Note: Good heavens, I wish I can do a better job at translating this >_< Please forgive the grammar error and everything. Some conversation might be found weird but that is because I want to keep the original format Nei used. Any fault in this translation is purely mine.
Yuuki’s eyes fly open as his ears catch the faint sound of car engine stopping from next door; his body lay still on the bed without any intention to take a look. He knows it’s already so late and his neighbor has just come home. A long day, the boy thinks. Just like how it feels when Yuuki spend almost all day in English class.
Okaeri, Wada-san.
His feet reach for his slippers and he walk off the bed, sleepiness suddenly gone. Yuuki is pretty much accustomed to sleep early and waking up in the middle of the night, thanks to Takuma’s habit of returning home with his car engine still revving before entering the garage. After that, Yuuki guesses out of habit – that man will get out of the car, spinning his keys around and whistling some tune, turning his lights on, and then locking his door with two turns of locks.
Yuuki remembers them all.
If someone wants to get to know about him, Yuuki will readily introduce himself, gladly. After all, he’s only an ordinary high school student who happens to have Ogoe as his surname, likes the color red, and loves soccer. He also loves to snuggle up in the middle of the day so he can stay awake even before the sun shows itself, not that he has to catch the first bus, but more to the fact that he wants to enjoy the heavenly scene from his bedroom window that opens to his neighbor’s house, or to be specific, to Takuma’s bedroom.
It is the man’s habit, Yuuki thinks, to fall asleep with a slightly opened window and curtain that tied neatly on each sides of the window frames. With that arrangement, Takuma can wake up to the sunlight seeping through his room without having to set an alarm. And Yuuki uses this chance to stare back at how Takuma shifts under the blanket and sitting up without any clothes covering him.
Yuuki also knows that after that, Takuma will stay still for a while on the bed, his head thrown back and moving his shoulders to get rid of any soreness. His arm will grope around, looking for his pajama’s bottom, putting it on while standing, then moving around to loosen his muscles for three to five minutes before heading to the shower. Takuma will take more than thirty minutes inside and stepping out looking so fresh.
Yuuki’s eyes are fixed to every detail, every morning. How every drop of water drips from Takuma’s hair and slides along his milky chest skin, how Takuma’s fingers pull the towel that draped around his waist and causing Yuuki to gasp, how Takuma reaches for the cologne bottle, spraying it to his palm and rubs it on his sexy nape and neck. Also at how Takuma, wearing only his brief, moving around preparing his outfit, putting on his suit, buttoning his shirt and tidying his tie, checking his hair then snatching his bag along with a couple of folders from the table top. Looking very dandy. Can not be missed.
Yuuki takes notes that the man never has breakfast at home, because when Yuuki passes by with his backpack toward the bus station, he still catches Takuma sitting at the cafe across the street, enjoying a smoked beef sandwich. Yuuki hides behind a parked car, pointing his cellphone while waiting for Takuma to finish eating then rushes in to the bus. With his earphone in place until he reaches the school’s gate, ready for any kind of things that he has to face with a wide smile. The distance between his school and Takuma’s workplace is within a stone’s throw. No reason to laze around.
Takuma will spend lunch in a dimsum restaurant not far from his office, the same with Yuuki who gets out on recess and trying so hard not to be seen by Takuma. Once or twice, the man will get out with a company, but most of the time, Yuuki sees him sitting alone at table number seven near the doorway. Day time is always Yuuki’s favorite time because he can see Takuma from a closer distance, at how the man mixes soy sauce with a little of doubanjang in a small plate, at how he separates his chopsticks using his teeth, at how he sniffs at the delicious aroma of hot dimsum until his nose is scrunched up cutely, or at how he nods his head in approval once he takes a bite of a shrimp hakau. If he was with a company, Yuuki can hear them joke, chat, laughing out loud and make a toast with pints of beers; nothing escapes Yuuki’s attention. No need to ask why, because Takuma’s laugh is the part that he waits for before the bell to the next session rings.
Thirty minutes to six in the evening, Takuma will go out playing billiard with a couple of his mates. Yuuki knows Takuma is quite skillful because once, he followed and took a peek for a moment; Yuuki didn’t get inside because he hates the smell of tobacco. At least, he could summarized that the man always get home late, like today; giving Yuuki enough time to do his homework, doing his house chores, and taking a bath. Also to lay for a while until he’s awake by a sound of car engine that is so familiar.
