Reina wores his heart on his sleeves , and had an open body that could be the light in a joyful moment .The confirmation , made him optimistic , he could catch Arthur heart , with just a little push and dedication .
A confirmation , that helped him push further , with no turning back . He regularly availed himself for practice , without skipping a day , the sequence continued for a few months , giving off vibes of friendships and rebound partner . Their rebound skills were unbreakable , a match made in heaven .
One afternoon ,after Reina classes ended , he found Arthur waiting , outside the engineering faculty . Upon seeing Reina , he motioned him closer with an upturned palm .
Arthur glanced at Reina's way , and Reina got a good look at his shiny teeth ."Oh _long have you being standing here ?"
" It's nice that you're here ", he replied , with a look on his face that he'd been waiting for him for a long time ." I have a favor to ask ".
" What is it ",
His brows were drawn together with a worried frown , he bit his lip , while his gaze fixed on the floor , a silent please of assistance quivered on his mouth , " I need help with .... arranging the basketball store , please.... please help me .....you're all that I got .
" Arthur pleading for help , is so damn cute ," Reina mummers to himself . " How can I overcome his cute and vulnerable side ? How can I say no to the one person am deeply in love with , my first love ?"
The tightness around Aiden eyes , and a faint tremor in his lip betrayed his cool reserved figure , and displayed a desperate plea . It made Reina's heart to flutter, but the little manipulative rabbit wasn't going to let the opportunity to slide him , an ulterior motive , skipped his mind .
For the first time , Reina mastered courage , and spoke his mind out . " If I am to help , I deserve a reward ."
" Whatever you need , name it , and I shall give it to you ".
Reina gave out a sweet , sheepish smile , " you will never choose another rebound partner apart from me , only I completes you ...."
Arthur thought for a second , then answered with a high voice , " I promise I will never choose anyone else apart from you .
The two walks towards the store ,
To Reina this was a great opportunity for him , he could seize the moment and confess his feelings .As Reina strides into the room , a chocked glance hit his face , a precaurious stack of ball piled up and could topple at any moment .The store is filled with crumpled papers , and dust -covered neglected balls on the tilted shelves . The shelves looked like a battlefield after a long a long fight , and the air was thick with a smell of forgotten things , like a forgotten memory .The boxes seemed to groan under their own weight and the dance bunnies seemed to dance in the weak light .
The work load was so heavy , and left Reina wiped out ,eyes heavy and dragging himself due to lack of energy . His energy was drained and he felt weary .
To exhausted to stand , he slumped into the chair , his body feeling heavy and limp , head dropping forward , and his eyes half closed .Drowsily ,he gave out a loud drawn - out yawn , that stretched his jaws , eyes closed for a moment .
Upon Arthur seeing , how drain out he was , he walks towards him , holding a cold bottle of water . " Drinks this , to cool you're body , a refreshing drink , it's my favorite . "
Arthur words made Reina to wake up , he quickly stretches his hand to pick the drink ,
" So cute, his favorite drink ,oh no ! I have won a jackpot , he is sharing his favorite drink with me ," he happily thought to himself .
His hands found his , a soft gentle Soothing touch , grazed his innocent heart . Reina found himself grazing into his eyes , and a shared longing reflected in his eyes , Arthur didn't miss a chance to confuse Reina , he eyed at Reina , as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone .
Out of shyness , he blinked as his eyes adjusted , onto the floor , face turning red , while his heart flu
To Reina , he thought Arthur was sending signals , a misunderstanding , that shuttered his heart into pieces , " this is it , a chance to let my crush know ,am into him , " he thought to himself, and extended his hand with a hesitant , he made to reach out to Arthur chin , but he paused before he began , struck by the feeling , Arthur would reject his affection , and he held his tongue for a second , dropping his hand to the side , and turned away .
" What the heck am I doing ", he mummers to himself painfully ."
But Reina wasn't going to let , his one chance , slip away , he steeled his nerve , as a spark of confidence ignited within him , shedding hesitation . It started with standing tall , face turned away , and voice stuttering ,to growing bolder and meeting his Arthur gaze .
" I ....like....you ....",Reina spoke in a fearful voice. He leaned in , eyes gazed on him . His lips brushing his , softly and delicately , like butterflies wings , leaving a lingering warmth , long after he pulled away , it was a soft whisper of a kiss that made him feel incredibly precious.
But that wasn't the case for Arthur , that kiss was an accident , an accident that wasn't suppose to happen . Reina leans in again , to get his assurance one again , but Arthur shoved him away .
" Am sorry ...if I led you on , but am not attracted to you , in that manner , " Arthur hesitated for a moment .
" But , what were the signals you send to me , were you just teasing me ", he replied , this time feeling frustrated .
" Am sorry Reina , I was under pressure , into finding a partner , the coach insisted if I didn't , the next game, I would be benched , after seeing your shooting skills, I didn't want to loose the opportunity . "Arthur leans forward holding Reina's shoulder , maintaining eye contact , " I was born to play , not a bench player , and I wasn't going to let my chance slip away ".
" So you used me , but the signals ....", Reina's voice was stuttering , his eyes turns reddish.
" Forget the signals , I was just using your feelings to help myself , you thought I didn't notice you like me ",
" Come on Reina , don't be so naive , the world is so cruel , you something in exchange of something else ", Arthur raised his voice at Reina , and gave a great bark of laughter .
" Then why are you confessing now ," Reina asked .
" That's because I already got my sponsorship ,and you foolishly signed a contract of participation , throughout your campus life ," he replied confidently .
" You tricked me ,"
" No .....no.....the man I like can't do this to me", Reina mummers to himself , tears prickling behind his eyes and his throat tightned , those words broke him .
Arthur's chilling shill from his laughter was as violent and twisted as he was , as he walks out of the room leaving Reina sobbing .
The way Arthur laughed started in the back of his eyes , a quip that trickled him deeply .
Reina walks home in despair feeling heart broken , and he felt into depression . Michael would lead him a shoulder to lean on , but one day he brought a juicy information to Reina .
" Guess what I heard ", he said sheepishly.
" I have a friend , who was Arthur classmate back in his middle school, he informed me , and Arthur was madly in love with some boy , the two dated for three years but broke up . "
Reina shoved Michael away not interested in listening ," what does that have to do with me ",he asked coldly .
" Reina ..... you're my only friend , and it hurts so much , to see you in this situation , let go your anger for a second and hear me out, picture this , Arthur was madly in love with a man named Aiden Shawn , the two broke up but the reason behind it , no one knows , " Michael said confidently .
After a few seconds of processing the information , Reina nods his head repeatedly .
" He used my love for him , to trick and hurt me , then am gonna make sure , he has no one around him . If he can't be mine , then he will never be his , and if he can't love me , then noone else would love him back . This is a freaking war and victory is all mine ," Reina spoke in a high pitched voice.
" He slowly turned his eyes to Michael , angryly asking ," what did you say his name is ",
" Aiden .....Aiden Shawn , he is twenty eight years old man."