Eargasm

He picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

It knocked her off guard. She had still been thinking over her conversation with Eddie so she didn't even plan what to say yet. "M-Mr. Zou?"

"Yes?"

Much less ask. She held her head. "U-um hello." (Idiot!)

"Yes, hello."

"H-hold on! I didn't think you'd pick up so fast...um, I forgot what I was going to say!"

". . ."

"R-right! You had an urgent matter um... how did it go?"

". . . . . .It's been handled."

She sighed. "That."

"Yes?"

"When you do that it hurts me you know?"

"Do what?"

"Whenever I talk to you I feel like you're holding back from saying your true thoughts. I have a friend that's like that but she's not as bad as you."

"I see."

"I feel... you..." Claudia flushed as she forced out the words. "Letmeinyourlife but when you do that it feels like you're drawing a line andsayingIdon'thavearight to know what's going on with you, ya know?"

". . ."

"Like you're inviting me in only to tell I'm not welcome, kind of feeling!"

". . ."

Her heart cracked. "Are you even listening?"

He sounded flustered. "...I...am."

Tears flowed down her cheeks. Why was she crying? Her head couldn't understand it and it was embarrassing but she couldn't stop.

"...Mr. Zou... we're friends right? Or am I just a business friend?"

". . ."

"If you tell me how you feel I'll know how to feel when you do that at least! It's not like I don't get it, I treat business friends the same way you know!"

". . ."

"I'm stupid so if you don't say it I won't be able to understand! I grew up around girls all my life so I don't understand men at all."

"Please don't call yourself stupid." He finally spoke. "I... have a habit... I didn't... I didn't realize I was drawing a line with you too, I... I'm sorry."

His apology was the blood that washed her misgivings away. She wiped at her cheeks.

"Ms. Bai is someone I'd like in my life... for a very long time."

She flushed.

"So it's only right that I make some exceptions for you."

She flushed even more.

"Really?"

"D-do you not want that?"

"I'd also like to be friends with you for a long time."

There was a long silence on the other end. It was so long she thought he might have hung up or fallen asleep, she had to check her phone screen.

"Claudia." he said finally, there was an unusual exasperation in his tone. Was he angry?

She squeaked. "Y-yes?" She tried not to get worked up over him calling her by name but it showed.

He breathed out a long breath, a sigh she realized almost as if in resignation. "From now on then you should call me Michael."

"U-ummm..."

"You said you wanted to be friends."

"A-ah, yes...but-"

"Then we should call each other by name from now on, that's what friends do."

"B-but-

"I think you should know though, I...want to be more special to you."

"O-oh!"

"I hope you'll be kind to me."

"Okay!"

"You'd hurt my feelings again if you couldn't."

"Again?"

"I-

Before he could finish it sounded like a door slammed open and a high pitched voice called out.

"Who're you talking to?!"

A female?

"I'm sorry, I have to go." Mr. Zou hung up.

Claudia frowned. The special fuzziness she had been beginning to feel faded. Who was that?

_____

"Who was that?" Kaito, a young man with golden bronze hair shined him a broad white-toothed grin.

Yi flinched when Michael turned around and decked him in the face.

The man's face collided into the floor bouncing before he thankfully got up holding his face.

"What the fuck? The hell is wrong with you?! That fucking hurt! I-I'm dizzy!"

There was a murderous glint in Michael's eyes that shut him up.

"Why did you have to talk in a voice like that?!"

Kaito looked to the other with a wronged expression.

"No worries, Kaito. It would seem as if our good friend has finally come down to earth to sow his seed."

"E-eh?" Kaito looked to his assailant with less fear in his eyes. "You found someone? Who is she that she managed to catch your eyes?!"

Michael pursed his lips.

"Stay away from her."

"How can I if I don't know who she is? Why don't you tell meeeee?"

His friend held him back. "Do you want to get punched again? Stop making him upset it's scary."

Kaito shoved him away and wagged a finger at Michael. "Don't think I'm letting you off for that punch just cause you're seeing someone now!"

______

Meanwhile, Claudia was restless. She had attempted to go to bed but the conversation left her flopping from side to side.

First flustered, secondly

"Who was that?"