want to complicate things further with Draken. If Draken saw her out for her birthday dinner with some else, he would go on a rampage and honestly she didn't need that. So she agreed when Kakucho wanted to move dinner at his home for a night of romance.

Tata didn't know how she got to here, finding herself writhing underneath Kakucho's body again. The meal was perfect indeed, the conversation flew better than ever, or maybe was it the wine talking? She did remember how Kakucho after the meal while sliding out her chair, he kissed her nape softly and then his lips finding her after.

Everything after he slip her off her dress slowly and enticingly was blurry. Was it because the way he talk that swayed her? Tata didn't know except now her and Kakucho's bodies were naked, joined on the hips were he was taking his sweet time inside thrusting in all the right places. Kakucho's lips pressed on her neck, it was feverish on her skin while his hands were roaming all over her body. Damn it, how many her and Draken's tradition she was going to do with Kakucho instead today?

“Kakucho, ah-! Don't leave any mark for today” Tata said in the middle of her huffing and panting from the stimulation he was giving down there.

“Why?“ 

Kakucho's breath hitted her skin, instantly sending chills all over her body.

“My mother is going to take me out drinking tomorrow, I don't want to talk about my sex life with her”

It was the half truth, while it was true, Tata just had a feeling somewhere that she couldn't let Kakucho claimed her as his at least on her skin.

“Then can I cum inside?”

His eyes were pleading like a puppy, and Tata actually forgot was it her high days or not but fuck it. She had her pills anyway and this wasn't a movie right?

“Yes you can Kaku”

Tata pulled him in for a long passionate kiss whhich lasted until later he was deep thrusting inside of her, his semen painting her insides white, mixing with her own.

“Sure, you can drive home this late? You can stay right here you know or I can drive you home”

Kakucho asked while Tata although her knees were a little bit wobbly, insisting to get home today.

“My brothers and dad are going to swing by tomorrow for breakfast eventhough we did have a birhday lunch today. Don't worry too much Kakucho”

Tata answered, trying to reassure Kakucho who was still in bed naked. She was already fully dressed, then she said her goodbye before walking out of his home leaving Kakucho a bit worried for her sake.

When she arrived at her place, imagine her surprised when she opened it and there was a trail of rose petals leading towards her bedroom. And she knew the only one who could did that was no one else but her fucking ex.

“What are you doing here Ken? And how do you manage to get in?”

Tata asked finding Draken laying on her bed that surrounded by candles? Did he want this place to be burned up.

“Baji give me his spare one because I said there was an emergency”

Draken approach her, taking her in his arms and gave her temple a soft peck. Tata was thanking god that Kakucho was real gentle today and didn't leave any visible mark or they could had a nasty argument right here right now that would leave Draken punching Kakucho in the middle of the night and it would be a full blown battle. She didn't need any drama today.

“You don't have an emergency tho and we are still broken up. So that doesn't really explain anything”

“My emergency is that I decided to swing by last minute and we may not do all of our tradition today, but at least the last one will be the same”

Draken said before taking her in a slow deep kiss that would left anyone breathless. But not for Tata, at least in this moment. She was panicking, no this couldn't happen! How could she let her ex boyfriend fucked her right in this moment while her panties are soaked, pussy still full of another man's cum?

“Kak Tata!” seru Kakucho keras menghampiri si wanita yang lagi berjalan di koridor kelas.

“Kenapa Kakucho?” tanya Tata sedikit bingung, akhirnya menghadap si lelaki. Namun yang ditanya malah masih berdiri mematung, dengan pipi sedikit merona.

“Ini kak, selamat ulang tahun” Kakucho pun menyodorkan satu buku tipis yang di terima si gadis dengan ekspresi bingung.

“Hah, buku TTS? Sudah kamu isi lagi?”

“Supaya kakak ga pusing mikirin jawabannya” Jawab Kakucho dengan muka memerah yang sedang mengalihkan pandangannya. Satu tangan ada di lehernya, masih gugup.

“Kaku sayang aku bukan peramal jitu, tapi kata aku mending kamu kurang-kurangin dengerin saran gengnya Tenjiku” Tata menggulung buku tipis itu lalu memukul kepala Kakucho dengan pelan menggunakan buku tersebut.

