Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Jay-Jay's POV

"...Fried chicken?" I asked.

"Legs!" Yuri answered.

"We're both... Do we still need a seasoning mix?"

"Maybe... Let's take it." He said, picking up a package of chicken mix.

We're currently at the supermarket. We decided to cook today. Going for a walk elsewhere would be boring—I'd just see the same kind of girls we saw earlier.

Alas!

We wandered around, looking for more things to buy besides what we needed for cooking.

"Snacks? Should we get some?" Yuri asked, pointing at the chips.

"Say... Say..."

We headed toward the snack aisle and grabbed a few things. We were like a couple shopping together—it was kind of funny.

"Alright! Let's go to the cashier!"

Since it was still early, there wasn't a long queue. Only a few people were around, so Yuri and I were first in line.

While waiting for the cashier to finish scanning our items, I glanced at the 3kg of chicken legs we bought.

Where are we going to cook?

I hugged Yuri, who was standing there, waiting for the cashier to finish.

"Where are we going to cook?" I asked him.

"At my place… We can't cook at yours. Aries and I might end up fighting."

He had a point. The two of them were always on edge—it would be too much trouble. Better to just cook at his place and keep the peace.

The cashier finished ringing up our items, and Yuri paid. I didn't contribute much except for helping choose what to buy.

In the parking lot, we headed straight to his car. He placed the groceries on the passenger seat.

"Come on… Let's cook our lunch," he said, starting the car.

The ride was quiet, but I noticed he kept smiling for no reason.

What's up with him?

"Hey! What's with you?" I called out.

"Huh?"

"You're smiling to yourself."

"Oh hahaha… Sorry. I'm just excited."

I frowned. Yuri's acting weird! Maybe something's wrong with his brain and I just haven't figured it out yet. I don't want to marry a crazy person.

We arrived at his expensive apartment building. The parking lot was in the basement. As we parked, I looked around at the other cars.

I suddenly thought of King.

What is he doing right now?

STOP! Don't think about him, Jay! Yuri is with you. Focus on him. This is so wrong!

I quickly got out of the car and reached for the groceries, but Yuri grabbed them first.

"I can carry some—"

"I got it." He insisted.

"Let's split them," I said, trying to take a large plastic bag from him.

"I can handle it," he replied.

I let it go and didn't argue. He was stubborn, just like his friends.

We walked to the elevator. As the doors closed, I suddenly remembered something.

Without warning, I raised my hand and smacked Yuri on the back of the head.

"Ouch! What the hell?!" he yelped in surprise.

"Kingina! You told me it means 'cow' (means Idiot in Japanesw)! I just realized what it actually means!" I snapped.

I remembered Calix saying it to Felix once. That's when I finally understood. Yuri had said the same thing to me before—when we slipped in the mud and I accidentally hit his… well… you know!

I had asked Calix about it, and he explained what it really meant.

"W-what?! What the hell?!"

"You said it to me before! When it was raining, and we slipped in the mud, and I accidentally hit… that!" I explained, flustered.

Yuri fell silent, thinking. He seemed to recall the moment.

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.

"W-well… I was just frustrated. Sorry," he muttered with an awkward smile.

At least now I know. Next time, if he says it again, I'll make sure he pays for it!

"Maybe! Maybe! Maybe!" I taunted him.

His face suddenly turned serious. I was startled by his expression.

"Jay-Jay…" he started. "...Aishiteru." ❤️

[ In Japanese, AISHITERU means 'I Love You']

Huh?! What?!

I immediately raised my fist. "Are you insulting me?!"

He burst out laughing.

That's it! He's completely lost it! I asked seriously, and he just laughed at me. His brain is definitely messed up.

"I'll teach you a few Japanese words," he said.

"Why?"

"So that when I take you to Japan, you don't end up picking fights with people," he explained.

He had a point. Maybe later, I'd just be offered food and end up starting a fight.

"Say... Say..."

"Alright... Let's start with greetings," he said, facing me. "Konnichiwa means good day."

Ahhh... Konnichiwa.

"Konnichiwa..." I repeated.

"Konbanwa means good evening."

This is easy. I thought it would be difficult, considering how fast Yuri usually talks. I once heard him on the phone, speaking so quickly that it sounded like an alien language.

"How do you say 'thank you'?" I asked.

"Arigatou gozaimasu..."

(N/A: Gozaimasu is pronounced as go-za-i-mas.)

Just then, the elevator doors opened. I hadn't realized it because I was too busy trying to imitate what he said.

"What? Aribato nilamas?!"