Tonight, as usual, he looks, enthusiastically from behind the tied curtain, at Takuma’s figure taking off his working suits one by one and going to the bathroom. Next, Yuuki’s eyes follow Takuma’s movement as he rubs his hair with a towel, a black boxer covering his waist, it looks even tighter as Takuma sits leaning on the bed, notebook on his lap and starts typing. Sometimes, the man will avert his eyes to the window, feeling like someone is looking at him. But Yuuki is faster, drawing himself into the darkness of his room, clutching tightly on the small binoculars he owns while waiting for Takuma to wave his hand dismissively and back typing again.
Never does Yuuki mind to be wake all night long just to look at Takuma, even though sometimes sleepiness attacks and Yuuki’s eyes droop slowly; but the scenes from across his window never cease to defeat those things, like being hypnotized. Yuuki is still so excited even though Takuma already closes his notebook and lay down, falling asleep so soundly. In Yuuki’s eyes, the dark of the night with a dash of moonlight only resulting in turning Takuma’s silhouette even more charming; a price that worthy of his postponed sleep.
Yuuki lowers his binoculars as he remembers, around a month ago when he made the time to drop by after cram school, making excuse that he lost his keys somewhere. Arming himself with wistful gaze that causes pity and Takuma let him taking a rest inside his room while the man prepared lunch. Enough time for Yuuki to plant several tiny wiretaps in some strategic spots. If he was lucky, at night, Yuuki can hear Takuma sighing in his sleep, dreaming about something he doesn’t know. Or sometimes, pleasuring himself until he reaches orgasm while catching Takuma’s moan as the man masturbates in the bathroom. Even though he has to pant because he lets himself drawn too deep in pleasure, the feeling is too magnificent.
Taken aback from his reverie, Yuuki glances to his digital alarm clock. It’s three o’clock in the morning.
Once again taking a look at the man curling in his sleep in the room across his own, licking his own lip, then he lay himself on the bed. Fully aware that he only has less than four hours to sleep before he has to wake up and repeat his daily activities fully planned.
_________
”Yuuki-chan, ohayo!!” Takuma greets from behind the fence, a bright morning in a holiday. His smile blooms perfectly and doubles the charm of his handsome face. Yuuki is doing his school assignment on the patio when the man walks up to him, bringing a cup of coffee and Sunday paper, clad only in sleeveless shirt and cropped pants, “Homework? How hardworking~”
Yuuki throws him a sweet smile, putting down his pencil then pulling his very-short-blue-jeans-clad legs down, as well. Takuma eyebrows crease when his greeting is replied with, “Ohayo, Wada-san…” and unhappily points at Yuuki, “I’ve told you to call me Takuma.”
”But it’s not polite.”
The man laughs, ”Yuuki-chan is already like a little brother to me, I’ll be happier if you call me Takkun,” he cuts in, leaning his arm against the fence, ”Yuuki-chan’s been very busy lately, huh? I rarely see you around.”
Yuuki supports his chin with his elbow,”Hmm...I have exams this month, moreover, Wada-san, umh, I-I mean, Takkun is also busy with work, so we’re even,” he says while laughing a little, trying to break the tension and his own heart beat. A patch of Takuma’s chest skin is something not to be missed. “At least, Takkun looks happy, something good happened?”
Takuma rubs his nape bashfully,”Well, something good, another is not so good, which one do you want to hear first?”
”Eh, may I?”
”Here, Yuuki-chan, I always tells you everything, right?” he ruffles Yuuki’s hair. His lips turn slightly upward as he sees Yuuki’s fingers drawn up choosing the second option, “Umh, it’s a bit embarrassing, really but actually, I had an argument with my boyfriend.”
Yuuki’s forehead creases, a glimpse of someone with a pretty face Takuma once introduced him to, comes crossing his mind, ”Oh, a fight? What happened?”
”He said he’s tired of me paying not enough attention to our relationship. What can I do, my workload is huge, and I just got promoted to be staff of directors at my office.”
”Hontou? That’s the good news, right?” the pair of Yuuki’s eyes sparkles when Takuma nods, how Yuuki loves the tint of pink at the man’s line of nose every time he blushes. Yuuki will do everything to be able to see it, always.
“That’s why I want to ask you something,” Takuma shifts, sitting himself beside him, crossing his legs and cuddling coffee cup in his hands, “does Yuuki know a real estate agent around here?”
Yuuki’s forehead winces, he’s trying to face a surprised look even though actually he can guess, because last night he recorded the conversation over the phone between the man and his coworker. And even though he could only hear Takuma’s voice, Yuuki could say that the man was asking some advice to ask his boyfriend to live under the same roof.
”Takkun wants to move?”
