[Fanfic] A Beautiful Mess (Chapter Nine)
What I've been doing the past 17 days that keeps me from finishing this chapter (mind you, I've started writing this chapter after I updated chapter 8 but for two whole weeks I am stuck with the first paragraph >_<) 1. Drooling over Sakurai Sho. (IS THIS EVEN NEW??? ^_^) And I can't wait for his new drama!! :)) 2. Getting carried away by the Smart Gilas Pilipinas playing so well against Asian basketball giants in the FIBA Asia Championship and getting my heart broken because they blew their 2 chances to enter the 2012 London Olympics. I was really heartbroken, I've been sulking for days. :((((( 3. UAAP related events, Cheerdance and Basketball finals. Yes, I'm a sucker for Filipino basketball players! ♥ 4. A strong storm hit our country last Tuesday and electricity were down for one whole day. To all my Pinoy readers, take care guys. I heard a new storm is coming over the weekend. 5. I'M JUST REALLY LAZY. :p
Anyways, I finally manages to finish this chapter! Hooray! :)))) Though I'm not that confident with this one, I hope it satisfy your JunXYana fix. :)
This is unbeta-ed so if there are any grammatical or spelling errors, please let me know so I can make it right. :) Comments, suggestions, reactions (positive or negative) are gladly welcome. :)
CHAPTER NINE
Matsumoto Jun can only stare at the two people having fun at the end of the corridor. They look like they’re lost at their own little world to even notice him and Sakurai Sho watching them from the other end. He’s happy that she looks happy. At least Nino somehow manages to make her smile after whatever happened last night. That’s what’s important to him, to make sure that at the end of the day, a smile can succeed to appear in her lips.
The raucous laughter from the two began to fade as they notice their audience approaching them. Jun’s heart started beating rapidly when Izumi Yana stops to look at him, followed by his favorite warm smile of hers.
“Matsu-” Yana was stopped by the sudden raising of Jun’s eyebrow. “Jun-kun.” She corrected herself. Sho and Nino exchanged suspicious glances. “Sakurai-san, Ohisashiburi desu. I hope you guys don’t mind me tagging along.”
“No, no. That’s fine. It’s rare to have a visitor on set. It’s something new to look forward to.” Sho assured before giving Jun a quick glance. “Right, Matsujun?” He nudged Jun’s arm which didn’t escaped Nino’s eyes.
“Uhm.” Jun nods his head. “We’re glad you can join us today, even if it’s behind the scenes.” He reached for the dressing room’s door knob before he can start getting all awkward with Nino eyeing him suspiciously. He needs Aiba’s hype to loosen up his tension. This is the first time he saw her again after his realization and he never expected it to be this nerve-wracking.
When the door opened, Ohno and Aiba didn’t even dare keep their eyes away from their video game.
“Typical Arashi dressing room.” Nino whispered to Yana who chuckled at the sight of two grown adults seriously gazing at the television screen.
“I am not surprised. They are just like you.” Yana commented, patting Nino in the back.
“Is Mario Kart better than Izumi Yana-sama in flesh?” Nino said in order to get Ohno and Aiba’s attention. Just like what he expected, the two immediately shifted their eyes to Yana.
“Yana-chan!” Aiba cheerfully say as he drops his Wii remote on the couch.
“Yana-chan? Are you that close?” Jun questioned him followed by playful slap on the back.
“It’s just that she’s everywhere on TV, I feel like I know her so well, you know.” Aiba reasoned out.
“Shut up!” It was Sho’s turn to scold him.
“That’s totally fine, Aiba-san. I prefer people calling me that, actually.” Yana came on Aiba’s side, Jun and Sho received a smug look from him.
“See?” Aiba proudly said. “You can call me Masaki if you want.” He added earning a timid laugh from Yana.
“Ehh. That’s a bit embarrassing to be calling you by your first name.” Yana said.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you call Matsujun ‘Jun-kun’.” Nino suddenly blurted out, eyeing a perplexed Jun.
“She does?! Are you that close?” Aiba returns Jun’s previous question to him.
Ohno, who’s been silent since their visitor came in, was just smiling quietly to himself. He doesn’t know what’s going on but what he’s sure about is that there’s an awkward air coming from their youngest member every time Izumi Yana’s name is involved.
