[FANFIC] Parrot (6/9)
Title: Parrot
Author: macy
Pairing: Okamoto Keito x Inoo Shinju (
shinju) x Nakajima Yuto, other pairings shinju ships~
Rating: G
Genre: Drama, Romance, Friendship
AN:
-unbetaed
-sorry for the delay! >.<
-there are lots of things to do here at home, but i am trying hard to update/finish fics.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5
Shinju's POV
I walked towards the room slowly. I was curious at what they do would be doing.
I opened the door to the break room a little, and peek inside. I was a little surprised to see both Yuto and Yuri staring at the calendar.
"I didn't realize it's been two months since Kei left." Yuri said.
"It feels longer, actually." Yuto said.
"How so?" Yuri asked, looking at his friend.
"Well, a lot of things changed." Yuto said.
"Yeah…" Yuri said, and I could see him smile. "It's different now."
"It's better." Yuto said.
I couldn't help but agree to that.
"Your sister is finally looking at me properly." Yuto suddenly said.
I didn't really know what to make of that.
"Mate, even if she wasn't looking at you properly, she'd see your big head. Anyone would." Yuri said, jokingly. Yuto smacked him playfully.
Waiting for a few more seconds, I opened the door noisily and feigned irritation on my face.
"What are you two still doing here? Break's over, get back to work." I told them.
The two of them groaned.
"Don't be such a nag, Sayu." Yuto said, rolling his eyes at me.
Yuri just stretched his arms and made his way out of the break room.
I looked at Yuto. He just sighed and stood up as well.
"Why do I have to work two weeks before my wedding?" He whined.
"Exactly because of that." I told him. "In a week's time, this company would be yours as well." I told him. About a month ago, my father 'hired' us three as trainees in our company. He said it would be good if we start familiarizing ourselves with office work as early as now. Of course, we'd only work in the afternoon, after our classes in university.
Yuto looked at me, seemingly surprised and then he gave me a small smile. I didn't know why he looked so sad.
He walked towards me and then patted me on my head. And again, I'm reminded of Keito. He was just so much like Keito. I see him so much in Yuto, especially in the last few weeks that we'd been together.
Exiting the room, he said, "There's no one else around, Shin."
I was surprised at what he said. And I realized it was true.
I realized I couldn't differentiate it anymore: what is pretend and what is real.
I clutched at my pearl necklace, feeling overwhelmed.
Everything changed. It's different now. It might be better… but it was a lot simpler before.
---
The three of us arrived at home earlier than we normally do. Since we start working in the office, Mama insisted that Yuto eat dinner with us. This mom isn't my real mother. My real mother is staying at a hotel. She never did stay in this house after the divorce.
Mama is actually my nanny. For a time when I was little, I believed she was my real mother, because I was so young when my mom left.
We weren't as close as I am with Nii-chan, but she was the closest thing I have to a mother.
"Tadaima." I called out as I stepped inside our house. Yuri also said it after an awkward pause. Yuri still wasn't used to Japanese custom. He told me that our mother didn't really use them anymore, feeling it was more classy to be more 'Western' as she calls it.
"But I like Japanese culture." Yuri had told me. "It's… warm, somehow."
He told me he couldn't really explain it. But I somehow understand what he meant.
"Okaeri." Mama called out, appearing from the kitchen. She was wearing her apron, so she must still be preparing for dinner.
"Since you arrived early, why don't you help me prepare dinner?" She suddenly asked.
I blinked at her. I've never cooked for myself my entire life.
"Me?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, Shinju, you. You're going to be a bride soon." Mama said in exasperation.
"Can we also help?" Yuto suddenly said, placing his hands on Yuri's shoulders.
I looked at him in surprise. "You know how to cook??" I asked him.
"Of course I do." He said.
"Sure." Mama said and gestured for us to follow her in the kitchen.
I sighed in defeat as I dropped my things on the sofa and made my way to the kitchen.
-
"Ittai!"
There was a clank as I dropped the pot and I felt Yuri pulled me to him to avoid the sauce.
"God, Shin. Are you alright?" Yuri asked.
Shocked, I just nodded.
"You burned your finger." He said, frowning and taking my hand to inspect it.
"Sorry, Mama." I said as Mama crouched down to pick the pot.
"It's okay, sweetie." She just says.
"Here." Yuto said, suddenly appearing from my back. He handed me a band-aid.
"Auntie, I think these two should just wait outside." He told Mama.
Mama looked conflicted.
"But how will Shin ever learn?" She said with a sigh.
"I'll help. I was a bit distracted. I'm sorry." I said quickly.
But Yuto ignored me. "I can manage for the two of us." He told her.
And there it was again. I don't know if he was pretending for my mama or...
Mama laughed and nodded. She turned to Yuri and me.
"You should treat that." She told me. "Yuri-kun can go help your neechan, ne?" she told Yuri.
