Silent nights

The only sound

Distant noise

Indistinguishable

A static

Under the stars

Walk.

A house

Consider it a mansion

The dwelling

Of the blessed

Untouched by poor saps

But him

A friend

With relationships

Come benefit

Or drawback.

Money or friend?

Even better, friends with money.

A vile thought

To which he chuckled

Such preposterousness

Money is god

Business is religion

Workplace a church

The rich are the blessed

Poor are the damned.

Gullibility may be the original sin.

Poverty is the mortal sin.

And from beggars

To thieves

Is but a step lower.

Train of thought

Arrival at the station

Literally and figuratively

Finding himself

Before a porch

Knock on the grand door

To reveal

A drowsy fire queen

In a large gray shirt

And as it appears

Only in her underwear?

"Hachio..."

"It's way past eleven. What are you doing still up?"

"Hmph... I was waiting... for you."

Into the living room

Dimly lit by lampshades

It seemed late

Even smelled late

He was exhausted

A night of social interactions

Pitted against aristocrats

Spun around

And intimacy

With a certain devil woman

It was enough

Sufficient for a lifetime

A memorable

Albeit unnerving

Experience

But now

Rest.

The sooner he can go home

The better.

Just then

A warm feeling

Enveloping his back

A pair of arms

Hugging him.

"Hachi..."

"Oh- alright, come on now."

He squirmed

Turning around

A heap of blonde hair

And dreamy emerald green

Luring him to sleep.

She fumbled over the suit

Unbuttoning

All the while

Practically

Leaning her body

On his

While he on the other hand

Held her by the shoulder

Perhaps to keep her balance

And soon enough

It was off.

As if groping for something

She ran her hands

Against his white shirt

And held the tie

Pulling him closer.

"...achi... don't... leave..."

"Um... er..."

He looked in confusion

As she whispered softly

Soothing voice

Unlike the tone

Of a sly woman

It was warm

Calming.

Her arms slithered around him

Burying her face

Into his chest

As her weight shifted on him

Like an anchor

Unyielding

Unwilling

To let the ship

Leave.

In return

He wrapped his arms around her

And shuffled for the couch

Two figures

As she slumped over him

Foiling his attempt

To wriggle out

Of her embrace.

"Hey. Come on now."

"Just... a bit... longer..."

His cheeks reddened a bit

It was quite

An intimate position

He would hate to be caught

In another house no less!

She nuzzled closer

Like a cat

Making herself comfortable

Against his warmth.

It was such an ethereal moment

He would think

Sleep deprivation

Exaggeration

Like a tide

Sleepiness washed over him

A deadly trap

Threatening

Drown him

In a deep slumber.

Amidst that

Looking at the woman

Before him

It was no fire queen

Just an innocent girl

Her golden locks

Like a sleeping beauty

It was difficult to ponder

How character

A different color

From a different angle

Prisms

Spectrum of emotions

With a closer look

A color of love.

A small smile formed on his face.

He brushed her hair

Of golden silk

Her cheeks

Soft and pink

Pale smooth skin

Like polished marble

Her legs

Such flawlessness

And he looked upon it

As if admiring

A work of art

Which she is.

One of the finest paintings

Of beauty

Elegance

Arrogance

Courage

A fire that burned brighter

The stronger the rain.

Softly

He began

To whisper a song

One he had always wanted to sing

But never had the chance.

In the silence of the dim room

He hummed quietly

Lightly stroking her hair

Living in the moment

Nothing else mattered.

He loved her.

In her presence

He felt comfort

A sense of being

No need to mask

To pretend

To be.

In friendship

One feels at home.

It was humor

To think

It began with something volatile

And with time

Patience

Mutuality

Transform

Poison into wine

Into something genuine.

"Put your head on my shoulders..."

Something worthwhile.

"Hold me in your arms, baby..."

He who loves to a fault,

"Just a kiss goodnight, maybe..."

Loves the fault as well.

"You and I will fall in love."

Her lips

Unlike

Perhaps deep inside him

He wanted to.

But it was too good.

Thin lines

On a beautiful face

Drawn by silent tears

He knew

She knew.