Retaliation Part 1
I have been a busy little bee.
Here is the sequel to "An Exercise in Seduction". This is Mao's POV. Warning: This program contains sexual content that may not be suitable for some viewers. Please read responsibly.
PS, I don't really know how sensitive some readers are, so I'm posting that there is explicit adult content just to be on the safe side.
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Retaliation
“So, did we accomplish all we set out to do, Oh Great Lady Avenger of Women Scorned?”
Inoue Mao stuck her tongue out at her friend, Ninomiya Kazunari, who was sitting behind the wheel of the car. “I would like to get back to my loving boyfriend with my purity intact,” he joked sarcastically.
She batted her eyelashes at him and pouted, “But Kazu-kun, I was hoping we could finish what we started on the dance floor.” She snickered, recalling Matsumoto’s words.
“Don’t make me toss you from the car, missy. You’re lucky Ryo trusts me or he never would have agreed to let me help you out.”
“Whatever. He knows you’re in no real danger from me.”
“Only because I’m immune to your man-eater ways.”
She glared at him. “Ryo trusts me. And I would never do anything to betray that trust. He knows I won’t do anything because it’s you.”
“Ryo trusts me, you mean. He knows I would never stray from him.”
“You say that now...” she sang in a little girl voice.
“One of these days, Mao-chan,” Kazu said, while turning the wheel, “you’re gonna meet someone...”
“Who will beat me at my own game...blah, blah, blah...”
He knocked the side of her head. “Who’ll simply love you and who you will love simply.”
“Don’t make me toss myself from the car.”
Kazu was one of her best friends and one of those rare good guys: loyal and loving. The guys Mao tended to attract were other L words. Lame. Losers. Liars. Kazu’s only flaw was his tendency to believe in the concept of soul-mates and other romantic crap like that. Well, plus he was gay. Not that it was a flaw so much that it sort of took him out of the running.
“I’m just saying, you won’t find the right guy chasing around pretty boys like Matsumoto.”
She wasn’t chasing him. She had just been... playing with him.
“Just be careful, ok? He’s not like your usual fare. I’ve heard stories about him. You may have met your match, Oh Lady Vengeance.”
“Haha...Whatever. Don’t worry about me. I had my fun for the night.”
It wasn’t as though she had a real score to settle with Matsumoto. She was more annoyed with him than anything for the way he treated that night when he became the unfortunate recipient of her rum and Coke. She didn’t like going to clubs much and her friends had dragged her there after rehearsal that night with little warning. They had freaked when they saw what happened, afraid that the ever popular Matsujun would do something to get even with her. She laughed. What did they think he would do? Get people in the club to start bullying her? What was this? A drama? However, she did recall the name of the man that left her classmate, Aya, fuming.
“Why not have a little fun at his expense?” she suggested to her. Aya had readily agreed.
But although Mao had managed a clean get away from the proud predator, even she was leery of further acquaintances with Matsumoto Jun. He was smooth, charming and more dangerous than any other man she had met, alluding a charged sexuality that should be stamped with a warning label. If she hadn’t been so aware of the damage he could cause to a woman, she may have very well become nothing more than a notch on his bedpost. No, Matsumoto was more trouble than he was worth.
Mao looked out of her window into the garish lights of Roppongi’s nightlife.
“I’m pretty sure chances are slim that I see Matsumoto again any time soon.”
Ninomiya’s response was to turn the stereo just a little louder.
* * * * * * *
Their eyes met across the elegant though dimly lit restaurant. Hers, wide and surprised. His, sardonic and appreciative.
“No way,” Mao hissed. “No freaking way am I going in there.”
“Please!” Horikita Maki pleaded, her huge, doe eyes brimming with tears. “Pretty please! You promised and I can’t do this on my own! I need your support. I swear, if all goes well, you can leave after dinner.”
