Note: I'm trying not to write notes, but the reviews are too amusing to be ignored. First off, thank you very much. Glad you're all finding this worth your reading time. Next, I cant help but laugh in delight becos some of the comments want Cole's mother—dead. Mwahaha! . Well, I hope this chapter will answer some (or at least, one) of your many questions. Thoughts after reading are always welcome.
Part 4- Teacher RuRu
Tuesday, Sunnybrook, 12 noon
The usual day began for Rukawa. He had three classes in the morning then break time, another class then lunch time. The corridors were filled with students as they chatted, laughed, and meet with their friends from various sections. The halls leading to the main cafeteria were full of students as they marched their way in. They started lining towards almost everything in there—the soda stations, the main course stall, burgers stalls, dumpling stall, fries stall, etc.
Rukawa walked passively as he approached the crowded cafeteria. He forgot to bring lunch because he woke a tad bit late. He remembered going home late last night and dead tired. He sighed and yawned. He was greeted by the students who smiled, waved, and gushed at him. He would nod to each and everyone of them and ignore them afterwards. Not knowing what to specifically eat, he found himself queuing on the burger stall. But when it was his turn to be served—everything's basically gone.
He tried on the main course stall but nothing's left! Rukawa grunted to himself, frowning as he's got left with no choice. He looked at his watch and saw that there's still time. And so he opted to go out of the school and walked at the nearby food stalls.
The sun is shining high and mighty that day, the sky a deep hue of blue, lucky for him, he is just wearing his light short-sleeved polo shirt. Rukawa walked casually, spotting a nearby ramen stall. He went in and bought himself some ramen and gyoza for take out.
Sunnybrook, Faculty room
"Ooh, looks delicious, sensei." Ayako chirped in as Rukawa mixed his bowl of ramen using his chopsticks. Rukawa handed over some gyoza to Ayako and she gratefully took one, bowed and smiled. "Oishiii!" Rukawa simply snorted and started digging his own food.
"What are you doing after this, sensei?" Ayako asked. Rukawa thought for a minute and shrugged. "I got two more classes." He muttered. Tuesday and Thursday have never been his favorite days; its his busiest. Ayako nodded. "I got two as well." They continued with their meal, occasionally throwing in random conversations.
When lunch was over, Rukawa went back to his routine. Done with two of his classes, he walked back to where the faculty room was, sat down on his desk and started opening folders and shuffling papers to correct. "Rukawa-sensei…" Rukawa looked up to see the old and strict Math teacher. "You have a visitor." The older teacher muttered as he went out of the room after informing him.
Rukawa blinked—annoyed and confused. Why the hell wouldn't they come inside instead? He bet its probably some of his students from the last class he had been; he clacked his tongue and pushed his chair back, stood up, frowning he slid the door open. "If this is about the late assignment, I wouldn't be accepting it." He muttered drearily-then blinked to his surprise.
"Tsk. Sorry about my late assignment, teach." A smile. Sendoh uttered, leaning back on the other side of the bulletin board next to the faculty room. Rukawa blinked his eyes—surprised. "What the hell are you doing here?" Sendoh grinned. "Uh, I'm your visitor?" Rukawa snorted and crossed his arms. Sendoh chuckled. "Alright, I'm sorry—you seemed busy."
"I am." Rukawa answered. Sendoh grinned. "In case you forgot, I'm here to teach the kids—their match next week?" He paused. "Unfortunately, they won't allow me to be with the students without the supervision of at least one faculty. And seeing that you're a faculty member, and the adviser of Cole… I was wondering if…"
"Yare yare." Rukawa muttered, annoyed as he furrowed his brows and went back inside the office to Sendoh's surprise. He blinked his eyes and peeped into the faculty room to see Rukawa back on his desk, a frown on his face as he checked papers. "H-hey, Rukawa…" Sendoh called in lowly.
"Uh, anou… Sendoh-san?"
Sendoh looked behind him and smiled. "Yes?" Ayako chuckled as she put a hand on top of her lips, clutching her record books and laptop. "I knew it, Cole's father." Sendoh smiled. "Ayako-sensei?" Ayako nodded. "Glad you still remember me, Sendoh-san." Sendoh smiled as he leaned back. "Well, how could I forget my son's lovely-looking adviser for three-years?" He grinned; Ayako flushed.
Rukawa discreetly looked up at the two adults chatting right at the opened door—his colleague, laughing and gushing to his former rival's senseless jokes and feeling cute statements. Rukawa snorted as he continued checking papers.
"Ah, sou ka…" Ayako stated as she walked around her desk with Sendoh following in closely. It was past 5:00 pm already and apparently, it was just Ayako and Rukawa who was left in the faculty room since majority of the teacher's were up to 4 only that day.
"Well, I'm sure Rukawa-sensei can supervise, right sensei?" Ayako asked with a smile on her lips; Sendoh simply sitting in front of Ayako's desk. Rukawa batted an eye at them. Ayako continued smiling. Sendoh, too. Rukawa ignored them and continued checking papers. Just then, a hand slammed on his paper—to Rukawa's surprise. It was Ayako. "Senseiii… you can continue checking the papers in the gym, didn't you know? This is for Sunnybrook, we need to win the competition to instil confidence in the students and for them to know how sports develop character." She stated as if she knew what she was saying.
"Since when did you took interest in sports, Ayako-sensei?" Rukawa muttered back, raising a brow. Ayako chuckled and cough. "Thought you hated… sports?" Rukawa added. Ayako cleared her throat and sat back. Sendoh watched in amusement at the two. "I didn't say that?" She laughed. "You did." Rukawa retorted back. "I cant remember. Did I? I didn't." Ayako muttered back—sternly, but she was smiling. Rukawa looked at her, tapping a pen on his paper. "Oh, but you did."
"Let's stop this, sensei… ne? Why don't you just accompany the parent of our student and supervise because its our job and because… I'm your… senior." Ayako finally said it and Rukawa wanted no more but to lift his desk high up and throw it at a grinning Sendoh.
XXX
Sunnybrook, 6:00 pm, Gym
As expected, Rukawa was left with no choice as he found himself sitting on one of the many benches as Sendoh and the team of his son continued playing in front of him. They would run, pass, dribble, and shoot as Sendoh explained to them on the whiteboard some plays and techniques in passing, stealing, and whatever basketball-related. Rukawa annoyingly batted an eye here and now as the students and his rival laughed and hollered while playing and not.
"Okay, timeout in fifteen." Sendoh stated—and the students huddled on one side, opened their snacks, chatted, laughed, and talked about their progress and plays. Sendoh sat back on the bench near Rukawa but an arm's length between them. He grabbed his tumbler and drank from it. Rukawa put his pen down and stared to his left. Sendoh wiped his lips with his hand and started his tirade. "You're always looking at me, Rukawa." He grinned. Rukawa scoffed. "Why does it have to be always about you?" Sendoh laughed and flashed a V-sign. "Chill, will you." Rukawa snorted, annoyed. Silence.
