The Friend Chapter 13, a slam dunk fanfic

Intuition

My birthday celebration this year was quite different from the previous ones.

The loud sound of the alarm woke me up from my deep sleep. I am stunned for a moment, but soon I get my bearings and realize that I'm not in my apartment. The arm of a man who it covers the naked waist, it tells me that I am not alone. The warmth it gives me shows that everything what happened last night was real.

Sendoh hugs me from behind, our bodies naked are pressed against each other. I feel his warm breath against my ear. I'm not surprised that he didn't move even if the alarm clock rang. He has the heavy sleep.

Although I have to shower and get ready to go to work, I just want to lie down and listen calmly breathing him. Think about what happened yesterday continues to sadden and upset me, but listening to the calm and deep breathing of the man behind me, I have managed to calm down and be calm. Which is worrying because only it means that Sendoh is starting to have an effect on me.

I didn't want to be alone after what happened yesterday. It surprised me was that Sendoh was the first one to came to mind to keep me company. Now I understand why a lot of people like it. Sendoh knows exactly what to do; He comforts and calming. I appreciate how he cared about me. He asked me what had passed, but when he saw that I hesitated and did not want talk about it, he didn't insist or force me to be honest. He just stayed by my side, warming me and comfort. He is very thoughtful and I think he is sincere.

Our relationship should be only to satisfy our desires and give each other mutual sexual gratification, not to seek comfort or affection like last night. My mind warned me that I should get out of this relationship as soon as possible and just go back to how we used to be before, as was my original plan. But in this moment, I don't want to do anything about it.

Feeling hugged by him makes me feel good. He is a wonderful feeling. My life is full of bitterness and disappointment, it becomes intense so he takes out some negative emotions from me. But when I'm around him, my body relaxes and I feel at ease. I don't want to let this new emotional paradise escape. This puts jeopardize our relationship, but if I handle it with be careful, everything will be fine...right?

"Is it already daytime?" A hoarse voice echoes in my ears, taking me out of my thoughts. His warm lips lightly kiss my neck. I turn to look at Sendoh, that he is still sleepy, and I remove his hand from my waist.

"Go back to sleep, it's still early. I'll wake you up after showering."

"No, I'm already awake. Let's bathe together, like this we will save time." His sleepy eyes flashed suddenly a malicious glow. Seeing me glare at him, he raises his hand in surrender and smiles.

"Okay. Please take a shower first" Sendoh makes a gesture with hands towards the bathroom. He got up and took the towel before entering the bathroom, giving a loud bang.

To avoid wasting time, he says. We will surely lose longer if we shower together. Also, I don't want my salary deducted for arriving late to work like last month!

I have to thank myself for not giving in to the Sendoh's needy demands, since today's traffic it is very dense. Even if we had left earlier than usual, in the same way I would arrive at the company a little later than other days. I have realized that there are still some colleagues in the department who have not arrived. They're probably trapped too in traffic, including the person using the desk at my side.

"Do you think Fujima and Maki have already cleared things up?" Sendoh asks as he returns to the office, walking with a coffee (which appears to have been given by one of the fans of him) in hand. I look at him with disdain.

Years have passed and there is still no change in this matter. Still don't reject gifts from other people. It is like if he deceived them and gave them false hope.

"Hey! I'm asking you a question, why do you look like that? Oh I see. You are less popular lately and you don't get as many gifts as I do. You are jealous?"

"Do not bother me." I scoff, turning away from him. I can still hear him mutter before I decide to put on the headphones, ignoring him.

The last time Sawakita came to my company to do a scandal, everyone found out that I involved my emotionally with people. For now I don't know they dare to provoke me, and they didn't even dare to look for Fujima to send me a gift. That has nothing to do with me losing popularity.

As for Sendoh, he jokes with others all day, claiming that he is being kind and cordial to his co-workers. As if I would believe him. Furthermore, he accepting gifts from others has nothing to do with me and I have no interest in knowing about it.

