038

"Five o'clock?" Your voiced trembled as you spoke, uncertainty laced all throughout your sullen tone as you conversed with the man on the other line. "Yes, I'll be there. Thank you."

Hanging up the phone, you vow to treat this as rendezvous as any other business deal— professionally and diligent with a sharp open mind. It pained you to realize that your father had won after all, despite every feeble attempt to derail his twisted plans for your future. Still, everything you said to Atsumu, you meant whole heartedly.

You were tired of it all— tired of trying and ultimately just... failing.

What was the point anymore? Your fate had been sealed long before your birth— you were always designed to be a pawn in your father's desire for generational wealth. Money and power were both his sole purpose for existence on this earth, anything else was dismal in comparison, including you and the rest of your family.

Did you really want to go through with this?

No— no second thoughts. You've made your decision, so now you've got to go through with it. With a deeply-breathed sigh, you head back into your room for a quick nap before you have to take care of your business with Daisuke later on this evening. Maybe things will go more smoothly with a refreshed mind; despite the irreparable damage that's been done to your heart, you didn't really need that anymore— consider it the perks of committing to a loveless marriage.

Letting your head melt into the cradling touch of your pillows, you allow the gentle roll of thunder that had begun to sing you to sleep with its own special form of a lullaby. When you wake up, you'll be on your way to sign your life away, in every literal sense of the word.

He wanted to go back in there— he wanted to go back so fucking badly... so, why couldn't he? Why was he stuck in the driver's seat of his car for the past hour and a half outside of your apartment, lost in thought and mental torment?

There were so many things he needed to say to you, but it never seemed like it was good enough. Rehearsing the lines to himself over and over again became monotonous until it all just started to sound like bullshit... and if he thought that, no doubt you would as well.

What could he even say? It seemed pointless to even try, especially after the way he spoke to you two days ago. There wasn't anything that could take back his harsh words— would you even forgive him? Give him another chance?

Doubtful.

Still, he needed to try.

He was tired of letting his trust issues get the better of him, tired of letting his own self-depreciation rule his life. The moments he spent with you were some of the happiest he's felt in as long as he can remember— he hated himself for the allowing the trauma of his disastrous marriage ruin one of the best things that could ever have happened to him and his kids.

He couldn't let you go through with it, despite his past, idiotic sentiment of telling you to marry that rich asshole.

Why the fuck did he do that?

It made him sick to even think about it, and it made him even sicker when Atsumu told him that you were actually thinking of going through with it... all because of him— because he broke your heart, like so many others before him.

The somber pitter-patter of rain drops decorating his windshield became more apparent with every fleeting thought as it started to storm even harder— realizing it was now or never, he was running out of time. He wasn't ready to face you, to say what he's been wanting to say for a while now but he knew time wasn't on his side. If he let you walk out that door without saying his peace, he just wouldn't be able to live with himself.

Opening the car door, he threw on his EJP Raijin hoodie and jogged up to your second floor apartment, getting completely soaked in the process— damp strands of dark ebony locks stuck to his forehead as he raked his fingers through it, although it proved to be useless while he was still standing out in the downpour waiting for you to open up.

After a few more painstakingly long moments, he hears you fumble with the lock before opening the door, sporting a much less than enthusiastic glare on your face once you take notice of the tall, drenched man standing outside.

"What are you still doing here? I told you to—"

"Please, I need you to listen to me." He has no shame in the way his voice nearly breaks at your appearance— you're dressed impeccably elegant, wearing a gorgeous dress that hugs your body in all the right places and your hair and makeup done up to perfection.

The stinging feeling of realization hits him when he finally registers the fact that you're dressed up like this for someone else— for Daisuke, unmistakably.

"What? I don't have time for this Rin, I'm going to be late for my meeting." You huff, grimacing at the way his wet body makes a mess of your hardwood. "You're getting my floor wet."

"Oh, um— sorry..." he responds, stepping back onto the mat near the door, humbled by the way you speak so nonchalantly at him as if he was just some utter annoyance in your ethereal presence.

"Well... what do you have to say?" You reiterate, body language letting him know that he isn't welcomed here, despite the way you grant him the ability to speak. "I told you, I don't have much time."

The coldness in your tone is something he doesn't recognize, he's sure he's never heard it from you before, at least not directed at him. It's as he feared— you've put your walls back up, rightfully so.

"You can't do this, please y/n."

"I can't? Wasn't it you who told me that I should?"

"I— yes... but I'm an idiot, you shouldn't listen to the shit that comes out of my mouth."

Your eyes scan his trembling form— either from the way your AC blows chillingly onto his dampened skin or from the fact that he's nervous, you aren't entirely sure. Either way, despite the cold persona you present to him, you can't help but take notice of how handsome he looks even while soaking wet... it reminds you of one your very first encounters with him, when he came to apologize for his rude behavior after meeting you in his home for the first time.

You remembered how he smelled of amber and honey shampoo... and how the droplets of water kissed his cheeks as they dripped down from damp strands, just as they are now— except the look his eyes now is unmatched to the vacant expression they once held all that time ago... now, his gaze is much softer; his gaze is completely besotted.

"So why should I listen to the shit that comes out of it now?" Your stoic appearance is beginning to falter as he takes a few steps forward once more, foregoing your earlier request for him to stay on the opposite side of the room.

He's standing before you now, and your breath can hardly keep up with the way your practically lungs are gasping for air— you hate how infatuated you truly are with Rintaro... it's apparent in the way he still makes your heart race even though you want nothing more than to knock his head off in this instance.

"Because what I'm about to say to you isn't bullshit... not even close." He breathes, wanting nothing more than to reach out and touch you, but he doesn't want to risk ruining your pretty dress.

"You can't marry Daisuke..."

"You said that already Rin... why shouldn't I? You've given me no reason not to, in-fact, you've done nothing but give me more reason—"

In an instant, he's closed the gap between the two of you as he cages you in against the countertop, his lips on yours without any form of a warning. You beat at his chest with balled fists, which proves to be useless against the way you immediately begin melt into the kiss, your fingers uncurling to grasp at the soaked material of his jacket as you pull him closer.

Any semblance of remorse for your pretty dress is long gone, as he wastes no time pressing his body up against yours. He still has to tell you what he wanted to say, but he remembered how his lips are the best way to shut you up when you begin to go off on one of your tangents.

Plus, he missed the taste of your honeyed lips— so plush and warm against his own, unmatched by any other pair when it came to the perfect kiss. He was sure he'd never find another like it, and he was sure that he wouldn't ever want to try.

"You can't marry him..." he speaks breathlessly into your lips, swallowing every melodic sound that you make while he continues to work his own against you.

"... because I'm in love with you."