"So, what do you think of the play I taught them?" Sendoh stated suddenly. Rukawa snorted and said nothing. Sendoh stared to his right and saw Rukawa looking at a paper. "Oh c'mon, you weren't paying attention." He uttered.
"I'm just here to fakely supervise—not to join in the training." Rukawa stated sternly.
Sendoh chuckled. "In case you forgot—let me remind you. I don't teach here, naturally, you'll be the one to officially 'supervise' them during the game, so maybe you'd want to fakely assist me here just in case." Sendoh stated with a grin and a look that seemed to beckon someone to come and look at him.
Rukawa blinked. Sendoh is fucking right. If anybody—it'll be him and not Sendoh who'll be with the students next Monday. Where the hell is the assistant coach and Takato-sensei anyway? Rukawa inwardly lifted his desk and threw it in his annoyance. "So… reality sinking in now, huh?" Sendoh stated, smiling.
They continued practicing and making plays as Rukawa stared at the board. He would butt in once in awhile and he and Sendoh would result in a mild argument as to which 'play' should be executed. The students would be blinking as they stare at the two adults in front of them as they engage in funny banters of sarcasm. Cole would blink and chuckled to himself—he hasn't seen this side of his father for quite some time and so he thought its quite refreshing to see him looking genuinely… happy.
Sunnybrook, 8:00 PM, Gym
The students wave to one another as they left one by one and until Cole, Sendoh, and him, Rukawa were the only ones left. Rukawa stared at his watch and clacked his tongue. He placed the papers inside a brown envelope, grabbed his bag, as he stood up and started walking towards the exit. I am going to file all of my hours here as overtime, and head teacher better approved it, dammit.
"You okay, buddy?" Sendoh asked his son as they, too, started walking towards the exit. Cole nodded, smiled. "Yeah, today was great—there's progress, Dad." Sendoh smiled and pat his son on the head. "Yeah, I'm sure you guys can pull it off. Just move the ball around, don't hoggle and you'll be fine. Improve on your fakes, too." He smiled. Cole nodded with each tip.
"Will you be watching?" Cole asked as they arrived in front of their vehicle. Sendoh shrugged. "Hmm, it's a Monday—tough day, not sure, but I'll definitely try to drop by." Cole sighed. "What time will it be at again?" Sendoh asked. "Four pm, dad. Here at the gym." Cole answered. Sendoh nodded. Just then the two Sendoh's hopped inside the vehicle and soon enough, Sendoh started the engine and pressed something on the car's GPS screen. "You want to eat dinner outside?" He asked to which Cole simply nodded.
Their vehicle started exiting the school's premises and Sendoh turned right and soon enough they were trekking the road a bit slowly. But as Sendoh was getting ready to speed up, his sight caught up with Rukawa who was walking on the sidewalk, head bowed down—looking at his celphone. He found his lips tugging upward.
Rukawa paused, frowning as his UBER canceled his ride once again. What the hell is wrong with these drivers anyway!? If they don't like their job, why drive?! Rukawa pressed another booking and looked up when he saw a flashing light to his left (by the road). Rukawa frowned and saw the familiar white SUV—the windows to the passenger side rolling down and in was Cole and his father. "Sensei!" Cole called. Rukawa simply stared as he paused on the sidewalk.
"Got canceled?" Sendoh asked, grinning. Rukawa simply snorted and continued waiting to be booked. "Hey, come and join us instead, sensei—we're having dinner." Sendoh hollered as he maintains hazard on the side. Rukawa shrugged. "Thanks, but—I'm good." Rukawa was about to walked away when he heard the passenger door opening and was surprised to see Cole approaching him.
"Anou—Rukawa-sensei, please?" He smiled. "At least, let us thank you for helping us practice." Cole added. Rukawa didn't know, being able to persuade or maybe convince someone who doesn't want to, can be termed as a special skill, because the next time he knew, he was sitting in the vehicle—right next to Sendoh. Silence. They traveled wherever in stillness, only Cole's background sound effects while playing on his phone can be heard—Sendoh didn't even turn on the radio. Rukawa, since being offered to sit in front, hasn't moved an inch—he kept his chin under his palm, leaning on the window.
"You can drop me off the next stoplight, you know." Rukawa muttered finally-finding his tongue loose. Sendoh furrowed his brows, keeping his eyes on the road. "Huh? Thought you're coming with us?" Rukawa scoffed lightly. The thing is—while its not bad because Sendoh is his acquaintance, its not that appropriate either to be seen with his student and the parent of his student…eating out. These thoughts, while it may be mundane to some, it bothered him.
"Thanks, but… I'm not hungry."
"All that coaching and talking—I don't understand how you cant be hungry."
"Well, I'm not. No understanding needed." Rukawa sarcastically muttered. Sendoh chuckled.
"But—well, at least grab a small bite. We're going to a pizza parlor anyway, nothing fancy."
Rukawa rolled his eyes. Sendoh chuckled softly. "Hey, you said you'd hang out with me." Rukawa frowned. "I did not say that, why are you inventing statements?" Sendoh laughed, earning a look from Cole, but went back to playing. "I'm a surgeon, I don't invent stuff. I cut people up." Sendoh uttered, grinning, before turning to a right then finally pulling over. Rukawa simply scoff and rolled his eyes.
"Well, here we are." Sendoh turned to his son who was already looking outside while stuffing his phone inside his bag, a smile on his lips. "Yes! Thanks, Dad!" Cole stated as he pulled the handle and pushed the door open, rushing outside. Rukawa went out, sighed and placed his hand on his pocket while the other clutches his bag. Sendoh, after checking everything, got out as well and started walking.
"Pizza? For dinner?" Rukawa muttered lowly, but not low enough for Sendoh not to hear. "Well, yeah, this is his favorite pizza place." Sendoh stated, pocketing his keys and phone. Rukawa stared—the two of them still standing outside the parlor. "What?" Sendoh started, a smile on his lips. "See, you're always staring at me. I knew you always had a crush on me." He grinned.
"Are you on dope, I have eyes of course." Rukawa seethed, wanting to roundhouse kick Sendoh on the face. Sendoh laughed. Rukawa snorted. "Well, I just thought you're the 'eat-healthy' type of parent."
Sendoh chuckled. "I'm more of the 'eat-what-makes-you-happy' type of parent. C'mon now, sensei." He grinned. Rukawa simply snorted and followed Sendoh. The three of them were ushered onto a corner seat for four and obviously, Sendoh and Cole sat together while Rukawa sat on the other side. Aside from random conversations concerning the upcoming practice match and some from school, nothing personal has been brought up.