“Untung ya kamu ganteng, aku maafin deh” Ucap Tata tertawa sebelum mencium pipi Kakucho kilat sebelum melangkah menjauh, meninggalkan si lelaki yang mau meledak karena sudah pipinya mendapat ciuman dari pujaan hati. Ini kan hari ulang tahun Tata tapi kok malah dia yang beruntung bukan Tata?

“Selamat ulang tahun Tata”

Ucap Yuuki Tetsuya kepada pacarnya yang sedang berulang tahun ini. Bibirnya mendekati milik sang kekasih dan ditempelkannya disana. Mereka berdua sedang duduk di bangku halaman belakang sekolah dimana orang jarang lalu Lalang, menikmati ciuman mereka sampai akhirnya berhenti karena mereka kehabisan oksigen sesaat. Ciuman Tetsu seperti biasa selalu lembut dan manis seperti perilakunya terhadap Tata setiap hari.

Turnamen baseball sedang berlangsung membuat Tetsu tidak bisa merayakan hari ini sepenuhnya dengan kekasihnya, namun Tata tidak masalah toh ini bukan kali pertama, melainkan kali kedua dia merayakan ultahnya tidak bersama kekasihnya sehari penuh.

Tata mengerti bebannya sebagai kapten klub baseball dan kagum akan semangat mereka. Untuk itu Tetsu membuatkan bento untuk mereka berdua kali ini, yang sedang dia minta untuk cepat-cepat dibuka oleh Tata dengan semangat yang keluar api aura, bukan ha lasing juga bagi gadis ini.

“Wah, ini kelihatannya enak banget. Pasti tante kebanyakan yang kerja ya?”

Tanya Tata jahil melirik pacarnya yang menyilangkan tangannya di depan dada masih dengan aura membara.

“Aku berusaha memasak untuk kamu tapi gosong tiga kali jadi dibantu ibuku, tapi aku yang menghias norinya”

“Iyaaaa, kerja bagus sayangku”

Tata mengusap kepala pacarnya dengan cengiran lebar terpampang di wajahnya. Dia sayang sekali dengan pacarnya ini, walau kemampuannya dalam bidang ini kurang.

“Kamu yang ulang tahun sini makan duluan”

Tetsu menyumpit ebi furai ke Tata yang langsung di respon dengan si gadis memakan ebi furai yang diberikan Tetsu.

“Mm, enak!”

Seru Tata mengangguk-ngangguk sebelum disuapi nasi oleh Tetsu dan mereka pun berganti-gantian menyuapi satu sama lain hingga bekal mereka habis.

“Aku nanti habis Koshien mau membuatkan kamu kue”

Ucap Tetsu sehabis mereka makan yang membuat Tata tersenyum dengan sedikit khawatir.

“…Gapapa Tetsu, nanti dapur rumah kamu kebakaran gimana?”

“Tenang saja tidak akan gosong kok, karena aku akan berlatih tiap hari”

Aura Tetsu membara lebih terang dari sebelumnya membuat Tata hanya bisa geleng-geleng kepala, untung dia cinta.

“Justru itu maksudku”

Kata Tata sambal tertawa yah mau nagaimana lagi pacarnya memang seperti ini. Lalu bel berdering menandakan jam istirahat siang telah selesai dan Tata pun berdiri diikuti Tetsu, namun sebelum dirinya sempat melangkah meninggalkan halaman belakang.

Tetsu menarik badan Tata dan menciumnya. Biasanya dia adalah orang yang disiplin dan tepat waktu namun untuk kali ini, resiko telat sekali-kali bukanlah masalah yang besar. Saking tenggelamnya dalam dunia mereka sendiri, mereka tidak sadar kalau anak baseball lain dari tadi sedang menonton mereka dari belakang dengan perasaan iri.

Mereka menunda kencan ulang tahun Tata hingga hampir satu bulan. Ya bagaimana lagi? Seido baru saja kalah dari Inashiro pada akhir bulan Juli dan Tata lebih fokus kepada menghibur pacarnya yang baru saja kalah. Untuk pertama kali dia memilih orang lain, mengesampingkan perilakunya yang terkenal egosentris. Tapi Tata mencintai kekasihnya, lebih dari apa pun. Memang melankolis tapi itu benar.

