THE GAP BETWEEN US

4. THE TERM PAPER

They gazed at each other in the centimeters of their faces until both of their eyes started to wander around to one another's face. A silence passed by between them until he pulled himself and he pushed her a little to make them separate from each other. She straightened her uniform then.

“Are you avoiding me?" he directly asked, looking straight at her.

She glanced at him shyly and as to his question, she doesn't know what to say for real because her emotions were mixed already but then, she got curious why he suddenly asked her too many questions as if he cares for her. She smiled gingerly to herself knowing that he cares for her but she frowned when she remembered his reaction and what he said when she confessed to him the other day.

“How about you? Why you suddenly became concerned about what I am doing after that day? I thought you don't like me so, why are you now acting this way like you are my parents or boyfriend?" she frankly and bravely inquired.

“Don't get me wrong. Ojii-sama and Oba-sama asked me that's why I noticed that you didn't sleep in your room,” he simply responded.

“Is that so? Tell them then that I will not be around for a while because I am busy working with term papers and all so, I will be sleeping for a while at my older brother's house." She came up with an excuse just to get away from him.

He narrowed his eyes like he is scanning her. "And why not sleep here instead? What makes the difference?"

“Kuya is going to help me do my paper works so, I am staying there," she reasoned out abruptly as an idea came into her mind.

“I see." He put his arms across his chest looking intimidating to her. "You don't have to sleep there anymore. I can help you with your term papers. Come here later this night. I'll see you at the library here in the mansion after my work at 6 pm. Alright?"

Strangely, she can sense that he is acting weirdly but she nodded her head as she agreed with him because it was the first time he asked her to meet up. And with that, he left while she slapped her forehead as she forgot that her excuse was just a lie. Now, she doesn't know what to do.

Later that day, the two were in the library and they were both facing the laptop and doing her fake term papers.

“What is this all about again?" He turned to her because he couldn't understand what he is reading on her laptop.

“It's all about the environment and photosynthesis,” she said unsurely.

“What is the connection of radiation to photosynthesis?" he asked confusingly.

“You know that radiation is everywhere, right? So, we're making a term paper on how radiation...affects the environment to...to our everyday living. You know..." she explained hesitantly. She, then, excused herself.—"The heck. He almost got me there. Good thing and I'm a fast thinker or he will catch me." She sighed in relief.

Without further questions, they continued doing the term papers while she was just staring at him who is busy doing her pseudo-assignment. Just looking at him up close was enough to make her heart beat faster and even if he is saying something she seemed not to hear it because she is busy gazing at him charmingly. Not until then, it was already midnight when he finished the term paper, and when he looked at the time he didn't notice that it was too late. He turned his head to the side where she is who is now sleeping beside him and for a moment he stared at her with untold feelings inside of him. He, then, closed the laptop and carried her in his arms going to her room silently. Reaching her room, he carefully put her down into the bed and after that, he left closing the door behind him while she opened her eyes and she smiled.

The morning came and all were eating at the dining table in the mansion together with the family of Yuki and Kyoko. All were busy eating their food when Ryota speak.

“Yuki, what do you think is the effect of radiation on photosynthesis?" he asked out of nowhere.

While Veni's eyes widened because of Ryota's sudden question that she got alarmed when he asked her Kuya Yuki who doesn't have an idea about her term paper.

“Affect of radiation on photosynthesis? For what is that?" Yuki wondered.

“For your younger sister's term paper. She said that you are going to help her, right? She went to your house to do that according to her so, I bet you know what I am talking about,” Ryota told.

Yuki looked at his younger sister and Veni's eyes widened even more.

“I am going to help her? I didn't even know that she is doing her term paper." Then, Yuki looked back to Ryota.

Veni pressed her lips and eyes simultaneously for she was caught off guard and with that, they already know she was just lying about the term paper.

“She went to our house to help my wife with the babies the other day and she didn't mention the term paper,” Yuki honestly said.

“I see." Ryota nodded.

From that, Ryota knew that Veni was lying to him and that made Veni feel uncomfortable so, she stood up saying she was done eating, and left the mansion immediately. Throughout the day, Veni is thinking about what happened at the table and what she should do after her class. She felt so embarrassed because of what happened that she doesn't want to go home, and because of that, she thought of going to her Kuya's house again in order not to see Ryota. The bell rings finally and the class of Veni was finished so, she went to the house of her elder brother to see Kyoko feeding her babies and her younger brother.

“Come and join us, Veni. We're having dinner,” Kyoko told inviting her sister-in-law.

“Thank you, Ate Kyoko," Veni replied and she smiled, sat down together with them at the table and she eats.

“Anyway Veni, how's your confession to my elder brother? Did you already confess to him?" Kyoko asked, opening the topic.

Veni smiled bitterly. "Yes, I already did. Actually, it didn't quite go well."

“It didn't? Really? What happened?"

“He still doesn't find me a full-grown woman,” Veni sadly mentioned.

“That's what he said?" Kyoko asked in disbelief.

“Yes. You know that we have a six years gap so, I know that he'll never see me like that." Veni shrugged her shoulders.

Kyoko, then, chuckles that Veni got wondered.

“Sorry, Veni. It just so sounds unreasonable. Onii-chan is surely saying that because he doesn't want you to get too close to him but honestly, he found you beautiful like a true woman. That's based on what I can see, " Kyoko cheered her sister-in-law up and she smiled at her as well.

“Really?" Veni asked confusingly.

“Really. And about what happened in the dining at the mansion, I think you should tell him the truth about the term paper. He would understand why you do that if only you say the true reason why you always go here," Kyoko reminded her.

Later that night, Veni got home to the mansion and all that Kyoko said to her is echoing in her head until she went upstairs when her feet suddenly stopped because she saw Ryota standing at the side of her room with his arms across his chest and seemed like waiting for her, again. Their eyes met and they stared at each other.

To be continued...