Wish We Were Older
Title: Wish We Were Older [Chapter 9]
Author: carcrashheart_8
Pairings: RyoDa, Ryo/OC, PiDa, KameDa [friendship], Akame, PiTakki [one-sided], RyoKame, JinNo
Rating: PG-13 [strong language and sexual references]
Summary: When his parents go overseas to work, Ueda is forced to go to an all-boys boarding school for his high school years. There, he meets Ryo Nishikido, a stubborn, strong-willed boy who ends up becoming his roommate. Ueda quickly falls for the other boy despite Ryo's rude words and bad attitude. Trouble starts up, however, and soon this seemingly one-sided love ends up becoming a love triangle and eventually a love square. Despite it all, Ueda must overcome these obstacles in order to maintain his spot at the elite high school.
Disclaimer: Title taken from "Wish We Were Older" by Metro Station
Chapter 9
“NO!”
Everyone stared at Ueda, including Ryo and Kame who were surprised to hear anything come from the boy’s mouth. He seemed too shocked to say anything but luckily for him, he spoke before he got a chance to really think.
“Huh?” a few whispered.
Yamapi looked at Ueda, intently.
“You two-you can’t be together. I-It’s just not possible-Ryo-kun doesn’t even like guys, right, Ryo-kun?” Ueda attempted at rationalizing the behavior his best friend and roommate were both exhibiting.
Ryo let go of Kame’s arm and walked over to Ueda, looking at him and smiling obnoxiously.
He whispered, “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
Ueda looked up at Ryo, unable to understand the other boy’s statement.
He frowned, “Give me a break-idiot.”
“Then why would you care if I liked guys or not? Or if I was actually dating Kamenashi-kun?”
Yamapi continued to look at Ueda, a bit interested in what were the answers to Ryo’s questions.
Ueda grew embarrassed, as his cheeks turned red. Everyone was staring at him and he was on the verge of revealing his true feelings for Ryo in front of about half a dozen people, including Yamapi.
He became annoyed and just shouted, “I don’t care what you do!” before running off. Tears streamed down his face as he pushed open the cafeteria doors and made his way down the hallway, back to his dorm room. Ryo’s smile disappeared and he just became angry, only because he was disappointed by Ueda’s response to his interrogation.
Yamapi looked a little annoyed as well and for good reason. He was curious and felt unsatisfied when Ueda refused to answer the questions that plagued him. For this reason, Yamapi rushed out of the cafeteria and ran after Ueda, once again.
Ueda made it to his dorm room, with red cheeks and bloodshot eyes. He wiped his nose furiously and panted as he started throwing things against the wall; his pillow went flying across the room and his chair was knocked over, onto the floor. He was furious with the way Ryo was acting and the fact that Kame used his roommate in order to make Jin, his ex, jealous. Ueda had never expected to start his 2nd year of high school with such drama, a stupid notion considering not more than a few weeks ago, he had ended his decade-long friendship with Kame and almost ended another decade-long friendship between Ryo and Yamapi, all over some spilt orange juice.
Ueda took the pillow from the floor and put it against his face. He screamed at the top of his lungs, letting the pillow muffle the sound. When he was done, he dropped the pillow to the floor and staggered over to his bed, falling backwards onto it.
“That usually is the best way to relieve stress,” a voice said.
Ueda jumped up, surprised to see Yamapi in the doorway.
“Y-Yamapi,” he gasped.
Yamapi smiled and leant against the doorframe.
“That was quite a scene back there, don’t you think?”
Ueda blushed and looked away, feeling his stomach twist.
“You wanna tell me why you got so angry?”
Ueda refused to speak, or move for that matter.
Yamapi got the hint, “I see. Well-it wouldn’t have anything to do with-oh, I don’t know-you liking Ryo?”
Ueda turned his head quickly and stared at the other boy with wide eyes.
“W-What?”
“Oh, that got your attention. I’m glad-I was afraid you were just gonna stop talking to me,” Yamapi chuckled, only sounding half-serious.
Ueda continued feeling awkward as his stomach churned with every second that went by.
Yamapi sat on the bed and looked up at Ueda’s back as the other boy stood, frozen. He crossed his legs and put his folded hands on his knees. He sighed as he looked at the havoc Ueda had unleashed on the room.
“I wish I could just assume what’s really going on and be right. It’s difficult sometimes to know what other people are thinking. But sometimes it’s not too hard when their facial expressions-body language-their actions speak for themselves. Still-I can only assume. So-wanna do me a favor and tell me what the hell is going on?”