“We’ve met a few times and we kinda enjoyed talking to each other, right?” Jun said as calm as possible, looking at Yana.
Yana smiled. “Yeah, we always bumped into each other and unlike bratty Nino, Jun-kun here is very nice and sweet.” She glanced at Jun as they exchanged little giggles to each other.
“Hey! Don’t talk like I’m not here!” Nino demanded. “I am nice and sweet as well, you have to admit.” he says smugly.
“Yes you are. If you tone down your brattiness, that is.” Yana noted, earning thumps up from the other four members.
Their little gathering in the dressing room was cut short when a staff came to get the members to start the recording. Nino asked the staff to take care of Yana from behind the scenes, causing some banters from them asking if they began dating since this is the first time any of the Arashi members brought a girl to the set, Nino and Yana then dismissed their false accusation.
With everyone’s attention is focused on Nino and Yana, Jun can only admire her quietly from behind. He’s already satisfied with seeing her laughing and smiling with the fun going on with the recording and if only Nino can bring her to their variety show recordings every time, he wouldn’t mind the long hours as long as he can see the sight of her.
It’s inevitable. What he feels about her. It’s a whole new different thing. He cares too much, way too much that he already finds it weird. He barely knew her and yet his affection for her is indescribable. Izumi Yana may appear strong and independent, always wearing that smile in her lips but in her eyes, Jun can see the burning sadness, the sadness he first saw in that dark playground. Whenever she would smile, Jun assumes that it’s her way of telling herself to be strong and he would somehow feel a bit relieved because he knew that she is trying.
---
The recording ended after three hours and Arashi succeeded to win in the end. The members all received high fives from Yana as they approached her in the green room.
“We are going to record another episode, are you not bored yet?” Nino told Yana as he hands her a bento.
“Do you want to get rid of me already?” Yana asked, of course she meant it as a joke.
“Shut up. Don’t be so sensitive.” Nino answered as they both joined the rest of the members on the table to eat.
“Do you guys really have to record several episodes a day?” Yana asked. “That’s pretty tiring.”
“Yeah, sometimes we do three to four episodes in one day.” Sho answered. “Since some of us have solo commitments to attend to and in this case, Nino’s busy with the drama so we have to keep up with his schedule.”
“Don’t you guys get tired? Especially on VS Arashi, you play games the whole day!” Yana asked.
“We are used to it.” Aiba answered. “But comparing our schedule to yours… I think you’re busier. I heard that our staff is trying to guest you in all our shows for a long time now and until now there’s not a single appearance yet.”
Yana laughed, looking at a smiling Nino beside her. “Last year was pretty hectic. That’s the first time I experience flying out of the country early in the morning and coming back before midnight. That was crazy! I never had a single day off the entire year! But so far this year, the Jimusho is taking it slow since the whole hospital thing.” She stopped as she exchanged meaningful looks with Jun. “I don’t have any projects besides the drama.”
“Which means that’s there’s a big possibility to guest in our shows.” Nino winked at her. “Do you guys know that Yana is a big Arashi fan?” he announced with a big grin.
“You’re getting so full of yourself again!” Yana pulled his ear and Nino erupts with a roaring ‘itai’.
“You never told me you’re a fan…” Jun joins Nino in teasing her. Yana’s eyes went big as it reaches his and he burst out in laughter. He never teased her before, mainly because all their previous conversations are about serious matters and they are still trying to break the ice but seeing that she’s slowly starting to get comfortable around the other members with the help of Nino, maybe it’s about time to get a little bit relaxed with each other.
“I just really think that your variety shows are entertaining and fun and I wanted to experience it. This brat is exaggerating everything I say.” She’s about to pull his ear again but he’s quick to avoid it. “Actually, last week I was able to watch VS Arashi where this guy played awfully!” she pointed at Nino who’s burying his face in his palm. The four Arashi members began laughing.
“Don’t remind them about it!” Nino urges her to stop talking by pulling out her arm towards him.
