[Ongoing] The Last Promise -Aimiya (3/??)
Aug. 1st, 2014 08:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ica_90Title: The Last Promise (3/??)
Author: Ica_90
Beta by:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
icedragontmr
Pairing: [friendship] Aimiya, [one-sided (?)] Sakuraiba, Juntoshi [mentioned in some chapters]
Genre: Friendship, Angst, college-life
Rating: PG-13
Summary: a story revolves around the friendship of the two boys, friendship begins from an unexpected meeting, but none of them knows of how it’ll end.
Disclaimer: the word ‘fiction’ should explain everything. I own the plot, not the real character/human.
A/N: written withriida91, diahlee486 and nadzsanz and for those who read this
CHAPTER 3
When I wake up the next morning, Aiba-chan is sitting on top of me.
“What the hell?” I ask as I try to push him off me, but failed. Instead he grabbed both of my wrists, pinning them to the bed, limiting my movement.
He blinks his eyes a few times, the way girls always do to seduce their lover, or as someone trying to get another person's attention. His lips form a big grin that I found adorable as always but at the same time, I'm irritated by his cheerful self after what happened last night.
“Ohayou~” he chimes happily.
“Get off me.”
“Not until you answer me,” he replies back, pinning me even harder, completely stopping my struggles. “Are you still mad at me?”
He pouts. And I hate him for weakening me with that.
“Not really,” I mumble loud enough for it to be heard by the taller man. He giggles hearing my answer.
“You’re mad. I know it. You just can’t resist my pout. So I’ll pout even more.”
“It’s not cute when you force it, Aiba-chan. Let go of me!”
“No, I won’t.” He then lift up my shirts, revealing my bruised stomach. It hurts when he touches them, and I can’t help to muffle a painful groan.
But then, I see his eyes staring at the bruises. They look sad, as if he’s saying ‘this is my fault’. The smile that was on his face faded, replaced with a thin line as he bit his lips, tracing his hand over the bruises on my stomach. Slowly, he moves himself away from me, and returns to his table.
“Why hadn’t I moved?” I stupidly ask myself.
Just as I keep questioning myself, I feel something cold on my stomach. It stings at first, before it feels good. The pain reduces, and I finally understand what he’s doing.
“You don’t have to,” I mumble as I put my hand behind my head, silently enjoying the treatment.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
I stay silent. Not because I’m not accepting his apology, but I just lost my words. If I say “it’s ok,” I’m sure he’ll just apologize even more. And no matter how many times I say it’s ok, he’ll keep apologizing until another topic is brought up.
That’s the Aiba-chan that I know. He puts all the blame on himself, saying that he’s troublesome, a nuisance, an idiot or other negative quality verbs. While I usually joke about it, I just can’t use those words seriously. I know, no matter how much he tries to hide it with his bright smile, he's really hurt deep down inside. He thinks too much.
What happened last night, maybe part of it was his fault. But I think, it's more to mine. I shouldn’t face the man without proper preparation. And the fact that I’m only a freshman who barely has friends or supporters only gives me more of a disadvantage. No matter what, Sakurai-san will win if he ever reports it to university administration.
I sigh.
“Are you ok? Am I hurting you?” Aiba asks.
“No. But I really wish you to get off of me now. If someone see us now, it might give them a different idea,” I see him grin as I finish my statement.
But he still didn’t move. As he finishes with the ice, he continues on, putting some medicine on the bruises. I whimper as he touches them. Biting my lower lips, I try to think of something else, trying to ignore the pain.
“What about you?” I ask, causing him to get confused by the sudden question.
“Huh?”
“What happen last night? You met him right?”
Aiba-chan seems to refuse to answer my question. I’m not sure the reason why though. Whether it’s good or bad, I think he refuses to talk about it because either way, it will make me mad.
Sakurai-san uses my bestfriend for his own good. And it isn’t a commensalism. While the man gets all the benefits, my best friend suffers.
I just can’t take it anymore.
Just when my sight focuses back to the room, Aiba-chan's face is an inch away from mine.
“You look cute when you day dream,” he says.
What the hell?
“SERIOUSLY, GET OFF!!!” I yell as I try to push him away. Too bad that he is fast enough to catch my hand, gripping me tightly before pushing them above my head.