"Anou, Rukawa-sensei…" Cole spoke. Rukawa paused forking his pasta and looked up to the kid in front of him. Cole smiled a bit. "Uh, is Takato-san ever coming back?" Rukawa chewed slowly and blinked. "I… I don't know yet." He answered rather truthfully. Cole nodded and smiled curtly before eating back again. Sendoh shrugged. "Maybe your school needs to hire a new faculty?" Rukawa snorted a bit. "I'm not the management."
"Maybe Rukawa-sensei can be your PE teacher instead, what do you think, Cole?" Sendoh prodded. Cole smiled and nodded. "Sounds great, Dad! Sensei, can't you be our PE teacher instead?" Rukawa snorted, and shook his head-almost wanted to curse but held off. "And who's going to teach English?" He challenged his student. Cole gapes a bit and smiled sheepishly. "Uh-well…"
"I can. English? Easy. Basic." Sendoh jokingly stated, even raising his hand. Cole stared incredulously at his father and Rukawa almost glared. Sendoh laughed. "What? Its not like I didn't take English classes back in high school and college? Our medicine classes are taught mostly in English as well." He laughed.
"Hn, define what a pronoun then is." Rukawa muttered monotonously, challenging head-on his rival. Cole chuckled, placing a hand on his mouth. Sendoh's lips went from smiling to passive. "Well—" Cole laughed, Rukawa raised a brow.
"It's a noun that has earned a bachelor's degree in English, and has masteral degree in communications. Doesn't want to be just some 'noun'-turned pro." Sendoh grinned. Cole gape. Rukawa's eyes widened, his nerves, popping.
"D-Dad, what the-?!" Cole muttered, laughing as he playfully elbowed his father. "It is a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase, dad." Cole answered knowingly while chuckling to which Rukawa simply nodded and almost tugged his lips upward.
"That is what I'm trying to say, Cole." Sendoh muttered. The two Sendoh's laughed and Sendoh raised his left palm up, high-fiving Cole. Rukawa kept his chortles to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. "Am I right, Rukawa-sensei?" Sendoh asked, smiling.
Rukawa only stared at his stupid-looking former rival and playfully crumpled a tissue and threw it at a surprised Sendoh. "Right decision not to teach, jerk." Sendoh simply threw back the tissue to which Rukawa slapped away as the three of them laughed at their table.
"I love pronouns—they're very professional." Sendoh stated grinning like an idiot while Cole laughs; as Rukawa rolled his eyes endlessly, he finds himself smiling nonetheless.
XXX
"Are you sure, you'll be fine here?" Sendoh asked as he pulled on one corner. Rukawa nodded. "Yeah." Silence. Cole fell asleep at the back as the kid was sprawled on the back—his long leg bent and one dangling. Sendoh stared at his sleeping son. "Well—pizza, pasta, and playing equals a dead kid."
Rukawa snorted, shaking his head in disbelief at Sendoh's words. "Some father you are." Sendoh simply grinned. "Hey, don't get me wrong, I love my son."
Rukawa snorted, twitching his lips. "Yeah, I know."
"You knew?" Sendoh prodded.
"I mean—all parents love their kids, right?" Rukawa said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Not everyone." Sendoh stated passively. Rukawa slowly turned to his left and stared at Sendoh who was still looking at his son behind. Sendoh slowly turned his gaze to Rukawa, his eyes shifting from mischief to a certain depth of emotion Rukawa thought he hadn't seen before.
Its in his eyes—his cobalt blue eyes that seemed to tell a story. Of anger and pain. Its easy to assume he's happy. But looking again, the scars of his past, hidden well under his clothes—they seemed to be a roadmap that leads to certain places. There was a sudden heavy air of stillness. Rukawa wondered if he said something offensive. He wondered if he should apologised.
"I—I have to leave. Its late anyway and you should be heading home, too." Rukawa stated. "T-thanks for the dinner. Looks like I owe you one." He muttered.
Sendoh scoffed lightly and tried to smile. He nodded. "Yeah, thanks for accompanying us, as well." He paused and turned to Rukawa who was getting ready to hop out. Rukawa nodded and was soon out of the car.
The white SUV then head on as Rukawa stood there, staring for how long as he can. And in the silence of the night, he wondered about the word pain; Sendoh might not be someone who would shout out to the world but somehow, Rukawa thought about his affliction; and the fact that maybe, sometimes the worst kind of pain do not come from your enemies but from the people whom you have trusted and love.
XXX
Three days went by Rukawa in a blinked of an eye. He has been busier than ever; aside from his usual routine in classes and the endless papers and folders that continues to pile themselves up on his desk, there's the basketball practice every 5pm until 8. Rukawa decided to supervise the team of Cole, teaching them with their assistant coach. In fairness though, Takato-san was able to get back to school that Friday, so Rukawa was able to earn a breather from his busy schedule.
He just informed Takato of the team's progress and their training and with the help of their assistant, Cole's team had their own practice with their original PE teacher that Friday. Sendoh wasn't able to attend ever since their 'dinner' last Tuesday and Rukawa wondered. He thought of asking Cole but decided not to, since Sendoh's probably went back to being busy. Cole seemed to be heading home by himself as well. Their bets and hang-out, seemingly forgotten.
Friday, 5:00 PM, Sunnybrook
Rukawa plopped heavily on his chair, placing another set of papers on top of his crowded desk. The bell rang a few minutes ago, signaling the end of another week. He placed his head down for a minute and yawned—tired and sleepy all of a sudden. Rukawa lazily lifted his head up, opened a folder and was contemplating of starting to check yet again papers but his heavy body seemed not to cooperate that day. He dumped a sigh and stretched his long arms, pushed back his chair and opted to get a cup of coffee instead from the school cafeteria.
Walking on the familiar aisle of the school, he strutted lazily and after getting himself a cup, went back to the faculty room when he was surprise to see Ayako walking out of a classroom, waving at him, beckoning him to come. Rukawa furrowed his brows and head towards the room—his advisory room to be exact. If his mind is right, History class is the last subject of his own advisory class, hence, Ayako was there.
Rukawa peeped on the door but Ayako was there and grabbed him on the arm as both teachers placed themselves on the back. Rukawa blinked and noticed that his room was dimly lit and chairs were placed on both sides as a seemingly group of students were in front—in a 'play' or skit of some sort. Rukawa honestly have no idea.
"They're role playing a part of the Meiji period." Ayako whispered, chuckling softly as she holds a record book and a pen. Rukawa nodded and watched his students and widened his eyes when he saw one of their 'props'; he would have laughed but instead settled for a soft chuckle—his shoulders shaking a bit. Ayako stared at him. "Sensei?"
