Flight 109 - Destination: First Love [Chapter 16]
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, so this time, this is an update :) So sorry for taking forever to do this. Writer's block and RL have been on the way. I hope you guys still remember this fic and am not losing readers along the way. Please accept this chapter as my offering :D
The extra pairing here is dedicated for kazukazu89 as she ships them :)
The story is inspired by yeppie. As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. And if you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
The airplane icon marks the journey to the past that happened earlier in this fic. 30-31 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
The town icon marks the present time.
「CHAPTER 16: A SUPERNATURAL POWER」
Thunder and rainfall serenades her walk. She is soaked from head to toe. She knows she could just stop by at a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but she can't even bother to care. No. She even feel thankful with the rain, wishing that it can wash away everything. Yes. Everything. She wishes the rain has that supernatural power. But it does not.
She doesn't think she can move this fast in the rain whilst she has an 8 kg worth of luggage to pull along. No, she doesn't expect this supernatural power. She doesn't exactly welcome it with open arms either. She hates this power because she gets it from her broken heart.
But the power is useful. It is useful when she has to climb terrains, stairs and up to door she knows will open up for her no matter how late the night is. She will just have to give it a knock or two, and there, she'll have a promised shoulder to cry on.
She surely doesn't expect to find that promised shoulder of Ninomiya Kazunari's naked, gleaming with sweats in an 18 celcius degrees weather, only with some shorts on when he opens that door.
And the guy is obviously trying to catch his breath.
For a moment, Kitashiro Rei forgets the tears hanging under her eyes and gapes at him.
"I.. I'm sorry," she manages to blurt out, "I didn't expect you as the sleeping naked type."
Nino still tries to breathe slower underneath his flushed skin, "I'm not."
Then he catches the sight of her luggage, soaking wet hair and clothes, "What happened?"
He picks up her luggage and lets her in to his living room. His messy living room that is in serious need of a woman's touch.
Rei reluctantly walks in as Nino's question reminds her of the reason she's here.
"Did Jun kick you out?" Nino tries to joke as he finds a T-shirt near the couch. Or what's supposed to be the couch if someone get rid of all the random stuff from DVD, books, to bags of potato chips covering it.
"He might as well did that," Rei answers in a soft voice that Nino can't hear.
"What?"
Rei looks over her shoulder to give him a small smile and just shakes her head, "No, I was the one who decided to leave."
Nino nods a couple of times. He studies her slump shoulders from where he stands, as if trying to decide whether to let her be for a while or pestering her with more questions. But he seems distracted. He keeps eyeing his closed bedroom door.
Thankfully, Rei doesn't seem to notice.
"You want to change your wet clothes first?" Nino asks.
"Can I stay here for the night?" She doesn't even seem to hear him and questions that without even looking at him in the eye. "I don't mind the couch."
Nino starts to panic and tries to pull his award-winning acting to appears indifferent, "Oh.. Sure.."
But he keeps stealing a glance to his bedroom door.
"Well, if you don't mind the messiness.. But can I call Jun first?"
Rei just shrugs. Nino scratches his bed hair.
"You see, Rei.. It is not that you can't stay but I kinda need to tell you something first. But despite the bad timing, yes, you are very welcomed to stay.. Just please don't be surprised if you will find something that you do not expect at all," He knows that he is babbling.
"So Ninomiya Kazunari has skeletons in his closet. What a scandal," Rei tries to joke as she cleans up the mess covering the couch.
"It will make front page."
"Porn?"
"Close."
"Gay porn?"
"Colder."
"Then it is not going to make front page."
"Are you kidding?" Nino leans his body to a pillar, "It will be as legendary as the sexual powerhouse one."
Rei can't help but laugh. This is what's so amazing about being with Nino. He also has this supernatural power. No matter how crushed one's heart is, he still has the power to make them smile. Cracking up, even. It is his gift that the world should be very grateful of.
And now, it makes her wonder. If only, if only, she has picked him instead of Jun, things might go in a different way. If only she has fallen in love with Nino instead of Jun, she won't feel like today is the end of the world.
"Actually, I never believed that one," she gives him her first genuine smile since she entered his personal space.
Unexpectedly, the very proof of that legendary rumor appears right in front of her eyes. It starts with the sound of a door opening. Then a throaty female sing-songy voice calls him out.
"Kurono-kun~!"
Words have been stripped out of both Rei's and Nino's tongues. They can only gape at each other.
The throaty voice strikes again, "Are you coming back to bed? It's getting cold now.."
Rei covers up her mouth with her two hands. THIS, she really does not expect.
"Oh my god.." those three words are the only thing she can come up with.
And Nino is blushing like mad. He tries to laugh it off and search for something smart to say. Something that can make the situation less embarassing.
But, no, even his genius mind and witty tongue can't come up with anything better than a stupid grin, a shrug and this, "Front page material, don't you think?"
---
The throaty voiced girl, whom Rei has met just once before in a movie premiere, is now sitting right beside her at the kitchen stools as Nino is preparing some tea for his guests. Rei, who is now all dried and proper, still tries to overcome her surprise. But at least the now fully clothed couple makes her feel less uncomfortable. Still, she curses her worst timing.
She smiles a bittersweet smile at the irony. She secretly has always thought that Nino will always there for her. She never admits it, but it always makes her feel special for him. And she guiltily likes that. Along the line, sometimes, she forgets that Nino is also a man with his own needs. An idol not less than her Jun who has the magic to attract women like magnets. A supernatural power shared equally amongst the members of Arashi.
"Neen, I'll just go to Mika's place," She finally breaks the uncomfortable silence.
Nino just gives her a quick glance, "It is two in the morning."
"It's fine."
"No way."
"I don't want to disturb you two."
"You already did."
"Well, I don't want to disturb you guys longer, then."