How the hell did she get into these situations? Mao had gotten the call from her friend Maki the night before, slightly hysterical as the guy she had been very close to stalking, finally asked her out. Ikuta Toma stopped by the coffee shop Maki worked at almost every day and every day Maki would call Mao up with the details of the encounter. He seemed like a decent enough guy that one time Mao had met him, but one couldn’t always be sure. And Maki was such a little innocent that it was easy for some jerk to take advantage of her sweet nature. Which was why, as it had recently developed, Mao often found herself tagging along with Maki to help screen for potential losers.
Hence Mao’s presence in this posh restaurant with entrees the same price as her tuition fees.
But why? Just why? Why was Matsumoto Jun sitting there, his grey pin-striped shirt crisp, his wavy dark hair perfectly coiffed, looking all buddy-buddy with Maki’s personal Prince Charming?
She smoothed out the invisible wrinkles in her knock off red Herve Leger bandage dress without another glance to the table.
“I’m going back to the taxi,” she hissed to Maki, who had started making gooey eyes in Ikuta’s direction. But Maki clasped her arm around Mao’s with a strength belied by her small frame.
“No, you’re not. Ikuta-san was kind of enough to bring a friend along. If you leave, think how awkward it would be.”
Mao sighed heavily in defeat and allowed herself to be dragged to the table. Rather than be concerned about the awkwardness of the situation, she had to stay, considering the danger. Leaving Maki alone with these two men was a disaster waiting to happen.
She tried to suppress her grimace when Ikuta and Matsumoto rose up to greet them.
“H-Hello, Maki-chan,” Toma stuttered slightly, shyly smiling at his date. He nodded politely to Mao. “Good evening to you, too, Inoue-san. You both look lovely.” His eyes went straight to Maki, who blushed prettily, turning the same shade as her blush pink dress.
Trying not to laugh, Mao greeted Ikuta with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Toma. But please, call me Mao, remember?”
“Right. Right.”
As though reminding his friend of his presence, which Mao wished whole-heartedly that she could ignore him herself, Matsumoto coughed discreetly.
“Uh. This is my friend, Matsumoto Jun. Jun, this is the girl I told you about, Horikita Maki.” Mao almost snorted in disbelief when Matsumoto actually reached over and kissed Maki’s hand in greeting. Maki was too engrossed with Toma to see Jun wasn’t even looking at her. He was looking at Mao.
“And this is her friend, Inoue Mao.” Cursing the surge of excitement rushing through her, the moment Matsumoto took her hand in his, Mao defiantly met his bold, roving gaze.
Jun smiled secretively. “No introductions, necessary, right, Mao-chan?” He pulled out her chair, while Toma did the same for Maki, and motioned for her to sit. “We’re old friends.”
Mao glared at him, while Toma laughed awkwardly, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “Oh. You two have met, have you?” Toma seemed on the verge of panicking.
“Oh, we’re not close friends or anything,” Mao replied casually. Jun lazily perused the wine list. “Just mutual acquaintances.” She turned to Maki, who looked on curiously. “Do you remember I told you about my classmate Ueta Aya?”
Toma choked on his water.
Jun signaled the waiter for a bottle of wine.
Maki nodded slowly.
“She and Matsumoto-san go way back.”
Realization dawned on Maki’s face as her mouth swung open and her eyes quickly darted between Mao, Jun and Toma.
“You don’t mean-”
“Ah!” Toma cried hastily. “You two should really have a look at the menu. This is a really wonderful restaurant. Have you eaten here before? I recommend the salmon. Or the risotto. Do you like wine? Please, order whatever you like. It’s my treat tonight!” Mao silently snickered not only at Toma’s clumsy ramblings, but at how quickly Maki had forgotten what she was about to say. She sighed happily in Toma’s direction.
“You’re so sweet.”
Mao met Jun’s rolling eyes over the menu and smothered a groan. But as much as she wanted to give them a hard time, she had to remember that she was here for her friend’s sake. And if Maki was happy, then she would try to enjoy herself.
