Stolen Glances

hey guys... :D thank you so much for reviewing as fast as possible on the previous chap... :D I was like amazed when I opened my mail and saw a lot of review alerts on this fic. :D thanks... I really appreciate it... :D

So, because of the reviews... and because I have to let you wait a long time to read the 9th installment of this fic (which is the previous chap)... and probably because of the failure of the net connection in my home... I bring to you... chapter 10... :D fast, ne? :D well... that means either I was so pumped, I was so bored, or I'm just deeply gratified... :D About the chap... you really MUST NOT miss this chap... i'll explain it on the footnotes, when you've finished reading the content... :D

Continue to send reviews please... :D it really makes me happy if you'll do so...

Disclaimer: Nope... PoT ain't mine.. :D belongs to someone with far greater creativity... :D

The trip to Osaka was a very memorable one. The Fuji family welcomed me with open arms. It turns out that Syu's parents were very supportive of Syusuke, even though if it meant supporting Syusuke's decision to swing to the same sex. They are a very kind and understanding family. Too bad I only have to stay there for a limited amount of time.

Anyways, we're already in the second year of college. Syusuke is still pursuing his Photography course and once in a while going out-of-town to take part in several conventions that were required for them to take. Usually, those conventions lasted 3 days at max. I, on the other hand, continued my International Studies course, preparing my finances for a trip to South-East Asia later on the middle of this semester. We're not really required to take that trip, however, it was recommended by our teachers to give us a first-hand experience on what we were lecturing inside the classroom. Also, the trips abroad are the highlights of the college program; it's what International Studies is known to be made of.

It's a beautiful Wednesday afternoon today. Syusuke and I decided to hang-out on the cafeteria instead of OUR place, since the new first-year students are infiltrating the worn-out shack nearly all the time. It's not really a good place for an intimate conversation. The ambience eradicates the presence of romance; the noise people make destroys the purity of I-love-you's; the combined odour of the meals distorts the sweet smell of our love. One good thing is that the cafeteria makes people set their eyes on their food and not on the two of us, so, in a way, it's still advantageous to the two of us.

We engaged in the usual conversation. However, in the middle of that usual conversation, Syusuke fired a very unusual question. "Ryoma, do you truly love me?"

I was caught off-guard by his question that it made me cough. "Of course I do! What made you ask that question?!" I asked, eyes with open and eyebrows meeting at the centre in confusion.

"Oh nothing." He said, diverting his gaze away from me. "I just want to make sure you do."

I reached for his hand and held it firmly with both of mine. I looked at him eyes intense like that of the lion but face as meek as a lamb. "I love you. I love you more than you'll ever know, more than you'll ever see. You don't have to worry if we won't be able to see much of each other today. I'd still love you." I said in a serious manner.

Syusuke smiled sweetly in reply.

"Aww… that was so sweet." A voice sounded at my back. I turned around and saw Momo with my two other classmates with a smile on their faces. "Is it okay if we'll disturb?"

I fixed myself to an erect sitting position. "No, you may not…" I said bluntly, irritated at the sudden intrusion on personal space.

"I knew you'll agree to that." Momo said, sitting directly beside Syusuke. I'm pretty sure he's doing this to irritate me, something he does more often these past few days. "Syusuke… I know someone who likes you a lot…" Momo said teasingly.

"I know. He's just across the table." Syusuke replied with a cunning smile. I, too, smiled at Syusuke's reply. It made me blush furiously, that I lowered my head to hide the blush from other people's eyes.

Momo laughed heartily. "No, not Ryoma! Someone else…"

My eyes shot open at this spontaneous revelation. I raised my head to confirm what I just heard, but I don't need to ask it. Momo's face clearly says that he is amused, but at the same time, saying something without fallacy. I suddenly felt angered and irritated. I've never felt so intense emotions before. I know for a fact that my entire body is beginning to heat up. I began to toy on whatever my hands could get upon, waiting for the next piece of information that I'll receive from the king of blabbering mouth, Momo himself.

"Oh really? And do I know who this person is?" Syusuke asked with his usual smiling face. My heart felt a shot of pain seeing Syusuke smiling and wanting to know the identity of the person Momo is referring to. It hurt so much that tears began forming on my eyes. I'm pretty sure Syu is just putting on a game-face, acting like as if interested in order not to hurt my classmate, but still, the sight hurt me so much.

"Not really." Momo said with a smile. I was momentarily relieved, knowing that Syusuke's admirer was someone who Syusuke doesn't know personally. "She's still a first-year student."

My world nearly tore apart at what Momo said. The very first tear trailed down from my eyes to my cheeks and down. I have never anticipated that a girl would like Syusuke. Syusuke has some past relationships with girls, so there's a probability Syusuke would like this girl. And another thing… the admirer is a girl and I'm a guy. Though I'm Syusuke's current boyfriend, how can I compete with a girl? A girl is a girl and I'm nothing but a mere gay. I couldn't give Syusuke offspring that that girl could readily give. All I could give is my everlasting love. That girl could give so much more than love, that girl could give Syusuke babies. The more deeply I thought of it, the more was my heart gradually breaking into pieces.

I couldn't bare all of the emotions anymore. I stood up, grabbed my valuables (which is my bag, my folders, Syusuke, and his bag), and left my three classmates behind. I walked angrily, carrying everything in one hand and pulling Syusuke with the other. I know that I'm straining his wrist with my firm grasp, but he didn't say anything. He didn't complain about the pain, nor did he pull his wrist back to himself. He just allowed me to drag him by his wrist.

When we arrived at a rather isolated section of the school campus, he grabbed my hand, stopped me from going, and pulled me into a warm and reinforcing embrace. He hugged me tightly, so tightly that I it was getting a little bit harder to breath. I didn't complain that I couldn't breath; I just let him embrace me like he could never embrace me again. Being so close to him, I could feel his heart beating rhythmically with mine; I could feel the warmth of his air rushing down through my nape and downward. I was totally relieved from the anxiety brought-about by Momo's unwanted revelations.

"Nothing will change, Ryoma." Syusuke said in a whispering manner. "Don't worry, okay? I would always be in love with you."

"Could I trust you on that?" I asked.

"Yes, Ryoma, you can trust me on that." He confirmed. He then pulled me away from his embrace and looked at me directly in the eye. "I love you. I love you more than you'll ever know, more than you'll ever see. You don't have to worry if someone else has a crush on me. I'd still love you." He said, repeating every word I have said a while ago.

Finally, I smiled and accepted what he said. I pulled him closer to me and closed our distance with a soft kiss.

I forgot to warn you people... this is a short chap... :D hahaha... :D I'm sorry 'bout that... :D

Anyways... you might think that this is just some other Thrill pair fluff thingy-majigy... well, it's not... it just so happens that this chap is relatively crucial in the development of the conflict of the fic... I'm already giving you a hint of what to expect on the upcoming chaps that are still, well, unwritten... :D

So, before I'll spill more beans about the story... I'll make my vanishing act... and escape... Viola!

all the while, with love... :D

-kitoyisme