Chapter 7 - "Can I take the risk?"

I'm here in front of Saku-chan's house. "Saku-chan!" I shouted. He opened the door and sprayed me disinfectant before letting me come inside. I cough as I walked inside. "Wow, your house is clean!" I complimented as I looked around.

"Of course, you're the only germ that has ever stepped in here." He replied. I just laughed. 'He hates germ so much' I thought. "So, care to explain yourself?" He asked.

"Explain what?" I asked.

"What's the reason you keep sticking around? I saw you begging coach to be the ball girl. You keep coming here early in the morning insisting to cook for me." He explained as he took the apron from the kitchen and throw me one.

"Ah, that.." I scratched my head. "It's a secret" I smiled catching the apron and wear it to myself. 'I can't let him know my promise to his father he'll definitely be furious.' I thought.

"What's in the paper bag?" He pointed the paper bag that I brought on my way here.

"That's Umeboshi! I heard from someone that you like those so, I brought some!" I took the jar of Umeboshi and placed it on the table. "Have a taste." I took a piece of umeboshi and tried to feed him.

He rolled his eyes. "I can eat by myself." He took one and have a bite. His eyes smiled. 'I think I'm making him mentally healthy, mom!' I said in my head proudly. I did the same and it taste sour. I can't help but show my sour face.

"You look ugly exactly like a germ!" He teased. I just glared at him and turned to the kitchen.

"Can you even cook?" He asked.

"Maybe!" I giggled.

"Move." He took my place. "I'll teach you but, you need to take responsibilities for your actions. From now on you're suppose to be here by exactly 5:30. If you fail to do so, I'll shut my door, okay?" I nodded in response. 'Oho! He's one strict client, okay!' I thought trying to hold back my laugh.

He taught me how to make omurice. He was a really good teacher. He's very clear in his words but, one thing I like the most is how he gets it done. I can't even focus on what he's teaching me. I was staring at him the whole time. He looks so alone doing this kinds of stuffs.

"What are you looking at huh? Liking what you see?" He raised me a brow. "Enjoy it while you can cause you'll be doing all this tomorrow. Now, prepare the plates let's have breakfast."

"Okay!" I just smiled as I took the plates from the cabinet. I took a seat right in front of him. He glared at me. "What?" I asked.

"Go eat at the other corner of the table. I don't eat in front of germs." He commanded. I rolled my eyes and do as I'm told.

We walked to school right after. I was humming my current favorite song while walking when he asked.

"What are you singing?"

"Oh, It's Nothing." I turned and smiled at him.

"What do you mean nothing? I'm asking you for the title stupid!" He rolled his eyes.

"You know what you can also be stupid at times, it's funny." I laughed. "It's Nothing by Bruno Major."

"Tch" I heard him and I just looked up the sky.

"Do you miss them?" I asked.

"Who?" He asked confused.

"Your mom and your dad."I answered. "My mom said when you look up the sky and you're thinking of someone. It means you're missing them and that feels lonely. Whenever I take a glimpse of you, I can see you looking up the sky so, do you miss them?" I added

"Maybe..." He whispered as he looks up the sky. I stopped from walking and turned to him. He just raised me a brow.

"I know you're sad and lonely so don't worry much, okay? I'll be here!" I shouted proudly. People passing by we're looking at me.

"Whatever. Weirdo." He said as he continued walking. I walked next to him and he just pushed me with a pen as always

"I have an idea. Wait!" I shouted. I took a piece of paper and a pen from my bag and wrote a list. I handed him the list. "All of this are on the lyrics of Nothing so when we finish this you'll sing me that song, okay?"

"Bold of you to assume that I'll agree to this." He rolled his eyes.

"C'mon please! You won't be lonely this way." I begged he just continued walking but I saw his eyes smiling. 'He's happy.' I thought.

THE LIST:

•Track suits and red wine

•Movies for two

•Play Nintendo

•On boat in the rain

After the classes I ran straight to the gym to beg the volleyball coach again. "I'm sorry Liliana! I won't walk with you today, again!" I shouted.

I arrive at the gym and the players are all staring at me for barging in. Sakusa was glaring at me. "Coach!" I bowed. "Please take me in as your ball girl please! Pretty please!" I pouted.

"Why should I take a fragile girl like you?" He asked.

"This is actually a secret but, okay..." I looked at Sakusa for a second then smirked. "Can I whisper it you, coach? I'm really shy about this." I pointed to the volleyball players who's listening attentively to our conversation.

"Okay." He bend down and was shocked to what I whispered. "Okay. I'll let you be the ball girl. Do your job right okay?" I jumped out of joy. I turned to Sakusa and winked. He massaged his forehead. He's indirectly saying 'What the f*ck did this idiot do this time?'.

I spent the whole club time catching and fetching balls going around. When their break time has come, I gave each and everyone of them their towel and water.

"Oi! Germ what did you whisper to coach?" He annoyingly asked.