"Is the gay porn option will be a better choice of my skeletons in the closet, then?"
The throaty voice girl hangs her mouth open, "You have gay porn? Can I see?" Then she touches Rei's arm, "Lets check it out, Kitashiro-san."
Rei tries to hold back a laugh. She doesn't really know the girl well, but she surely is something, "I believe he is kidding."
The girl then looks at Nino questioningly, "Are you?"
He just winks at her. A sexy wink with a thousand meanings.
Rei pretends that she didn't just see that and concentrates on the tea that Nino just served her.
The girl turns back at her and share her giggle, "He is sooo adorable, don't you think?"
Rei smiles at Nino's back who takes forever at making his own coffee, "He is. You are very lucky."
But the girl just shakes her head, "No, no. We are not dating yet."
"Yet?"
"I have high hopes for that, but it might be too soon to say that. This is our first night together. We met at the bar accidentally earlier tonight and he brought me home," she's getting starry eyed at the memory, "but I've always have a crush on him since the very first time."
Rei tries to hide her surprise at the brutal honesty the girl has. It might be her very own supernatural power.
"Was it since you guys worked together?"
"It was! Such a cliche, isn't it? Falling in love with your co-star. On screen love transforms to off screen love," she lets out a long sigh without bothering to lower her voice.
Rei swears she can see Nino's giddy smile just from watching his back.
But the girl's love story reminds her of her own, "Being cliche doesn't make it less real. Or beautiful."
"Very true!" The throaty voice girl giddily agrees, then she notices the other girl's opposite tone. She tilts her head and opens her eyes wide, "Did you fall in love with Ninomiya-san as well when you worked together with him?"
Rei jumps at that blunt question, "No, no. We're just good friends."
Nino finally turns around and face the two girls with his perfect coffee, "She is dating Jun."
"Matsumoto-san? How lucky! He is such a hottie."
Nino gives her girl his infamous smirk, "Which one is hotter? Me or Jun?"
His girl puts a finger on her chin, seriously considering it, "Let's see. I've discussed this with a friend of mine before. Matsumoto-san, unlike you, is the type who is bursting with sex appeal. So at a glance, I'd definitely answer that it is Matsumoto-san."
Rei almost chokes on her hot tea. Nino hides his falling face underneath his perfect coffee.
But the girl then looks at him adoringly, "But that was then. After that steamy hot sex of ours, I will call my friend as soon as morning comes and take back that statement about you are not having any sex appeal. So much that I can't wait for our fifth time tonight."
That does it. Nino is grinning wide like a stupid boy. And she successfully gets Rei chokes on her tea.
As expected from one of the weirdest actress in Japan's entertainment industry, Yoshitaka Yuriko.
Nino can't stop grinning. He turns to Rei with his infamous salute, "Told ya. Sexual powerhouse."
---
The living room is now be able to give Kitashiro Rei the solitude she has been very scared of. She is scared of the angst she has successfully put aside with the performance of the weird yet entertaining couple. The couple whose hentai talks and activities are now sealed behind Nino's closed bedroom door. The couple who doesn't even bother to tone down their voice of pleasure as they are reaching their climax of the said fifth time of the night. And then silence seeps in.
Rei can't help but feel jealous more than uncomfortable. She hates feeling this way. She always hates jealousy. But, in a mere two days, two women have succesfully made her feel that most hated feeling in the world. One doing that in front of her face. One is doing that without even seeing her face to face. She has the urge to search for her. She has the urge to have a word with her. Even for just a look. A curiousity that's killing her as if she's the cat.
But that jealousy is nothing compares to how her cellphone has done to her. No matter how long she has stared at it ever since she finally has some time alone. It doesn't ring. Not even a mail message. None.
She concludes that silence is more heartbreaking than jealousy.
"You really don't love me anymore, do you?" She whispers to her cellphone.
But right at that moment, her cellphone beeps. Her heart gives a strong jolt.
From: Nino
To: Rei
Sorry for being a bad shoulder to cry on for tonight.
She can't help not feeling disappointed but another message beeps again.
From: Nino
To: Rei
Sorry to disappoint that the message didn't come from him.
But trust me, he'll come around. He always does.
From: Rei
To: Nino
You should date her ASAP.
She's a great girl. I am happy for you.
Don't let my problems disturb your night.
From: Nino
To: Rei
It's not. She is completely exhausted now and has fallen asleep.
About dating, let's just see how it goes after tonight :)
From: Rei
To: Nino
You are so falling for her :)
From: Nino
To: Rei
Speaking of dates, I have a coffee date with Hanazono Minako tomorrow afternoon if you are interested.
From: Rei
To: Nino
WHAT? COME OUT OF THE BEDROOM! LIKE, NOW!
From: Nino
To: Rei
Naked? :p
From: Rei
To: Nino
I AM SO NOT IN THE MOOD OF JOKES!
A few seconds after that Nino finally comes out the bedroom fully clothed in his pyjamas, all cute, prim and proper as an idol should be. Rei is standing in front of his door, all red, flushed and anxious as a famous actress should not be. She can't maintain her cool any longer. But, the problem is, Nino still can.
He leans his body to the frame of the door, "I thought you said you don't want your problems to disturb my night."
"You should have known better before you blurt something out like that!" She tries to breathe, "And why should I be interested?"
"You clearly are interested," he raises an eyebrow. "If you are not, you won't mail me in caps to come out of my bedroom."
Rei admits her defeat and throws herself to the couch, "Please don't torture me like this, Neen. Please."
"I am not.."
"You are."
"You don't need to feel tortured if you are willing to be more honest with yourself."
She keeps her mouth tight, burying her face in a pillow.
"You know, Rei, you know what you have to do the moment you saw him this morning," Nino softens his voice. He sits beside her head and strokes her hair with his hamburger hands. "You maybe have realized it already the moment you find their photos."