“This is rape. And I don’t tolerate it,” I say causing him to laugh.
“It is not rape if you let me.”
“I’m not a gay,” I reply causing him to laugh again. Though I’m sure that there’s nothing funny in my words.
“What if you change your orientation after I do you?”
I roll my eyes. His way of teasing has never changed.
I know my best friend was gay ever since we’re in high school. After he dumped a girl and said ‘she’s not my type’ as a reason.
“Not your type, you’ve got to be kidding me. She’s the queen of the school. Everyone wants her except gays!” and then I saw he looked startled before he avoided my gaze.
“Oh my god. Don’t tell me…”
“I won’t tell you. But you understand now right? I hope you won’t run away…” he replied before turning, walking away from me.
I shake my head as I remember that. Of course I would never run away. That resulted in why I am staying in the same room as him now. We’re best friends. And I accept him for who he is.
“I was heartbroken three times, Aiba-chan. And they’re the ones who dumped me. I never change my orientation,” I say after a while. Still he never pulls himself away from me.
It was then when I heard the sound of our room door open. I'm not able to see who’s standing at the door.
“I always wondered who the top was.” Shit. The voice. I could feel the owner of the voice smirking in the way he spoke. Enough to make Aiba-chan pale as he heard the voice.
“S-Sakurai-san.” Aiba pulls himself away from me. “We- we weren't doing anything.”
I move myself from the awkward position. I sit on my bed to see the senior who had an annoyed look on his face.
“Ice, oil…. Nevermind Aiba-san. I’m coming to tell you that you’re late for your job today. You don’t want to skip class again don’t you?”
None of us speak.
“10 minutes, Aiba-san. My room. You’re late and I’m good enough to give you spare time for this.”
I keep trying to tell myself that whatever I was hearing is wrong, but he sounds so annoyed and furious. I’m not sure if it is because his assistant is late or because of what he saw.
And when the sound of his footsteps faded, both of us sigh of relief.
“You’re late?” I ask watching my best friend frown.
“Boss is always right I guess. But so far that I remember, I’ve finished everything he's asked of me last night, and I’m not supposed to meet him until tomorrow.”
I frown.
What exactly is on that man’s mind?
“It’s not that weird, anyway. Sometimes, it's not really work. He usually talks and curses about everything until he is satisfied.”
“And you’re being loyal, by continuing to listen?” The man next to me nods.
I shrug.
I was about to speak again, but it seems like he’s reading my mind so he cuts me off from saying a word by responding to my own thoughts.
“I can’t quit, Nino.” He bites his lower lip. “I should have read the contract carefully. I can’t quit until he graduates.”
My eyes widen.
“Ridiculous!” is the only words that manages to leave my mouth.
And then not a single letter slips from my mouth again.
We keep silent as I have no other point to argue. I do actually, but Aiba will come out with a thousand excuses that stop every point I have from being related. I know him. That man just loves to try new things. In the end, while some of it brings a good ending; most of them are just not.
I just want to stop it from having a bad ending.
But then again, I am pushed to lie down on my back, hard. Our position back to earlier, when his hand grips my wrist, push it to the bed, limiting my movement and his face away from mine.
“Baka!” I mutter.
He smiles, the brightest one I've ever seen. And by the way he smiles, I know there’s something he wants from me.
“Please… Stay away from any trouble that might be caused by Sho. That’s the only way I can protect you. I thought about it and came up with every possible way to protect you, but this is the only way. Stay away from him, and everything is gonna be fine,” he begs.
“But…”
“No buts, Nino. I’m the one putting myself in this situation. Let me deal with it. Please??"
For a while, I refused to respond to him. But it seems like as much as I know him, Aiba-chan knows me that much too. His puppy eyes staring at me, and I’m just weakened by that.
Ugh. Just so annoying.
“Fine… if you insist,” I surrender. “But listen Aiba-chan. if he is way too over the top, when I see you no longer able to keep yourself together by working for him, I’m going to meddle again. And this time, I won’t mind if I get expelled. That may be a way for you to protect me from him.”
