Chapter 54: 54: Rude but sweet awakening
A/N: You know what, I'm clearly writing for my self at this point. The lack of support is astounding. Even trashy, badly written, no plot, fuck-every-woman-I-see novels receive much more feedback from its readers. I only have ONE reader who makes an effort to thank me for releasing a chap.
Whether he likes the book or not is up to him. I'm already 20 chapters ahead in drafts coz I enjoy doing what I do. I might just end up stop posting all together and write for myself. Its up to you.
E/N: Warrup, editor here. It's sad seeing my buddy Kojo being—well sad. Considering I'm the one dealing with the increasing number of mistakes he is making. What is it?
Is the story not fun, not engaging enough, a snooze fest? What is it, what do you want? Money? Is that it? I got money, here take it! $$$$!!! I even changed the book's name. Ungrateful book worms, PEUH!!
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Aiden groaned softly as the weight of someone pressing down on him dragged him out of his peaceful sleep. Before he could fully process what was happening, a cheerful voice filled his ears.
"Morning, sleepyhead!"
He opened his eyes to find Toru's face inches away from his, her wide green eyes sparkling with mischief and her signature bright smile plastered across her face. Her wavy green hair tickled his cheeks as she leaned in closer, cradling his head in her arms like he was some oversized plushie.
"Toru?!" he exclaimed, sitting up abruptly, which only caused her to topple slightly into his lap. "What are you doing here? It's—what time even is it?" He glanced at the clock on his nightstand, his groggy brain struggling to comprehend the early hour.
Toru giggled. "It's not that early. I wanted to deliver the pictures from yesterday! You know, the ones with everyone smiling so much? My dad had them printed overnight." She held up a neatly wrapped package, her cheeks tinged with pink as she added, "Also… my mom kind of, uh, insisted I spend the day with you. She said I should thank you properly for everything you've done. But I didn't expect her to shoo me out the door this early."
Aiden blinked at her, still processing her words. "So, let me get this straight—you were sent here to spend the day with me, and instead of waiting until a reasonable hour, you decided to sneak into my room and wake me up by… jumping on me?"
Toru's grin widened. "Exactly!"
Before Aiden could respond, the door burst open, and Celeste barged in with her usual brisk energy. "Toru? I knew I saw you downstairs! What are you—" She froze mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing in on the scene before her.
Toru, still sitting in Aiden's lap, turned to Celeste with a startled look.
"Well, well, well," Celeste said, a sly grin spreading across her face. "What exactly is going on here?"
Aiden's face turned beet red as he stammered, "It's not what it looks like! She just—"
But Toru, realising the compromising position they were in, panicked. She tried to scramble off the bed quickly but misjudged her footing and slipped. With a yelp, she tumbled to the floor in an undignified heap.
Celeste burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "Oh, this is gold. Aiden, I'm never letting you live this down."
"Are you okay, Toru?" Aiden asked, leaning over the side of the bed to check on her.
"I'm fine!" Toru said quickly, her face as red as a tomato. She scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off. "Celeste, it's not what you think!"
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because what I think is that you two look awfully cozy this morning."
Toru groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I just wanted to deliver the pictures!"
"And you couldn't do that from, I don't know, the living room?" Celeste teased, crossing her arms.
Aiden sighed, running a hand through his long dreadlocks. "Celeste, can you give it a rest? She's here to spend the day, and it's too early for this nonsense."
"Oh, nonsense, is it?" Celeste said with mock offence. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you lovebirds alone." She winked at Toru, who looked like she wanted to crawl under the bed, and sauntered out of the room.
As the door closed behind her, Toru let out a long sigh. "Your friends are relentless."
Aiden chuckled, finally feeling more awake. "You get used to it. But seriously, next time you want to wake me up, maybe try knocking first?"
"Noted," Toru mumbled, still flustered. She handed him the package of photos, her face softening. "Here. These turned out so amazing. Thank you again, Aiden. I'm really glad you made that gadget for me."
He took the package and set it on his nightstand, smiling warmly at her. "You don't have to thank me, Toru. Seeing you happy is enough."
Her blush deepened, and she fiddled with the hem of her blue dress. "So… what's the plan for today?"
"Well, I was planning on sleeping in," Aiden said with a smirk, earning a playful shove from Toru. "But since you're here, let's make the most of it. We'll start with breakfast—and no, you're not allowed to help. Elara's probably already cooking something up."