"I've never seen him smile and laugh like that."
"Actually you can. If you watch our older, humbler shows."
"He can always do that with you guys. But, not with me."
"That's not true. He loves you."
"He loved me, Neen. Past tense."
Nino just strokes her hair more as an answer, wishing it can ease her pain somehow, even for just a little.
"Meet her at Doki Doki manga cafe at 3. I'll mail you the address."
"You're not coming?"
Nino shakes his head, "I think this should be a girl to girl thing. Besides," he beckons to his bedroom and winks, "I have booked myself another date."
---
Hanazono Minako surely doesn't expect for Ninomiya Kazunari to mail her last night, asking to meet up for coffee. She doesn't expect to bump into him and him asking for her contact number at the airport, let alone contacting her that soon. As much as she didn't expect to get to see her unrequited love on an impulsive flight to Tokyo.
She smiles a bittersweet smile at that memory. Yes, she gets her heart broken all over again, but to just seeing him and being with him that way once more, a thousand more of heartbreaks is worth the trip. If she has the option, she'll go through it all over again in a heartbeat.
She shakes her own head at her own thoughts. She should not. He should not. They should not.
"Why are you shaking your head all by yourself like some crazy person?" A familiar voice calls from behind.
Her brother, Kenji, takes a seat beside her at the hospital waiting room.
"How's Dad doing?" Minako goes back to her real world.
"He's sleeping now. The doctor said he'd be able to go home in a couple of days," Kenji takes out his hands out of his jeans' pockets. He turns to his dearest sister and eyes her carefully.
"How are you doing?" He stresses at the word 'you'.
Minako looks up to him. She has told him, although not in details, her encounter with the past during the flight. Only in three words, when Kenji saw her being unusually quiet on arrival and asked her what was wrong, she only said, "I met him." She doesn't even need to say the name, but Kenji understands completely. It is his supernatural power. They've always shared that connection even though they are not raised together.
And no other explanation is needed to describe that she is not as alright as she seems.
Minako gives him a bright smile, "Great."
"You know that you can't fool me with that."
"I'm not."
"Whatever."
Silence. All that they can hear is thunderstorm that hasn't calmed down at all since last night. Minako stares at that rain.
"Kenji.."
"Un?"
"I still love him."
"I know."
They exchange smiles to each other. Kenji gives her shoulder a warm squeeze.
"But I don't want to be someone who steals from somebody's boyfriend. I.. I don't want that. I won't be able to live with that.. He's someone else's now but he says that he still does love me.." Minako continues in a soft voice.
Kenji stares right ahead, to the window-showered rain that you can't hardly see anything outside through the looking glass.
"A boyfriend is not a posession nor obligation, Minako. It's a privilege given by mutual love one feels for each other," He sighs, "Nothing is set in stone. It doesn't work that way."
"But that's not fair.."
"Whoever says that the world is ever fair?"
Minako laughs at that, "Good one."
---
The rain is still pouring the moment Minako gets to Doki-Doki manga cafe. She is five minutes late and hurrily closes her umbrella and heads upstairs. But the moment she reaches the cubicle Nino is supposed to be at, she doesn't find him there.
Instead, a lovely girl sits with her back to the computer and facing the cubicle's entrance, catching Minako's eyes the second she opens the cubicle door. Minako has seen her before in commercials and covers of magazines. She can't put her name to the face yet, but instinctively, she knows that moment exactly who she is just by the way she's looking at her.
"Hajimemashite," The girl greets her politely in a soft voice, "My name is Kitashiro Rei. I hope I didn't startle you."
"Ah," It takes a lot to make Hanazono Minako to get speechless, but this Kitashiro girl does it brilliantly in their first encounter. Well, with a big help from Ninomiya Kazunari, of course. She bows, "I'm Hanazono.."
"Hanazono Minako. I know," Rei cuts her mid-sentence. "Please take a seat."
Minako obeys her orders. She lowers down to her level as she sits on the floor. Rei is looking at Minako with a straight face, but she doesn't blink not even once. Minako struggles to meet her eyes. Her eyes are piercing hers, though not with hate. It is something else.
"I am sorry that I don't introduce myself properly," She speaks with such a formal language, but Rei doesn't sound like she's angry. Or that she is speaking with someone older. She is just being polite. And keeping her distance. "But I have been going out with Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi for the past year."
She gets straight to the point. Raising one of her eyebrows, Minako decides that she likes this girl. She doesn't say her last sentence in a possesive manner nor as a warning. She just states a fact. As if she's just saying that fishes can breathe underwater.
Minako gives her a smile, definitely amused. The way she mentioned Jun's name as if she's speaking to the press. Minako nods, "I know."
"I am currently in a contract up to 2 years to film a movie in the United States. I planned to surprise Matsumoto Jun-san on his birthday just two days ago. Unfortunately, the plan backfires as Matsumoto Jun-san took a flight himself to the United States to give me a surprise," Rei explains her situation thoroughly, "And by accident, I found the photos of you, Hanazono Minako-san, and Matsumoto Jun-san in his apartment."
Minako shoots her a look. Rei is taking a deep breath before she finally continues, "Kissing."
Minako erases her small smile and avoids Rei's stare, "It was in the past. I.. I used to go out with.. With Matsumoto Jun-san. Seven years ago."
"I know," Rei firmly states, "Arashi-san has given me some details they know. I am sorry that I was very curious. I also read a letter that you wrote to him."
"Oh.." It is the only thing Minako can think of as a reply.
"I also know that by accident you happened to be on the same flight with him to Tokyo," Rei calmly continues, "Jun.. Matsumoto Jun-san told me when I called him. It was not the first time I heard of your name, though. He dreamt of you once and called out your name."
"What?"
Rei smiles a small smile seeing Minako's surprise, "He did. Months ago. I don't think he even realized it himself."