Seeing the mischief in Matsumoto’s face though, Mao just knew Maki was going to owe her big time.
“So, Horikita-san? Do you like dancing as much as Mao-chan?” Mao glared at his offensively handsome face. “How come I never see you at the clubs?”
“Hmm...?” Maki replied absently. She had shifted her chair over slightly so that she and Toma could look over the menu together. “Mao doesn’t really like dancing. Neither of us are really into clubs. Is there anything vegetarian, Toma-san?”
“Strange,” Mao tried to ignore the shivers induced by Matsumoto’s intimately low tone, “I could have sworn you were made for dancing. Maybe you just need a better partner.”
“And maybe you just need some better lines,” she retorted, forcing herself to re-read the menu. “How’s that bruise, by the way?” she snapped, snatching her fingers back when his fingers brushed against hers, pulling the menu from her.
“Might I suggest...?” he began.
“No. I can pick something myself,” she made herself reply as sweetly as she could when she really just wanted to kick him in the shins. Mao could see him bite back a smile.
“Are you ready to order?” Toma surfaced from the cloud he and Maki had surrounded themselves with to pour everyone a glass of wine..
“To first dates,” he toasted, smiling at Maki.
“To round 2,” Matsumoto whispered so that Mao was the only one to hear. She fortified herself with a dizzying swig of red velvet.
Maki was definitely going to owe her.
Mao was about to say something, when Maki let out a loud gasp, causing everyone at the table to look at her.
“Sorry,” Maki said hoarsely. “I thought I saw something. It turned out to be...No! Mao! Don’t...”
It was too late. Mao had heard it. A sound so familiar that it almost broke her heart, though she swore to herself that nothing and no one would ever get that close to her heart again. The sound of male laughter. His laughter. The kind he makes when someone surprised him, teased him, flirted with him. Like she used to do.
Against her better judgment, she turned.
There he was.
Shun.
Oguri Shun in all his glorious, tall, charming boyish glory.
His glorious, tall, charming, boyish, cheating ass-hole glory.
“Oh, Shun!”
Mao resisted the urge to check if her ears had started bleeding the minute the high pierced giggling began. Any danger of sentimental reminiscing diminished.
There by Shun’s side, of course, was the probably the latest little tart he was cheating on one of his current girlfriends with.
She should know. She used to be one of them. A girlfriend that is.
“Keiko, you’re such a sweetheart. How did I ever get so lucky?”
If she threw up a little, would anyone notice?
“Friends of yours?” Matsumoto’s silky voice brought her back. Maki looked concerned, while Toma seemed confused. Jun just raised an eyebrow at her pouring her another glass of wine. She took another fortifying swig.
“Not particularly,” she muttered.
“Mao-chan?” Oh God. Mao wanted to start banging her head repeatedly on the table. If people thought she was crazy, they’d leave her alone, right?
“Mao-chan! I thought it was you. How’ve you been?”
Really, the nerve of some people.
“Hello, Shun.” Amazing how calm and serene one could sound driving a fist into one’s own leg. “It’s been a while.” She forced her gaze upwards to face the man whom she once imagined was the essence of love and her eternal happiness.
Three years of her life. Wasted.
No. Not wasted, she reminded herself.
Three years learning experience. Kind of like a practicum. Or a case study in the behavior of lying, cheating scumbags with over active libidos and the naïve girls who are stupid enough to love them.
“Yeah. Wow. You look great!” His eyes traveled up and down the length of her body. “Really, great.”
Was it her imagination, or did she just hear Matsumoto growl? She glanced at him. He sat with his arm slung back over his chair and watched them with an icy gleam in his eye.
She smiled coolly. “And you look… the same.” She gave his companion and dismissive glance. Reiko. Keiko. Whatever her name was glared at her and squeezed Shun’s arm tight. “You never change, do you?”
Mao then noticed that what’s her name was trying not to look at Matsumoto. Hell, is there a club womanizers belong to or something? Probably share tips with each other. Like which cologne contains the most female attracting pheromones.