Ueda choked a bit; he felt a lump in his throat form as his stomach continued turning. He wanted to pretend that there was nothing wrong and that Yamapi was being suspicious for no justified reason. He wanted to lie and say he had no idea what Yamapi was talking about and he wanted to lie and say he had no feelings for Ryo, whatsoever.
He wanted to but he couldn’t. Instead, he turned and sat down next to Yamapi on the bed, putting his hands in his lap and his eyes lowered to the floor.
Yamapi turned his body and looked directly at him.
“The truth is-” Ueda started, “I like you-I like you, I really do. But the thing is-”
“But what?” Yamapi added.
Ueda sighed, “The truth is-”
All of a sudden, Yamapi lunged forward and pinned Ueda down to the bed. Ueda’s heart started to race as he felt Yamapi’s weight on top of him. He had no idea what was going on and started to wince in pain.
“What-What are you doing?” he cried, struggling to break free from Yamapi’s grip. He stopped when he looked at the sadness in the other boy’s eyes.
“You-You love Ryo, don’t you?” Yamapi whispered, gripping Ueda’s wrists tighter.
Ueda closed his eyes and whimpered softly.
“ANSWER ME!” Yamapi shouted.
Ueda felt tears stream down his cheeks as he started sobbing.
“I’m sorry, Yamapi! I-I never meant to hurt you! I-I-I’m so sorry,” Ueda stuttered as he found it hard to breathe.
Yamapi got up and sat back on the bed, his back against the wall and his knees in front of his face. Ueda struggled to get up, and continued crying and wiping his eyes.
Yamapi sighed, wiping his eyes as well, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have held you down like that.”
Ueda stopped crying and looked at Yamapi who seemed remorseful.
“I guess I just got so mad at the thought of you being in love with-with Ryo! I mean, what good has he ever been to you? You’re always complaining about him and fighting with him-I can’t see why you’d ever fall in love with someone you get along with so terribly.”
Ueda caught his breath and just said, “I can’t figure it out either.”
Yamapi looked at him, a bit shocked to hear the other boy say such a thing.
“It was sort of instant-the first time I met him, when he helped me up after falling and looked at me with such concern. I’d never seen that look in anyone’s eyes when they looked at me. I saw compassion-I saw heart-I saw a sense of humanity that I’d never gotten from anyone I’ve ever met before. Ryo-he’s not the nicest person and sometimes he’s a little too stubborn for his own good but-deep down, there’s someone so kind-hearted-someone who has respect for his grandmother-someone who would love the person he’s with more than anyone else in the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before-Ryo’s just different from anyone I’d ever met.”
Yamapi felt his heart break as the words came out of Ueda’s mouth. He lowered his head, hoping to hide the redness in his eyes.
“Can I ask you something?” he whispered.
Ueda replied, “S-Sure.”
“Did you even like me-at all?”
Ueda paused. He’d never really, fully figured out just how he felt for Yamapi; it had always been kind of foggy for him. For one thing, he liked Yamapi as a friend, as a classmate, as a person. But, in terms of romance, that was something he wasn’t too sure about. Originally, it had been all a misunderstanding thanks to Koki and Maru; and things only got progressively worse as they started dating. But there was a moment when they were on their first date that Ueda knew made him think of Yamapi as something so much more. His heart had never beat so fast as when it did when he held hands with the other boy for the first time; he felt such jealousy when Kame was monopolizing him during that movie trip and just earlier when Yamapi had clearly become enamored with their new homeroom teacher. If it wasn’t love like it was so obviously with Ryo, Ueda was sure there were at least some romantic feelings inside of him for Yamapi.
“Of course I did,” he replied, grinning, “I like you a lot, Yamapi-I really do.”
Yamapi looked up at him, “But not as much as Ryo-right?”
Ueda skipped a beat. He couldn’t handle answering that question but Yamapi was sure of the answer.
Instead of getting angry again, he sighed with what seemed like relief. It seemed he understood or was at least trying to be understanding.
“I guess it can’t be helped, right? No one can control who they fall in love with, right?”
Ueda didn’t answer but just looked at him strangely.
Yamapi laughed before subtly wiping his eyes.
“I hope you’ll get a chance to confess to Ryo, properly. I would hate for the chocolate incident to be the closest you get to that chance,” he laughed.
Ueda’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
Yamapi laughed harder, “I know you mixed up my chocolates with Ryo-I’m sure he must’ve thought that you liked him because of that-but really, who knows? I shouldn’t assume anything, right?”