Makanya Tata hari ini buru-buru pergi ke tempat Tetsu sehabis dapat pesan di siang itu katanya ‘Ingin bertemu, rumah tidak dikunci’ cuma itu saja. Dia khawatir kalau ada apa-apa, namun ternyata tidak ada yang perlu di khawatirkan. “Tetsu ada apa nih?” ketika pintu rumah Tetsu dibuka, malah ada kue tart cokelat yang sedikit gosong di meja ruang tamu. “Selamat ulang tahun sayang, maaf telat ya” Ujar Tetsu tiba-tiba muncul memeluk kekasihnya dari belakang, memberikan ciuman di pipi sang putri.

“Sayang, aku kira ada apa dan harusnya kamu gak usah repot-repot gitu ih” Sahut Tata yang sekarang sudah rileks di pelukan kekasihnya. “Kan aku yang sudah janji, sudah dua minggu lho aku latihan buat kuenya. Maaf lama ya, kemarin banyak gosongnya, walau gak sesempurna kue kamu, aku mau tunjukkin hasil usahaku buat kamu Tata” Ucap Tetsu lagi tersenyum.

“Ah, sayang kamu buat aku terharu aja deh”Balas Tata, padahal hadiah-hadiah seperti ini yang dulu katanya terlalu sentimental dan tidak materialistik, membuat dirinya sedikit tergelitik. Namun lihat sekarang, hanya karena usaha Tetsu sedikit saja dia langsung terayu. Memang ya cinta itu memabukkan.

Tata langsung menangkup wajah Tetsu dan membawanya ke dalam ciuman. Sensasinya memabukkan, yang tadi tubuh mereka ada di ujung lorong sekarang sudah berpindah di sofa. Tata mendorong tubuh Tetsu, namun sebelum dirinya sepat mencium si lelaki lagi. Lelakinya malah melihat kue cokelat buatannya yang masih diam di meja sana.

“Oh iya, aku kok belum nawarin kamu makan kuenya. Ayo di coba dulu ta” Tetsu mau bangkit berdiri, tangaan Tata langsung sigap di dada menahannya. “Tidak apa-apa, aku mau makan yang ini lebih dulu” Senyum Tata sudah sugestif menandakan dia ingin melakukan sesuatu yang lebih, namun apa daya kekasihnya adalah orang yang sangat tidak peka.

“Nggak dong, kamu Cobain ini dulu. Aku mau kamu kasih saran agar aku bisa perbaiki” Sahut Tetsu kali ini bangun dengan semangat berkobar membuat Tata hanya bisa menggeleng-gelengkan kepala. Nasib, nasibbb memang pacarana dengan orang tulus dan air head meneyrempet bego itu ada tantangannya tersendiri.

Ryuuguji Ken yang lebih sering disapa dengan Draken tidak familiar dengan perasaan cinta. Kata semua orang sih dia lagi naksir dengan Sano Emma. Wajar, Emma, adik Mikey sering dielukan dengan kata cantik. Draken akan jujur, mungkin Emma beberapa kali terlintas di pikirannya secara tiba-tiba, lebih dari yang lain. Namun rasa ingin memiliki yang di deskripsi teman-temannya itu tidak pernah ada, rasanya biasa saja, Emma ya Emma dan Draken lebih suka hubungan mereka tetap seperti ini saja. Bukan karena takut, hanya saja semua yang disebutkan teman-temannya, tidak pernah terpikirkan atau diinginkan, bahkan setelah dijabarkan.

Kata teman-temannya sih dia sudah suka dengan Emma sejak dari dulu. Jika ditanya alasannya, mereka semua menjawab karena Emma cantik. Tetapi menurut Draken wajar bukan? Semua perempuan kan memang cantik. Sampai tiba di hari Baji Keisuke lupa belajar untuk ujiannya besok kala mereka duduk di kelas 2 SMP.

“Aduh, gue lupa hari ini harusnya belajar sama Tata!”

Teriak Baji Keisuke dengan muka panik. Draken tahu betul, temannya ini jarang panik, bahkan saat wajahnya ditonjok oleh anggota geng sebelah. Tapi kali ini wajahnya pucat pasi, seperti di saat kenaikan kelas kemarin, dimana dia harus tinggal kelas setahun. Mitsuya hanya tertawa dan menepuk-nepuk pundak Baji dalam usaha menenangkannya, mungkin saja Tata tidak semarah itu dibuat menunggu dua jam. Tetapi semua yang mengenal Tata tahu itu bohong.

