Chapter 3: Wasabi candy

After that day, I kept texting him, asking if he got better or need me help with anything. He replied some. He didn't sound angry any more. He even sent me memes. I got my hopes up that we could be back like before. To be completely honest with myself, I wanted something more. But I couldn't ask for being more than his friend. I was afraid I wouldn't be allowed to stay beside him. I got my lesson. I pretended to be kidding around but deep down I was dying to hear him saying he loved me, even if as a joke. If he said so, my heart would explode of too much happiness.

I had fantasies about him. Gosh, I sounded like a silly teenage girl hopelessly in love. I was obviously not a teenage girl but I was hopelessly in love with my best friend, or ex-best-friend. There were nights I lie in my bed, couldn't sleep but fantasizing him lying naked on his stomach. My throbbing dick was rubbing between his ass cheeks, making sloppy sound. Waves of excitement flooded through our bodies, sending shiver. "Sasuke," I whispered, nibbling the raven's earlobe, "you're dripping wet," then sensually kissed the back of his neck. Sasuke raised his ass up, causing more friction against my rock hard member. His hip wouldn't stop moving. I was gently fondling his small nipple with my thumb and index finger, drawing from him a soft lewd moan. I wanted him that way. I didn't even have that kind of desire with my ex. We dated for over four months, kissed a few times and I touched her breasts. But we hadn't gone all the way. Her lips felt soft and her breasts were squishy. She smelled like August's jasmine. But then I realized that I was more upset because Sasuke didn't reply my texts or hang around with me than missing a chance to spend the day with my girlfriend. Hinata was a great girl, and she was deserved someone considered her as his whole world. I knew, the cliché "you're deserved more than me" sounded like a typical douchebag's move. But I did mean it. I told her the truth and asked her to dump me. It must be me to be dumped.

I was scrolling through the photo album on my phone, more than a thousand photos. I loved capturing every little things and people around me. As an orphan who didn't have many memories about his own family, I appreciated photography. At least, there was a moment when my parents and I were together that would forever saved within a picture. Every time I looked at it, I would imagine a different story happened that day. My mother's long and thick ginger hair was pinned up on one side with some wild daisies. We had a nice little tea party in the backyard, and my dad was screaming at his arch enemy who stole his socks again. I stopped at a close-up photo which I secretly took when Sasuke was still asleep. It was a school trip, we were arranged to stay in the same room. He looked so peaceful, laying his head on his arm, his thin lips were slightly parted. A lock of silky black hair covered part of his pale cheek. Every line of his face was sharp and clean, like a statue made by a stern, conscientious sculptor. He was unfairly delicate.

My phone vibrated as a new message came. [Are you okay?] That angelic "statue" which I was dreaming of woke me up.

[What do you mean? Physically or mentally?] Whichever it is, I'm not so good. I'm missing you so much it gives me a heartache. I thought to myself.

[I mean you and Hinata]

[Oh, you want to console my broken heart?] I giggled at the screen. It was true that my heart was shattered, but not because of her. I didn't tell him because I didn't think it was something important. Around that time he was busy with IPhO (The International Physics Olympiad) where he won his gold with a perfect score. He was even busier when entered college. I didn't want to distract him. Before I had any chance to tell him, we already drifted apart.

[I don't want to see your pathetic sad face]

[Sure. Plz comfort me!]

[Wanna some Ichiraku ramen?]

[Sounds great! But right now just talking to you is enough. So call me, maybe?] I typed back. I was craving for his crips but deep smooth voice. He didn't text back for a while. I started to lose my patience when my phone rang.

"Hi, it's me…" He spoke softly. Hearing Sasuke's voice made me relieved.

"I'm glad you call," I said.

"Hmm,"

"I need more than a hmm to heal my devastated heart," I chuckled.

"Don't be greedy. That's all you get for today."

"Does that mean I can expect something else for tomorrow?"

"Tsk," I could felt his silent annoyance screamed through our phones.

"Kidding. Don't get mad. If you're free this Sunday, I have tickets for a photography exhibition. Wanna go? It will definitely help my poor little heart."

"Okay, I'll go." He answered after a quick thinking, "Is anyone else coming?"

"No… but if you want to invite someone, that's fine with me." Maybe he found it awkward just the two of us, even though we did the same all the time back then. "So let's meet at 3p.m at the entrance of Konoha Art museum okay?"