The rest of the morning unfolded with ease. Toru and Aiden joined Elara and the others in the kitchen, where the teasing resumed in full force, this time with Kaela joining in as she stuffed pancakes into her mouth.
By the time the sun was fully up, the group had shifted into a casual rhythm, planning activities for the day ahead.
Toru's presence added a lively spark to the household, and Aiden couldn't help but smile as he watched her settle comfortably into his world.
It wasn't the quiet morning he'd expected, but as Aiden glanced at Toru's radiant smile, he realised he wouldn't have had it any other way.
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Aiden led the group to his sprawling garage, the air filled with a buzz of excitement. Rows of sleek vehicles gleamed under the fluorescent lights, each one a testament to his family's wealth and Aiden's refined taste. He walked past a futuristic sports car, a rugged off-roader, and a few classic vehicles before stopping in front of a spacious yet stylish SUV with bold curves and an elegant matte-black finish. Its tinted windows, chrome detailing, and polished rims made it the perfect mix of luxury and practicality.
"This one should do," Aiden said, patting the hood. "Big enough for all of us, and we'll still look good rolling into Tokyo."
Kaela clapped her hands together. "Alright, but who's driving? It's a crime to let this beauty sit idle while Aiden autopilots us there."
Celeste nodded, smirking. "Agreed. Let's draw lots—winner gets the wheel."
Toru giggled, looking between the three of them. "You guys are making this a competition already?"
"You must be new here," Kaela teased, tossing her a wink. "We make everything a competition."
Aiden rolled his eyes but grinned. He quickly grabbed a set of folded slips of paper from a nearby tool kit and scribbled their names. Shaking them up in a small container, he presented it to Toru. "You're neutral here. You draw."
Toru leaned in, pulling a slip and unfolding it with exaggerated suspense. "And the winner is…" She paused dramatically, earning groans from Celeste and Kaela. "Aiden!"
Kaela let out an exaggerated sigh. "Rigged. I call rigged!"
"You literally saw her draw it," Aiden said, grinning as he stepped up to the driver's seat.
Celeste adjusted her glasses with mock disapproval. "Fine. Just don't drive like a prince trying to make a royal entrance."
Toru hopped into the front passenger seat, while Kaela and Celeste took the back. Elara settled into the third row with a casual wave.
Once everyone was strapped in, Aiden revved the engine, the soft hum of power echoing through the garage. He flipped a few switches on the dashboard, and the vehicle's advanced AI system lit up, displaying maps, stats, and entertainment options.
"Tokyo, here we come," Aiden said as he rolled out of the garage, the car's automatic gate opening smoothly ahead of them.
The journey began with the group's usual chatter filling the car. Toru played DJ, scrolling through a playlist on the touch screen and selecting a mix of upbeat tracks that got everyone bobbing their heads.
As the city scenery transitioned to highways lined with trees, Kaela leaned forward between the seats. "So, what's the game plan in Tokyo? Shopping? Food? Both?"
"Shopping first," Celeste said, already scrolling through her phone. "I've been meaning to check out this boutique in Shibuya. They've got the kind of vintage pieces I know Toru would rock."
Toru turned to her, surprised. "Me? Vintage?"
"Absolutely," Celeste said, nodding with certainty. "You've got the perfect vibe for it. Trust me."
"And food?" Elara chimed in from the back, resting her chin on her hand. "I want ramen. Authentic Tokyo ramen."
"Noted," Aiden said, glancing at the rear-view mirror. "We'll shop, eat, and if we have time, we can hit up an arcade or two. Sound good?"
"Perfect," Kaela said. "But don't forget dessert. I'm craving taiyaki."
Toru laughed. "You're already planning dessert before we've even had lunch?"
Kaela grinned, leaning back in her seat. "Hey, priorities."
As the journey continued, the group fell into a rhythm of playful banter, music, and scenic admiration. Aiden, despite his casual demeanour, drove with precision, smoothly navigating the roadways.
At one point, Celeste leaned her head against the window and remarked, "It's been a while since we all did something like this. Feels… nice."
Toru turned back to look at her, smiling softly. "Yeah. It does."
Aiden glanced at Toru from the corner of his eye, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's a good day for an adventure."
And with that, the car sped onward, carrying the group toward the vibrant heart of Tokyo, where new memories awaited.
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