231 Who says that I don't see you as a woman?

"er…" iori points at the road. "takeshi, my house is that way."

"didn't you want to go to the park?" takeshi asks her while keeping his eyes on the road. "we are going there."

"why would i go to that place with you?" iori frowns at him. "i'm already tired. take me home."

"we are already there." he replies, "it's been years since we spent some time together. did you ever miss me at all?"

"nope." iori crosses her arms and glares at him. "takeshi, you didn't miss me either. then, why should i miss you? i never missed you even for a moment."

"i don't know why you have such strange ideas in your head." takeshi halts the car in front of the gate of r park. his voice is soft and low. "i missed you every single moment after you were gone."

he's too honest. iori is tongue-tied. but then, is he kidding? did he miss her as his friend or something more? but he hasn't said anything else. how will she know? 

while she's busy thinking about the meaning of his words, takeshi opens the door of the car and grasps her hand, filling the gaps between her fingers with his fingers. "are you going to spend the night in the car? come out now."

"that is…" 

he pulls her to his side before she could complain. he squeezes her soft hand. she blinks her eyes. how should she respond? what should she say? he's holding her hand in such a way. should she jerk his hand away? but she likes holding his hand. 

r park is actually a lover's spot. it's late at night, but it's still filled with lovers who want to escape under the full moon night. takeshi notices that she's trying hard to meet his pace. she's also wearing heels. he slows down and says, "want to sit down somewhere?"

"no, i am fine." she's nervous. if they sit, it will get awkward. her brain is already trying to 'misunderstand' this ambiguous situation. does he know or not know that this place is a lover's spot? "takeshi, you should bring your girlfriend here."

"my girlfriend is with me," he mumbles casually.

"what?" iori exclaims.

"you're a girl." he's a little annoyed and afraid at the same time. if he tells her that he likes her, she might run away. "you're also a friend."

iori feels like punching his face. didn't he say that he's been love with her for years? are four years enough to forget all the feelings? he didn't even call her once in the last four years. "i meant that you should bring your lover here."

"i don't have a lover yet." takeshi clicks his tongue. it's been four years; she still jumps into conclusions at the speed of light. "i plan to bring my wife here and do that."

"do what?" she leans closer and asks him.

"that." he gestures at the lovers embracing each other near the lake. "a lot more than that."

"..." is he horny or something? he keeps talking about that. iori purses her lips and drags takeshi in the opposite direction. "you are still shameless."

"i mean it though." a smile appears on takeshi's lips when he sees the redness spreading on her face. "i like doing it in a more private place, but a certain someone likes to go to lover spots."

is he talking about her? iori stops walking and turns around to face him. he's smirking at her. she can't hold herself back anymore. she pulls his ears and yells at him, "i like going to the lover spots with my lover. you are my childhood friend. i don't know why i am here with you."

"there's no rule that childhood friends can't go to the lover spots together." he licks her wrist. "you know that i am a good kisser. want me to train you for your future husband?" which would be him, for sure.

"takeshi!" she lets go of his ear right away. the spot where he tongue tickled her is burning as if it's been touched by the sun. why is he hell-bent on making her feel so frustrated? "i am a human too. don't say such stupid stuff. friends don't kiss each other."

"there's no such law in this country that prevents two adults from kissing each other and doing more." takeshi chuckles and wraps his arm around her waist. "miss reporter, tell me why is it bad to kiss a friend."

"you're too close," iori snaps at him, but she doesn't push him away. she can't guess what he's trying to pull off here. perhaps, he's playing with her. she's never been good at guessing what's on his mind. he's always a puzzle for her. "i don't see you as a man. you don't see me as a woman. then, why should we kiss?"

"who says that i don't see you as a woman?" he knits his brows. "kinoshita iori, are you not a woman?"

"of course, i'm a woman." iori wrinkles her nose. 

"then, i don't have any reason to not see you as a woman." he grins at her. "then, you don't see me as a man yet. what should i do?"

did she dig her own grave? isn't he inching closer while pretending to be thinking hard? "takeshi, don't even think about it."

"what i am i thinking about?" his face is less than an inch away from her, ready to join his lips with hers. "i'm offended that you don't see me as a man. i have many interesting ways to prove that i am a man indeed. which one do you prefer?"

in other words, he's asking her whether she wants to put her head inside a noose or jump in front of the truck? he's still playing with her. she's been disillusioned. the devil prince hasn't changed at all. he's even worse now. how can she let this boy play with her anytime he wants? she is not the same person. 

kinoshita iori raises her head and presses her lips against his, surprising him.