The days following the seminar Furuichi noticed how off Oga had been. He snapped more than usual and broodily stared at his phone. When he knew he had given a particularly bad verbal beating on the silvernette, he'd apologize profusely. The brute would hug and kiss Furuichi until the brute felt like it was enough to make up for his behavior. This emotional rollercoaster Oga was on made no sense to Furuichi so he avoided the brute as often as he could.
Burying himself in books at the library, Furuichi could only hope Oga was doing the same. The November Festival was fast approaching and now was the time to hoard as many points as possible. With winter break and final exams around the corner, Oga had less than two months to prove that he belonged on the campus just like every other student. Furuichi felt the stress prickle at the back of his neck. Sighing, he stretched and kneaded at the stress points.
Seriously. What's that guy's problem?
It irritated Furuichi even more to know that he was this affected by Oga's behavior. Outside of knowing that his financial aid is on the line, he wanted to blame Oga for distracting him from his studying by thinking about him so much. Furuichi knew though that he was genuinely concerned for the brute. So much for running away from his feelings now.
If someone were to ask Furuichi what falling in love feels like, then he'd answer that he had no idea.
If they were to ask Furuichi what it feels like to have deep feelings for someone, then he'd answer that it felt like the world's biggest splinter lodged in one of the main arteries of his heart.
Knowing that he wasn't going to get anymore studying done for the day, Furuichi packed up his things. Some ramen felt like it was in order. Furuichi walked in as someone was walking out. A severe, yet stunning blond made Furuichi instinctively want to fall back into old habits, but she gave him the worst glare he'd ever gotten from anyone. It shook him to the core. She merely had sniffed her nose and turned away. What a rude woman! It's a good thing she's hot.
The ramen shop was bustling with orders. A harassed looking young man ran between errands from barking customers and an even louder shop owner.
"A bowl of Tonkotsu ramen for me, please."
The silvernette parked himself in the corner while waiting for his meal. Something about that woman bothered him. He chewed pensively over piping hot noodles and briefly marveled at how Oga's sister made each bowl with great care despite the large quantity of orders. Leaving the exact change to cover the bill with the stressed out student, Furuichi trudged back home.
He really didn't want to deal with Oga's rollercoaster tonight. Furuichi had a paper due tomorrow evening and he wanted to finish the last touches before he submitted it. He was also sure that this must have been the first stages in the cycle of abuse. Sighing yet again, Furuichi thought about how much he had been sighing lately. Something's gotta give.
Opening the door, Furuichi was faced with a sight he'd never would've expected. There was the severe looking blond woman, sharing a heated kiss with the brute. His brute. Oga held her so desperately in his arms that Furuichi's heart yearned to be held in the same way.
"Da! Da! Dabu!"
When the startled couple pulled apart from each other, Furuichi saw a baby with a shock top of bright green hair and cruel black eyes. These pair of eyes matching the eyes Furuichi had come to know all too well.
"Ah…Furuichi. This is Hilda and Baby Be'el."
Furuichi, for all accounts and purposes, was proud of how he reacted. He calmly closed the door while simultaneously closing off his heart. "We've met. Sort of." Furuichi nodded in their direction then retreated to his bedroom. The silvernette deliberately went around his room on auto-pilot. He undressed then redressed. Then, he locked his door and crawled into bed. Furuichi left the television on to drown out all the noises from the ghosts outside his bedroom then fell asleep. He'd be damned if he let the brute win by crying no matter how loud his heart shattered in his chest.
"He's a creep." Hilda stated when Furuichi slid out of sight.
"He's my roommate." The tone Oga used made Hilda raise an eyebrow.
"You've slept with him."
Oga turned his back on Hilda in favor of going to the kitchen to pour hot water for the tea in their mugs. When Hilda arrived at his doorstep with Baby Be'el, he didn't know what to expect. He'd never tell her, but Hilda had been his first love. Furuichi's hurt face flashed before Oga's eyes and he willed those feelings away. Getting back together was low on the list of Oga's hopeful reasons of why she had come to visit him so abruptly, but it was still on the list.
"So, you've been ignoring your paternal duties because you're too busy playing gay?"
"Watch your mouth Hilda. My relationships have nothing to do with you."
"Not after that kiss we just shared. Not to mention our son."
Never mind, Oga wished Hilda would leave. She had done that so easily several times before. Hilda didn't even kiss him back.
"Why are you here Hilda?"
Hilda remained silent, sipping her tea with a serene expression.
"Hilda."
She placed her cup down on the table before she spoke.
"I violated your custodial rights."
"…You told me you had full custody."
"I lied."
A cold shiver ran down Oga's spine before the fire began to boil the blood coursing through his veins.
"You lied?"
"That's what I just said, isn't it? Stop being a moron."
"Hilda!"
It was always his tone that made her submit to him and she loathed the kind of power he had over her. Especially during the times he made her look the fool for making more mature decisions. That was why she left Oga in the first place, why she wanted to have her baby all to herself. Hilda wanted to cut all ties with the only man that had ever stirred her heart because she wanted to be in control at all costs.
"Well, the judge has caught on," She motioned to the baby who was currently gazing up at his father in adoration, "And you will be taking care of him until March."
Oga shot up and braced his hands on the table to keep from reaching over and taking this infuriating woman over his knee. "What do you mean taking care of him until March?"
"Since you've kept your side of the settlement and enrolled in college. The judge has questioned my motives of keeping Be'el from you. So, he has made it that you can take care of Be'el until you've recovered all of the time I owe you." Hilda let the words roll off her tongue like heavy marbles aimed at Oga's gut.
Hilda wasn't scared of the silence between them, that was normal even when they were together back in high school. Neither was she scared of him should Oga pick a physical fight with her. What did scare her was losing Baby Be'el forever. So, this was the sacrifice she was willing to make. Hilda turned to her child, ready to cart her baby away if he looked the slightest bit uncomfortable, the law be damned, but instead her heart sank low beneath her feet.
Baby Be'el's eyes were glued to where his father stood, not once looking at his mother for attention. Hilda quickly made a bottle for the baby, hoping to get the baby's attention away from the oversized ogre in front of them. Be'el not only pushed the bottle away, but began to make a ruckus trying to climb out of his stroller making grabby motions toward the same man that turned her life upside down.
Hilda turned to watch Oga, internally imploring the brunet to show any sign of neglect so she could whisk away with her child. She wanted any reason she could find to prove Oga a terrible father, as he was a terrible boyfriend. Oga stared at Baby Be'el while the baby continued to squawk and squirm.
Yes.
Very slowly, Oga stood to his full height.
Walk away. Ignore him. Please.
Oga made a half turn.
That's it.
Then he took small steps toward Baby Be'el's direction.
No!
Hilda leapt from her chair to block the baby from Oga's grasp. They stared into each other's eyes and Hilda watched as the last ounce of love for her died. It was this moment that Hilda knew it was too late to explain to Oga why she left. That the only reason why they would continue to be in each other's circles is because they had a beautiful baby boy to raise.
Oga never spoke, and Hilda hesitated. Baby Be'el used his tiny little hands to push at his mother's back.
"Da! DA!"
Hilda moved aside and Oga reached for the baby he never wanted, but secretly loved.
"His stuff is with Alaindelon. It'll be here early tomorrow morning. Take greater care of him than you took care of anyone else in your miserable life."
With that said, Hilda left. Oga sighed as Baby Be'el clapped his hands gleefully as he sat on his father's sturdy shoulders. What the hell was he going to tell Furuichi tomorrow?
A/N: Dun dun DABU! See you next Wednesday!
