Chapter 92: Awkward Tea Time
Kaoru opened the door for us.
"Wow, this is the first time I’m seeing a traditional Japanese house," Andy said in awe. "How come I didn’t know there’s this kind of house here?" He asked.
It’s hard to find since there’s a normal house appearance before the main house to hide it, I guess?
"Let’s enter." Before Makoto hears us and starts disturbing everything.
"Welcome home, young miss." Rika greeted me as soon as I entered the house. "Greetings to the young miss’s friends." She bowed her head to Ace and Andy.
"Hi," Andy said while waving his hand while Ace just bowed slightly. "I didn’t know you’re getting a complete royalty treatment here." He whispered to my ear which I ignored.
Rika was about to lead us to my room not until... "Oya? If it isn’t Noelle and her friends at school." The moment I heard that voice I almost cursed inside my head. "How come I didn’t know there’ll be visitors?" Makoto asked as he smiled at me. ’It’s because you’re nosy and annoying!’ I thought as I forced a smile trying to hide the fact that I don’t want to talk to him.
"Who’s this?" Andy whispered to my ear.
"This is Night’s cousin, Makoto," I said.
"Hello there." Makoto greeted my friends. "Should I tell the servants to prepare the garden for an afternoon tea?" He said with a smile I’d never seen before. He’s acting gentle right now in front of my friends and honestly, I think I prefer this way. ’Even though I know that this is only a facade.’
"Before that, I want to show my friends my room. Thank you, older brother." I said even though it was the first time I addressed Makoto as ’older brother’. Hearing that made his smile go wide as he nodded and left without arguing. ’Did it make him happy? I don’t know.’
"Damn, that one’s good-looking too. He has an older and flirty vibe with him." I heard Andy mutter making me grimace at him. "What? I’m not into older guys that much, don’t worry." He said as if that could take my worries away. I’m afraid that if Makoto learns that Andy’s somewhat interested in him, he’ll entertain him too. ’Should I be guilty that I’m seeing him in such a bad light? Nah, he’s the one who caused this anyway.’
We walked into the hallway and into my room. "Ugh, finally," I said as I immediately lay on my bed as soon as we entered.
"What was that about?" Ace asked as she roamed her vision. "Does that guy bullies you?"
I frowned. I don’t even know if he’s bullying me because he’s so carefree and he’s always teasing me. "He loves teasing me with Night."
"Well isn’t that obvious? Night’s your husband after all."
Ace and I looked at Andy with our foreheads creased. How come he said that as if it was the most normal thing to say? "You’re accepting it just like that?" Ace asked as she sat on the chair near my desk. "I thought you were going to judge Fuentes if he’s suited to become Noelle’s husband?"
Andy chuckled as he lay on the floor and rolled. "It’s my first time lying on a tatami flooring." He said as if trying to dodge Ace’s question.
"Don’t tell me it’s because of that handsome driver? Did you fall for him?"
"What? O-Of course not." Andy started scratching his chin which made me realize that he was lying. ’Did he really fall for Kenji? Just like that!?’ "But would it be fine for you to introduce us to each other?" He asked me with those twinkling eyes.
I grimaced. "Sure, I’ll introduce you later." When he’s doing that, I know I wouldn’t be able to stop him anymore.
"Then I’ll tour your room first," Andy said as he started searching everywhere inside my room. I can’t even tell him anything since he’s interested in everything he sees. "Do you own all of these clothes? Damn, your husband’s family sure is rich." He added.
"But I didn’t expect him to be the grandson of a yakuza boss." Ace said.
Andy turned around and agreed. "That’s right! I thought he was a son of a doctor from a family of doctors or a son of a wealthy lawyer. Even a politician!" He said. "But I never thought of him as someone from the mafia world."
Who would even expect that to happen? Night was so perfect in everyone’s eyes that one mistake might ruin his whole image. Although his fans are blinded by his handsome face. "Let’s keep this a secret from everyone else, would that be alright?" I asked them.
"That goes without saying." Ace said. "If this information gets out, blame this talkative person." She pointed to Andy and he couldn’t retort.
"I promise, I’ll be careful," Andy said with his hand raised.
