THE RED STRING OF FATE...

Chapter 19

Sitting in Kiku's bedroom with Orlando, Arthur looked at Orlando then at Kiku and back at Orlando. The spiky-haired-brunette had just admitted to having feeling for Feliks, 'He certainly doesn't look like he is on the rings-of-Saturn right now. So, I can take it that he isn't tripped out on anything and what he is saying, I can take that at face-value as well.'

Finally Arthur said, "Orlando, I hope you don't mind but I really need to speak to Kiku alone for awhile." When Kiku and him left the room, Arthur whispered, "You know I was surprised when Yao told me that you tried pairing Orlando and Feliks."

Kiku frowned, "I didn't realize that Yao-nii couldn't keep secrets."

Arthur replied ,"That's beside the point... How did you try to pair Orlando & Feliks together?" When Kiku began explaining what he did, Arthur shook his head, "Kiku, you went and used the roundabout method in pairing Orlando & Feliks."

Kiku cringed while Arthur continued, "I wondered why in the beginning Feliks wardrobe became darker and noted recently that his makeup has became darker too. But now that I know that you were trying to make him look like Goth-Lolita, I... See, the thing is right now Orlando is in love with the new version of Feliks, not Feliks himself."

Then they heard Orlando speaking, "Since this is about me, I would rather appreciate it if you both didn't whispered behind my back and just tell it straight to my face. In many cultures, it considered rude to whisper when there is a third party around. I know you excused yourself but this is about me, so it would make more sense if you talked to me directly."

Both Kiku & Arthur entered back into the room and sat in their respective places. Arthur stated, "I was just telling Kiku that maybe your feeling for Feliks might not be what they seem to be."

Orlando stared at Arthur, "What do you mean by that?"

Arthur cleared his throat, "I was just wondering if you were to see Feliks in his normal attire, would you feel the same way". Orlando was confused by that reply and asked what does clothes got to do with this. Arthur inquired, "When did you realize about your feelings?" When Orlando replied recently, Arthur asked, "Have you noticed any changes in Feliks?"

Now that Orlando thought about it, he did noticed Feliks was looking different compared to before. Then he realized what Arthur was trying to say and immediately looked at Kiku, "You told him that I've a Goth-Lolita fetish?"

Kiku felt extremely guilty, "Orlando-san, I didn't mean to. I just told him right now because he needed to know the details before pairing you and Feliks-san."

Orlando replied in exasperation, "He doesn't need to know about that."

Arthur realizing that if this conversation where to proceed any further, they would end up explaining to Orlando why Kiku wanted to pair him with Feliks, 'As if he would believe the reason that Kiku did it was just to show to me that my ability is working fine'. He then interrupted, "It's because that's how I work as a match-maker. I need to know every bit of information before I pair couples. And so, what Kiku told me about you was most helpful."

Hoping that what he was going to say won't piss the spiky-haired brunette, Arthur stated, "I believe you are not in love with Feliks as a person, but Feliks as the Goth-Lolita."

Orlando really wanted to punch Arthur since he felt that someone was trying to make light of his feelings for Feliks and his tastes but since Arthur was Kiku's friend and he knew Kiku to be a very respectable person, he calmed himself down. He later thought about what Arthur just said, 'Maybe he is right. Maybe I fell in love with Feliks because I mixed my obsession with my feelings'. Orlando then asked "So, how would I make sure whether my feelings for him are pure?"

Arthur happy to know that his face wasn't going to get smacked after all, replied "I suggest you meet him without any mask on- meaning minus the makeup and the dark clothes. See him in his normal attire and then probably you find out the answer yourself."

After Orlando gave his thanks to the both of them and left, Kiku turned towards Arthur, "My apologies, Asa-san. I didn't mean for it to end like this."

Arthur smiled, patting his shoulder, "I know. You did all this with the best intentions."

Arthur knew that even though Kiku did this for him, he still felt unsettled, 'Me completely accepting that my ability is working properly right now would mean that I would have to admit that my fate is tied to Francis. And after what he did, I rather if it wasn't'.

Orlando standing outside Feliks's flat, wasn't sure whether he should proceed or not, 'What does it matter. It's not like Feliks likes me back'. But even as he thought that to himself, his hand slowly raised up and ranged the doorbell. Bewildered by the fact that his hand moved by itself, Orlando for a moment felt like running away and hiding. Then he thought, 'What am I? A kid? Be a man and face this head-on.'

At the other side of the door, he heard Feliks saying, "Alright already, I'll be there. I'm just coming out of the shower." And as he opened the door, Orlando was surprised to see Feliks in shorts & sleeveless shirt with his hair dripping wet, 'He looks like an angel'. But Feliks was even more surprised to see him, "OHMYGOD, Orlando, you can't see me like this."