“I’m not gonna talk about you!” Yana said and Nino releases her arm. “Anyways, it got me thinking, I wanna play falling pipe and Nino will do the pipe choice and we will exchange banters during the talk part and I will reveal stuff about him. How he’s so cheap and only eats 30 yen milk buns for breakfast and how he’s so nerdy and geeky and anti-social and-”
Nino made her stop talking by covering her mouth with his hand. “You said you’re not gonna talk about me.”
“I’m talking about my ideas when I finally get to appear on an Arashi variety show!” Yana mumbled behind his hamburger hands.
“You’re just saying that to bully me!” Nino reasoned out, tightening his grip on Yana. Their faces are so close to each other that he can already smell her shampoo.
The other members are just gaping at this sight, obviously stunned at how they are so comfortable with each other amidst the curious eyes of the staff around. Nino isn’t the type to show affection publicly, that’s of course with the exception of Ohno Satoshi, he’s usually keeping things low-profile especially with girls he dated. But with his different treatment with Yana in front of everyone, something is very off.
With Nino’s growing special friendship with Yana going very smoothly, Jun’s burning feelings may have need to step back a little. That’s what he realized as he witness them going into their own little world again just like earlier. Sho’s been eyeing him from time to time and he continuously assured him that he’s fine with a forced smile.
“I’m afraid I can’t join you for the rest of the day.” Yana said when Nino finally releases her in his grip. “I have to go meet my manager because I’ve been MIA since last night, I have to go see her before she go crazy.”
“What happen again last night?” Nino tried to fish for information again. It makes him even more curious when she constantly denied him.
Yana just scoffs as she scans the messages in her phone. “Tomorrow. I promise.” She softly told him and he replies with a silent groan.
“That’s sad, Ohno-san hasn’t said a word yet and you’re leaving already.” Sho informed, making everyone laugh and Ohno turning red in his seat.
“Oi! Leader! Speak to her first before she leaves.” Nino ordered him.
Ohno willingly followed as he stood up from his seat. “Take care on the road. It was nice to meet you again.” He bent down for a bow followed by a timid smile.
Yana smiled as she returned the bow. “Hai, Ohno-san. It was nice to meet you again also. I had fun watching today.”
“I’ll accompany you to your car.” Nino offered as he stood up.
For the nth time today, Ninomiya Kazunari is being a gentleman to her.
“Sure.” Yana smiled. “Jaa, I’ll be off now.” She waved her hand.
Aiba, Sho and Jun also stood up from their seats to say goodbye to her. Her eyes caught Jun, who’s standing a bit far from the other members.
“Hold on.” Yana told Nino who’s already standing by her side.
She started walking towards Jun and she was so sure, at least four pairs of eyes are following her.
“Hey.” Yana started, she can’t think of anything to say other than that. From the moment she first saw him earlier, she wanted to come up to him and talk but with the Arashi members around, she can’t.
“Hey.” Jun replied back before he started laughing at how awkward this is. He was waiting for her to speak up but all she did was smile and laugh quietly. “You want to move away from them?” he asked, making sure that he kept his tone down. She nodded and he leads her in a corner away from the others.
“What is it?” Jun asked after they finally secluded themselves away from the members.
Yana sighed, still smiling shy at him. She ran a hand in her hair before finally speaking, “Are you up for a dinner later?” she asked. By the look on Jun’s face, he’s definitely surprised by her question. “If you’re free, that is. If you have other things planned tonight, it’s totally fine.” She added, getting embarrassed at how she straightforwardly blurted out that question.
“I’m free.” Jun said with a smile.
There were many times today that her eyes would catch his eyes but this is the first time she stared at those big brown eyes this clear and up-close and she has to admit she was mesmerized by it.
“But it’s going to be a very late dinner. Is it okay?” Jun said and she went back to her consciousness.
“It’s okay.” Yana said, avoiding his eyes before he can notice that she’s blown away by it.
“Give me your number and I’ll call you once I’m done with work.” Jun gave her his phone and she willingly punch down her number.
“What is this dinner about?” Jun curiously asked.
Yana smiled as she return his phone. “Lately, I really think you’re the only person who understands me.” She gently laughs and Jun chuckled with what she said. That’s clearly a compliment and that makes him feel so much better after feeling a bit down with her new found friendship with Nino.