"That baka," Minako mumbles as she shakes her head.
Then she suddenly realizes that the current girlfriend is right in front of her and Minako picks herself up to sit straighter, "I'm sorry.. I'm.."
"It's okay," Rei curts her lips and for the first time, she looks away from their eye contacts.
And that's when Minako sees it. The girl may appear calm and collected, all business like. But her hands. Her hands that politely sits on top of her lap. They are shaking. They hold on to each other, wishing that Minako won't ever notice them.. The gap between her shaking hands and her straight face plus her calm voice is quite amazing. It is as if she has a supernatural power. A natural born actress.
"Kitashiro-san.."
"I guess.. I guess I can accept it, though. That he hasn't gotten over you completely. As long as he has a place for me in his heart.. I will try my best. I will try my best to make him happy. I love him that much. I planned to never question him about you. I planned to just act normal, no matter how the jealousy is eating me inside. And I did. I didn't even question him about the pictures. Or his flight. But you.."
She takes another deep breath. Almost in a whisper, she continues on, "But you are still written all over his face the moment he walks out of the airport. He doesn't need to say it. You don't need to say it." She blinks a couple of times, "I already know."
Minako can feel a tear rolls down her own cheek. She doesn't feel it coming. But her eyes are just doing it on their own, as if it is the most natural thing. Her vision of Rei starts to blur and she lets the tears go. She reaches out for Rei's shaking hands and give them a warm squeeze.
Rei starts to choke out her voice as she feels Minako's warm hands in hers, "He still loves you dearly. He.. He cried his heart out last night, hiding from me in the bathroom. It's.. It's.."
Rei doesn't continue and closes her eyes to calm herself down. She takes a couple of deep breath and the moment she opens her eyes, the straight-face-calm-voice-natural-born-actress is back.
She eyes Minako carefully and meets her eyes. She doesn't snap her hands away, but that look she is giving Minako makes Minako pulls her own hands slowly from hers.
"You know that he still does love you."
It isn't a question. But Minako nods.
"Do you still love him?"
Silence is the only thing that's between them. It is the only thing that seperates the two of them from the truth.
Rei decides to reword her question, "In the letter that I read, you wrote, I quote, 'From the bottom of my heart I wish one day we could meet again and laugh everything off and we could become best of friends,'" For dramatic purposes, Rei gives a pause, "And now shall I ask if that wish has changed. Or not. Whether it is possible.."
Another silence. Minako opens her mouth but no word is coming out.
And right there, right then, a phone rings.
Minako's voice from the ringtone is echoing inside that small cubicle.
"All these heavy feelings are all put into this voice of mine,
so that it can reach the far away town where you are
For example, if there are any songs like this one there,
we can always go on; connected to one another."
Rei recognizes the lyrics. She has read it somewhere. She tilts her head until the moment she finally remembers.
"So they are lyrics from a song.." She whispers softly, almost only to herself.
Minako takes a short glance to her phone. The caller is Ninomiya Kazunari. She lets the phone rings until he gives up and decides to meet Rei's eyes again and nod.
"I am sorry.."
"It's fine. Noone can control who they love."
"Life would be much more simpler if we can do that.."
Rei scoffs at that, "I know, right?"
They exchange smiles to each other for a moment.
"If only there were two of him," Rei sighs.
"There should be more than two. Maybe millions of Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi will be perfect. Each one of his hardcore fangirl should have one Jun for themselves and it will be such a perfect world," Minako jokes with a small grin.
Rei laughs at that joke, "Too adorable for his own good. His supernatural power."
"I know, right?" Minako returns Rei's own phrase just minutes ago.
When their laughter finally dies out, Rei turns serious again, "Why do you let him go again this time?"
"He has you," Minako shrugs.
"That's not fair. For either you or me. Or him."
"Whoever said that the world is ever fair," Minako sighs, "I can't, Kitashiro-san. Not this way."
"You refuse to make him break up with me because of you?"
"He was happy with you before he met me again. He just needs time," Minako smiles brightly to Rei, "Just give him time."
"He was never as happy as when he was with you," Rei groans.
"Too much of something is never a good thing, Kitashiro-san. Even happiness," Minako puts up a finger and shakes it left to right, playing the teacher.
"But what if Jun-kun doesn't want to be with me?"
"He still does. He is just still confused. If he doesn't want to, he'll tell you."
"Then what if I don't want to?"
Silence creeps in again. Minako catches the sharp look Rei is giving her.
"It is very much up to you, Kitashiro-san," Minako finally answers in a low voice. "But that doesn't mean me and him will go back together again. I've always thought that Jun and me, our time has passed. Our chance has passed away."
"There's no such thing."
Minako just shrugs. "Fate has proved it to me that way."
"There isn't anything in this world that's written on stone."
Minako eyes her and tilts her head, "You know.. If only we met in under different circumstances, say as fangirls of Arashi's members instead of an ex-girlfriend and a girlfriend.."
"We surely will hit it off and become best of friends. Watching concerts together.." Rei cuts her sentence and continues it for her.
".. and spazz and squeal together over him!"
"He is not my ichiban in Arashi, though. Mine is Ohno Satoshi."
"Mine is Sakurai Sho!"
They squeal and high five each other. Laughter breaks out again.
"Jun is too much of a metrosexual for my liking!"
"I know! He tries too hard sometimes and.."
Just then their fangirling conversation is cut short when their cubicle door is pried open wide, startling them.
Rei stare at the person at the door with mouth wide open.
Minako, who has her back to the door, turns around to see who it is. Her twinkling eyes become darker and her skin turns into a whiter shade of pale.
It has always been like that. His powers are not limited to make girls fall madly in love with him and so hard to get over. Even when he is soaking wet from head to toe as a result from the heavy rain outside, this power of his is still intact.