"Secret." I winked as I handed him his water.

"Yo (y/n)-chan!" A guy who's always with Sakusa greeted. I gave him his towel and water.

"Yo Saku-chan's friend!" I greeted back.

"Call me Komori." He offered his hand for a hand shake. I was about to take it when, Sakusa threw his towel at Komori.

"Don't touch her, Komori. She's filthy." Sakusa teased and Komori laughed.

After the practice the three of us walked together. When we arrived at Sakusa's house I bid them goodbye.

Sakusa's P.O.V.

"You're one lucky guy, Omi." Komori teased. "I never had anyone care for me like that." He added.

"Take her then, she's annoying. She goes to my place to wake me up first thing in the morning. Then, she'll annoy me to eat the bento she's giving. After that I'll see her every volleyball practice. She's one persistent germ. She even insist that she'll walk me home everyday." I ranted. Komori laughed.

"I've never seen you so pissed like that but, the real question is, 'Are you really pissed or you're just denying to yourself that you're liking what she's doing?'" Komori teased. 'Do I like what she's doing?' I thought as I felt myself smiling. 'What the f*ck, Sakusa. Don't smile without a reason.' I put a frown on my face.

"You're not smiling without a reason actually, I bet she's the reason." Komori said as he waved goodbye. 'How did he know?' I thought.

"It's written all over your face Omi!" He shouted again. 'I need to stop this stupidity.' I thought as I ran towards the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. My face was red.

"This is all her fault. I think I got contaminated by her germs. I need to wash myself thoroughly." I shouted.

The next day, I woke up early to open the door for her. I wore a face mask, face shield, gloves and jacket. I was keeping a 1 meter between us.

"What are you doing? What's with the outfit?" She asked while laughing at my protective garments.

I sprayed her Lysol. "Don't come near me! I think you've contaminated me enough with your germs!" I shouted. She just laughed at me.

"Weirdo." She giggled. She goes straight to the kitchen to cook some food as I keep a 1 meter distance between us whenever she comes near.

I spent the whole day avoiding her touch or coming near her. When the volleyball practice came, she was there. Whenever she'll pass me my water bottle and towel I make Komori get it for me.

"What's with him today?" She asked Komori.

"Oh, that?" Komori laughed before continuing. "I saw him smiling yesterday when we're talking about you. Now, he thinks you've contaminated him with your germs." Both of them laughed.

"Oh so you smiled because of me huh? Saku-chan..." She gave a shocked face. My brows met. 'I think I know what she's going to say'. I thought. "Do you perhaps like me? Oh my! Oh my! What should I do Komori? Should I answer his feelings?" She teased as Komori laughed.

"Stop being delusional! You germ!" Everyone in the volleyball team we're teasing me. ' It's their fault. ' I thought.

Things we're pretty much the same for a week. She comes here exactly 5:30 in the morning and cooks me food. We walked to school and back home together. Until, I woke up one day she was late. It's already 6 in the morning and she's still not here yet. 'Where are you germ?' I thought.

I was about to give up waiting for her and prepare my own breakfast when I heard a knock on the door. 'Finally, she's here but, she don't usually knock. She used to always use her annoying loud voice to make me open the door.' I thought.

I opened the door only to see Liliana standing there with some food in hand. "Hey.." She greeted.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, annoyed.

"(y/n) called me here to take her place. She said she caught cold so I should cook you breakfast." She answered.

"Forget it! I can cook my own food." I was about to shut the door but she stopped it by holding the knob.

"Wait, Can we please talk? Do you really hate me this much Omi?" I just raised her a brow. I can see her eyes starting to water. "I still like you do you know that?" She added.

"Enough Liliana and get lost!" I shouted.

"No! You can't just tell me to get lost. I like you. I really do. I'm always checking on you. I'm always making sure your father is safe in the hospital. I sometimes visit him for your sake. Why can't you just give me a chance?" She said as tears came streaming down her face.

"No one asked you to do that, Liliana. It's not like we're dating. We used to be close but, you turned out to be more pitiful that I thought." I blurted.

"Pitiful? Yeah, I'm pitiful. I really am. I keep going out of my way just to make the guy I like to look at me! I am pitiful but, you know what hurts? It's when I'm this pitiful already but, you won't even bat me an eye." She blurted. Tears came streaming down her face. Her nose turned red as the cold wind breeze blows her hair.

"Are you done? You're wasting my time." I was about to close the door again when she blurted something that caught my attention.

"You like her don't you?" She laughed. "Yeah, right. Why am I even asking?" She placed the food down in front of the door and took a step back.

"You can't make the sun shine just for you if you won't take the risk. I took my chance already. Now, take yours." She said before she took her leave.

'You can't make the sun shine just for you if you won't take the risk, huh?' I thought. I took the food she brought inside and stared at the ceiling. "Can I even make the sun shine just for me even if I take the risk?" I questioned as I gave out a sigh.

TO BE CONTINUED.