“I know we’re not that close and we barely knew each other but you’ve been a good friend to me more than anyone else since what happened. And I don’t even know if you want me to call you my friend-”
“Of course you can call me your friend. We are friends.” Jun clearly say.
Yana sighed, running a hand on her long hair, she dare to look again at those big brown eyes. “I needed a friend right now.”
Jun can see plead in her eyes. “I’m here.” He gently strokes her shoulders for support. He wanted to hug her again, even if she doesn’t ask it from him, he wanted to give her a big hug just like before.
Anyways, I finally manages to finish this chapter! Hooray! :)))) Though I'm not that confident with this one, I hope it satisfy your JunXYana fix. :)
This is unbeta-ed so if there are any grammatical or spelling errors, please let me know so I can make it right. :) Comments, suggestions, reactions (positive or negative) are gladly welcome. :)
CHAPTER NINE
Matsumoto Jun can only stare at the two people having fun at the end of the corridor. They look like they’re lost at their own little world to even notice him and Sakurai Sho watching them from the other end. He’s happy that she looks happy. At least Nino somehow manages to make her smile after whatever happened last night. That’s what’s important to him, to make sure that at the end of the day, a smile can succeed to appear in her lips.
The raucous laughter from the two began to fade as they notice their audience approaching them. Jun’s heart started beating rapidly when Izumi Yana stops to look at him, followed by his favorite warm smile of hers.
“Matsu-” Yana was stopped by the sudden raising of Jun’s eyebrow. “Jun-kun.” She corrected herself. Sho and Nino exchanged suspicious glances. “Sakurai-san, Ohisashiburi desu. I hope you guys don’t mind me tagging along.”
“No, no. That’s fine. It’s rare to have a visitor on set. It’s something new to look forward to.” Sho assured before giving Jun a quick glance. “Right, Matsujun?” He nudged Jun’s arm which didn’t escaped Nino’s eyes.
“Uhm.” Jun nods his head. “We’re glad you can join us today, even if it’s behind the scenes.” He reached for the dressing room’s door knob before he can start getting all awkward with Nino eyeing him suspiciously. He needs Aiba’s hype to loosen up his tension. This is the first time he saw her again after his realization and he never expected it to be this nerve-wracking.
When the door opened, Ohno and Aiba didn’t even dare keep their eyes away from their video game.
“Typical Arashi dressing room.” Nino whispered to Yana who chuckled at the sight of two grown adults seriously gazing at the television screen.
“I am not surprised. They are just like you.” Yana commented, patting Nino in the back.
“Is Mario Kart better than Izumi Yana-sama in flesh?” Nino said in order to get Ohno and Aiba’s attention. Just like what he expected, the two immediately shifted their eyes to Yana.
“Yana-chan!” Aiba cheerfully say as he drops his Wii remote on the couch.
“Yana-chan? Are you that close?” Jun questioned him followed by playful slap on the back.
“It’s just that she’s everywhere on TV, I feel like I know her so well, you know.” Aiba reasoned out.
“Shut up!” It was Sho’s turn to scold him.
“That’s totally fine, Aiba-san. I prefer people calling me that, actually.” Yana came on Aiba’s side, Jun and Sho received a smug look from him.
“See?” Aiba proudly said. “You can call me Masaki if you want.” He added earning a timid laugh from Yana.
“Ehh. That’s a bit embarrassing to be calling you by your first name.” Yana said.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you call Matsujun ‘Jun-kun’.” Nino suddenly blurted out, eyeing a perplexed Jun.
“She does?! Are you that close?” Aiba returns Jun’s previous question to him.
Ohno, who’s been silent since their visitor came in, was just smiling quietly to himself. He doesn’t know what’s going on but what he’s sure about is that there’s an awkward air coming from their youngest member every time Izumi Yana’s name is involved.
“We’ve met a few times and we kinda enjoyed talking to each other, right?” Jun said as calm as possible, looking at Yana.
Yana smiled. “Yeah, we always bumped into each other and unlike bratty Nino, Jun-kun here is very nice and sweet.” She glanced at Jun as they exchanged little giggles to each other.
“Hey! Don’t talk like I’m not here!” Nino demanded. “I am nice and sweet as well, you have to admit.” he says smugly.