I see he frowns by my statement. Maybe he was thinking a counter point of mine earlier. Somehow, his grips loosen. I took this as an advantage to break free by pushing him off causing him to fall to the floor.
“Ittai!!!HEY!! Don’t go, I haven’t finished inspecting you!” he moans hurt by the hard landing. I laugh.
“You’re not a doctor! I’m not letting you do that to me!” I say as he chases me around the room. Somehow, we’re 19, but acting like 9 years old children.
“Idiot!” I mumble playfully as I grab my towel in the bathroom, leaving him alone in the room.
***
It was 2 weeks after that, I decided to join the university music club.
I haven’t played an instrument for quite some time. I played guitar once before my sister fell on it and the tuner was damage by the impact of the landing. I never bothered to waste my money to send it for repair. And there’s a piano at my house but no one really plays it. I do, just by pressing some button because I love the sound. And the fact that it was never sent for maintenance, some of the note were indeed out of tune.
Playing an instrument was not the only reason that I want to join the club.
Aiba-chan had been nagging me for being a lazy ass who keeps myself inside the room playing games. Asking me to socialize a little bit with the university community, he asked me to join any club. And music club is the only club that accepted new member throughout the years.
Only if Aiba knew, I did socialize a bit and managed to get a girlfriend a week ago.
“Ninomiya-kun!” a cheerful, bright man comes and greets me. I know I’ve met him somewhere. Think Nino, think. His name…
“I’m Matsumoto Jun. We met at the café a few weeks ago,” he introduces himself to me, maybe sensing the awkwardness that I feel. I could feel myself blush. But then I heard him laugh.
“It’s ok. People usually forget my name because I don’t really have any special nicknames. But Ohno-kun lately calls me J, and everyone remember me by that name now.”
“I see,” I mumble, clear enough to be heard by him.
“So you’re joining the club?” Ohno-san suddenly interrupted our conversation. I nod. “Good. Welcome to the club then. Do you sing? Or play and instrument?”
So the man can talk…. I thought by myself. Of course I know he can, but knowing him from before, he just doesn’t talk a lot. He gave out a ‘don’t talk to me unless necessary’ aura when I first met him. But now, he’s the one talking.
I shook my head, denying the fact that I can sing or playing musical instrument. But who am I to fool these people forever?
Both Jun and Ohno force me to try a tune after a while. With Jun playing the piano, I copy the sound lazily, before the people inside the music room are stunted as they hear my voice.
As expected of me.
***
“So you’re in?” Aiba-chan asks in disbelief. “I know you have a good voice, but to get accepted that easy…”
“I know. It sound ridiculous,” I respond lazily.
It’s not that ridiculous. I know my standard. And the fact that I had amazed the people inside the room just now proved my eligibility to be in the club.
“So… how are your new friends? Nice?” Aiba-chan asks again after a while of letting me doze into my own thoughts.
“Ok, I guess. Nice. One of them talks a lot. The other one talks when necessary… What?” I ask as I see him smirk about something.
“So… you make friend,” he pauses. “So cute!!!!!!” he continues, hugging, ruffling my hair as I struggle to break free.
“Stupid! We’re in the cafeteria!” I snap causing him to laugh. I shake my head as I take a sip from my cup, at the same time watching both Jun-kun and Ohno-san walk towards us.
“There’re empty seats over there, but we would like to take seat here if you don’t mind?” Jun-kun speaks as he reaches us causing me to roll my eyes.
“There are two empty seats, if you’re not feeling embarrassed, please have a seat,” Jun chuckles a little before he drags the sleepy looking man next to him.
Ohno was going to buy them some food, when Jun suddenly opens his mouth to ask an annoying question.
“You’re Sakurai-san’s PA, right?”
Jun-kun questions enough to make Aiba-chan who’s sitting next to me stop munching his food, before fully paying attention to the man in front him. It took him a few seconds before he nodded hesitantly.
“I heard that he’s one tough man to deal with. Is it true?” Jun-kun furthered the conversation. This time Aiba-chan refused to answer. I didn’t know if it is because he’s afraid to talk about his boss, or maybe it is one of the rules in the contract he signs that he shouldn’t badmouth that jerk.
