Smirks where exchanged as we lay in that grass. Ryutaro was staring at me and I at him. But neither of us seemed to notice the other one's secret.
"Do you think this moment could last forever?" I asked him.
He grinned at me. "Of course. If not this one, then what else. I suppose we'll never know."
I propped myself up with my elbows. "You know," I said. "It's strangely fascinating the way you talk. You're never afraid that people'll judge you. You just sat what you want when you want to."
He chuckled wryly, and replied, "Now, that's where you're wrong. I'm always afraid of what I'm suppose to say. I just say what I think needs to be said when it needs to b said."
"But that's so confusing, isn't it?"
"Not really. Not if you do it right. And I've had years of practice."
"Well, that would help. But still how do you do it? I thought you were a shy guy that when he spoke those around him listened."
"But they do listen when I speak."
"They do?"
"Well, of course. And don't get me wrong, I am shy. I just have ways for dealing with it."
"You're so mysterious, you know that?"
He gave me that wry laugh again, but then stayed silent. We stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Time slowly ticking away, far past us. But I refused to break that silence. Not until he wanted to break it.
I closed my eyes. I could almost feel him close his. He reached out for my hand and I gave it to him. He was smiling and we both knew it.
Then that alone feeling that I always had since dad died seemed to disappear. It had been like Ryutaro had promised me something, but what it had been, I'm not so sure.
But one thing was true, I liked it.