"That's a wrap!" Some one said. At this point Nakao didn't care who it was, as long as he could get home faster.
"Thank you for all your hard work, Nakao. You really saved us there." Akiha Hara said.
Nakao was a model working for Akiha Hara. He is now 19 and has graduated Osaka High. In fact he graduated about a year and a half ago today. He got a job with Akiha a few days before he graduated and has been working with him ever since. He is now a full time male model. Well he is more than that.
Today Nakao was only supposed to work this morning. But since all the petite female models were either on leave or were sick, he had to do a whole other shoot. And he had to dress as a girl. Not that he minded much. He did like his girly aspects. At least, he used to -and didn't really care anymore (at least he was getting paid double)—because ever since that day, he almost hated the way he looked. The day he graduated was practically the end of his life.
Nakao scoffed to himself, 'Nice work' he says, what a prick. He didn't say that out loud. Instead he said, with a smile, "Thanks."
"For all your hard work I'm going to treat you." Akiha said.
"A treat?" Nakao questioned.
"Yeah, do you drink?" Akiha asked placing his arm around Nakao's shoulder.
"A little, why?" He asked.
"I'm gonna take you to a bar."
Oh no, great a bar. Good lord. Nakao thought to himself.
"I think I'm just gonna head home and rest." He said trying to escape, but with little success.
"Nonsense, you deserve it!" Akiha beamed. "You go get changed into your clothes and we'll get going."
So he did and before he knew it he was heading off to a local bar with his photographer.
Once inside, Akiha led Nakao, by the hand, up to the counter. Akiha sat himself down in one of the bar stools and Nakao sat in the one next to him. Akiha ordered himself a drink, one that was unfamiliar to Nakao and it sounded very heavily loaded in alcohol. He also ordered Nakao a drink, which was also unfamiliar to Nakao, but it sounded lighter than his own. The bar tender got them their drinks and Akiha eagerly grabbed his and took a swig. Nakao took a sip of his and gently put it down. It was revolting. He looked around nervously.
He felt so uncomfortable being in a bar with his photographer who was at least ten years older than him.
Suddenly the door swung open and Nakao looked over to see a group of five people, laughing and looking like they were having a fun time. He noted every detail about them instantly in his mind.
There were four men and one girl. One of the men had really nice red hair; it looked natural, unlike Nakao's hair, which had been dyed (Nakao's hair had been brown with a hint of red in it but he liked it better fully and deeply red). This man was holding hands with one of the other men. This man had black spiky hair and a few facial piercings (mainly on his ears, but he did have a nose ring). Nakao could tell they were a gay couple by the way they were holding hands. One of the other men was arm in arm with the women. This man also had black hair; the women had short blonde hair. She was wearing a pink tank top and a denim skirt. The man had khakis and a polo shirt. The other two men, the couple, were wearing stressed jeans and had on turtlenecks. They were also both smoking. He thought he recognized the red haired man as well as the remaining man. The remaining man made Nakao's heart jump, he completely drop dead gorgeous. He had dark brown, shoulder-length hair and was wearing a white T-shirt with jeans. This man was also smoking.
Nakao knew he recognized the man with long hair and the red head from somewhere, but where? He couldn't put his finger on it.
Akiha turned to see the group and nearly dropped his drink. "Could it really be?" Akiha stood up; making himself noticeable to the group. "It is!" He said louder so that they heard him.
They all looked at him and the red head's face became almost as red as his hair. "Oh no, god no, really?"
Akiha ran at him and grabbed him, making him keel over.
"I can't believe I'm seeing you here!" Akiha shouted with joy.
"Hara! Get your ass off of me!" The red head shouted pushing Akiha off of him, standing up, brushing himself off.
"You know this guy, Hokuto?" the man with piercings asked.
"Unfortunately, yes I do know him. He and I have a history but he refuses to accept that it is history!"
"Oh is that so," The man with piercings said, approaching Akiha. "Now let me explain this to you, Hokuto is no longer single, in fact he is mine! So if you intend to attempt to continue any intimate relationship with him, you'll have to answer to me. Got it?"
"Who is this man Hokuto?" Akiha asked frightened.
That's when it hit him. The red haired man was none other than the Dr. Umeda Hokuto from Osaka high!
"Yeah who is he?"
"This is Kijima Ryoichi, and he and I happen to be going out, wait a minute who said that?" Umeda answered, searching for the owner of the voice.
"I did." Nakao said standing up and walking over to the group. "It's nice to see you again Dr. Umeda."
"Nakao, is that you?" Umeda asked unable to recognize Nakao.
It was understandable why he couldn't. Nakao had changed so much. For one thing, he had grown quite a bit. He had also cut his hair differently, and he'd died it, he'd also put in black streaks. On top of that, Nakao had his ears pierced.
"It is." He said coldly, but with pride.
"Seriously?" The man with long brown hair exclaimed. "Kanoko this is the kid I was telling you about earlier." He said to the woman, Tanabe Kanoko. Turning his attention back to Nakao, he said, "Nakao, I can't believe it's you."
Nakao was puzzled, he still couldn't remember who this guy was and was a little freaked that he some how knew him.
