Chapter 2 - Staying Over Again (Part 1)

"He's there right now?!" Kaito talks loudly through the phone.

I called Kaito after Hajime came by my house. He asked if he could stay for the night again because his mom suddenly left their house due to an emergency at work, and that he doesn't have a spare key to his house, and that I'm the only person he knows who he can ask to stay over. Of course, I let him because why not. He's my friend. Plus, I'm alone here. It's not bad that once in a while to have a company.

"Yeah," I explained to Kaito the reason why Hajime will be staying over for the second time. Great, he'll be all up on my business again.

"Huuuh," He says through the phone. Yep, I'm right. "Nope, totally not suspicious at all."

"Yeah," I replied. I notice that there is some sort of sarcastic tone in his voice. That, I can identify.

"But it is, in fact, suspicious!" Kaito exclaims. I knew it.

"What is suspicious about letting a friend over?!" I said it loudly that I covered my mouth so that Hajime couldn't hear me. "His reasons were even valid!"

"That's what HE wants you to think,"

I facepalm so hard that I almost buried my hand to my face. "I can't with you, man."

"Okay, fine, fine, I'll stop. But you can't ignore the possibility."

I don't ignore the possibility, because there is NO way that he's actually into me even a little. He can't just assume that. I mean, there is nothing wrong if he likes a person of the same sex, but he can't just assume if someone likes another person because it just seems like it.

Or does he actually feel that way? I honestly don't know. Ugh, I hate myself for not knowing feelings. For now, I still believe in my stand.

* * * * *

[Hajime POV]

Kyo is in the living room on the phone with someone, while I stayed here in his bedroom, using my phone. It's probably Mr. Ai. I never actually got the chance to take a look in his bedroom, so I did right now.

The walls were made of smooth wooden planks, and so is the flooring, but it's polished by wax. There were a few decorations on the wall like three posters of dramas and anime, two pictures of him, one was a graduation picture from junior high school, one was him in a white, long-sleeved polo.

For his bed, his mattress is queen-sized above an acacia bed frame. I don't really use bed frames because I move a lot in sleep and I sometimes find myself on the floor after I wake up with back pain.

He doesn't have a lot on his desk, unlike mine. It has his laptop with one case filled with pens, pencils, erasers, and markers, and a small book rack with books that aren't that organized. You can see his textbooks mixed with his manga and comics and vice versa. His chair is the same as I have in my room. I took a seat and it's as comfortable as mine.

Soon after I took a seat, Kyo entered the room. I immediately sprang from the seat. "I'm sorry. It's just you have the same chair as I have at home and it's so comfortable."

"Right?" Kyo seemed delighted. "It's so soft, and it's strong too!"

I nod in agreement that seemed like I'm a bit excited. "Uh huh, uh huh!"

"Oh, by the way," He puts his phone in his pocket. "Have you eaten anything for dinner yet?"

"No," I reply.

"Okay, I'll make some for us. What do you want?"

I shrug. "I'll eat anything available."

He snaps his fingers to finger guns, "Great."

He slides off to go out of the room. I laugh. What the heck was that? I got up and followed him.

* * * * *

(Note: Perspectives of both characters will be present in this chapter. Text in <> will represent Hajime while text in {} will represent Kyo.)

I was slicing the pork belly horizontally into small bits. I sprinkled some salt and squeezed half a lemon into it and poured a small amount of soy sauce. I then mixed it.

"So," Hajime says from behind me. "What are you cooking?"

"Oh," I shrug. "Just some deep-fried pork belly."

"Ahh," He nods.

After the oil was hot, I placed the marinated sliced pork belly into the pot of oil. The oil sizzled and popped.

<Ahhhh, this smells so nice! Now, I'm hungry. Kyo lives alone, so he probably has to learn all about cooking by himself growing up. I wish I could learn how to cook. Every time my mom is away, I just go to the nearest convenience store and buy microwavable meals. I should definitely learn how to cook. Maybe I could ask Kyo for help if he's willing to.>

<"So," Kyo sat down on the chair in front of me behind the stove. "Update on your mom?">

<"She said that she won't be done until 3 AM, so I think I'll be here until tomorrow if that's fine,">

<He shakes a hand. "It's totally fine. Plus, it's not that bad to have someone over once in a while.">

<I smile. "Great.">

<"So," I say. "You always cook your meals?">

<"Yeah," He replies. "My uncle taught me the basics when he still lives here, and I did the rest once he left. I learned some recipes to make so that my meal won't be the same every day.">

<Yeah, I was right. Oh, to be a good cook. "I wish I could cook like you. Every time my mom isn't around, I just buy microwavable meals from the convenience store.">