Shun chuckled. “Why change a good thing, ne, Mao-chan?” He wiggled his brows suggestively at her, “And you know I can be a very good thing.” Shun smirked at Jun, who just smiled back blankly.
Kyoko pouted and tugged at Shun’s arm. “Hey… we’re going to be late for the party. Why are you talking to her for?” Mao drummed her fingers on the table impatiently wondering the same thing.
Shun kissed the girl’s forehead nonchalantly. “I’m just saying hi to an old friend, baby. No big deal. Isn’t that right, Mao?” Without waiting for her reaction, they turned and headed for the entrance. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” He waved a little to the rest of the table. “Enjoy your evening.”
Mao smiled tightly, waving aside Maki’s hand that was touching her shoulder in comfort. “It’s always good running into old... friends,” she tried not to grit her teeth too hard. “Look, our waiter is here. Let’s enjoy some delicious food, ne?” Maki and Toma nodded hesitantly, while Jun glanced at her lazily above the rim of his wine glass.
Pride made her chin rise just a fraction as she silently challenged Matsumoto with her eyes. Go ahead, make a wisecrack about my taste in men. Offer me solace and make me promises like you’ll help me forget a man like him ever existed. Tell me all the things you think I want to hear.
But he made no move to do so.
Instead, what she read in his searing dark eyes affected more than the encounter with her ex did.
A heap of understanding with just a dash of pity. The perfect recipe to ignite her fury.
Did he really think that just because of some random encounter with her ex that he knew her? Did he feel sorry for her because she let herself get played by someone she loved? If anything, she was stronger. So he could take his pity and shove it.
But Jun was still looking at her as though she were some pathetic, broken creature who needed to be petted and comforted. A too easy conquest for the hunter. In that moment, Mao had never resented anyone more and something inside of her snapped. Mao met his gaze head on.
You wanted to play, Matsumoto? Let’s play.
Matsumoto smiled in anticipation.
Here is the sequel to "An Exercise in Seduction". This is Mao's POV. Warning: This program contains sexual content that may not be suitable for some viewers. Please read responsibly.
PS, I don't really know how sensitive some readers are, so I'm posting that there is explicit adult content just to be on the safe side.
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Retaliation
“So, did we accomplish all we set out to do, Oh Great Lady Avenger of Women Scorned?”
Inoue Mao stuck her tongue out at her friend, Ninomiya Kazunari, who was sitting behind the wheel of the car. “I would like to get back to my loving boyfriend with my purity intact,” he joked sarcastically.
She batted her eyelashes at him and pouted, “But Kazu-kun, I was hoping we could finish what we started on the dance floor.” She snickered, recalling Matsumoto’s words.
“Don’t make me toss you from the car, missy. You’re lucky Ryo trusts me or he never would have agreed to let me help you out.”
“Whatever. He knows you’re in no real danger from me.”
“Only because I’m immune to your man-eater ways.”
She glared at him. “Ryo trusts me. And I would never do anything to betray that trust. He knows I won’t do anything because it’s you.”
“Ryo trusts me, you mean. He knows I would never stray from him.”
“You say that now...” she sang in a little girl voice.
“One of these days, Mao-chan,” Kazu said, while turning the wheel, “you’re gonna meet someone...”
“Who will beat me at my own game...blah, blah, blah...”
He knocked the side of her head. “Who’ll simply love you and who you will love simply.”
“Don’t make me toss myself from the car.”
Kazu was one of her best friends and one of those rare good guys: loyal and loving. The guys Mao tended to attract were other L words. Lame. Losers. Liars. Kazu’s only flaw was his tendency to believe in the concept of soul-mates and other romantic crap like that. Well, plus he was gay. Not that it was a flaw so much that it sort of took him out of the running.
“I’m just saying, you won’t find the right guy chasing around pretty boys like Matsumoto.”