I turn on my computer and play on my phone to pass the time before starting work while the rest of the department employees arrive one after other. It doesn't take long for me to see Fujima and Maki enter. The bright expressions on their faces show everything I need to know. It seems there relationship is already established between them. The matter has been settled well.

"Hey, Maki. The last time we met, you seemed dead," Sendoh mocks as soon as he sees Maki. The man just smiles and greets him. Sendoh waves back and immediately directs his attention to Fujima.

"Fujima, did you get him home safely? You didn't do it nothing strange while he was drunk and asleep, right?"

"I'm not like you, who does strange things when someone is drunk or asleep!" Fujima counterattacks. Sendoh laughs.

"I don't do that kind of shit. I prefer to have your consent." What he just said makes me snort through the nose.

Eh? So the first time we slept together...

"Are you okay, Rukawa?" Fujima asks.

I look at my friend and respond briefly stuffy nose.

"Do you want an inhaler?" He offers me. I deny with the head and look at Maki before dragging my chair close to Fujima.

"You guys already cleared things up, right?" I ask out low. I'm relieved to see the sparkle of joy in his eyes after he nodded.

A good person like Fujima should be treated well. After knowing that the person who would be in charge of that would be Maki, I was very happy for him. I think Maki will take good care of my friend and won't make Fujima feel sad.

I really don't want to see my friends hurt for love like me.

I return to my place to concentrate on my work, and I hear Ayako lamenting about Maki while he complains that it's his last week as an contracting here, but it was Maki's next words that made laugh at everyone.

"I have one more thing to announce. I'm not single anymore. I have a boyfriend."

Seeing Fujima's immediate reaction, I almost exploded laughter. His first moves his eyes from side to side another between Maki and the girl next to her, and then, when he hears someone ask who the person is luckily, he just chuckles. His expression changes quickly when Maki puts his arms around his shoulders.

"Kenji Fujima it is. But I think the lucky one is me because he gave me a chance."

At this moment, there were constant hissing and roaring around. Fujima's cheeks turned red as tomatoes. As soon as our companions found out that Fujima had a boyfriend, they converted them immediately the target of ridicule and ridicule. I don't surprising why Maki decided to announce it in public. After all, it was very obvious that he was after Fujima.

In fact, everyone knew it very well. So they just want to take this opportunity to make fun stop.

"Congratulations." I smile at Fujima who is still blushing.

"Thank you," he answers.

I reach out and pat my friend's shoulder. "You owe lunch. I have helped you a lot."

Fujima gapes, watching in disbelief that I make fun of him like everyone else, while Maki turns around with a smile, thanks me and invites me to dinner later.

I smile and nod before looking back at the screen computer. At least I can get rid of one of my worries.

I ended up working overtime because our boss told me suddenly had a lot of work at five in the late. Working overtime on a Monday seems like a lot to hard. While everyone else gathers their things and prepare to go home, I can only continue working, trying to finish as soon as possible. As an ordinary and ordinary employee, I cannot refuse. Fujima insists on staying to keep me company, but after refusing three or four times, he finally gives up and goes home with Maki.

Actually, the work is not that hard. Unless it was something I couldn't do by myself, no I would like to occupy my friend's personal time like this.

"Are you almost done?" Sendoh, who also stayed working overtime, he comes up and asks me.

I take a look at the computer that just turned off. "You finished your work?"

"Yeah."

"Then you should go home."

"I'm waiting for you. Let's go to your apartment this evening. I want a change of environment," he says casually. Luckily, it's almost seven at night and no one is there more than him and me. No one will hear our conversation.

"Today I'm not in the mood."

"I do."

"Last night we did it many times!"

"Last night is last night. This is a daily necessity."

"You should see a doctor. I think you have a problem. Maybe you have a hormonal imbalance." I say in a serious tone. Fujima has also experienced sexual dysfunction at an early age. I think Sendoh might have a problem too.

