Davis stood there stunned as his brown eyes widened and stared into Ken in disbelief. He blinked a few times, almost expecting his friend to take back what he had just told him and let him know he was kidding. But he didn't.

'You like me?' Davis almost whispered as he leaned towards Ken. 'What about Yolei?'

'My feelings for her are the same, I still love her' Ken said with an air of seriousness about him.

'I honestly don't know what to do about this Davis'.

'Yeah that's...quite the predicament you've got there' said Davis playfully.

'Davis! Be serious for once'

'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just don't know what to say, you kinda caught me off guard'.

Davis took Ken's hand and looked him in the eyes.'You know I'd love to be with you-'.

'But you said that you were over me' Ken reminded him.

'Well...to be honest i never really got over you...maybe it's because you were my first love'.

Davis paused then added

'I guess i just felt like i was as over you as i was gonna get, like i had at least calmed down enough about it to be able to be your friend'.

'I sti-' Davis choked on his words and both of their hearts raced. 'I still love you' He said as he grasped Ken's delicate pale hand tighter, like it was the last time he'd get to hold it.

'But...' He added 'I don't want to be the guy to break up your family'.

They both hung their heads for a moment, possibly from realizing how depressing their situation was.

Davis still hadn't quite let go of Ken's hand but he wasn't holding it tightly anymore.

'Still, you have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now' Davis said meekly.

Ken swallowed hard. His eyes were drawn to his friends lips, they were standing so close together, it would be so easy to forget about the responsible decisions that he's meant to be making, to forget about Yolei, just for that moment.

He wanted to know what it felt like.

He also knew that he shouldn't.

But right now, that didn't matter.

With his free hand that wasn't intertwined with Davis's fingers, Ken clumsily grabbed Davis's upper arm and pressed his lips softly onto his friend's. This movement was so sudden that Davis fell back slightly into the bookshelf behind them but he barely noticed.

Davis delicately brushed kens long hair out of his face as he kissed him back. Ken could feel how much warmer Davis's body was than his, he could feel the smooth fabric of his expensive jacket under his fingertips and could feel his full lips moving against his. It was like the kiss could convey all the years of longing as Davis pulled his body closer to his.

As it ended and they gazed with wonder into each others eyes Ken knew that he wanted to do it again, he also knew that soon he would be overwhelmed by guilt.

It had been an hour since Davis and Ken's kiss. They had been savouring this time together, knowing that very soon it would be colored with the complication of their adult lives . Or, more than anything, Ken's marriage. It was like without words they had mutually agreed to pretend that life was more simple , even if just for that evening, soon enough Ken would have to deal with the crushing guilt of his actions.

But there is a time and a place, and it wasn't now. Now was for linking his arm around his best friend for what might be the last time, innocently leaning into his warm body, gazing into his golden brown eyes and wandering the back streets of the taba district, almost like they were pretending to be young again. What could have been.

'I must be dreaming' smirked Davis. 'Hey, pinch me'.

'I'm not pinching you, Davis'

'Aw do it, pinch me!'

'Fine' ken sighed with a smile.

'Ow! Ow! What was that for?'

'You told me to!' Retorted ken as they both laughed.

Beep beep

Ken stopped walking and clumsily rummaged through his bag until he found his phone.

'It's a text from Kari' he informed the man who was now hugging him from behind.

"Come to my house now, its urgent"

'What's going on with Kari?' Questioned Davis, reading over Ken's shoulder.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Ken texted back.

"I just need to talk to you, it's important"

"Does it have to be right now?"

Ken awaited Kari's text, kind of hoping that the answer would be no.

Beep Beep

Ken looks at his phone 'Well...I guess I should get to Kari's house, I hope that she's ok'.

'Yeah' said Davis in an understanding yet noticeably disappointed tone.

'Where are you staying? Do you need a ride to your hotel?'

'Eh, its not too far from here, it would be better than walking though'

They began to walk back towards Ken's car. They were no longer walking with their arms linked or hands holding but they were walking so close to each other that they might as well be. Like they were slowly preparing for not having each others touch.

'There it is' said Ken as they spotted his vehicle and climbed in.

It was on the drive that they both became more quiet and stoic. Probably from thinking about the consequences of their actions for the first time that night, but equally that they may not get the chance to make this mistake again, this mistake that they both wanted to make.

'This is it isn't it?' Asked Ken as they pulled up at hotel.

'Yeah, that's it...'

They both were silent for a moment.

'You know...' Davis smiled shyly as he delicately grasped kens small hand in his. 'No matter what happens after tonight...I just want you to know that you've made me so happy'.

'You've made me so happy too Davis' said Ken, turning to give him his full attention.

They both smiled at each other as though that was all that needed to be said for the time being, though their eyes looked sad.

Still holding Ken's gaze and his hand, Davis slowly began to exit the car, not letting go of Ken's hand until the very last moment.

Once he was out of the car Davis bent down to window level and whispered something that looked like 'I love you' before quickly turning around and waving over his shoulder as he walked toward the hotel.

'I love you too...Davis'.