Ueda blinked; how exactly did Yamapi figure out that it was Ryo who mistakenly received the love chocolates. For some reason, he was too confused to ask.
Yamapi placed his hand on the other’s shoulder.
“Give it your all, Tat-chan. Love is something to fight for and you can’t ever give up before you’ve even got a chance to try. Do your best.”
Ueda still couldn’t understand what Yamapi was saying, his mind still on the mentioning of the Valentine’s Day incident.
“I want you to be happy, Tat-chan. You were my first boyfriend-and plus, you helped me get over my ex. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
He paused, walking over to the doorframe and leaning against it.
Turning to Ueda, one last time, he said, “Thank you-for everything. I’ll see you around.”
And with that, he was gone, out of the room but not out of Ueda’s life.
Ueda continued blinking, hoping his brain would actually start functioning again. What had just happened? Had he just broken up with Yamapi? Had the other boy figured out his feelings for Ryo? Was he actually cheering Ueda on? Did Yamapi almost rape him not ten minutes ago?!
Ueda smacked himself in order to wake himself up. It hurt but he was sure that this was the start of something new. He was free to actively pursue Ryo without feeling guilty or regretful.
He was free except, there was still the matter of Kame and Ryo’s “relationship”. Ueda got up from his bed quickly and got himself ready for his next great battle: the one against his best friend, Kamenashi Kazuya. Ueda would win Ryo’s heart, even if it meant losing his best friend in the end.
A bell rang.
“Oh crap! English class!” Ueda groaned to himself as he grabbed his books and ran down the hallway and to his next class, which started in a mere 5 minutes. His battle would have to wait until another day.
That day couldn’t come quick enough for Ueda who was determined to talk to Kame and see if there was something he could do to prevent any real drama from occurring. He took the other boy aside after the last bell rang and proceeded to start his battle for Ryo.
“What’s with this thing with Ryo-kun?” he blurted out.
Kame stared at him, “What?”
Ueda tried to rephrase his question.
“You two aren’t-really together, are you?”
Kame smirked, as if he knew what Ueda was really thinking.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
Ueda’s face turned white.
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Oh please, Tat-chan-I could smell it a mile away. You wouldn’t have gotten so mad at me that time if I hadn’t ‘embarrassed’ you in front of Nishikido-kun.”
“What time? What are you talking about?”
Kame crossed his arms and laughed obnoxiously in the face of his best friend.
“If I hadn’t told him about our days together in kindergarten, you wouldn’t have gotten so mad at me and you wouldn’t have ended our friendship. You act like it was me butting in on your date with Yamapi but really-it wasn’t, am I right?”
Ueda grew nervous, but more so annoyed at Kame for jumping to such conclusions.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about! I got mad at you because-for the 100th time-you chose to embarrass me, like always. It pisses me off when you tell those stupid stories, just to make yourself look good! You don’t have to do it but you choose to-makes me wonder why we’re still friends. I don’t need you doing this to me every time we hang out!”
“I don’t embarrass you-you idiot. I’m merely telling people about the things you do, which I find cute, if anything.”
Ueda glared at Kame, who glared right back. This clearly was not going to be a simple exchanging of words, Ueda thought.
“What makes you think you have the right to do it-HUH?! It makes you feel good when I’m humiliated, doesn’t it? And now-you’re trying to steal Ryo from me, just to get back at me, aren’t you?”
Kame smiled.
“Now why would I need to get back at you, Tat-chan? Remind me-what have you ever done to me to make me do such a thing?”
Kame wasn’t really asking, because he and Ueda both knew what the latter had done to cause such a rift.
“It’s because I begged my parents to send me here instead of public school, like you, isn’t it? You thought I abandoned you and left you to get picked on by our classmates, right?”
Kame didn’t answer right away. Instead, he began frowning and looking irked by Ueda’s rehashing of the bad blood that occurred between two friends that had been so close.
“You knew I had a hard time in school because of my preferences! You knew that I could only get by if you were around me! Still you thought it would be better to just go off to some fancy private school while I had to suffer on my own!”
Ueda’s heartbeat slowed as he remembered that day when he revealed to Kame that he would be going to a different high school. It was on a day when most of their classmates were getting news about which high school they would be attending, based on their exam scores. Kame had gotten into a pretty elite public school in the city, while Ueda had, thankfully heard back from St. Sebastian’s. What Kame didn’t realize was that Ueda only enrolled at such a school was because of his parents’ decision to move to America once Ueda finished junior high. Desperate to stay in his home country, he suggested the all-boys boarding school that usually catered to students in his situation. Unfortunately for Ueda, the real reason he was going to such a school had been misunderstood by Kame who was sure that his best friend was abandoning him.