Nama Tata tidak asing di telinga Draken, Baji dan Mitsuya sering bertukar kisah tentang dirinya dari kenangan masa kecil mereka yang menggemaskan dengan si gadis ke ‘kalau marah jadi setan’. Membuat Draken sedikit penasaran siapa sih yang membuat Baji hingga setakut ini? Draken juga melihat reaksi Hakkai yang langsung meneguk salivanya kalau nama si gadis dipanggil atau rona merah muda tipis di wajah Chifuyu yang suka digoda oleh Baji tiap kali nama Tata disebutkan. Chifuyu berbisik karena dia cantik sekali, tetapi lagi-lagi bukankah semua perempuan juga begitu?

“Keisuke! Aku udah nungguin kamu dua jam!”

Suara teriakan dan langkah dari perempuan sebaya Draken ini menyita perhatian teman-teman gengnya. Draken menoleh ke sekitar dan pandangan anggotanya tidak lagi ke dirinya, melainkan ke arah si gadis yang berteriak di depan Baji. Wajah mereka semua sedikit memerah, mulut sedikit terbuka, ada yang berbisik-bisik hingga Draken penasaran juga, memangnya seheboh apa sih parasnya? Ah, dan matanya pun jatuh menaruh pandang dan oh, Romeo! Apa ini yang dinamakan cinta?

Wajahnya sedikit terasa panas, aneh Draken tidak pernah merasakan ini sebelumnya. Jantungnya sedikit berdegup kencang, rasa gugup menyelimuti seluruh tubuhnya, bulu bergidik, padahal ketika berkelahi mana pernah dia begini?

Draken berpikir apakah ada satu tingkat di atas kata cantik? Putri ayu, sebutan yang tepat untuk si gadis. Apa ini yang mereka sebut sebagai cinta pada pandangan pertama? Konsep suka adalah hal awam dalam kamus Ryuuguji Ken. Namun dalam satu pandangan kepada si gadis, mungkin dia sudah mengerti di hari ini.

Draken samar-samar mendengar temannya, Smiley berbisik pada adiknya, dia akan mendekati si gadis. Kata mereka, dia dan Emma sedang dalam fase ini sekarang. Draken biasanya hanya melihat dari kejauhan dan akan turun tangan sebelum anggota mereka berbuat lebih jauh.

Khusus kali ini, Draken akan melanggarnya. Mana bisa dia diam saja membiarkan Smiley mencuri langkah awal? Sebelum Smiley sempat berbicara, Draken dengan langkah panjangnya menghampiri Tata lebih dulu. Seseru apapun menonton Baji Keisuke menjadi kucing ketakutan, sudah cukup! Sekarang waktunya, entah waktu apa, Draken tidak tahu dia akan berkata apa, intinya dia yang sampai duluan ke hadapan si gadis.

Tinggi Draken yang menjulang, mengalahi Baji dan Tata yang sedang berargumen pun akhirnya mencuri perhatian sang putri ayu. Tata berhenti mengatupkan mulutnya sejenak dan melirik ke arah remaja lelaki yang masih saja diam menatapnya. Matanya akhirnya menemui manik si lelaki yang jantungnya sudah berdebar tidak karuan, sebelum Tata hendak mengutarakan pikirannya, Draken terlebih dahulu membuka mulutnya.

“H-hai…”

Sapa Draken sedikit terbata-bata, sialan! Di depan anggota gengnya pula. Mikey yang mengintili di belakangnya tertawa terbahak-bahak, Draken kehilangan wibawanya cuma karena berbicara kepada satu gadis?

“Kenchin, suaranya bergetar tuh-”

“Diam, Mikey!” Potong Draken dengan amarah ke Mikey selama seperempat detik sebelum kembali memandangi putri ayu yang masih menunggu dirinya untuk melanjutkan sapaannya.

Ini pertama kalinya Draken segugup ini, satu tangannya ada di belakang lehernya. Tata paham, hal ini? Makanan sehari-hari untuknya, lebih baik dia sambung saja dibanding mereka berdiri dalam diam seperti ini.

“Hai juga.”

Sapa Tata balik. Giliran Tata yang mengobservasi Draken, dilihat-lihat memang lelaki di depannya ini tampan walau perawakannya sedikit mengintimidasi, lumayan masuk ke kriteria laki-laki idamannya.

“Namanya Tata ya kan? Nama gue Draken, Ryuuguji Ken. Lo cantik sekali, boleh minta nomor handphone nya?”

