Hi there, darlings. It seems I'll be updating frequently... for now, ha!
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Ashes and Wine
Today I went out with the guys. We decided to go to Suguru's place and watch movies, drink some wine and talk about life.
The night was still young, it was only about ten of clock when I got that phone call from K.
"Hello there, Shuichi."
"Hi, K…" I said nonchalantly as I could almost hear the grin in the man's face.
"This Monday, I need you to be ready. There's a huge NG party and the main two bands will be Nittle Grasper and Bad Luck. You'll be doing a duet with Ryu and ASK will be opening for both bands."
"This sounds more like a mash-up, if you ask me." I said as Hiro poured down some more wine and offered me a cigarette.
"Kind of—But I'm still not done, there's also an after-party you will need to stay at, it starts at 7:30 --," I heard him pause, as if to listening to the noises we were making, "Who are you with and what are you guys up to?" He asked with fatherly intuition, knowing there was more than just one person here with me.
"We're watching movies over at Suguru's… Just Hiro, Suguru and me."
"Oh, that's cute." He said with a mockingly tone, since he's never known us to be doing this kind of thing.
"Yeah, whatever…" I said rolling my eyes and lighting up my cigarette. "So, you were saying?" I said as I exhaled the smoke.
"Shuichi… Well, as I was saying, I need you to be ready. I need you to practice everyday but not over exhaust yourself. By the way, how have you been doing on those yoga classes of yours? Have they taught you how to control your emotions a bit?"
"Very funny, K."
"No, seriously, this is no joking matter."
"… Yeah, I've picked up a few tricks to keep myself under control." I said as I took another drag of my cigarette.
"Good, you're gonna need to put those to work on Monday."
"What do you mean?"
"Eiri's going to be at the party and I need you to avoid any kind of drama that evening. He gets here tomorrow and he'll only be here for a week, so I need you to keep yourself at your best behavior. I don't care if that means that you two will kiss and make up or tear each other up to shreds, but nothing in front of the press."
" … Got it…" I said as I chugged my whole glass of wine. Hiro and Suguru eyed me with suspicion.
"Well, that'd be all for tonight. You guys have fun doing whatever it is you're doing and don't do anything I would do."
"Yes, daddy." I said nonchalantly once more, my mind still trying to register what he just told me.
"Good night!" my American manager yelled loud enough for the other two whom I was sharing a room with would hear and with that he hung up the phone.
I got up from the sofa and poured some more wine on my glass, walking to the balcony and closing the door behind me. I stood by the railings, leaning my arms on it and taking a deep breath, staring at the sleepless Tokyo night.
Lights everywhere, some red, some yellow, some green… brightness everywhere, another drag at my cigarette.
Lights and smoke; another sip of wine.
Open doors, another drag at my cigarette and if it weren't for the noise of Tokyo nights I would be driving myself insane at the noise of my own thoughts.
"Yo." I hear a cool voice speak up, big arms rest next to mine and brown long hair flows wild.
"Hey… Sorry for walking out like that."
"Yeah, what was that all about?" He says cooly as he lights up a cigarette for himself and now another set of arms rest by my other side.
"Rude much?" I look to my right side and I see the blue eyes' owner grinning back at me.
"Ha, look who's talking," I said as I couldn't help but to smile at both of them. Ever since Eiri left they have been there for me, picking me up everytime I fall, giving me a reason to smile.
Hiro's the one who keeps me grounded. He's like my gravity field, while Suguru is the one who still has hope for a future with me and Eiri… he says that, and this is going to sound corny, we're meant to be. He still tells me how much he could see the love in Eiri's face whenever he would drop by Tohma's and they would get into their heated up arguments. Of course, I don't believe a word he says, but I'm glad to know he's the one who has hope for me when I have none.
"So, what did K have to say?" Hiro asked with unknown curiosity.
"We have a gig this Monday, with Nittle Grasper. ASK is opening for us."
"Another Nittle Grasper-Bad Luck mash up?" Suguru asked with a gesture that was a mix of a frown and a pout.
"Sounds like it…" I said as I turned around and took a final drag at my cigarette, putting it down in the ashtray. "He said something about a 'big NG party.'"
"Oh joy…" The green haired kid said with fake enthusiasm.
"There's also an after-party."
"Ever better!"
I felt myself chuckle. "And… Eiri's gonna be there."
Silence. Aside from the noise in the busy Tokyo's streets, silence, awkward silence came from the people I was with.
"Come on, guys, it won't be that bad." I said with a smile on my face.
"Well, if you say so… Let's go back to the movie. My popcorn is going to go stale." Suguru said as he was the first one to walk inside.
"Shu… Are you sure about this? You don't have to go if you don't want to."
"Hiro, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine with this. I need to show him that I will no longer avoid him, but I also have to show myself that I can fight these feeling… The urge to call him at nights, or text him, even send him and email saying that I would like to see him and set things right. This will also help me to decide if it's time I let go of these feelings and move on with life, or show me if there's a reason for me to keep on waiting while he figures his shit out."
"Well… There's nothing I can do to change your mind, so just know that Suguru and I will be here to catch you if you fall again."
I smile, wholeheartedly, to my best friend and raised my glass of wine, "Cheers to that!" I said as I laughed and took another sip of wine. "This is going to be one long weekend."
"No lie."
And with that we both walked inside of the apartment, taking our respective places on the couch and finishing the movie we were watching, later on talking about life and falling asleep… or what I thought was sleep, because it turned out to be a restless slumber party.
'This will be a long, but very long weekend.' I thought to myself as my head rested on the sofa and my eyes scanned the ceiling.