Takuma chuckles in embarassment, ”Well, I was thinking to keep this house and add another room at the upper level, but my boyfriend said that it’s too far from civilization. Perhaps if I fulfilled his wish, our relationship can come to a better term.”
The pencil in Yuuki’s hand moves, ”Takkun has the money to buy a new house?”
”Hmmm...I have some savings and I’m planning to add with what I get from selling this house, or maybe put it up for a re...”
”SELLING THE HOUSE?” Yuuki cuts in, he never heard about the house will be put for sale,”B, but that means I will never be able to meet Takkun again.”
Takuma’s arm reaches for his shoulder and pulls Yuuki closer with a laugh, ”Yuuki-chan, I’m only moving to another place, not going out of town or even overseas, therefore I’m asking if Yuuki-chan know about a real estate agent that’s close to the mainroad, you can reach it by bus, right? You know, just like going to school,” he rocks the stunned Yuuki. The blush on his face is not even gone when Takuma releases him. The corner of Yuuki’s mouth drawn downward; no, he doesn’t like that blushing expression this time.
A flick on his forehead makes Yuuki turn around, Takuma caresses his cheek while smiling, ”Yuuki-chan is not happy?”
Shrugging, Yuuki closes his book,”I will ask my friends.”
The man’s eyes automatically go alight,”Really? Oh my god, thank you very much!! Yuuki-chan is the best little brother in the world!! I know this is too sudden but I’m happy that you’re willing to help!!”, he kisses the wincing Yuuki’s cheek.
”What can I do, Takkun looks so happy. By the way, your boyfriend isn’t coming to talk about this? You both are about to move but Takkun’s the only one who’s busy?”
Takuma sips on his coffee that already turns cold, ”I don’t know, he hasn’t make any contact with me these three days, perhaps it’s better that I prepare everything so he can be a bit...umh, persuaded? I’m not good at seducing him, oh…wait a minute!!” his palm fishes inside his pants pocket and drawing out a familiar black cellphone, “He’s calling, excuse me, Yuuki-chan.”
The boy agrees, gazing at Takuma’s retreating to the terrace back and talking idly with someone Yuuki is sure as his boyfriend. The corner of his eye follows the movements of the man’s body, inch by inch. A happy smile performing on Takuma’s lips is telling Yuuki something.
“He said he will consider coming for dinner tonight,” Takuma tells without being asked when Yuuki blinks at him. He scratches his forehead, thinking, “Do I have to buy some flowers, as well?”
Yuuki peers curiously, ”What for?”
”As an apology and...” Takuma leans his chin against his cellphone, ”Who knows I can use this chance to propose to him.”
Mouth gaping open, Yuuki almost points his pencil to the man.
”Whoa! Takkun wants to get married? So soon!! Don’t tell me Takkun only wants a small celebration, I have to be invited!!” his knees pulled up excitedly, Takuma laughs.
”If everything went according to plan, Yuuki-chan will be the first one to know,” he says, putting his phone back inside his pocket again, ”How about Yuuki-chan comes to dinner, too? I will cook the dinner, so you can taste it.”
Blinking, Yuuki arranges his books into one stack, “Can I?”
His eyes can’t leave the scene of Takuma’s Adam’s apple moving up and down while the man downs the content of his coffee cup, the man’s tongue licking the lips slightly, “Of course you can, perhaps you guys can meet and talk a bit more freely, that one time Yuuki-chan immediately went inside because you had to study, right?”
”Okay~” Yuuki winks, grabbing his books before heading for the door, ”Takkun can go back first, I’ll go change.”
Takuma nods and waves his hand until he reaches the fence, humming slowly oblivious to a pair of eyes glancing piercingly at him.
_________
Yuuki stops sipping the sweet soda from a tall glass at Takuma’s kitchen island when the door bell rings; a beautiful young man is pressing the bell a couple of times, looking puzzled, but Yuuki doesn’t want to answer. He’s too busy cutting baked meat into thin pieces with knife and fork in his hands. The owner of the house just left to buy some salad ingredients after handing over the task to Yuuki (who whined that he wanted a box of cherry tomatoes, knowing Takuma never has fruits in his fridge). The supermarket that sells the fruit located quite far from the house, and at such hour Yuuki knows that the isles are pretty empty. Just as he thought.
”Good timing,” he whispers, letting the bell ringing once again then moving across the kitchen island. Licking hungrily at some meat sauce from his thumb and putting the knife he’s been holding on the cutting board.
”Mitsuya-san?”
The figure in front of the door jumps in surprised because he’s about to turn away when the door is opened.
“Oh yes. Umh, kimi dare?” Mitsuya raises an eyebrow, Yuuki smiles widely, arms outstretched.
