I am sorry for the lack of update. Currently I am almost having finals! and strangely, the more I need to study, the faster I can type out this stuff. Procastinator, yeaha!
Thank you for all the reviews. I found it very encouraging. Thank you so much. BTW, I need to say:
Thank you so much, Kaya sama! The dolls you gave me for my birthday is very very cute~!~! I cannot stop thinking about it. I hope this shows my appreciation for your present. I am really happy, and I dont know how to return back the favor.
Enjoy!
When he woke up, he found a small body beside him, still sleeping soundly. Arthur smiled gently and kissed the boy's forehead. The black messy hair spread around the boy's face like a halo. Maybe that morning would be the perfect time to do his end of the deal last time. To teach Yao how to swim. He wanted to enjoy the rare moments when Yao was submissive under his guidance.
It was a silly thing, of course. The possessiveness he had for Yao foolishly grew. He never felt that happy just by looking someone was laying beside him when he woke up. After the hysteric scene two days ago, Arthur found himself watching Yao closely. He realized that the Chinese boy used to avoid him, or people in general. It seemed that Yao was trying his hardest to get back into his comfortable old shell. Arthur started to understand Yao's need to stay alone. But he needed to point out that the boy has allowed some parts of him to get in—Yao has tolerated Arthur's presence around him. For two days of closeness, Yao only clammed up once.
Arthur chuckled. Yao looked so defenceless beside him. He has been enjoying the last two days immensely, watching and realizing how living together with another person could render him become even more possessive than he was. If his crew saw his Yao now, they wouldn't realize it's the same angel they worked with in the beach. Nevertheless, Yao's act was interpreted as aloofness and pride by his crews, so most of them refused to get closer to the 'snobby' new face. Not like Arthur had any problem with it, of course. Yao's act has made him unconsciously reserved just for Arthur. People won't seduce someone whom they don't like.
Yao stirred on his sleep.
Arthur found himself smiling like a fool. Good Lord, he has been love struck with an eighteen years old man. He has spent twenty six years living with the vow that he wouldn't commit to anyone, and now he was head over heels on the Chinese boy. They hadn't even done anything more than kissing so far, except for the hangover incident last time. And he couldn't even remember the details of the night; he could only recall bits and pieces, though he was sure Yao said 'love'.
His mind was clouded by the very heavy feeling. Heavy, yes, but somehow satisfying and tender. The need to touch overwhelmed his chest, although he could see Yao clearly. His fingers moved by themselves. They caressed the soft skin of the shoulder, between a slender arm and prominent clavicle bone. His hand slowly curled, cupping the slender, vulnerable neck.
Just a bit of pressure… And he would be all yours.
Arthur snapped from his own thought and his hand flew back to his side, it felt cold. His sudden movement woke Yao up.
"You are awake?" The Chinese boy rubbed his eyes. "What breakfast do you want today?"
"…I want a shower first. Anything will do."
Yao moaned and stretched. The feeling of needing to touch came back to Arthur. But he didn't act on it and went to the bathroom instead.
Yao stood eagerly beside the swimming pool; medium sized with two beach chairs by the side and vast view of the city from a pentagon around them. His chest was thumping. He was filled with so many things, mainly fear and anticipation, because he never swam before and he never immersed himself in that much water.
Arthur jumped, body perfectly arched as he entered the water. There was not much splash, showing off the skill of the British blonde. He swam faster than Yao expected, within no time he reached the other end of the pool. Yao watched, amused although wouldn't admit so. Arthur stayed to his promise and set aside two hours that morning, despite his tight schedule.
"Jump in." Arthur shouted from where he stood, smothering his messy wet hair. The water glistened down his shoulder and chest, Arthur looked like he was in his very element. However, the Chinese boy squatted on the pool side, putting his toes in. It was cold compared to the air around him. Yao shuddered from the sudden sensation. He felt out of place, not in his element, unlike Arthur.
It was 8.30 o'clock in the morning; the sun has just started to shine. There was nobody except the two of them, because usually their assistants—i.e. Belgium and Kiku (although Kiku hast come for two days already)—would come around 9.30. That's why Arthur chose the time to privately teach Yao.
Arthur watched how the boy cowardly entered the water, shuddering and warily looking around, like a cat whom afraid of water. Chuckling, he swam back nearer to Yao, to the shallow end of the water. He had a great set of lungs, so Arthur dived down and approached the panicking boy from below the water. He caught Yao's ankle and pulled it.
Yao was surprised when he felt his leg being pulled into the water. His head plunged into the water, and water penetrated through his nose. He couldn't breathe, his chest was thumping fast and he was afraid. The water felt uncomfortable. He moved his body in panic, yet the water filled in his nose and mouth, he couldn't breathe…
Arthur suddenly noticed that Yao has stopped moving, so he quickly pulled the boy up and saw Yao was suffocated, almost fainting. Feeling guilty, the blonde hugged the smaller boy out from the pool, gently laid the body on top of the ground and performed first aid; though Yao was already coughing water out before he had the chance to lock lips with the Chinese. Arthur helped by patting Yao's back, and finally all the water was out of Yao's system.