“Did you really need my protection?” he asked Kame, “Or was it me that you wanted to protect? Huh, Kame? Because I recall something Akanishi-senpai told me not too long ago-about you breaking up with him because there was someone you needed to take care of-it was me, wasn’t it?”
Kame looked shocked, unable to believe that Jin had divulged such information to Ueda of all people.
“H-He told you that?” he gasped.
“Yeah, he did. I asked him what happened between you two since you never really bothered to tell me yourself. I asked him and he told me you dumped him because of someone who was more important to you than him. I never actually figured out who it was but I guess-it was me.”
Kame looked away, possibly because he was embarrassed that he had been figured out.
“It was me that you wanted to protect, wasn’t it, Kame? I have just one question for you-what the hell made you think I needed you to protect me?!”
Kame’s hair fell over his eyes as he turned to look at Ueda. He was panting softly, and he looked very irritated that Ueda was acting in such a manner. He seemed to have a suspicious look in his eyes as well, but only for the most justified of reasons.
“IT’S BECAUSE I LOVED YOU!”
Ueda nearly fell backwards as the words came out of Kame’s mouth. What had happened? What was supposed to be a simple fight over Ryo turned into something so much more.
“W-What do you mean you LOVED me?” Ueda stuttered, as he felt his heart beating quicker and quicker.
“I loved you, Tat-chan-but you were too stupid to notice it and then, like the idiot that you are, you left me and didn’t talk to me for months! Not once did you bother to call me or write me or just come to my school to say hi! I thought that I would never be able to get over you when it was so hard to forget you! By some stroke of God, I managed to move on and channel any feelings I had for you into other things-other guys-guys who could never compare to you! But now-now, you’re nothing more to me than the guy who broke my heart-the guy who was too wrapped up in his own troubles to ever give his best friend a second glance. You didn’t care and don’t say that you did because it was obvious that you were worried about other things! You made other things more important than me, and it became clear to me that I would never be as big a part of your life as you were in mine. I tried, Tat-chan-I tried to put it all behind me-I tried to act like nothing happened-and when I saw you that time at the movies, I tried and pretended that you were just my old friend and nothing more. And when I saw you with Yamashita-kun on what was clearly a date, it felt like I’d truly lost something that I once cared for so deeply. I can only hope that you now understand why I was doing so much to mess up your date with him.”
Ueda could suddenly think so clearly as he remembered how Kame had acted at that time. He wasn’t sure what to say and was positive that it wouldn’t do him any good to defend himself or anything of the like. Then Kame continued.
“But that’s in the past-just like my feelings for you. Now I’ve moved on-I’ve moved on to Nishikido-kun and this isn’t just something to get back at Jin with. I actually like him and I’m hoping that this so-called ‘stunt’ will make him realize my feelings for him. And now, you’re no longer the object of my affections-you’re now my rival in love, Tat-chan. May the better man win-and I’ll let you know now-that I intend to. See you later.”
And without giving Ueda a chance to respond, Kame waltzed off as if he had done the greatest task any man had ever done. Ueda stood, shocked and about ready to faint from all that had been dealt to him in a matter of mere minutes. Not only had his “best friend” basically confessed to him, he had also been threatened against in a love battle, by said best friend. Kame had just done so much to Ueda in that moment and the latter wasn’t sure if he would ever recover.
But, by some sheer miracle, Ueda stood his ground; he firmly planted his feet on the ground and looked in Kame’s direction as the other boy walked away.
“This isn’t over, Kamenashi Kazuya, I will not lose to you,” he said under his breath as he clenched his fists. He then huffed and proceeded to walk in the other direction.
Just as he was making his way down the hall, someone jumped out in front of him and screamed at the top of his lungs.
“I REALLY LIKE YOU, WILL YOU PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME?!”