Orlando wanted to ask what he meant by that but Feliks started to close the door. Trying to push the door back open, Orlando was really amazed by how strong the tiny blond was, "WAIT, WAIT, Feliks I really need to talk to you". Feliks shouted back "GO HOME. We can talk in school tomorrow".

For awhile, both of them were pushing the door till Orlando screamed, "OW, MY FINGERS."

Now sitting on Feliks's bed, Orlando was getting his fingers tended by Feliks who was admonishing him, "What were you thinking putting your fingers between the door! What if you lost one of your digits?"

Orlando winced in pain,"I was prepared to do anything to get you to talk to me... Now what did you mean earlier when you said that I couldn't see you like this? See you like what?"

Feliks was silent for awhile, looking down and just bandaging Orlando's fingers. Then he finally started talking, still not looking at his face "You know when Toris started going with Natalia, it became lonely without him. When my parents left, I felt even more alone. That's why ,when we started hanging out, I became really happy."

Still looking down, refusing to make eye-contact with Orlando, Feliks continued, "Somewhere along the way, when you came to pick me up and dropped me home, I started falling for you. I know I'm a guy and so are you but it was nice being taken care of... I later got the feeling that you were paying more attention to me when I wore those darker clothes, so I decided to continue with that style because I really like you and I wanted to do anything that would keep you interested."

Then Feliks looked at his face with a slight haughty expression, "But if you feel disgusted by the fact that you being liked by a guy, then we should just call it quits and never meet each other again."

Orlando was taken aback by how sure & confident Feliks was of himself but later he noticed that Feliks's hands were shaking abit as he was holding Orlando's fingers. It made Orlando remember the first time that he actually conversed with Feliks- the tiny blond scolding him for ruining his bag and then acting shy right after that. For some reason, Orlando found that really endearing.

Looking at Feliks's face, Orlando couldn't believe that Feliks would go to such an extent of changing himself just to suit his Goth-Lolita tastes. As he was staring at his face, he realized that he really did care for Feliks, and hated the fact that he indirectly made Feliks do that to himself, 'I'm so glad that I am not a tattoo and piercing enthusiast. He probably would have marked his body just to satisfy me... It would have been such a shame for his beautiful body to be ruined'. He then started scolding himself for leering at Feliks's nearly naked body

Feliks, on the other hand, was fidgeting. He didn't know what to make of Orlando's silence. Never in his life did he feel so vulnerable. He wanted at that moment to kick Orlando out of his flat, so that he could cry as much as he wanted. But he was shocked to feel a pair of lips on his forehead, and was even more shocked when he was taken in by a hug from Orlando "Orlando, wha.. wha are.."

Orlando, hugging Feliks, said, "Hush, please listen... I'm sorry". Hearing Orlando saying that, Feliks started crying on Orlando's shoulder- he knew that there wasn't chance for them to be together but it still hurt. Then Orlando continued, "I shouldn't have made you do what you did. You're beautiful in your own right. And you shouldn't change just because I've a Goth-Lolita fetish." Now Feliks wasn't sure what to make of what Orlando was saying. He turned to look at Orlando's face, trying to decipher what the spiky-brunette was trying to say.

Orlando stared at Feliks's confused face and with a smile, he said, "You mean alot to me and I would hate it if we were to call it quits & never meet again."

Feliks shook alittle, replying, "Ah, to meet as friends, right? Nothing more, right? I can't expect anything more out of this, right?" But before he could continue anymore, Orlando silenced him with a kiss on the lips, and then stated, "Oh, I don't know about you but I'll be expecting much more out of this."

Feliks showed a skeptical face, "If you're going to treat me like a sex-buddy, then forget it".

Orlando chuckled, "Oh my, I didn't even think that far yet. Feliks, how lewd", letting go of Feliks and taking the bedsheet to cover himself- acting as if he was an innocent person while Feliks was a molester.

Before Feliks could hit him, Orlando took him into another hug and declared, "If you want me to spill it out for you then here is it- I really like you and I hope you feel the same way about me too". Feeling like he was on cloud nine, Feliks returned the hug and whispered the same thing to his friend-turned-lover.

Back at Kiku place, Kiku's cellphone vibrated indicating that a text message had arrived. Clicking to see the message, Kiku smiled and then showed it to Arthur which read 'Guys, my feelings for him were real afterall. Thank you for making me realize them properly. Hoogachtend, Orlando '. Immediately after Orlando's message, Kiku got another text message which read 'Czesc Kiku, do you & MeiMei want to double date with me & Orlando in the future (*^.^*) Let me know, Bye'... Kiku replied messaging that Feliks should spend more time with Orlando first, but agreed to do the double date later when they have become more stable.

Rereading the message, Arthur thought 'Good for them but does this mean for me? With Matt & Gil together as well, does this mean that I can't be in denial anymore?'

x

A/N- I hope you like the happy ending for Feliks/Orlando (Feliks rushing things? Well, the author mentioned once he gets used to someone, he becomes extremely comfortable around that person, hence the change)..