Aominecchi, do you know what I'm afraid of?

I'm afraid... of being an uninteresting person to you.

I'm afraid... that someone else becomes more interesting than me.

I'm afraid... that those eyes aren't looking at me anymore.

I want to be that sunshine that shines forever in your life. Even if my light annoys you...

Aominecchi, just look at only me.

Slender fingers grabbed the cordless phone and dialled the number he was so familiar with. He licked his lips as he brought the phone up to his ears. That waiting tone made his heart pound anxiously. What was he expecting out of this? A better excuse?

He turned and walked a few steps forward with his hazel eyes staring down at the floor absent mindedly.

Click.

"Hello? Ryouta?"

Hazel eyes lifted up when he heard his lover's voice - his heart pounding harder from his name being called.

"Aominecchi …" He voiced out softly and looked up at the sunshine yellow framed clock that hung on the wall. He paused and watched the second hand ticked. "You're…"

"I know… I know… I'm late…" Aomine interrupted with an exasperated sigh and Kise could clearly imagine, that frown on his face with his hand rubbing the back of his head.

Kise stood there in silence as he listened carefully to the background sound on the other line, but the ticking of the clock on his side was a diversion. "Where are you now? What are you doing? It's been an hour and a half." He bit his lower lip and stopped himself from saying any more.

Is this important to you? Do I still matter to you? Why are you mostly late for our dates?

So many questions. So many doubts.

"I'm at home but I have problems with my.." Kise could hear the trail in his lover's voice, "...security alarm… So I had to fix it so it can lock."

"If you're having problems coming over, then.. let me go over. I can bring the-" The blond model gazed over to their cold dinner on the dining table nearby.

"No!"

Kise's heart skipped in surprise from the immediate answer and he furrowed his brows in frustration.

"It's a mess."

Same old excuse.

Kise gritted his teeth. His chest ached. He grabbed his shirt in a tight fist as if to soothe himself.

"I'll be there in half an hour," Aomine continued on firmly but calmly.

Kise swallowed hard. The lump in his throat hurt.

"Ryouta?"

"Ah yeah…Here..." He replied softly. He made his shaky voice as steady as he could.

"I'll be there-" Aomine stopped, and then, as if he held the phone as far from his mouth as his long arm could reach, called out. "Ah! You can't do that!"

Kise's eyes widened at the sound of a female voice in the background and he could hear Aomine's distant voice scolding her, "Sh! Quiet down, will you?!"

"Ryou-" Aomine's voice was once again clear and loud, as the phone was back to his ear.

"Who's that?!" Kise immediately interrogated.

I don't want to be a sunshine that fades...

"Momoi. She's here to help." Help with what? "I'll explain when I'm there, okay?"

No. That's enough. I don't need more lies.

"No… Don't bother, Aomine," Kise replied coldly and pulled the phone away from his ear as he pressed the end call button.

Clack!

He slammed the phone back in its base and stomped over to the dining table. What was his lover hiding?!

The blond model leaned over with his palm against the edge of the table and his head lowered. Cold, numb, and heart aching. Why was Momoi allowed to be at his place? He knew they were close, but what did she have that he didn't?

It was fine that Aomine couldn't make it to pick him up from the airport today but at least, he expected him to be here on time for their first date after a few weeks away.

He felt hurt stab his heart.

I miss you, Aominecchi… I miss you so much… it hurts…

The hurt that could only be lifted by crying. He felt wrecked by the emptiness and the unfulfilled longing. Why was it that love made him feel lonelier? It didn't make sense anymore.

I'm in love with an asshole...