She wasn’t chasing him. She had just been... playing with him.
“Just be careful, ok? He’s not like your usual fare. I’ve heard stories about him. You may have met your match, Oh Lady Vengeance.”
“Haha...Whatever. Don’t worry about me. I had my fun for the night.”
It wasn’t as though she had a real score to settle with Matsumoto. She was more annoyed with him than anything for the way he treated that night when he became the unfortunate recipient of her rum and Coke. She didn’t like going to clubs much and her friends had dragged her there after rehearsal that night with little warning. They had freaked when they saw what happened, afraid that the ever popular Matsujun would do something to get even with her. She laughed. What did they think he would do? Get people in the club to start bullying her? What was this? A drama? However, she did recall the name of the man that left her classmate, Aya, fuming.
“Why not have a little fun at his expense?” she suggested to her. Aya had readily agreed.
But although Mao had managed a clean get away from the proud predator, even she was leery of further acquaintances with Matsumoto Jun. He was smooth, charming and more dangerous than any other man she had met, alluding a charged sexuality that should be stamped with a warning label. If she hadn’t been so aware of the damage he could cause to a woman, she may have very well become nothing more than a notch on his bedpost. No, Matsumoto was more trouble than he was worth.
Mao looked out of her window into the garish lights of Roppongi’s nightlife.
“I’m pretty sure chances are slim that I see Matsumoto again any time soon.”
Ninomiya’s response was to turn the stereo just a little louder.
* * * * * * *
Their eyes met across the elegant though dimly lit restaurant. Hers, wide and surprised. His, sardonic and appreciative.
“No way,” Mao hissed. “No freaking way am I going in there.”
“Please!” Horikita Maki pleaded, her huge, doe eyes brimming with tears. “Pretty please! You promised and I can’t do this on my own! I need your support. I swear, if all goes well, you can leave after dinner.”
How the hell did she get into these situations? Mao had gotten the call from her friend Maki the night before, slightly hysterical as the guy she had been very close to stalking, finally asked her out. Ikuta Toma stopped by the coffee shop Maki worked at almost every day and every day Maki would call Mao up with the details of the encounter. He seemed like a decent enough guy that one time Mao had met him, but one couldn’t always be sure. And Maki was such a little innocent that it was easy for some jerk to take advantage of her sweet nature. Which was why, as it had recently developed, Mao often found herself tagging along with Maki to help screen for potential losers.
Hence Mao’s presence in this posh restaurant with entrees the same price as her tuition fees.
But why? Just why? Why was Matsumoto Jun sitting there, his grey pin-striped shirt crisp, his wavy dark hair perfectly coiffed, looking all buddy-buddy with Maki’s personal Prince Charming?
She smoothed out the invisible wrinkles in her knock off red Herve Leger bandage dress without another glance to the table.
“I’m going back to the taxi,” she hissed to Maki, who had started making gooey eyes in Ikuta’s direction. But Maki clasped her arm around Mao’s with a strength belied by her small frame.
“No, you’re not. Ikuta-san was kind of enough to bring a friend along. If you leave, think how awkward it would be.”
Mao sighed heavily in defeat and allowed herself to be dragged to the table. Rather than be concerned about the awkwardness of the situation, she had to stay, considering the danger. Leaving Maki alone with these two men was a disaster waiting to happen.
She tried to suppress her grimace when Ikuta and Matsumoto rose up to greet them.
“H-Hello, Maki-chan,” Toma stuttered slightly, shyly smiling at his date. He nodded politely to Mao. “Good evening to you, too, Inoue-san. You both look lovely.” His eyes went straight to Maki, who blushed prettily, turning the same shade as her blush pink dress.
Trying not to laugh, Mao greeted Ikuta with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Toma. But please, call me Mao, remember?”
“Right. Right.”
As though reminding his friend of his presence, which Mao wished whole-heartedly that she could ignore him herself, Matsumoto coughed discreetly.