Rukawa shook his head and raised a hand. "Sorry…" Ayako nodded and grinned and went back to watching the play as Rukawa quietly excused himself out of the room. The thing is, he saw Cole's group made Sendoh's face as the funeral picture of some conqueror from the Meiji era. Feeling suddenly a tad bit awake by what he just saw, he went back to the faculty room and decided to start his battle again with the papers.
6:00 PM, Sunnybrook
Rukawa clutched his bag closer to himself as he approached his vehicle. He cant believed that he is going home a bit earlier that day. He sighed and dumped all the work and papers that he need to check at home and opened the front door to the driver's seat when he saw Cole jogging towards the gym—final practice for this week against Aidan Middle School on Monday. For some reason, Rukawa found himself walking towards yet again at the gym, placing himself on the ajar door.
He watched a few minutes as the kids prepared and practiced their passes, dribbles, and shoots. In fairness, Rukawa saw the improvement and cliché as it may sound, he found himself silently looking forward to the game on Monday. "Rukawa-sensei?" Rukawa looked around and saw the assistant coach, a smile on his lips. "Why don't you come and join us?" He beckoned for Rukawa to come in and seeing that he had been guiding the students these past few days, Rukawa found himself walking inside to sit beside Takato-san who has a cane on his right hand.
The old man greeted and nodded at him. "Rukawa-sensei, I want to thank you for helping them when I wasn't around." He stated, a smile on his wrinkled face. Takato seemed to have aged another year or two since he last saw him but Rukawa didn't mind, he understood. "No problem, sensei… how are you doing anyway?"
Takato leaned back on the chair and smiled. "I'm fine, could be better but for now, I'm good." He paused. "My doctor wants me to refer to cardiothoracic because he fears that I might be developing some so-called pleural effusion, sheesh, I hope I got that right, hehe." He grinned.
Rukawa blinked—surprised at what the old guy said, and instantly, he found himself answering. "I… I know someone, Takato-san." Takato looked at him and wondered. "Oh? That's wonderful, Rukawa-sensei." He smiled.
"Just… tell me when you need to see one." Rukawa stated softly. Takato smiled and bowed gratefully. Rukawa nodded and spent the next hour watching the practice as the assistant coach executed Rukawa and Sendoh's plays. Takato's eyes beamed with joy when he saw his team performing a lot better than before.
7:45 PM, Sunnybrook
Takato stood up and muttered a few pointers and reminders, but most importantly he reminded his students to just enjoy the practice game but also to give their all. When everything's done and over with, the students were dismissed and Takato headed out with the assistant teacher and some students. Rukawa, too, stood up, and was getting to leave when he caught sight of Cole who was packing all of his things. The sweaty student got his tumbler and drank from it before stuffing it back in his bag. Rukawa must have staring much at the 14-year-old that he didn't notice the latter standing up and looking at him as well.
"Sensei…" Cole started, he smiled. Rukawa blinked back and shrugged. "Uh… going home?" He asked. Cole nodded and started walking as he placed his backpack behind him. "Actually, going at the hospital tonight." He grinned. Rukawa nodded as they both walked towards the exit. "Sensei, thanks for joining us last time." He smiled. Rukawa simply stared and said nothing. What is there to say anyway? Cole smiled, his eyes looking ahead of him. "Its always just the two of us—and I can't remember the last time we ate with someone else."
Rukawa paused when he was just a few steps away from his vehicle. Rukawa was itching to asked but he knew best than asked a minor and so he kept it to himself. He was about to say when Cole beat him to it. "I hope you can always join us, Rukawa-sensei. My dad seems to enjoy your company." He grinned.
Rukawa gape a bit but said nothing as he simply stared and scratched his cheek. Cole simply looked at him. "Must be your… imagination." Rukawa muttered.
Cole chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm serious, sensei…" He smiled. "I've never seen him this… happy." He grinned. Rukawa simply snorted, not really knowing what to say. Cole sighed, Rukawa stared. "I wish dad would watch the game on Monday."
Rukawa frowned. "Wont he…" Cole smiled a bit sadly. "He said he's not sure, I mean, I understand… he's really busy and got lots of patients. But I just wish he would." Rukawa said no more as he kept his silence.
"I have to leave now sen-?" Cole stated but was cut.
"I'll drop you off." Rukawa stated.
XXX
8:30PM, Meadow Valley Hospital
Rukawa and Cole sat on the aisle with the other patients at Sendoh's clinic. Cole was busying himself again by playing on his phone, still donned under his sweaty PE uniform and shorts. Rukawa sat quietly as he roamed his eyes on the now familiar corridor of the cardio wing. And even if it's a tad bit late, there are still patients waiting. Rukawa wondered if Sendoh changed his consultation schedule into evenings. Rukawa stared to his left and saw Cole concentrated on the game. He knew its probably none of his business but for some reason, he found himself asking.
"Don't you have… a change of clothes?" Rukawa reminded himself to socked his own face later. Cole blinked and looked up to his right. "Uh well…" He nodded. "I—I do, sensei."
Rukawa snorted and crossed his arms. "Then, maybe you should change your clothes first." He paused.
"Do I… smell, sensei?" Cole asked, grinning. Rukawa gape. Really? Do teenagers nowadays do not know that it's a must to change into a clean set of clothes right after an activity? Or a game? He snorted.
"Well. Not really but, its better than drying-up under your sweat-clad shirt. Makes you prone to sickness." Cole blinked his surprise but understood. He smiled and immediately ransacked his bag and got his new shirt. He stood up to Rukawa's surprise and hopped to the nearest washroom, leaving his bag behind. Rukawa dumped a sigh and caught sight of a middle-aged woman, eyeing him with a smile on her lips. Rukawa wondered.
"Kids these days…" She muttered. Rukawa simply blinked but nodded. She smiled. "You have a very handsome son, by the way." She added and chuckled.
Rukawa's eyes widened as he tried to explain and fidgeted on his seat. "N-no, I… I don't—I mean, he's not my- I'm not his-?" But Cole has already returned, clad under his new shirt and shorts. The kid smiled and grabbed his bag, stuffed everything inside, while having a smile on his face.
Rukawa exasperatedly sigh and crossed his arms and legs and turned the other way. Cole blinked. "Uh, are you okay… sensei?" He muttered. Rukawa simply scoffed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."
A few minutes later when everyone has been called outside, Sendoh peeped outside and saw Cole looking at him, smiling. Sendoh noticed Rukawa as well who was sitting beside him. Sendoh stepped out of the clinic, clad under his white coat, he's wearing his usual white polo, black slacks, and a navy-blue tie. He grinned as he leaned on the door frame. "Hi Dad!" Cole greeted.
