Be Patient with Me (one shot) part 2
Many people with their various colorful yukata smeared Yokohama that evening. High school girls walked with fans in their hands while talking excitingly. Nino had finished his shift earlier; he had requested the afternoon shift to his supervisor because he couldn’t stand the festival. He untied his apron and walked away from the café; he only walked a few meters when a hand grabbed him. The touch was familiar and somehow, he could recognize the owner of those hands.
“Nino, it’s been a while.”
Nino looked straight into Ohno’s eyes. His camera was hanging from his neck and his skin was so tanned.
“I’m going home,” Nino said, turning around, but Ohno didn’t loosen his grip.
“Don’t you want to enjoy the festival?”
“No! I hate it!” Nino said in rather a loud voice, which made a few school girls turn their heads in his direction. He couldn’t explain it, but he was mad at Ohno for no reason. He was mad that Ohno didn’t appear at the promised time, he was mad at the cameraman for being so laidback but still with the best reputation, he was mad at himself for being so sensitive.
“Sorry,” Nino mumbled shyly. “I didn’t mean to scream at you, Ohno-san.”
Ohno’s expression didn’t change; he looked at Nino through eyes with an understanding gaze, which melted Nino’s heart - which made him feel even guiltier for raising his voice.
“I got into a little accident in Okinawa,” Ohno said quickly. “I slipped off from the stone when I was taking pictures and I sprained my wrist, so the schedule was prolonged and I had to stay for the whole week there. I wanted to call you but then I realized that I didn’t have your number. I tried to reach Sho, but he said that you’ve changed your number. I had no way to communicate with you and I apologize for appearing this late, since I had to finish another project outside of Tokyo.”
Nino gasped, and he bit his lower lip. He was so childish and short tempered and had accused Ohno of so many bad things.
“So, can I have your phone number?” Ohno asked when Nino didn’t say anything.
Nino was still mad at Ohno for being so honest and for being so attractive. He released his hand from Ohno’s grip and it took some time for him to look for his phone in his bag.
“Did you think that I would not show up?” Ohno asked.
“I did,” Nino answered shortly. “I mean, you can befriend everyone. You’re a well-known cameraman. Everyone wants to be friend with you.”
Ohno’s lips curved into a smile as he heard that. “So, you’ve researched me, I’m honored.”
“Well, Wikipedia seems to provide reliable information. It’s kind of odd if someone like you wants my company.” Nino said precisely what he had been thinking for the last few weeks.
“Is that wrong? I mean, are there any rules that I can only befriend particular people?”
Ohno’s statement had no answer and Nino thought it was useless if he tried to debate it. He shook his head slowly. “I was just wondering why.”
“We don’t have reasons for everything, Nino,” Ohno mumbled. “I’m starving, by the way. Let’s have some dinner,” he said, and without waiting for Nino’s answer, he guided Nino towards the nearest ramen shop. “My treat,” Ohno smiled.
They ate in silence; the ramen was good and a reasonable price, and the lady behind the counter thanked them as they left the shop. Ohno clutched his camera and randomly took pictures while walking along the sidewalk. Nino had forgotten that he actually wanted to go home; he followed Ohno’s steps towards Yamashita Park, which was full of people who were waiting for the fireworks.
“I know a perfect spot, come,” Ohno said, leading Nino to the far end of the park. There was no one there since it was quite far from the bay.
“We can’t see the fireworks from here,” Nino muttered.
“Do you think so?” Ohno replied. The man guided him farther, and much to Nino’s surprise, there was a bench, hidden behind the bushes. Ohno turned to him and grinned.
“How did you know there’s a bench here?” Nino asked suspiciously.
“I lived nearby when I was a kid,” Ohno answered. He approached the bench, Nino following behind him. The cameraman stood on the bench and lifted his camera; the fireworks festival had begun and Ohno was right; it could be seen perfectly from this spot.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Ohno said.
“Yeah,” Nino mumbled an answer. He glanced at Ohno, who still busily taking pictures; this man was odd and surprisingly easy going. However, Nino still couldn’t trust him. This cameraman was a mere acquaintance, and he couldn’t categorize him as a friend - not yet. Nino didn’t know why he chose to stay instead of going home; there was something about Ohno which made Nino obey him - in a good way.
Was he lonely?
No, Nino thought. He never felt loneliness of any sort. He wouldn’t mind if he had no one to talk to for days, he wouldn’t complain if he had to stay alone on an uninhabited island. On the contrary, he loved being alone; it gave him more space to think, unlimited freedom because nobody would judge him or tell him what to do.