“He is one of the biggest jerks around,” I answer instead. “He never considers other people. As long as it make him pass through his difficulties, others people's suffering means nothing to him.”
“I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear that, Ninomiya-san. You know how bad it'll be if I heard that.”
It feels like the air had froze around us. I watch how Jun-kun’s face froze as well, and the smell of the perfume, that very same smell the time I was in the man’s room that night fills my nostril.
At that time, I know that I had bad timing badmouthing one of the biggest influential men in the university. I turn to my left to see the said man standing next to me with a smirk on his lips, full of ignorance and proud of himself.
Feeling the tugging on my sleeves, I turn back my gaze to the food in front me. I lost the appetite I had just now and felt like throwing up.
“A sandwich? Too poor to buy something to eat?” Sho-san’s voice echoed in my ears. I shiver as I curl my fingers into a punch, my knuckles turn white. But Aiba-chan holds my hand, neutralizing my anger.
“He just doesn’t eat a lot, senpai,” I could feel Aiba-chan is biting his lower lip before he continues again. “That’s why a sandwich is the best choice for his lunch.”
Sho-san smirks.
“So, what now? You dare to go against me now, Aiba-san? For him?” the man spit hatefully. His words sound hateful.
It is so fast when the food in front of me flew from the table away from us. The man is mad. I want to snap, but Aiba-chan keeps me from doing so.
It’s not that long when Sho-san pushes Aiba-chan away from me, gripping his collar. Jun rushes towards my side.
But before anyone of us could understand anything, the three of us watch how Ohno-san comes towards us, his face looks calm before he put the tray containing both his and Jun’s food on our table before walking straight to Sakurai-san who is still mad over the situation to notice how Ohno-san to stand behind him.
Ohno-san puts his hand around the man’s shoulder causing the man to look to his side, before his face softens as he sees the older man. Ohno-san lips form a soft smile. It makes me wonder who this man is that can soften Sakurai-san’s attitude.
“No matter how rich we are, I thought our parents taught us not to throw food, right? Sho-kun? No matter how bad it is.”
Ohno-san words somehow have impact on the man. He releases his assistant's shirt collar before straightening his own, ensuring he looks as smarts as possible.
“Yeah… I’m sorry.” His lips force a plain smile towards the older man, before he walks away to leave.
It is only a few steps when he turns back at us, or to be exact to Aiba-chan.
“My room, Aiba-san. 15 minutes.” Aiba-chan was biting his lips when Ohno-san again stops Sho-san's superiority.
“I’m sure your assistant has class after this. We don’t want to ruin our name, ne Sho-chan. How about a break for you assistant, at least for now so that he can enjoy his lunch like normal?”
I could feel that the man is annoyed. Waving his hand, he speaks.
“Tonight, Aiba-san. Right after you have your dinner. You have work,” and then the man leaves.
I was stunt by the sudden change of behavior of the arrogant man. Knowing Sho Sakurai, I know that he’ll never surrender that easy to anyone.
Jun helps me stand up. I watch the older man who is now sitting in front of Aiba-chan, both of them are now munching their food silently.
“What are you?” I ask, breaking the silence after Sakurai-san left us. “I mean, who are you?”
Ohno-san looks at me with a confuse expression on his face.
“No one can control that man. How did you do it?” I further my question. Finally understanding my question, Ohno-san shrugs a little before going back to munching his food. Something that I found annoyingly cute.
“No one is controlling anyone, Ninomiya-kun. I’m just doing something that I can, while I can.”
This time it is me who is confused.
“I don’t understand.”
The older man sighs.
“Let’s imagine something. You’re business students aren’t you?” I nod. “Let’s say… How will a company survive if they don’t have at least one client?”
I frown. It makes sense, just I don’t really understand what the older man is trying to say.
Seeing the confused face I made, Ohno-san stops eating before turn to me, explaining again.
“It’s a family business. I have nothing to do with it. Just, Sho-kun, he thinks too much of everything. In this case, everything. Even though he knows that I’ll never involve my family business. Are you eating that, Jun-chan? Because I’m hungry.”
Ohno-san didn’t wait for Jun-kun to answer when he takes the fries away from Jun’s plate. The three of us could only watch the older man in amazement.