I pouted at her, but Yuri started pulling me out of the kitchen.
"Come on, neechan." Yuri said.
I looked at him in surprised. He blushed. It was the first time he called me his neechan.
"It doesn't sound right, does it?" He asked.
"No, it's okay… I was just surprised." I told him.
He grinned and nodded and started pulling me again.
After he treated my finger with some ointment and covered it with Yuto's band aid. We wait in the living room. I started reading my book and Yuri just sat beside me in the sofa.
I was surprised when he suddenly lied down and placed his head on my lap.
"Yuri?"
He was covering his eyes with his arm so I couldn't see half of his face.
"It's nice…" He said softly. "…having a neechan."
I smiled.
"Un." I said. "It's nice having Yuri around." I told him honestly.
I saw him smile as well. "Wake me when dinner's ready."
"You're sleeping like this??" I asked.
He just smirked and didn't reply. I shook my head in exasperation. I couldn't help but laugh, though.
"Yuri…" I called him. I remembered something I wanted to ask him.
"Hm?"
"About what happened… before…?” I said cautiously. I didn't look at him. I just continued to stare at my book.
"About what?" He asked, sounding confused.
"You know…" I said, feeling awkward. "Those condoms…"
There was a pause. And then I heard him sigh.
"You found them in my things…" He said in a statement. "You probably think I'm some kind of player or something…"
I didn't say anything.
"Well, I wasn't that cool." He said the word 'cool' as if it was a bad thing. I couldn't help it; I took a peek at him. He was smiling sadly.
"Did something… happen? Back in the US?" I asked him.
He was quiet for a long while, I was already thinking of taking my question back. But before I could, he started talking.
"There was this girl during high school." He said. "Jenny."
I nodded, urging him to go on.
"I've liked her ever since I've met her and during our senior year, I finally had the guts to ask her out." He said, smiling. "She told me she also had a crush on me since before. We started going out and everything was perfect."
I didn't miss that he'd used past tense.
"And then there was our Christmas party." He said, sighing deeply. "Well, you should know that the culture there is very different from here. They think that being a virgin is something you should be ashamed of." He sounded bitter.
"That night… Jen wanted to do it." He said softly.
"So... you bought those…" I trailed off.
"No." Yuri said, actually chuckling. "I refused." He said simply.
"You refused?" I asked a little surprised.
He nodded. "That's how much I like her." He said. "But she didn't understand. She took offense. That's how I got the condoms."
I blinked. "Huh?"
I felt him shrugged. "Jen started rumors about me. They were nasty, so let's just leave it at that. Then she started leaving condoms in my locker as a way to mock me. And she'd jibe at me whenever she can, preferably in front of an audience."
"Why would she do that?!" I asked. I couldn't help but feel indignant.
He actually smiled at me and then shrugged nonchalantly. "You have to understand, the peer pressure… their stupid beliefs. She probably felt rejected or something. Maybe she thought I didn't want her like that. Maybe her friends thought so and she didn't want them to. She was probably hurt."
"It's still not right." I said feeling a little frustrated.
"I know." He said simply and somehow I was placated. "Jim also said that."
I looked at him in question, "Jim? Yuto?"
He nodded. "And another friend, Zack."
I sighed in defeat and I heard him chuckle again.
I'm not sure if it was my imagination, but I think I heard him say 'thank you' or something.
I grudgingly smiled, thinking that at least it was already in the past and it Yuri seems to be fine now.
"You know…" He suddenly spoke. "You're good for Yuto."
"Eh?" I said, almost inaudible. I was so taken aback by what he said.
"And I think he's good for you, too. You complement each other…"
He took one look at me and said hurriedly, "You don't have to think about what I said so seriously. I don't mean anything by it. I just… I didn't realize I said that out loud."
I watch as Yuri covered his eyes with his arm once more. And I just continued reading my book like that. In just a short while though, my mama called for dinner.
Yuri groggily sat up and complained about not even blinking a sleep as we walk to the dining room.
-
"It's delicious, mama." I couldn’t help but say. The taste was different than mama's usual cooking.
Mama laughed as she served us drinks. "I've actually learned a few things from Yuto-kun." She told me.
I looked at Yuto and was a little taken aback when he grinned and winked at me.
"You should try some of Kanon-chan's dishes." Yuri told me. "She likes cooking, Kanon. That's how Yuto learned. She always gets him to help her."
"So mama shouldn't worry about Sayuri, ne?" Yuto told mama. I didn't miss the fact that he called her 'mama.'
Mama smiled fondly at Yuto. "Yes, it seems it was silly of me to worry."
And then she turned to me and gave me the same smile. "You are very lucky, Shin."
Yuto didn't look at me and just ate. Yuri was looking at with a sad smile.
"Yeah, I am." I said with my fake smile.
