Before twenty minutes;
Shimizu was doing his work about—serving, waitering or manager duty on his own.
At noon, customers stopped coming, he went for the rest. If a customer had to work, they weren't able to take a rest.
He opened the door—slowly—clack. The window is open, wind is coming. On the sofa Minato was laying and taking a rest.
He stares at Minato with a red face.
His hair was messy because of the wind. His shirts are a little up and revealing Minato's belly.
When he was staring, Mianto mumbled, "Help me!"
First I ignored, Hmm… he had a nightmare I think.
He mumbled again and again in his sleep. "Help m—me, pl… ease." "Lion—H—how? Did y—you betrayed me."
I got worried: I rushed toward him. I tried to wake him.
"Minato… are you fine? Wa—wake up."
His head was burning, so I tried to check him.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes. His breath mixes into my breath. I wanted to kiss him at that time; I got nearer, but he pushed.
My heart was beating fast, then he shouted at me.
"What are you doing?" he shouted with crossed eyes. I started crying because he was wrong, I just felt like he was going to abandon me.
If we look at my past; I am always called by friends "crybaby". Shimizu was a crybaby. I fear for the little thing, If my parents scold or teasing or joking.
I stopped crying because the princess told me. In the evening, winds were blowing through my ears. I was crying, my body was trembling;
The princess gave me his hand and comforted me with his lovely voice.From that day to adulthood I never cried.
15 years ago~~~
Just like my friends, they always bully me. You are a crybaby, are you girl? Or what ?! They point at me again and again.
At that time, a new family moved into our area. They are a nuclear family, Mother, Father and their only son. At the first meeting, my mother goes to meet them.
That aunty's son was playing in the garden—silently.
He was always silent, his face was always blank. Rumours say, "he was emotionless."
I heard from other children from my neighbour. Firstly I ignored him too. But he always plays alone, I feel he was traumatized, I also feel lonely like him.
He was similar to me—Slowly, I realized. He was similar to me, like a replica of me.
I tried to talk to him, but he always ignored me.
Literally when he first replied to me with his cold look on his face. "Why… Why are you following? Are you a stalker or what?"
I mumbled, "Can I be your friend?"
He glared at me, "Oh—you want to be my friend, you know who I am? But I don't know you—suspicious.
"I know you because you are my neighbour." I whispered.
"Okay, I am your neighbour, so what is my name? Can you tell me?" He clenched his teeth like I am annoying him.
I paused, my brain stopped working, I got blanked. I follow him, stare at his every movement,but I don't know his name.
"Please be my friend." I whispered again. I grab his hand.
"I swear… I know yo—your name but I—I forget." I turned my eyes. My body was shaking, I was sweaty; I rubbed my neck with a crack smile on me and gaze toward the sky.
My ears became red because of the embarrassment. When I glanced at him, I imagine, his face was the same as ever, cold but this time something different.
He laughs at me; He points at me. Your lying tricks are so bad, "I never told you my name so how can you know. You know I am a boy from before. You saved me from bullies, remember."
"I always want to thank you." His eyes were sparkling.
My face became red, my heart began to beat fast, that feeling was so different, I didn't get it that time.
He teased me. Why is your face red?
From that day, we always spent time together. We played together, gossiping about others maked fun of them.
For the first time, I see his true self, not the fake one he wears; I see the real one, who needs someone to hear. Who hides in the deep of his soul.
No one can see his real self, only me, no one except me.
I smiled in front. We know everything, only one thing he never told his relationship with that bastard.
In the present.
I don't want to cry but my tears move at my own will. I tried to stop it; It didn't stop.
When he saw it, he panicked and calmed me with his gentle voice, "don't need to cry, prince."
When he promised, or tried to confront me. It gives me a good feeling. So, I nodded and passed a beautiful smile as much as I could.
I went back to work because I heard the customers call. One more time I glanced at the door, is he okay or not?
I was busy with work; some time later, Minato also joined me.
Let's swift to Minato.
Minato is wondering. How shimishu works everyday, I am tired already. I saw Shimizu paused in front of a coffee machine. He was dazed. I rushed toward him to check, is he good or not?
I go toward him, the nearer I got, I slow my footing to not notice. From behind, I shouted.
*Boo~~~
He startled, took a few steps behind. He stared at me with confused eyes.
"Why do you stand like that?" I chuckled.
"Like a light pole standing in front of me." I whispered.
"Wha—What happened…" He squeezed his chest, his heart was beating fast.
"Do—Do you need any—anything, Minato," Shimizu's voice panics.
In Shimizu's mind.
Oh—I didn't notice him, He startled me; Hmm… I think it was a ghost attack but that ghost was cute. My eyes widened, I stared at him so desperately. But I need to tell him something…
Minato mumbled, "I want to leave early today, Can I?"
I was shocked. He already takes many days to come, or he needs early leave too.
"Why? First—You are absent for 2 weeks and also need early leave." My voice arose more than the whisper.
Minato's thinking: I really don't feel okay today because of the home incident; I need to work hard to help Shimizu. But my body can't handle it.
I answered with a cute look on my face so he couldn't resist, he agreed.
"Hmm… I had headache so please—with a teary and shiny eyes,"
He covered his face, but his ears were reddish red.
"Okay, but please don't do that again." Shimizu says.
Shimizu's thinking: When he notices my feelings or understands me. I am his childhood friend, of course so what?
He plays dump or he is? I get so tired from that drama;
Oh! forget it, but it hurts. If only I felt that way.
TO BE CONTINUED.