We heard a knock on the door. "Young miss, the food’s ready in the garden," Rika said outside.
"I guess that’s it. Should we go and eat now?"
Ace stood up from her seat. "Sure, while we’re at it, can we roam around the house?" She asked. It’s rare for her to be that interested in something that’s why I couldn’t reject what she said. "What are we going to eat anyway?"
"Some cakes and teas?" I asked which made Ace grimace.
"I hate sweet stuff."
"Don’t worry, lady Candace," Rika said. "The young master also doesn’t like sweets, that’s why we prepared various snacks for the young miss’s friends." She added making me smile at her as she proudly led us to the garden.
"I just can’t get over with the tatami flooring. It’s amazing." Andy muttered and I agreed. It was hard to get used to the tatami flooring before too.
Before we could get out to the garden, I faced my friends. "I’m telling this in advance since you two might get surprised, but Night’s sister and cousins might also be outside waiting for us," I said. "If that’s fine with you two."
"I don’t see a problem." Ace said.
Andy’s mouth went wide. "Night Fuentes has a sister?" That’s what he noticed with what I said?
"Yes, and he’s Night Yamaguchi, not Fuentes."
"Then who’s Night Fuentes?"
I ignored Andy’s question and opened the door to the garden. "Let’s go." I smiled and walked towards the seats, but Andy and Ace were standing still near the door. "What’s wrong?"
"Oh my god, I’m fighting the urge to take pictures of this beautiful place," Andy said while roaming his vision. "It’s like that Japanese garden from Tita Amelia’s photos." He said and I agreed again. It sure does look like that Japanese garden from mom’s one trip to Japan. Maybe Japanese gardens are built to resemble each other? I don’t know.
"Hi, Noelle and friends." Makoto greeted us making Shiho smile.
"This is Candace and Andrei." I introduced my friends since I don’t like the way Makoto greeted us. "This is Shiho, Night’s younger sister, and Himari, Night’s cousin." Shiho greeted Ace and Andy after that and Himari just bowed her head as a greeting.
We all sit beside Shiho and Rika placed the snacks on the table. ’Now what should we talk about? If it’s just my friends we can easily talk about random things.’ I thought as I start stuffing food inside my mouth. I still can’t get over how good Rika’s baked goods are. She can start her own business with these.
"So, did you guys already meet Night?" Makoto asked making me grimace.
"We’re his schoolmates." Ace answered with a nonchalant expression while eating. It’s as if she’s telling Makoto to not ask about the obvious. ’That’s so like her.’
Makoto didn’t expect that but he still laughed. "Is he a good student?"
Ace looked up with that usual nonchalant expression. "Don’t you talk to him?" She asked back. I know that she didn’t mean to be rude there but what if Makoto misunderstands because of the way she talked like that?
"S-She didn’t mean that in a bad way," I said in Ace’s defense.
Makoto laughed. "Night doesn’t answer my questions you see." He said with that weird smile.
"Am I required to answer your questions?"
All eyes went to Night after he said that. "Am I late?" He asked as he leaned toward me and kissed my cheek.
Andy dropped his fork while Ace froze on her seat. ’I know! I know this is shocking and I want to hide from them but this is how Night wants to act in front of his family.’ "N-No, you’re not," I said as I introduced my friends to him and he greeted them nicely which was really weird. But I guess he couldn’t lash out with his sister here in front of us.
"Brother, sit beside me," Shiho said which made Night look at me. ’Why is he even looking at me? What does he want?’ I ignored his stare and he just sat beside Shiho and we all continued eating. After Makoto tried to talk with us, he suggested leaving us for a while since my friends don’t look like they’re close to Night. ’I don’t want them to get close.’ I thought.
Makoto, Himari, and Shiho left. Now there’s only pure silence surrounding us and it’s awkward. Even the attendants are all gone. "Why did you kiss Noelle?" Ace asked which made me flinch. Her tone was chilly and it makes me feel shivers.
"Because she’s my wife." Night answered as if not bothered.
Ace raised an eyebrow. "We know you don’t like her. Didn’t you ignore her back at school?" She’s attacking Night full force. I’m the one getting scared.
"That was the past." Night said as he placed his cup of tea on the table. "Things changed."
