Noah memijat kedua lengan ke arah atas.
"Dua hari... Sin..."
Kemudian, tanpa sejenak waktu, ia dengan mudah meletakkan tubuhnya secara mendadak ke samping.
Kepitunya menyentuh lantai dengan elegan di antara lutut Akari, seolah itu adalah tempat yang paling wajar di dunia.
Akari mengangkat suaranya.
"..."
Namun ia tidak memberikan kritik pun pada saat itu.
Setelah enam bulan bertemu dan bersama, ia sudah akrab dengan hal-seru yang dilakukan Noah seperti ini. Bahkan memberikan tempat peluk setelah latihan telah menjadi salah satu bagian paling biasa dalam kehidupan mereka.
Tangan akunya alami bergerak menuju ke rambut putih seperti es Noah itu.
Ia dengan lembut menyentuh rambutnya.
"Kamu lagi dipuja lagi."
Noah menutup matanya dengan nyaman.
"Apa maksudmu, dipuja? Aku hanya ingin merasakan kekasihmu."
Bibir Akari mengalir menjadi senyum lembut.
"Bukan itu berarti kamu dipuja juga?"
"Aku tidak tahu."
Noah membuka satu mata dan menatapnya.
"Kenapa tidak coba diaplikasikan juga?"
Tangan Akari berhenti bergerak.
"Aku?"
Ia mengalirkan kepala.
"Apa kamu maksudnya?"
"Itu..."
Noah tersenyum licik.
"Mau istirahatkan kepala di lututku untuk ganti? Mungkin biarkan aku memegangmu dan memuji kamu sekaligus?"
"...!"
Bibir Akari langsung memperlihkan pucat merah di kulitnya.
Untuk sekejap, ia benar-benar membayangkan dirinya beristirahat dengan nyaman melenceng ke arahnya sambil Noah memujanya rambut. Hanya pikiran itu saja membuatnya malu sangat.
Jempolnya langsung menuju pipinya.
Setras!
"Ouch!"
"Lagi begini!"
Akari dengan lembut memegang kembali pipinya.
"Kamu mulai bicara Bodoh."
Noah menangkap tangannya dan kebebasnya dari pipi yang kini menjadi korban.
"Bukan Bodoh!"
Ia tiba-tiba berdiri kembali.
"Maka kita coba saja."
Akari membelakanginya.
"Tidak."
"Kenapa tidak?"
"Karena tidak ada kebutuhan untuk itu."
"Ada!" Noah tidak mau menolak.
"Noah." Akaranya menatapnya dengan bendas.
"Kamu selalu membiarkanku beristirahat di lututmu. Itu tidak adil."
"Bagaimana tidak adil?"
"Karena aku ingin memuji kamu juga."
Akari terpingkal. Keseriusan dengan yang dikatakannya itu membuatnya tidak tahu apa yang harus dikatakan. Ia menggetarkan kepala.
"Tidak ada kebutuhan untuk itu."
Bagaimana bisa wanita yang berumur lebih dari sembilan puluh tahun membenarkan untuk memuji orang segar seperti itu? Ini sekadar tidak mungkin. Sangat tidak mungkin.
Namun Noah bukan seseorang yang mudah ditinggal. "Kamu harus!" Ia menekankan.
Sebelum Akari bisa bersuaras lagi, Noah mengambil tangannya dan dengan lembut memandu dia ke arahnya.
"Noah—"
Akari menghela napas tanpa putus. Ia bisa dengan mudah menolaknya jika memang ingin. Mereka berdua tahu itu. Namun alih-alih melakukannya, ia dengan sbertengah mengizinkan diri tertarikan ke bawah.
Akira akhirnya menemukannya sendi di lantai kayu dekat veranda.
Kepitunya menyentuh lutut Noah.
"..."
"..."
Sehenggapnya diam tak beraturan mengikuti itu.
Akari memeguk mata ke depan.
Radangnya yang perlahan menjadi lebih hangat.