Draken tidak pandai merancang kalimat, yang diutarakan apa yang ada di benaknya saat itu juga. Mikey mebelalak, semua anggota Toman menoleh melihat si wakil kapten meminta nomor handphone seorang gadis untuk pertama kalinya di hidup mereka. Tidak pernah terlintas di pikiran Draken untuk meminta nomor orang lain, karena rasanya toh dia tidak butuh. Yang dia butuhkan cuma Toman, perkelahian, dan motoran dengan Mikey setiap hari. Untuk apa cinta-cintaan? Belum dibutuhkan untuk saat ini.

Draken sendiri tidak mengerti esensi pendekatan, dasarnya belum menginginkan siapapun jadi miliknya. Namun kali ini dia akan melakukan pendekatan, sepertinya? Pertama kali dalam hidupnya Ryuuguji Ken ingin memiliki satu orang, dan mana sudi jika putri ayu ini diambil Smiley.

Suara Draken kali ini mungkin tidak bergetar, namun dikatakan semuanya dalam tempo cepat, seraya handphonenya disodorkan begitu saja ke tangan Tata, semburat merah terpampang di wajahnya dengan jelas.

“Boleh, gua simpan sebagai Kudou Tata ya. Lo juga ga buruk, ganteng kok.”

Semuanya langsung tersedak dengan respon si putri ayu yang tak kalah gilanya. Siapa yang berani dengan lantang memuji paras wakil kapten mereka? Wajah Draken langsung tersipu, namun terselip cengiran disana sambil nomor si putri ayu diketik.

Tata mengembalikkan handphone Draken ke tangannya dengan senyuman manis di bibirnya sebelum melangkah jauh, senyuman yang dia yakin akan membuat Draken menatap punggungnya pergi lebih dari satu menit sebelum beranjak dari tempatnya berdiri. Tentu, Baji akan tetap diseret ikut pulang dengan dirinya. Dan benar saja Draken menatap punggungnya sampai si putri ayu menghilang dari arah pandangannya.

Draken bertemu Tata lagi, kedua kalinya saat dia mampir dengan kakak Hakkai, Yuzuha, untuk menengok Hakkai. Sudah seminggu semenjak Draken punya nomor ponselnya dan seminggu juga si remaja lelaki ini tidak tidur, bolak-balik mengetik dan menghapus pesan tanpa satu pun yang berhasil dikirim ke putri ayu ini.

Kali ini Draken melihat Tata dengan seragamnya yang berbeda dari Yuzuha, seragam itu berasal dari sekolah privat di ujung kota dengan isi anak-anak kaya dan angkuh yang terlalu manja dan takut untuk masuk ke dunia berandalan. Yah, tidak ada urusan bagi Draken sih kalau Tata berasal dari sana.

Draken harap-harap cemas apa putri ayu ini akan menyapanya? Pandangan mereka bertemu, ekspektasi sudah melangit, kenyataannya si gadis melengos, menghancurkan ekspektasi Draken. Sebelum Tata pamit pulang, Draken langsung memanggilnya, takut untuk melewatkan kesempatan, mencari tahu kenapa dirinya menjadi cuek, seakan mereka tidak pernah bertemu.

“Cantik, mau kemana?”

Tanya Draken spontan dan Tata hanya menggeleng-gelengkan kepala sebelum berputar balik menatap si lelaki. Setelah menatapnya selama 30 menit, Draken baru memanggilnya ketika dirinya mau pulang? Ternyata cupu juga ya.

“Pulang.”

Jawab Tata singkat, sedikit sebal. Padahal dia sudah bela-belain hari ini menemani Yuzuha untuk menemui si jangkung yang sepertinya lupa untuk menghubunginya selama seminggu. Padahal sudah punya nomornya lho? Diberikan dengan cuma-cuma lagi. Coba saja jangkung ini tahu perjuangan lelaki lain sebelum mendapat nomornya.

Tata gengsi untuk mengakuinya, tetapi untuk pertama kalinya, dia menunggu pesan dari seorang lelaki. Namun yang ada malah kecewa karena tak ada satupun pesan dari Draken.

“Mau kuantar sekalian kenalan sama Zephyr?”

Tanya Draken menepuk-nepuk motornya. Untuk Tata itu adalah pertanyaan bodoh, tidak mungkin dia pulang dengan Draken dalam situasi ini.

“Kalau gua pulang sama lo, Yuzuha sama siapa dong?”