But I seriously didn't know whether what I said is real or pretend.
Author: macy
Pairing: Okamoto Keito x Inoo Shinju (
shinju) x Nakajima Yuto, other pairings shinju ships~
Rating: G
Genre: Drama, Romance, Friendship
AN:
-unbetaed
-sorry for the delay! >.<
-there are lots of things to do here at home, but i am trying hard to update/finish fics.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5
Shinju's POV
I walked towards the room slowly. I was curious at what they do would be doing.
I opened the door to the break room a little, and peek inside. I was a little surprised to see both Yuto and Yuri staring at the calendar.
"I didn't realize it's been two months since Kei left." Yuri said.
"It feels longer, actually." Yuto said.
"How so?" Yuri asked, looking at his friend.
"Well, a lot of things changed." Yuto said.
"Yeah…" Yuri said, and I could see him smile. "It's different now."
"It's better." Yuto said.
I couldn't help but agree to that.
"Your sister is finally looking at me properly." Yuto suddenly said.
I didn't really know what to make of that.
"Mate, even if she wasn't looking at you properly, she'd see your big head. Anyone would." Yuri said, jokingly. Yuto smacked him playfully.
Waiting for a few more seconds, I opened the door noisily and feigned irritation on my face.
"What are you two still doing here? Break's over, get back to work." I told them.
The two of them groaned.
"Don't be such a nag, Sayu." Yuto said, rolling his eyes at me.
Yuri just stretched his arms and made his way out of the break room.
I looked at Yuto. He just sighed and stood up as well.
"Why do I have to work two weeks before my wedding?" He whined.
"Exactly because of that." I told him. "In a week's time, this company would be yours as well." I told him. About a month ago, my father 'hired' us three as trainees in our company. He said it would be good if we start familiarizing ourselves with office work as early as now. Of course, we'd only work in the afternoon, after our classes in university.
Yuto looked at me, seemingly surprised and then he gave me a small smile. I didn't know why he looked so sad.
He walked towards me and then patted me on my head. And again, I'm reminded of Keito. He was just so much like Keito. I see him so much in Yuto, especially in the last few weeks that we'd been together.
Exiting the room, he said, "There's no one else around, Shin."
I was surprised at what he said. And I realized it was true.
I realized I couldn't differentiate it anymore: what is pretend and what is real.
I clutched at my pearl necklace, feeling overwhelmed.
Everything changed. It's different now. It might be better… but it was a lot simpler before.
---
The three of us arrived at home earlier than we normally do. Since we start working in the office, Mama insisted that Yuto eat dinner with us. This mom isn't my real mother. My real mother is staying at a hotel. She never did stay in this house after the divorce.
Mama is actually my nanny. For a time when I was little, I believed she was my real mother, because I was so young when my mom left.
We weren't as close as I am with Nii-chan, but she was the closest thing I have to a mother.
"Tadaima." I called out as I stepped inside our house. Yuri also said it after an awkward pause. Yuri still wasn't used to Japanese custom. He told me that our mother didn't really use them anymore, feeling it was more classy to be more 'Western' as she calls it.
"But I like Japanese culture." Yuri had told me. "It's… warm, somehow."
He told me he couldn't really explain it. But I somehow understand what he meant.
"Okaeri." Mama called out, appearing from the kitchen. She was wearing her apron, so she must still be preparing for dinner.
"Since you arrived early, why don't you help me prepare dinner?" She suddenly asked.
I blinked at her. I've never cooked for myself my entire life.
"Me?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, Shinju, you. You're going to be a bride soon." Mama said in exasperation.
"Can we also help?" Yuto suddenly said, placing his hands on Yuri's shoulders.
I looked at him in surprise. "You know how to cook??" I asked him.
"Of course I do." He said.
"Sure." Mama said and gestured for us to follow her in the kitchen.
I sighed in defeat as I dropped my things on the sofa and made my way to the kitchen.
-
"Ittai!"
There was a clank as I dropped the pot and I felt Yuri pulled me to him to avoid the sauce.
"God, Shin. Are you alright?" Yuri asked.
Shocked, I just nodded.
"You burned your finger." He said, frowning and taking my hand to inspect it.
"Sorry, Mama." I said as Mama crouched down to pick the pot.
"It's okay, sweetie." She just says.
"Here." Yuto said, suddenly appearing from my back. He handed me a band-aid.
"Auntie, I think these two should just wait outside." He told Mama.
Mama looked conflicted.
"But how will Shin ever learn?" She said with a sigh.
"I'll help. I was a bit distracted. I'm sorry." I said quickly.
But Yuto ignored me. "I can manage for the two of us." He told her.
And there it was again. I don't know if he was pretending for my mama or...
Mama laughed and nodded. She turned to Yuri and me.
"You should treat that." She told me. "Yuri-kun can go help your neechan, ne?" she told Yuri.
