Thousand of questions are swarming around his head at the moment and Takano just could not comprehend the situation. Clearly he is missing a lot of information. In this case, this mysterious man knows Onodera. Well it was true that he left for England when he was younger but this? Who is the person? And most importantly, what does he mean to Onodera?
He makes a mental note to interrogate the boy privately later.
He looks over at Onodera again and the boy was still radiating with fear. It isn't a very good sign to start the evening. The man however, seems to be enjoying this. He doesn't seem disturbed by Onodera's reaction towards his presence. It was like as if… he had expected it all along.
The man is clearly waiting for Onodera's response to shake his hand. After a brief interval of sinking in the information, Onodera finally shakes his hand with much reluctance. The man gives out an unfathomable smile and proceeds on to Takano, reaching out his hand for a shake.
"You must be the famous Takano Masamune. I'm Quintus May, CEO of the Faber Publishing House and May Enterprises. Very nice to meet you." Quintus May introduces himself with the most sneering tone as Takano shakes his hand, very reluctantly.
He already hates this man as he speaks.
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. May." Takano replies, ever so politely.
The gentlemen proceed to take their seats, while leaving Serena, confused to process all that's happening right in front of her. But without questioning anything else, she proceeds to sit down with the rest of the group.
"I am a man of expensive taste so I have already ordered and paid for the courses. Don't mind me. I'm sure Serena has already sorted out your reservations for the hotel, so please enjoy the evening." Quintus replies as he gestures for the waiter to pour the expensive wine into our glasses. Takano is fighting very hard at the moment to not roll his eyes and be impolite. It's a very hard task for him, considering he usually his quite the tyrant himself and meeting another tyrant at hand is a very, very unusual sight.
But Takano tries to accommodate with the new challenge for the very sake of his emotions and Onodera's.
"Thank you for having us here, Mr. May." He greets, with all the dignity in the world pressing on him.
Quintus however looks surprise, more like taken aback by Takano's reply.
"Oh sorry, I was under the impression that I wasn't to talking to you." He replies snidely and ends the conversation between the both of them with one jab.
Fucker. Takano is very much ready to pound the rich man's head down right this instance. While Takano fumes away, Quintus makes another effort to get the conversation rolling. Of course, this was towards Onodera.
"Ritsu, it's been so long. How have you been? I miss you so much." He asks politely, while giving off a sardonic aura at Takano.
Takano isn't very much enjoying the dinner so far and he definitely isn't enjoying how the man is ignoring him completely at the same time, hitting on his ex lover.
Wait.
Soon to be lover.
Clearly the atmosphere tenses with Onodera looking as pale as ever. It sort of brings out the colour in his eyes but his whole demeanor is definitely stiff. Takano could tell very well something was up between the two and the fact something hits him quite well.
They perhaps have a history together or could they be?
No, not this motherfucker. Takano thought angrily.
After what it seems like a long and awkward pause, Onodera gains some confidence and soul to reply Quintus.
"I'm doing well, Quintus. I just never I would ever see you again…like this." His voice trails off and once again he has his heart in his mouth. The boy was still and afraid to speak.
"Oh, I've told you before, baby. I'll always be here waiting for you."
Now that was crossing the boundaries.
Serena is exchanging looks with Takano, confused with the situation that's happening right infront of them. Onodera is in serious debt of owing an explanation to the two. Takano cannot believe that he has this deal with this shit from what it seems like a cocky, son of a bitch, masochist on the first day of his first time out of the country experience.
"When Serena told me, you were coming, I was ecstatic. I cancelled all my meeting plans right away after she told me you were coming down much to her horror." He replies, which follows on with laughter much to Serena's embarrassment. After what it seems like a short laugh, he continues on.
"But I must say, you've changed a lot from the last time I saw you. You left me quite, at an unease state the last time."
Takano isn't already fond of this man's character but last sentence definitely made him snarl inside and out. Millions of questions are already scattering in his brain, wondering which one to pick but the most obvious one of all: What is their relationship together in the past?
He saw Onodera paling from white to just ghostly white. It questions Takano even more, putting him in a doubt zone. He hates this feeling of not knowing his ex lover so well. But they were so young when they first started dating…and the relationship fell short after wards. So what happens now?
The thought is put on hold when the waiter arrives and brings in their first entrees. Serena tries to lighten up the mood a little.
"Oh my! Boy am I famished! Let's dig in people! You will love it!" she smiles brightly as she digs in first followed by the rest of the gentlemen.
Takano is indeed very famished, no thanks to the horrible flight food they had earlier, he's quite content with the quality of the food in the restaurant. Takano glances over at Onodera who barely touches anything in his plate. This worries him even more.
"Onodera. Why aren't you eating?" Takano says only to earn a deafening shock from Onodera who just snaps out from his zone. He shakes his head earnestly and apologises, proceeding to finish the food. The dinner table falls into silence, as no one seems to be taking the initiative to talk. However, the silence was broken with Quintus making another conversation starter.
"You know, you still haven't said anything yet about my earlier statement." His voice darkens, his expression suddenly changes from light hearted to a very eerie dark manner.
This brings a chill down Onodera's spine. The tension on the dinner table protrudes with Quintus looking rather dark and eerie.
"What statement?" Onodera asks honestly.
"Tsk tsk, Ritsu, Ritsu. Still trying to avoid as ever? Hah…you make me mad at times, sweetheart." Quintus snaps, trying to hide is annoyance in him but somehow it just can't escape him. He's fairly annoyed at him.
The level of rage enveloping in Takano Masamune is at its maximum. He really is going to erupt at any second after hearing that statement. Onodera of course, has his heart in his mouth, trying so hard to reply the blonde. After much thought, he proceeds with his response.
"Quintus, can we not talk about this over dinner?" he asks politely.
Quintus scoffs at his request.
"And why not?" he retorts, with a demanding tone not realizing he's raising his voice.
"I'll like to speak to you alone, Quintus. Not here." Onodera replies, his tone of voice low and careful.
Within that split second, Takano erupts from inside. It's paining him so badly that he needs to keep his cool in front of everybody and at the same time tolerate with Mr. Morebucks' attitude and Onodera's secretive demeanor. This is getting a little too out of hand for Takano.
There were two options in his head, which is to leave the dinner place immediately with a lame excuse or to erupt in front of everybody, go over to Mr. Millionaire and punch the living daylights out of him.
And he chooses?
"Excuse me, but I feel very ill at the moment. I will have to excuse myself." Takano bows politely as he gets up and saunter towards the exit.
"Ah Takano san! Are you alright? Do you have a fever?" Serena calls out to Takano, feeling very guilty and apologetic but Takano shakes his head politely. He honestly feels guilty for the poor lady. He wants to help her but he feels a headache swarming at the moment. There was a lot of information to take in today at the dinner table and especially, putting up with Mr. I-CAN-CHOOSE-TO-IGNORE-YOU's attitude. He needs a break from this startling drama.
"A slight headache, Miss Staniland. It's just the long flight really. I will be up in my room. Thank you for the lovely dinner. Have a great night everyone." He glances over at Onodera, who looks just as much in shock with a glint of concern. But what Takano sees deeper in him is that, Onodera is trying very hard to explain the situation to him.
Takano rubs his temples as he takes his leave, wondering whether he really made the right decision to leave the dinner.
From the slight corner of his eye, he sees Quintus May, looking at him with the most sadistic and terrifying eyes.
He's smirking at him sardonically.
Thank you for the review guys! Here's the chapter! I am already working on all the other chapters in hope I will be able to refine them all soon :D