_________________________________________________________________________
ps: can i just kyaaa over my ohno in this? too cool and sorry for the ooc.
NEXT
Author: Ica_90
Beta by:
icedragontmrPairing: [friendship] Aimiya, [one-sided (?)] Sakuraiba, Juntoshi [mentioned in some chapters]
Genre: Friendship, Angst, college-life
Rating: PG-13
Summary: a story revolves around the friendship of the two boys, friendship begins from an unexpected meeting, but none of them knows of how it’ll end.
Disclaimer: the word ‘fiction’ should explain everything. I own the plot, not the real character/human.
A/N: written with
riida91, diahlee486 and nadzsanz and for those who read thisCHAPTER 3
When I wake up the next morning, Aiba-chan is sitting on top of me.
“What the hell?” I ask as I try to push him off me, but failed. Instead he grabbed both of my wrists, pinning them to the bed, limiting my movement.
He blinks his eyes a few times, the way girls always do to seduce their lover, or as someone trying to get another person's attention. His lips form a big grin that I found adorable as always but at the same time, I'm irritated by his cheerful self after what happened last night.
“Ohayou~” he chimes happily.
“Get off me.”
“Not until you answer me,” he replies back, pinning me even harder, completely stopping my struggles. “Are you still mad at me?”
He pouts. And I hate him for weakening me with that.
“Not really,” I mumble loud enough for it to be heard by the taller man. He giggles hearing my answer.
“You’re mad. I know it. You just can’t resist my pout. So I’ll pout even more.”
“It’s not cute when you force it, Aiba-chan. Let go of me!”
“No, I won’t.” He then lift up my shirts, revealing my bruised stomach. It hurts when he touches them, and I can’t help to muffle a painful groan.
But then, I see his eyes staring at the bruises. They look sad, as if he’s saying ‘this is my fault’. The smile that was on his face faded, replaced with a thin line as he bit his lips, tracing his hand over the bruises on my stomach. Slowly, he moves himself away from me, and returns to his table.
“Why hadn’t I moved?” I stupidly ask myself.
Just as I keep questioning myself, I feel something cold on my stomach. It stings at first, before it feels good. The pain reduces, and I finally understand what he’s doing.
“You don’t have to,” I mumble as I put my hand behind my head, silently enjoying the treatment.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
I stay silent. Not because I’m not accepting his apology, but I just lost my words. If I say “it’s ok,” I’m sure he’ll just apologize even more. And no matter how many times I say it’s ok, he’ll keep apologizing until another topic is brought up.
That’s the Aiba-chan that I know. He puts all the blame on himself, saying that he’s troublesome, a nuisance, an idiot or other negative quality verbs. While I usually joke about it, I just can’t use those words seriously. I know, no matter how much he tries to hide it with his bright smile, he's really hurt deep down inside. He thinks too much.
What happened last night, maybe part of it was his fault. But I think, it's more to mine. I shouldn’t face the man without proper preparation. And the fact that I’m only a freshman who barely has friends or supporters only gives me more of a disadvantage. No matter what, Sakurai-san will win if he ever reports it to university administration.
I sigh.
“Are you ok? Am I hurting you?” Aiba asks.
“No. But I really wish you to get off of me now. If someone see us now, it might give them a different idea,” I see him grin as I finish my statement.
But he still didn’t move. As he finishes with the ice, he continues on, putting some medicine on the bruises. I whimper as he touches them. Biting my lower lips, I try to think of something else, trying to ignore the pain.
“What about you?” I ask, causing him to get confused by the sudden question.
“Huh?”
“What happen last night? You met him right?”
Aiba-chan seems to refuse to answer my question. I’m not sure the reason why though. Whether it’s good or bad, I think he refuses to talk about it because either way, it will make me mad.
Sakurai-san uses my bestfriend for his own good. And it isn’t a commensalism. While the man gets all the benefits, my best friend suffers.
I just can’t take it anymore.
Just when my sight focuses back to the room, Aiba-chan's face is an inch away from mine.
“You look cute when you day dream,” he says.
What the hell?
“SERIOUSLY, GET OFF!!!” I yell as I try to push him away. Too bad that he is fast enough to catch my hand, gripping me tightly before pushing them above my head.