"Are you OK?" His question was accompanied with immediate towel wrapping the wet coughing boy. The boy glared back at his saviour, snarled while coughing furiously.
"Ugh… Do you want… to kill me, stupid?"
The question made Arthur's face freeze. Yao saw a moment of uncertainty before Arthur smiled and suddenly stolen a kiss from him. Their lips locked, and although Yao refused to open his mouth (he was just almost drown, for God's sake, and this rigorous lustful monkey wanted to make out with him! What an imbecile!); Arthur's lips teased his lips good enough to make him open his mouth.
It was their last of the series of kiss after two days of kisses. And yet, everytime they did it, it felt different. The British Photographer has a long tongue and the technique that goes along very well with it; Yao felt his insides were tickled, seducing his soul to surrender over the sudden pleasure.
"Uhm…" Arthur didn't even give Yao the time to spat. They had an epic battle of tongue, before eventually Arthur pulled away.
"My apologies." He smirked, and his thick eyebrows moved up and down. "So… do you still want to swim?"
Scowling, Yao wiped the liquid around his lips, knowing it was a mixture of his and Arthur's saliva. Arthur has been occupying his mouth most of the time in those two days, Yao started to feel Arthur's taste as his taste.
"…If you promise you won't do that kind of antics anymore."
Arthur smirked. "Come, I'll help you."
He pulled Yao to his feet and the British blonde entered the shallow part of the water. He offered his hand.
"Follow me, my lady."
"So you need to move your legs like this."
"Like what?"
"Like this."
"Again?"
"Like… a frog's back legs." Arthur blushed. "Yeah. You heard me. It's also called the froggy style."
"…Interesting."
"Hey, I am not doing this just for show. Now you try."
"…I refuse to spread my legs like that, especially in front of you."
"Yeah?" Arthur grinned widey. Now it was Yao's turn to blush. "This is mandatory to learn how to swim, Yao. No other way."
"You can show me other style."
"One step at a time, Yao. No jumping. Now, spread."
"No."
"Spread, I say."
"NO!"
"I'll help you…"
"LET MY LEGS GO A…. STUPID!"
"Grab the edge of the pool, Yao. It will give you good pedestal. Don't move your upper body. Just move your legs and… spread them as far as you can."
"… You are suspiciously near my … privates, mister."
"I am helping you."
"This is not helping."
"Yeah?"
"Don't grin. I hate you."
"Oh, I am sad."
Their banter grew into a water war. And Yao never though he could laugh like that. Or maybe he could; it was just he never met anybody before who could make him. His chest felt warmth. It was a happiness he never felt before. just talking and having a banter and playfully teasing each other… with another person, with another human being who wouldn't suddenly shriek or laugh or cried and bit him. Arthur was sane. And Yao could hold himself in front of a sane person. And Arthur said… love.
It made him very happy. Very happy, although the prospect of doom when Arthur found out what he did with Kiku dragged in the back of his mind.
But his eagerness was cut short. When they returned from the pool back into pentagon, he saw Belgium sitting on the sofa, with Kiku by her side today.
Yao stood stiff, letting Arthur passed beside him. The blonde man sat on the sofa opposite his assistants, his usual throne. "So what's for today?" he asked, drying his wet hair with a blue towel. Yao tried to not looking at Kiku and walked away, to the bathroom.
"Mr. Yao," Belgium suddenly called. "Can you spare a minute? I have something to talk to you."
Yao's heart started to thump. Was that it? Did Kiku tell Belgium? Yao admitted that he was almost as afraid for Belgium's degrading look as well as Arthur's wrath.
He sat down on another sofa and looked at the other three occupants of the room.
"So, this is so sudden, but this is important." The only lady in the room spoke up. "There is an offer of producing a photo collection."
"I beg your pardon?" Yao didn't quite catch what she meant, because he didn't really understand what the big news was. "Photo… what?"
"It means you would have a book dedicated all just to your sexy poses." Arthur growled. "No way in hell I am going to let you do that. I expect more from you, Belgium. Don't you know he is reserved only for me?"
The secretary smiled, but Yao could understand better. After spending sometime with the secretary, he started to realize that Belgium has a temper inside of her. She could hide her emotions well and smiled at her boss' selfishness, but sometimes she would let out a bit of annoyance from the twitch by the corner of her eyebrows.
Like now.
"Mr. Kirkland." Belgium spoke out, gentle but somehow strong enough to make Arthur listened attentively to her, "This is not a swimming suit photo collection. This is more to an artwork collection. Yao's last photo shoot has rendered him to be very famous in the circle. Now everyone is trying to get a slot with Yao. And this time, Mr. Bonnefoy even volunteered to sponsor the whole thing."