“What the-”
END CHAPTER 9
A/N: So much angst and random drama in this chapter ^^; I'm sorry for that >.< And it's kind of short too >.> sorry again! lol Also, don't worry, this series isn't going to end with a sad ending :D Everyone will be satisfied in the end, I assure you ♥ But poor Kame, huh? Or poor Yamapi? Maybe even poor Ueda? XD The drama will only get more intense as more of the love triangles come to climax! So be prepared for it ^^ The next chapter is coming soon, so please look forward to it. Thank you so much for your support and I will reply to comments as soon as I can! Thank you, again ♥
Author: carcrashheart_8
Pairings: RyoDa, Ryo/OC, PiDa, KameDa [friendship], Akame, PiTakki [one-sided], RyoKame, JinNo
Rating: PG-13 [strong language and sexual references]
Summary: When his parents go overseas to work, Ueda is forced to go to an all-boys boarding school for his high school years. There, he meets Ryo Nishikido, a stubborn, strong-willed boy who ends up becoming his roommate. Ueda quickly falls for the other boy despite Ryo's rude words and bad attitude. Trouble starts up, however, and soon this seemingly one-sided love ends up becoming a love triangle and eventually a love square. Despite it all, Ueda must overcome these obstacles in order to maintain his spot at the elite high school.
Disclaimer: Title taken from "Wish We Were Older" by Metro Station
Chapter 9
“NO!”
Everyone stared at Ueda, including Ryo and Kame who were surprised to hear anything come from the boy’s mouth. He seemed too shocked to say anything but luckily for him, he spoke before he got a chance to really think.
“Huh?” a few whispered.
Yamapi looked at Ueda, intently.
“You two-you can’t be together. I-It’s just not possible-Ryo-kun doesn’t even like guys, right, Ryo-kun?” Ueda attempted at rationalizing the behavior his best friend and roommate were both exhibiting.
Ryo let go of Kame’s arm and walked over to Ueda, looking at him and smiling obnoxiously.
He whispered, “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
Ueda looked up at Ryo, unable to understand the other boy’s statement.
He frowned, “Give me a break-idiot.”
“Then why would you care if I liked guys or not? Or if I was actually dating Kamenashi-kun?”
Yamapi continued to look at Ueda, a bit interested in what were the answers to Ryo’s questions.
Ueda grew embarrassed, as his cheeks turned red. Everyone was staring at him and he was on the verge of revealing his true feelings for Ryo in front of about half a dozen people, including Yamapi.
He became annoyed and just shouted, “I don’t care what you do!” before running off. Tears streamed down his face as he pushed open the cafeteria doors and made his way down the hallway, back to his dorm room. Ryo’s smile disappeared and he just became angry, only because he was disappointed by Ueda’s response to his interrogation.
Yamapi looked a little annoyed as well and for good reason. He was curious and felt unsatisfied when Ueda refused to answer the questions that plagued him. For this reason, Yamapi rushed out of the cafeteria and ran after Ueda, once again.
Ueda made it to his dorm room, with red cheeks and bloodshot eyes. He wiped his nose furiously and panted as he started throwing things against the wall; his pillow went flying across the room and his chair was knocked over, onto the floor. He was furious with the way Ryo was acting and the fact that Kame used his roommate in order to make Jin, his ex, jealous. Ueda had never expected to start his 2nd year of high school with such drama, a stupid notion considering not more than a few weeks ago, he had ended his decade-long friendship with Kame and almost ended another decade-long friendship between Ryo and Yamapi, all over some spilt orange juice.
Ueda took the pillow from the floor and put it against his face. He screamed at the top of his lungs, letting the pillow muffle the sound. When he was done, he dropped the pillow to the floor and staggered over to his bed, falling backwards onto it.
“That usually is the best way to relieve stress,” a voice said.
Ueda jumped up, surprised to see Yamapi in the doorway.
“Y-Yamapi,” he gasped.
Yamapi smiled and leant against the doorframe.
“That was quite a scene back there, don’t you think?”
Ueda blushed and looked away, feeling his stomach twist.
“You wanna tell me why you got so angry?”
Ueda refused to speak, or move for that matter.
Yamapi got the hint, “I see. Well-it wouldn’t have anything to do with-oh, I don’t know-you liking Ryo?”
Ueda turned his head quickly and stared at the other boy with wide eyes.
“W-What?”
“Oh, that got your attention. I’m glad-I was afraid you were just gonna stop talking to me,” Yamapi chuckled, only sounding half-serious.
Ueda continued feeling awkward as his stomach churned with every second that went by.
Yamapi sat on the bed and looked up at Ueda’s back as the other boy stood, frozen. He crossed his legs and put his folded hands on his knees. He sighed as he looked at the havoc Ueda had unleashed on the room.
“I wish I could just assume what’s really going on and be right. It’s difficult sometimes to know what other people are thinking. But sometimes it’s not too hard when their facial expressions-body language-their actions speak for themselves. Still-I can only assume. So-wanna do me a favor and tell me what the hell is going on?”