“This is rape. And I don’t tolerate it,” I say causing him to laugh.
“It is not rape if you let me.”
“I’m not a gay,” I reply causing him to laugh again. Though I’m sure that there’s nothing funny in my words.
“What if you change your orientation after I do you?”
I roll my eyes. His way of teasing has never changed.
I know my best friend was gay ever since we’re in high school. After he dumped a girl and said ‘she’s not my type’ as a reason.
“Not your type, you’ve got to be kidding me. She’s the queen of the school. Everyone wants her except gays!” and then I saw he looked startled before he avoided my gaze.
“Oh my god. Don’t tell me…”
“I won’t tell you. But you understand now right? I hope you won’t run away…” he replied before turning, walking away from me.
I shake my head as I remember that. Of course I would never run away. That resulted in why I am staying in the same room as him now. We’re best friends. And I accept him for who he is.
“I was heartbroken three times, Aiba-chan. And they’re the ones who dumped me. I never change my orientation,” I say after a while. Still he never pulls himself away from me.
It was then when I heard the sound of our room door open. I'm not able to see who’s standing at the door.
“I always wondered who the top was.” Shit. The voice. I could feel the owner of the voice smirking in the way he spoke. Enough to make Aiba-chan pale as he heard the voice.
“S-Sakurai-san.” Aiba pulls himself away from me. “We- we weren't doing anything.”
I move myself from the awkward position. I sit on my bed to see the senior who had an annoyed look on his face.
“Ice, oil…. Nevermind Aiba-san. I’m coming to tell you that you’re late for your job today. You don’t want to skip class again don’t you?”
None of us speak.
“10 minutes, Aiba-san. My room. You’re late and I’m good enough to give you spare time for this.”
I keep trying to tell myself that whatever I was hearing is wrong, but he sounds so annoyed and furious. I’m not sure if it is because his assistant is late or because of what he saw.
And when the sound of his footsteps faded, both of us sigh of relief.
“You’re late?” I ask watching my best friend frown.
“Boss is always right I guess. But so far that I remember, I’ve finished everything he's asked of me last night, and I’m not supposed to meet him until tomorrow.”
I frown.
What exactly is on that man’s mind?
“It’s not that weird, anyway. Sometimes, it's not really work. He usually talks and curses about everything until he is satisfied.”
“And you’re being loyal, by continuing to listen?” The man next to me nods.
I shrug.
I was about to speak again, but it seems like he’s reading my mind so he cuts me off from saying a word by responding to my own thoughts.
“I can’t quit, Nino.” He bites his lower lip. “I should have read the contract carefully. I can’t quit until he graduates.”
My eyes widen.
“Ridiculous!” is the only words that manages to leave my mouth.
And then not a single letter slips from my mouth again.
We keep silent as I have no other point to argue. I do actually, but Aiba will come out with a thousand excuses that stop every point I have from being related. I know him. That man just loves to try new things. In the end, while some of it brings a good ending; most of them are just not.
I just want to stop it from having a bad ending.
But then again, I am pushed to lie down on my back, hard. Our position back to earlier, when his hand grips my wrist, push it to the bed, limiting my movement and his face away from mine.
“Baka!” I mutter.
He smiles, the brightest one I've ever seen. And by the way he smiles, I know there’s something he wants from me.
“Please… Stay away from any trouble that might be caused by Sho. That’s the only way I can protect you. I thought about it and came up with every possible way to protect you, but this is the only way. Stay away from him, and everything is gonna be fine,” he begs.
“But…”
“No buts, Nino. I’m the one putting myself in this situation. Let me deal with it. Please??"
For a while, I refused to respond to him. But it seems like as much as I know him, Aiba-chan knows me that much too. His puppy eyes staring at me, and I’m just weakened by that.
Ugh. Just so annoying.
“Fine… if you insist,” I surrender. “But listen Aiba-chan. if he is way too over the top, when I see you no longer able to keep yourself together by working for him, I’m going to meddle again. And this time, I won’t mind if I get expelled. That may be a way for you to protect me from him.”
I see he frowns by my statement. Maybe he was thinking a counter point of mine earlier. Somehow, his grips loosen. I took this as an advantage to break free by pushing him off causing him to fall to the floor.
