I tamed the female lead

Chapter 24

Orange finally came back and I ran up to her not able to hide my excitement. While I was running up to her I saw Saber come out of the same corner as Orange and stopped. I was really surprised to see them together because Orange wasn't the type to make friends and especially not hide to talk with them. They must have run into each other unexpectedly and Saber being very friendly must have forced Orange to socialize. I was happy for my friend but for some reason felt my heart ache. I forgot about it and walked up to them with a smile. Seeing me all happy, Orange smiled too and opened her arms as if waiting for me to hug her. I did but it was only with one of my arms because I didn't want Saber to feel uncomfortable:

"Hi there! I was looking for you two. I thought that maybe something happened."

Orange frowned and turned around to see that we weren't alone. She didn't seem fine for some reason and I touched her forehead worried:

"Are you okay? You look quite pale."

Orange immediately smiled but I could still feel something wrong. It wasn't like Orange to hide something from me. Did Saber tell her something?

"I am fine."

Orange didn't have time to say more because Saber was as energetic as ever:

"We ran into each other and had a little talk. I completely forgot about where I was going, subjugated by the beauty of this place and I would have been completely lost if it wasn't for Orange's kindness."

I really liked Saber and I would have thought she was very nice but seeing Orange all cold I became really protective. I placed myself between them and smiled:

"I am glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself. I put a lot of thought into today to please you. Did you taste the little lemon tarts? I think you might like them."

Saber seemed to have noticed what I was doing. Or maybe she didn't but she became all excited again and left quickly to taste the tarts in question. As soon as she was gone I turned to Orange and cupped her face into my hands:

"Are you sure everything is fine? You don't look okay."

Orange froze for a second before rubbing her face against my palm.

"I am fine now.

-Did Saber say something mean to you? Did she make you uncomfortable? Do I need to beat her up?"

Orange laughed in front of so much determination.

"I wouldn't let you get your hands dirty with her."

She turned her face and now her lips were touching my palm but I was way too focused on what had happened to mind that. Moreover, I was more than used to Orange touching me because of all our years together.

"Did she really do something?"

I felt the rage take over my body and I turned around ready to have a word with Saber. Seeing me leave, Orange grabbed my arm. She only grabbed me gently and didn't dare use any strength so I could still walk without a problem and dragged her for a few seconds before having pity and stopping in my tracks.

"I thought you liked her."

I frowned:

"She doesn't mean anything to me if she is mean to you. No one can be mean to you. Never. Or I am going to have a word with them. And not only a word."

Orange opened wide eyes seeing me raise my fist. I was even more surprised to see that she was surprised. I turned to her and put my hands on her shoulders:

"Did you really think that she would mean more to me than you when I just met her?"

I started laughing and Orange became all fidgety.

"You are so cute. I would never prefer anyone to you. Even if they are the nicest person on earth, I would kill them without a second thought if they did anything to you."

As I was talking I was getting closer and closer to Orange and even if she loved what was going on she started getting more and more embarrassed. I knew that because even if she was shaking wanting to get away from my face, she would still use every force to stay put and stare into my eyes despite her cheeks turning red.

"I would do anything for you, Orange."

This was the last straw and Orange couldn't take it anymore. She was now completely red and I felt her hands twitching on my side. I didn't notice when she had put her hands on my sides but I was happy to see her back to herself.

"Are you okay Orange?"

The latter couldn't look me in the eyes anymore and stared at something on the right:

"She didn't do anything. We ran into each other and she was nice.

-Are you sure? You seemed weird when you saw her.

-I... I didn't like her being there with us because..."

Orange never lied to me but that didn't mean that saying the truth was always easy and I could see how hard Orange was trying:

"You didn't hug me..."

I frowned:

"When didn't I?"

Orange couldn't stop changing colors:

"When you saw me.. You only half hugged me."

I opened my eyes wide. It was the first time that Orange told me that she was disappointed. Before that we were only together at home and no one ever interrupted us. And it was the first time that Orange and I were around so many people of the same age. When I saw Saber I only half hugged her because I didn't want Saber to feel left out and at the same time I didn't want Orange to feel uncomfortable but I didn't think anything bad at all. I always loved hugging her.

I smiled and hugged Orange close to myself. I hugged her so hard that I couldn't feel my arms anymore but Orange didn't seem to mind. On the contrary.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable. I love hugging you. You are rather comfortable for a human being.

-It's okay."

Orange didn't say anything more and just hugged me back, her face disappearing into my hair. After a few seconds I started laughing and Orange twitched:

"I am sorry. It's just, I never saw you pout before."

Orange opened her mouth but didn't deny it.

"I thought you said you would never get mad at me."

Orange panicked:

"I wasn't mad at you. I was just pouting, it's not the same. I would never be mad at you. I am so sorry. It will never happen again."

Seeing Orange all flustered, I wanted to tease her a bit more.

"I can't believe that you got mad at me. I only wanted to help you and you didn't like it. I feel really sad. I had the best of intentions..."

I was obviously joking but Orange was way too panicked to hear it and I could see the hurricane in her mind. She had no idea what to say and I just continued pretending to cry. I lowered my head and put my hands in front of my eyes to hide:

"I thought that I could trust you but you lied to me.

-I, no. I would never... No!

-Are you saying that I am lying?

-No! I... No... I just... I am so sorry."

Orange had no idea what to say and just apologized continuously:

"I am so sorry. I didn't want to... I am sorry. I really am. I didn't lie. It will never happen again. Please don't cry. Please look at me. I am so sorry. Please look at me."

I couldn't take it anymore and started laughing. Orange immediately froze and opened teary eyes:

"Poehina!"

I laughed even more and finally looked at her:

"I was just kidding. I didn't think you would believe me."

Orange really seemed shocked and I started feeling bad about my little joke:

"Orange?"

The latter had tears streaming down her face and I froze in turn:

"Orange? Are you okay?"

The latter gently touched my cheek, her eyes still crying. She looked at me for a long time and I could feel my stomach churn. I never saw her look so sad before. Did she feel so hurt because I said I was disappointed in her? I didn't think Orange was that insecure... Was it because of me? Did I make her feel that way for some reason?

"Please don't be mad at me."

Orange's voice cracked and I felt my voice give up. I couldn't say anything and I just felt sucked in having forgotten how to use any of my muscles:

"I beg you... I will never do anything to make you mad. So don't ever cry because of me. Please..."

She seemed so desperate that I just froze. I had no idea what was going on. I didn't feel my body, I couldn't breathe, I didn't hear anything, I didn't even remember who I was or what I was doing here. I just stared into Orange's eyes and felt like crying for real.