“Uh. This is my friend, Matsumoto Jun. Jun, this is the girl I told you about, Horikita Maki.” Mao almost snorted in disbelief when Matsumoto actually reached over and kissed Maki’s hand in greeting. Maki was too engrossed with Toma to see Jun wasn’t even looking at her. He was looking at Mao.
“And this is her friend, Inoue Mao.” Cursing the surge of excitement rushing through her, the moment Matsumoto took her hand in his, Mao defiantly met his bold, roving gaze.
Jun smiled secretively. “No introductions, necessary, right, Mao-chan?” He pulled out her chair, while Toma did the same for Maki, and motioned for her to sit. “We’re old friends.”
Mao glared at him, while Toma laughed awkwardly, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “Oh. You two have met, have you?” Toma seemed on the verge of panicking.
“Oh, we’re not close friends or anything,” Mao replied casually. Jun lazily perused the wine list. “Just mutual acquaintances.” She turned to Maki, who looked on curiously. “Do you remember I told you about my classmate Ueta Aya?”
Toma choked on his water.
Jun signaled the waiter for a bottle of wine.
Maki nodded slowly.
“She and Matsumoto-san go way back.”
Realization dawned on Maki’s face as her mouth swung open and her eyes quickly darted between Mao, Jun and Toma.
“You don’t mean-”
“Ah!” Toma cried hastily. “You two should really have a look at the menu. This is a really wonderful restaurant. Have you eaten here before? I recommend the salmon. Or the risotto. Do you like wine? Please, order whatever you like. It’s my treat tonight!” Mao silently snickered not only at Toma’s clumsy ramblings, but at how quickly Maki had forgotten what she was about to say. She sighed happily in Toma’s direction.
“You’re so sweet.”
Mao met Jun’s rolling eyes over the menu and smothered a groan. But as much as she wanted to give them a hard time, she had to remember that she was here for her friend’s sake. And if Maki was happy, then she would try to enjoy herself.
Seeing the mischief in Matsumoto’s face though, Mao just knew Maki was going to owe her big time.
“So, Horikita-san? Do you like dancing as much as Mao-chan?” Mao glared at his offensively handsome face. “How come I never see you at the clubs?”
“Hmm...?” Maki replied absently. She had shifted her chair over slightly so that she and Toma could look over the menu together. “Mao doesn’t really like dancing. Neither of us are really into clubs. Is there anything vegetarian, Toma-san?”
“Strange,” Mao tried to ignore the shivers induced by Matsumoto’s intimately low tone, “I could have sworn you were made for dancing. Maybe you just need a better partner.”
“And maybe you just need some better lines,” she retorted, forcing herself to re-read the menu. “How’s that bruise, by the way?” she snapped, snatching her fingers back when his fingers brushed against hers, pulling the menu from her.
“Might I suggest...?” he began.
“No. I can pick something myself,” she made herself reply as sweetly as she could when she really just wanted to kick him in the shins. Mao could see him bite back a smile.
“Are you ready to order?” Toma surfaced from the cloud he and Maki had surrounded themselves with to pour everyone a glass of wine..
“To first dates,” he toasted, smiling at Maki.
“To round 2,” Matsumoto whispered so that Mao was the only one to hear. She fortified herself with a dizzying swig of red velvet.
Maki was definitely going to owe her.
Mao was about to say something, when Maki let out a loud gasp, causing everyone at the table to look at her.
“Sorry,” Maki said hoarsely. “I thought I saw something. It turned out to be...No! Mao! Don’t...”
It was too late. Mao had heard it. A sound so familiar that it almost broke her heart, though she swore to herself that nothing and no one would ever get that close to her heart again. The sound of male laughter. His laughter. The kind he makes when someone surprised him, teased him, flirted with him. Like she used to do.
Against her better judgment, she turned.
There he was.
Shun.
Oguri Shun in all his glorious, tall, charming boyish glory.
His glorious, tall, charming, boyish, cheating ass-hole glory.