Yuri suddenly stopped and looked at me. At the same time, I glanced outside and saw his maids standing there.

Oh no!

And I had said that way too loudly! They all turned to look at me, as if trying to figure out what I had just said.

I bit my lower lip and quickly moved closer to Yuri, hiding behind him.

So embarrassing!

Yuri cleared his throat to get their attention, and they immediately greeted him.

"Take off your shoes... Let's go to the kitchen," he told me.

I did as he said, still walking slightly bent over from embarrassment.

I wasn't even paying attention to where we were going until we reached the kitchen. It had a modern design, but the wooden floor and the traditional Japanese-style items still gave it an authentic feel.

"You handle the chicken, and I'll make the pasta," he said after unpacking the groceries.

He was planning to make spaghetti. No one had a birthday; he just felt like cooking.

He took something from a small drawer nearby and walked over to me. I was surprised when he put an apron on me. ❤️

"So you don't get dirty," he said.

I nodded awkwardly. Fancy. I usually just wear a T-shirt when cooking. Sometimes, I even use my shirt as a rag.

While preparing the ingredients, I kept repeating "thank you" in Japanese to make sure I got it right. I didn't want to embarrass myself again, especially if someone else heard me.

"Ariga-to... Go-go-go..." I mumbled.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," Yuri corrected.

"Arigato golaymas," I tried again, but he suddenly burst out laughing.

Pffttt... Annoying!

I thought it was easy, but it turned out to be difficult. What a pain! I don't want to do this anymore—he's just making fun of me.

"I don't want to do this. You're just laughing at me," I said, annoyed.

"Because..." He suddenly grabbed my chin and turned my face toward him. "...follow my lips."

Although surprised, I did as he said.

"A-ri-ga-tou," he pronounced slowly.

"A-ri-ga-tou," I repeated.

"Go-zai-masu."

"Go-zai—" I didn't get to finish.

What the—?!

Because his lips were suddenly on mine Shameless! He totally took advantage of the situation! ❤️

I was frozen in place, unable to move. My brain completely shut down.

This guy! He just went ahead and stole a kiss like it was nothing! ❤️

That's it. It'll be a whole year before we do anything again!

He pulled away slightly and looked at me, smiling as he wiped my lips with his thumb. ❤️

"I'll teach you again next time. But for now, let's continue cooking," he said and went back to preparing his dish.

I felt like a fool as I returned to what I was doing, even though my mind was completely blank. I was still in shock over what Yuri had just done.

My heartbeat wasn't normal either.

Ugh!

What was that?! Why am I acting like this?

I had no idea how long I stayed like that, but I somehow managed to finish cooking. Meanwhile, Yuri was still working on his dish. I was starting to get bored.

"How much longer?" I asked.

"Just be patient," he replied.

While waiting for the spaghetti sauce to cook, Yuri started putting away the ingredients we had used.

I felt bad just standing around, so I helped him clean up. I even threw some of the trash away.

While tidying up, I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on the side of my palm.

"Ahhh..." I gasped and immediately grabbed my hand.

I looked at what I had touched—damn it! There was a knife lying next to it.

Yuri immediately rushed over to support me.

"Blood... Tsk!" he muttered.

My entire body trembled. It felt like someone had poured ice-cold water over me. I could feel the blood running down the side of my hand.

Oh no! Not now!

"Hold still... I'll just get something—"

"DO NOT!" I shouted, stopping him.

"D-don't! D-don't leave!"

I held the wound tightly, refusing to look at it. I was scared. What if it happened again?

I just squeezed my eyes shut.

"I-I'm just going to get some things..."

"Please... Y-Yuri. Don't leave," I insisted.

I heard him tear a paper towel before he gently placed it on my hand.

Even with my eyes closed, I felt my tears start to fall.

"Ssshhh... It's okay. Don't cry," Yuri said softly, wiping my tears. "...It's just a small wound, nowhere near anything serious."

True, it was just a small cut. Not serious. But I couldn't help being afraid. What if it happened again? What if I lost control and ended up hurting myself?

Right now, he's the only one in front of me, and I don't want to hurt him.

Please don't...

"I-I'm scared... I-I don't want to hurt you," I whispered.

I knew Yuri was surprised because he suddenly went silent.

"O-it's okay... Why would I get hurt? You're the one who got injured."

"Please... Y-Yuri. Call Keifer." I requested him.

I knew, I did wrong. It felt wrong because I was facing Yuri. But Keifer understood my situation.

I knew he wouldn't just dismiss it.

"I'm here, Jay... W-why do I need to call Keifer?"