As expected from Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi. Just by his mere presence, both girls forget to breathe for ten whole seconds.
Continue to Chapter 17
The extra pairing here is dedicated for kazukazu89 as she ships them :)
The story is inspired by yeppie. As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. And if you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
The airplane icon marks the journey to the past that happened earlier in this fic. 30-31 August 2013.
The cloud icon marks the past. Around the year of 2006.
The town icon marks the present time.
「CHAPTER 16: A SUPERNATURAL POWER」
Thunder and rainfall serenades her walk. She is soaked from head to toe. She knows she could just stop by at a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but she can't even bother to care. No. She even feel thankful with the rain, wishing that it can wash away everything. Yes. Everything. She wishes the rain has that supernatural power. But it does not.
She doesn't think she can move this fast in the rain whilst she has an 8 kg worth of luggage to pull along. No, she doesn't expect this supernatural power. She doesn't exactly welcome it with open arms either. She hates this power because she gets it from her broken heart.
But the power is useful. It is useful when she has to climb terrains, stairs and up to door she knows will open up for her no matter how late the night is. She will just have to give it a knock or two, and there, she'll have a promised shoulder to cry on.
She surely doesn't expect to find that promised shoulder of Ninomiya Kazunari's naked, gleaming with sweats in an 18 celcius degrees weather, only with some shorts on when he opens that door.
And the guy is obviously trying to catch his breath.
For a moment, Kitashiro Rei forgets the tears hanging under her eyes and gapes at him.
"I.. I'm sorry," she manages to blurt out, "I didn't expect you as the sleeping naked type."
Nino still tries to breathe slower underneath his flushed skin, "I'm not."
Then he catches the sight of her luggage, soaking wet hair and clothes, "What happened?"
He picks up her luggage and lets her in to his living room. His messy living room that is in serious need of a woman's touch.
Rei reluctantly walks in as Nino's question reminds her of the reason she's here.
"Did Jun kick you out?" Nino tries to joke as he finds a T-shirt near the couch. Or what's supposed to be the couch if someone get rid of all the random stuff from DVD, books, to bags of potato chips covering it.
"He might as well did that," Rei answers in a soft voice that Nino can't hear.
"What?"
Rei looks over her shoulder to give him a small smile and just shakes her head, "No, I was the one who decided to leave."
Nino nods a couple of times. He studies her slump shoulders from where he stands, as if trying to decide whether to let her be for a while or pestering her with more questions. But he seems distracted. He keeps eyeing his closed bedroom door.
Thankfully, Rei doesn't seem to notice.
"You want to change your wet clothes first?" Nino asks.
"Can I stay here for the night?" She doesn't even seem to hear him and questions that without even looking at him in the eye. "I don't mind the couch."
Nino starts to panic and tries to pull his award-winning acting to appears indifferent, "Oh.. Sure.."
But he keeps stealing a glance to his bedroom door.
"Well, if you don't mind the messiness.. But can I call Jun first?"
Rei just shrugs. Nino scratches his bed hair.
"You see, Rei.. It is not that you can't stay but I kinda need to tell you something first. But despite the bad timing, yes, you are very welcomed to stay.. Just please don't be surprised if you will find something that you do not expect at all," He knows that he is babbling.
"So Ninomiya Kazunari has skeletons in his closet. What a scandal," Rei tries to joke as she cleans up the mess covering the couch.
"It will make front page."
"Porn?"
"Close."
"Gay porn?"
"Colder."
"Then it is not going to make front page."
"Are you kidding?" Nino leans his body to a pillar, "It will be as legendary as the sexual powerhouse one."
Rei can't help but laugh. This is what's so amazing about being with Nino. He also has this supernatural power. No matter how crushed one's heart is, he still has the power to make them smile. Cracking up, even. It is his gift that the world should be very grateful of.
And now, it makes her wonder. If only, if only, she has picked him instead of Jun, things might go in a different way. If only she has fallen in love with Nino instead of Jun, she won't feel like today is the end of the world.
"Actually, I never believed that one," she gives him her first genuine smile since she entered his personal space.
Unexpectedly, the very proof of that legendary rumor appears right in front of her eyes. It starts with the sound of a door opening. Then a throaty female sing-songy voice calls him out.
"Kurono-kun~!"
Words have been stripped out of both Rei's and Nino's tongues. They can only gape at each other.
The throaty voice strikes again, "Are you coming back to bed? It's getting cold now.."
Rei covers up her mouth with her two hands. THIS, she really does not expect.
"Oh my god.." those three words are the only thing she can come up with.
And Nino is blushing like mad. He tries to laugh it off and search for something smart to say. Something that can make the situation less embarassing.
But, no, even his genius mind and witty tongue can't come up with anything better than a stupid grin, a shrug and this, "Front page material, don't you think?"
---
The throaty voiced girl, whom Rei has met just once before in a movie premiere, is now sitting right beside her at the kitchen stools as Nino is preparing some tea for his guests. Rei, who is now all dried and proper, still tries to overcome her surprise. But at least the now fully clothed couple makes her feel less uncomfortable. Still, she curses her worst timing.
She smiles a bittersweet smile at the irony. She secretly has always thought that Nino will always there for her. She never admits it, but it always makes her feel special for him. And she guiltily likes that. Along the line, sometimes, she forgets that Nino is also a man with his own needs. An idol not less than her Jun who has the magic to attract women like magnets. A supernatural power shared equally amongst the members of Arashi.
"Neen, I'll just go to Mika's place," She finally breaks the uncomfortable silence.
Nino just gives her a quick glance, "It is two in the morning."
"It's fine."
"No way."
"I don't want to disturb you two."
"You already did."
"Well, I don't want to disturb you guys longer, then."
"Is the gay porn option will be a better choice of my skeletons in the closet, then?"
