Chapter 2 : Red Rose
Kobungo was perplexed. The store was literally sparkling. Romantic lighting, clinking sound from Champagne flute sometimes accompanied with giggles, crystal lamps was all over the place. Really, the store was indeed a nice place. Except, this time Kobungo could not appreciate it because he was in a state of internal euphoria. Of course the sole reason was sitting right in front of him, pouring a bottle of Dom Pèrignon to a glass. Why oh why just the movement of his fingers was so full of grace? Kobungo stared at those fingers until the said owner was waving them in front of his face that Kobungo was awoken from his trance.
"What's wrong? You seem spacing out just now?" Asakeno asked with a hint of concern on his face. Kobungo looked up from that hand to meet a pair of light brown eyes that shone brightly. Oh man, how come his eyes could be so beautiful?
"Oh, it's... it's just that...um..." Kobungo stuttered, looked down on his feet because he was not ready to answer the sudden question. He looked up again to see a slight disappointment on Asakeno's face. Oh my, did I say something wrong? Kobungo thought frantically.
"It seems that I'm not to your liking, aren't I? Maybe I should call somebody to be my replacement." Asakeno said then tried to stand up when a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly. He was a little bit startled, tried to comprehend this situation. It seemed that he had picked an interesting customer.
"No, I don't need anybody else", Kobungo said looking right into Asakeno's eyes and tried to stop his voice from quivering. "All I need is you." He continued with a finality in his voice. He wished that his heart could not be heard by the long haired beauty because really, it was thumping really hard and fast that it felt like maybe it would explode anytime now. 'Damn you traitorous heart, chill down a lil bit would you?' Kobungo scolded his own heart inside his head.
Asakeno just stood -half stood to be precise- still, he did not know what to say. After a moment of silence suddenly a sincere smile was formed on Asakeno's face. "As you wish, Oujisama." he said then took his seat again beside Kobungo who gulped nervously.
The conversation was dominated by Kobungo's failed attempt to start a topic and Asakeno found it funny to the point he had to stifle a laugh. In the end, they just sipped the drinks and Asakeno started asking about trivial matters like age, family, hobbies, type of reading material, until one question that came out from Kobungo's mouth...
"I thought you work at La Lune?"Kobungo asked, curiousity filled his voice.
Asakeno frowned a little, then suddenly something clicked on his mind. "Oh, you are Kokonoe-san acquaintance. You could say that Kokonoe-san was my benefactor. She saved me when I was on a hard time. That's why I help her sometimes."
"So why did you choose this job, Asakeno?" Kobungo asked innocently. Asakeno was shocked, his drink almost got spilled if he did not have that elegance within him. Nobody ever asked this question because it was kind of taboo for customer -especially his customer- to ask about something that personal. Kobungo just stared at him with a confused look because Asakeno did not response.
"Well, it was because I have to earn a living of course", He answered while twirling the drink in his glass. "Why, am I not good enough for it?"
"No, of course not!" Kobungo cut in quickly. "Umm, it's just that somehow you should be work at someplace much better than this. I mean not that being a host is a bad thing though, but you could aim higher like being a celebrity or something like that." He continued, scratching the back of his neck nervously.
Asakeno was taken aback with that statement. Nobody ever said something like that before. Asakeno inhaled deeply, usually he would dismiss that kind of question but somehow he did not mind it this time.
"Well, thank you for your compliment. I do need the money though because of some problem at home. And you're right, I could be an actor right now but some 'technical' problem prevent me from doing so." Asakeno finished his drink in one big gulp then gave Kobungo a smile, but somehow it felt a little bit bitter.
"If I were you I would still try." Kobungo said with a big grin on his face. Asakeno just stared at his customer without blinking. Then a light laughter was erupted from him. Really, this customer was indeed very interesting.
Asakeno was shifting around on his locker when a bald bespectacled man wearing a suit entered the room. He took fast steps toward Asakeno then suddenly, he pulled him into a bear hug.
"Asakeno-chan, how could you do this to me? I miss you so much~" That man asked while sobbing frantically into Asakeno's shirt. Asakeno was baffled for a moment then lazily rolled up his eyes. Seriously, how melodramatic this guy could be? He put both of his hands on the man's shoulder to give some distance between them. He sighed loudly then continued rummaging through his locker.
"Seriously, Sakuraba-san. Please stop that kind of overly dramatic attitude." Asakeno said in monotone then glanced to his side. That man, Sakuraba Jouji, stood there with a wide smile, wiping away the remnant of his (fake) tears with a handkerchief.
"Hey, don't say that me, young man. I'm still your elder and manager after all." He replied in mocking hurt filled voice, chewing the handkerchief. The long haired man just shrugged it off. "Then, what is it that you need now, Manager?" He said while packing some stuff into his bag.
"Well, I presume that today you got an interesting customer, didn't you? A tall handsome brown haired man with big hands." Sakuraba said then took a seat behind Asakeno. "Do you know who is him?"
Asakeno frowned. 'Why did he have to give attention on how big that man's hand is?' He thought, zipped his bag then closed his locker. "Yeah, his name is Inuta . Apparently he works as a chef in a restaurant around Shinjuku. End of story." He turned around to face Sakuraba.
"Does Inuta ring some bells?" Sakuraba said with a smile on his face. Asakeno frowned again. "No." He answered in a bored tone. Sakuraba stared at him for a moment then suddenly grabbed both of his shoulders and shook him. "That's no good, Asakeno-chan! Listen to me carefully, 'k? That man, Inuta Kobungo, is the sole heir of Inuta family who own one of he biggest hospitality chain in this country. His height is around 6 feet, weight 140 pounds, B-W-H measurement 80-60-70, shoe size 43. He studied abroad in Switzerland majoring in culinary. After that he opened an Italian restaurant called Felicità in Shinjuku. Ahh, what a fine piece of a man~" Sakuraba finished his speech, clasped his hands together with a dreamy stare.
Asakeno just stood there with a blank stare. 'How the heck he got that kind of information? What is he, a damn stalker?' He let out a long sigh and rested his back on the locker's door. "Then? What am supposed to do with that 'fine man'? He was just a customer."
Sakuraba sent a harsh glare to Asakeno, made him a little bit creeped. "No, no, no. Don't you see it, Asakeno-chan? He had those eyes directed at you. Don't you realize it?" He wiggled his forefinger in front of Asakeno's face. Asakeno just gave him a confused stare. "Sorry, I really don't get it. What do you mean with those eyes?"
Sakuraba grabbed Asakeno's face tightly. "He has fallen for you Asakeno-chan. Hard."
Asakeno just stood still with a blank face. Then he laughed very hard while holding his stomach. "Seriously, Sakuraba-san. I thought you will say that I'm supposed to be aware of him or something like that. That was.. hilarious. Every customer has fallen for my face after all." He said wiping away some tears because of his laughter.
Sakuraba shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. You're the one who doesn't get it. He thought that you are his true love. I know that kind of eyes." He said while fixing his glasses. He walked toward the door then stopped beside Asakeno. "Just think about it, Asakeno. Don't let it slipped away because I know you felt some sparks with him. You had that looks when you're with him." He gave a pat on Asakeno's shoulder then left the room.
Asakeno let out a long sigh. Just how many times he had sighed today? It would ruin the beauty, some people said. He took out something from his pocket then stared at the business card in his hand.
'Call me if you have time.'
Asakeno sighed for the umpteenth time.
tbc
