Prisoner of Love (fanfic)
If you haven't read the first chapter, you can find it here!
Chapter 2
Jun stood there awkwardly in front of the group. He glanced at the baba openly staring at him with a wicked glint in her eye. She was definitely interested and it wasn’t because he was good looking.
“Selina-san, this is Matsumoto Jun.” Jun politely nodded to the table. “After Pi, he’s one of the most requested waiter here.”
“Welcome to Bishounen Cafe, Selina-san.”
“Matsumoto” Selina paused. “ka?” She paused to intentionaly leave out the honorific san out of her greeting. She was grinning evilly. Jun looked like he was ready to kill her, with a polite smile but a threatening gaze. Chri, Pi and Ryo are looking both at them. They wondered what caused this kind of reaction from her. Chri wasn’t aware that her friend knew anyone from the cafe besides Pi and Ryo. It also didn’t explain the exchange they witnessed a couple of minutes ago.
Selina stood, pointing at Matsumoto. Jun almost ost the tray that he was holding up. She continued to point at him. He carefully put the tray down and smiled politely to his customers before facing her.
“Don’t tell me...” she started.
“I won’t. And close your mouth. It is most unbecoming of a lady.” He snickered. “If you are one.”
Jun -1. Selina- 0.
Chri was grateful that Selina didn’t fly off the handle and just laid one on that waiter. She knew her friend had a temper and didn’t like losing. Not one bit. But instead of using profanities, her friend sat down quietly.
And has not stopped grinning ever since.
Ryo called the server over and introduced him as Matsumoto Jun. Although Chri has been in several times in the cafe and talked with Jun, he had never been rude to her. He was actually a nice guy even if he appeared cold at times. As long as he was treated nice, Jun reciprocate the kindness.
It was all going the wrong way between Selina and Jun.
Selina was still grinning. She had met some of the boys in Japan and no one dared to even talk back to her like that. They were all shy in front of a foreigner. This Matsumoto Jun though, he didn’t even care. Which earned him a point in her book. But that was all that she was going to concede to. This time, Selina Harvey was in game mode. And she wasn’t going to be beat.
She turned toward Ryo who still had a puzzled look on his face. “Ne, Nishikado-san. Didn’t you say that after Pi, Matsumoto here is the...” she paused to look back at him and then back to Ryo, “second best in the cafe?” She said this with emphasis on the word second. Ryo just nodded.
Chri wondered where this was leading to. She wasn’t alone in the thought. That included Jun. Before he had that flash of realization.
Masaka....
“Ano...Nishikado-san, I have guests...” Jun politely intercepted.
“Well, if Matsumoto isn’t too busy with pleasing the ladies, I was wondering if he could be my dedicated server?” Selina heard the gasp coming from Chri.
“No.” Jun flatly declined.
Ryo gave him a pointed look. The word ‘no’ wasn’t often heard in the cafe.
Chri gave her friend a warning look. “I think you’re going too far, Sel...” Selina gave her a look back, an indication that she wasn’t fazed at all. “What? I didn’t do anything but request him as my server. Am I right, Nishikado-san? I can do that, right?” Ryo just nodded. She really didn’t do anything wrong. If he thought that the female customers were bullying his employees, he would have politely declined her request. But out of all the waiters he has, Matsumoto didn’t need protecting. He can handle himself.
Selina smiled up to Jun with that Cheshire grin. “I am doing a paper on different types of cafes in Japan for my thesis in school. I didn’t want to disturb Nishikado-san all the time and it might be better to get the point of view who is actually doing the work. Of course, I wouldn’t do it to waste your time as well. Would that be ok? Matsumoto....san?”
Her last word was said to irritate him. As Jun stared at this woman, he was trying to think of her motive. All her words seem plausible. If Nishikado-san thought it was just an excuse, he would have said something a long time ago. But the woman was more than an acquaintance with Nishikado-san and didn’t help at all that she was friends with Chri-chan and Pi. Jun at least deduced that this woman liked to play games. Well, if she wanted a game, she got one.
He smiled back, as polite as he can at Selina. “Of course, that would be absolutely ok!” Then he added softly, “As if I had any option to say no.” Customers from his table suddenly called for his attention. Jun bowed before them. “I apologize but I must attend to my customers for today. If you would excuse me...” Before he could exit, Selina spoke.
“Of course, you are excused. We’ll talk next time, Matsumoto.” The honorific was gone again.