“Yes you are. If you tone down your brattiness, that is.” Yana noted, earning thumps up from the other four members.
Their little gathering in the dressing room was cut short when a staff came to get the members to start the recording. Nino asked the staff to take care of Yana from behind the scenes, causing some banters from them asking if they began dating since this is the first time any of the Arashi members brought a girl to the set, Nino and Yana then dismissed their false accusation.
With everyone’s attention is focused on Nino and Yana, Jun can only admire her quietly from behind. He’s already satisfied with seeing her laughing and smiling with the fun going on with the recording and if only Nino can bring her to their variety show recordings every time, he wouldn’t mind the long hours as long as he can see the sight of her.
It’s inevitable. What he feels about her. It’s a whole new different thing. He cares too much, way too much that he already finds it weird. He barely knew her and yet his affection for her is indescribable. Izumi Yana may appear strong and independent, always wearing that smile in her lips but in her eyes, Jun can see the burning sadness, the sadness he first saw in that dark playground. Whenever she would smile, Jun assumes that it’s her way of telling herself to be strong and he would somehow feel a bit relieved because he knew that she is trying.
---
The recording ended after three hours and Arashi succeeded to win in the end. The members all received high fives from Yana as they approached her in the green room.
“We are going to record another episode, are you not bored yet?” Nino told Yana as he hands her a bento.
“Do you want to get rid of me already?” Yana asked, of course she meant it as a joke.
“Shut up. Don’t be so sensitive.” Nino answered as they both joined the rest of the members on the table to eat.
“Do you guys really have to record several episodes a day?” Yana asked. “That’s pretty tiring.”
“Yeah, sometimes we do three to four episodes in one day.” Sho answered. “Since some of us have solo commitments to attend to and in this case, Nino’s busy with the drama so we have to keep up with his schedule.”
“Don’t you guys get tired? Especially on VS Arashi, you play games the whole day!” Yana asked.
“We are used to it.” Aiba answered. “But comparing our schedule to yours… I think you’re busier. I heard that our staff is trying to guest you in all our shows for a long time now and until now there’s not a single appearance yet.”
Yana laughed, looking at a smiling Nino beside her. “Last year was pretty hectic. That’s the first time I experience flying out of the country early in the morning and coming back before midnight. That was crazy! I never had a single day off the entire year! But so far this year, the Jimusho is taking it slow since the whole hospital thing.” She stopped as she exchanged meaningful looks with Jun. “I don’t have any projects besides the drama.”
“Which means that’s there’s a big possibility to guest in our shows.” Nino winked at her. “Do you guys know that Yana is a big Arashi fan?” he announced with a big grin.
“You’re getting so full of yourself again!” Yana pulled his ear and Nino erupts with a roaring ‘itai’.
“You never told me you’re a fan…” Jun joins Nino in teasing her. Yana’s eyes went big as it reaches his and he burst out in laughter. He never teased her before, mainly because all their previous conversations are about serious matters and they are still trying to break the ice but seeing that she’s slowly starting to get comfortable around the other members with the help of Nino, maybe it’s about time to get a little bit relaxed with each other.
“I just really think that your variety shows are entertaining and fun and I wanted to experience it. This brat is exaggerating everything I say.” She’s about to pull his ear again but he’s quick to avoid it. “Actually, last week I was able to watch VS Arashi where this guy played awfully!” she pointed at Nino who’s burying his face in his palm. The four Arashi members began laughing.
“Don’t remind them about it!” Nino urges her to stop talking by pulling out her arm towards him.
“I’m not gonna talk about you!” Yana said and Nino releases her arm. “Anyways, it got me thinking, I wanna play falling pipe and Nino will do the pipe choice and we will exchange banters during the talk part and I will reveal stuff about him. How he’s so cheap and only eats 30 yen milk buns for breakfast and how he’s so nerdy and geeky and anti-social and-”
Nino made her stop talking by covering her mouth with his hand. “You said you’re not gonna talk about me.”
“I’m talking about my ideas when I finally get to appear on an Arashi variety show!” Yana mumbled behind his hamburger hands.
“You’re just saying that to bully me!” Nino reasoned out, tightening his grip on Yana. Their faces are so close to each other that he can already smell her shampoo.