The throaty voice girl hangs her mouth open, "You have gay porn? Can I see?" Then she touches Rei's arm, "Lets check it out, Kitashiro-san."
Rei tries to hold back a laugh. She doesn't really know the girl well, but she surely is something, "I believe he is kidding."
The girl then looks at Nino questioningly, "Are you?"
He just winks at her. A sexy wink with a thousand meanings.
Rei pretends that she didn't just see that and concentrates on the tea that Nino just served her.
The girl turns back at her and share her giggle, "He is sooo adorable, don't you think?"
Rei smiles at Nino's back who takes forever at making his own coffee, "He is. You are very lucky."
But the girl just shakes her head, "No, no. We are not dating yet."
"Yet?"
"I have high hopes for that, but it might be too soon to say that. This is our first night together. We met at the bar accidentally earlier tonight and he brought me home," she's getting starry eyed at the memory, "but I've always have a crush on him since the very first time."
Rei tries to hide her surprise at the brutal honesty the girl has. It might be her very own supernatural power.
"Was it since you guys worked together?"
"It was! Such a cliche, isn't it? Falling in love with your co-star. On screen love transforms to off screen love," she lets out a long sigh without bothering to lower her voice.
Rei swears she can see Nino's giddy smile just from watching his back.
But the girl's love story reminds her of her own, "Being cliche doesn't make it less real. Or beautiful."
"Very true!" The throaty voice girl giddily agrees, then she notices the other girl's opposite tone. She tilts her head and opens her eyes wide, "Did you fall in love with Ninomiya-san as well when you worked together with him?"
Rei jumps at that blunt question, "No, no. We're just good friends."
Nino finally turns around and face the two girls with his perfect coffee, "She is dating Jun."
"Matsumoto-san? How lucky! He is such a hottie."
Nino gives her girl his infamous smirk, "Which one is hotter? Me or Jun?"
His girl puts a finger on her chin, seriously considering it, "Let's see. I've discussed this with a friend of mine before. Matsumoto-san, unlike you, is the type who is bursting with sex appeal. So at a glance, I'd definitely answer that it is Matsumoto-san."
Rei almost chokes on her hot tea. Nino hides his falling face underneath his perfect coffee.
But the girl then looks at him adoringly, "But that was then. After that steamy hot sex of ours, I will call my friend as soon as morning comes and take back that statement about you are not having any sex appeal. So much that I can't wait for our fifth time tonight."
That does it. Nino is grinning wide like a stupid boy. And she successfully gets Rei chokes on her tea.
As expected from one of the weirdest actress in Japan's entertainment industry, Yoshitaka Yuriko.
Nino can't stop grinning. He turns to Rei with his infamous salute, "Told ya. Sexual powerhouse."
---
The living room is now be able to give Kitashiro Rei the solitude she has been very scared of. She is scared of the angst she has successfully put aside with the performance of the weird yet entertaining couple. The couple whose hentai talks and activities are now sealed behind Nino's closed bedroom door. The couple who doesn't even bother to tone down their voice of pleasure as they are reaching their climax of the said fifth time of the night. And then silence seeps in.
Rei can't help but feel jealous more than uncomfortable. She hates feeling this way. She always hates jealousy. But, in a mere two days, two women have succesfully made her feel that most hated feeling in the world. One doing that in front of her face. One is doing that without even seeing her face to face. She has the urge to search for her. She has the urge to have a word with her. Even for just a look. A curiousity that's killing her as if she's the cat.
But that jealousy is nothing compares to how her cellphone has done to her. No matter how long she has stared at it ever since she finally has some time alone. It doesn't ring. Not even a mail message. None.
She concludes that silence is more heartbreaking than jealousy.
"You really don't love me anymore, do you?" She whispers to her cellphone.
But right at that moment, her cellphone beeps. Her heart gives a strong jolt.
From: Nino
To: Rei
Sorry for being a bad shoulder to cry on for tonight.
She can't help not feeling disappointed but another message beeps again.
From: Nino
To: Rei
Sorry to disappoint that the message didn't come from him.
But trust me, he'll come around. He always does.
From: Rei
To: Nino
You should date her ASAP.
She's a great girl. I am happy for you.
Don't let my problems disturb your night.
From: Nino
To: Rei
It's not. She is completely exhausted now and has fallen asleep.
About dating, let's just see how it goes after tonight :)
From: Rei
To: Nino
You are so falling for her :)
From: Nino
To: Rei
Speaking of dates, I have a coffee date with Hanazono Minako tomorrow afternoon if you are interested.
From: Rei
To: Nino
WHAT? COME OUT OF THE BEDROOM! LIKE, NOW!
From: Nino
To: Rei
Naked? :p
From: Rei
To: Nino
I AM SO NOT IN THE MOOD OF JOKES!
A few seconds after that Nino finally comes out the bedroom fully clothed in his pyjamas, all cute, prim and proper as an idol should be. Rei is standing in front of his door, all red, flushed and anxious as a famous actress should not be. She can't maintain her cool any longer. But, the problem is, Nino still can.
He leans his body to the frame of the door, "I thought you said you don't want your problems to disturb my night."
"You should have known better before you blurt something out like that!" She tries to breathe, "And why should I be interested?"
"You clearly are interested," he raises an eyebrow. "If you are not, you won't mail me in caps to come out of my bedroom."
Rei admits her defeat and throws herself to the couch, "Please don't torture me like this, Neen. Please."
"I am not.."
"You are."
"You don't need to feel tortured if you are willing to be more honest with yourself."
She keeps her mouth tight, burying her face in a pillow.
"You know, Rei, you know what you have to do the moment you saw him this morning," Nino softens his voice. He sits beside her head and strokes her hair with his hamburger hands. "You maybe have realized it already the moment you find their photos."
"I've never seen him smile and laugh like that."
"Actually you can. If you watch our older, humbler shows."
