Chapter 32

"Hey, wake up," He whispered and gently stroked her face.

"Where are we?" She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Our room."

"We're back already?"

"Yeah. Do you want to use the bathroom first, or should I?"

"You go on ahead. I'll just end up falling asleep in there."

"Or we could take a bath at the same time."

"No way, not happening. I've had enough of you for one night."

"Suit yourself."

Ten minutes later, he came out wearing nothing but grey flannel pants.

"It wouldn't kill you to wear a shirt too, you know."

"It's not anything you haven't seen before," He winked. "Anyway, you can use the bathroom now."

"Do you mind helping me out a little? My legs are still a little wobbly."

"Sure. I figured as much, so I already had a bath ready for you."

He picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

"Need help getting undressed?"

"Nah, I got it."

After undressing herself, Takumi set her down in the bathtub.

"I'm going to feel it in the morning, aren't I?"

"Yep. Sorry about that."

"It's ok, and thank you."

"For?"

"Taking those pills."

"You don't have to thank me. If it makes your life easier, I'm happy to have taken them."

"One of the reasons why I love you."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, I definitely heard it. That means you're my girlfriend now."

"Yeah yeah."

"So, what does that make me?"

"You know."

"Yeah, but I wanna hear you say it."

"Ok, you're more than just a friend because I like you a lot."

"You can do a whole lot better than that."

"Nope."

"You're messing with me, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"At this point, I'm used to your stubbornness," He flicked her forehead. "I'll leave you to finish up."

When she came out, she bumped face-first into his chest.

"Hey, are you alright? You've been in there for an hour. I was just about to check on you."

"Yeah. I did end up falling asleep in here."

He plopped down on the bed.

"By the way, is that my shirt?"

"Obviously, and we both know that you weren't going to wear it. And before you get any ideas, I'm wearing shorts underneath."

She lay next to him, and he pulled her closer.

"So," He started.

"Yeah?"

"We're dating now."

"There's one thing you have to do first."

"Which is?"

"You have to promise me that if I let you in, you won't break anything."

"Ok, I promi..."

"Nope, it has to be a pinkie promise."

"Interesting choice of a promise"

"It's harder to break than a normal promise."

"How?"

"Breaking it means that I'll cut your pinkie off. But if you're serious, then you have nothing to worry about. So, pinkie promise?" She held hers out.

"Pinkie promise," He agreed and locked his with hers. "So, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Woo," He kissed her.

"I'm very curious to know. What do you like about me?"

"Well, you have a nice ass, sexy legs and thicc thighs."

"You'll need a PowerPoint presentation to convince me to not throw you out the window."

"I'm kidding. I won't deny that you do, but they're not what I like about you, more of a bonus. I like how you're direct when you speak your mind although you could use a filter sometimes. I like how you eat whatever you want without a care in the world. I especially like how I'm not another half to you. By that, I mean that you know how to make yourself happy and be your own person without needing me to do it for you. It's nice that I add to your happiness rather than creating it. And most importantly, I love how you're so easy to tease."

"No, I'm not."

"You're proving my point right now."

"Whatever. Oh yeah, have you decided on what you want to do after high school?"

"Yeah. I want to study forensic science and become a forensic investigator."

"So, you want to collect DNA such as hair, tissue and body fluids from victims, analyse them in a lab and somehow still kiss and/or have sex with me with no issues?"

"It's not as bad as you make it sound."

"At this point, I'm used to your weirdness, so I'm not surprised. So any universities in mind?"

"I've already looked up the best places to study that specific course, and I'm thinking of applying to them all. The one I'm hoping for is the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. Mostly because my maternal grandparents live half an hour away from it, and it'd be nice to spend more time with them."

"That's pretty cool."

"But it's far."

"I figured that much."

"And you're ok with it?"

"Yeah. Well, no. But I mean, if that's what you want to do then I'm ok with it. You're there for me whenever I want to do my own thing, so I guess it's my turn, and I don't have a reason to not trust you. It might get a little lonely, but I think I'll get used to it."

"It's only been a few minutes, but you're already the best girlfriend ever. What about your plans?"

"Well, my dad and I still need to discuss a way forward with the pack because of our circumstances. Other than that, I'm thinking of going after a PhD. Other than that, I'll get my warrior's mark soon. Before you ask, it'll be better to explain it once I get it, whenever that might be. And I'm thinking of getting extra piercings."

"What?"

"I'm not going to do anything over-the-top like covering my whole body with them. Just two or three… no, two extra ones on the earlobe and another on the helix. I haven't decided whether it should be on one ear or both ears. Maybe I'll get a stud on my belly button, I don't know. I'll see when I get there."

"So, you're getting a tattoo and piercing. It sounds over the top if you ask me."

"Hey, it's not as bad as you make it sound."

"Now we're even."

"Whatever. Just go to sleep. And I... uh..."

"You what?"

"I love you."

"I love you too," He kissed her forehead. "And your face is red."

"You didn't have to point it out."