Sendoh nodded, ruffled his son's hair and stared at Rukawa. "Hey buddy, wow, you looked fresh." Cole smiled. "I changed my clothes, Rukawa-sensei reminded me." Rukawa felt his ears heating up as he tried on a scowl and glare but failed to do so. Sendoh looked at Rukawa with a gaze that's rather a tad bit different from before. He smiled.
"And you must be my new patient? Let me guess, problems of the heart?" He smiled his charming smile to which Rukawa just ignored. "Hn, more like monetary problems." Sendoh chuckled. "I can refer you to the bank." He grinned. Rukawa simply snorted. Cole stood up and hurriedly walked inside. Rukawa stood up and pocketed his hands. "I dropped him off, they just finished their practice."
Sendoh nodded, his eyes staring right at Rukawa's. Sendoh grinned. "You're loo-?" But was cut to his surprise and Sendoh laughed so hard, he wiped his teary-eyes.
"Yare yare, I'm looking at you again, I have a crush on you again. You jerk." Rukawa muttered as he grabbed his bag and prepared to leave.
Sendoh instinctively found himself holding off Rukawa by the arm to the latter's surprise. "Hey, why don't you come inside for awhile—coffee?" Rukawa pulled his arm lightly and shrugged. "No, I'm good." He paused. "Besides, I'm becoming an owl every time I drink your coffee."
Sendoh blinked then laughed, clutching his sides in amusement. Rukawa simply snorted. Sendoh tried to hold back his chortles. "I'll keep that in mind—I'll get you a lighter one, I promise." Rukawa snorted. "Not tonight."
Sendoh rolled his eyes. "Let me thank you, please?" Rukawa snorted. "Its fine, this is for last time's dinner." Sendoh scoffed seeing its no use to persuade Rukawa.
When Rukawa sensed that there's no more to talked about, he started turning on his heel. "Their game is on Monday… you should come." He paused. "It could boost his morale seeing you there."
Sendoh smiled and nodded. "Yeah, thanks for reminding me."
Rukawa simply snorted. "I'm not reminding you. I'm telling you." He paused. "I'm leaving now."
Sendoh blinked his eyes—surprised at Rukawa's seemingly stern statement, yet, it struck a chord in him he didn't knew he still had. And Rukawa started walking away. He paused though and turned around to Sendoh's surprise.
"I know you're trying hard. You're a good father, Sendoh Akira." Rukawa muttered in his low voice. Rukawa may not be a parent, but he knew that one of the best things any father can spend on his son—is his time.
Sendoh was left to stand at the corridor—his eyes stuck at the elevator door that closed a few minutes ago, and in that particular evening, Sendoh wondered why his thoughts were stuck with the feeling of why a certain person was nothing he expected, but everything he thought he didn't need.
XXX
Sunday, 6:00 PM
Rukawa yawned and stretched his long limbs while lounging on his 2-seater couch. He was able to accomplish a lot of paper works yesterday and had the whole Sunday off to himself. He woke up early awhile ago and jogged around the nearby neighborhood and shoot some hoops right after at the public park nearby. Then he went to buy some groceries, cooked lunch and dinner, dozed off, woke up, had some snack, and is now watching TV. He also got a video call from his sister who is now living in the States and got to see his niece who is now four years old.
It was a well-spent Sunday, so it seemed. It was the usual Sunday for him. Just him alone. Rukawa was nonchalantly flipping thru various movies from Netflix, not knowing what to watch in particular. He hoisted himself up and wondered if there's anything he should be doing.
Hmm. I prepared my lecture for tomorrow and… basketball's match tomorrow at 4pm. Rukawa knew that most of the students would be looking forward to watching the match and so he knew that to have his last class would definitely not mean a thing as the student's minds would solely be focus only on the impending game. He wondered if he should just cancel his morning classes. Contemplating if he should cancel or not, he leaned back on the kitchen counter while munching in some strawberry.
I could cancel… or maybe not… but then they'd be celebrating—and I wouldn't want to see their happy faces… maybe I should just give a pop quiz instead… hmm…
Rukawa was busy thinking of the humdrums when his phone rang. He got his ringing phone with an unknown number and wondered. He pressed the green button and placed the phone onto his ear. "Hello?" He muttered monotonously; not to be the one to answer calls from unknown numbers but he thought he had time that day to be answering what he presumed of as a 'scam call'.
"Hey."
Rukawa frowned. Hey? "Hello." He muttered again. The voice on the other line chuckled and Rukawa almost gape. "Hey teach, how are you?" It was Sendoh.
Rukawa pushed himself off of the counter and frowned—as if Sendoh can see his face.
"Father of Cole." Rukawa pestered back. Sendoh chuckled.
"How'd you get my number?" Rukawa straightforwardly asked away. Truth is, he really wondered.
"Ah well… its for me to know and for you to find out." Sendoh stated—probably smiling on the other line.
"Jerk." Rukawa stated.
"Handsome jerk." Sendoh countered. Rukawa snorted.
Sendoh chuckled. "Sheesh, loosen up, will you. Are you busy?" Sendoh asked. That line—that seemingly undying line usually heard in the movies especially when a guy would ask a girl out, Rukawa snorted as if the line is full of corn and bullshit. "Yeah." He stated.
Sendoh scoffed. "Why do I feel like you're lying?"
"Why asked if you already think I'm lying?" Rukawa countered back as he pulled a chair and sat down while still eating strawberry.
"Are you eating dinner?" Sendoh asked.
"Hn." Rukawa simply scoffed. Sendoh rolled his eyes. "Hey, I was wondering… if you want to hang out tonight?"
"Tonight?" Rukawa wondered.
"No, yesterday, you want to hang out yesterday?" Sendoh sarcastically rebutted, chuckling as he did so.
Rukawa snorted. "I'm hanging up."
"H-he-heyy, wait up. I'm serious, lets hang out." Sendoh prodded.
"And I would hang out with you because?" Rukawa drearily stated.
"Because… you're my friend, and I hope, I am yours, too." Sendoh ended. Rukawa was silent on the other line.
"Rukawa? Are you still there?" Sendoh asked, when the latter seems not to be saying anything. Sendoh sighed. "Look, forget it, its fine if you're busy…sorry to disturb-?!"
"Where to?" Rukawa found himself muttering instead, the thing is, he didn't see Sendoh tugged his lips upward on the other line. And again, for the nth time, Rukawa wondered how words seemed easy. It's the convincing that is hard—and maybe, just maybe, success goes to the most convincing talker in the world.