He gave her a chilly smile before bowing once more and turning away.
Nishikado immediately turned to Selina to apologize but he stopped.
She was laughing. Aloud.
Jun -1. Selina- 1.
Things were going to get interesting.
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Selina entered the cafe that day without hesitation. Chri and Pi wasn’t with her today. Ryo was indeed working but he told her that there was some business he had to take care of that he won’t be able to attend to her personally. It didn’t matter to her if he was there or not. But she made sure that he was working there today.
As Selina entered the cafe, she was greeted by the servers. She requested him by name and was led to a booth. She was told that Jun would be with her in a moment as he just came in. She put her bag on the next vacant chair. She then pulled out a pen, a notebook and a recorder. She might write fast but with a recorder, she would be able to get minute details that she might have missed.
Jun appeared in a white shirt with a gray vest, matched with black pants. He had his hair all slicked back. He wasn’t particularly happy when they told him that the baba was here. But this was work and he was being paid to be nice. So he would deal with her as politely as he could. Jun approached her with his typical smile, taking the defensive stance.
“Welcome back, Selina-san,” he started.
“Who told you you could call me by my first name?” she responded curtly. “Don’t you know how to be polite? I thought the Japanese start with last names first?”
Ah, so she was going to be like this today, huh? Jun can’t be impolite towards her but she needed to be taught. For now, maybe killing her with kindness would work.
He bowed in apology. “Gomenasai. I would have addressed you with your last name if I knew of it.”
She stopped to think about that. That was true. Nishikado-san did introduce her as Selina and failed to mention her last name. She just smiled back. “Its Harvey. But since you already know my first name, that would do.” She really didn’t know why she was giving him such a hard time. Oh, wait. The first time they met. There’s that. First impressions do leave deep impressions. But she can’t antagonize him too much. She did need him for her paper.
Selina looked at the chalkboard to peruse the menu. It was time to deflect for just a bit, the rising tension between them. “What do you recommend for today, Matsumoto-san?”
Jun was taken aback at her question. Gone was agitated voice. This woman changed moods faster than Mother Nature. Since she was being polite, he would do the same. For now. “I would recommend our green tea cake today. It really is delicious but not to sweet nor bitter. Its not heavy either and I think would completely compliment your preferred chai tea. Of course, if you would like another drink to go with it, you are certainly welcome to order that.”
She nodded. “I trust you. I’m really not much into sweets but I am more than willing to give this a try.”
After her cake and tea been delivered, he didn’t know if he should keep her company or not. The cafe was not to busy today and none of his regulars are in. He wanted the cafe to be busy so he won’t have to awkwardly stand there and attend to her. He silently watched as she went for her tea first.
“Selina-san, if I maybe so bold. Try the cake first. I think if you drink your tea, it might ruin the taste of the cake.”
She raised an eyebrow at him but did not say a word. She focused her attention on the cake. A soft smile flitted her lips after she took a bite out of the cake. After swallowing the cake, she took a sip of her tea. Surprised that he didn’t stop her this time.
“That was indeed delicious.” She couldn’t help but express her satisfaction. “I think if I did indeed drink my tea before it, I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much.”
Jun didn’t push her for a thank you. He heard it in her words.
She took another sip of her tea. Selina put the cup down and looked at him, annoyed. “Matsumoto-san, if you don’t want to be here, then just say so. It looks like I am torturing you with my mere presence.” Selina didn’t miss how he fidgeted and stared at her this whole time. Not that she wasn’t entirely to blame. She probably made him dislike her so much already.
“It is a torture,” he simply said.
Selina looked at him in surprise. Jun leaned down towards her, his voice low. “If you quit being such a bitch, I’d actually be more than willing to help you. But since you act as if I’m your lowly servant, I don’t think anyone would be happy being treated that way. Don’t you?” He looked at her directly in the eye.
A cold shiver went down her spine. This was not a person to piss off. He looked nice and charming on the outside. But on the inside...this man has a very dark side to him. Something that Selina had a temporary glimpse of. Even before she could utter one word, Jun straightened.
“Let me get you a refill of your tea, Selina-san.” He bowed and left.
She could only follow him with her gaze. Had she really gone too far?
Chapter end notes: Is this already the end for Selina and Jun? Even when they haven’t even started? As always, read, review and comment! You feed this writer’s muse and soul!
Continue to Chapter 3