“Oh, Shun!”
Mao resisted the urge to check if her ears had started bleeding the minute the high pierced giggling began. Any danger of sentimental reminiscing diminished.
There by Shun’s side, of course, was the probably the latest little tart he was cheating on one of his current girlfriends with.
She should know. She used to be one of them. A girlfriend that is.
“Keiko, you’re such a sweetheart. How did I ever get so lucky?”
If she threw up a little, would anyone notice?
“Friends of yours?” Matsumoto’s silky voice brought her back. Maki looked concerned, while Toma seemed confused. Jun just raised an eyebrow at her pouring her another glass of wine. She took another fortifying swig.
“Not particularly,” she muttered.
“Mao-chan?” Oh God. Mao wanted to start banging her head repeatedly on the table. If people thought she was crazy, they’d leave her alone, right?
“Mao-chan! I thought it was you. How’ve you been?”
Really, the nerve of some people.
“Hello, Shun.” Amazing how calm and serene one could sound driving a fist into one’s own leg. “It’s been a while.” She forced her gaze upwards to face the man whom she once imagined was the essence of love and her eternal happiness.
Three years of her life. Wasted.
No. Not wasted, she reminded herself.
Three years learning experience. Kind of like a practicum. Or a case study in the behavior of lying, cheating scumbags with over active libidos and the naïve girls who are stupid enough to love them.
“Yeah. Wow. You look great!” His eyes traveled up and down the length of her body. “Really, great.”
Was it her imagination, or did she just hear Matsumoto growl? She glanced at him. He sat with his arm slung back over his chair and watched them with an icy gleam in his eye.
She smiled coolly. “And you look… the same.” She gave his companion and dismissive glance. Reiko. Keiko. Whatever her name was glared at her and squeezed Shun’s arm tight. “You never change, do you?”
Mao then noticed that what’s her name was trying not to look at Matsumoto. Hell, is there a club womanizers belong to or something? Probably share tips with each other. Like which cologne contains the most female attracting pheromones.
Shun chuckled. “Why change a good thing, ne, Mao-chan?” He wiggled his brows suggestively at her, “And you know I can be a very good thing.” Shun smirked at Jun, who just smiled back blankly.
Kyoko pouted and tugged at Shun’s arm. “Hey… we’re going to be late for the party. Why are you talking to her for?” Mao drummed her fingers on the table impatiently wondering the same thing.
Shun kissed the girl’s forehead nonchalantly. “I’m just saying hi to an old friend, baby. No big deal. Isn’t that right, Mao?” Without waiting for her reaction, they turned and headed for the entrance. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” He waved a little to the rest of the table. “Enjoy your evening.”
Mao smiled tightly, waving aside Maki’s hand that was touching her shoulder in comfort. “It’s always good running into old... friends,” she tried not to grit her teeth too hard. “Look, our waiter is here. Let’s enjoy some delicious food, ne?” Maki and Toma nodded hesitantly, while Jun glanced at her lazily above the rim of his wine glass.
Pride made her chin rise just a fraction as she silently challenged Matsumoto with her eyes. Go ahead, make a wisecrack about my taste in men. Offer me solace and make me promises like you’ll help me forget a man like him ever existed. Tell me all the things you think I want to hear.
But he made no move to do so.
Instead, what she read in his searing dark eyes affected more than the encounter with her ex did.
A heap of understanding with just a dash of pity. The perfect recipe to ignite her fury.
Did he really think that just because of some random encounter with her ex that he knew her? Did he feel sorry for her because she let herself get played by someone she loved? If anything, she was stronger. So he could take his pity and shove it.
But Jun was still looking at her as though she were some pathetic, broken creature who needed to be petted and comforted. A too easy conquest for the hunter. In that moment, Mao had never resented anyone more and something inside of her snapped. Mao met his gaze head on.
You wanted to play, Matsumoto? Let’s play.
Matsumoto smiled in anticipation.