23 Exchanges

One afternoon…

Keigo: I'm bored.

Kaoru: Aren't you at work?

Keigo: An event. Listening to speeches.

Kaoru: You should pay attention.

Keigo: I am. To you.

Kaoru: Don't tease me….

Keigo: Why not?

Kaoru: Keigo!

Keigo: Aren't YOU at work?

Kaoru: I'm getting coffee.

Keigo: I'll kill for coffee right now.

Kaoru: Is it going to take long? The speeches?

Keigo: Probably another fifteen minutes.

Kaoru: Oh. Do you have to give one?

Keigo: No. Should I offer? At least it won't be boring.

Kaoru: You can't be boring even if you want to.

Keigo: I know. Thanks for the compliment.

Kaoru: Go pay attention! I'm going back to my desk.

Keigo: Alright, I'll try not to yawn.

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Then another evening…

Kaoru: It's raining a lot today.

Keigo: It is. Stay warm.

Kaoru: I will! Please stay warm too.

Keigo: Send me a picture when you are home.

Kaoru: …

Keigo: Proof that you are warm and dry.

Kaoru: Oh. Um, then you send me a picture too.

Keigo: Oh Kaoru, did you just want a photo of me? *winks*

Kaoru glared at the text and dialed the number immediately.

"Hello," Keigo's irritatingly smug voice answered.

"That's not what I meant!" Kaoru protested.

"No need to be shy about it," Keigo assured him.

Kaoru looked around the empty staircase of the office. He whispered, "I didn't say that to get your picture."

Keigo drawled, "That's a shame."

"Y-you.."

Keigo seized the moment and went on, "Because I absolutely did it to have yours."

Kaoru's throat dried up. Was the ventilation in the staircase so bad? Why was his breath unsteady?

A few voices in the background interrupted them. Keigo seemed to be saying something to another person before coming back to their conversation.

"I have to go," he said regrettably and then in a lower voice, "I'll be waiting for it tonight."

Kaoru hung up and decided that he was definitely not going to indulge in Keigo's whims.

Later that night, a message popped up just as he was going to bed.

It was a photo of Keigo in his living room, tie undone but still in his suit. A lazy smile on his face.

Kaoru found himself breaking into a silly grin.

He gave up and positioned his phone for a selfie.

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After midnight….

"Did you just arrive?"

"Yes, the flight was delayed."

Kaoru glanced at the clock and murmured, "You should get some rest."

"Are you fretting about me?" Keigo teased.

"Of course I am!" Kaoru blurted and bit his lip to hold back a groan.

A sense of déjà vu struck him. A similar conversation from two years ago. He could feel his chest constrict.

Perhaps the same feeling found Keigo too.

"It's impossible not to be touched by you."

Kaoru didn't know what else to say.

He whispered, "Goodnight, Keigo."

"Goodnight, Kaoru."

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On a normal, sunny morning…

Keigo: Are you really going to cook for me?

Kaoru: Yes, I promised!

Keigo: When is good?

Kaoru: Anytime next weekend?

Keigo: Saturday? Dinner?

Kaoru: Sure! Only if you have time though.

Keigo: For you, always. See you.

Kaoru shook his head and closed the chat window on his phone.

He was exhibiting all the signs of an infatuated teenager. The way he looked forward to each call and message. The giddiness which he could not contain.

They had been sending each other messages a lot. A hello in the morning. A short conversation about what they were both doing. A note to take care when the weather was bad.

Keigo also flirted without shame, which left Kaoru inevitably flustered or shocked.

He looked at the plant on his windowsill. Its leaves bursting with shades of red. Vibrant and stunning, the showy plant reminded him of Keigo.

Kaoru thought about the conversation they had in Keigo's apartment. The bareness of the place which hardly befitted Keigo's personality.

Keigo deserved a little color.