”Takkun’s boyfriend, right? I’m Yuuki, we’ve met once before over there, but maybe you don’t remember. Ah, please don’t be suspicious, I’m only a little brother, though I’m actually his next door neighbot,” Yuuki says, grimacing. He shakes Mitsuya’s hand warmly; the skin of the boy’s hand is as soft as silk. His whole appearance is graceful, a nice match to his glowing face.
”Yuuki...Yuuki, oooh yes yes, Takuma often told me about you. You really are as sweet as I thought. I’m Mitsuya Ryou, you can call me Micchi.”
Nodding, Yuuki releases his hands and looks around. He scratches his chin.
”Takkun said that you’d come, but he just left to buy some more meal ingredients,” he mumbles a little uncomfortably,”So why don’t you come in and wait inside? We can chat while waiting for Takkun.”
Mitsuya slips some strands of hair behind his ear, feeling a bit awkward, “If it’s not too much of a trouble.”
”Of course not. Takkun’s guest is also my guest, you don’t have to hesitate. The main dish is still in preparation, I’m still working on it, but there’s some canapé and snacks. Come in,” he opens the door a little bit wider, giving permission for Mitsuya who steps in while clutching a small bag on his shoulder.
“Ojyama shimasu.”
”Make yourself at home,” Yuuki answers while heading straight to the kitchen after closing the door, looking at the baked meat in front of him and weighing the knife while smiling sweetly. He looks over his shoulder to Mitsuya who already sits inside the living room.
”Would you like some tea, or coffee?”
_________
”Yuuki-chan, tadaima!” Takuma reaches for the door knob half panting, his hand holding a plastic bag full with a couple of boxes and juice cans. Yuuki greets him in the living room, chuckling a little at Takuma who’s sweating from running to avoid the rain. The rain is not heavy but enough to make his shoulder and face wet.
”Sorry, am I taking too long? The supermarket was so crowded and the line at the cashier was crazy, luckily Yuuki’s order was still available.”
”It’s okay, I’m also busy washing the utensils and everything. I barely notice,” Yuuki receives the bag from Takuma’s hand and tells the guy to come in before the wind blows too strongly. Then happily, he takes out the juice cans to be placed inside the cupboard while humming.
”Has my boyfriend arrived?”
Yuuki’s arm stops mid-air, his fingers wipe slowly over the cold dew on the shelf’s surface.
”Not yet.”
”What took him so long, does he forget?” Takuma shakes the water off his hair and takes off his shoes; his chiseled nose sniffs instinctively; the scent of strawberry and something sweet.
”Smells nice. Does Yuuki-chan wear perfume?”
The droplets from Takuma’s hair drops over the white skin of his face, the taken-off jacket reveals a thin white shirt that attached perfectly like a second skin due to dampness. Yuuki chews the inside of his mouth, the right corner of his mouth moves up.
”Your house reeked of food, so I sprayed some cologne that I brought.”
“Oh, is that so?” Takuma twists around, then heads over to the kitchen with both hands on his hips, scrutinizing the things laid on the table. Pasta, pieces of baked bread drizzled with parsley, plates of side dishes, and thinly cut baked meat. Yuuki moves from in front of the fridge, sipping from his juice can and walks over to Takuma who’s still looking.
”Yuuki-chan, your shirt’s dirty,” he moves closer to Yuuki while reaching out his arm to touch a patch of small island shaped stain that looks very new, quite contrast to Yuuki’s bright yellow shirt. He touches it with the tip of his finger. Deep red.
Takuma’s eyebrows crease.
”What’s this?”
He’s about to sniff when Yuuki takes that fingers with both hands and enclose around it slowly, he licks Takuma’s finger and smiles wickledly.
”It’s just meat sauce~”
”O, oh...” Takuma nods, stuttering a bit,”Yuuki-chan should change clothes, you can wear mine.”
”Mmm, Takkun should change clothes, too; you’re wet all over.”
Takuma pulls on his own shirt and laughs,”I guess you’re right. Very well, let’s change our clothes. I’ll find something that fits you.”
”Takkun can go first; want me to make some drink for you?”
Takuma turns his back to Yuuki and walks over to his bedroom. With jacket thrown over an arm, he replies softly.
”Sure.”
Yuuki smiles in return, the corners of his eyes worshiping the handsome figure from behind the strands of hair that falls before his forehead; wide shoulders, charming and sexy nape line, also his inviting waist. There will be no one who can hug that body except Yuuki. Takuma is his.
And his only.
”Would you like some tea...” Yuuki grins, “Or coffee?”
