58 Indecent Proposal

"Dance for me Haruki!" Saito asked when their eyes met.

Haruki turned to face the other man, coming to him. The private spa from his luxurious room in the cruise was spacious enough to have showers, a massage parlor with view to a mini deck and a 'zen space' with ofuro and a mini garden. And of course, the huge jacuzzi. He could run and perhaps even flee if necessary. He just didn't want to be alone with Saito when he was just in a towel. Haruki's thoughts went to his proposal and what Saito would suck next, if given the opportunity…

He shook his head to dismiss the scene forming in his mind.

"Ohh! I'm sweaty, Saito," Haruki warned, placing his hand flat between them to prevent him from coming closer. His heart was racing since he saw Saito lock the door.

The singer was feeling miserable, and sorry for the kiss they shared earlier.

Shame for cheated on Jun was consuming him.

Haruki didn't know how he would begin to explain himself to Saito, as he would retreat from his commitment. He was ashamed of it, but he had agreed thoughtlessly because it seemed the right thing to say at that time… when obviously it wasn't. He just didn't know how to bring the subject up in the best way.

Of course he'd deserve resentment and harsh words from Saito. Haruki knew the climber would demand and would deserve, a logical and convincing reason for it. This might be the end of their friendship.

Even so, Haruki felt he had to be true to his feelings and dispel Saito's illusions.

Now, before things grew out of control. And worse, before what happened got to Jun's ears and the singer lost him too.

A fact that Haruki could not conceive, deep inside his heart.

"Listen to my plans, Haruki!" Saito replied to the singer, and approached, ignoring the outstretched arm as a barrier. "I can help you to make it to the rally. I'd like to give you that car, in reality. But I found out that I can't just make a donation," Saito explained by looking intently at Haruki's mouth.

"Ohh" Haruki's jaw dropped at the climber's statement. 'Ouch! How do I break up with Saito now? He was thinking about me.' The singer felt a drop of sweat form on his temple.

"Next to the mini replica of the Eiffel Tower is a replica of the Louvre pyramid. It is a space for shows. Go there, Haruki, and sign up to put on a show. Set the ticket price on how many diamonds you will need to buy your car. And I buy your show. An exclusive show, a single ticket on sale!"

Saito shifted his gaze from Haruki's lips to his eyes, and asked,

"Can you sing for me, Haruki?! I want to see you onstage. That means getting to know you. And if I can share something with you, even better."

The singer swallowed,

'But I want to break up with you, Saito. Why do you have to be such a wonderful fellow? ' In addition to worrying about the singer, the mountaineer wanted to help him. Finding he couldn't simply donate his diamonds to Haruki, he didn't give up and kept looking until he found out how to do it. Buying his show!

'Oh Saito, that was cute. But how can I tell you no?' Haruki's mind was twirling in chaos. He was awestruck with Saito's evident concern, always worrying and trying to take care of him. But Haruki wasn't attracted to him, despite his handsomeness and attitude.

"Am I asking too much?" Saito asked, raising his eyebrows in doubt, averting his eyes for a moment.

"No. Of course not. I'll do it. I'm going to do it right now!" replied Haruki, giving up even to bathe. He passed Saito, and as he unlocked the door lock, he ran.

'Damn it! Haruki you coward, 'Haruki was full of recriminatory thoughts for being so greedy. He wanted everything - win the rally, both men chasing him, and everyone's friendship. Have all the skills at maximum.

He recognized his true defect - he wanted to be Mister Perfect!

******

Upon entering the pyramid he realized that it was bigger than it appeared to be, looking from the outside.

"Wow!" Haruki could see the cruise decks resembling a bustling city, from the outside, through the transparency of the glass serving as walls.

The interior was silent in contrast. The singer inhaled the fragrant air, closing his eyes. Taking advantage of the perfume, the silence. Isolation.

And Haruki felt his body working, but not as he remembered it, with the sound of his heart and eventually his stomach or bowels. It was a distinct sound, like the buzz of bees, only it came from inside.

Haruki opened his eyes and shook his head. He must have been imagining things.

He followed the pyramid to see the totem inside the building. It was another pyramid of glass and iron, inverted and small. There were symbols on its surface.

Haruki brought his smartwatch closer to the symbols next to a mirror surface. The panel opened.

[WELCOME TO THE CENTRE D'ÉVÉNEMENTS PYRAMIDE]

OPTIONS

NEXT EVENTS

BUY TICKETS

[CREATE EVENT]

MORE OPTIONS…

Soon, Haruki was navigating the screen and designing how his show would be, choosing from some options.

The singer would repay Saito's generosity by showing his gratitude for a show worthy of a packed stadium. 'Saito will have my best.'

But the singer still wondered how moral he was being.

And his explanation was that he couldn't miss the offer.

And that if Jun really liked him, he would understand that this was his only option of getting so many diamonds in such a short time.

Haruki justified himself with a guilty mind of accepting Saito's diamonds.

[TICKET VALUE]

He discovered that, for making the performance as he envisioned and earning that huge amount fo diamonds, Haruki not only needed to be within the minimum requirements of CHARISMA and DEXTERITY, he'd spend 10% CHARISMA and 10% DEXTERITY during the show. He could recover it later, it informed. But Haruki didn't mind doing it, as long he could recover it doing jobs and missions.

Haruki remembered the value of the car that Saito chose and put the same value. He also remembered to set the quantity to only one ticket, to make the show exclusive.

His finger hesitated when finishing the setup. That meant something, didn't it?