“Nino, look at that!” Ohno said, pointing to the sky. The fireworks in spectacular shapes lit the sky, changing colors beautifully, and without Nino realizing it, he felt awe inside his chest.
They stayed on the bench while watching the fireworks. They almost didn’t talk, but it didn’t matter. Nino usually needed some time to open up to people he had just met and Ohno wasn’t the type of person who loved talking, so basically, they felt comfortable with each other’s presence without conversation.
“I’ll call you,” Ohno said as they separated. “Or you can call me if you feel like you need someone to drink with.”
“I will,” Nino replied. He knew he wouldn’t call Ohno first. This man was a busy cameraman; there was no way he would be there when Nino needed him to go for a drink.
When Nino arrived at his apartment, the clock was pointed past midnight. He heaved a deep sigh. It hadn’t been a bad night, he thought.
***
Nino got a surprise when he reached the café the next day, finding Jun sitting at one of the tables. The man was wearing a pair of stylish sunglasses, and he had changed his haircut, with cute bangs on his forehead.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Nino-kun,” Jun said with a broad smile on his lips.
Nino slowly approached the man. Perhaps Jun was here to deliver the wedding invitation, and the thought sent a prickle to Nino’s stomach, but he tried to respond to Jun’s smile as he sat down across from the man.
“How are you?” Jun asked him.
“Great,” Nino answered. “Your hair is lovely.”
Jun chuckled, “Thanks. Sho doesn’t like it though.”
“He doesn’t have good style,” Nino replied.
Jun laughed, and his laughter somehow calmed Nino down. He liked Jun’s deep voice and he loved how this man smiled.
“I’m here to ask for help,” Jun said.
“Help? What kind of help do you want from me?” Nino asked. He couldn’t find how this perfect man needed help from someone like him.
“I’ve read your old articles,” Jun said. “I love your writing style and I think it will be a waste if you stopped doing it.”
Nino averted his gaze from Jun and looked at the Ferris Wheel across the bay; it had been ages since he wrote an article, and he had forgotten the essence.
“I need you to write a short article for my upcoming fashion launch,” Jun continued. “The event is two months from now and it will be held in Singapore, so you still have plenty of time to think about it.”
“What if I say no,” Nino mumbled.
“It leaves me no choice,” Jun shrugged. “I’ll be waiting for your decision.”
Jun fished something from his inner pocket and handed a name card to Nino. “Send me an email if you agree,” Jun said.
Nino nodded. He didn’t know whether it would do him any good if he agreed, though he still had time to decline the offer. Jun could find someone better than him to cover his fashion launch. It didn’t need to be Nino.
“I have to go now.” Jun stood up. “See you, Nino-kun.”
“Be careful on your way,” Nino heard himself say. “Good luck on the wedding preparations.”
“Thanks,” Jun replied.
Nino watched the man go until he could no longer be seen among the crowd. He looked at Jun’s name card and felt a mixture of emotions inside his mind. Jun was the man who owned Sho, but Nino couldn’t bring himself to dislike Jun. He knew that Jun was a good man since the first time they met, and he knew that they could be friends.
A week passed since Nino met Jun, but he hadn’t decided to agree or not. He looked up the fashion Jun talked about; the man was the main designer for a brand called Purple Light. His name was widely known in the fashion world, and now the brand was opening branches in Seoul and Shanghai. That was why he needed to travel abroad now and then.
Ohno had sent him a LINE message the night before, asking Nino whether he would be available on Thursday night. Nino had replied with a short ‘yes’. Perhaps Ohno could give him some advice on what to do. Nino had a day off on Thursday, so he headed to the place that Ohno mentioned. The cameraman had been waiting for him. It was the first time Nino saw the man without his cameras hanging around his neck.
“I heard that Matsujun met you the other day,” Ohno said instead of a greeting.
“What am I now? A public figure that you guys are talking about?” Nino shook his head.
“I’ll be there too, at the fashion launch,” Ohno replied, ignoring what Nino said.
“Great,” Nino answered shortly. “Where are we going?”
“Sho-kun’s bachelor party,” Ohno replied.
“What?!” Nino stopped his steps. “I’m not going.”
Ohno turned to him. He leaned closer and took Nino’s hand. “You don’t have any feelings for Sho-kun anymore, right?”
“Yes, but…” Nino glanced at their intertwined hands.
“Then we have no problem,” Ohno said cheerfully, dragging Nino towards the station from which they would depart to the venue where Sho’s bachelor party was being held. “Sho-kun doesn’t know about the party. It was all arranged by Aiba.”
“Aiba?”
“We met him at a bar in Ginza,” Ohno replied.
part 3