Update~ Well, it had been a month since my last update on my stories. I'm truly sorry. ^^" Amnesia will be updated around next week. For now, please take your time reading this chapter ! XD
The memories of them from the first time they came to the aquatic center came rushing through Haruka's mind as they stepped into the enormous building. He still remembered that time when Rin brought him to the aquatic center to encourage him to find his dream and he did found one – swimming as a professional swimmer with Rin – but the dream had completely shattered right after Rin decided to cut off their ties. He took a glance at Rin who is walking beside him, observing his features. 'He's still the same… but maybe he looks a bit adult… His body is still the same muscular one even though he's not a swimmer by now… He really loves to work out, huh ?', Haruka thought.
"Oi ! Haru ! How long are you going to stare ?", Rin asked.
"Owh, sorry… I was just… Well, you look a bit adult than before.", Haru replied with a faint blush colouring his cheek.
"I-Is that so ? Well, I'm already 24 anyway. It's only you who didn't change even a bit."
"I guess so…"
"Well then, lets hurry up and get changed.", Rin said, patting Haruka's back lightly then ran into the locker room excitedly.
"Your behavior didn't change much though…", Haruka muttered while smiling, walking into the locker room.
By the time he entered the room, Rin had already stripped into his swimming suit; Haruka can see how eager Rin is to race with him. Haruka placed his bag on the bench beside him, then started to strip his shirt but stopped half-way as he suddenly remembered that his body is full of scars he had carved before – he didn't want Rin to see those scars. Seeing Haruka frozen in his place, Rin came closer to him.
"What's wrong ?", he asked, concerned.
"N-nothing…", Haruka replied. 'It's just for today, right ? I'm doing this for Rin… I have to swim for him today.'
Slowly, Haruka removed his shirt, hoping that Rin wouldn't bother to ask about those scars even though he realizes that there's no way Rin wouldn't ask about it – Rin might look and act like he doesn't care but he's actually a very caring person. As he finished removing his shirt, he could feel a warm hand grabbing his wrist, lifting it up.
"Haru… What's this ?",Rin asked.
"A scar ?", Haruka replied bluntly.
"Did you…"
"Yeah… I've tried it a few times before… but I had completely stopped doing that a few years ago."
"Why ? Was it because of me ?", Rin asked with a guilty tone in his voice.
"No… It was just me… Well, sometimes life's hard."
"I'm sorry…", Rin said, hugging Haruka tightly with his eyes full of tears. "I shouldn't have done that to you… Sorry… I was so selfish…"
"It's okay, Rin…", Haruka said, patting Rin's back gently. He could feel Rin's warmth all over his body; the warmth that had long gone before, the warmth that he missed a lot. "Hey, Rin… Stop crying already, okay ? Aren't you an 'adult' already ?"
Rin didn't reply, continuing to hug Haruka as if he'll disappear if he pulls away from the hug. Rin really regretted it and he wished that the time could be reversed back to the moment before he made the stupidest decision in his life but sadly, there are no such wishes.
The race ended with a draw; 5 wins for Rin and 5 wins for Haruka. As always, Rin feels amazed by Haruka's ability to improve his speed over time – the faster Rin swims, the faster Haruka swims. Now that they had finished having fun with the race, they went to grab something to eat at a restaurant suggested by Haruka. Rin had been persistent in asking Haruka where he's taking him but he didn't reply anything. He just said that he had already booked the restaurant just for them and he couldn't cancel the reservation. After quite a while, they arrived at the restaurant – it's a small and simple country-styled restaurant, decorated with a mix of British and Japanese touch. Rin had come to the restaurant a few times before and he loves the dishes served in the restaurant since they always reminds him about Haruka. The atmosphere of the restaurant felt different than usual, maybe because there are no other customers inside, just the two of them, sitting at a round table suited for a couple with candles lighting the room. 'This feels like a date. An awkward one… I should keep the conversation flowing.', Rin thought.
"It was the best race I had ever have after all this years, you know ?", Rin said, breaking the awkward silent situation.
"Yeah… I'm glad that you like the race. Even without training, I'm still the fastest, huh ?", Haruka replied then chuckled at the end of his sentence.
"As if ! I'm faster than you. Those 5 wins you got was just a coincidence since I'm being considerate for you."
"Pfft… Hopeless winning-complex shark…", Haruka mocked.
"I'm not, water-freak !", Rin denied. He really missed chatting with Haruka, though most of the time the chat turns into arguments. "Hmm… I'm surprised that you know my favourite place to eat…", Rin muttered.