"He can always do that with you guys. But, not with me."
"That's not true. He loves you."
"He loved me, Neen. Past tense."
Nino just strokes her hair more as an answer, wishing it can ease her pain somehow, even for just a little.
"Meet her at Doki Doki manga cafe at 3. I'll mail you the address."
"You're not coming?"
Nino shakes his head, "I think this should be a girl to girl thing. Besides," he beckons to his bedroom and winks, "I have booked myself another date."
---
Hanazono Minako surely doesn't expect for Ninomiya Kazunari to mail her last night, asking to meet up for coffee. She doesn't expect to bump into him and him asking for her contact number at the airport, let alone contacting her that soon. As much as she didn't expect to get to see her unrequited love on an impulsive flight to Tokyo.
She smiles a bittersweet smile at that memory. Yes, she gets her heart broken all over again, but to just seeing him and being with him that way once more, a thousand more of heartbreaks is worth the trip. If she has the option, she'll go through it all over again in a heartbeat.
She shakes her own head at her own thoughts. She should not. He should not. They should not.
"Why are you shaking your head all by yourself like some crazy person?" A familiar voice calls from behind.
Her brother, Kenji, takes a seat beside her at the hospital waiting room.
"How's Dad doing?" Minako goes back to her real world.
"He's sleeping now. The doctor said he'd be able to go home in a couple of days," Kenji takes out his hands out of his jeans' pockets. He turns to his dearest sister and eyes her carefully.
"How are you doing?" He stresses at the word 'you'.
Minako looks up to him. She has told him, although not in details, her encounter with the past during the flight. Only in three words, when Kenji saw her being unusually quiet on arrival and asked her what was wrong, she only said, "I met him." She doesn't even need to say the name, but Kenji understands completely. It is his supernatural power. They've always shared that connection even though they are not raised together.
And no other explanation is needed to describe that she is not as alright as she seems.
Minako gives him a bright smile, "Great."
"You know that you can't fool me with that."
"I'm not."
"Whatever."
Silence. All that they can hear is thunderstorm that hasn't calmed down at all since last night. Minako stares at that rain.
"Kenji.."
"Un?"
"I still love him."
"I know."
They exchange smiles to each other. Kenji gives her shoulder a warm squeeze.
"But I don't want to be someone who steals from somebody's boyfriend. I.. I don't want that. I won't be able to live with that.. He's someone else's now but he says that he still does love me.." Minako continues in a soft voice.
Kenji stares right ahead, to the window-showered rain that you can't hardly see anything outside through the looking glass.
"A boyfriend is not a posession nor obligation, Minako. It's a privilege given by mutual love one feels for each other," He sighs, "Nothing is set in stone. It doesn't work that way."
"But that's not fair.."
"Whoever says that the world is ever fair?"
Minako laughs at that, "Good one."
---
The rain is still pouring the moment Minako gets to Doki-Doki manga cafe. She is five minutes late and hurrily closes her umbrella and heads upstairs. But the moment she reaches the cubicle Nino is supposed to be at, she doesn't find him there.
Instead, a lovely girl sits with her back to the computer and facing the cubicle's entrance, catching Minako's eyes the second she opens the cubicle door. Minako has seen her before in commercials and covers of magazines. She can't put her name to the face yet, but instinctively, she knows that moment exactly who she is just by the way she's looking at her.
"Hajimemashite," The girl greets her politely in a soft voice, "My name is Kitashiro Rei. I hope I didn't startle you."
"Ah," It takes a lot to make Hanazono Minako to get speechless, but this Kitashiro girl does it brilliantly in their first encounter. Well, with a big help from Ninomiya Kazunari, of course. She bows, "I'm Hanazono.."
"Hanazono Minako. I know," Rei cuts her mid-sentence. "Please take a seat."
Minako obeys her orders. She lowers down to her level as she sits on the floor. Rei is looking at Minako with a straight face, but she doesn't blink not even once. Minako struggles to meet her eyes. Her eyes are piercing hers, though not with hate. It is something else.
"I am sorry that I don't introduce myself properly," She speaks with such a formal language, but Rei doesn't sound like she's angry. Or that she is speaking with someone older. She is just being polite. And keeping her distance. "But I have been going out with Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi for the past year."
She gets straight to the point. Raising one of her eyebrows, Minako decides that she likes this girl. She doesn't say her last sentence in a possesive manner nor as a warning. She just states a fact. As if she's just saying that fishes can breathe underwater.
Minako gives her a smile, definitely amused. The way she mentioned Jun's name as if she's speaking to the press. Minako nods, "I know."
"I am currently in a contract up to 2 years to film a movie in the United States. I planned to surprise Matsumoto Jun-san on his birthday just two days ago. Unfortunately, the plan backfires as Matsumoto Jun-san took a flight himself to the United States to give me a surprise," Rei explains her situation thoroughly, "And by accident, I found the photos of you, Hanazono Minako-san, and Matsumoto Jun-san in his apartment."
Minako shoots her a look. Rei is taking a deep breath before she finally continues, "Kissing."
Minako erases her small smile and avoids Rei's stare, "It was in the past. I.. I used to go out with.. With Matsumoto Jun-san. Seven years ago."
"I know," Rei firmly states, "Arashi-san has given me some details they know. I am sorry that I was very curious. I also read a letter that you wrote to him."
"Oh.." It is the only thing Minako can think of as a reply.
"I also know that by accident you happened to be on the same flight with him to Tokyo," Rei calmly continues, "Jun.. Matsumoto Jun-san told me when I called him. It was not the first time I heard of your name, though. He dreamt of you once and called out your name."
"What?"
Rei smiles a small smile seeing Minako's surprise, "He did. Months ago. I don't think he even realized it himself."
"That baka," Minako mumbles as she shakes her head.