The other members are just gaping at this sight, obviously stunned at how they are so comfortable with each other amidst the curious eyes of the staff around. Nino isn’t the type to show affection publicly, that’s of course with the exception of Ohno Satoshi, he’s usually keeping things low-profile especially with girls he dated. But with his different treatment with Yana in front of everyone, something is very off.
With Nino’s growing special friendship with Yana going very smoothly, Jun’s burning feelings may have need to step back a little. That’s what he realized as he witness them going into their own little world again just like earlier. Sho’s been eyeing him from time to time and he continuously assured him that he’s fine with a forced smile.
“I’m afraid I can’t join you for the rest of the day.” Yana said when Nino finally releases her in his grip. “I have to go meet my manager because I’ve been MIA since last night, I have to go see her before she go crazy.”
“What happen again last night?” Nino tried to fish for information again. It makes him even more curious when she constantly denied him.
Yana just scoffs as she scans the messages in her phone. “Tomorrow. I promise.” She softly told him and he replies with a silent groan.
“That’s sad, Ohno-san hasn’t said a word yet and you’re leaving already.” Sho informed, making everyone laugh and Ohno turning red in his seat.
“Oi! Leader! Speak to her first before she leaves.” Nino ordered him.
Ohno willingly followed as he stood up from his seat. “Take care on the road. It was nice to meet you again.” He bent down for a bow followed by a timid smile.
Yana smiled as she returned the bow. “Hai, Ohno-san. It was nice to meet you again also. I had fun watching today.”
“I’ll accompany you to your car.” Nino offered as he stood up.
For the nth time today, Ninomiya Kazunari is being a gentleman to her.
“Sure.” Yana smiled. “Jaa, I’ll be off now.” She waved her hand.
Aiba, Sho and Jun also stood up from their seats to say goodbye to her. Her eyes caught Jun, who’s standing a bit far from the other members.
“Hold on.” Yana told Nino who’s already standing by her side.
She started walking towards Jun and she was so sure, at least four pairs of eyes are following her.
“Hey.” Yana started, she can’t think of anything to say other than that. From the moment she first saw him earlier, she wanted to come up to him and talk but with the Arashi members around, she can’t.
“Hey.” Jun replied back before he started laughing at how awkward this is. He was waiting for her to speak up but all she did was smile and laugh quietly. “You want to move away from them?” he asked, making sure that he kept his tone down. She nodded and he leads her in a corner away from the others.
“What is it?” Jun asked after they finally secluded themselves away from the members.
Yana sighed, still smiling shy at him. She ran a hand in her hair before finally speaking, “Are you up for a dinner later?” she asked. By the look on Jun’s face, he’s definitely surprised by her question. “If you’re free, that is. If you have other things planned tonight, it’s totally fine.” She added, getting embarrassed at how she straightforwardly blurted out that question.
“I’m free.” Jun said with a smile.
There were many times today that her eyes would catch his eyes but this is the first time she stared at those big brown eyes this clear and up-close and she has to admit she was mesmerized by it.
“But it’s going to be a very late dinner. Is it okay?” Jun said and she went back to her consciousness.
“It’s okay.” Yana said, avoiding his eyes before he can notice that she’s blown away by it.
“Give me your number and I’ll call you once I’m done with work.” Jun gave her his phone and she willingly punch down her number.
“What is this dinner about?” Jun curiously asked.
Yana smiled as she return his phone. “Lately, I really think you’re the only person who understands me.” She gently laughs and Jun chuckled with what she said. That’s clearly a compliment and that makes him feel so much better after feeling a bit down with her new found friendship with Nino.
“I know we’re not that close and we barely knew each other but you’ve been a good friend to me more than anyone else since what happened. And I don’t even know if you want me to call you my friend-”
“Of course you can call me your friend. We are friends.” Jun clearly say.
Yana sighed, running a hand on her long hair, she dare to look again at those big brown eyes. “I needed a friend right now.”
Jun can see plead in her eyes. “I’m here.” He gently strokes her shoulders for support. He wanted to hug her again, even if she doesn’t ask it from him, he wanted to give her a big hug just like before.