Message not received
They walked down the street, not too quickly nor slowly, the usual speed that Yamapi had grown accustomed to. They passed the usual streets, entered the usual shops and watched the same people. He saw the older boy smile into window after window and he smiled back. A comfortable routine, the habit that still felt good after all these years.
He returned home that night, still warm from the day; A warm bath into warm covers onto a warm bed. He watched his silent phone in the corner, struggled to pick it up, clumsily keyed in a good night and waited as it begun sending. The phone gently reminded him that the message was not sent. He felt cold, threw his phone on his side table and went to sleep that night.
**********************************
They had dinner tonight, at their favorite restaurant. A peacefully silent meal that was comfortably quiet. He ate heartily and watched the older boy who was grinning through his glass. A cool glass. He felt the water droplets drip down his arm and he placed it on his cheek, feeling the older boy’s laugh. It was a restaurant they frequented, one by the sea, somewhere they’ll continue to go, year after year.
He walked home, fresh from his meal as he twisted his key jerkily in its lock. He threw his bag on the couch and threw himself on the bed, tossing around as he watched his phone, laying there since the day before. He ignored the messages received that day and tried to send another. Message not sent. He switched it off and went to bed, frustrated.
*******************************
Tegoshi tapped gingerly at the door, waiting for a reply. Yamapi climbed out of his bed, slightly annoyed. He knew Tegoshi had a key and was just knocking out of habit. The younger boy was soon through the door, on his own accord.
“I bought breakfast~”
“Thanks.” Yamapi smiled despite himself, softly ruffling the fine hair on Tegoshi’s head. The younger boy smiled as they sat down at the table to eat.
“Should we go on a date later?”
“I’m going out with Ryo-Chan.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yup.”
“Yamashita Kun, I…”
“Sorry, Tegoshi.”
“It’s okay…”
He opened the front door and let the younger boy out. Tegoshi’s desire to linger was ignored as the house remained stagnant, unmoving. Yamapi went to shower before leaving his house.
******************************
They went to the beach today, under the sun and the winds, they had fun. He watched the older boy’s reflection glisten in the water, wavering and clicking amongst the waves, feeling so comfortable with each other’s presences, not wanting to return home. The same longing time never changed.
But time had changed so many other things.
****************************
The same ‘tap tap tap’ on the door and Yamapi didn’t bother getting up this time. Tegoshi let himself in, crawling gently into the bed, trying hard not to wake the older boy. He cringed as he saw the older man clutching his phone tightly, mumbling in his sleep. Tegoshi stroke the stray hairs out of Yamapi’s face, lingering slightly but pulling away quickly. He felt his heart ache.
Yamapi began to stir as he felt his bed shake slightly. He knew Tegoshi had been on it because of the way it shook. Lightly, gently, softly. He frowned even harder as he spied the tray of scrambled eggs placed precariously at the edge of his side table. Tegoshi, careful as he may be, was treading into his life. He heard his front door shut and sighed, slightly guilty for the lack of gratitude on his part. He sent a simple “Thank you” on his phone and got his “You’re welcome~” . His phone was functioning strangely.
**********************************************
“Tegoshi, I’m busy today.”
“With Ryo Chan?”
“Yes.”
Tegoshi, furious, shook the older boy, begging him to rationalize his thoughts. Think straight.
“He’s waiting for me…”
“A reflection can’t love back.”
“What are you…”
“Yamashita Kun, Ryo Chan has left us. He’s been gone for 2 weeks. You have to-”
“I know, Tegoshi. I really know but… I have to go.”
Tegoshi sighed as he watched the older boy walk out of his door. Message not received. It could never be sent as there was no longer a person to receive it. He was gone, along with so many other things.
He returned home that night, still warm from the day; A warm bath into warm covers onto a warm bed. He watched his silent phone in the corner, struggled to pick it up, clumsily keyed in a good night and waited as it begun sending. The phone gently reminded him that the message was not sent. He felt cold, threw his phone on his side table and went to sleep that night.
**********************************
They had dinner tonight, at their favorite restaurant. A peacefully silent meal that was comfortably quiet. He ate heartily and watched the older boy who was grinning through his glass. A cool glass. He felt the water droplets drip down his arm and he placed it on his cheek, feeling the older boy’s laugh. It was a restaurant they frequented, one by the sea, somewhere they’ll continue to go, year after year.
He walked home, fresh from his meal as he twisted his key jerkily in its lock. He threw his bag on the couch and threw himself on the bed, tossing around as he watched his phone, laying there since the day before. He ignored the messages received that day and tried to send another. Message not sent. He switched it off and went to bed, frustrated.
*******************************
Tegoshi tapped gingerly at the door, waiting for a reply. Yamapi climbed out of his bed, slightly annoyed. He knew Tegoshi had a key and was just knocking out of habit. The younger boy was soon through the door, on his own accord.
“I bought breakfast~”
“Thanks.” Yamapi smiled despite himself, softly ruffling the fine hair on Tegoshi’s head. The younger boy smiled as they sat down at the table to eat.
“Should we go on a date later?”
“I’m going out with Ryo-Chan.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yup.”
“Yamashita Kun, I…”
“Sorry, Tegoshi.”
“It’s okay…”
He opened the front door and let the younger boy out. Tegoshi’s desire to linger was ignored as the house remained stagnant, unmoving. Yamapi went to shower before leaving his house.
******************************
They went to the beach today, under the sun and the winds, they had fun. He watched the older boy’s reflection glisten in the water, wavering and clicking amongst the waves, feeling so comfortable with each other’s presences, not wanting to return home. The same longing time never changed.
But time had changed so many other things.
****************************
The same ‘tap tap tap’ on the door and Yamapi didn’t bother getting up this time. Tegoshi let himself in, crawling gently into the bed, trying hard not to wake the older boy. He cringed as he saw the older man clutching his phone tightly, mumbling in his sleep. Tegoshi stroke the stray hairs out of Yamapi’s face, lingering slightly but pulling away quickly. He felt his heart ache.
Yamapi began to stir as he felt his bed shake slightly. He knew Tegoshi had been on it because of the way it shook. Lightly, gently, softly. He frowned even harder as he spied the tray of scrambled eggs placed precariously at the edge of his side table. Tegoshi, careful as he may be, was treading into his life. He heard his front door shut and sighed, slightly guilty for the lack of gratitude on his part. He sent a simple “Thank you” on his phone and got his “You’re welcome~” . His phone was functioning strangely.
**********************************************
“Tegoshi, I’m busy today.”
“With Ryo Chan?”
“Yes.”
Tegoshi, furious, shook the older boy, begging him to rationalize his thoughts. Think straight.
“He’s waiting for me…”
“A reflection can’t love back.”
“What are you…”
“Yamashita Kun, Ryo Chan has left us. He’s been gone for 2 weeks. You have to-”
“I know, Tegoshi. I really know but… I have to go.”
Tegoshi sighed as he watched the older boy walk out of his door. Message not received. It could never be sent as there was no longer a person to receive it. He was gone, along with so many other things.