“Ittai!!!HEY!! Don’t go, I haven’t finished inspecting you!” he moans hurt by the hard landing. I laugh.
“You’re not a doctor! I’m not letting you do that to me!” I say as he chases me around the room. Somehow, we’re 19, but acting like 9 years old children.
“Idiot!” I mumble playfully as I grab my towel in the bathroom, leaving him alone in the room.
***
It was 2 weeks after that, I decided to join the university music club.
I haven’t played an instrument for quite some time. I played guitar once before my sister fell on it and the tuner was damage by the impact of the landing. I never bothered to waste my money to send it for repair. And there’s a piano at my house but no one really plays it. I do, just by pressing some button because I love the sound. And the fact that it was never sent for maintenance, some of the note were indeed out of tune.
Playing an instrument was not the only reason that I want to join the club.
Aiba-chan had been nagging me for being a lazy ass who keeps myself inside the room playing games. Asking me to socialize a little bit with the university community, he asked me to join any club. And music club is the only club that accepted new member throughout the years.
Only if Aiba knew, I did socialize a bit and managed to get a girlfriend a week ago.
“Ninomiya-kun!” a cheerful, bright man comes and greets me. I know I’ve met him somewhere. Think Nino, think. His name…
“I’m Matsumoto Jun. We met at the café a few weeks ago,” he introduces himself to me, maybe sensing the awkwardness that I feel. I could feel myself blush. But then I heard him laugh.
“It’s ok. People usually forget my name because I don’t really have any special nicknames. But Ohno-kun lately calls me J, and everyone remember me by that name now.”
“I see,” I mumble, clear enough to be heard by him.
“So you’re joining the club?” Ohno-san suddenly interrupted our conversation. I nod. “Good. Welcome to the club then. Do you sing? Or play and instrument?”
So the man can talk…. I thought by myself. Of course I know he can, but knowing him from before, he just doesn’t talk a lot. He gave out a ‘don’t talk to me unless necessary’ aura when I first met him. But now, he’s the one talking.
I shook my head, denying the fact that I can sing or playing musical instrument. But who am I to fool these people forever?
Both Jun and Ohno force me to try a tune after a while. With Jun playing the piano, I copy the sound lazily, before the people inside the music room are stunted as they hear my voice.
As expected of me.
***
“So you’re in?” Aiba-chan asks in disbelief. “I know you have a good voice, but to get accepted that easy…”
“I know. It sound ridiculous,” I respond lazily.
It’s not that ridiculous. I know my standard. And the fact that I had amazed the people inside the room just now proved my eligibility to be in the club.
“So… how are your new friends? Nice?” Aiba-chan asks again after a while of letting me doze into my own thoughts.
“Ok, I guess. Nice. One of them talks a lot. The other one talks when necessary… What?” I ask as I see him smirk about something.
“So… you make friend,” he pauses. “So cute!!!!!!” he continues, hugging, ruffling my hair as I struggle to break free.
“Stupid! We’re in the cafeteria!” I snap causing him to laugh. I shake my head as I take a sip from my cup, at the same time watching both Jun-kun and Ohno-san walk towards us.
“There’re empty seats over there, but we would like to take seat here if you don’t mind?” Jun-kun speaks as he reaches us causing me to roll my eyes.
“There are two empty seats, if you’re not feeling embarrassed, please have a seat,” Jun chuckles a little before he drags the sleepy looking man next to him.
Ohno was going to buy them some food, when Jun suddenly opens his mouth to ask an annoying question.
“You’re Sakurai-san’s PA, right?”
Jun-kun questions enough to make Aiba-chan who’s sitting next to me stop munching his food, before fully paying attention to the man in front him. It took him a few seconds before he nodded hesitantly.
“I heard that he’s one tough man to deal with. Is it true?” Jun-kun furthered the conversation. This time Aiba-chan refused to answer. I didn’t know if it is because he’s afraid to talk about his boss, or maybe it is one of the rules in the contract he signs that he shouldn’t badmouth that jerk.
“He is one of the biggest jerks around,” I answer instead. “He never considers other people. As long as it make him pass through his difficulties, others people's suffering means nothing to him.”