I pouted at her, but Yuri started pulling me out of the kitchen.
"Come on, neechan." Yuri said.
I looked at him in surprised. He blushed. It was the first time he called me his neechan.
"It doesn't sound right, does it?" He asked.
"No, it's okay… I was just surprised." I told him.
He grinned and nodded and started pulling me again.
After he treated my finger with some ointment and covered it with Yuto's band aid. We wait in the living room. I started reading my book and Yuri just sat beside me in the sofa.
I was surprised when he suddenly lied down and placed his head on my lap.
"Yuri?"
He was covering his eyes with his arm so I couldn't see half of his face.
"It's nice…" He said softly. "…having a neechan."
I smiled.
"Un." I said. "It's nice having Yuri around." I told him honestly.
I saw him smile as well. "Wake me when dinner's ready."
"You're sleeping like this??" I asked.
He just smirked and didn't reply. I shook my head in exasperation. I couldn't help but laugh, though.
"Yuri…" I called him. I remembered something I wanted to ask him.
"Hm?"
"About what happened… before…?” I said cautiously. I didn't look at him. I just continued to stare at my book.
"About what?" He asked, sounding confused.
"You know…" I said, feeling awkward. "Those condoms…"
There was a pause. And then I heard him sigh.
"You found them in my things…" He said in a statement. "You probably think I'm some kind of player or something…"
I didn't say anything.
"Well, I wasn't that cool." He said the word 'cool' as if it was a bad thing. I couldn't help it; I took a peek at him. He was smiling sadly.
"Did something… happen? Back in the US?" I asked him.
He was quiet for a long while, I was already thinking of taking my question back. But before I could, he started talking.
"There was this girl during high school." He said. "Jenny."
I nodded, urging him to go on.
"I've liked her ever since I've met her and during our senior year, I finally had the guts to ask her out." He said, smiling. "She told me she also had a crush on me since before. We started going out and everything was perfect."
I didn't miss that he'd used past tense.
"And then there was our Christmas party." He said, sighing deeply. "Well, you should know that the culture there is very different from here. They think that being a virgin is something you should be ashamed of." He sounded bitter.
"That night… Jen wanted to do it." He said softly.
"So... you bought those…" I trailed off.
"No." Yuri said, actually chuckling. "I refused." He said simply.
"You refused?" I asked a little surprised.
He nodded. "That's how much I like her." He said. "But she didn't understand. She took offense. That's how I got the condoms."
I blinked. "Huh?"
I felt him shrugged. "Jen started rumors about me. They were nasty, so let's just leave it at that. Then she started leaving condoms in my locker as a way to mock me. And she'd jibe at me whenever she can, preferably in front of an audience."
"Why would she do that?!" I asked. I couldn't help but feel indignant.
He actually smiled at me and then shrugged nonchalantly. "You have to understand, the peer pressure… their stupid beliefs. She probably felt rejected or something. Maybe she thought I didn't want her like that. Maybe her friends thought so and she didn't want them to. She was probably hurt."
"It's still not right." I said feeling a little frustrated.
"I know." He said simply and somehow I was placated. "Jim also said that."
I looked at him in question, "Jim? Yuto?"
He nodded. "And another friend, Zack."
I sighed in defeat and I heard him chuckle again.
I'm not sure if it was my imagination, but I think I heard him say 'thank you' or something.
I grudgingly smiled, thinking that at least it was already in the past and it Yuri seems to be fine now.
"You know…" He suddenly spoke. "You're good for Yuto."
"Eh?" I said, almost inaudible. I was so taken aback by what he said.
"And I think he's good for you, too. You complement each other…"
He took one look at me and said hurriedly, "You don't have to think about what I said so seriously. I don't mean anything by it. I just… I didn't realize I said that out loud."
I watch as Yuri covered his eyes with his arm once more. And I just continued reading my book like that. In just a short while though, my mama called for dinner.
Yuri groggily sat up and complained about not even blinking a sleep as we walk to the dining room.
-
"It's delicious, mama." I couldn’t help but say. The taste was different than mama's usual cooking.
Mama laughed as she served us drinks. "I've actually learned a few things from Yuto-kun." She told me.
I looked at Yuto and was a little taken aback when he grinned and winked at me.
"You should try some of Kanon-chan's dishes." Yuri told me. "She likes cooking, Kanon. That's how Yuto learned. She always gets him to help her."
"So mama shouldn't worry about Sayuri, ne?" Yuto told mama. I didn't miss the fact that he called her 'mama.'
Mama smiled fondly at Yuto. "Yes, it seems it was silly of me to worry."
And then she turned to me and gave me the same smile. "You are very lucky, Shin."
Yuto didn't look at me and just ate. Yuri was looking at with a sad smile.
"Yeah, I am." I said with my fake smile.
But I seriously didn't know whether what I said is real or pretend.