It would be better if we both went to a doctor for these problems before they become serious.

"Oh, you!" Sendoh's laughter echoes through the office.

Frowning, I refocus on myself work, unable to understand what makes him laugh. Sendoh pulls his chair over and sits next to me.

"Mr. Rukawa, I am very healthy! There is nothing wrong in wanting to have sex with you every day!"

"That's called sex addiction," I reply. Sendoh limits himself to shrug his shoulders, with the corners of his lips rising up.

"Well, think what you want to think. So, to where should we go tonight?"

"Go back to your own apartment!" I grumble impatient, trying to make him give in. Sendoh shook his head before leaning back in his chair, refusing to leave.

"No! I'll stay here with you! What if a ghost kidnaps you?" he asks hypothetically.

I glared at him before returning to work. I feel like something in my chest starts to melt.

In the past I always worked in silence. Even being alone, I never felt alone. But today, in fact, I feel good to have someone accompanying me.

This feeling is becoming worrying.

"Fujima has a boyfriend now. We are the only singles who there are left," Sendoh says suddenly.

I look at him and answer. "So? Do you also want a boyfriend?"

"And you? Do you want a boyfriend?" Sendoh answers me with a question.

"Hmm...not really," I murmur quietly.

Sendoh asked me the same question three months ago. At that moment, I was able to answer that I wanted a boyfriend who could always be by my side. But with the constant disappointments, I started to lose hope and that's why I got into this kind of relationship with him. Now I could give him exactly the same answer. But the reason behind this... I'm not sure anymore...

I don't plan to have a boyfriend because I have given up on my illusions or is it because I don't want to end my relationship friends with benefits with Sendoh. I'm not sure. My relationship with Sendoh is a matter of loss and profits. At that moment, I felt very lost like I'm moving into a territory dangerous.

Despite seeing that danger... I still didn't want to stop him.

"And you?" I return the question.

A strange emotion flashes fleetingly in Sendoh's eyes which makes me hard to guess what he's thinking. After a pause, he just smiles and answers. "No."

"..."

"I like how things are now." Reply exactly as I expected. It is not difficult for someone like him find a lover. Just no he wants to be tied to someone so soon. He prefer hangs around and does what he wants every day.

Our answers may be the same, but our reasoning is clearly different.

I take a deep breath and try to adjust my expression face, hoping Sendoh doesn't notice me confusion. I wish that the things that happened to me do not happen worry.

I hate playboys! There's no way I'm falling in love of this man!

Fantasy is a reflection of people's expectations, while reality is an inevitable truth that people have no choice but to face it.

Fantasy is sweet and alluring, but reality has the potential to be better than we expect. It is simple, but sometimes cruel. People are scared of having to face reality, and that's why I prefers to lock myself in a world full of fantasy and go out and see what it actually happens.

When I was little, my mind was full of fantasies like that of any other child. I wished I could have a happy life with my family; that my mother would take care of me and love me as much as he did to my sister. But as I got older, I realized that those wishes would never come true. Allowed me to enter those fantasies at night, but when the night came tomorrow, with the roars of anger and the disgusted eyes of my mother, I was hit face to face with reality.

For me, reality was the most common thing in this world. However, forcing yourself to face it is scary. And this is the dilemma I have right now.

It's departure time. Sendoh, Fujima and I are going to eat a hot pot to the restaurant near the company. Looked at Fujima, who seems to be sending a message to Maki, before turning my gaze to Sendoh, who is sitting in front of me and right now he is speaking for phone. Seeing his face, I feel a strange emotion growing in my heart.

A lot has happened in the last few months. A new comer came to our department to do his internship and then that same new comer became the boyfriend of my friend.

As for me, I've been in a friend relationship with benefits with Sendoh, the man who has always upset, for 5 months. Is incredible.

Also, 2 months ago I realized that I was beginning to have strange feelings towards Sendoh.