<Kyo chuckles. "Maybe I could teach you someday.">

<I laugh. "Sure, if you don't mind.">

* * * * *

<A few minutes pass, the food was ready. The small, golden brown, deep-fried pork belly pieces were stacked on a plate. This honestly looks good. It even smells good!>

{I serve the food and placed it in the center of the table, along with the pot of rice. I then grabbed two small bowls, two drinking glasses, and a pair of chopsticks and placed one each in front of us. We filled our bowls with rice then clasped our hands.}

{"Thank you for the meal!" We both say before we eat.}

{I let him take some first and see if he likes it. I hope he likes it.}

<This is so delicious! It does taste like a normal deep-fried pork belly, but the lemon did enhance the flavor, which I really like. >

<"This is so good!" I say, mouth still chewing the food.>

<He laughs. "Don't talk while still chewing! But thank you!">

{I then proceed to eat. I'm glad he liked my cooking. I haven't really cooked for anyone in my entire life, not even my friends, so I'm happy that someone liked it. }

{"Oh, yeah," I interrupted my eating. "I have a weekly scheduled TV program that I watch every Saturday night. Is it okay if I watch after dinner?"}

{"Sure!" He says. "Might as well watch with you."}

{I chuckle. "Great."}

* * * * *

(Note: Perspectives are back to normal. It will be indicated whether there's a change of perspectives.)

[Kyo POV]

I sat on the couch with Hajime next to me. We were watching the TV program I watch every Saturday night. It was a romantic drama based on a shoujo manga. I didn't bother reading the manga, so I just watched it instead.

It's a typical romance with a love triangle. The three of them work in a corporate. The girl was a recruit, while her love interest was a senpai. At first, they weren't fond of each other because he was pretty mean to her, but in reality, he actually likes her. This is just his way of showing his interest in her.

Days later, a recruit arrived at the office, and it was her high school friend. They seem to be getting along so well, and the other guy was jealous of him.

At least, that's what happened from the previous episodes. Today's episode seems to be a confession from her senpai. At least, that's what is said on the show's website.

What's currently happening in the show is the girl and his senpai were bantering, as usual, while walking to the elevator. He pressed a button and once the door closed, he pulled a kabedon and she was alarmed.

"Huh, so this is the type of shows you are into..." He says as he watches the show.

I shake my hands, looking like I was defensive. "No, no, no! It's not that! I just like the show, that's all!"

He laughs. "I'm just kidding."

I sigh.

She seemed undecided and was taken by the moment, so she ran away from him once the elevator door opens.

Skip to later parts, she's talking to his co-worker who was his high school friend. She talked about her senpai confessing to her, and that she's too shocked to respond to him. Her high school friend comforted her and gave her advice, and then he hugged her.

"That guy is obviously into her," Hajime points at the guy.

"You think so?" I ask. Of course, I wouldn't know.

"Yeah," He replies. "It's pretty evident by the way he comforts her and the way he gives his advice sounds like he's down. That hug also seemed like it'll be the last time he'll hug her."

Huh, now that I look back at it, it does look like it that way. I really couldn't tell.

"She's just dense, so that's why she can't identify the obvious signs." He adds.

"Huh, that girl and I have something in common," I say.

Hajime bounced a little on the couch, as if he's alarmed, and looked at me with worry. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

"Nah, it's fine," I reply. "I'll just have to accept this part of me. I can't do anything to change it."

"I mean, that's true," He says. "That's a part of you that can't change. You might not be able to change it, but there will be people here to help you with that. True friends will be with you and will be able to put up with you and accept that part of you. If they can't, then just let them go."

Damn, where did this come from? Well, wherever did this come from, it made me feel better about myself. I'm glad to have him and the others as my friends.

"Thanks," I say as I smile. I try to hold back my tears.

* * * * *

[Hajime POV]

I aggressively scrub my body with the soap. I'm taking a bath at his place right now.

Did I really just say that to him? How the hell did I manage to do that? I'm not good at giving advice and talking to people like that, but when it comes to Kyo, it's like another side of me was released.

I slapped my face with both of my hands again. Some of the soap got into my eye, which burns like hell.

"Ahh!" I softly scream. "It hurts!"

I washed the soap from my eyes. Ugh, what is happening to me?

Is this what they call gay panic?

I mean, yeah, I kinda like him. Emphasis on KINDA. I'm still unsure, but if I keep this up, I might fall and hurt myself again.

A faint knock was heard. It was the bathroom door. "Hajime, are you alright? I think I heard you scream."

Crap, he heard that? "No! I'm fine!"

"Okay!" He replied. "The clothes are in the bed!"

"Okay!" I yell back.

I bury my face in my soaking wet hands. What is happening to me?