XXX
Sunday, 7:30 pm
Blue Marine—a district not too far from where Rukawa lives. Its basically a plaza surrounded with food hubs, restaurants, bistros, bars, shops, and various arcades. It was a rather lively place and a sure hit especially to the younger people and the not-so-younger ones. Every weekend the place comes alive with its pantone-themed aisles lined with pebbles and lights. Rukawa was never a fan of busy places such as this one, although this isn't also his first time to be here; he just wasn't a big fan of loud chatters and celebratory vibes. He dumped a sigh as he took a glance on his watch sensing that he's been sitting around on a small corner café for the past twenty minutes.
Sendoh texted him that they meet up there and that he doesn't need to bring his car. Rukawa is wondering if the idea to follow his former rival is a good decision. Rukawa absentmindedly browse on his phone, a frown on his face. He placed his phone down and yawned, placing both of his palms on his face—just then he felt something touch his face—it was brief and soft. Rukawa removed his palms and his face instantly reverted back to its usual scowl.
Sendoh jokingly handed him a small stalk of flower. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Rukawa batted the flower away, brows furrowing. "What the hell." He muttered. Sendoh, surprised, picked up the white flower and placed it atop the table. "H-hey, so rude. I plucked it somewhere over…" He pointed to which Rukawa followed with his eyes. Sendoh grinned. "…near the dumpster. Haha." He chuckled to Rukawa's annoyance.
"Well, shall we go?" Sendoh asked. Rukawa frowned. "What, aren't we hanging out here?" Sendoh shook his head. "Nah, lets go someplace else. This place is for kids." He grinned. Rukawa snorted and soon enough they were walking to where Sendoh was parked.
"Just so you know, I didn't bring my car with me, doc." Rukawa muttered. Sendoh chuckled. "Don't worry, I got you, teach." Rukawa felt his ears warmed for some reason as he annoyingly scratched one and kept his frown on. "Where do you plan to go, anyway?" Rukawa asked. Sendoh eyed him a bit as they approached his white vehicle. "You'll see when we get there." Sendoh said casually and soon enough they hopped on his car and was trekking the road.
After another few minutes of drive, Sendoh pulled over a seemingly quiet place. Rukawa knew the place, it was actually a park. Rukawa waited as Sendoh paid the parking fee and soon they were both walking the quiet place of Inokashira. Rukawa trekked the quiet place, his eyes roaming silently as they passed by 200 cherry trees perfectly lined up around a pond; the trees are in full bloom. Lucky for them, there weren't many people that night. Usually, the place is beaming with tourists and—well, couples' majority as well.
"A park seemed also a place for kids." Rukawa muttered, destroying the stillness- but there was something about the place that he thought he felt a bit… bothered. Sendoh scoffed lightly as he turned to his right—a good quite of space in between them. "I chose this place because I know you hated the noise." He smiled. "You don't like crowded places and clamour." Rukawa didn't see that coming as he felt his feet halted—he looked at Sendoh to the latter's confusion and wondered. Did Sendoh just made an effort for… him?
"Hey, you, okay?" Sendoh asked, brows a bit raised when Rukawa paused. Rukawa felt blood rushing to his face as he nodded and shrugged at the same time, confusing Sendoh. "Yeah, sorry." Sendoh simply smiled back. "C'mon, lets go." The taller beckoned and as Rukawa find himself following the latter's footsteps, he was reminded how making a friend and maintaining friendship are two different things. The latter takes effort.
They stopped by and sat on one of the many coffee shops nearby and waited for their coffee and snacks to be served. Stillness. The silence filled the air as if it was empty, only it isn't. Soon after, their table was topped by food and caffeine. "You had dinner already?" Sendoh started, crossing his legs and seemed to be fishing out something in his pocket. Rukawa scoffed lightly as he stirred his own cup of coffee. "You mean… this?" Rukawa stated, referring to his coffee. Sendoh simply grinned. "You should have told me; we could have eaten something first."
"Hn. Shut up. What is this, a date?" Rukawa muttered as he furrowed his brows and snort. But he felt his chest race—and was baffled. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the word.
"Yeah, it is a date. Isnt it obvious? We're on a date. We're dating. A month, right?" Sendoh playfully answered. Rukawa shot up a glare, Sendoh chuckled. "Damn, that's lot of dates."
Rukawa twitched his lips. "Cardiothoracic jerk."
"H-hey, chill will you." Sendoh muttered, chuckling at Rukawa's annoyance. It was rather amusing and cute seeing Rukawa annoyed, for some reason. Sendoh wondered why is that so.
"You're always chill, Sendoh. You should have named your son Chill instead." Rukawa pestered.
Sendoh blinked his eyes, surprised, and laughed. Rukawa, too, found the corner of his lips tugging upward. "That's a good one. Chill Cole? I'd call him, CC." He grinned.
Rukawa snorted and rolled his eyes. "You're a hopeless case." Sendoh simply grinned and said nothing.
Silence ensued. "You don't mind?" Sendoh asked; Rukawa looked up and blinked—surprise to see Sendoh lighting a cigarette. He was bewildered for a bit. Sendoh…smokes? He shrugged. "No, I don't." Rukawa answered. Sendoh simply grinned and soon enough was huffing and puffing out in the open. Silence ensued followed by a soft breeze in the night and the soft chatters of a few people from around them.
"Thought you treat illnesses of the heart and lungs." Rukawa stated, eyeing Sendoh. Sendoh smirked a bit. "I do. Well, I don't smoke during consultations and operations." He grinned. Rukawa rolled his eyes. He has heard enough bullshit that night. Sendoh stared at Rukawa who was looking at nothing in particular. "I don't smoke in front of Cole. If that worries you." He stated.
"I couldn't care less of what you do. I just thought that—maybe you should put it out before it puts you… down." Rukawa stated casually then turned at Sendoh.
Sendoh blinked—surprised. But, he thought it was nice of Rukawa to say that. He smiled. "Cole knew—I mean, he saw me once…" Sendoh paused.
Rukawa shrugged. "At least, you won't grow old…you'll die young." Sendoh blinked then smiled. "Are you worried about me?" Rukawa frowned, feeling blood rushing on his ears. "Aww." Sendoh added, mocking. Rukawa frowned. "Shut up." Sendoh simply laughed.
"I'm touched." Sendoh added with a grin. Rukawa snorted. "Idiot." Sendoh simply smiled.
"I'm just saying… your son is still young." Rukawa muttered instead. Sendoh simply smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I only do this when I got a lot of things on my mind…" Sendoh trailed off softly.
"I had Cole when I was 21." Sendoh suddenly blurted out, surprising Rukawa who was simply stirring his coffee. His cerulean eyes slowly looked up at his unlikely companion that night.
"You got pregnant?" Rukawa muttered, his lips tugging upward a bit. He was joking of course.
