[Multi part] The Untitled Story of You and Me (part 4/?) - cont
(Before)
With full concentration, Tatsuya punches the heavy bag in front of him. Boxing is his favourite sport and even though he’s not a member of the Boxing Club and the extracurricular activity is in no way related to his Magazine School where he improves his writing skill, he diligently goes there to practice everyday. However, the members of the Boxing Club never mind him using the facility because, well... he is Tatsuya. Tatsuya who’s well known for his coldness and has an aura that intimidates others, and that’s an excellent reason why no one dares to argue with him. Besides, Tatsuya often contributes to the Club by donating boxing gears and equipment. So again, there’s no reason for them to protest.
It’s now 11 o’clock in the morning and Tatsuya’s stomach is growling forcing him to finish today’s practice and head to his pavilion. Having realized that it’s Sunday, he is well aware that no one will be there but rather they’ll be out on a dates or just simply walking around to refresh their minds from school activities. Tatsuya shrugs his shoulders, he can just eat some instant noodle if Kame is not preparing lunch for them. Besides, the empty pavilion would do him well because then, he can take a peaceful nap without the nuisance of Akanishi and Nakamaru. [Demo] he silently hopes that Taguchi will be home, so that they can spend more time together. He smiles at the thought.
Just like he expects, their pavilion is empty. There’s no one there, not even Junno. He gives a dissapointed sigh, just before the clatter of the piano comes soaring from the second floor reaching his ears. Eh? Who’s playing? Tatsuya asks himself, because as far as he knows, he’s the only one who plays the piano and uses it to compose his songs. Curiously, Tatsuya goes upstairs, listening to the song being played, ‘My Precious One.’*
When he opens the door to the piano room, Taguchi’s figure came into view. He is seated behind the piano with his body lightly swaying to the chorus of the music, a sight that fascinates Tatsuya who remains standing, staring and observing the expression on Junno’s countenance, it is one he has never seen before. Sitting behind the musical furniture, Taguchi’s demeanour displays purity and innocence. An expression accentuated with the help of the sunlight penetrating through the cracks of the windows behind him. To Tatsuya, Junno looks like an angel. Still standing at the doorway completely memorized by what he’s seeing and hearing, Tatsuya likes it… he likes this peaceful aura illuminating from Junno.
Oblivious to the intruder, Junno is completely absorbed with his piano playing; the scene only gains a more intense stare from Tatsuya. Taguchi plays and plays, allowing the musical notes to fill the room creating a chirpy atmosphere… was it happiness? It felt so free, so colourful, he could keep going forever but finally he presses the last note, smiling brightly to himself.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you play the piano, Junno?” Tatsuya asks softly walking to stand in front of him. Junno, realizing the owner of the voice immediately lifts his face.
“Uepi,” Junno smiles again, “ah, I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to use it. I was just cleaning the room, and then suddenly I wanted to play. Gomen, Uepi” Junno apologizes. Tatsuya just shakes his head indicating that there’s no need to apologize.
“It’s fine. It’s not like this piano is mine only. You guys can use it too, right?” Tatsuya smiles “Anyway, why did you play that song? You looked so absorbed into playing. Is connected to a particular memory or circumstance?”
“Un, this is the song my mom used to sing to me at bedtime… her lullaby to me. I sing it whenever I miss her.” Taguchi smiles at Tatsuya.
“What?” Taguchi asks seeing Tatsuya’s stunned face.
“Nothing. I like seeing you play the piano. You look so... pure and calm.” Tatsuya answers without changing the look on his face.
Taguchi suddenly feels his heart beating at an abnormal speed. The butterflies in his stomach were awakening as he lifts his face to meet Tatsuya’s stare… he could drown in his stare… get trapped in them and let them haunt him forever. But that’s when he remembers Kame’s words;
“You’re right, Taguchi. That’s a serious disease. You have to avoid that person. Otherwise, he’ll catch that disease from you as well.....”
Taguchi shakes his head with a strong gesture, causing Tatsuya to frown, “Junno? Are you okay?”
Junno realizing his mistake, “U-Uepi.. I’m sorry. I have to go now.” Junno says leaving behind Tatsuya in the piano room. He doesn’t even look back to see the confusion and bewilderment in Tatsuya’s eyes.
_____
Tatsuya blankly stares at the computer monitor in front of him. Papers of interview results already typed are scattered all over his desk and he’s making no attempt at getting things tidied. His mind is off wondering away from those papers and the computer and retracing its steps to the previous week when Junno ran and left him standing alone in the piano room. What the hell is going on with Junno? Why did it feel like Junno is trying to avoid him? Ever since he last saw him in the piano room, he has been sensing that Junno is trying to avoid him.
