Disclaimer: I am penniless...need I say more?
Pairing: Sufin.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
A Pesky Bug
From: Tino
I am sorry, I don't think I can make it to tonight's game; I am completely swamped by meetings and clients. Sorry…
18:45 pm 13/6/10
The man reading the message snapped the slide down and tossed his cell phone on the bed, where it landed in the midst of crumpled t-shirts and tried jeans. What had been a trip resembling that of a giddy high-school teenager to find the right outfit, quickly turned out to be a sight of irritation, as Berwald slumped against the bed; head flopped backwards in exasperation.
It had been almost two weeks since he last saw the man who went by the name of Tino Väinämöinen. He hadn't seen the platinum blond, mauve eyed Finnish man after the rather disturbing conversation with the departmental store clerk. Thinking back on it, Berwald found himself wondering, what he had done wrong to cause the other man to avoid him like the plague.
Well, maybe the 'plague' part was a bit of an exaggeration…after all they had been exchanging mails to and fro, almost at an hourly interval. And if anyone were to read those texts, they could easily grasp the warmth hidden behind the words unsaid but heard none-the-less.
'Have U had lunch yet? Eat up or you'll turn skinny! =P'
'Hanatamago says not to work too late, listen to him! XD'
Berwald brought his enormous hands down to his eyes and a sigh escaped from his lungs.
Yes, the texts were all caring and almost always managed to turn his lips upwards, forming a rare smile that highlighted his broad jaw and cheekbones. But, words on a screen could only do so much, adding to the fact that not all the messages were aimed at making him smile. Messages like the one he received a couple of minutes ago were more than enough to bring back the dark clouds over his head, and cause his trade-mark frown to make an appearance.
Despite all the sweet (yes, he found those texts to be sweet and endearing, among many other things) words, Tino had managed to avoid seeing him over the past two weeks. It had been either meetings and clients or clients and meetings…the end result being the same…no Tino at sight.
After a month of stopping for lunches, strolling around the park and dining in that cozy little kitchen, Tino had become an addiction for Berwald. Every little thing about the man made him replay his memories a hundred times over in his head…like how he had moved his hands animatedly when recounting Hanatamago's latest adventure…or the way he stirred his tea clockwise and then anti-clockwise…or how his face lit up as he greeted him at the front door…or……..
There was no doubt about it, Tino was an addiction that intoxicated him in both his waking hours and his drowsy nights.
In less than the span of 30 days, he had made a place in Berwald's heart…a place even he wasn't aware of…a place where his heart would start to tap dance every time he would so much as glance at the other man… And he had no idea why his insides would feel warm and cold at the same time, or why he couldn't look away…or why he would dream of a field of Linnea; the pink flowers surrounding Tino in a soft embrace……
Probably that was the reason why he was unable to respond when the man (it was a man, right…?) at the store assumed that they were together, as more than friends…as something much more…
As lovers…partners…
And it was then that he found himself wondering, what if this was what his heart had wanted all along? What if he had never wanted Tino as a 'friend' to begin with? Perhaps that was what he had hoped all along…but the other man had fervently denied any claims indicating such a relationship…so where did that leave him?
Was that why Tino had been avoiding meeting him these past few days? Could it be that he sensed the way Berwald was feeling even before he himself figured it out?
"Aug'…"
Groaning to himself, he lifted his muscular frame off the hardwood floor and donned on a black leather jacket from the nearby rack, heading for the door.
If Tino refused to come and meet him, then he would go to him. Either way, he would open his heart to the young man…simply because it was unbearable to go on without him…to not even try to tell him how much he meant to him...and not just as a friend...
Hidden somewhere under a blanket or two, a man in his twenties sighed dejectedly as he hit the send button on his cell phone…he wasn't sure why…but it seemed he was unable to face a particular Berwald Oxenstierna without having his heart do back flips, or his eyes shamelessly wandering all over the man…his strong arms that had broken his fall more than once…his deep voice that had soothed his worries away…his hauntingly beautiful eyes that seemed to have captivated his very soul……
And he had missed all that and more every time he had replied to Berwald's invites to sit for a cup of coffee or get together for lunch, with a 'sorry, I am busy'.
Maybe I should to pay him a visit?
No……it's better if I avoid him for a while…not when I am down with this bizarre illness…
Or so he thought.
Linnea Borealis or Twinflower is the national flower of Sweden. Named after Linnaeus (the Swedish 'father of taxonomy'), Linnéa is a very delicate wild plant - just about 1 in. high - growing in the deep shadow of Northern spruce forests. The plant has two flowers on top of each very thin stem. Foliage is in the form of creeping runners growing in deep moss. The flowers are pink, bell-like, and very fragrant and grow in pairs.
Okay, I am actually a bit worried about what I did in this chapter, and would love to hear your opinions on it. On a brighter note, I got into the university I applied to way back when… XD
Now on to replying my lovely reviewers…
Maikyaera: Oh Feliks indeed! Hehe! Please do tell how you find chapter 7 to be…*insert anxious face*
LittleGirlInRed: Thanks…I will keep that pair in mind…though it will feature our lovely vet more…me think…hope you like chapter 7!
Bika-chan: Feliks proves once more what good natured teasing can make people do! Thanks!
Seamus1995: I am glad you liked the story so far…thanks for the correction.
Misothekittyboy: Any scene that you feel like drawing…how about one with Berwald, Tino and Hanatamago watching TV? Hope you enjoy chapter 7!
A Girl Called Fabian: Thank you for such encouraging words…yes, we most certainly will see more of Mathew…though I am not sure if it would be in this fiction…please watch over me! (Ow…I sound like I am asking my god-mother or something… :P)
Kenpachi-sama: I wonder that as well…
xXxSilverMoonxXx: I luffles you as well…for being an awesomely regular reviewer…(yay I got my first fanfiction proposal) :P
Purplecatgirl: Francis was meant to be creepy in a loving way, and Hanatamago is an important character in my story, so congrats on hitting the right note there! I am far from offended actually, I am just glad that you liked this story; I look forward to your response to chapter 7!
Ripan and Anina-chan: Thank you!! XD
Reviews are my anti-depressants.
(Remember, a depressed writer leads to angst and character murder.)