Draken langsung terdiam dan melihat Yuzuha melambaikan tangan sambil tertawa kecil melihat interaksi mereka. Draken tidak tahu mau jawab apa dan Tata yang sudah kelewat sebal langsung menyeret sahabatnya untuk pulang saja. Kali ini sebelum Tata benar-benar menghilang, Draken memberanikan dirinya untuk menanyakan satu hal ini dengan lantang.

“Boleh gue kirim pesan mastiin lo udah sampai di rumah?”

Tata akhirnya berbalik badan, walau nadanya ketus, jawabannya mampu membuat Draken sumringah selama satu minggu.

“Kalau sampai besok gak ada, jangan kirim!”

Teriak Tata balik sebelum lanjut berjalan dengan Yuzuha. Apa ini artinya Tata selama ini menunggu pesannya juga? Draken senang kelewat mampus, akhirnya dirinya punya alasan untuk menghubungi Tata. “Keparat, kenapa tidak lanjut sama Emma saja sih?” Bisik Smiley, masih tersenyum, dibawah nafasnya.

Draken semakin berani dengan pujiannya, kata cantik sudah natural keluar dari lidahnya setiap Tata mampir. Membuat seseorang yang tidak diketahuinya, diam-diam menyimpan rasa cemburu. Antaran pulang semakin sering, menggali-gali informasi dari Mitsuya dan Baji untuk mengenal Tata lebih jauh juga semakin intens, hadiah kejutan yang katanya sih ‘tidak sengaja terbeli’ padahal memang dibeli khusus untuk putri ayu ini setiap dia mampir juga ada.

Ah, apa ini Draken jika jatuh cinta ya? Gumam semua anggota Toman dalam pikiran mereka saat melihat si wakil kapten mengejar si cantik ini tanpa mengenal lelah. Bahkan tidak peduli dengan sekitar. Walau kalau putri ayu sudah pergi, kembali ke Draken yang biasa, tegas dan menyeramkan. Kalau begitu, yang kemarin apa hanya sugesti mereka saja? Apa cuma karena mereka terlihat dekat ya? Karena nyatanya begini, sosok Draken yang jatuh cinta adalah saat Kudou Tata tiba di hadapannya.

Yang tersisa sekarang untuk Draken hanyalah ajakan kencan resmi sebelum pengakuan cinta. Hatinya berdegup kencang selama perjalanan mengantar Tata pulang ke rumahnya. Saat mereka tiba, Draken sudah tahu dia tidak ada kesempatan lain selain sekarang untuk ajakan kencan.

“Mau pergi kemana gak hari sabtu? Berdua aja.”

Tanya Draken sebelum Tata memasuki rumah. Jika diterima, ini kencan pertamanya yang resmi dengan siapapun. Bagaimana jika Tata menolak? Bagaimana jika mereka tidak akan bertemu lagi karena kecanggungan dari penolakan? Namun Tata hanya tersenyum dan memberi anggukan sebelum membisikkan “Mau.” tepat di telinganya, membuat hati Draken seratus kali berdegup lebih cepat dari sebelumnya. Saat Draken sudah berani menoleh ke arah samping, Tata sudah melambaikan tangan dan masuk gerbang rumahnya. Sial, Ryuuguji Ken tidak sabar untuk menjadikan gadis ini miliknya.

Tata bangun dari tidur siangnya di hari sabtu, yang ternyata sedang hujan. Sudah lewat tiga jam dari waktu kencan yang ditentukan. Sial, Tata lupa menghubungi Draken untuk membatalkan kencannya tapi ya sudahlah ini sudah tiga jam bukan? Draken sudah pasti pulang.

Oh iya, Kudou Tata memang menyukai Draken namun bukan berarti Draken tidak akan melewati ritual setiap lelaki yang mau mengajaknya pergi kencan? Mereka semua akan digantungkannya hingga tujuh kali sebelum dia akan muncul, tapi untuk Draken mungkin tiga kali sudah cukup.

Biasanya para cowok akan kabur setelah lima belas menit dibuat menunggu, maksimal satu jam. Maka Tata memutuskan untuk pergi saja ke minimarket yang melewati tempat janjiannya dengan Draken, toh tidak ada yang dikhawatirkan.

Bayangkan betapa terkejutnya putri ayu melihat si jangkung menunggu disana, basah kuyup kehujanan dengan Zephyr di sisinya, masih di lokasi yang dijanjikan untuk bertemu.