"You love to eat here ? I didn't know that.", Haruka asked, feeling surprised.
"Huh ? Really ? I thought that you specially booked this place because you know about that."
"Nope… I booked this place since it's mine. I can do anything with my property.", Haruka explained, resulting Rin's crimson orbs to widen.
"This… is yours ?", Rin asked curiously.
"Didn't I just tell you ? You're thinking that I'm making stories, don't you ?", Haruka replied with a pout in his face.
"N-No! I didn't ! I just… Well, no wonder the foods served here always bring me a nostalgic feeling."
"Owh… I opened this branch 2 years ago. I thought I want to see you that time… but I didn't have my courage to see you back then."
"I'm sorry…"
"It's okay… Now, could you wait patiently here ? I'll be your chef for today, so I'm going to cook something for you."
"Great ! I got a special treatment from the head chef and the owner of the restaurant. I'm demanding for meat ! No mackerel !", Rin said excitedly, earning a small laugh from Haruka.
"Of course you wouldn't want that…"
After an hour, Haruka came out with a few servings of food on the food trolley and the most eye-catching thing on it is a beautiful birthday cake with a shark and dolphin ornament situated on top of it. When Rin observed it thoroughly, the shark and the dolphin somehow forms a heart shape in between them. 'Did Haru purposely put that ?', Rin thought as he felt curious. He knows that it's selfish of him to hope that Haruka still love him but he couldn't resist the probability that the fact is true since from what he observed from Haruka, it seems like he still loves him and Rin doesn't want to waste this chance to get him back, to repay what he had done years before, to requite Haruka's love and the most important thing is to restart his relationship with Haruka.
"Sorry for the wait.", Haruka apologized as he serves the dishes on the table.
"It's okay."
"Here's your meal. Hamburg steak is fine, right ? This one's the one I always make for you before."
"Y-yeah… You still remember…"
"Of course I am… I'm not that old to forget things easily. As you could see, I look younger than you.", Haruka replied, pouting.
"Tch… That only means that you're not growing up at all !", Rin tried to protest against Haruka's statement.
"I'm fine with that… So, Rin. Make your wish then blow the candle on top of the cake, please."
"Geez… This is embarrassing…"
Rin closes his eyes, trying to figure out what will he wish for, what did he really wanted to; is it to be a professional swimmer, to win in Olympics or to reverse the time back to the time before he went to Autralia. Rin thought about it over and over but he found that the answer is not one of those. He's fine with not being a professional swimmer since the police job suits him well and reversing time is the most impossible thing. So, instead of looking at his past, Rin decided to look at the present and the future where he's going to move forward to. He can still win Haruka's heart if what he thought – about Haruka still loving him – is true. 'I wish that Haruka would accept me back into his heart.', Rin wished then blew the candles.
"You took too long just to make a wish.", Haruka commented as Rin opened his eyes.
"Well, I have lots of thing to wish for and I have to short-list them.", Rin replied.
"Is that so ? What did you wished for then ?", Haruka asked curiously but Rin didn't answer.
All that Rin did is keeping his mouth shut, thinking whether he should tell Haru or not. Both of the choices hold the advantages and the disadvantages – if he tells Haruka, then either he will be rejected or accepted and if he doesn't tell anything, then he won't have to deal with the pain of being rejected but his chance to start over will disappear.
"I wished that… you'll accept me back into your heart.", Rin finally said, resulting a shocked emotion coming from the smaller boy in front of him.
Rin could see that tears started to form in the wide clear-blue eyes and slowly, the tears flows down Haruka's cheeks. Rin stretched out his hand across the table then tried to wipe the tears away from his cheeks but it seems like it didn't stop to flow out of his eyes and it breaks Rin's heart. He had never seen Haruka crying before and he didn't know how to stop it. 'Did Haru cried a lot when I left him ? I have to try something…', Rin thought then stood up, making his way to the back of Haruka's chair and then hugged him soothingly.
"Haru… It's okay… I was just wishing… It's okay if you don't want to though… I won't force you. Please stop crying…", Rin said with a gentle tone, trying to calm Haruka.
"N-no… I really wanted to be with you…"
"Really ? Then-", Rin said but Haruka cut his words.
"I really wished that you said that earlier… but you know what, Rin ? You had never left my heart to begin with. You're always the one inside it, the only one who holds the key of my heart. I loved you and I always will but I think it's too late for now. You already have Elisa, right ? You have to treasure her well."
"But-"
"If you really love me… then love her with all your heart. Give her what she deserves and don't ever hurt her feelings. That's all for my request."
One more chapter to go ! So, how was it ? XP
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