Lubang-lubang Noah tidak seperti yang Akari miliki. Melalui bulan-bulan latihan fisik, kakinya sudah berserat dan kencang, jadi tentu saja tidak lembut sebagaimana yang biasanya menjadi tempat tidur mereka.
Namun anehnya, itu bukan hal itu yang membuat jantungnya berdebar kencang. Itu adalah situasinya sendiri. Selama bulan-bulan, Akari adalah yang mengizinkan Noah untuk beristirahat di lututnya. Ia pernah memujanya rambut. Dan pernah memberinya kenyamanan. Memuji dia setiap kali dia lelah setelah latihan. Sekarang posisinya telah muter balik.
"Ini... sangat memalukan."
Akari berusaha mempertahankan ekspresi biasanya yang tertib. Kemudian terasa sesuatu yang hangat menyimpang perlahan di antara lutut Noah.
Tangan Noah.
Jempolnya perlahan-lahan perlahan menyusuri rambut hitam pekat Akari, memperhatikan untuk tidak mengganggu benturan rambut elegan yang sudah dikunyah sebelumnya.
Sentuh.
Sentuh.
Mata biru Akari yang perlahan membuka lebar.
Noah menatapnya dengan senyum puas.
"Lihat lau?"
Gerakanannya tetap terasa sangat lembut.
"Tidak terlalu buruk, kan?"
Akari diam selama beberapa detik. Kemudian matanya perlahan menutup.
"Rasanya biasa saja."
Mukanya Noah mengalir.
"Hanya biasa saja?"
"Jangan sombong."
"Haha!"
Noah terus memujanya rambut.
Untuk pertama kalinya, Akari tidak harus menjadi penjaga. Saat ini tidak harus melatihnya, melindunginya, memasaknya, atau memberinya kenyamanan.
Ia bisa sekadar berbaring dan membiarkan orang lain memujanya. Walaupun berada dalam situasi yang memalukan, rasanya sangat mendishakan.
Akari bersantai lebih lanjut di lutut Noah.
Noah menyadarinya langsung. Senyum yang lembutnya memudar.
"Sepertinya ada yang menikmati dipuji juga."
Akari membuka satu mata.
"Noah."
"Ya?"
"Berhenti dan terus memujanya rambutku."
"..."
Senyum besar menyebar di wajahnya.
"Ya, Bu.
Noah stretched both arms high above his head.
"Two days... Sigh..."
Then, without warning, he casually let his body fall sideways.
His head landed perfectly on Akari’s lap, resting comfortably against her thighs as though it were the most natural place in the world.
Akari raised an eyebrow.
"..."
But she didn’t complain.
After six months of living together, she had long since grown accustomed to Noah doing things like this. In fact, giving him a lap pillow after training had somehow become one of the most ordinary parts of their daily life.
Her hand naturally moved toward his snow-white hair.
She gently ran her fingers through it.
"You are being spoiled again."
Noah closed his eyes comfortably.
"What do you mean, spoiled? I just want to feel your affection."
Akari’s lips curved into a faint smile.
"Doesn’t that mean you’re being spoiled?"
"I don’t know."
Noah opened one eye and looked up at her.
"Why don’t you try it yourself?"
Akari’s hand stopped.
"Me?"
She tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..."
Noah smiled mischievously.
"Do you want to rest your head on my lap for once? Maybe let me hold you and spoil you instead."
"...!"
Akari’s cheeks immediately gained a faint pink hue.
For just a moment, she actually imagined herself resting comfortably against him while Noah stroked her hair. The thought alone made her strangely embarrassed. Her fingers immediately moved toward his cheek.
Pinch!
"Ouch!"
"Here we go again."
She gently pulled his cheek.
"You’ve started talking nonsense."
Noah caught her hand and freed his poor cheek.
"It’s not nonsense!"
He abruptly sat upright.
"Then let’s try it."
Akari stared at him.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because there is absolutely no need."
