Stay with me [4]
Title: Stay with me
Chapter: Fourth
Pairing: Okamoto Keito x OC (Chiaki Chinen)
Genre: Romance
Author: le me 8D
Comments from the author: I AM SORRY, I TOOK SO LONG TO CONTINUE AGAIN SDJBFRJG I just read the chapter before this and I just noticed how many typos it has and I apologize for that. This may have typos too 'cause I don't really check again before posting it so.. gomen in advance :3
I hear mumbling beside me, and I can also feel the ground under me moving. Slowly, my eyes open to see that I'm not on ground, but already in a van with all of JUMP. Keito is in the seat in front of me, hair soaking wet.
The sound of the raindrops fill the van along with the voice of Ryutaro and Chinen, amused by all the things we pass.
"Ah, you're awake." Takaki smiles at me. I yawn a little and return his smile while scanning the van to get a good look at the others.
"It's a good thing Keito went with you, ne?" Hikaru says.
"Desu yo ne! ANYTHING COULD'VE HAPPENED TO YOU!" Chinen suddenly turns away from the window and yells.
"Hai, I'm sorry for troubling you." I bow.
Chinen lets out a sigh from his lips and says, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout. We're all just worried."
"Desho. Be careful next time, ne?" Yabu says. I nod comprehensibly and close my eyes once more.
When I open my eyes again, we're already at the hotel. Yama-chan and Daiki assist me in walking through the lobby and into the elevator while Yabu and Takaki help Keito. We walk through a corridor and they settle me onto my solo bed while they help Keito lay down on the bed shared by him, Yamada and Yuto.
"Inoo-chaaaaan," I call out with my hand reaching. He immediately comes to my aid and sits beside me. While waiting for me to speak, he continuously brushed off the hair on my forehead, making me grow sleepier and sleepier.
"Nani?"
"Stay here for a while," I ask.
"Hai, no problem at all," he answers kindly while continuing to rub my forehead gently.
The next morning, I wake up to confused faces and arguments.
"I'm telling you guys, go on ahead!" Keito persists while still laying in bed.
"No, we can't leave you here!" Hikaru argues.
"Ohayo gozaimasu," I greet.
"Ah, ohayo." Yamada greets as well.
"What's this about?" I ask.
"Well," Hikaru turns to me, "Keito here is sick. And we said we'll stay here since we can't leave him behind, but he insists that we go."
"You only have one week of rest! You should make the most of it," Keito says.
"But we can't go outside and enjoy while you stay behind!" Yuto argues.
"Oh yes you can. I can take care of myself." Keito counters their argument.
I step forward, cutting in their conversation.
"We can't leave Keito alone," I say.
"That's right!" Hikaru says.
"That's why I'm staying here with him," I proudly announce.
"What?! No!" Ryutaro says.
"Nuh-uh, Chiaki," Daiki disagrees.
"No way!" Takaki says.
I sigh and try to calm them down so I can explain myself.
"Look, Keito's right, you only have one week of rest. And you guys are also right that you can't leave him alone here. So, I'll stay behind with him and take care of him." I shrug.
"What? No, we can't--" Inoo starts to speak, but I immediately stop him.
"Plus, I still need a little rest regarding last night. The rain made me a little feverish last night, so I really do need to stay behind."
"Stubborn little kid." Yabu crosses his arms across his chest and pouts.
"Looks like there's no changing your mind. Maa, there's no use in arguing, ne?" Kei sighs.
"Sou!" I instantly agree, hoping that the others will, too.
"Everyone, get dressed!" Hikaru announces with a smile.
I get a glimpse of Keito, seeing his expression of slight anger because I insisted to stay behind, and flattery because I insisted to stay behind for him.
Quickly, everyone is in their fashionable outfits. Before heading out the door, Yabu turns to me one more time.
"Remember, Chiaki, once something goes wrong, you could always call us. You can also inform the crew here, okay?" Yabu looks at me for agreement and I immediately nod.
He leaves, out the door, down the hall and into the elevator along with the rest of JUMP. Once I've seen them off, I close the door and press the lock. Keito continues to lay on the bed, eyes shut tight.
I take a few steps closer to him when he opens his eyes just before I start to speak.
"Have you eaten?" I ask.
"Not yet. I was too weak to get up for breakfast this morning," he explains.
"Ah, sou.. Well, let me just have a bite and I'll make you breakfast."
"You'll make me breakfast? Not just buy or order it?" He asks.
"Yeah, I'll make you breakfast. You don't want?" I try not to sound offended.
"I want! It's just..rare."
"Rare?" I repeat. "I cook for you guys all the time!"
"It's rare the you cook for me."
I don't say anything in reply. Instead, I just smile and head to the mini kitchen provided in this suite. With all that they have in here, I manage to make porridge for Keito.
Carefully handling the tray with porridge, juice, a spoon, and tissues on it, I walk into the room where Keito rests. His eyes are still shut and I try not to make any unnecessary noise.
"Keito-kun, can you sit up a bit?" I gently request.
Slowly, his eyes open. And even though they only opened into little slits, the look of shock is still visible. He tries to push himself up, but ultimately failing and slamming back onto the bed again.
I'm alarmed by what I saw and immediately settle the tray onto the desk and help him sit up. After fluffing his pillow and helping him up, I sit on the edge of his bed. From the tray, I carefully get the bowl of porridge.