I'm still not sure exactly what I feel by Sendoh. Maybe it's because he took care of me since perspective of a friend and a bedfellow who my lonely heart was shaken by his care and attentions. But is that really it? I'm feeling this because he have been in a different environment? Or is there more unknown feelings that I am not yet aware?

I never thought I would be so vulnerable and I'm not mentally prepared to face the truth.

After all, Sendoh doesn't act any differently. So now, I decide to leave it aside, ignoring those strange emotions in my heart, and I keep pretending that only we are bedfellows.

That way... it's resolved and handled properly.

"Hey, what's wrong with your face? Has she scolded you again? Your mother?" Fujima raises an eyebrow at Sendoh, who just finished his call.

"Yeah. My ears are numb at this point." Sendoh collapses and takes a long drink of beer.

Fujima giggles. "What's happening this time?"

"As usual. How I never go home...nor even visiting... blah, blah, blah..."

"Then you should go home. At least show your face. Your mother won't stop calling you just to scold you."

"I think she'll complain more when she sees me." Seems satisfied with his conclusion. I sit in silence and I listen to their conversation with curiosity.

Aside from knowing that his family runs a successful business, I know almost nothing about Sendoh's family. In the last five months, Sendoh has spoken to me from time to time about his personal affairs, but never his family's affairs.

Like me, he was reluctant to mention his parents. Since his parents have their own business, I would think Sendoh would work with them instead of being a regular employee in another company.

"If my mother calls you, tell her I'm busy and not I'm around."

"Okay, but what if she doesn't believe me?" Fujima snorts, picking up a piece of pork and putting it in his mouth.

Sendoh just shrugs before drinking another drink of beer. Could it be that Sendoh has conflicts with his parents like me?

Throughout dinner, our main topic is the groom from Fujima, since he keeps mentioning Maki over and over again. Fujima asks me what Maki and I had been talking about. My previous experience in dates and he even asks me about cooking. He says that he wants to surprise Maki but he has never set foot in the kitchen. Fujima doesn't realize it, but he and his boyfriend have very similar personalities.

"Shin has come to pick me up. I have to go." Fujima says goodbye to us and heads to the exit to wait for Maki. As he disappears into the distance, I feel happy seeing him happy.

"Let's go back too. I want to return soon to apartment."

Sendoh whispers in my ear, surrounding my shoulder of him with his arm. I huff and take his hand away from me before heading to the parking lot. "Kaede, do you have plans for this Saturday?"

"No."

"Then I'll go to your apartment."

His words make me stop in my tracks. I turn around and say with a frown. "Do you want to come even the weekends?"

"Well, I'm going to work overtime starting tomorrow. I won't have time to see you. I will only be free at the end of week."

"Won't you come back home? Your mother wanted you to go."

Sendoh sighs, furrowing his eyebrows in annoyance. "She will scold if I go home. What sense does it have?"

His expression makes me curious, but I'm not sure if it's good to keep asking. I do not know if I have the right to ask, especially since the topic it's delicate.

"Aren't you going to ask me why I don't want to go home?" Sendoh asks.

I purse my lips before answering. "Do you...have conflicts with your family?"

"Not really. We've just never gotten along good. My older brother is the golden child, he is perfect in the eyes of everyone. My parents always pressure me, wishing I was like him. They are always like this, so no I'll bother coming home." His expression overshadows.

"My parents wanted me to study business administration companies since I had to follow in their footsteps just as they did to my brother. They say I should join the family business like my brother. I have to hear the same complaints every time I come home. You understand why it is unpleasant, right? It's really exhausting." While Sendoh vents, I just listen in silence.

It's the second time I've seen another side of Sendoh. Even a carefree and independent man like him have problems. Just like I was abandoned by myself family, Sendoh had to go through this too. But I understand. Being constantly compared to his own brother that way must be very unpleasant.

We experienced similar cuts and wounds.

"Why are you quiet? Do you feel bad for me?" he asks quietly.

I raise my head to meet his gaze, only to see his expressionless gaze change to one with a familiar and malicious expression.