“Draken? Lo kenapa gak pulang aja? Maaf-maaf gue lupa batalin-“

Tata panik, langsung membagi payungnya di tengah-tengah dirinya dan Draken, tetpi Draken memutuskan kalimatnya dengan ketus.

“Kalau lo kejam kaya gini ke semua cowok yang suka sama lo, gue gamau ngejar lo lagi.”

Draken membalas dengan ekspresi serius yang membuat Tata tertegun sejenak. Ini pertama kali ada yang berani protes, biasanya mereka terpaksa memaafkannya dan memalsukan kekesalan mereka dengan senyuman diganti ajakan kencan berikutnya.

“Padahal gue kira, gue tuh pengecualian buat lo.”

Lirih Draken menertawai dirinya sendiri. Tata benci, karena memang Draken adalah pengecualian dan kenapa sekarang Draken yang tidak percaya. Draken sudah bersiap pergi, namun Tata masih diam disana, kali ini dia yang menatap Draken.

“Yaudah, gimana kalau lo jemput gua hari senin. Pulsek, gua gak bakal bisa kabur. Lo tahu kan sekolah gue dimana-”

Tata membuka mulutnya yang langsung dipotong Draken dengan tatapan sinis.

“Iya, tahu sekolah lo yang mana, tapi apa yang buat lo pikir gue masih mau jalan sama lo?”

“Gua rasa lo masih mau, cuma firasat aja sih. Janji, gak kabur!”

Lalu Tata mengeluarkan senyumannya dan meninggalkan Draken sendirian disana. Hah, angkuh sekali gadis ini, namun sialnya dia benar. Karena yang Ryuuguji Ken pikirkan sekarang bukanlah perkataan angkuhnya melainkan senyumannya yang menurut Draken kelewat manis sampai-sampai tidak bisa diusir dari benaknya. Draken mendengus dengan kesal, kontras dengan rona pipinya yang memerah sebelum menyalakan Zephyr, sepertinya dia punya janji kencan lagi di hari senin.

Tepat waktu pulang sekolah, Draken sudah menunggu di depan sekolah. Dan tentu dirinya yang berandalan mendapat banyak pandangan dari macam-macam orang yang terintimidasi. Draken sedikit ragu, apakah kali ini Tata benar-benar akan muncul? Namun sepertinya kali ini janjinya ditepati.

“Hai, ayo jalan.”

Sahut si gadis yang baru saja muncul dari pintu gerbang sekolah. Draken mengangguk dan tidak lama dengan Zephyr mereka pergi ke kencan pertama mereka.

Draken sedikit malu, namun dia melakukan sedikit pencarian dan menemukan café lucu ini yang sering dikunjungi anak muda berpacaran. Tata langsung tertawa terbahak-bahak ketika sampai, rasanya aneh sekali melihat Draken mencari-cari tempat seperti ini. Apalagi tampangnya yang mencolok diantara semua pelanggan disana.

Merah di pipi Draken tidak pernah mereda sepanjang kencan pertama mereka, berbeda dengan Tata yang lihai sekali dengan kata-katanya. Menurut Draken, walau sudah lama sih dia mengetahuinya, Kudou Tata lebih dari cantik. Dia menarik dan sarkastik, sedikit angkuh dan tidak tahu malu akan keegoisannya yang melangit. Namun Ryuuguji Ken malah menemukan dirinya semakin tertarik dan ditarik ke dalam dan dia tidak mau keluar, selamanya.

“Jadiii, kita ada kencan kedua gak?”

Tanya Tata di sela-sela jalan pulang mereka, yang membuat Draken hampir menghentikkan Zephyr di lalu lintas ini.

“A-apa?”

Jantung Draken serasa mau copot atas pertanyaan yang disampaikan oleh gadis ini secara kasual.

“Aku nanya nih, kamu masih mau gak kencan kedua sama aku? Siapa tahu gamau gitu.”

Jawab Tata terkekeh, padahal dia tahu jawabannya sudah jelas.

“Ya, kamu yang jangan stop sehabis kencan kedua.”

Sahut Draken balik, untung saja dia harus menghadap kedepan sehingga Tata tidak melihat betapa wajahnya sudah berubah menjadi merah padam. Walau dia harus menunggu hingga basah kuyup, Draken merasa hari ini setengah membayar pengorbanannya di hujan waktu itu. Dan akan lebih dari lunas ketika Tata mengatakan iya atas ajakannya berpacaran di kencan kedua mereka nanti.