Sendoh eyed the younger and smirk. "Got someone pregnant." Sendoh paused. "I know what you're thinking."
Rukawa scoffed. "No, you don't." He looked up to meet Sendoh's unperturbed gaze. "You're probably thinking I haven't been careful enough—or responsible." Sendoh muttered lowly, flickering the cigarette butt on an ashtray.
Rukawa snorted, like he's heard the line a hundred times. Feeling sorry for one's self and the present condition. Its not only a waste of energy, but the worst habit anyone could possibly have. Rukawa shrugged. "I did not come here to listen to your self-pitying."
Surprised, Sendoh blinked and smiled almost wistfully. Inwardly, he was grateful. Rukawa turned out to be a tad bit open-minded who doesn't impose their beliefs on others. "Thanks. Looks like I misjudged you for a minute there. Sorry." Sendoh said in his low voice.
"I'm not in the position to judge someone… without understanding their reasons." Rukawa stated softly, his eyes flickering from Sendoh to his cup of coffee.
Sendoh heaved a sigh and nodded. "Guess, I'm lucky to have you as my… friend, huh."
Rukawa looked up, meeting Sendoh's deep stare and smiling lips. "We all have struggles. This isn't a competition." Rukawa simply scoffed and said no more, feeling suddenly tired from saying a lot.
Sendoh kept his silence, deeply appreciating the words that seemed to resonate with him deeply. He wondered if this is in fact the Rukawa Kaede he once run on the courts with. The silent, aloof, expressionless kid/ protégé he had back in college. It was then Sendoh knew that time has a way of changing and shaping people. And sometimes, its for the best.
"So… why named him Cole?" Rukawa finally decided to break the ice. He looked up to see Sendoh placing the cigarette in between his lips, and blew out smoke. Sendoh smiled a bit, got his phone, pressed and browse a few seconds before sliding it over to Rukawa. Rukawa blinked his eyes in surprise. He stared at the picture—it was Sendoh and some girl. Sendoh was wearing a white proper uniform and the girl as well. The girl is dark-haired, eyes of seemingly grayish-blue, pointed nose, tall, slim, fair-skinned… its no wonder Sendoh might have turned for a second look.
Rukawa must have staring too much at the picture, almost as if memorizing the details of her face but he's not. He now knew where Cole got his look—it's a mixture of both Sendoh and this woman on the picture. Rukawa slowly pushed back Sendoh's phone back at him. His mind, blank. His chest…? He couldn't explain what's he's feeling at that given time, all he can think of is; where is Cole's mother?
"Her name is Coleen Miura. It was what she wanted, actually." Sendoh stated casually. He then looked at Rukawa who was simply listening. "Hence… Cole." Rukawa nodded slowly. "I met her on my last internship, from another school. She's a friend of a high school classmate of mine, got us introduced and the rest is… history." Sendoh state quickly, as if escaping all the details. "She's half-Canadian but studied here in Japan from high school onwards—that's why she doesn't looked like pure Japanese."
Rukawa sipped on his cup of coffee that almost turned a tad bit cold by now. He leaned back for awhile and fidgeted on his seat.
"She was 20 and—well, we were both young then. We're both aspiring to be doctors and we're already on our first-year residency by then." Sendoh paused. "Pursuing medicine—it was tedious and the immense pressure of needing to pass the exams, the practicals, the program is coming onto me—for both of us." A pause.
"There's been a party one time for the graduating third year-residents—a foam party." Sendoh smirked, his eyes staring at nothing in particular, reminiscing. Rukawa furrowed his brows. "Foam party?" Sendoh stared at his companion. "Yeah—foam. Bubbly?" A grin. "You haven't been to these sorts of parties?" Sendoh queried.
Rukawa snorted. Sendoh chuckled. "Don't you ever attend parties and stuff?" When Rukawa simply smirked and did not answer, Sendoh leered. "Hey, after my tell-all-tale, you're next, just so you know."
"Hn. I don't have anything to tell. My life isn't as colorful as yours." Rukawa beleaguered back.
Sendoh laughed a bit. "No fair." Rukawa shrugged. "So, what happened on your foam party?" Sendoh raised his brows. "Ahh, a discreet gossip, eh?" Rukawa frowned, Sendoh laughed. "Well… what else do you think happens in a party after getting drunk and foamed?" Sendoh asked back, his eyes held that meaningful stare and Rukawa didn't need to prod further. He simply snorted and nodded. Sendoh dumped a sigh and stretched his long legs. "A month after, I'm officially a father." He grinned.
"Congratulations." Rukawa muttered. Sendoh simply stared. Silence. "She didn't want it." Rukawa swallowed involuntarily. Sendoh shifted from his seat and licked his lips, placing the unfinished cigarette on top of the ashtray. "She wanted an abortion—and I…" Sendoh paused. Rukawa listened intently, not wanting to hear the next but not also wanting Sendoh to stop.
Sendoh stared at Rukawa who was eyeing him with an unreadable expression. "I am not a saint Rukawa… unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." Sendoh smiled sadly, his eyes falling down his cup of coffee. "I thought of it too, myself. I mean, we're too young then—we're still living our dreams and I do not want the responsibility then, I cant. I just cant. I don't even know how to tell my family." Sendoh swallowed—like some lump that has formed on his throat. "It was an endless battle of what you cannot be at the moment from what you think you should be."
Rukawa kept his silence. It was definitely a hard circumstance to be in. He, too, would probably wouldn't know what to do if he's in Sendoh's shoes. Its easy to judge the mistakes of others and difficult to recognize one's own. That is always the mantra, for its more difficult to understand and be more compassionate.
"Up to a certain point, every man is what he thinks he is. In the end, I chose to be the one to stand up in our relationship. I thought long and hard about it; I knew that what I was choosing is not going to be the easy path—but I know it is the right one. I mean, we both wanted to become doctors—aren't we supposed to save lives, and not take it? I urged her to do the same but, I can only do so much. And so, she went on with the pregnancy—but she stopped her residency program; I thought its going to be all okay. But after she gave birth to Cole—two months after, she left me—us."
Sendoh failed to see the mild flicker in Rukawa's eyes. He smiled wistfully as he sipped onto his cup. "I felt the weight of the world on my shoulder. I was angry. I was… I was mad. I began to question everything."
Sendoh paused-batted an eye at Rukawa who was sitting, unmoving as he continued to listened. "And then, as if my situation couldn't get any worse… I was told she was leaving the country one day; I rushed to the airport then after an exam; I begged her to stay—but she still left."
Sendoh chuckled wistfully. "You're probably thinking I've gone nuts. Imagine, begging the mother of my child to stay with us, hn." Rukawa blinked and said nothing. Deep inside, he is thinking Sendoh must have truly loved the mother of Cole.
