I had such a hard time logging in to upload this story. Grrr. Anyways thanks to those who reviewed. ^^ especially to my first ever reviewer - sonata hirano!
Oh yeah. Italics are flashbacks. This chapter is more on Rei's uncertainty and his weighing of the situation.
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'Stop it,' his mind urged him. Rei sighed for what seemed like the millionth time that day. He fiddled with his handphone, checking his message inbox again. Zero new messages. Rei put the handphone on the coffee table before leaving for the kitchen.
"What's wrong, kitten?" Tala asked, his eyes scanning the newspaper.
"You would think he would have at least texted or called." Rei hopped onto the bar stool next to Tala.
It never made sense to Rei why Tala insisted on having bar stools around the kitchen island when Tala disapproved of drinking in the house but that was Tala for you – until he was drunk. Tala had once admitted that the Blitzkrieg Boys had a drinking fest at his home about a couple of months back and Tala ended up puking his guts out hence the no-drinking at home rule. Again it didn't quite make sense to Rei but he put it down as one of Tala's quirks.
"C'mon," Tala got up, the keys in his left hand jangling.
Rei gave Tala a puzzled look, not keen on going out especially on a cold day like this. In Russia every day was cold but there were periods when the weather was more bearable, although today was not one of them.
"Just round the park. You need to get out of the house and stop moping." Tala's grin was back.
"Tala…"
Rei huddled deeper into Tala's jacket. In his hurry, Rei had blindly grabbed a jacket from the cupboard and it turned out to be Tala's, thankfully, heavy duty jacket. He scowled at Tala's back as they trudged the streets to the park near Tala's apartment.
To be honest he ought to treat Tala better. The redhead had been his life support during the agonizing period leading up to the day he left Kai. He had spent weeks contemplating on leaving Kai and if so, his next step.
Surprisingly Rei wasn't ready to leave Russia just yet. He had a love-hate relationship with Russia and he didn't want to leave behind three of his best friends. Not to mention that he had worked so hard to get a spot in the local college, he shouldn't have to give that up just because his relationship had nearly run its course.
That's when Tala stepped in. Like the others, Tala did enjoy Kai's company but hated how shabbily Kai treated Rei. Once Tala and Kai had a huge argument that Kai treated Rei like a toy –when he wanted or needed it, Kai would find Rei but once Rei's usefulness was over, he was treated like an unwanted blanket to be shoved somewhere until the next time.
Rei blushed a little at that thought when someone banged hard against his right shoulder. Rei hissed as Tala glared at the retreating back while worriedly looking at the neko-jin. Rei blushed at Tala's close proximity as he heard the redhead curse in Russian as he checked Rei for any other injuries.
"I'm fine, Tal."
That word nearly brought another blush to Rei's face. None of the Blitzkrieg Boys appreciated abbreviated nicknames. To Tala, it didn't make sense. To Bryan, it was stupid. Spencer couldn't care less if it was only Rei and the Russian team who used it. Later Tala explained a bit sullenly that they were given numerals as a so-called name in the Abbey and having nicknames, as common as it is, was something the boys had to get used to as it was more affectionate than anything.
Tala granted him a proper smile but dropped it immediately and continued his former pace. Rei speeded up to catch up with him.
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Rei had been thrilled when he had managed to charm Kai's secretary into cancelling and reserving the entire Thursday for Rei. It would be their second anniversary and their first official anniversary. According to Tyson and Max, the first didn't quite count because they had yet to become steady boyfriends to each other.
Scurrying to the kitchen, Rei surveyed the meal he had prepared. Kai had this odd liking for peaches and Rei had spent the better part of yesterday to make the perfect peach pie –crusty the way Kai liked it.
Ensuring his clothes were stain-free, Rei settled down in the library to wait for his lover. The warmth of the fire made him feel drowsy but he soldiered on, the book on his lap abandoned.
He woke up a couple of hours later, alarmed that he had fallen asleep. Rei checked the rooms, starting with the kitchen, only to find Kai shut his phone and a guilty expression on his face. The food was obviously cold but it was laid out on the counter.
"I forgot, Rei. I'm sorry." Kai automatically said.
Rei's heart felt like it had been slapped onto said counter. Nevertheless he pasted on a cheerful face and reassured his lover it was alright.
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Rei scowled as he remembered. He was making the right decision. Like the saying goes, it takes two hands to clap. If Kai thought their relationship wasn't worth saving and wouldn't meet Rei at the halfway mark, there was no reason for Rei to struggle and torment himself.
