16 Roses

"Damn, you're awfully moody. We just finished exams! Cheer up."

Arai nudged him at the karaoke bar. Nozawa was singing his heart out to some latest pop song and the other people from their class chattered away merrily. Bottles of beer lined the table.

Ren was miserable as hell. He smiled. "Nah, just tired."

"Fujiwara! Drink with us!" A cute girl from their class leaned over and pouted.

He raised his bottle and clanked hers, taking a healthy gulp.

The past two months had been a blur of cram schools, endless hours in the library, relentless lectures by the teachers and filling in application forms that he was sure were designed to promote failure. Then came the week of exams. He didn't have time to think.

The minute it was over, Ren realised how royally screwed he was.

He was so pent up. But Shinobu's last paper was today so he couldn't very well demand sex.

Maybe I'll wait at the school gates and we could go back home, Ren considered and then cursed as he realised that both his mother and Aunt Minami were around.

Anyway, Shinobu certainly didn't show any signs of sexual frustration. He might want to go celebrate with his class or teammates.

Sighing, Ren raised his bottle again.

He tried to enjoy the round of drinking games that followed since everyone was in such good spirits. He was about to give up when his phone vibrated.

Fishing it out of his pocket, Ren perked up when he read the message.

'Outside the room. Now.'

He tried to be casual about it with his friends. "Sorry guys, I've to go. Here's my share of the bill."

"Oh, come on!"

"It's so early. Stay a while."

"Catch up this weekend?" Ren grinned and slung his bag over his shoulders, waving to everyone and closed the door behind him.

Leaning against the wall next to the door, Shinobu had changed out of his school uniform. He took a deliberate once over at Ren.

"How did it go?" Ren feigned nonchalance he did not feel. Shinobu shrugged but pulled him close. His voice low and just a hint urgent.

"Wanna try a love hotel?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Ren breathed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The day he told Ren that he had gotten into the same university, Ren's first reaction was to pounce and tried to squeeze the life out of him.

To claim that their teachers and fellow cohort was shocked by Shinobu's achievement was an understatement. Ren took great pleasure in saying something to the effect of "I told you so" to anyone who dared to raise any inquiry.

Shinobu tolerated it silently since it gave Ren such vicarious joy.

His own classmates were not so impressed. They either ignored him or tried to pick a fight. It was probably the only good that came out of his reputation – they only tried and didn't pursue when he started to fight back.

"I think it's two streets down. The area looks better. The last few were awful!"

Ren's voice woke him up from his thoughts.

"We have a couple more to go. We'll find something," Shinobu said.

"Of course we will. I'm not going to let anything get in the way of our plan," Ren huffed.

"It's not going to be as nice as your home," Shinobu reminded him. "Are you sure your family fine is with this?"

Ren rolled his eyes. "I told you. They are fine. It's not like I am moving countries."

Then he asked suspiciously, "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"Don't be an idiot."

By now, Ren knew that it was his gruff way of being affectionate. He pointed to a street sign.

"We need to turn right here!"

Shinobu followed as Ren strode on purposefully.

On this sunny day, as they tried to find a place to live together, it hit him how surreal it was. How well life had turned out unexpectedly.

Could he hang onto this?

"Hey, are you coming?" Ren yelled.

Shinobu shook off the feeling and caught up with him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We haven't even unpacked!" Ren exclaimed in laughter as he looked around them. Soiled sheets, tangled limbs and a few sealed boxes.

"We got the bed out," Shinobu remarked, voice still husky.

Ren glanced at his lover, slumped onto him and hugged him like a pillow. "Mmm. True. Very important."

Shinobu noticed a slight bruise forming around Ren's pale hips. He hand grazed over it. "It's going to bruise."

He didn't apologise. They were past that. And they both knew that there was going to be some marks during their first night together in their very own small flat.

"I'm going to hobble all weekend," Ren added, but not sounding unhappy about it.

"I'm not done with you," Shinobu teased.

The brown-haired man nudged his rib and admonished. "After we have finished unpacking."

Shinobu laughed, which used to be such a rare sound for him. Recently, he found himself laughing more, especially when he was with Ren.

Ren looked up and smiled at him, something gentle and private. He murmured as he touched Shinobu's face. "I like it when you laugh like that."

Shinobu covered his hand with his and kissed the palm, soft and uncalloused like his. He didn't know what to say, didn't have the words to convey the tightening feeling in his chest.

"Oh, crap. We forgot to get a kettle," Ren realised suddenly.

"Ueno gave us one," Shinobu said. "A graduation present."

"He did? That's so nice," Ren smiled. "He must be sorry to see you quit."

"We can grab a meal there once in a while."

Shinobu had found a better paying part-time job tutoring at a cram school for middle school students so that he could make rent. Ren didn't need to but decided to show solidarity by working in a bookshop near the university. He told Shinobu that since he loved books, it was not real work. Shinobu mused inwardly if there would be a sudden increase in general interest in reading.

"When do you start your job?" Ren asked.

"Next week. What about you?"

"The day after. They are short staffed. Are you going to pick me up after work?" Ren asked playfully.

"No."

"Mean."