Ueda choked a bit; he felt a lump in his throat form as his stomach continued turning. He wanted to pretend that there was nothing wrong and that Yamapi was being suspicious for no justified reason. He wanted to lie and say he had no idea what Yamapi was talking about and he wanted to lie and say he had no feelings for Ryo, whatsoever.
He wanted to but he couldn’t. Instead, he turned and sat down next to Yamapi on the bed, putting his hands in his lap and his eyes lowered to the floor.
Yamapi turned his body and looked directly at him.
“The truth is-” Ueda started, “I like you-I like you, I really do. But the thing is-”
“But what?” Yamapi added.
Ueda sighed, “The truth is-”
All of a sudden, Yamapi lunged forward and pinned Ueda down to the bed. Ueda’s heart started to race as he felt Yamapi’s weight on top of him. He had no idea what was going on and started to wince in pain.
“What-What are you doing?” he cried, struggling to break free from Yamapi’s grip. He stopped when he looked at the sadness in the other boy’s eyes.
“You-You love Ryo, don’t you?” Yamapi whispered, gripping Ueda’s wrists tighter.
Ueda closed his eyes and whimpered softly.
“ANSWER ME!” Yamapi shouted.
Ueda felt tears stream down his cheeks as he started sobbing.
“I’m sorry, Yamapi! I-I never meant to hurt you! I-I-I’m so sorry,” Ueda stuttered as he found it hard to breathe.
Yamapi got up and sat back on the bed, his back against the wall and his knees in front of his face. Ueda struggled to get up, and continued crying and wiping his eyes.
Yamapi sighed, wiping his eyes as well, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have held you down like that.”
Ueda stopped crying and looked at Yamapi who seemed remorseful.
“I guess I just got so mad at the thought of you being in love with-with Ryo! I mean, what good has he ever been to you? You’re always complaining about him and fighting with him-I can’t see why you’d ever fall in love with someone you get along with so terribly.”
Ueda caught his breath and just said, “I can’t figure it out either.”
Yamapi looked at him, a bit shocked to hear the other boy say such a thing.
“It was sort of instant-the first time I met him, when he helped me up after falling and looked at me with such concern. I’d never seen that look in anyone’s eyes when they looked at me. I saw compassion-I saw heart-I saw a sense of humanity that I’d never gotten from anyone I’ve ever met before. Ryo-he’s not the nicest person and sometimes he’s a little too stubborn for his own good but-deep down, there’s someone so kind-hearted-someone who has respect for his grandmother-someone who would love the person he’s with more than anyone else in the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before-Ryo’s just different from anyone I’d ever met.”
Yamapi felt his heart break as the words came out of Ueda’s mouth. He lowered his head, hoping to hide the redness in his eyes.
“Can I ask you something?” he whispered.
Ueda replied, “S-Sure.”
“Did you even like me-at all?”
Ueda paused. He’d never really, fully figured out just how he felt for Yamapi; it had always been kind of foggy for him. For one thing, he liked Yamapi as a friend, as a classmate, as a person. But, in terms of romance, that was something he wasn’t too sure about. Originally, it had been all a misunderstanding thanks to Koki and Maru; and things only got progressively worse as they started dating. But there was a moment when they were on their first date that Ueda knew made him think of Yamapi as something so much more. His heart had never beat so fast as when it did when he held hands with the other boy for the first time; he felt such jealousy when Kame was monopolizing him during that movie trip and just earlier when Yamapi had clearly become enamored with their new homeroom teacher. If it wasn’t love like it was so obviously with Ryo, Ueda was sure there were at least some romantic feelings inside of him for Yamapi.
“Of course I did,” he replied, grinning, “I like you a lot, Yamapi-I really do.”
Yamapi looked up at him, “But not as much as Ryo-right?”
Ueda skipped a beat. He couldn’t handle answering that question but Yamapi was sure of the answer.
Instead of getting angry again, he sighed with what seemed like relief. It seemed he understood or was at least trying to be understanding.
“I guess it can’t be helped, right? No one can control who they fall in love with, right?”
Ueda didn’t answer but just looked at him strangely.
Yamapi laughed before subtly wiping his eyes.
“I hope you’ll get a chance to confess to Ryo, properly. I would hate for the chocolate incident to be the closest you get to that chance,” he laughed.
Ueda’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
Yamapi laughed harder, “I know you mixed up my chocolates with Ryo-I’m sure he must’ve thought that you liked him because of that-but really, who knows? I shouldn’t assume anything, right?”