If per chance they should meet in their school corridor, Tatsuya would always call out to Taguchi, but once Taguchi recognizes Tatsuya’s voice or saw him standing, he would most definitely mutter any excuse to run away from him. Even at their pavilion too. The reality that Tatsuya’s room is located right across the hall, opposite to Junno’s didn’t make things easier, for Junno would always make sure that Tatsuya would leave his room first before exiting his own. Whenever a situation caused them both to be close together, Junno would try his best to ignore him. He would talk to Kame or Jin without even glancing at Tatsuya. Yes! Taguchi is..... 100% Ignoring him.
This revealing reality was aggravating. What’s wrong this time? What had he done to have made the younger house-mate mad and ignoring him like that? Why? Why is Junno behaving like this, when they’re just getting close to each other? Why does Junno ignore him when all he wants is to get closer to him and hug him, embrace him, touch him? These questions makes him upset, frustation eating at him with such agony that he doesn’t realize someone has been calling him for some minutes now.
“...da! Ueda! OI, UEDA!!!” The call waking Tatsuya from his daydream. Nishikido is furiously glaring at him. I don’t get what Junno sees in this guy and taking about how nice he is. Tatsuya thinks to himself, rolling his eyes in annoyance.
“What the hell are you doing? You know, your work won’t get done just by staring blankly at the computer monitor. Do you have your I-can-see-fairies syndrome again? Finish your work or else, you will have to work double for this week!” Tatsuya hears Nishikido threating across the room.
“Just try if you can!” Tatsuya mumbles slowly in reply to Nishikido’s words, which of course causes Nishikido to get angrier, tempting him to start walking across the room, furiously approaching Tatsuya. In this same manner of anger, Nishikido grabs Tatsuya’s shirt collar and starts to reprimand the other, “listen to me, whether you like it or not, the reality is, I’m the President of this club Ueda and you’ll just have to do what I want you to do or....” Nishikido stops suddenly.
“Or what Mr. Oh-I’m-the-President? You’re the worst President this club has ever had!” Tatsuya snorts in response to Nishikido’s words.
But, it seems like Tatsuya’s spoken words went unheard by Nishikido as Nishikido was more focus on an object on Tatsuya’s desk. Realizing the sudden change in the aggressor’s behavior, Tatsuya looks in the direction at which Nishikido is looking and following Nishikido’s trail of vision, the purikura with him [Tatsuya] and Taguchi lies on his desk.
“You!!” Nishikido grabs Tatsuya’s collar tighter.
“You! STAY AWAY FROM TAGUCHI! Don’t touch him, or you’ll face me!!” Nishikido angrily shouts at him, his mocking eyes change into a serious glare. As if suddenly digesting what Nishikido had just told him, Tatsuya’s anger was at boiling point. Nishikido of all people has no right to forbid him to be with Taguchi. He has no right. Not at all...
“What the hell is your problem, Nishikido? It’s not your problem...”
“It’s my fucking problem!! When it comes to Taguchi, it’s my problem!” Nishikido shouts back, still furiously glaring at Tatsuya before continuing,
“He has been through enough in his life and he doesn’t need you or anyone else to ruin the little happiness he has! I will never forgive anyone, especially you, if you hurt him.” Of course, Tatsuya is surprised to hear these words being spoken by Nishikido. What? What does this mean? Why would he say that as if he knows everything about Taguchi and his life? Jealousy was now eminent in Tatsuya’s face, taking over his entire being.
“Who are you? Who the hell are you? What do you know about Taguchi?” Tatsuya asks, trying to control his emotion, his jealousy from taking over his mind. His hand now gripping Nishikido’s collar, clenching it tightly.
“What do I KNOW about Taguchi? Are you kidding me? Of course I know everything. EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.” He snorts, “Well... I can’t help it. We’re brothers after all.” Nishikido states calmly, stating at the purikura, the mocking tone was clearly heard in his voice.
“YOU’RE WHAT?” Tatsuya widens his eyes in surprise.
* My Precious One - Celine Dion (My favorite Lullaby :3)
I'm so sorry for the Cliffhanger *get bricked* Anyway, I wanna say that I will be gone from fandom for about 15 days. Cause I and my family will go to my hometown *o* I'm so sad (but happy too XD). I'm so sad cause I will not be around for so long, but well.. I'm happy cause I will go to the place I miss so much >w< So, I think I can't update this story for a while, cause there isn't any good net connection there.. I think XD
So, see you in the next 15 days, guys!! ^^