My long-awaited Sunday finally came with a pouring rain. I was afraid that he would cancel our… appointment. But he didn't. Under a clear plastic umbrella, Sasuke appeared effortlessly slick as usual, in his trustful blazer and worn out leather boots. A lock of damp hair stuck to his cheek. He surely looks tempting today, my member was shot through with an enthusiasm. Focus, Naruto, focus on the exhibition. I slapped myself mentally. It's just the two of us. I prayed that he didn't hear the pounding sounds from my chest.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"I've just came." The truth was I had been here for 20 minutes. I was so excited that I came way too early.

"I thought I was early. It's only 2:45." He looked at his wrist watch. "Let's go inside before both of us get all wet."

Due to the heavy rain, there weren't many visitors. The sound of rain drops falling from my coat echoed through the hall. It was a comforting tranquil.

The scenery photography exhibition of our home town was taken by local photographers. It was set up as the flow of four seasons. Some photos brought memories back to me, to us.

"Hey Sasuke, remember this?" I whispered, pointing to a photo of Konoha's oldest maple tree which was gracefully transiting from yellowish green to red. "We rescued a finch there. We made such a good team." I winked at him.

"That's not what I remember. You saved it. Then I saved you. It wasn't my intention to interfere." His eyes clearly said usuratonkachi.

We were playing in the park when we saw three kids were bullying that poor little bird. I vaguely remembered Sasuke said something about a plan before I brainlessly got into a fight with them. I always acted before thinking. But Sasuke was the opposite. Getting bruises all over our bodies was a trade-off to save the bird. He was so angry with me.

"But you did interfered." I grinned. "I know you have a good heart under your grumpy face." I gently touched the tip of his index finger with mine, for a split second, giving me butterflies in the stomach.

"Tsk, why do you always stupidly risk yourself like that?" He furrowed his eyebrows. "You must protect yourself first before you could help anyone."

"Hmmm, I don't know." I scratched my head. "Sometimes my body acts on its own, I guess. I just want to help."

"That makes me worried all the time." His voice softened.

"You worry…" my sentence was interrupted by a loud thunder then all the lights went off. The museum drowned in dark shadow.

"Attention, please! We're experiencing a power outage with electricity. Our team is currently working to restore the electric power. It will take a few minutes. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please be calm and stay where you are for the moment."

"Lighting must be messing with the power poles." Sasuke said.

"Damn, it's so dark. I can't see anything." I whined. I really, really didn't like the dark. When I was four, my parents were killed in a car crash. We were driving in a storm at night. Only I survived. I was stuck in the car for two hours before I was saved, the longest two hours of my life in pitch black. It took me years to learn to sleep with light off. That accident left me trauma of being in the dark and some scars on my face. I was getting a bit anxious then he grabbed my wrist.

"Your eyes will adjust to the dark in a minute. Your pupils dilate so more light can enter. Just like aperture in camera, you change the f/stops to take photos in low light. Imagine we're taking photos. Look over here. Follow my voice."

I looked toward his voice. In dim light, the silhouette of his face slowly became visible. He was smiling at me. I calmed down right away. "Thanks," I whispered, feeling my cheeks heated. I was like a little kid who was afraid of the dark and loud thunders.

"Science can be quite comforting, right?"

"Yeah," I laughed softly. "No wonder why you're so clingy to it."

"It's reassuring that you can learn to understand things around you and inside of you. You won't be afraid anymore." He smiled at me again, the second time today. I was willing to stay in the dark longer to see that. "I also have wasabi candies. Want one? I still don't know why you like this. It tastes terrible."

When I had anxiety, I ate weird flavor candies. This habit started since the accident. An ER doctor, , gave me a pickle candy cane to calm me down. I was too focused on the weirdness that was happening in my mouth, I forgot my anxiety. She was my savior. "Ah~ you saved me again." I pretended to complain. "I'm so in debt."

"I just can't leave you alone." His words were so soft that they almost dissolved in the dark. And before I could think, the old habit of mine struck again. My body moved by itself. His lips were so smooth, almost silky, and a little cold. My mind was in a blur, I didn't remember exactly what was happening then. In my delusion, he kissed me back for a second, right before the lights turned back on.