Ueda blinked; how exactly did Yamapi figure out that it was Ryo who mistakenly received the love chocolates. For some reason, he was too confused to ask.
Yamapi placed his hand on the other’s shoulder.
“Give it your all, Tat-chan. Love is something to fight for and you can’t ever give up before you’ve even got a chance to try. Do your best.”
Ueda still couldn’t understand what Yamapi was saying, his mind still on the mentioning of the Valentine’s Day incident.
“I want you to be happy, Tat-chan. You were my first boyfriend-and plus, you helped me get over my ex. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
He paused, walking over to the doorframe and leaning against it.
Turning to Ueda, one last time, he said, “Thank you-for everything. I’ll see you around.”
And with that, he was gone, out of the room but not out of Ueda’s life.
Ueda continued blinking, hoping his brain would actually start functioning again. What had just happened? Had he just broken up with Yamapi? Had the other boy figured out his feelings for Ryo? Was he actually cheering Ueda on? Did Yamapi almost rape him not ten minutes ago?!
Ueda smacked himself in order to wake himself up. It hurt but he was sure that this was the start of something new. He was free to actively pursue Ryo without feeling guilty or regretful.
He was free except, there was still the matter of Kame and Ryo’s “relationship”. Ueda got up from his bed quickly and got himself ready for his next great battle: the one against his best friend, Kamenashi Kazuya. Ueda would win Ryo’s heart, even if it meant losing his best friend in the end.
A bell rang.
“Oh crap! English class!” Ueda groaned to himself as he grabbed his books and ran down the hallway and to his next class, which started in a mere 5 minutes. His battle would have to wait until another day.
That day couldn’t come quick enough for Ueda who was determined to talk to Kame and see if there was something he could do to prevent any real drama from occurring. He took the other boy aside after the last bell rang and proceeded to start his battle for Ryo.
“What’s with this thing with Ryo-kun?” he blurted out.
Kame stared at him, “What?”
Ueda tried to rephrase his question.
“You two aren’t-really together, are you?”
Kame smirked, as if he knew what Ueda was really thinking.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
Ueda’s face turned white.
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Oh please, Tat-chan-I could smell it a mile away. You wouldn’t have gotten so mad at me that time if I hadn’t ‘embarrassed’ you in front of Nishikido-kun.”
“What time? What are you talking about?”
Kame crossed his arms and laughed obnoxiously in the face of his best friend.
“If I hadn’t told him about our days together in kindergarten, you wouldn’t have gotten so mad at me and you wouldn’t have ended our friendship. You act like it was me butting in on your date with Yamapi but really-it wasn’t, am I right?”
Ueda grew nervous, but more so annoyed at Kame for jumping to such conclusions.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about! I got mad at you because-for the 100th time-you chose to embarrass me, like always. It pisses me off when you tell those stupid stories, just to make yourself look good! You don’t have to do it but you choose to-makes me wonder why we’re still friends. I don’t need you doing this to me every time we hang out!”
“I don’t embarrass you-you idiot. I’m merely telling people about the things you do, which I find cute, if anything.”
Ueda glared at Kame, who glared right back. This clearly was not going to be a simple exchanging of words, Ueda thought.
“What makes you think you have the right to do it-HUH?! It makes you feel good when I’m humiliated, doesn’t it? And now-you’re trying to steal Ryo from me, just to get back at me, aren’t you?”
Kame smiled.
“Now why would I need to get back at you, Tat-chan? Remind me-what have you ever done to me to make me do such a thing?”
Kame wasn’t really asking, because he and Ueda both knew what the latter had done to cause such a rift.
“It’s because I begged my parents to send me here instead of public school, like you, isn’t it? You thought I abandoned you and left you to get picked on by our classmates, right?”
Kame didn’t answer right away. Instead, he began frowning and looking irked by Ueda’s rehashing of the bad blood that occurred between two friends that had been so close.
“You knew I had a hard time in school because of my preferences! You knew that I could only get by if you were around me! Still you thought it would be better to just go off to some fancy private school while I had to suffer on my own!”
Ueda’s heartbeat slowed as he remembered that day when he revealed to Kame that he would be going to a different high school. It was on a day when most of their classmates were getting news about which high school they would be attending, based on their exam scores. Kame had gotten into a pretty elite public school in the city, while Ueda had, thankfully heard back from St. Sebastian’s. What Kame didn’t realize was that Ueda only enrolled at such a school was because of his parents’ decision to move to America once Ueda finished junior high. Desperate to stay in his home country, he suggested the all-boys boarding school that usually catered to students in his situation. Unfortunately for Ueda, the real reason he was going to such a school had been misunderstood by Kame who was sure that his best friend was abandoning him.