At first he hesitates and tries to get the bowl from my hands, insisting that he feed himself. But when I don't hand it over, his hands land back on bed.
"Aaa~" I say while holding up the spoon near his lips.
"You're treating me like a child." He shakes his head and chuckles.
"But that's how it's supposed to be when you're sick~"
His lips let out a sigh.
"Aaa." And I put the spoonful in his mouth.
"See, not so bad, is it?" I smile while arranging the next spoonful.
"I feel so helpless."
"Let me feed you, you'll get well, and you won't feel helpless anymore."
After that, he says no more and cooperates with the mouth-opening business. He takes a short nap after the meal and I tidy up around.
I wasn't really sick this morning. Sure, I was a little dizzy when I woke up, but I could have gotten through the day with that headache.
But something urged me to stay behind and take care of Keito. Maybe it was me thinking I owe him for saving my life that time I almost got run-over by the car when we ate dinner outside. Or maybe it was his kindness the whole time I stayed with them that I felt like I needed to repay.
Or maybe I just really wanted to be with him.
Everyone left their beds untidy so I just fixed 'em all. It's quite boring without the other members. I'm not much of a fan of watching TV. It's so much more fun with the guys around that I've long forgotten watching TV, unless it's them I'm watching.
"Chiaki? You there?" Keito calls out from the other room.
"Ahh, hai!" I rush to where he is.
"Oh, I thought you left me."
"Why on earth would I do that?" I sit back on the edge of his bed.
He starts to shut his eyes again while taking my hand. That moment, I immediately felt my heart starting to pound. I notice how his temperature has risen.
"Keito, you're warm. You need to rest, I'll go find some medicine for you." I start to pull away to get my pouch with all sorts of medicine we might need. But he holds my hand tighter, preventing me from going anywhere.
"Stay here."
"But--"
"Stay with me."
And I do.
"I can't sleep, sing for me," he requests.
"The lullaby I sang before?"
"Do you know some other lullabies?"
"Well yeah, but--"
"Please?" he requests.
I heave out a sigh and finally agree. I take a deep breather, clear my throat once or twice, and begin the lullaby my mother sang for me all the time.
My love, I want you
to understand
that until morning comes,
I will still be holding your hand
Don't fear to close
your tired eyes
and listen to my voice
while I sing this lullaby
Rest now, my dear,
your troubled little head
And forget everything painful
that has been said
Listen to my heartbeat
and sleep tonight
Tomorrow, you will see once more
the penetrating light
And when you awake,
I will still be here
My sweet image beside you
still crystal clear
I check if he's still awake, and he's not. Careful not to wake him, I slowly rise from the bed. But his hand quickly stops me from doing so. Instead of pulling myself away, I'm pulled in by Keito's hand and land beside him on the bed.
Before I can make any other movements, he wraps his hand around me, surrounded by his warmth. And just like that, I feel so protected, so comfortable and sure that nothing can hurt me. And even if something did hurt me, I don't mine, as long as these arms are the ones around me.
When I feel his muscles relax, I gradually remove his arms so that I continue tidying up. And at the moment I move away, I feel the need to cuddle up under his arms once again. But I know I can't do that. I'm not in the right position to do that.
So, like I always do, I ignore my feelings and clean up. I take a short nap after cleaning up and making sure I've locked the door since three members have keys to this suite. When I wake up, they're still not back. The sun has began to set and the light has turned into a light, calming orange.
When I look around, I can see someone's shadow from Keito's bed. Immediately, I get up and check. It's him, viewing this wonderful sunset clearly seen through the window. My legs start moving on their own, making their way to the bed. I stop beside Keito and sit down to join him.
"Kirei ne.." he says.
"It is."
"I could die right now."
Right after that statement, I gape. Wide eyed, mouth dropped, breathe halted.
"It's not that I'd commit suicide or something. I meant, if I die right now, I'd die happy." He looks at me, checking if I understood. I nod slowly and look at the sunset again.
"Why is that?"
"This is my dream."
"Dream?"
"Yeah, the thing I asked for recently."
"Can you be a little more specific?" I ask. He chuckles a bit and explains.
"I wished to see a beautiful scenery with someone I.."
"Someone you..?"
"Someone I really cared for."
I look at him, taking some time to understand what he just said. And when I realize it, I turn away from embarrassment. Silence blankets the room. He just enjoys the sunset while I think of something to do.
"Ahh, I think I left the fridge open. Matte ne."
What he did when I was going to get up from the bed earlier, he did again. Just when I was about to get up, he pulls me back down beside him. I look at him, waiting for a statement, or something. But all he does is look at me, drowning me in those lovely eyes and luring me with that charming smile.
He leans close, his eyes, his nose, his lips, getting closer and closer to mine. Just a few centimeters away, about to touch, to collide, to join.. And then the doorbell rings.
We pull away at the sound, preventing from looking each other in the eyes. I open the door, letting all the members enter while I see Keito staring at me from the corner of his eye.
"So, Keito-kun~ How are you feeling?" Yamada asks.
"I'm much better. I can join you guys tomorrow. Chiaki did a wonderful job taking care of me." He smiles.
The nervousness in me leaves my system, and all I can feel at the moment is joy. I can feel my cheeks warm up again and I don't mind.
Dinner is brought up to the room, and the lullaby I sang earlier started playing in my head.
My love, I want you
to understand
that until morning comes,
I will still be holding your hand