"I raised Cole since then, on my own." He smiled. "My parents of course and brother helped me—I was raising a baby while studying; and I am not embarrassed to tell you the countless sleepless nights and the teary ones."
Sendoh paused and silence came in between them. "So, you can actually ask me about changing diapers and how to burp them. I know these things." He grinned. Rukawa scoffed but tugged his lips upward—it was a good break from the heaviness of Sendoh's story.
"Can I ask you about breastfeeding instead?" Rukawa joked.
Sendoh paused, then laughed. Rukawa's wit got him. "I'm getting from the milk bank in the hospital so…" Sendoh filled in.
Rukawa nodded. They paused for a while before they both chuckled again, imagining the unimaginable.
"I would have breastfed him if I could, you know." Sendoh added, grinning.
Rukawa snorted but he smirked. "Yeah, I bet you would."
"Sorry for boring you on our date." Sendoh stated. Rukawa snorted, unminding Sendoh's mischief.
"You must… really love her." Rukawa stated lowly.
Sendoh slowly turned to Rukawa as he stirs his cup of coffee. "I did. But sometimes being in love is not enough to make things work. It requires two committed people in it, and not just one."
"If love isn't, then what is enough?" Rukawa found himself asking.
"My son. Cole. Maybe I cant take the past—but I can fight for the future." Sendoh stated with a smile.
Rukawa blinked—surprised at Sendoh's words, but he understood. He smiled lightly, eyes looking down at his own cup. "Fatherhood surely changed you, huh."
"Yeah, you should try it." Sendoh chuckled.
Rukawa snorted, rolling his eyes. "Parenting is… not something perfect men do, but its something that makes you a man." Rukawa paused. Sendoh blinked, astonished at Rukawa's words. He smiled.
Rukawa smirked. "And then suddenly you're not the annoying-spiky-haired-jerk, running, passing, point guard of Waseda."
Sendoh blinked and chuckled. "Havent you also changed a bit all these years, Rukawa?" Rukawa scoffed. Sendoh chuckled. "What, still aloof? Sleepy-head? Grumpy?"
Rukawa snorted and shook his head. "Yeah, I still hate everyone." Sendoh laughed.
"Do you hate me?" Sendoh grinned, eyes twinkling in amusement. "You cant hate me, Rukawa. I'm too handsome to be hated." Sendoh then laughed. Rukawa scowled. "I loathe you already." Sendoh continued chuckling, feeling amused and… something else he cant quite get a foot on.
Rukawa darted his eyes at Sendoh, his lips twitching. "Trust me, you wouldn't want me hating you." Sendoh blinked, then laughed. Rukawa softly chuckled too, surprising himself.
"I'll always remain then at your good side." Sendoh shifted on his seat. "Why are you still single, anyway?"
The question alerted Rukawa as he found himself frowning a bit, batting an eye at Sendoh who was now looking at him rather—interestingly.
Rukawa kept his scowl on, trying to ignore the deep stare his companion had been giving him for the past minute. "It doesn't concern you." Rukawa answered instead.
"But why?" Sendoh prodded, chuckling—interested to find out anyhow. Rukawa snorted and shrugged.
"Are you choosy?" Sendoh asked and laughed. "What, are you like our kidneys; an organ of selective-permeability?" Sendoh laughed when Rukawa threw in the stirrer at him. "Jerk. Don't get technical on me, you wiseacre."
"A w-what? Wise-what?" It was Sendoh's turn to be baffled, laughing as he did so. Rukawa simply snorted.
"H-hey, I was just asking—c'mon now, I told you all about my life…" Sendoh prodded, chuckling.
"Who told you to tell me anyway?"
"Well, I wanted you to know… I wanted to be honest with you." Sendoh muttered.
"Who told you I wanted to know about your diaper, burping, and breastfeeding diaries?"
Sendoh chuckled. "Veering away huh, seriously now—why? Is this your choice? Or… do you happen to be waiting for someone, perhaps?"
"Shut up." Rukawa snorted.
"I won't make you wait; I promise." Sendoh joked. Rukawa, bewildered, turned beet red. "What the hell?!" Sendoh laughed. "Why are you turning all red, huh?"
Sendoh grinned. "It bothers me."
"What the hell bothers you?" Rukawa retorted.
"That you're still single." Sendoh said, smiling almost lopsidedly.
"Ch, doaho. I don't see a reason as to why it should bother the hell out of you." Rukawa stated.
"It does." Sendoh nodded. Rukawa frowned. "Because, I wouldn't know what to feel then if you find somebody else and that someone- aint- me?" Sendoh smiled and grinned.
But a few seconds more, he was raising his hand in defense as Rukawa's empty coffee cup came flying by at him. "H-hey, stop it!" Sendoh stood up, laughing, clutching his stomach as he jogged away from Rukawa who picked up Sendoh's empty cup and threw it again at him. "Some narcissistic jerk you are."
And in that seemingly unlikely evening, Rukawa was left to ponder as to how there are two reasons why we sometimes don't trust the words of people; first, we don't know them. Second, we know them. But be that as it may, there will be that one person who would remain honest with you and maybe, just maybe… life and love doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be true.
TBC
XXX
Note: I wasn't supposed to upload/update yet but this chapter has been sitting on my document folder for quite awhile, so I thought—why not post it already?
Cute- Thank you. You earn the 'comment of the chapter award'. I mean, I haven't really thought of your idea of Sendoh being a doctor because he couldn't save his wife, hahaha! What drama are you watching, huh? But thanks for taking the time to read!
Akiraismylover- Thank you! Its good to hear that this story is giving you that feel-good vibes; we all needed that especially in these trying times. Hugs!
RokudaimeLove- Thank you! TBH, I haven't really thought of killing Cole's mom—okay, well, I kind of did but didn't push through it. Hehe! Hooyy! I wasn't supposed to update pa but you seemed to be writing nonstop too, so might as well give myself a push. Haha!
AddictedtoSD- Nyaha! The chapter that you knew nothing about! Hahaha!
Star7- Thanking you as always! Waiting for the Midnight Baker! *winks* Lets goooo! :D *sings money, money, money* LOL! $$$$
KaedeSendo711- LoL, thanks! Look, I haven't really thought of Cole having a crush on Rukawa—he may seem like it, but he doesn't. Haha! But its all good—I mean, don't we at one point in our lives, knew about a teacher whom we all had a crush on? :D
Guests: Thanks everyone, your reviews amuse me :D
Caro: Thank you!
Angel: Thank you also for taking time to read!
Kylie: Thank you! Uh, maybe you'll see the development in the next chapter, perhaps? Hehe! Well, hopefully!