Then she suddenly realizes that the current girlfriend is right in front of her and Minako picks herself up to sit straighter, "I'm sorry.. I'm.."
"It's okay," Rei curts her lips and for the first time, she looks away from their eye contacts.
And that's when Minako sees it. The girl may appear calm and collected, all business like. But her hands. Her hands that politely sits on top of her lap. They are shaking. They hold on to each other, wishing that Minako won't ever notice them.. The gap between her shaking hands and her straight face plus her calm voice is quite amazing. It is as if she has a supernatural power. A natural born actress.
"Kitashiro-san.."
"I guess.. I guess I can accept it, though. That he hasn't gotten over you completely. As long as he has a place for me in his heart.. I will try my best. I will try my best to make him happy. I love him that much. I planned to never question him about you. I planned to just act normal, no matter how the jealousy is eating me inside. And I did. I didn't even question him about the pictures. Or his flight. But you.."
She takes another deep breath. Almost in a whisper, she continues on, "But you are still written all over his face the moment he walks out of the airport. He doesn't need to say it. You don't need to say it." She blinks a couple of times, "I already know."
Minako can feel a tear rolls down her own cheek. She doesn't feel it coming. But her eyes are just doing it on their own, as if it is the most natural thing. Her vision of Rei starts to blur and she lets the tears go. She reaches out for Rei's shaking hands and give them a warm squeeze.
Rei starts to choke out her voice as she feels Minako's warm hands in hers, "He still loves you dearly. He.. He cried his heart out last night, hiding from me in the bathroom. It's.. It's.."
Rei doesn't continue and closes her eyes to calm herself down. She takes a couple of deep breath and the moment she opens her eyes, the straight-face-calm-voice-natural-born-actress is back.
She eyes Minako carefully and meets her eyes. She doesn't snap her hands away, but that look she is giving Minako makes Minako pulls her own hands slowly from hers.
"You know that he still does love you."
It isn't a question. But Minako nods.
"Do you still love him?"
Silence is the only thing that's between them. It is the only thing that seperates the two of them from the truth.
Rei decides to reword her question, "In the letter that I read, you wrote, I quote, 'From the bottom of my heart I wish one day we could meet again and laugh everything off and we could become best of friends,'" For dramatic purposes, Rei gives a pause, "And now shall I ask if that wish has changed. Or not. Whether it is possible.."
Another silence. Minako opens her mouth but no word is coming out.
And right there, right then, a phone rings.
Minako's voice from the ringtone is echoing inside that small cubicle.
"All these heavy feelings are all put into this voice of mine,
so that it can reach the far away town where you are
For example, if there are any songs like this one there,
we can always go on; connected to one another."
Rei recognizes the lyrics. She has read it somewhere. She tilts her head until the moment she finally remembers.
"So they are lyrics from a song.." She whispers softly, almost only to herself.
Minako takes a short glance to her phone. The caller is Ninomiya Kazunari. She lets the phone rings until he gives up and decides to meet Rei's eyes again and nod.
"I am sorry.."
"It's fine. Noone can control who they love."
"Life would be much more simpler if we can do that.."
Rei scoffs at that, "I know, right?"
They exchange smiles to each other for a moment.
"If only there were two of him," Rei sighs.
"There should be more than two. Maybe millions of Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi will be perfect. Each one of his hardcore fangirl should have one Jun for themselves and it will be such a perfect world," Minako jokes with a small grin.
Rei laughs at that joke, "Too adorable for his own good. His supernatural power."
"I know, right?" Minako returns Rei's own phrase just minutes ago.
When their laughter finally dies out, Rei turns serious again, "Why do you let him go again this time?"
"He has you," Minako shrugs.
"That's not fair. For either you or me. Or him."
"Whoever said that the world is ever fair," Minako sighs, "I can't, Kitashiro-san. Not this way."
"You refuse to make him break up with me because of you?"
"He was happy with you before he met me again. He just needs time," Minako smiles brightly to Rei, "Just give him time."
"He was never as happy as when he was with you," Rei groans.
"Too much of something is never a good thing, Kitashiro-san. Even happiness," Minako puts up a finger and shakes it left to right, playing the teacher.
"But what if Jun-kun doesn't want to be with me?"
"He still does. He is just still confused. If he doesn't want to, he'll tell you."
"Then what if I don't want to?"
Silence creeps in again. Minako catches the sharp look Rei is giving her.
"It is very much up to you, Kitashiro-san," Minako finally answers in a low voice. "But that doesn't mean me and him will go back together again. I've always thought that Jun and me, our time has passed. Our chance has passed away."
"There's no such thing."
Minako just shrugs. "Fate has proved it to me that way."
"There isn't anything in this world that's written on stone."
Minako eyes her and tilts her head, "You know.. If only we met in under different circumstances, say as fangirls of Arashi's members instead of an ex-girlfriend and a girlfriend.."
"We surely will hit it off and become best of friends. Watching concerts together.." Rei cuts her sentence and continues it for her.
".. and spazz and squeal together over him!"
"He is not my ichiban in Arashi, though. Mine is Ohno Satoshi."
"Mine is Sakurai Sho!"
They squeal and high five each other. Laughter breaks out again.
"Jun is too much of a metrosexual for my liking!"
"I know! He tries too hard sometimes and.."
Just then their fangirling conversation is cut short when their cubicle door is pried open wide, startling them.
Rei stare at the person at the door with mouth wide open.
Minako, who has her back to the door, turns around to see who it is. Her twinkling eyes become darker and her skin turns into a whiter shade of pale.
It has always been like that. His powers are not limited to make girls fall madly in love with him and so hard to get over. Even when he is soaking wet from head to toe as a result from the heavy rain outside, this power of his is still intact.
As expected from Matsumoto Jun-san of Arashi. Just by his mere presence, both girls forget to breathe for ten whole seconds.
Continue to Chapter 17