"There is!" Noah was in no mood to refuse.
"Noah." She looked at him sternly.
"You always let me rest on your lap. That’s unfair." Noah said with dejected expression.
"How is that unfair?"
"Because I want to spoil you too."
Akari blinked. The sincerity with which he said those ridiculous words momentarily left her speechless. She shook her head.
"There is no need for that."
How could she, a woman over ninety years old could let a young man spoil her like a kid. This was just not possible. Absolutely not.
But Noah was not someone who knows how to give up easily. "You must!" He insist.
Before Akari could protest again, Noah took her hand and gently pulled her toward him.
"Noah—"
Akari sighed helplessly. She could easily resist him if she genuinely wanted to. They both knew that. Yet instead of doing so, she reluctantly allowed herself to be guided downward.
Eventually, Akari found herself lying on the wooden floor of the veranda.
Her head rested across Noah’s lap.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence followed.
Akari stared straight ahead.
Her cheeks slowly became warmer.
Noah’s thighs weren’t anything like hers. Months of physical training had made his legs muscular and firm, so they certainly weren’t the softest pillow in existence.
Yet strangely that wasn’t what made her heart beat faster. It was the situation itself. For months, she had been the one allowing Noah to rest against her.
She had stroked his hair. And she had comforted him. Spoiled him whenever he became exhausted from training. Now their positions had completely reversed.
’This is... surprisingly embarrassing.’
Akari tried maintaining her usual composed expression. Then she felt something warm settle gently against her head.
Noah’s hand.
His fingers slowly moved through her raven-black hair, careful not to disturb the elegant bun she had tied earlier.
Stroke.
Stroke.
Akari’s blue eyes widened slightly.
Noah looked down at her with a satisfied smile.
"See?"
His movements remained surprisingly gentle.
"It’s not bad, right?"
Akari remained silent for several seconds. Then her eyes slowly drifted closed.
"It’s acceptable I guess."
Noah’s eyebrow twitched.
"Just acceptable?"
"Don’t become arrogant."
"Haha!"
Noah continued stroking her hair.
For once, Akari didn’t have to be the master. Right now she didn’t have to train him, protect him, cook for him, or comfort him.
She could simply lie there and allow someone else to care for her. Despite embarrassing situation it felt strangely pleasant.
Akari relaxed a little more against his lap.
Noah noticed it immediately. His smile softened.
"Looks like someone enjoys being spoiled too."
Akari opened one eye.
"Noah."
"Yes?"
"Be quiet and keep stroking my hair."
"..."
A huge grin spread across his face.
"Yes, ma’am."
Akari closed her eyes again.
And this time, she didn’t bother hiding the small smile forming on her lips.
Noah noticed it and smile more widely. He leaned and gently kiss on her cheek. Her cheeks warm up as pink shade spread over her fair skin.
It was not his first time kissing her on cheek, for last many month he had kiss her too many times that she lost count.
But even after so many times she was not used to it, each time he land a gently kiss, heat would rose to her cheeks. Which gave her soft shade of pink.
They remained like that without talking to each other.
---
"Hey, what are you cooking?"
Noah’s voice suddenly came from behind her.
Before Akari could turn around, he stepped closer and casually rested his chin on her right shoulder, peering curiously at what she was preparing in the small wooden kitchen.
"Nothing special," Akari replied, continuing her work. "I’m just roasting some meat and making a spicy soup to go with it."
A few loose strands of her raven-black hair repeatedly fell across her face while she worked.
Noticing them, Noah raised his hand.
His fingers gently caught the strands and tucked them behind her ear.
Akari paused for a moment before continuing to prepare the food.
"Thank you, Noah."
"Hehe~ You’re welcome."
Noah remained where he was, watching her cook from over her shoulder.
The sight brought a strange smile to his face.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"It really feels like you’re my wife."
Bang!
The dagger Akari had been using as a kitchen knife struck the wooden cutting board much harder than necessary.
Her movements froze.
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