Nozomi's POV : Just An Ordinary Night

When I moved to Tokyo, the last thing on my mind was to be charmed by a handsome man and become his girlfriend. I don’t think it even crossed my mind until I got lost in thought, somehow tried to end my life by jumping in front of the train, and found myself in the arms of a stranger. It wasn’t like I was already interested in him when I first laid eyes on him. When I talked to him, I simply didn’t want to be rude since he saved my life. My heart was beating like it was about to burst inside my chest after the incident, but when I looked into his eyes, he seemed genuinely concerned about me. Then, when he mentioned that he had just broken up with his girlfriend, I saw something in his eyes. It wasn’t just sadness; he looked... exhausted. He looked as if he had been through a lot, and he badly needed a break from everyone, everything. I knew that I needed to comfort him in any way possible.

When I arrived home that night, I realized that there was no way for me to instantly forget a man whose name is basically the male version of my name. Maybe I did want to see him again, but I didn’t expect that I would meet him sooner and find out that he lived near my workplace. I also didn’t expect that he would spend the day with me and even win a prize for me. I blame everything on that prize. That sheep cemented his name, face, and sweetness into my brain. Shori is the proof of my secret crush on him. Again, I didn’t expect to become his girlfriend.

I left my town heartbroken, but I wasn’t stuck in that part of my life. Even though I was in love with Jin, I don’t think I deserved what he did to me. He was sweet and caring at the beginning of our relationship, but I guess that’s how every relationship starts. It’s kind of scary to put it that way considering how my relationship with Nozomu is nothing but him being sweet and caring. However, Jin has nothing on Nozomu, if I have to be honest. Nozomu is like the summit of Mt. Everest, and Jin is just a rock below. It's quite harsh, but it's the truth.

Nozomu doesn’t look like he’d be fine with clinginess. That’s one thing that Jin didn’t like about me. Although he said that during the latter part of our relationship. As if the girl that he cheated with wasn’t a clinger. Come to think of it, Nozomu is also as clingy as me. He simply refuses to admit it, but I can never miss how he smoothly takes my hand whenever we are together and interlaces our fingers. How he easily slides his arms around me and wraps me in a warm and sweet embrace. I feel like squealing, then melt away in his arms. My room is about to become the extension of Antarctica because of how I set my AC at the lowest temperature every time my cheeks heat up upon remembering Nozomu’s kisses and touches. I'm getting good at hiding the turmoil inside me whenever we’re together, but when I'm left alone, I can’t help but drown in his sweet memories. It is a secret, by the way. I can’t let the man know how chaotic his girlfriend could be.

One more thing about Nozomu is how his gaze lingers. I don’t mind him looking at me, but does he want me to melt and die? I swear he looks at me like he needs to focus on every single part of me. When I stare at him, I can only focus on one part, and that part is his eyes. I really love his eyes. His eyes tell me everything I need to know about his mood. He also has fairly long lashes, and they look cute on him. If I have all the time to observe him, I can confidently say that he could definitely pass in the idol visual department. He looks so handsome; I didn't believe it when his friends told me that he wasn’t popular in high school. I am convinced that several girls bore a crush on him but refused to confess because he was too good to be true. I’m glad that I had the courage to exchange LINE with him after spending so much money and time on the crane game. I played it cool, but my heart was pounding in my chest when I asked for his LINE.

Nozomu is also one of the most supportive person I know. He’s been teaching me how to use his graphic design software and managed to make some cards that I will include as a freebie in my customers’ packages. He also helps with packing orders and volunteers to send the packages himself. He is an angel sent from heaven. I don’t think I can make this business grow if it’s just me. Ayumi already helps with marketing, which is a huge part of my business’ success. The two of them—Nozomu and Ayumi—are the most beloved people in my life right now. I love them both to varying degrees.

Right, I am in love. There’s no doubt about it. In two weeks, I am about to move to Nozomu’s apartment. Coincidentally, my contract for the apartment will end in two weeks, so I can move out without complications. Coincidence is truly amazing. It’s like the world and all its enigmas are in favor of Nozomu and me getting together. Just the thought of seeing him every waking day makes my heart ache with giddiness. The mystery behind the unknown calls and messages hasn’t been solved, though. The calls and messages have stopped for now, so we decided not to report yet. To be honest, this unknown person scares me; hence, I didn’t think twice when Nozomu asked me to live with him. Aside from the fact that I didn’t think there was a downside to living with the person I love, he seemed to have hesitated when he remembered that I have two brothers. I wonder, How am I going to tell them?

Naruki, my second eldest brother—4 years older than me—is currently studying in England, although he must have graduated a long time ago. The fact that I don’t know only proves how long we haven’t communicated. He went there and lived with our mother, while my eldest brother Naoki, 8 years older than me, went to Australia with our father. They used to contact me frequently by any means possible until our communication slowly became rare to nonexistent.

There's no use wallowing over the past... I’ll just contact my auntie and grandparents for now. My auntie is the one who looked for an apartment where I could live and paid for my rent for six months. She deserves to be the first to know what is happening.

“Is there something wrong? You've been typing intensely with a frown."

I take my eyes away from my laptop to find Nozomu staring at me. That's when I realized that I sit on the bed with my back hunched and my face way too close to my screen. I am in an awful posture, and it embarrassed me. Although, I doubt if Nozomu cares at all. He never judges me for my unlady-like behavior whenever I am with him.

“Oh... nothing’s wrong.”

I can tell that he is suspicious, but I can’t tell him that I have been enthusiastically typing a diary entry about him.

Should I even save this? He might accidentally see it.

I press CTRL A and press backspace. I need to be careful, just in case. I get up and place my laptop on the bed.

“I’ll take a shower now,” I say to escape.

Nozomu nods as I go to the bathroom.

I have to tell him everything at some point. I do hope we get to that point.