“I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear that, Ninomiya-san. You know how bad it'll be if I heard that.”
It feels like the air had froze around us. I watch how Jun-kun’s face froze as well, and the smell of the perfume, that very same smell the time I was in the man’s room that night fills my nostril.
At that time, I know that I had bad timing badmouthing one of the biggest influential men in the university. I turn to my left to see the said man standing next to me with a smirk on his lips, full of ignorance and proud of himself.
Feeling the tugging on my sleeves, I turn back my gaze to the food in front me. I lost the appetite I had just now and felt like throwing up.
“A sandwich? Too poor to buy something to eat?” Sho-san’s voice echoed in my ears. I shiver as I curl my fingers into a punch, my knuckles turn white. But Aiba-chan holds my hand, neutralizing my anger.
“He just doesn’t eat a lot, senpai,” I could feel Aiba-chan is biting his lower lip before he continues again. “That’s why a sandwich is the best choice for his lunch.”
Sho-san smirks.
“So, what now? You dare to go against me now, Aiba-san? For him?” the man spit hatefully. His words sound hateful.
It is so fast when the food in front of me flew from the table away from us. The man is mad. I want to snap, but Aiba-chan keeps me from doing so.
It’s not that long when Sho-san pushes Aiba-chan away from me, gripping his collar. Jun rushes towards my side.
But before anyone of us could understand anything, the three of us watch how Ohno-san comes towards us, his face looks calm before he put the tray containing both his and Jun’s food on our table before walking straight to Sakurai-san who is still mad over the situation to notice how Ohno-san to stand behind him.
Ohno-san puts his hand around the man’s shoulder causing the man to look to his side, before his face softens as he sees the older man. Ohno-san lips form a soft smile. It makes me wonder who this man is that can soften Sakurai-san’s attitude.
“No matter how rich we are, I thought our parents taught us not to throw food, right? Sho-kun? No matter how bad it is.”
Ohno-san words somehow have impact on the man. He releases his assistant's shirt collar before straightening his own, ensuring he looks as smarts as possible.
“Yeah… I’m sorry.” His lips force a plain smile towards the older man, before he walks away to leave.
It is only a few steps when he turns back at us, or to be exact to Aiba-chan.
“My room, Aiba-san. 15 minutes.” Aiba-chan was biting his lips when Ohno-san again stops Sho-san's superiority.
“I’m sure your assistant has class after this. We don’t want to ruin our name, ne Sho-chan. How about a break for you assistant, at least for now so that he can enjoy his lunch like normal?”
I could feel that the man is annoyed. Waving his hand, he speaks.
“Tonight, Aiba-san. Right after you have your dinner. You have work,” and then the man leaves.
I was stunt by the sudden change of behavior of the arrogant man. Knowing Sho Sakurai, I know that he’ll never surrender that easy to anyone.
Jun helps me stand up. I watch the older man who is now sitting in front of Aiba-chan, both of them are now munching their food silently.
“What are you?” I ask, breaking the silence after Sakurai-san left us. “I mean, who are you?”
Ohno-san looks at me with a confuse expression on his face.
“No one can control that man. How did you do it?” I further my question. Finally understanding my question, Ohno-san shrugs a little before going back to munching his food. Something that I found annoyingly cute.
“No one is controlling anyone, Ninomiya-kun. I’m just doing something that I can, while I can.”
This time it is me who is confused.
“I don’t understand.”
The older man sighs.
“Let’s imagine something. You’re business students aren’t you?” I nod. “Let’s say… How will a company survive if they don’t have at least one client?”
I frown. It makes sense, just I don’t really understand what the older man is trying to say.
Seeing the confused face I made, Ohno-san stops eating before turn to me, explaining again.
“It’s a family business. I have nothing to do with it. Just, Sho-kun, he thinks too much of everything. In this case, everything. Even though he knows that I’ll never involve my family business. Are you eating that, Jun-chan? Because I’m hungry.”
Ohno-san didn’t wait for Jun-kun to answer when he takes the fries away from Jun’s plate. The three of us could only watch the older man in amazement.
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ps: can i just kyaaa over my ohno in this? too cool and sorry for the ooc.
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