"If so, let me go on Saturday."

"..."

I roll my eyes, my sympathy is wasted. I ignore him, turn around and leave him. A pervert like him deserves no sympathy!

As soon as I start working, time flies without noticing it. Before I know it, I'm already three years working in this company. It seems as if my interview would have been only a year ago. The last three years have been pretty good, although my job has been frustrating at times, overall everything has gone very good. Most of my coworkers are pleasant and, although it is not a large company, the conditions are quite good.

Soon it will be time for the company's annual trip, a reward for those who have worked hard during last year.

"Oh! Uozumi-san asked me to come write down names. If any of you want to take parents, brothers, spouses, boyfriends and children on a business trip, please let me know so I can make the room arrangements."

One afternoon in February, Hikoichi enters the office with a paper in hand. I look at the calendar that is on the desk and I hear how my co-workers begin to discuss the new topic that the entertains.

"Who are you taking? I want to take my boyfriend."

"If you bring your boyfriend, who will I share a room with?"

"I should take my wife and my son."

"Is Akagi-san have a good idea? Isn't it better not to lead nobody? If you take your wife and child, you won't be able to partake of the drink!"

"What? The company trip?" Fujima looks up from computer screen with confusion drawn on his face. "Why is it so early this year? Has the location already been decided?"

"Haven't you heard that 'welcometo Ishigaki', you will be happy all the time! Uozumi-san said the boss wants a change of environment this time. That's why this year we will go to the beach instead of going to the mountains like last year. Isn't it great?"

Last year, the company traveled to Mount Fuji, in the Yamanshi. Although the trip was very interestingly, most of the male employees complained that they wanted to go to the beach because in the mountain there wouldn't be many girls in bikinis and they couldn't enjoy.

"Fujima! Take your boyfriend too." Hanagata suggests.

Fujima just blinks. "Why, Hanagata?"

"Because I miss him! If you don't bring it, I'll complain to Uozumi-san and I will have deduct your points from your evaluation of performance."

"That's how it is! We all miss Maki-san!" The others employees agree with Hanagata and Fujima half-closes his eyes as he looks at them.

"One moment! Don't you have boyfriends?"

"We are not going to take them. So technically, we will be single that day! Make sure you don't leave Maki alone." Hanagata continues joking, making the others laugh and even Fujima.

Maki is actually the department's favorite, although it's been two months since he left, his name keeps coming up in conversations.

"Fujima-san, I quickly writes Maki-san name. Nobody cares if you go or not." Hikoichi joins in while deliver the list.

"Little bastard! Back to work!" Fujima shouts before snatching the list from Hikoichi's hand.

I lean in and ask Fujima. "So, are you going to take Maki?"

"I guess...he wants. If I take him with me, with whom will you sleep?" Fujima points out. In previous years, Fujima and I have always shared a room. If he take Maki, I will be alone.

"You can sleep with me." Sendoh approaches, supporting his elbows on my desk. A playful smile is drawn on his face. " I'm not taking anyone. You can share room with me."

"Are you sure you won't kill each other? You know what? Forget about it! Rukawa can stay with me and Shin with you."

"You should ask your boyfriend who he wants sleep with! Let Kaede stay with me. We won't kill each other, right?" Sendoh turns to look at me, his eyes flash a playful gleam.

He raised his eyebrows slightly. Honestly, I really want to share a room with Fujima, but I don't want to separate him from Maki either...

"It's okay, I can sleep with Akira." I decide. Upon hearing my answer, Sendoh just smiles before giving me a pat on the shoulder. I purse my lips after see the malicious look in his eyes.

This guy is definitely planning something. Damned pervert.

"Are you sure?" Fujima asks with a worried tone. I nod, allowing Fujima to write the name of Maki on the list. I stare at Sendoh, who whistles happily as he walks towards his desk.

My intuition tells me that this next trip of the company is going to be a real headache.

Will be continued...