"Come on, Nakao. Don't you remember me?" The man said with a smile.
Vague, incomplete memories flashed through Nakao's head, memories of his time at Osaka high. Images of himself being happy flashed very quickly in his mind. He was with another person. But this person was silhouetted out. He knew exactly why he couldn't remember the man with him in his memories. Long ago, he'd deleted this man from his memory, or at least he'd tried. But then he remembered that last painful day he'd spent with the person.
"- Sempai!" He shouted.
"Nakao." The beautiful man turned to look at him.
"Um, Can I talk to you for a sec… alone?" Nakao blushed as he said these words.
"Okay." The man said.
Nakao led him to a quiet place and reached in his pocket. He pulled out a box of chocolate and held it out to the man.
"This is for you." He said.
"Thanks." The man replied.
"Um… -, I just wanted to say… I love you! I've been in love with you for a long, long time…Would you… go out with me?" Nakao asked weakly.
The man patted Nakao's head and with a sorrowful voice, replied, "Sorry. I love you like a little brother but that's as far as it can ever go. I'm sorry…"
Nakao's heart stopped for at least three seconds. But he just smiled and replied. "Oh come on, - Sempai! Sheesh, you don't have to get so serious about it! It's no big deal. I just wanted to say it out loud for once, that's all! Plus, you're the best R.A. ever. That part is for real! You're the greatest. Anyway… You were on your way somewhere, right?"
"Yeah…"
"No problem! Sorry for keeping you!" Nakao said trying with all his might to keep his voice from cracking. The man walked away with a weak smile on his face. Once the man had left, Nakao stopped holding his tears back. They flowed down his face and fell onto the ground like raindrops. "- why?" He cried. "Why Nanba?" He repeated sobbing. "Nanba you're a jerk!"
Back to the present, Nakao's eyes teared up also.
"Nanba?" Nakao asked his voice cracking.
"Yeah dude it's me!" Nanba Minami said with excitement.
A single tear streamed down Nakao's face. He wasn't sure if he wanted to embrace Nanba or punch him in the face, or just run away.
"Come on, let's all sit down and catch up with each other." Nanba said grabbing Nakao's hand and walking over to a booth. Everyone else followed them. Nanba sat down across from Nakao so that they could talk.
"Dude I haven't seen you in forever, what have you been up to?" Nanba asked.
"Oh not much, I'm a model for Akiha." Nakao said, in sort of a daze. He only saw Nanba; he wasn't even thinking, words were just coming out of his mouth.
"Really? I modeled for him once, too. Did you know that?"
"Yes, I did. I have the magazine with you on the cover. But it's put away in my closet."
"Why would a picture of me be in a dark lonely closet?" Nanba praised himself.
"I put it there so I wouldn't be reminded of-" Nakao covered his mouth with his hand. He didn't want to tell Nanba about what really went on in his everyday life.
Nakao's life had been a mess. Ever since he had graduated Nakao had been depressed (he even went to the doctor and was diagnosed with it (depression)).
He had emailed Nanba every week after he (Nanba) had graduated. Nanba didn't always reply because he was busy with college. About two months before Nakao graduated, he emailed Nanba asking him if he would come to the graduation ceremony. Nanba said he would be honored but he would need a reminder. A month before graduation, Nakao emailed Nanba, reminding him about his graduation. Nanba said he hadn't forgot and most likely able to come. Every week after that up until graduation, Nakao always reminded Nanba. Nanba kept saying he was going to come and that he was going to get him a graduation present. The night before graduation, Nakao called Nanba reminding him. Nanba had said, "I will definitely be there, and I'm going to be the first one to congratulate you. I promise, swear on my grave, I will be there."
But he never showed up. Nakao tried calling him, but he didn't answer. He emailed him, but Nanba never replied. He even traced his phone number to his house and drove down to it. But when he got to the house, some one else was living there. Nakao asked the people living there when they moved in. The date they had given him was exactly three weeks after his graduation. It was almost as if Nanba ran away from Nakao. Like he'd just completely erased Nakao from his life. Like he wanted nothing to do with him anymore. As if he didn't care… As if he had never cared… As if he hated him…
It tore Nakao apart. The fact that Nanba kept ignoring him was eating him alive, from the inside out. He had locked himself in his room for an entire week. He cut his wrists, in attempt to kill himself. A world without Nanba Minami wasn't worth living in. He had been his first and only love.
"So you wouldn't have to be reminded of what?" Nanba asked. That did it. Nakao couldn't take it anymore.
"So I wouldn't have to be reminded of how much you meant to me and I much I wanted you and how pissed off I am at you!" Nakao screamed, standing up slamming his fist onto the table. Tears flowed down his face.
"Nakao…" Nanba said in astonishment. "You're mad at me?"
"Of course! Why the hell else would I have this?" Nakao screamed, pulling his sleeve up to reveal at least a dozen scars.
"You cut yourself! Why?" Nanba exclaimed.
"So I could forget what you did to me!" Nakao screamed before he ran out of the door.
"Nakao!" Nanba shouted back following him.