“Did you really need my protection?” he asked Kame, “Or was it me that you wanted to protect? Huh, Kame? Because I recall something Akanishi-senpai told me not too long ago-about you breaking up with him because there was someone you needed to take care of-it was me, wasn’t it?”
Kame looked shocked, unable to believe that Jin had divulged such information to Ueda of all people.
“H-He told you that?” he gasped.
“Yeah, he did. I asked him what happened between you two since you never really bothered to tell me yourself. I asked him and he told me you dumped him because of someone who was more important to you than him. I never actually figured out who it was but I guess-it was me.”
Kame looked away, possibly because he was embarrassed that he had been figured out.
“It was me that you wanted to protect, wasn’t it, Kame? I have just one question for you-what the hell made you think I needed you to protect me?!”
Kame’s hair fell over his eyes as he turned to look at Ueda. He was panting softly, and he looked very irritated that Ueda was acting in such a manner. He seemed to have a suspicious look in his eyes as well, but only for the most justified of reasons.
“IT’S BECAUSE I LOVED YOU!”
Ueda nearly fell backwards as the words came out of Kame’s mouth. What had happened? What was supposed to be a simple fight over Ryo turned into something so much more.
“W-What do you mean you LOVED me?” Ueda stuttered, as he felt his heart beating quicker and quicker.
“I loved you, Tat-chan-but you were too stupid to notice it and then, like the idiot that you are, you left me and didn’t talk to me for months! Not once did you bother to call me or write me or just come to my school to say hi! I thought that I would never be able to get over you when it was so hard to forget you! By some stroke of God, I managed to move on and channel any feelings I had for you into other things-other guys-guys who could never compare to you! But now-now, you’re nothing more to me than the guy who broke my heart-the guy who was too wrapped up in his own troubles to ever give his best friend a second glance. You didn’t care and don’t say that you did because it was obvious that you were worried about other things! You made other things more important than me, and it became clear to me that I would never be as big a part of your life as you were in mine. I tried, Tat-chan-I tried to put it all behind me-I tried to act like nothing happened-and when I saw you that time at the movies, I tried and pretended that you were just my old friend and nothing more. And when I saw you with Yamashita-kun on what was clearly a date, it felt like I’d truly lost something that I once cared for so deeply. I can only hope that you now understand why I was doing so much to mess up your date with him.”
Ueda could suddenly think so clearly as he remembered how Kame had acted at that time. He wasn’t sure what to say and was positive that it wouldn’t do him any good to defend himself or anything of the like. Then Kame continued.
“But that’s in the past-just like my feelings for you. Now I’ve moved on-I’ve moved on to Nishikido-kun and this isn’t just something to get back at Jin with. I actually like him and I’m hoping that this so-called ‘stunt’ will make him realize my feelings for him. And now, you’re no longer the object of my affections-you’re now my rival in love, Tat-chan. May the better man win-and I’ll let you know now-that I intend to. See you later.”
And without giving Ueda a chance to respond, Kame waltzed off as if he had done the greatest task any man had ever done. Ueda stood, shocked and about ready to faint from all that had been dealt to him in a matter of mere minutes. Not only had his “best friend” basically confessed to him, he had also been threatened against in a love battle, by said best friend. Kame had just done so much to Ueda in that moment and the latter wasn’t sure if he would ever recover.
But, by some sheer miracle, Ueda stood his ground; he firmly planted his feet on the ground and looked in Kame’s direction as the other boy walked away.
“This isn’t over, Kamenashi Kazuya, I will not lose to you,” he said under his breath as he clenched his fists. He then huffed and proceeded to walk in the other direction.
Just as he was making his way down the hall, someone jumped out in front of him and screamed at the top of his lungs.
“I REALLY LIKE YOU, WILL YOU PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME?!”
“What the-”
END CHAPTER 9
A/N: So much angst and random drama in this chapter ^^; I'm sorry for that >.< And it's kind of short too >.> sorry again! lol Also, don't worry, this series isn't going to end with a sad ending :D Everyone will be satisfied in the end, I assure you ♥ But poor Kame, huh? Or poor Yamapi? Maybe even poor Ueda? XD The drama will only get more intense as more of the love triangles come to climax! So be prepared for it ^^ The next chapter is coming soon, so please look forward to it. Thank you so much for your support and I will reply to comments as soon as I can! Thank you, again ♥