What do we mean to each other?
Chap 8: The night before a storm
"Leaving already?"
Shiraishi gets up and sat on his bed. Fuji is now wearing his uniform. He watches Fuji ties his shoelace.
"Yeah, got a practice tomorrow," answered Fuji without looking at him.
"Will I see you again?"
Fuji stops tying his shoelace and looks at him.
"Probab—" he decided against it. He instead he said, "call me anytime."
"Will this be a fuck-based relationship? " Shiraishi asked in a very straightforward manner.
"Not wasting another moment I see."
The truth is, I didn't expect that we'll end up just like this."
Fuji didn't answer and resumes tying his shoelace. Afterwards, he went to the floor to gather his bag and his racket.
Shiraishi smirked. "You don't look like the type to go with someone, especially from a rival school. I also thought that you were already with -" he decided to hold Tezuka's name.
"Who knows." Fuji reached for the door.
"Since my family is on vacation, why don't you sleep for the night?" Insisted Shiraishi.
I think I'll pass. Tezuka might scold me if I turned up late for tomorrow's practice. I'll go ahead." He closes the door behind him.
Shiraishi stared at the closed door and turned his gaze at his windows. A few minutes later, Fuji emerged from the main door and walked towards the road. His eyes followed him as he disappears from around the corner. If that is the case, why did you make up with me, Syuusuke Fuji?
Fuji started heading for the nearest train station. He checks his watch. It is fifteen minutes past ten in the evening. It is late already. Mother might scold me. Might as well call home.
He paused and fiddles his bag until he finds his mobile phone. Switching it on but without success. The battery drained up already. There must be a phone booth here somewhere.
Looking around, he found one in the corner, just before the entrance of the train station. There is one here.
He searches his pocket for some loose change and dialed their landline number. He waited for two rings until he heard his mother's tender voice at the other line.
"Syuusuke residence."
"Hello mom, it's Fuji. I'll be home in an hour. If you want to go to sleep, you don't have to wait for me."
"Fuji, look at the time. Have you eaten dinner?"
"Yes," he lied. If her mother finds out that he hasn't eaten yet, he's sure that he'll get yelled up.
"Ok. Looks like Tezuka held you up later than usual," his mom added.
"Ah yeah, you know how he is. Well then, I'm at the train station. I need to hurry up or I won't be able to catch the last train."
"Train station? Didn't you practice at school?"
"Ah.. Got to go mom."
"Fuji wait—" the line went dead.
That's closed, but you're right mom, Tezuka did give me a hard one this time.
He left the phone booth and head for the entrance. There were few people waiting before the line. A thought crossed his mind. Maybe, I'll drop by at his place tonight.
An hour later, he found himself staring at Tezuka's window. The lights are out and the curtains were already drawn in. He's contemplating whether to call him up, and suddenly remembers that his phone has no battery.
Are you already asleep Tezuka?
He leaned on the nearest wall. He closed his eyes and felt the sudden rush of a cool dry wind. He felt uneasy upon remembering Tezuka face while he was making love with Shiraishi. I am being unfair with my feelings, with Shiraishi too.
He turned his back. Maybe some other time. Goodnight Tezuka. I'll be seeing you tomorrow.
He started to walk towards his home when he saw the person he'd like to see the most. Tezuka is standing in front of him, holding a plastic bag from a convenience store. He's wearing a plain black t-shirt and a short. His glasses reflected the light from one of the lampposts.
Like an automatic response, his smile has already been flashed towards him. Warm and friendly, as always. His dearests smile for this special someone. If only he'd recognized it.
"Yo, Tezuka!" He greeted casually.
A slightly shocked Tezuka stared back at him.
"What are you doing here Fuji?" He is still wearing his uniform.
"I was just going home, but I felt like taking the long route so I happened to pass by." He lied.
"So you were just passing by eh.. Ah, do you need anything?" Why are you here? Is the question he really wanted to ask.
"Not really. Anyway, I need to be on my way. Mom is waiting for me at home."
If that is so, then why taking the long route. "Then give her a call."
"Cannot, my battery is already empty."
" You can use our landline. Let's head inside. The drinks are getting warm."
"Err but.."
"I had trouble sleeping so I bought some snacks and something to drink. It's kind of boring drinking this by myself," he lied. "I actually tried to call you, so that's why you didn't answer."
"But I thought—"
"You are still my most trusted frien- member. I need to consult you about something." Tezuka answered and walked past him. He opened the gate and headed to the door. "Well, aren't you going in?"
Fuji smiled back. "Sometimes I wonder what is in you that I can't resist so much," he chuckled and followed him. "Guess, I really need to inform mom that I'll be staying really late tonight."
Tezuka's look change a little. He doesn't know what to feel. He is glad to see him and to hear something like this from Fuji, something that points that he is still the same. But there's that word…
Really late tonight? Did he call her up already to say that he'd be late? Then, where have you been all this time when I couldn't reach you? Were you with him? Why are you here?
He was surprised at himself. Where are these thoughts coming from? Somehow, he felt a faint feeling of something that was not there before. It made him irritated and very uncomfortable. It made him want answers. #