"...Frog…" Arthur growled. He knew it. The bastard always did it. Whenever Arthur found a new lover, within two months, Francis would act and in the end, taking all Arthur's lovers with him. It's like a game for him, to snatch Arthur's lover away. He knew it would happen eventually, but now, with Yao, he refused to surrender. "…Does he know that this time, it means war?"
Belgium sighed. "It's not all that, Arthur." The mentioned of his name made Arthur realized Belgium has started to become too irritated to be polite. "It's all about Yao's career. I know that he might not continue this job after the contract is finished, but I want him to feel as much as he could. And moreover, it's business. The contract you drew with him wasn't cheap. You think I would let you ruin the company just because you favour every single lover you took in?"
Yao was quite taken aback by the change in Belgium's personality. He watched as the lady turned to him. "I am sorry to say that, Yao. I really like you. However, this is still a business and I shall not mix emotions with profession."
"It's fine." Yao nodded. Somehow he felt that maybe Belgium knew what he did to Kiku…? Or maybe she has an idea? He was too paranoid. Especially when Kiku was sitting silently beside Belgium. Of course Belgium would choose Kiku. They had been working together far longer than Yao coming into their world. And suddenly the sense of loneliness, the sense of weakness just because he had no one to watch his back struck Yao. He bit his lips. He became defensive. But anyway, she still wanted to draw on the line of politeness, so Yao would play along with her. "I will take the offer."
Belgium smiled. But Yao perceived the smile as a threat. His chest felt a bit disappointed. He thought Belgium would be his …sister image. But it seemed that he wasn't close enough to her to make her feels that Yao was her insider. Or maybe she was just business orientated woman.
He saw Kiku refused to look at him. That was uncomfortable. And then Yao started to wonder, since when did he found the pentagon comfortable, anyway? The last two days of comfort and giggle and happiness and closeness has made him weak. Two days. Just two days after he admitted that he might admit another person into his mental fortress. He had to admit that he thought Arthur… at least Arthur… would be on his back, helping him.
He looked at Arthur, somehow hoping for support. The man was busy looking at the contract and discussing stuff with Belgium. And then Yao noticed how he was now dependent on the man. He had begun to think that Arthur would be there to help him, to guide him, to protect him.
The scar on his hips stung a bit, reminding him of his foolishness.
Fool. He shouldn't give up to the comfort of fake affection. There is no affection in the world for him. He was a bastard from a deranged woman, he deserved no protection. And true to his expectation, Arthur didn't even spare him a glance. Or maybe Yao was just too sensitive. But he suddenly felt cold and alone.
Two days. Two days with the playboy and Arthur has already made him so weak. No wonder. Arthur was a pro playboy. Of course he was very good in making others feel comfortable, wanted. And Yao was a virgin in that. He got some affection he never had. Of course he would fall deep. Realizing this, Yao stood up and walked to the bathroom. His skin was dry from the chlorine water of the pool. He felt exposed.
He hated all that. He wanted to go home into his small fortress and never came out ever again. Why couldn't he be alone? Or better, why couldn't he stop wishing for something he would never get?
It was pure awkwardness. Nothing was said between them as the car move along the road. Kiku couldn't stop his fist from shaking, anger and disgust emanated from his lithe stature.
Yao knew he needed to apologize. But how…?
"Kiku, I…"
"Stop. I don't want to hear."
The silent came back. Yao bit his lips and wished he was back inside the apartment with his deranged mother. At least, when he was with his crazy mother, he wouldn't feel the guilt and needs to be accepted by others. And she was his family. Only family. So she would forgive him no matter what.
He didn't like that. He didn't like to be with people. He wanted to get out from everything. He wanted to return to his shadowing life, walking as the background wallpaper.
He was still weak.
I am trying to explain Yao's mind set. the thing is, he was used to loneliness and alone that he couldnt smoothly handle all the emotions when he was forced to 'socialized'. I want to make him realize that he was lonely because of the wall he made himself. He refused to get hurt; and in return, he wouldnt get people to understand him. Last chapter was him, trying to come in term with the feeling of 'love' from other (i.e. Arthur). This is two sides of the same coin. You cannot interact with people without getting hurt. but you get happiness as a side dish, too. and for me, as an introvert, I learned it in years until finally I can control what is right and wrong in handling your own behaviour.
I am sorry for the long note, but I hope you understand my reasoning of writing everything this way.
I am currently obsessed with The King and The Clown (Thanks for Blind_alchemist to let me know this!) and also, all Korean BL movies (like, Antique Bakery-I am disappointed they dont dig into Kanda's past. he was my fave-; Frozen Flower, Boy Meets Boy, and the sweet story about the Korean Military men with his lover-being found out by the parents while smexing... now, that's a very very good plot!).
Review?