Chapter Ten
When he had first seen the tall, dark-haired man come out from the Akagi residence, his first thought had been outrage and an unthinking sense of betrayal. But that was before he had caught sight of the group of girls who suddenly flooded the room, the bright light and streamers framing the large window that overlooked the lawn. They had hired a dancer. That was all. He turned his attention back to the man, and got a shock.
He had longish black hair that framed a fair, uncovered face. A face, stunning in its beauty, with features so delicate yet boyish. He was too far too see the color of the eyes that gazed at him for a moment, before turning away. The stranger moved with a predatory languidness in his stride, a confidence that dragged his eyes like a magnet.
The resemblance was uncanny, but this one seemed more mature, more expressive in its nature, aggressive yet relaxed. Lincoln. He and Lincoln…there's something so similar about them…
A few moments later, he knew why.
The car that turned the corner was familiar, and as it drew closer the face he could see through the windshield was that of the dancer. Without realizing it, he drew in a sharp breath, and watched as the other man walked to the car. The driver bent over to unlock the door and open it, and the man got in. And then they started kissing.
It seemed a long time before the passenger detached himself from the driver and leaned back in his seat, turning his head to say something to Lincoln.
His eyes followed the car as it drove off. And an unnamed emotion flashed through him, before it disappeared.
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Why do I feel so unsure? Everything's been planned. I'll be married to Sakuragi-kun in two days.
He's everything I could want in a man. He's smart, he's sensitive and he loves me and always tries to make things perfect for me. I've known him for so long. He's never let me down, and he makes me feel secure.
But it's not him this time. It's me. I'm not sure of this. And yet on the other hand all I want is for this confusion to go away and for us to be married. I know I'm nervous because the wedding's so close. That's all.
She stood and walked to the window, looking out at the green expanse of the lawn dotted with small flowers of white and yellow and pink and blue.
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Damn.
Damn.
I'm going crazy.
This last thought failed to comfort him in any way.
Why am I so undecided? He hated the emotions that toppled his line of thinking that went against his code of proper logic.
Why am I so scared?
Was it the commitment? Where were all these second thoughts coming from?
Everything had been arranged, from the catering to the papers of the technicalities. It felt suffocating.
Unbidden, the image of not one, but two faces swam into his murky concentration.
And why, for the love of god, do I keep thinking about –them–?
The realization caused him to stop pacing the length of his room. Glancing up, he caught sight of his reflection across the room in the large, full-length mirror that made up the opposite wall. He looked haggard, as though he hadn't slept well in days.
The vague memory of the night before still haunted him, and in his restless slumber the vision of slanted blue eyes had passed before him more than once, as well as an expanse of smooth, unmarked white skin, contrasted sharply with curtains of silken hair darker than the night itself. Then it had flashed to the mysterious other who he had seen coming out of the Akagi residence. The sheer magnetism and sensuous charisma he had exuded. Who was he? Lincoln's—and he flushed even thinking of it—lover, that much he was certain.
He would have thought he would feel disgusted after watching the two dancers together, but if anything, a flaming passion had awoken in him instead.
Groaning, he clutched his head, slumping down on the edge of his bed. I can't think anymore…